Birthday Triplets

I bet you didn't know I'm part of a Canadian triplet gang. The gang originated back on the day of all of our births... June 7, 1988. The two Canadians in my triplet gang are none other than Milan Lucic and Michael Cera. Together, we would form an awesome 6/7/88 gang. We just need to get Michael to Boston and then I think our bond will drag us together and  awesomeness will ensue! We will probably solve all of the Earth's problems. They will make Avengers 2 about us. Until then, Happy Birthday to us!!

Summer Movies: 2012 Edition

I gave in and saw The Avengers yesterday. It was a rainy day and there was really nothing else playing at the theater. And let me tell you, I was hugely disappointed. I went in with pretty high expectations from all the hype and records it has been breaking, but the movie was too cheesy to be taken seriously. I know this will never happen, but can the superhero trend be over already? Well, after the Dark Knight Rises, then it can be over forever and I wouldn't mind. 

I complied a list of the top 5 movies I am looking forward to this summer (other than Dark Knight Rises):

Moonrise Kingdom, limited release May 25: 

Lola Verses, June 8: 

To Rome with Love, June 22: 

Brave, June 22:

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, June 22: 

And as a bonus:

Celeste and Jesse Forever, trailer not release yet but I still have high hopes, I believe it comes out at the end of August:

What movies are you looking forward to this summer?

Les Mis-er-ab-les

Have you seen this yet? If not, watch now, and thank me later: 

Goosebumps every time! Anne Hathaway's voice is the perfect combination of pain and beauty. I just want the soundtrack to come out NOW. I am excited for this film adaptation of the musical (which comes out December 14) for many reason. Here are my top 3:

1. Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackson working together. I think they are two of the most likable and diverse people in Hollywood right now. They both have done the "superhero" genre (Anne in the upcoming Batman movie as Catwoman and Hugh as Wolverine), they can do drama, they can do comedy and they both have amazing voices. I'm excited to see them work together, even if their story line is quasi depressing and short lived.
2. Amanda Seyfried adds to her film adapted musical resume. In Mama Mia she wowed us with her impressive voice and upon a little research, I learned she was trained in classical opera for two years and studied under a Broadway voice coach for almost five years. This training definitely shows and is being put to good use in the film adaptations of popular musicals.  
3. I cannot wait to hear people try to pronounce the title. I want to have a hidden camera show at movie ticket counters across the country (heavy in the mid-west) to hear people ask for tickets to Les Miserables. Oh it makes me giggle just thinking about it. Just close your eyes for a second and picture someone in North Dakota who has never heard of the musical go to the movies and say, in a heavy accent, "One for les mis-er-ables please." I may be looking forward to that as much as I am the movie. 

Are you excited for this film? It has an amazing cast and director so hopefully it does not disappoint! Little over a half a year to go-- Let's hope for more amazing trailers along the way to hold us over! 

Bringing Ballet Back

Has anyone else noticed ballet making a not so subtle entrance into pop culture these days? Flipping through the pages of a magazine, I noticed an ad for an ABC Family show entitled “Bunheads” … I wish I were joking. As much as I love ballet, I don’t know how long this show will last. Seriously... you couldn’t have named it anything else… BUNHEADS?!  

There is also going to be a show called “Breaking Pointe” on The CW, which starts tonight at 8. I may actually tune into this one to see how it goes. It’s definitely a better title than bunheads, yet the tagline makes me slightly cringe- “BLOOD SWEAT AND TUTUS.” Come on guys, seriously? Don’t you get paid to be extremely creative?

Last night I watched the newly released video for Florence and the Machine’s new single, Spectrum and sure enough, she was surrounded by ballerinas. You can give the video a watch here: 

While the anorexic girl who I guess is supposed to represent Florence on pointe is beyond freaky, I do like the rest of the video. I just love me some ballet. It’s beautiful. So much blood, sweat, tears, rejection and practice practice practice goes into ballet. They make it look so effortless and beautiful, but behind the scenes it is nothing but hard work and determination. That’s why I am OK with ballet making it’s way into pop culture. As long as it’s heavy on the actual ballet and light on the background drama, I’m game. Now, who can I file a complaint with about the title, “Bunheads?”

Football Emotions

Today has been a day of mixed emotions. I have been close to tears on multiple occasions, for entirely different reasons, but all related to football. On one hand, I am extremely saddened by the apparent suicide of Junior Seo. He was a 12-time Pro Browler, and he seemed so well respected in the NFL and in his hometown of San Diego. Although the news of Junior Seo’s death was a shock, I did not feel like crying until I got home and was watching the Nightly News with Brian Williams on NBC. They showed a clip of what I suppose would be considered a press conference with Junior Seo’s mother and sister. I felt sick that they had to stand in front of all of those cameras and make some sort of statement when they should just be together, dealing with this difficult time as a family. It is also quite something to note that Junior Seo is the 8th deceased member (all below the age of 45) of the 1994 San Diego Charger’s football team. Other members have died of such tragedies such as heart attacks, car crashes, plane crash and one member was even struck by lightening. Life after football may need more attention.

Speaking of life after football, the other story I saw today was Eric LeGrand being signed by the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. Eric LeGrand was the Rutgers defensive tackle that was paralyzed after a tackle ended his football career on the field in the 2010. LeGrand’s story could have ended there and we could never have heard about him again. He was told he would be a quadriplegic and would have to be on a ventilator, but in just five weeks from that diagnosis he was breathing on his own and went back to school in the spring of 2011. He has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and remained an integral part of the Rutgers football team. As previously mentioned, LeGrand was signed by the Bucaneers today. His coach at Rutgers, Greg Schiano, is now a coach on Tampa Bay and he couldn’t help but think this is the year Eric would have been in the draft class. Schiano said of signing LeGrand, "This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men." That statement is so touching and so special. LeGrand got me even more choked up when he said, “Dreams do come true if you really believe. You do the right things in life, good things happen to you.” Seriously??!? If this man can find the good in life, I think we all can. Good things happen if you do the right things. He is so right. Don’t take life for granted. Work hard, be kind to others, do the right things, and good things will happen. 

Seeking Advice!

I need some advice, my friends. I'm wanting to chop my hair off. I used to do this quite often and always regretted it in the end, but I feel like it would be a refreshing change right now. I'm thinking a little above the shoulders. Should I do it!? I'll supply some pictures of what I'm thinking. Let me know your thoughts! I need all the advice I can get before I do something drastic! Thanks in advance!

Emma and Andrew sitting in a tree...

What do you think? Couple or promotion? Personally I think this relationship blossomed at just the right time to get people interested in 'The Amazing Spiderman' which is coming out in July. At first I thought they looked kind of cute together, but now it's just starting to get annoying... especially after I saw this picture, where Emma looked like she wanted to get as far away as Andrew as she possibly could but he was like "Oh no you don't!":

Is that an awkward photo or what? I don't know... maybe they are a real couple? If so, they sure took their work home with them... am I right? No in all seriousness, congrats to them if they're happy together. And now... a personal message to Emma:

Dear Emma,

I think you're fantastic. I think we could be friends in real life. But all of that changes when you revert back to your blonde hair. I know it's your natural hair color but you are just so much more likable as a red head. I don't know what it is!! But please, go back to the red? You look so much happier and healthier as a red head. Thanks.

Your friend,

Ashleigh