And the gold medal goes to...

I just love the Olympics, don't you? There's something about seeing the world come together. I love host Bob Costas (who I affectionately call "Bobby"). I love the Olympic theme music. And, I especially love when they do the back stories--the athletes that overcome all kinds of adversity for a chance to compete for an Olympic medal. This year I even loved the pre-Olympics commercials--Morgan Freeman's voice-overs on the Visa commercials brought tears to my eyes almost every time!

I love that the Olympics are something that families can sit down and watch together (how many prime-time TV shows can you say that about these days?!). I love that half the battle is in showing up and doing your best--that only three medals in each event are awarded, but a lot more athletes attend and have their momentary glimpse of the spotlight. I love that totally crazy sports that I've never heard of suddenly have me glued to the TV. I love that countries we never hear about can celebrate their national heros on the world stage. I love the anticipation that things can change in an instant (and cringe when the skaters fall or the skiers bite the dust). Of course I have my favorite events, but really I enjoy it all--the commentary, the music, the clothes. And, especially at a time when some things in life aren't much fun, I love having the opportunity to celebrate something greater than myself. And though many of the events include an element of danger, I would guess that most athletes love what they do, don't get paid big bucks, and feel the risk is worth the reward.

Certainly there are some drawbacks to the Olympics. The host city/country often goes into debt in order to host. All the new buildings/facilities in the host city don't really contribute to "green" living. The Olympics can also be expensive for the teams trying to attend (think Stephen Colbert's fundraising ploy for the US Speedskating team or other countries that don't have the wealth of the US to draw upon). And sometimes I wonder if it's more about the money (ie, who can afford the most experienced trainers and coaches and training time) and less about the natural talent.

But, all those concerns aside, I still love the Olympics. I fondly remember Kristi Yamaguchi winning her gold (1992), Nancy Kerrigan winning her silver (1994), and Michelle Kwan winning her silver (1998) and bronze (2002). Really, in their own random, unique way, the Olympics create ongoing consistency in my life and notate the passing of time.

Go world.

(2.18.10 update: Big thanks to my dad who noticed a typo in the first paragraph above--adversary and adversity--though similar in spelling, do not have similar meanings!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I can't believe I'm posting this on my blog, but it made me laugh. Out loud. And anything that does that is worth sharing with others, right?

This is actually a real Hallmark Valentine from the 1920s that I came across on the Hallmark 100 Years celebration site...over 90 years old, but still appropriate for today (or maybe just appropriate for me?)...

Contrary to public belief, I actually don't mind being single on V-day...I love having another opportunity to tell those close to me how much I love them and this year I even made homemade valentines. They weren't as cool as this one from the 1920s, but they came from the heart and were made with love! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

#71 - Hike Piestewa (Squaw) Peak

Starting out with flashlights, my friend Chandy and I headed out Thursday morning to hike Piestewa Peak. We had hiked together a few weeks ago (I posted about it here), but we didn't quite reach the summit. This time when we met it was early, EARLY and still dark, but we were determined to make it to the top so I could check #71 off my list. Chandy is an awesome hiking buddy (thanks girl!) and within 35 minutes we were as far as we had gone last time (we even went faster than before!).

There's a little bench and resting area at the .9 mile marker, so we stopped for a moment so I could take some photos, then we started the challenging hike to the top (which took another 20 minutes!).

That last little bit was harder than all the rest put together--it's not that far, but a LOT more vertical!!! But it was so worth it!

And don't think this is the end! For the past two weeks I've also been hiking South Mountain with my brother's family--the weather has been beautiful here in Phoenix and I'm really developing an appreciation for the outdoors, the good exercise, and the great conversation that hiking with friends and family brings!

Don't judge a book(sale) by its cover

The Phoenix valley's biggest book sale is coming to town this weekend! Have you gone? Are you going? I won't be going this year, but I'd highly recommend the VNSA booksale at the Arizona State Fairgrounds as the place to go this weekend (if you love books, are looking for some deals, and have some extra time). Things to keep in mind if you do go:

• Don't go first thing Saturday morning unless you want to stand in line, waiting your turn to get in...that's for the hardcore book people (buyers, etc.). My first year I made the mistake of going Saturday mid-morning and had to stand in line for an hour.
• If you do go earlier on Saturday, take a book and some coffee (so you have something to do while waiting in line to get in, and a drink to keep you warm!).
• They give you bags, but I'd bring my own--those books get heavy! They also have carts that you can borrow, but the place is so packed that pushing a cart through is not recommended.
• Bring some patience. Did I mention that there are a lot of people? And a lot of books? They do have the books organized by category, and some by author's last name, so that's helpful. I never went looking for anything specific, so the fun was more in the surprise of what I stumbled upon (a good condition copy of the complete Handel's Messiah, etc.).
• The funds raised from the booksale go to three non-profit human service agencies in the valley.
• Books are cheap on Saturday (I think I paid anywhere from $2-$5/book), but on Sunday almost everything is half-price!
• You can either pay for parking in the fairgrounds parking lot, OR, you can park in the neighborhood west of the fairgrounds for free (and just have to walk a bit further).
• Prepare yourself to enter a huge warehouse that smells like old books and lots of people...I'm just sayin'!

