These are the things that float to the top of my list of activities that I want to do for the year 2012 when I am 45 years old. The list is comprised of things that I have either never tried or have wanted to try and just didn't have the courage or time to do it. Follow along and watch my progress and feel free to comment or add words of encouragement to help keep me going for the next 365 days!
I have been so busy with work that I have not had time to post recently. I literally have been showing houses and then coming home to do paperwork that the blog has slipped. I have been pretty much keeping up with exercise to prepare for the SHAPE Diva Dash, but that is about it. My running is feeling better, thank goodness, so I won't die on the obstacle course.
Today is Easter Sunday. It has been a quiet morning for me mostly, which is a good thing because I needed a bit of a break. I got the proverbial bluebonnet picture of Nicole this year, see below.
She is growing up so fast...I think photos make her look older than she is, and this one really shows her personality I think.
On Friday, some friends and family came over for a little Easter get together. The kids decorated eggs, made resurrection biscuits, swam and then went up to the park to search for hidden Easter eggs.
All in all it was a really nice weekend. I will make time to take a photo of the garden this week and show the various veggies we are hoping to get.
It has been a very busy 3 months and it doesn't look like it is going to let up anytime soon. Work has picked up considerably and I am juggling several clients at once. I decided that it would be a good idea to do a quarterly update of most of the ongoing activities on the list to help myself track whether or not I am reaching my goals better AND to refresh my memory of what I said I would do in the first place!
Make Bed (each weekday morning)
This item has really become a habit. I have worked it into my daily dressing routine in between drying my hair and using the Chi on it. It works perfectly because my bathroom heats up from the hair dryer so making my bed is the perfect interlude to cool off before I finish getting dressed. I actually can barely stand it when my bed is not made now. I did only make this a 'weekday' item but it has been spilling over into a weekend habit, too.
Empty kitchen sink (each weekday night)
This has become a habit, too, much like making my bed. I find that I can't stand to wake up in the morning to find dishes in the sink, in the way of cleaning out the coffee pot to make coffee. I much prefer being able to quickly make coffee because the first sip is crucial to getting my blood moving in the morning. Much to Nicole's dismay, this item is helping her to clean out her lunchbox in the afternoon because I prefer it to be done as soon as she comes home as opposed to the next morning when I need it to be clean for her lunch.
One handwritten note to Nicole (per month)
I have written 2 stories in their entirety for this particular item, however they both need polishing along with finishing the third story. I have been thinking about this book that I want to compile for her and will probably get some guest writers to submit other stories about Nicole because I am sure she would like to hear from them, too. I need to put this task in my calendar to remind myself to do it around the same time each month so I don't forget.
One handwritten note to Friend/Family
I have been good about this item, too, although I still have to write March's note. I will simply write two in April, one at the beginning and one at the end. March was so jam packed with SXSW and work that the month ended before I realized I had not written the one for this month. I already know I want to write to, I just have to do it. I am really enjoying the handwritten part of this because I feel like my handwriting has suffered due to how much time I spend on the computer. My handwriting still is not the best, but it should improve the more I do it.
Courage to Change Blog
Today is the 1 year anniversary of this blog, couragetochangeatx.blogspot.com . I have been writing the blog for 365 days and I am really proud of the fact that I kept with it. It has really helped me to learn that I don't have to do everything in a day and that I can break things down into smaller, manageable pieces. On occasion, I had to write several entries at once, but generally, it would not get past 3 total. Even during SXSW I was pretty good at posting regularly because I didn't want to fall too far behind. Technically, this item is complete...I may start another similar blog, but I think I have enough on my plate to let this one go for now.
Top 45 at 45 Blog
I am really happy with the way this item is going...if you are reading this now, you can see the progress for yourself!
135/8
If I didn't mention this before, the 135 represents the weight I would like to reach before the end of this year and the 8 is the clothes size I am aiming for by December 31, 2012. I can tell with the amount of exercise I have been getting, that my body is making changes. The scale hasn't changed all that much so I think the 8 will come before the 135. I don't obsess about this one all that much largely because I am not focusing on it because it will probably be a by-product of the next item on the list.
