I haven't thought much of what to post anymore. Sometimes I get to this point of the week and realize that I have no idea what to type about. And since followers are few *cough* I don't know how to come up with different ideas.
So - allow me the privilage of rambling on about a random, yet selective, topic.
Human Hungry Hungry Hippos.
I kid you not - this is now a thing.
(this is not us)
Okay, to understand this, well me, you have to know that I hate sports. I am not an athlete. I have no build, no physical powers.
So - when I say this is a thrilling, fun, exhilarating game.
It's amazing. I highly suggest trying this out.
Please, use balls though - we used balloons, and most of them popped. (Though, it was fun watching a few of the guys belly flop down and pop them.
I'm labeling this Part One because there are many books to read out there - and there are many to review.
I have a group similiar to this on Facebook. (In case you're interested.)
Today's choice of book is one I actually finished in the wee hours of the morning - because I only a few chapters left - and it was exceedingly fantastic.
Okay - we all know the buzz about Rick Riordan.
Right?
First there was Percy Jackson and the Olympians:
"The Lightning Thief"
"The Sea of Monsters"
"The Titan's Curse"
"The Battle of the Labyrinth" (no, not Jareth's)
"The Last Olympian"
Well - after reading these I decided to skip to his newest in this particular series, "The Trials of Apollo" - which I got four chapters into and reazlied that it alluded to the previous series in the series - "The Heroes of Olympus"
So - fast forward and I'm speed reading these (mostly) five books just so I can get back to the juicy novel all about Apollo (my personal favorite god).
The series in order:
"The Lost Hero"
"The Son of Neptune"
"The Mark of Athena"
"The House of Hades"
"The Blood of Olympus"
Well - I finished, "The Mark of Athena" last night and here are some thoughts.
Firstly: SPOILERS!
Though this book has been out for a few years now, so this shouldn't shock too many people. (I must be the only one living under a rock.)
This brings together seven demigods - Greek and Roman - to head off to the Ancient Lands to stop two twin giants.
Each of the giants is a bane to one of the Gods - this one focuses on the bane of Dionysus (or Baccaus) - Otis and Ephialtes, twins.
In order to kill a giant, demigods and gods must work together. Should be pretty easy, right?
Well - you should consider that gods are fickle, wont to do whatever they want, even if it means leaving a teenager alone to fight off a giant......or two.
While traveling to the Ancient and beautiful city of Rome onboard a flying Greek Triemene, they encounter the New Roman Camp Jupiter, vengence in the Great Salt Lake, a pretty boy with a pretty big complex, the Georgia Aquarium, beautiful Charleston, Fort Sumter, and then the Party Ponys.
And that's before they reach Ancient Rome guys.
When they finally reach their destination, they meet up with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, automotons, ticked off Nymphs, and one giant spider (shuddering internally over here).
Well - this is a must read for all your reader out there.
It's also a fantastic way to learn about the Greek myths, cultures and warriors. This new series also delves into the Roman gods, myths, and legends.
Please - take a look into all of this.
And - once you're done, check out the amazing Kane Chronicles:
"The Red Pyramid"
"The Throne of Fire"
"The Serpant's Shadow"
And his other new series - still continuing (and another personal favorite, other than Apollo) - the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard:
"The Sword of Summer"
"The Hammer of Thor" (which will be coming out later this year)
What is your favorite book Series? Leave a comment below.
(I am not paid for name dropping, or anything else related to this blog.)
This past Sunday the theatre community celebrated our favorite Award's Ceremony.
Named after an actress from the 1940's, the Tony Awards have come to be one of the biggest events for live theatre. It's a time to celebrate new performances, old shows, new presentation, lighting, sound, costumes, music, and the endless amount of time and talent it takes to make eight shows a week.
This years award show - the 70th annual - had a few returning shows, and some new ones that knocked it out of the park. While I could go on and on about the current season, let's take a delve back into the origins of the ceremony.
When the Tony's first began, it wasn't a big song and dance, televised spectacular.
The first award night was a gala dinner in New York with barely around 1,000 people in attendance.
The next 18 years the venue would change to include the ballrooms of the Plaza, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Aston.
Back then the awards were broadcast over the radio - television coverage wouldn't begin until 1956, when it was first cast locally.
During it's first few years on TV entertainment was provided by various artists including: Joan Crawford, Shirley Booth, Carol Channing, Joan Fontaine, Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Robert Goulet, and Henry Fonda.
Rough waters were ahead when the chairwoman, Helen Menken, passed away before the 1966 awards. Instead of a lavish affair, it was a simple ceremony in the Rainbow room.
When Isabelle Stevenson assumed the reigns the following year the ceremony went back to being a lavish gala - but there was a new difference.
Not only would the gala resume, continuing to be broadcast on live television, but the League of New York Theatres (now known as The Broadway League), were invited to co-present the awards in 1867.
