Thoughts on Anna Karenina

A couple of weeks ago I went to see the completely crappy Gerrard Butler flick in lieu of Anna Karenina, the trailer, because I was afraid I'd be disappointed by Keira Knightly.  Big mistake.

Today I went to see Anna Karenina with my uncle for his birthday. He's a Tolstoy fanatic (and I mean that as a true compliment).  My mom, my aunt, and my cousin, an accomplished actor, came along too.

Anna

This movie was brilliant!  I want to see it again.  and again.  It's an interesting interpretation of the book.  I felt it remained true to the story without strictly following the plot.  Bravo, Tom Stoppard.  For instance, the dance scene where Vronsky transfers his 'love' from Kitty to Anna.  That's not how it happens in the book, but the viewer ends up with the same feeling as she does reading the book's scenes-- gut wrenched.  I also found the expected sophomoric humor true to Tolstoy too: dog poot and nose blowing.  Tolstoy paid a lot of attention to the material world and to details that would never be filed under "high art". It's true to life that funny things happen at the most inopportune times.

I felt the movie took advantage of the visual cues: color, the theater, some of the shots are amazing... even if it occasionally was over the top.

Karenin

My biggest disappointment: Karenin.  Jude Law turned the detestable character into an almost likable bloke.  I take issue with this.  In the book, he's the epitome of frigid obligation.  He's narrow and rigid. He makes the reader's skin crawl without a single misstep.  He has no clue how to be human.  He has no friends.  He turns love into a formula.  He turns the gospel into a formula.  His forgiveness serves as a death sentence to Anna because of his incapability to love or receive or give grace.  Jude Law's Karenin is warm-blooded, which makes Anna out to be more of a tart than in actuality.  Tolstoy's Karenin would leech the life and spirit out of any passionate woman-- any woman.

I enjoyed how stylized the picture was.  I especially liked the completely choreographed bureaucracy  scene-- as were the society scenes.  Tolstoy felt the same way about bureaucracy and society; he was no fan.  I liked Levin, although I always imagined him older and bald.  Trust me, the movie's version was far easier on the eyes than my mind's eye's version.

The quotation: "There are as many loves as their are hearts" has gotten a lot of attention.  I believe Stoppard used it as the organizing point of his movie adaptation. I think Tolstoy makes a strong case that is limited to the character of the person who offers it: Karenin, Oblonsky, Vronsky, and Levin are capable of very different types of love-- some more true and real.  However, I don't think Tolstoy was a postmodernist.  He had more in mind that character flaws are limitations on one's ability to love.

Oblonsky

For example, the affable character Oblonsky; he's a chummy cad that one cannot help but like whose early dalliance caused the meeting between Anna and Vronsky.  (Is that a comment on how connected we are to one another and how are personal sin affects others?)  But, his inability to remain true to his wife Dolly is linked throughout the story to his debt.  He sells Dolly's land/dowry in order to cover his debts.  He lacks discipline and self control, which punishes his family.  He loves Dolly, but his love is limited to his refusal to restrain himself.  He is ruled by his appetites.   Whereas, Levin is almost the opposite: his honor almost prevents him asking Kitty to marry him again.  Then, there is Karenin who is incapable of love.  Does Vronsky love Anna?  That's the question my mom asked at the end of the film, and it's a good one.  I answered to the degree he was able.

 It's a thought-provoking film well worth seeing.

Christmas 2012 musings

Yowsers: AL's Xmas tree! 

It was a nice holiday.  I was sick for the first half but recovered in time to partake in the edibles!  It was a good reminder of how good life is: family, friends, food, time to relax and laugh.  I really enjoyed being with my family.  We did practically nothing.  We ate French Onion Soup, my brother and I watched Looney Tunes.  My mom said, "This is a great reminder of the role of family... even with their foibles... they are your family."  My aunt went all out with her party, and it was lovely.  The devil is in the details.

My Silly Brother

We did manage to go to the Christmas Eve service-- it was the contemporary music service, but the sermon was fantastic.  The pastor compared the article in Us Weekly about the preparations for Prince William and Kate's baby and Jesus's birth.  I was really struck by his comment about the prophesies about Bethlehem, and how they did nothing to spruce it up for the Messiah.  The parallels in my life run rampant.

The other thing that really struck me this time is the star.  It's beautiful that a) nature was drawn to Jesus and b) Jesus met the Magi in their language/vocation/passion.

Yes, please

The other difference this year was having to work Christmas Eve.  It wasn't bad, but it was a good reminder of how tough some people's lives are.  All I could think about were the poor mamas who had to work a shift at Wal-Mart or a grocery store and then come home to be Santa.  I also realized what a service working is.  We drove by a pharmacy open on Christmas-- can you imagine needing medicine and not being able to get it?

Also, Christmas cards and texts from friends were really sweet.  I felt loved.

So lovely!

I hope you had a happy, meaningful Christmas!

