The Birth of a New Country

Indeed, it is official now: we have a new country in the world. :)
CNN: South Sudan a New Country

The Republic of South Sudan.

If you have been following anything coming out of Africa, you will probably have at least heard of the Sudanese genocide. The simple version is that there has been bloodshed and violence for decades in their country. Essentially, a constant civil war. The South has been devastated. And devastated is an understatement.

I don't understand all the details. There are too many cultural intricacies that I can't understand. Nonetheless, with the little I knew, I never, ever expected South Sudan to even have the opportunity to vote for separation. I just assumed it would never be allowed to happen. But the vote was allowed. And it was overwhelming the numbers to split. And after much anxiety, the vote was actually honored. And as of Saturday, well.... This sentence brought a smile to my face, that even surprised me how much I was pleased to see it:

"South Sudan took a seat at the world's table early Saturday as citizens of the new country took to the streets to celebrate."

That leaves me pretty speechless.

That is not to say, however, that there won't be pitfalls immediately following their jubilation. Now decisions have to be made, especially the establishment of government and the decision between the North & South over their oil. Please pray for both countries. There is so much pain. And there is now so much hope in their eyes. I'm so grateful for that hope. Praise God.

Anticipation

I dozed on and off most of the afternoon. It was delightful.

Also, it officially reached 110 today according to weathermen. By our thermometer at home it reached 113. Woo! We're breaking records!

Also also, I've managed to destroy the clip on my ethernet cord so now if I move it falls out. I apparently should not be allowed hear computer devices at this time. Sigh.

Okay, so it's no surprise I hope to see Harry Potter 7.2 this coming/opening weekend, but with this you know I can't wait. I had heard rumors about it appearing before the movie all along, but its still exciting.

So it's only a minute and a half? True. But the one for Dark Knight was only a minute long and hearing Ledger's fantastic voice and laugh was gold. So I'm hoping something - even along those lines - will be revealed. Plus, it's only a teaser.

BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A YEAR TO GO. (Woot!)

The Summer Heatwave

Truth be told, I'm not missing winter any. When the weathermen started announcing promotions lasting until Labor Day yesterday, I was a little sad. Really? We're already talking about Labor Day?

I mean, I like winter. For about a month. Right after Thanksgiving to New Years. Then I'm done. Vamoose.

(Side. Freaking. Note. I'm really beginning to detest laptop keyboards. How on earth do you guys seriously use them? I've lost more text by accidentally deleting it or suddenly having the cursor appear on an entirely different section of the screen and its about to drive me crazy. I can't imagine having to actually prepare a document on one.)

Ahem.

I think this development has only happened within the last two years. Suddenly last year my mood entirely changed when spring arrived. This year, same occurrence. I'm loving this 100+ plus heat. Admittedly, I'm not in a place of extreme heat, so I realize that could totally change with my location. But for right now, it's just about perfect. There's not even a touch of chill in the air. It's over 90 degrees right now, at 10:30 at night. Awesome.

You tell stories like your hands play tunes.

I'm a little (re)obsessed with Ragtime.

It's not that it ever went away, mind you. It just kind of faded into the background for awhile with the rest of my musicals.

However, with Lyric's upcoming production of Ragtime so near, I decided to reacquaint myself. And admittedly, I've just fallen in love with all over again. Swoon.

First off, a confession: I have not actually seen this musical. So I always have to preface my "favorite" tag with that notation. It is my favorite - I know the book, all the beautiful music and pictures, but with having yet seen it I still don't know well how it works in production. Sad, isn't it?

But Ragtime is a very large show. Traditionally, the set is massive, the cast is massive and the orchestra needs to be massive. It can potentially be very hard for expense reasons alone. So it doesn't necessarily get a lot of opportunities, at least not here. I can't express to you how excited I am that Lyric is taking this on, especially when the few shows I've seen in these recent seasons have been knocked out of the park. Actually, they were supposed to attempt it last year (it was on Civic's calendar, but never officially announced) and then it was removed without warning. Lame.

And that's just expense. Honestly, the talent needed to really pull of this show is intense as well. I often liken Coalhouse to the Phantom, in the sense that in order for the audience to fall in love with him he has to have a larger than life personality, gorgeous voice and tons of charisma. Brian Stokes Mitchell plays Coalhouse on the OCR and while I'm not a fan of him in everything, he's absolutely perfect for this role. And Sarah? Audra McDonald. Who is pure brilliance.

