I laugh about everything for fear of crying.

Without further ado, I present my new blog.  Please update your bookmarks and links, and enjoy!

http://phaino.blogspot.com

Love, Jamie.

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted… It has been seriously busy here in the District of Columbia, and by the way, ridiculously cold.  I just wanted to announce, that very soon, I will be unveiling my new blog over at blogspot!!  I’ve grown weary of Friendster blogs and the limited control I have over the html here.  Is everyone atingle with anticipation?  I hope so.

Also, 2 weeks until I’m back in Texas!  Squeee!

Sooo, I went to the symphony tonight.  All dressed up and everything.  The theater is super-fancy and really ornate and beautiful, with lots of guild and red velvet.  And of course a chandelier.  My step-dad and I started our usual Stadler and Waldorf routine before the show, which nearly caused my mom to separate us, but we behaved (mostly) once the lights went down.  I did manage to get in a completely inappropriate "oh, look, Fum, Fum, Fum ’til your daddy takes the t-bird away!" during the show. 

In all seriousness, I adore the symphony, especially the Christmas music.  I may have missed my calling as a concert violinist.  Except the part where I’m only mediocrely talented in the musical arena.  We always sit up top, ’cause we’re poor, yo, but I actually like it better, because you can watch the dozens of strings’ bows all move in unison, and see the feet tapping and the page turning.  I love watching musicians because of all the performance arts, you can really see that a musician would rather be playing his instrument than just about anything else in the world.  Oh, to be paid for something you love to do!  I hear some people actually live this way.  I should look into that.

The show was really good- we heard some classics, including Hallelujah Amen which is basically the Judaic equivalent of The Messiah’s Hallelujah Chorus, Carol of the Bells by the Central Ohio Children’s Chorus (what is more beautiful than children singing?), and John Rutter’s arrangement of O Here We Come A-Wassailing, and then some new things like a gorgeous ballet set to Greensleeves, a crazy rendition of Rudolf that I actually enjoyed- it was arranged to classic composers "with apologies to Beethoven and Handel", and a new Latin piece about starlight sung acapella- man, it took me back to my choir days and how much I LOVE to sing in Latin.  WOW.

They also do a fun thing where all the kids in the audience put their names in a hat and one is drawn to conduct the orchestra in Sleigh Ride.  It was really cute.  A third-grader won and she got the percussion whips and everything.  Unfortunately, Santa had to come out and ruin the ambience with his dumb jokes about Mrs. Claus driving the sleigh (seriously, that women-can’t-drive joke really never gets not-funny).  I’m not anti-Santa by any means; indeed, I can barely read Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus without welling up a little, but he didn’t really belong in the program, as Santa is known the world over for his jolliness and generosity, not his soaring and melodious orchestral arrangements.  I’m just saying.

Tomorrow I fly, weather permitting, to our nation’s capitol, where I will somehow, however small my part, aid in a conference about the Education of Young Children.  I also hope to go sight-seeing; I love D.C. at Christmas.

I’m working alone for the next two weeks, so expect many updates and IM sessions.  My Christmas goal this year is to buy every single present online.  I’m not stepping FOOT in a store if I can help it.  Think I can do it?  I’ll keep receipts and give you guys a percentage at the end of the year.  Feel free to log your bets.

OH!  PS> I booked my Christmas/New Year’s airplane ticket.  Into Houston 12/22, out of Dallas 01/04.  You guys keep me posted on happenings (*cough*Scottie’s birthday*cough*) and shindigs.  Can’t wait to see you all, and for longer this time.

Love, J.

What I did on my Thanksgiving Vacation, by Jamie Hawkins.

Good Night, and Good Luck: This is a really interesting movie directed by George Clooney about the Edward Murrow and CBS uncover of Senator McCarthy’s Communist conspiracy.  I’m never been a huge fan of Clooney, but I adored his directorial debut Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and his sophomore project is just as thrilling.  I think he’s a really fine director.  The film is in black and white (although it was shot on color film and retouched, so it’s not as dark or shadowy as old black and white movies) and stars David Stathairn (of L.A. Confidential, coincidentally, my favorite movie of all time), Robert Downey, Jr., George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson, and many other familiar faces.  It’s smoky and jazzy (sensational soundtrack by Diana Reeves) and recalls a time when the fact that television was "being used to detract, delude, amuse, and insulate us" was a shock.  Whatever you believe about George Clooney’s politics (and this movie will clue you in if you’re unaware), there is no denying that he is a man of uncomparable STYLE.  All in all, a very interesting and enjoyable movie.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The fourth installment, and as one reviewer put it, the Empire Strikes Back of the Harry Potter Series.  It’s the first PG-13 chapter, and at least two characters forbode that "everything is going to change."  In my personal opinion, it’s not as good as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabahn (I watched 2, 3, and 4 this week), but the cinematography is amazing and it really sets up the next events in the mythology, I think.  I know a lot of people are disappointed in how much was cut, and indeed, they cut a LOT of material, but it’s like an 800-pg novel, people!  I think they did a good job of keeping the tone and the themes of the story.

Rent: I freaking loved this movie.  You must adopt a certain level of suspension of disbelief- not only because the character randomly burst into song and dance, but more because these damn-the-man Gen-X starving artists are now pushing 40.  However, I think it was a good choice to use the original cast because of the fan base of the play is so rabid.  Rosario Dawson and Traci Thoms are both newcomers, and I thought they were both fantastic.  I didn’t at all like Mimi’s character in the stage production I saw, but Rosario Dawson played her with a delicacy that was really touching, and as one reviewer said, is the first actress to "render Mimi screechless."  Hee.  Jesse Martin, be still my heart.  That eulogy scene rocked my world.  I especially loved "La Vie Boheme."  It kind of bothered me that they ADDED so much dialogue to the movie,
it’s supposed to be an opera, ie: exact lines that were sang or at
least spoken in rhythm to music in the play were just said as natural
speech in the movie- and I was like "did that just rhyme?" but I saw it
with my cousin who had never seen it or heard the soundtrack, and she said it
wasn’t noticeable to her, so maybe that’s a by-product of being TOO familiar
with the work.  Although I’ll be the first to say that it’s not a movie for everyone… I think the soul of Rent shone through and I can’t wait to see it again.

Walk the Line: WOW.  The performances in this movie were outstanding.  Joaquin is SMOKIN’ hot, and even though the time-worn story of how all the best cowboys have daddy issues was wonderfully told, I really thought this film was about June Carter.  I don’t LOVE Reese Witherspoon, but I think she’s a very talented girl and she played June with a sincerity and depth that not many actresses could’ve pulled off.  The scene where the drug store attendant admonishes her that "divorce is an abomination," she so honestly and gently says "I’m really sorry I disappointed you, ma’am" that it literally brought a tears to my eyes.  Johnny Cash and June Carter had a truly great love and it was portrayed beautifully.

LOST last night was freaking AWESOME.  I’m flying to Columbus today, where it is snowy and cold.  Boo hoo.  Tonight will be spent catching up on the last 2 weeks of House, M.D. and Desperate Housewives.  I’ll see you kids on the flip side.  XOXOX