i'm a pixel here, myself

Okay, they're not THAT bad, but I can say that this show is a step *down* in musical ability from "Jekyll & Hyde". It doesn't matter all that much, since it's not a show with a lot for the ensemble to do, music-wise (really, if you've got a good Quixote, Aldonza, and Sancho, you're fine), but eesh. Apparently it's too much to ask for people to read music. Okay, I guess that's not fair -- a few people in J&H couldn't read music, but they got along fine. It's that some of these folks are a little slower to pick up harmony lines. Today was only the first rehearsal, though, so maybe I shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. Also, our music director likes to talk. A lot. I kept staring at him like "can we SING now?" for much of the rehearsal.

In Potter news, I'm about to start the book again -- I want to catch all the little details I missed on my speed-through. To that end, there may be some more detailed posts from me in re: things in the book. I will, of course, use cut-tags judiciously. But before that, some overall points I didn't mention the other day in my super-short reaction post (spoilers abound!): ( potter potter potter potter potter potter potter potter potter potter potter weasley WEASLEY! )

Hi, Monday. You really ARE a bastard, you know that? Jesus.

I went in to work today slightly late, because I was up last night reading later than I should have been (just finished: Dan Savage's The Commitment: love, sex, marriage, and my family), and it's a Monday, so I know that's going to smack me pretty hard on the ass. What I did NOT expect was to not leave work until 6:30. I mean, yay, racking up the overtime. But six-thirty? I had been hoping to make it to the gym, but when the gym closes at 7, that's a no-go.

Apparently Wednesday is Independence Day, which somebody had to tell me -- I always think of it as "the 4th of July", and hadn't really registered that this past Sunday was the 1st. It's going to be weird (and AWESOME) to have two two-day weeks this week; two days and then a day off! And then two more days and then TWO days off! Man, so cool when things like this happen in the middle of a week.

ANYway, I have about a dozen stories saved in my memories to be read at some point. I finished Danny's [masterpiece] a couple weeks ago and I'm waiting to reread it at some point, but in the meantime I seem to be involved with Actual In-My-Hand Books for a change, so I'm just going with that. That said, if you've read something recently that you thought was truly awesome, please let me know.

Randomly: does anybody know what's going on with Project Runway season 4? Is there going to be an s4? When?

Good morning, flist! I have realized that I no longer post on weekends. I'm not entirely sure why this is. Perhaps I've gotten lazy; perhaps the boy has trained me that weekends are for weekending, not spending time with my computer; perhaps I am simply so embroiled in my video game campaign that I haven't had anything to write about (ZOMG Final Fantasy XII comes out TOMORROW!). But whatever. Today I write to you about awesome.

When I was in high school, there was a book. I'm not sure the initial date of publication, but it was 1996 or 1997. I don't even remember who recommended it to me, though I suspect it was my librarian or my then-best-friend S. But I picked it up and couldn't put it down. I finished it almost instantly and longed for the not-yet-written sequels. That book was The Golden Compass. I was deliriously happy when its sequels The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass were released, the final book not until I was in college. I read them and continue to re-read them and they remain on my list of top books of all time. And they're now the basis for a series of movies. Well, okay, maybe not a full series, but I know they're titling the first one His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass, which leads me to believe it's not the only one. The script is written by Tom Stoppard based on Pullman's book, so I've no doubt it will be amazing. Behind the cut is the first still I have seen of the movie, a scene near the beginning of The Golden Compass, with Lyra and Mrs. Coulter in the Master of Jordan's residence. It makes me so thrilled: first, that the movies are being *made*, and second, that the movie Lyra fits well enough with my mental picture of her. Anyway, ( click )

God, I am SO FREAKING EXCITED for this movie, and it doesn't come out until probably Christmas of next year. Woe!

Unpopular musical opinion: Sufjan Stevens makes me want to smash baby animals. All of my friends love him and think he's the most brilliant thing since, like, the invention of the guitar, but if I have to hear another one of his songs (especially that stupid "Chicago" one) I am going to throw the offending iPod/computer/radio out the window and never look back. I can't say *exactly* why, but a lot of it has to do with his high-pitched, ridiculously breathy voice.

I hit the snooze button nine times this morning. NINE TIMES. At nine minutes per hit, that's almost an hour and a half. Ridiculous! The key now is to make it to Thursday, when I will be able to download Wednesday's Project Runway, and then go street-singing with my a cappella group. I think I'll make E watch more of PR s2 tonight and then go to bed early, since I have been almost falling asleep all day.

Also: rec me a book! I'm about 100-ish pages into Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and it's a good story, but the style makes it move too slowly for my taste. I'll be returning that and seeking to borrow other library books for my reading pleasure. I'd prefer sf/fantasy (though not High Fantasy or super-techy SF; humorous is always nice) or gay fiction, but I'm open to pretty much anything! I've got a couple of Gaiman books on my list right now, but the list can always be expanded.

1. Neverwhere was quite good. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is going to take me a *long* time to finish, if I ever do.

2. [Photo of Johnny Weir], courtesy of Andy Towle. For those of you who won't click on something before you know what it is, that's Johnny, naked to the waist, in heels. I know there are Weir fans on my flist -- callmesandy, have you seen this? You really, really should.

3. Three-song (i.e. way short) a cappella set in Mill Valley tomorrow. The only reason I can go: if I miss the train home from the city, I can stay over with the boy. How convenient! No, really.

4. I need a non-boring aspect of my job.

Still no A/C at work. This is not going to be a fun week. Anyway, with the heat and lack of A/C I went to the public library, but it turned out their wireless wasn't working, so I had to come home to do my work, which I'm resolutely not doing right now. Instead, I'm drinking water like a fiend and thinking about the popsicles that remain in the freezer.

Anyway, at the library I got out Neverwhere and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell because I've heard they're both good (yes, Caleb, I'll get to American Gods and Anansi Boys) and so now I have things to read! Yaye.

You guys, it's too hot for my brain to let me expend any energy being fannish. Susan has a "comment porn at me!" entry and I'm tempted to go play over there, but I risk overheating. I need a swimming pool. Filled with cool water and hot boys, obviously.

( further adventures of Drew and the boy ) I hate being confused.

More spammage before I go to bed, but this one I can't get out of my head. I'm rereading microserfs and I came to one of Dan's subconscious pages and the question at the top of it hit me right between the eyes. Here it is for you all; answer or don't as you see fit, though I'd love to hear answers if you've got them:

Q: If there were two of you, which one would win?

I finished Microserfs again. The last six pages have me bawling every time.