I'm not heading out this year for several reasons:

1. I still have many books that I bought in 2009 and 2008 that I still haven't had a chance to read (so do I really need more that I don't have room for on my bookshelves?!).
2. I've discovered another great source of cheap books: paperbackswap.com and have been using that for most of my book purchases of late.
3. Family events and homework assignments due are bigger priorities for the weekend!

It's an experience to be sure--check it out if you have an hour or two this weekend!

When you care enough...

I'm sure this is just the first, of what will be many, blog posts about one of my favorite institutions...I love Hallmark for oh so many reasons, but this past weekend I was reminded of one. It was Saturday night and my mom texted me with a note saying there was a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS and was I watching? To which I texted her back that no, I wasn't watching because it was a repeat (one I'd already seen, good, but not one I watch over and over). My mom knows how much I love those HHF movies and was looking out for me--thanks mom!

If you've never seen a HHF movie, I'd highly recommend you check them out--at your local library, on the Hallmark Channel (if you have cable!), through Netflix, or watch for them to be broadcast on network TV, etc. What I love about the HHF movies is that they are family-friendly, often educational (ie, about a specific time in history, a significant individual, or a subset of humanity), and almost always have a happy ending. Though they first started broadcasting back in 1950, it wasn't until the 1990s that I remember seeing my first HHF flick, Sarah, Plain and Tall, starring Glenn Close. That's the other crazy thing about HHF movies--they have all these MAJOR celebs starring in them...and I don't think that Hallmark is paying them big bucks. Everyone from Rosie O'Donnell to Alicia Silverstone, Jennifer Garner, Faye Dunaway, Nathan Lane, Anna Paquin, Dean Cain, Gary Sinise, Diane Lane, Ving Rhames, Kyra Sedgwick, Kathy Bates, Anne Heche, Aidan Quinn, James Garner, Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow, Clive Owen, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christopher Walken, Tate Donovan, Alfre Woodard, Matthew Modine--the list goes on and on! I think these actors work with Hallmark because they know it's a good product--it's not about the money, it's about enriching the lives of the audience and making something of substance.

Two of MY favorite Hallmark Hall of Fame movies (and ones that I actually own and would be happy to lend to anyone interested!) are The Magic of Ordinary Days (2005) and Loving Leah (2009). The Magic of Ordinary Days stars Keri Russel (of Felicity fame) and Skeet Ulrich. And yes, it's a love story, but it's so sweet! The time period is WWII, in rural Colorado. Keri is a city gal and relocating to a farm, for a variety of reasons, is not her idea of fun. (Side note: letters and a library play small supporting characters in this flick!) I still remember watching this for the first time (on TV) with my friend Mel--good memories!

Loving Leah is a more recent flick and a total love story involving mostly actors I'd never heard of before and an interesting story line involving ancient Jewish traditions, a young doctor, a woman who wants to go to college, an overpowering mother, and Ricki Lake as a reformed rabbi. Yea, so totally not-believable, but I love the fairytale!

And, ok, so I need to come clean here. It's not just the movies I love...it's the Hallmark commercials that are shown (when a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie is broadcast on network TV). They re-broadcast many of the same commercials (and I have some favorites) and they still touch my heart every time!!

And I just saw that Hallmark is turning 100 this year--wow! Happy Birthday my friend (from your biggest fan)!!!

#53 - See an Opera

Last weekend I crossed #53 off my list. I saw an opera—for what I thought was the first time…but then during intermission I saw a poster for the 2010/11 Arizona Opera concert season which includes a performance of The Pirates of Penzance--I saw that "comedic opera" by Gilbert & Sullivan in college and didn’t realize it was an “opera” since the singing was in English!

So, what I call my first "real" opera was La bohème. The performance I went to (Sunday afternoon) was sold out and the audience was a mix of young and old—literally. There was an older couple to my left (who were avid opera goers and helped answer several of my questions), a group of middle-aged women to my right (who were out for an afternoon on the town), and a grandma and her three granddaughters behind me (who were on their first opera outing, but should have left their sack lunches at home!).

La bohème is a tragic love story (of course), but one without a villain (except the villain of death). This particular opera is sung in Italian, but English surtitles were great in helping the audience to follow along with the story (the story was even humorous at times and it was interesting to hear the audience laugh together).

For budgetary reasons I had purchased a seat in the balcony of Symphony Hall, but I actually enjoyed being up there. I had a good line of site to both the surtitles and the stage, plus, I personally enjoyed being able to see down into the orchestra pit (I like watching the harpist!). My seat-mates to the left (the avid opera-goers who I could sometimes hear humming to the music!) told me they always sit in the balcony because they feel the sound is better. They pointed out that the singers don’t use microphones (we’re talking projection, people!) and the sound rises (up to us in the balcony!).

The opera isn’t for everyone (like if you don’t enjoy classical music or foreign films), but it’s a great experience and I would certainly go again. And I’d recommend everyone try it at least once!

Things I'll do at my next opera: I'll dress up (I was in jeans and sweater which I thought would be acceptable for a matinee performance--it was ok, but I should have taken advantage of this dress-up affair!); I'll order a Bravotini at the bar to sample during intermission (like all the other cool people did!); I'll take someone with me (it's an interesting experience similar to a concert or a foreign film). And, maybe I'll even bring some binoculars--during the performance I kept thinking of that scene in Pretty Woman where Richard Gere has taken Julia Roberts' character to the opera for the first time, and Julia is flummoxed as to how to use the opera glasses!