Physical exercise (5-6 times per week)
Finally, my goal of 5-6 days of physical activity is pretty close to being met in the first quarter. I know that I told myself that this requirement is only for 45 weeks of the 52 weeks in a year because I needed to account for work (which has affected at least 1 week thus far) and illness (another week of minimal exercise due to sinus infection.) One thing that is helping to motivate me to reach my exercise goal is the Nike Fuelband. Yes, it is a glorified pedometer, in my opinion, but for some reason it is working to make me reach my exercise goals.
The Fuelband tracks the time, Nike Fuel, Calories and Steps you take in each day. You upload the info each day onto the Nike site and it tracks when you reach certain milestones.
The above video is really cool showing you how many different activities 'count' for Nike Fuel. My biggest frustration with the Fuelband is that I can't wear it when I swim and it doesn't work great when you are on a bike. I am training to do two triathlons this year so essentially, it won't count two of the three major exercises I do in a week. It is however motivating me to not sit at my computer as long as I might and to walk or run a little bit each day to reach my Nike goal.
I am on the email list for Alamo Drafthouse, probably like most of Austin. When I received the email about a showing of Dirty Dancing at the new Slaughter Lane Alamo, I figured I could kill two birds with one stone: see Dirty Dancing on the big screen in order to see my friend, Susan, as one of the dirty dancing extras and visit the all-new Alamo. I immediately sent an email to my book club to see who was available to go see the movie. Once I got a some takers, I put a fun plan into action...
I replied to the Alamo email that led me to the program manager of the Slaughter Lane location who forwarded my info to the Girlie Night host. We arranged for her to pull Susan in front of the crowd and tell everyone what it was like to be on the set. Susan did not know about the idea so it was going to be a surprise to her!
Last night, we convened at my house in northwest Austin and headed to the polar opposite end of southwest Austin. I knew that it was going to take a while to get there, but I had no idea it would take as long as it did. I started to get pretty nervous on the drive because I had taken the time to set up the Susan Intro and then wondered if we were going to make it in time. After a little over an hour, we walked into the new, beautiful theater and I sent the other 4 in to find us some seats while I retrieved our pre-purchased tickets. When I got into the theater, my usual disappointment of sitting in the front row, was dismissed since I figured it was a perfect vantage point to see Susan interviewed.
After the lights went down, Sarah, the host, was right in front of us talking about how excited she was to see a shirtless Patrick Swayze on the big screen. She then talked about how excited she was to have a dirty dancer in the audience and the look on Susan's face was priceless. I can't tell if it was one of horror or disbelief, but she was a good sport and stood up to chit chat with Sarah. When Sarah handed the mic to Susan to tell about the experience, she was a little disappointed to hear that Susan described it as hot, sweaty, long, boring and that some people on set were rude! After Sarah looked a little disappointed in the description, Susan responded that it was a fun experience to be on a set and that it was going to be fun to see it again in a theater since it had been about 25 years since the last time.
I wish I had brought my good camera, but I was able to get this shot of Susan chatting up front before the movie.
You can see Susan in a green tank top at the 18, 36 and 41 second marks in the 'watermelon' scene below (she is probably in more shots, I can just pick her out quickly at those points).
She is also in the final scene, first at about the 3:44 mark in the back left and up close at mark 5:54 to the right of the Baby's parents dancing. She is wearing a green outfit and eventually dances with the smarmy grandson of Mr. Kellerman.
(I tried to embed both of the scenes, but it was blocked so you will have to follow the link.)
One of the funniest parts of the night was when two different audience members came up to Susan after the film and asked to take pictures with her. On the ride home it was neat to hear Susan talk about the fact that the makers of the movie figured it would go straight to video and that the cast didn't think the movie was going to be big at all. Susan also mentioned that she didn't tell people she was in the movie and that, while filming the scenes in the Carolinas, they didn't know what the movie was really about and that the rude, waiter dude was one of the nicest actors on set. When the credits rolled, I realized the main choreographer was Kenny Ortega who is known for the High School Musical trilogy and Michael Jackson's This Is It concert tour. They seem to underestimate the audience that his dance numbers paired with catchy music will attract.
