24

In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close terms the 24^th of July is my “worst day”. Another one passed and I tried a different approach this year, namely indulging in Pie and Beer Day. My sweet husband left work early and made me a delicious pear gruyere pie as inspired by Pushing Daisies.

I also went to see Begin Again which I wished I would have liked more. The critique of the music industry was a little too preachy for me and it was hard not to wonder if John Carney was a little resentful over his Once success. Plus, Keira Knightley is a wonderful actress, but I wasn't entirely sold on her singing voice. Maybe the songs needn't have pushed me into making unfair Marketa Irglova comparisons?

The one bright spot of the movie was when, in a drunken pity party of two (with the amazing James Corden), Keira Knightley's character, Gretta writes a sad love song and leaves it on her ex's voicemail. In the last line, her voice catches and her pain is so clear. The sincerity and earnestness I was hoping to see throughout the movie is there in that one moment. The song is called "Like a Fool" and I encourage you to skip the movie and watch the clip on YouTube. Hmm, maybe that's too harsh? Maybe, wait until the movie's on Netflix? 

Fringe

I am bingeing hard on Fringe right now. I can't say why I never watched it when it was on the air, but given the lukewarm Alan Sepinwall reaction it's not too surprising. After the stress case I've been this first half of the year, I needed this show. John Noble's performance as Walter Bishop is so great as is his relationship with his son, Peter played by Joshua Jackson. It also feeds into my intense Pacey Witter crush of yesteryear. I would be remiss to exclude Anna Torv, as Olivia. She kicks trash, saves the day, saves herself, and saves the world.

I don't mind so much living in my small universe with the small group of people that I love and that love me. It doesn't feel so bad or absent or lacking in something more shiny. In short, it is the complete opposite feeling from the time I binge watched Battlestar Galactica and thought the universe was doomed and there was no point to life. I can't say that all this TV watching has helped my writing, nor do I know what I'll be occupying my time with once I finish these last few episodes of the series. I hope  I can hold on to this feeling that I'm okay for as long as I can.

Dreaming

I went to see Lauryn Hill at the Twilight Concert Series this past Thursday. This was the second time I have seen her live. Though the heavy winds and rain threatened, it was wonderful to see this R&B angel in white give me a surge of nostalgia that was the musical background at a particularly difficult time in my life.

I am resigned to the fact that I'm a wistful person. But I wonder if I rely too heavily on nostalgia, on the past. It sometimes makes it harder to feel things in the present. To be present, I guess. I've had Sam Smith's cover of Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know" on heavy rotation. A sweet twist on another nostalgic favorite. The longing is so beautiful.