12/21/12... and I feel fine

It's the end of the world as we know it.  Yeah, REM.  Today was busy; I spoke with Essence and Inspiration and ate free pizza-- really what more could I ask for?  I thought the heron had abandoned our creek for somewhere warmer.  Instead, the bloke stood morose and somber-- he was ready for the end of the world... and a photo shoot.

Isn't he lovely?  I love his coloring, and how his feathers are blowing in the wind. He looks cold.

chats, grilled cheese, hope, art and "art"

Tattooed Pigs Fly

Origami Tree!!!

Tools: For the man who has everything

My "weekend" is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  It's a little weird but doable.  It's a great schedule for looking for a job.  This "weekend" really flew by.

A Hoot

Tuesday was wrapped up in talking with this headmaster of a school in Seattle.  Don't misinterpret: I'm a long ways away from accepting a job offer.  But, I wanted to chat with someone before I embarked on the rather daunting application process.  There are several essays and such... it reminded me of college apps really.  After discussing with the head of school, I decided the essays would be a good exercise for me anyway; they'd help me clarify what I have to offer and what I want from a position. I cannot tell you how pivotal this conversation was in my perspective, compounded with some letters and journaling I did this past week.  I even bought a 2013 All Sport Season's Pass at the White Water Center.  I want to go at least once a week!

Cupcake Tree!

Chill Wednesday: my shoulders hurt when I went to bed and hurt when I woke up so I got an hour long CHINESE MASSAGE, which put me in a mood for a great hike, received an email about teaching English in Rwanda this summer!!!!, curse at fellow drivers while I listen to the Gospel of John on CD (I'm that bad but so was their driving), consider the irony, brow wax, discuss providence, good works, tattoos, nose rings, meet a good friend at one restaurant, apologize to bartender and leave for half-price wine at another one, fall in love with Llama Malbec, buy a hat at Nordstrom's, read some in Les Mis.

one of the misses

before they were dry

Grilled Cheese Thursday: got up at 6 am, chatted and read, went back to bed.  Woke up second time at 10:13am to two  calls from my favorite neighbor. called neighbor back and made lunch plans. bought one pound of  Neese's Extra Sage Sausage. went to lunch with neighbor ate a Blackberry Brie Grilled Cheese with Tomato Basil soup at Spindle City.  proceeded across the street to the Art Guild.  chatted with the artist and enjoyed the broad range of art.  some were hits and some were misses.  Impressed my favorite neighbor; she asked me, "Were you pulling that lady's leg? Were you just making that up?" I told her, "I did take some art in college, but I mostly shot from the hip."  Fav neighb responded, "Well, we made her day." Made work-intensive, dry Sausage balls. Drove to the String Bean to meet a friend who ended up getting lost.  Drank a beer and journaled the hour away. Ate another grilled cheese.  Had a great conversation about the Hobbit, demons, smartphones.  Thoroughly enjoyed our friendship.

Pillow Cake= Comfort Food?

climbing opossums and post-it notes

 Sometimes I complain life doesn't hold enough surprises. Last week broke up the monotony. On Friday, a mass murder of kindergarteners that shakes us briefly out of complacence.

Then, on Sunday, at the opposite end of the spectrum, this opossum clambered up a tree before work.  We stood transfixed by the grotesque and compelling feat.  It was the first time several of my coworkers had seen a live one.  He seemed to be attempting to escape his fate. He was high in a tall oak, getting as far away as possible from the street.  My office is really near uptown, so the opossum was out of his element.

As I settle into this job, I realize that I find cubicles, pale yellow paint, bullet-point facts, and bureaucracy soul crushing.  I don't like being leashed by a computer monitoring system or a headset.  

Then again, I'm realizing I really enjoy talking with (most) people.  I'm learning I enjoy working with words-- I really like composing notes and letters.  It's really fun to come up with ways to state the same information in a more bearable sentence-- we're really about packaging.  I also realize how much I value movement and getting to go outside.  I also like being around young people... but smart people too.  I also really like bright post-it notes.  I go through at least one pack a week.  Related, I really like to write lists and doodle, and I prefer blue pens to black. 

While I'm tripping down Know Thyself lane, I've caught myself clinging to an offhand comment a friend made about learning to accept yourself as you are in your 30's.  As I was in the midst of a really craptastic day, I went on a walk and bought Les Mis.  Life became bearable after the walk and reading 50 pages.  I only snapped one more time after that: a guy had the audacity to assert I had a Master's in education.  So, I need to accept that I like reading, being outside, physical activity, and snap when irritated.  I'm surrounded by people that don't get excited... ever.  Dude, I get excited about post-it notes, first names (Retina and Amiracle), and some of my doodles.  I have a map in my cubicle so that I can figure out where people are-- and I circle the places.  But, the flip-side to being easily excited is that I'm easily upset.  And in accepting my high level of excitability, I can better appreciate the attributes of my colleagues low level excitability.