I debated seeing any movies at all on Friday because Susan was leaving to go home mid-day and Nicole was missing me. Since Nicole got invited to have a sleepover and wanted to go, I decided to catch one last movie, The Do-Deca Pentathlon. As expected, it was a bit crazy downtown since the music portion of SXSW had started but the movie was early enough that the total craziness had not begun.
Movie Review The Do-Deca Pentathlon
Director: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass
Screenwriter: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass
Description-
From Jay and Mark Duplass, the writer/directors of the Sundance hits
“The Puffy Chair,” “Cyrus” and the upcoming “Jeff Who Lives at Home”
comes “The Do-Deca-Pentathalon” - the story of two grown brothers who
secretly compete in a homemade Olympics during a family reunion.
When their fierce and disruptive competition is uncovered, the
brothers must choose between their passion for beating the hell out of
each other and the greater good of the family.
My Review-
Initially I thought this movie would be a little more like Superbad or more like a Judd Apetow movie. I am not as familiar with the Duplass brothers films and ended up seeing this one and Safety Not Guaranteed during SXSW so now I am more familiar with their style. The movie was entertaining and fun, just not probably in my top 5 from SXSW. There was a good bit of conflict in the movie between the characters that seemed to be eventually resolved, I just wish there was more time spent on the activities in the Do-Deca Pentathlon. I think boys/men are more competitive with siblings as opposed to being cooperative...may be a gross over simplification of genders, but it is true for me anyway, so it was a little more difficult for me to relate to as opposed to Safety Not Guaranteed that was a little more quirky and at the center, about relationships. Also, the characters remind me of two brothers I know pretty well...I wonder if they are going to set up their own competition now after seeing this film.
I couldn't find a trailer for the movie so below is an interview with the Duplass brothers describing the inspiration for the film.
So, SXSW ended for me on Friday. I truly was not very interested in seeing the music, probably because I am spoiled with how much music can be heard in Austin year round and I don't really prefer being around such large crowds (don't feel safe wondering downtown alone going into bars, theaters seem safer.)
Before going into SXSW this year, I thought that I would only go this year and that would be it. I had a blast and the reality of SXSW, at least the film portion, far exceeded my expectations. Susan has already offered to come back next Spring Break to be with Nicole, so who knows, I won't rule it out!
Back to regularly scheduled blogging . . . need to do a First Quarter recap of ongoing items.
Before Susan, Nic's grandmother, left Austin, I wanted to be sure to take her out for a couple of activities on her last night in town. Since I only bought the film badge and didn't buy anything to go and see music during SXSW, I took the advice of my friend, Paige, to meet up with her and some of her friends to see Diego's Umbrella at Waterloo Ice House on 35th Street. It was early enough in the evening for kids to come along so Susan and I went with Nicole and the Bradfords, Kellyn, Scott, Ian and Grace to eat dinner and enjoy some music.
Diego's Umbrella did not disappoint! The group describes themselves as Gypsy Pirate Polka with a mix of rock, punk and ska intertwined. Kellyn pointed out a Greek feel to the music which was true and made me think of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the music that was often playing in the background. The music was a lot of fun, at least for the adults, the kids seemed unimpressed. We would have stayed longer but the kids were ready to go after we ate and Susan and I had a movie to catch.
Pant's by Diego's Umbrella
After getting Nicole settled in with her friend, Grace, at the Bradford's home, Susan and I headed over to the Alamo Village satellite venue to see Girl Walk//All Day. We were a bit early and decided to grab a drink because Susan would have to wait for badge holders to go in first before verifying that there would be any seats available for her. After some nice conversation over a glass of wine at Cover 3, we returned to the theater, got in the non-badge holder line, and within 5 minutes, Susan was handed a free ticket from one of the producers of the film. Susan's excitement about getting a free ticket and being able to brag about it to Jay and Andy was priceless. More about Girl Walk//All Day below.