Here, just listen:


This song is so simplistic on the surface, yet it just gives me chills. They're voices are so lovely, there's so much character there. (I had actually never noticed Coalhouse's vocal fall at 1:40 until tonight and it's just beautiful.)

Okay, so part of the reason I'm so smitten is because of the Original Cast Recording. Its true.

But listen to those beautiful orchestrations. The touch of ragtime. If you were to ask me for my favorite working composer today I would be hard-pressed to choose between Adam Guettel and Ahrens & Flaherty (lyrics & composition alike, but they almost always work together.) Both sets tailor their music to the world they're creating so well that I believe they're unsurpassed in today's theatre. (You will know Guettel for Floyd Collins & Light in the Piazza, whereas you will known Ahrens & Flaherty for Once on this Island, Seussical and of course Ragtime. Flaherty also did the music for the animated film Anastasia.) I wish I could find a solid recording online of "Henry Ford" because it really showcases Ragtime's sound use of gears and steam.

And I have hope that Coalhouse will be well-handled. I recently discovered that actor was coming off of Broadway's Scottsboro Boys which I saw performed on this years Tony's and there is not a bad voice in the lot.



I keep considering buying the cast album to that show. (I'm not as crazy about the minstrel opening, but I love the train song.) The voices alone may be worth it.

And while I'm here, could you imagine trying to dramaturg this thing? It would be a monster. Yet, I still think it would be fun to try. (Ha, maybe one day I should build up a dramaturg's book just for the sake of curiosity.)

Honestly, this is the most excited I've been about getting to see theatre in awhile. This show has always been top on my list from the first time I heard it. Which happened to be in Sarkey's at 3 AM with Susan while trying to finish our final lighting design project.

(For those curious, the top of the must-see list now belongs to In the Heights with Caroline, or Change following close behind.)

(EDIT: Oo! And Floyd Collins! Can I add another one? Floyd Collins sharing the second spot with Caroline.)

Considering it's not for another two weeks or so yet, there's a small wait. I apologize in advance. I'll try to keep my blathering to a minimum.

Passages from Gilead - Lovelier for it.

I'm so torn. Laptop? Or all-in-one? Laptop? All-in-one?

My brain is too sleepy to fully sort through reviews so that task may have to wait until tomorrow.

In the meantime, I really loved this passage from Gilead. I mean, there are a lot of beautiful passages in Gilead, but this one just really caught my ear. So here it is.

Sweet dreams, world.


"I feel sometimes as if I were a child who opens its eyes on the world once and sees amazing things it will never know any names for and then has to close its eyes again. I know this is all mere apparition compared to what awaits us, but it is only lovelier for that. There is a human beauty in it. And I can't believe that, when we have all been changed and put on incorruptibility, we will forget our fantastic condition of mortality and impermanence, the great bright dream of procreating and perishing that meant the whole world to us. In eternity this world will be Troy, I believe, and all that has passed here will be the epic of the universe, the ballad they sing in the streets. Because I don't imagine any reality putting this one in the shade entirely, and I think piety forbids me to try."
- Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson (p. 57 )

Fourth of July huzzah! Time with Family

Grandma and I had a lovely time this afternoon spending it with the Kime's & the McBride's. It can be tough to get everyone together anymore, with all our schedules, so time spent is sweet. I'm lucky to be close to my cousins on both sides, especially when you consider how large that number has grown over the years (including kids & spouses: 23.)

I did manage to snag more than one picture, but unfortunately they're not uploading right now. (I'm so bemused by my router. I no longer understand how it works at all.)

However, one was emailed to me, so for now it'll do.

I promise, Lexie is not crying. She was actually giggling. I promise.

Although with that scary man in the background, it might cause one to wonder. ;)

The Return of Internet Access

I am, to a degree, back.

My computer appears to be dead. :( Blue Screen of Death and all.

I am currently typing away on a laptop kindly lent from Brad who has been at the center of this computer ordeal with me. I'm very grateful for the return of internet access. I'm also glad to be borrowing a laptop specifically - its potentially what I'll be buying next, instead of a desktop. I've never owned a laptop. And I'm not really that crazy about laptops. So this is a good way of seeing what I think of it.

Currently, I don't care for the keyboard, but I'm sure I could adjust to that.

In other news, its the Fourth of July weekend. Grandma and I don't get too into the holiday - fireworks worry me even in the best of conditions. With this years drought, I'm much less inclined to be around them. Maybe if we feel crazy we'll go watch the ones at the casino.

All that being said though, I'm always excited about a three day weekend. Yaaaaay.

Any computer advice?