Life is a collage of the intense and mundane, the esoteric and the everyday.  Navigation is forever tricky.  Life seemed far more manageable when I was 15 years-old.  Instead of applying a wrecking ball to everything I hate, I think I need to listen more, look more, understand more-- some people refer to it as "wisdom".  I listened to Isaiah last week and was struck by God's sovereignty and by the phrase "eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear and hearts that don't understand."

P.S.  So far, Les Mis is fantastic.

Handel's Messiah

The ad 

Some people celebrated 12/12/12 with wedding nuptials.  My family celebrated it with traditional Advent. Last night, I took my mom to dinner and Handel's Messiah.  It was an enjoyable evening (better than some weddings I've attended).  It felt apropos since she was the one who introduced me to the music.  When I was little, I remember the woman playing the timpani, the color of the trumpet, and the audience standing for the Hallelujah chorus. The program had the text in its entirety with the Bible verses, which was helpful.  Now, I really like the choruses: I'm not sure if that's due to maturity or theological development or mere coincidence.

We went to Harvest Moon Grille for dinner.  It's one of those hipster joints that only uses local food.  It was delish! Mom got the kale salad and smoked chicken breast.  I got the roasted squash salad and pork shank.  I've never had sweet potatoes au gratin before, but they were good.  Even the butter was local and yummy.

xmas tourist

I had one fun day yesterday... equally relaxing and stimulating.  Fun was much needed as I've been an uptight stress bunny the past couple of days.  But, fun is full of magic and reorientates my perspective.

I went to see the horrid new Gerrard Butler movie.  I sat through the entire thing waiting for it to get better.  But, it didn't.  (Sorry, if I ruined it for you.)  I should of gone to Anna Karenina, but I was afraid it would be disappointing because I love the book.  I don't think it could have been more disappointing than this dud; I despised how vapid it made out women to be.

Then we went to a French restaurant where I demolished this amazing smoked salmon croissant and some skinny fries and window shopped at the fancy stores that sell what NYC people where.  It's the stuff I read about in magazines.  It's nice to see it in real life.  I contend clothes boutiques are art galleries.  Shoes, dresses, etc. are beautiful and innovative.

It was cold. So when my aunt left to go to get ready for her appointment, I had to go by my favorite consignment shop.  I fell in love with this teal cashmere sweater, cool but decent jeans, and these Katherine Hepburn-esque/ Lauren Bacall-esque pants.  I was such a dork: I asked the sales girls to cut off the tags so I could wear them right then (sweater and jeans).  And, I changed right there.  I felt fantastic and adventurous that I headed to uptown.

After snagging a parking spot, I went around snapping really bad shots of cool decorations.  About five people came up to me and chatted while I was taking pictures.  I discussed with a homeless guy the possibility that they'd keep the lights up after Christmas.  We both they'll keep the tree garden one with blue lights up year-round.  The lights transform the corner from scary to magical.

An artistic Christmas tree

Then, I ended up at the Mint for their Tuesday night FREEdom.  Because of my work schedule, I miss worship services.  It's gotten to the point I'd even go to a bad one with cheesy music and lackluster preaching just to go.  But, the museum felt sacred in the sense that it's set apart.  Beauty points to a good and big God and reminds you that there are elements to reality that are not visible to the naked eye.

And, I happened upon this lecture by Joseph Walsh this artist that uses wood as his medium.  It was a fantastic lecture: nice looking guy, Irish accent, beautiful slides, and interesting ideas that I'd never considered.

It's nice to escape the grinding monotony of everyday every once in a while, right?  Even if it's a mini-adventure in your city.

the wormy scarflet

Like most of my endeavors, there's a distinct hit-or-miss factor to my knitting.  What I lack in talent, I make up for in ingenuity and ignorance. I'm pleased with my latest "creation".  I don't even know what I should call it.  Scarflet? Mini scarf with button? Neck-knit?

Ingredients:
two funky yarns that Joy spun together for me.
1 faux-celtic button.
1 plain button.
Some black stretchy string.
Ribbon.
An old scarf my mom bought for me in Wilmington at an arts fair.

I think I like knitting.  I'm not really interested in intricate patterns or all the different types of knitting.  I'm really interested in the materials, juxtaposition, and color.  I need pretty, soft yarn to get me interested in a project.

I may go to the yarn store tomorrow to stock up on some more chunky yarn to make some scarflets for Christmas presents.

It feels awesome: warm and snuggly.  I need to get someone to my picture while I'm wearing it.

Tis the Season

dude sunbathing with Christmas wreath in background

The weather has been insanely gorgeous.  Today, December 4th, I ate lunch outside.  I ate with hygienic disposable chopsticks and discussed badminton, ethics, and inerrancy.  Then, I sat on a bench next to a fountain with a latte and finally finished JK Rowling's Casual Vacancy.

Then, I met my mentoring group to eat cheeseburgers and walk McAdenville, aka Christmasville, USA.  I felt like an ambassador for my county.  I quasi-explained mill hills and textile manufacturing while defending Southern rednecks.  Um, it's not like we have a monopoly on rednecks-- ours are just more entertaining.

My hometown: even better in person

P.S. I got a camera... let the rumpus start.