Movie Review
Girl Walk//All Day
Director: Jacob Krupnick
Screenwriter: Jacob Krupnick
Description-
Girl Walk // All Day is a feature-length dance music video and tale of
urban exploration that follow three dancers across New York City. They
turn the city's sidewalks, parks, and stadiums into an evolving stage as
a story of rebellion, love, and discovery unfolds. Shot entirely in
public spaces, and funded entirely by crowd-sourcing, Girl Walk // All
Day is a statement about the power of community and public space. Set to
the album All Day by mashup musician Girl Talk, it's also an insanely
fun love letter to New York.
My Review-
Jay introduced me to Girl Talk music last summer and I really liked it then. My biggest concern was that chunks of it has some rap music with a good bit of cussing and I wasn't sure how Susan would like it. Not to worry, she LOVED the movie. Even I could have done without some of the lyrics, but the concept of the film was creative and the energy, especially of the female dancer, was contagious. Girl Talk does not have 'permission' for covering most of the music that he mashes up, so the movie Girl Walk//All Day is not eligible for distribution. According to the director and his wife, one of the producers, you can see the whole movie online. They didn't stay after for the Q & A because Girl Talk was playing the same night in downtown Austin for SXSW and they have never met or seen him life. Ironic part about that situation is that it was Jay and Andy at a previous screening of Girl Walk//All Day mentioned to the producer and director that Girl Talk would be in town playing SXSW...small world.
Below is the opening scene of Girl Walk//All Day. NOTE: Some lyrics are not appropriate for young ears nor in an office setting. Enjoy!
One more day of SXSW and then I have to wait until next year....Susan already offered to help watch Nicole in 2013!
Once again, I had quite a bit of work to catch up on including a meeting with some clients whose house I am listing soon as well as a bunch of paperwork to finish. As a result, I only saw one movie on Wednesday. Additionally, I missed spending time with Nicole and enjoyed visiting more with Susan, one of Nicole's grandmothers, who was staying here helping with Nicole so I could take the time to attend SXSW in the first place.
Movie Review
Bernie
Director: Richard Linkletter
Screenwriter: Richard Linklater, Skip Hollandsworth
Description-
In the small town of Carthage, TX, assistant funeral director Bernie
Tiede was one of the most beloved and appreciated residents, so it came
as no surprise when he befriended the town’s richest and meanest widow,
Marjorie Nugent. Soon, Marjorie became fully dependent on Bernie and his
generosity as he struggled to meet her increasing demands. When the
townspeople went months without seeing Marjorie, the people of Carthage
were shocked when it was reported that she had been dead for some time,
and Bernie Tiede was being charged with the murder.
My Review-
OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! This movie gets not one but two OMGs because 1. it is based on a true story and this definitely fits the saying 'the truth is sometimes stranger than fiction and 2. the casting for this movie was perfect. A third OMG for the script because so much of it was so hilarious and had me thinking, 1. did that person actually say that and 2. giggling with anticipation for what might be said next. My best memory for the latter was when one of the townspeople was describing the state of Texas as 5 separate states all together and I couldn't wait to hear how they described Austin and the surrounding areas (I am not going to give it away, you will have to see the movie for yourself.) Jack Black was awesome as Bernie. I thought he played the character extremely well and didn't overplay it to the point of being annoying. Matthew McConaughy as the DA, Danny Buck was also well cast because he really sounds like he belongs in the town of Carthage (could be that he is from East Texas I am sure.) Finally, Shirley MacLaine as the mean, rich, small town terror reminded me of a combination of several of her more famous roles such as Tess Carlisle in Guarding Tess, Doris Mann in Postcards from the Edge, Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias and finally Aurora Greenway in Terms of Endearment.
Preview Below:
Only two more days worth of recaps from SXSW then on to other items on my list!
