.symphony and summer.

As only a true blogging geek can, I was thinking about how to link these two sets of photos together when the obvious answer came to me: symphony of music and of light. For the sake of the blog, we must return to the titles of years past. And let's face it - "celebration of light" isn't a very good name anyway.

.symphony in the park.

Two weekends ago, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra did a free show in Deer Lake park. So we trudged out there, complete with cooler full of drinks, dinner, brie and red pepper jelly. No, we didn't mess around. This year, we roped in a few others: Lana, Brenda, Rick, Shaun, Jon and Katie. Heck, even my parents joined our blanket. It was the place to be. As always it was a wonderful event: listening to beautiful music as you stare up at that beautiful sky. It's hard to get any better than that.

.the symphony of light.

As it turns out, these weeks are getting quite busy as I try to finish off my course, plan for Europe, and attend weddings. I had this sudden fear I wouldn't be able to attend any of the fireworks. But Stef and Heather came through for me. Here's the thing: I just love the fireworks. I know its a hassle getting down there, finding a parking space, taking on the crowds and all of that. But when I am sitting there, experiencing the solidarity of the crowd all around me, I am taken in. All of the silly "fireworks madness" seems worth it - at least to me. I feel like a little kid, resisting every urge to yell "ooo" and "ahhh" as they go off in the sky. This time, we sat on Kits beach, thereby avoiding the downtown madness. It was a great call, we were many feet away from fellow sweaty bodies (I don't want that much solidarity). Not one, but two of our fellow fireworks attenders had radios out for clear reception. We ate candy, Heather took pictures with the new SLR, and life was good.

In all honesty, I think this post was just for myself, to proove that I am actually finding time to do fun things in the midst of my mental summer. But hey, at least I had pictures right?

.true story.

i am sitting on matt's back porch.

through the trees i can hear a barbershop quartet.

no, it's not a radio, it's real men. i can hear them talking.

they are sitting on a porch rehearsing.

there is also some sort of harmonica (a tuning device?)

and their harmony is amazing.

they are singing "in the still of the night".

they are telling me they love me.

i couldn't be happier.

this is one of those summer moments you couldn't create if you tried.

i imagine they look like this:

except maybe with those amazing striped vest and hats. but i guess you don't wear those during rehearsal....

"reviews are usually well received"....

So I realized that I go to a lot of movies. This may be a bad thing, but I am alright with it. I don't really like that facebook thing that rates them. I decided I would do it the "old fashioned" way on the ol' blogger. For your reading pleasure, a few reviews of drastically different films. So don't accuse me of being too "artsy" or too "hollywood".

.License to Wed.

I have very little to say about this movie except this:


Do NOT go see it. It is a waste of time and money - even if you like Robin (which I do). The acting is horrible, the plot line is weak and the characters are implausible. If you must see it, rent it.


.Paris Je t'aime.


"Through the neighborhoods of Paris, love is veiled, revealed, imitated, sucked dry, reinvented and awakened"


One Friday night, I found the preview for this movie, and I had to see it right then. So we drove downtown to Fifth Avenue (which I also just love, everything is so well done at that theatre). The film is comprised of 18 vignettes created by world renowned directors and writers. They have only one common thread: Paris, the city of Love. It was a truly refreshing change of pace. Some were funny, others were heartbreaking or strange. The list of actors is crazy. In every short, you are surprised by the people on screen. Some are in English and some are in French with subtitles. Basically, they are just moments of humanity. You get up from your seat at the end and feel like you have just witnessed something very real. I don't think its for everyone, but I really loved it. Just do me a favor and go watch the preview, its a work of art in and of itself.


.Live Free or Die Hard.

I am going to go ahead and say that I liked it. About two weeks ago, I didn't know anything about these movies. Then one night, Die Hard 2 was on. It's a total cop movie, but in all the best ways. Basically, Bruce Willis would have died 12 times if it were real. This one was a "technological" plot. So there was lots of talk about the "server" and the "main frame". Sort of an advanced version of Sandra's Bullock's hit "The Net" - only 10 years later. haha. But seriously, I liked it. If you enjoy Bruce, and the Die Hard movies, I reccomend it.

found on postsecret.....

and the legend lives on......

(check out the original post, there are some funny responses)

......

Apparently people like Brenda exist out there, but I still maintain that she has become a lower mainland legend.

I remember when she was making it during our grade 12 year, and I would come over. It was meant to be a big secret so suddenly the whole house would "mobilize" to hide it away when I came upstairs. It seemed pretty sketchy, like an illegal drug operation or something. But oh no, in true Brenda style, a dress like no other, proving she was still outside the norm.

This one goes out to you Brenda- my soon to be travel buddy. You are one of a kind.

.the long weekend.

.granville island.

.a random sea tormented teddy bear on the dock.

.a play called 'suds'.

.cheap student tickets.

.gelato.

.fresh brewed loose leaf tea.

=

happiness.