The City of Angels

One day of our vacation we spent in downtown Los Angeles. 

Hollywood Walk of Fame/Chinese Theatre

Who is this Sid character?! Almost every stone mentioned him.

Only White Wall Tires allowed (Billy Joel)

LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)

Urban Light, Chris Burden

Campbell's Soup Can, Andy Warhol

Will got a picture of this one because he liked it. He actually liked a piece of art. I think my art history obsession is rubbing off on him just a tad.

Simultaneously the best and most bizarre outdoor sculpture

One Enormous Elevator

This chandelier is lit with lights that shine through the glass panels. Will and I agreed that we wouldn't mind having this one in our house one day

The walls and displays of the Ancient American Art exhibit were out of this world

LaBrea Tar Pits

Olvera Street

The Oldest Street in LA

Union Station

The Metro

I am a huge fan of public transport. The Tube is one of my most favorite things. We used both the underground and bus systems in our travels around LA. The state of the underground ranks above New York and Paris, but that's not saying much. I'd say it's tied with DC as far as cleanliness goes, but there were no homeless people which was nice. The Tube in London was far superior and thinking back on the Metro in Madrid makes me nostalgic for Spain. It was so spacious and clean...

Hooray for Public Transport!

A long day and tired feet. I'd say it was a success.

Theme Song: Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Bond. James Bond.

This weekend was pretty average. Except one thing. I saw my FIRST EVER James Bond movie. I know.

I'm a Sean Connery fan. 

I looove Get Smart (the t.v. show). 

And life without Danger Mouse would not be worth living. (look it up now. it will change your life.) 

Most of my childhood was spent playing Spy Fox (don't get me started on how they no longer make that computer game so I can no longer play it...).

So it really is incredible that it took me this long to see a James Bond movie.

It was good stuff. The opening credits were exceptionally odd. But apparently that's pretty standard for James Bond movies. This was a good James Bond movie for me to see first because it deals with the dichotomy between technology and needing people like 007 out there. I've seen clips of Sean Connery Bond films and I like all the crazy gadgets and old-school espionage. Skyfall was a great nod to that James Bond legacy. And at times it had the feel of a grown-up Home Alone. Nice. (credit to Will for that turn of phrase). I feel like I'm a part of the 007 legacy because of what I grew up with (listed above).

Oh, and this movie had Money-penny. I finally understand why Monkey-penny from Spy Fox is called that. It's all coming together!!

By The Way: Daniel Craig runs funny. He bounces up and down too much and doesn't go forward enough. Will doesn't agree. But it's odd. I promise.

Theme Song: Skyfall, Adele

Weekend...

Excellent weekend. Excellent.

I led the best test review of my TA career Friday morning. If every single one of those students does not pass the exam, it is not my fault.

It snowed. Oh. So Much. :)

I accomplished my entire to-do list this weekend. People, that's rare.

We went to the Jazz Suns game.

And we won 94-81. Paul Millsap is my favorite person in the whole wide world. I've liked him ever since he came to the Jazz. And he never disappoints.

Yay Basketball!!!

Will was happy to be there. It's just that sometimes he forgets how to smile. :)

On a less jubilant note, today is Veteran's Day. Or Remembrance Day, depending on which side of the pond you're on.

"Anthem for Doomed Youth"
Wilfred Owen

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
--Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
 Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries for them from prayers or bells,
 Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
 And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?
 Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
 The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of silent minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Theme Song: Working for the Weekend, Loverboy

Day One to Month Six

Part of me cannot believe this happened six whole months ago:

Another part of me cannot believe that it was only six months ago.

Suffice it to say, it has been an excellent six months.

Enjoy the new blog header in honor of our six month anniversary.

Also, thanks to everyone in the UK who will be celebrating our six month anniversary with us by lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks. Remember, remember the 5th of November.

Theme Song: First Day of My Life, Bright Eyes

The Women's Games

I looooove the Olympics. Love them. It's just upsetting that they're only every two years (Summer and Winter are both the best.) These Olympics were particularly excellent:

• The Games took place in the greatest city in the world!
• U.S.A. rocked the Medal Count--104 (46 gold, 29 silver, 29 bronze). China was next with 88 (38, 27, 23). Essentially, we smoked the competition.
• I reconnected with my heroes: Serena Williams--that girl was on fire! And she's the best female tennis player without being a stick. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh--greatest beach volleyball players ever!!!!!!!!! And Kerri had two kids between Beijing and London!
• And found some new ones: Oscar Pistorius--he's kinda fast for some dude with no legs. Sanya Richards-Ross--learning from and improving on Beijing results, and her parents crack me up.

Not everything was fantastic. Ralph Lauren totally blew it with U.S.A.'s opening ceremony uniforms. Why must they always wear such stupid hats? Every year!

But, back to more stellar things:

• U.S.A. women's soccer. Amazing.
• Usain Bolt is hilarious
• Guatemala and Grenada got their first medals ever. And I watched it happen! (Guatemala got Silver in men's race walking--very hard to watch with a straight face. but it's a medal. And Grenada got Gold in men's 400m race)
• Michael Phelps. 22 medals. 
• U.S.A. gymnastics, men's basketball, women's baskteball...
• the music of the Opening and Closing ceremonies. Literally in Heaven.
• Nike's ad campaign:

 

 

But I think my favorite thing was how the women dominated! More U.S.A. medals came from women than the men: swimming, fencing, boxing, gymnastics, beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, soccer, tennis, track and field, water polo... The women of other countries were also fantastic. Every country at the Olympics this year was represented by at least one woman. Even Saudi Arabia! Two women that really touched me were Jessica Ennis of Great Britain winning the women's heptathlon by leaps and bounds and Kristyna Kolocova, a Czech beach volleyball player who is only 5' 7" and yet beat a Brazilian team to make it to the quarterfinals, where the Czechs lost to an American team. 5' 7" and playing volleyball. Love it. Girl Power!

 This video is just awesome.

And this video makes me cry every time. No joke.

Theme Song: This One's For the Girls, Martina McBride

Alternative Theme Song: Olympic Fanfare and Theme, John Williams