By today's standards an award ceremony of any kind is at least three hours, not including the Red carpet walk.
Fun Fact: the first combined broadcast of the Tony's was only ONE HOUR long.
One hour! Can you believe that?
CBS didn't start carrying the ceremony until 1978 - and has claimed the Tony's as it's own ever since then.
In 1997 it was aired beneath a unique partnership with PBS. A PBS special covered 10 awards, followed closely by the CBS broadcast.
Beginning in 2003 - CBS gave an entire three-hour time slot to the Tony's (which still isn't enough because my DVR decided to cut anything after that mark this past week - meaning I missed the last quarter of the awards. I'm not bitter. .... mostly.)
There was a milestone for the Tony's in 1997 - when the ceremony moved away from Broadway for the first time in three decades. All but one years between 1997 and 2010 was held at the Radio City Music Hall.
Since 2011, however, it had either been held at Radio City Music Hall, or the Beacon Theatre on Manhattan's Upper West Side (which is a small venue compared tot he Radio City Music Hall).
In 2000 IBM joined the game and launched TonyAwards.com - which became a definitive resource for information about the Awards.
The last thing I'm going to go over for you is the brief history of the Medallion - the award - the statue with a spinning disc that so enthralled Cyndi Lauper back in 2013 for "Kinky Boots".
Now - when we first started there was no official "Tony Award". It was a scroll with either a gold money clip for the gents, or a compact for the gals. Nothing too fancy.
In 1949 the United Scenic Artists sponsored a contest for a more suitable award.
The winning award is the one we see today - designed by Herman Rosse. The Medallion depicts the Greek comedy and tragedy masks on one side, and the profile of our wonderful lady who inspired the awards - Antoinette Perry - on the other.
Since 1967 - the medallion has been mounted on a black pedestal with a curved armature.
After the ceremony is over, and before all the parties begin, each one of the awards is numbered for tracking purposes, and engraved with the winner's name.
I hope you enjoyed our little trip into the world of the Tony Awards. Now for your viewing pleasure, some videos of my favorite performances (in no specific order as that would be too much to decide):
BONUS: This is the video they discuss before Josh comes out - the entire performance can be found on youtube. BEST. HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION. EVER.
I love the 20's.
Still upset with the guy, but can't hate the show.
From the novel that gave us, "You've Got Mail", the musical that it also inspired!
Who knew Steve Martin could play the banjo....?
From Ghosts of Tony's Past!
Ooooo, didn't mean for that before this one.......okay, maybe.
And - from the people who brought you, "Into the Heights", I give you, "Hamilton"
Note: I am not paid for any name dropping, reference, or anything like that. (Wish I was though.)
When I was younger my older brother had a favorite movie. I always thought it was boring, tedious, dragged out, obnoxious.... you get my drift.
Well, fast forward years later it has become one of my favorite films to watch. No only because Sam Neil was in it, or Tim Curry, or Alec Baldwin. Not even because of Sean Connery (though if I was vain enough, I would say that it definitely was a factor in me watching it the first time).
The film was titled, The Hung for Red October.
I didn't know it at the time, but it was based upon a book by Tom Clancy. A book that's based upon a series featuring a CIA analyst by the name of Jack Ryan.
The basic plot: Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) is asked to brief the Sectary of State about a Russian submarine captain, Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) after he sets sail in an new submarine equipped with Stealth technology. When it heads for America both sides are in a rush to reach the sub before the other.
Did I mention that James Earl Jones also plays in it?
Trust me, it is far better than I'm writing it out to be.
After watching this on Netflix last year, I learned there were a few other Jack Ryan movies on Netflix. Such as: Clear and Present Danger (Harrison Ford as Ryan) and The Sum of All Fears (Ben Affleck as Ryan).
Tom Clancy is an expert writer on the CIA and other government back stories. Most of these were based in some truth - although no one will confirm it.
If you're looking for a read I would highly recommend any one of his novels. Maybe even check out the entire Jack Ryan series (it's up to you if you want to read it chronologically or by publication) - for the sake of this list, it's by publication:
The Hunt for Red October (1984)
Patriot Games (1987)
The Cardinal of the Kremlin (1988)
Clear and Present Danger (1989)
The Sum of All Fears (1991)
Without Remorse (1993)
Debt of Honor (1994)
Executive Orders (1996)
Rainbow Six (1998)
The Bear and the Dragon (2000)
Red Rabbit (2002)
The Teeth of the Tiger (2003)
Dead or Alive (2010)
Locked On (2011)
Threat Vector (2012)
Command Authority (2013)
Full Force and Effect (2014)
Under Fire (2015)
Commander-in-Chief (2015)
Duty and Honor (2016
Right now I think it's safe to say that we will have Mr. Ryan around for quite a bit longer.
Who is your favorite serial hero?
Also - if you take a chance on the movies, leave a comment below.
