La Primavera

A little madness in the Spring

Is wholesome even for the King,

But God be with the Clown —

Who ponders this tremendous scene —

This whole Experiment of Green —

As if it were his own!

--Emily Dickenson

I love springtime! I love the freshness in the air, the busy chirpping of birds, and the budding of new life. This is the time I feel most inspired to start afresh and make new resolutions...to keep the house clean, my lazy bum active, and my outlook on life vibrant...why can't New Year's just be in Spring?!

Although less relevant to birds and buds, springtime also brings such funtimes as April Fool's, Spring break, and, my favorite, the showcase of the local high school musical. On this latter subject I have a few thoughts. This past weekend our local high school put on the show "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" which Justin and I went to go see on opening night. Considering we live in a small, relatively isolated town, I thought the kids did a really good job. Of course it wasn't a Tony performance, but if anything it was upbeat and the few kids who could really act/sing made it worthwhile. After the show, I starting thinking about musicals that high school kids SHOULD NOT put on. Here's the top 5 list I came up with (as you can see I am getting addicted to lists...but oh well):

#5 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL--Enough already! I feel like the whole HSM phase is like a bad case of acne that just won't disappear. It sounds cute right? Real high school kids re-enacting the love and drama of Disney's new generation of Mouseketeers? WRONG! For all those high schools considering on cashing in on this craze don't do it...for the love of all that is good, DON"T DO IT! Because the original production was, at best, tolerable (if you like that whole Disney-superficial-teenage-popstar thing), any re-make will really be torture. Also, no offense to anybody in high school, but for reals, high school drama it NOT exiciting...musicals are either good when they are about hardcore, people dying for a secret love, kind of drama or when their about feel-good, orphans finding new families, kind ot drama. Nothing in between really works for musical theater. Again, this is a major NO-NO for anyone.

#4 CATS-Although this is probably not a musical most high schools would even consider given the complexity of the costumes, it is still an option and that alone makes it vulnerable to being undertaken by either 1) a really desperate or 2) an overly ambitious high school. Let's just say that brightly colored spandex and furry tails are better left for the professionals and my favorite PBS show from the 80s Zoobilee Zoo (bring back memories anyone?!)

#3 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA-Ahh, another Andrew Lloyd Weber classic. Like Cats, this one is also vulnerable to the overly desperate and/or overly ambitious students of the arts. However, the reasons why this is a NO-NO doesn't have anything to do with costumes; instead, it has to do with talent and sex appeal. First of all, while some Broadway roles can be undertaken by less-than-great talent (or least forgiven for their attempts), the role of Christine is reserved only for the greatest of the great...I have yet to hear a 16 girl hit those Sarah Brightman notes. Second, the Phantom is scary yes, but he is also meant to be extremely sexy in a pompous, social recluse, Mr. Darcy kind of way. For all those sappy Pride and Prejudice addicts out there you know what I mean...trying to cast some Peter Brady for the Phantom is like trying to cast someone other than Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy...it's just not the same.

#2 HAIRSPRAY-Okay, well this might seem like a good option for the high school theater club...great story, lots of dancing, and a re-newed comtemporary appeal. But however shocking this may sound, this story was much better as a movie instead of a musical. Sure the music WAS great in the re-makes (Broadway and Hollywood), but somehow when the focus of the story changed to the music instead of the cheeky, somewhat trashy acting (that was only found in the original), it lost a lot of its charm. Briefly stated, Hairspray is a satire about race, class, and image and is better showcased through the twisted humor of John Waters than on the stage of musical theater. Besides, nobody quite plays Tracey Turnblad and her mom like Rickie Lake and Divine.

#1 RENT--Actually, as a kid I LOVED the music to this musical...I still find myself randomly singing "Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes...." Then when I grew up I finally realized what the storyline was about--AIDS, inner-city poverty, and homosexual love. Not that these aren't important issues to talk about in society, but somehow I just don't see high school kids pulling this one off. For one thing, I know this musical would NEVER happen in my town (probably better it didn't too!), but also I think that this musical applied to the high school arena would have the same effect as watching self-taught singers/dancers/musicians try out for those talent reality show--ARKWARD--for both the performers and the audience! However, come to think of it, I would really like to see an adaptation of this musical to fit the scene of the struggling to survive artists/musicians in country-bumkin-landia...anyone up to see SHARECROPPER?

--A

Sunday Fun...Food Cravings

Okay, so I have decided that blogging is a worthwhile Sunday activity for the following reasons:

1. It replaces journal writing-which I have never been good at anyways.

2. It replaces family/friends contact-Since I am terrible about calling people on a regular basis, I figure this is a guilt free way to maintain some dignity.

3. It helps to bring a peaceful spirit to my home-or at least, it prevents me from nagging Justin the whole day to go on a walk with me...there is something about husbands and Sunday walks that don't mix...husbands and Sunday naps, YES...even husbands and Sunday sundaes.

...but not walks...hmmm? Anyways...moving on...

Although I have wonderfully spiritual Sundays, most often I think about delicious food. I know I should be thinking about "holy matters," but usually Sunday afternoon finds my mind contemplating the wonders of mashed potatoes and gravy or the intricacies of a darn good bowl of macaroni and cheese. Don't get me wrong, I have sophisticated tastes as well...I like a well cooked fillet mignon as much as the next person, but on Sunday I really crave that good ole' home cooking. So, in the spirit of praising food, the following is my top 10 list of my favorite Sunday foods:

#10 A bowl of Fruity Pebbles-as a kid this was contraband as we only ate colon healthy cereal...which I still like the Wheaties and Raisin Bran...but I wouldn't really consider them craving-worthy foods.

