Thursday, March 11, 2010

Cleo 1997-2010







Just this side of heaven is a place, called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. 
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. 
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. 

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. 
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. 

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. 

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. 

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Monday, March 8, 2010

desperation

mother will be home soon. 
after studying world music since 9am this morning
let the desperate housewives commence! 
despite the risque-ness of this picture..
i feel it is very roaring 20's...
a time where the Bree's of the world really did exist.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

stained porcelain... (it felt like a poetic day)

tears of glitter fall
slowly, softly, swiftly
lines of black are laid, atop the porcelain 
door slams- broken hearts
stomping feet- broken dreams
lines of black run harder, atop the porcelain
silhouettes of grey not black
become but not a blur
only our kind god will know
that speech I chose to slur

missed connections 
fair skin smooth
ever changing-fast
only sleeping beauty sees
our future and our past
tears of desperation call
hard, cold, bitter

lines of black turn frozen, it’s the dead of winter.

original poem

pitter pattering paws 
plopping down in the white
gleaming suns reflection
as walking hands are held
lovers warm embrace
snow all over the face 
kissed away by tender lips
as the snow keeps falling down


smiles reach their peak 
while the dogs pitter patter
though moments in the snow
quickly start to end
they last lifetimes upon
the dreary tender lawn of our imaginations

if only one more day 
we could go out and play

Saturday, March 6, 2010

alice in wonderland...cinematic perfection at its finest

For those of you who know me, you know that I am rarely lost for words.  I generally always have something to say, about anything. Some see this as a flaw, some see it as me just being "colorful".  However you see it, I have to tell you.....I was just lost for words after walking out of the "Alice in Wonderland" theater.

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is probably one of the best movies of all time.   It encompasses the essence of a true magical adventure.


From the moment Alice falls down the rabbit hole to the minute she drinks the Jabberwocky's blood you are completed captivated and truly feel you are in Wonderland.  This is partially due to the incredible casting talents of Tim Burton.  


Mia Wasikowski plays Alice with an endearing amount of bluntness mixed with impeccable grace- matched greatly by the awkward, cunning but extremely compassionate Mad Hatter portrayed by none other than Johnny Depp.   This duo has many scenes together and even amongst the action and adventure we see their relationship as well as their characters flourish.   By the end of the film I was almost positive in my mind that in some way, shape or form The Mad Hatter was Alice's father in disguise....despite what others might say about their relationship having a less-than-platonic nature I am going to stick with my first thought and say that I truly believe throughout the film he was definitely in the very LEAST, the closest thing Alice had to a father figure in a very long time. 







Our next unlikely duo are The Red and White Queens- portrayed by Helena Bomam Carter and Anne Hathaway.  This is brilliant casting in my opinion because these two actress' are probably two of the most different organically than any women out there.  Hathaway carried her self as if she was floating the entire time, while Carter was basically a midget more-bitchy version of herself (PERFECT).   The two separately were so quirky and it was truly a great moment when they eventually met in the end. Good really did triumph over evil in every way possible, and even though The White Queen would never harm another living thing, she certainly was not light in her punishment to her evil older sister.

The special effects were seriously Lord-of-the-Ringsesque.  All the magical creatures they encountered just brought more magic to the screen (The Cheshire Cat and The Caterpillar in particular). I finally felt that technology has come close to being up to par with the mind of Tim Burton.   Of course everything Tim Burton thinks let alone directs is pure gold--but Alice in Wonderland has the spark that will most definitely shine long into the future... I may even go so far to say that it is "The Wizard of Oz" of the 21st Century.  


Many directors could have used special effects, great actors, and a good screenplay to their advantage to create something "epic" but the reason that Tim Burton's work is a true masterpiece is because he worshiped Lewis Carroll and his poetry about The Jabberwock.  Having this poem being the underlying subtext to the entire movie is what made it great.  The poem is haunting, and that feeling was with Alice throughout the entire movie.  When Alice realized in her heart that it was her destiny to fight The Jabberwork was when Burton reached true creative possibility by capturing not only his own imagination but Carroll's as well.  Only Tim Burton could reach through time and take a piece of the past  and make it into a work not only for the future, but for the ages.