I made it past the half-way point in one piece! I reconnected with Andy on Tuesday for another day-long marathon of movies and was not disappointed. You could basically call it 'Documentary Day' based on our viewing choices. I knew I had it in me for one more day of standing in line then sitting in theaters to be entertained by others.
Movie Reviews Wonder Women!
Director: Kristy Guevara-Flangan
Executive Producer: Erin Prather Stafford
Description-
"WONDER WOMEN! The Untold Story of American Superheroines" traces the
fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. From the birth of the
comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today,
WONDER WOMEN! looks at how popular representations of powerful women
often reflect society’s anxieties about women’s liberation. "WONDER
WOMEN!" goes behind the scenes with Lynda Carter, Lindsay Wagner, comic
writers and artists, and real life superheroines such as Gloria Steinem,
Shelby Knox and others who offer an enlightening and entertaining
counterpoint to the male dominated superhero genre.
My Review-
I really enjoyed this documentary and it definitely got me thinking about how women are portrayed in comics but also on TV, in films and other places. The lack of women superheroes hadn't really crossed my mind until now. I really wanted to take Nicole to see it to open up her mind to strong women characters but I couldn't find the time. I will be watching for it to be on TV, PBS or get someone to tape it if it comes on HBO or premium cable channel. I did recommend to the director and producer that they should get in touch with GirlStart, a program whose mission is to get young girls interest in science, engineering and math. I figure showing this video could get a dialogue going for strong women in many areas of life, not just entertainment. If you get a chance to see the entire documentary, it is interesting to note how Wonder Woman changes over time from war time to peace time and beyond.
Preview below:
Trash Dance
Director: Andrew Garrison
Producer: Charlotte Herzele
Choreographer: Allison Orr
Description-
Sometimes inspiration is found in unexpected places. Choreographer
Allison Orr finds beauty and grace in garbage trucks -- and in the men
and women who pick up our trash. She joins city sanitation workers on
their daily routes to listen, learn, and ultimately to try to convince
them to collaborate in a unique dance performance. Hard working, often
carrying a second job, their lives are already full with work, family
and dreams of their own. But some step forward, and after months of
rehearsal, two dozen trash collectors and their trucks perform an
extraordinary spectacle. On an abandoned airport runway, thousands of
people show up to see how in the world a garbage truck can "dance."
My Review-
I loved this documentary because it shows such a personal side to the people who work hard everyday picking up our trash. I think we take it too much for granted like getting water out of a faucet. One of the coolest parts during the Q & A was seeing two of the workers and hear them speak about their job and the experience of making this documentary.
Preview Below:
Waiting For Lightening
Director: Jacob Rosenberg
Screenwriter: Bret Anthony Johnston
Description-
From the producers of "Step Into Liquid", comes "Waiting For Lightning",
the story of Danny Way, a young boy from a broken home in Vista, CA,
whose passion for skateboarding would one day bring him and his
creation, a ramp of prodigious and dangerous proportions, across many
cultural and ideological boundaries to attempt the impossible: jump
China’s Great Wall on a skateboard. It’s a film about how much abuse the
body can sustain, how deep you have to dig to survive the betrayals of
family, and how high and far dreams can fly.
My Review-
I really enjoyed seeing what life experiences drove Danny Way's passion. He didn't have the easiest life as a young boy/young man, yet he 1. survived it all and 2. had such great passion and was able to capitalize on his passion for skateboarding into a way to make a living. I would say the only part of it that bothers me is that with all the loss in his life, as a father himself, he still puts himself into situations that could be life-threatening that would end up leaving his son without a father. It is a tough dilemma to reconcile...follow your passion for what you do best even when it is life-threatening.
Preview Below:
Beauty Is Embarrassing
Yes, I saw it again! Andy had not seen it even though I had previously and I did not mind, not one bit, watching it again and listening to Wayne White and Neil Berkeley talk about how they made the film and how passionate they are about it. Wayne White is so entertaining to boot!
Just three more days to recap and on to other things...training for the Diva Dash and then the Danskin Triathlon is keeping me busy along with finding time for work!