#9 The Boston Market salisbury steak frozen dinner-again childhood contraband so of course I crave it!

#8 Grandpa's shrimp chop suey with Grandma's potato salad-oh man! what great memories of chowing this stuff down; even at the innocent age of 8 or 9 I can remember eating at least 3 servings of each...really made fast Sunday worthwhile...ahhh, good times.

#7 Aunt Minae's homemade rolls-I know every homemaker has their roll recipe they whip out to impress company (trust me, not all rolls are equal!), but Aunt Minae's were the best; they were always hot, fresh out of the oven and had that sweet, doughy smell that could make the most ardent "low-carbber" break their vows of low-carbhood.

#6 A fresh summer-time green salad-this is perhaps one of my favorite meals (I know..from the foods above people must think I have an aversion to "real" food, but trust me I LOVE VEGETABLES!)...of course there must be plenty of onions!

(To prove how much I love salads I have an interesting story about the first time Justin and I officially met. It goes something like this...Lunchtime...Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Boy eats a turkey sandwich with a side of yogurt...Girl eats a 1 gallon size bowl of onion dominated salad with side of garlic dressing...Boy likes girl but is sceptical about onion/garlic addiction...Girl thinks boy is cute...Boy avoids lunchtime conversation, eats sandwich fast, and makes a quick get-a-way...Girl thinks boy is in a hurry but totally digs her "unconventional" meal...Boy discusses the "weird" girl in his work truck with co-worker...Girl makes a note to find way to talk to boy again and perhaps show off her domestic skills by making him "the best salad ever"...)

At home in KCMO there is an Italian restaurant called Osteria Il Centro which has the following statement branded across their front window: "Garlic is the ketsup of intellectuals." To that I would like to add..."Garlic and onions are the ketsup of cool people."

#5 Aunt Jeanne's whole wheat cinnamon rolls-the whole wheat part may sound odd, but trust me, the wheat is where it is at baby! I don't have much of a real sweet, sweet tooth, so I like my desserts only slightly sweet...and these cinnamon rolls always did the trick. Here's to a great treat for your mouth and your colon!

#4 It's getting down to the line now and I have to give some credit to the mashed potatoes-really, while other foods are best if made by a certain individual in my family, mashed potatoes ALWAYS taste good; you really can't go wrong with boiled potato guts and lots of butter...ummm!

#3 Macaroni and cheese-unlike the food mentioned above, there is an art to mac-and-cheese...I don't know what it is, but I definitely recognize that there is a difference between a $0.29 box of plastic, cheese imitation gunk and the stuff that just slides down your throat like karo syrup because it is sooo good!

More cheese, please!

#2 Cheesecake-did I say I wasn't much of a sweet tooth? Oh yeah, I guess I forgot about cheesecake...maybe subconsciously I placed it in a category all its own because, oh yeah...IT IS LIKE TOTALLY ABOVE ALL OTHER DESSERTS! (did I emphasize that enough?!) Now I have to specify which kind. Cheesecake is best in its purest state. That's right. No fruity toppings (although occasionally I can go for cherry cheesecake), no fudge ripple, candy chunk, caramel encrusted cheesecake. Just good old cheese and cake.

Here we go...drum roll please...

#1 My favorite Sunday craving....duhn..da..duhn...well, actually it is anything my own Mom makes-(how could I make a list of best foods and include everyone and their dog in it but not my own mother?!) I know everyone thinks their mom's cooking is the best, but for reals, my mom IS the best cook. It doesn't matter what she makes, it is always good. I can remember mom making the tastiest meals out of nothing. And, she NEVER used a recipe. Mom not only has a photographic memory for academic information, but also for the culinary info. I don't know where she gets her talent from (if it's genetic, it must skip a generation :-), but it may have something to do with the fact that my mother reads cookbooks like novels. Julia Child, Wolfgang Puck, the CIA (Culinary Art Institute of course), Betty Crocker-you name it and I am pretty sure my mom has read their book. Besides, I think there is some comforting, nostalgic feeling that is unearthed when one eats their mother's cooking. Psychologists may have some theory about that feeling and say it has something to do with returning to the "womb" or maybe some other Freudian craziness. Either way, MOM'S COOKING IS SUPREME!

Says...Adri too!

Remember me?

I have a confession...I could probably be on the list of the world's top 10 least enthusiastic bloggers. I know, it has been ages since my last blog. Thanks to all the family and friends who have been checking up on me via blog...I promise I am not dead, I haven't moved, and (just for those who are curious) I am not pregnant. I have found that my blogs are about as frequent as my as my haircuts--once a year just to ensure manageability. Hopefully, (fingers crossed) my blogging defunct stage has passed.

Justin and I are doing pretty good. The worst of the winter has passed (I say that because winter is not officially over here as there is always some freak snow storm in April or May) and my optimism is finally returning. We have been putting a good number of miles on our bikes in the last few weeks, and I have got a little hiking in as well. Although I can still feel my annual gut flub, I think this past winter has been considerably more favorable to health than last. I know this because not once during the term of this winter did I HAVE wear my husband's pants...last year was another story.

Below Aunt R and me at one of our latest winter hikes...Say CHEESE!

While writing this blog I am reminded of all of my failed attempts to consistently write in my journal. It seems I always have the natural urge to try to recap 6 months worth of time in a single journal entry. Well, since I know I can't do that, I am going to skip the time I have been defunct and dive into blogging about the present past...and I am going to start next blog....A