"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!


Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
  The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
  And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
  And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
  He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
  He chortled in his joy.




Age can be beauty...

So last night I attended The Puccini Foundations "Opera Night" at an Italian Club called Columbus Foundation Club in Manhattan. I went into the evening thinking I was going to drink some fine wine, have a few laughs with my dads boss, and see a full opera but I have to say the night was very different than I thought it was going to be.

We got there and this is what we saw.... I couldn't believe my eyes how beautiful the place was...This is the room the reception was in...



This is the Italia-themed restaurant that is downstairs in the club.  It is VERY exclusive to have dinner there.  I was lucky enough to be able to go down there at the end and have a drink.  




Lastly, this is the GORGEOUS room we had dinner in.  You can't see it too well in this picture BUT the carvings on the wall are all very unique, and quite impeccable.

There were three young singers performing selections from Verdi's La Traviata.  I have to admit, though I know alot of the music, I had never really studied the story before and after last night it is most definitely in my reading list.   We heard several selections from the first two acts of La Traviata, then had a lovely meal.  After eating, we watched the third act on a DVD from the 70's starring Placido Domingo and Teresa Strada.  After the DVD was over we heard the final duet between the lovers then went onto the dessert course.  Though it was not a full opera (as I expected)  it was a very incredible night.  The mood was just right, the company was splendid, and the food and entertainment was pretty divine.  I really ought to write a "Thank you" letter to the club and the founder of the Puccini foundation, Licia Albanese.

Licia Albanese was born on July 22, 1913  (For those of you who are calculating that in your head right now, she is almost 97 years old.  She performed at The Metropolitan Opera for over a quarter of her life and she has performed the role of Violetta more times than ANYONE in the entire opera world.  I just discovered her yesterday, and I cannot stop listening to her on youtube....

 That is her from back in the day ..  Even though she is almost 97 years old I encountered first hand yesterday that she still knew every single note, rhythm, and line from "La Traviata".  As the young singers performed, it didn't matter if it was Violetta, Alfredo or Giorgio singing you heard the still beautiful Licia Albanese singing along like she was performing herself. It brought tears to my eyes, and joy to my heart to see that music, and opera was still living inside this woman every moment of her 96 year old life.  I truly want to be like her one day.

   


Off Topic but Lady Gaga's father is a member of the club in addition to Licia.

Its pretty amazing how talent congregates in the same place now isn't it?  Lady Gaga could be the "Licia" of pop music 70 years down the line...we'll just have to see.


Well until next time.  I'm home again, studying large amounts of World Music for my Midterm that is in less than two weeks now.  Wish me Luck.


Thursday, March 4, 2010

a beautiful flower, plucked from the vine

Flowers taken before their time, but beautiful none the less. Oh the wonderfulness of nature...



Cloudy with a chance of puppies...

Below are the three most beautiful dogs in the world. Apollo, Athena, and Zeus. My babies..





Wednesday, March 3, 2010

My home away from home...



Why can't I be here? :(

a melancholy state of mind...the connecticut chapter...

Don't you all wish you had a friend you could walk for hours with while listening to music, never saying a word but enjoying each others company all the same. Welcome to my wonderful day, with my best friend, Caitlyn.






It's spring break and I adore being home. I'm going to the city tomorrow for a night, and like though I'm excited about the company I will be with I'm really going to miss my puppies and being in Connecticut. I love the woods. Sometimes I tire so much of the busy, NYC.

Though I love it there, I love being home more. And I love my wonderful dogs.... They are the bestest dogs in the whole wide world. Well anyway, I'm going to try to update more.

Since my breakup....i've decided I'm trying to find Oz. I know you might think I'm crazy but when I was younger I read L. Frank Baums' writing almost everyday. I own almost every book of his, and it was truly the first time that i could escape into a magical world. I love the idea of magic, and sometimes I really feel like Dorothy...except I'm not IN Oz.....but I desperately want to be. Well on that note....till next time <3