Sweeney Todd - Opening Scene

Sweeney Todd

We rented Sweeney Todd this weekend. When I was in high school I saw a recording of the Broadway production and LOVED it! I am a huge....i mean, HUGE fan of Stephen Sondheim. I love all of his music, but I absolutely fell in love with the music from Sweeney Todd. It is so hauntingly beautiful. I had intended to see the movie in the theater, but never got around to it.
I must say, I was so disappointed in it, compared to the broadway production. I remember it being more of a dark morbidly disturbing comedy. For instance, when I heard "A Bit of Priest" on broadway, I was rolling with laughter, but this time it wasn't much more than mildly amusing, to say the least. But, Tim Burton made sure to turn it into a complete horror. I should've known better. When it said it was rated R for GV(that's graphic violence---more like grotesque violence).
I was less than impressed with Johnny Depp (although he seems to always be type-cast in dark, brooding characters, like this and Edward Scissorhands, and Ichabod Crane, not to mention that pirate guy.
The vocals were less than impressive...disappointing to say the least. Except for the little boy, Toby, and the girl, Johanna. These two youngsters have obviously had a little musical theater in their background. I was surprised that good ole Johnny could sing, but I guess I was expecting something more "broadway-ish?" Mrs. Lovett sucked. I'm sorry, but she couldn't even carry a tune. Where's Angela Lansbury when you need her? (She played Mrs. Lovett on broadway) and I love her. (Yes, I used to watch 'Murder, she wrote')


This is a photo of the origingal broadway cast.

The worst disappointment was the fact that they completely omitted the Ballade of Sweeney Todd, and that's my favorite song in the whole thing! Oh, they had the main theme playing through the show, but in the broadway play They had the chorus singing it.
That song gets stuck in your head.....

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd
His face was pale and his eye was odd
He shaved the faces of gentlemen
Who never, thereafter, were heard of again.....

(just try to imagine me singing that...cuz I am)
So, I stuck a video of the broadway production, playing the first scene, in case you want to get an idea.

There is my broadway vs. cinema soap box.
Can you guess which one wins for me?

p.s. If you want to see the show, but don't want the rated R version, go rent the broadway recording.

I'm Back, Baby!!!

I feel so great today! This weather is awesome! I LOOOOOVE IT!
I was planning on running 16 miles this morning, but I didn't do 16....
I did 18 1/2!!! Oh Yeah, Baby!! Yeah, I'm bragging, and I'm not ashamed of it either! I feel sooo good, too. I think I've finally crawled out of my slump that I've been in the last month. I'm sure it has a ton to do with the sunshine, but I also attribute it to this: I finally took some days off my regimen and ate...a lot!
My normal schedule goes like this:
I lift weights for 1 1/2 hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. I run 6 miles on Tuesday and Thursdays. I rest on Friday. Long run on Saturday. Rest on Sunday.
This week I did a pretty rigorous workout on Monday. I did 100's. That's when you do 100 reps of each exercise with no breaks. So I did 100 squats, 100 lunges, 100 bicep curls and 100 skull crushers (triceps) Then I ran 6 miles on Tuesday.
I was soooo sore by Wednesday from the weights that I decided not to go to the gym and do weights, and I slept in on Thursday and didn't run. In the meantime, I ate myself out of house and home. I ate more this week than I have in a really long time. Then Friday, I ran 5 miles. (to make up for not doing anything for 2 days)
But, I really think the resting and the eating is what I needed.
I felt to good running, I probably could've gone longer
So, the song of the day is "The Final Countdown" by Europe. I think it's the song in Rocky where he's in the grey sweatsuit and runs up the stairs. There is something about that songs that just pumps me up. So if you ever see me on the street running with a stupid grin on my face, I'm probably listening to that song. That song comes on and I naturally start running faster, I even sprinted to the end of my route today. When the song got over, I really wanted to stop, throw my hands in the air and yell, "Yo Adrienne!"....But, I didn't. I thought the neighbors would think I'm crazy.
I didn't even take a nap when I got home. I feel so good today. I'm think I'm still on the endorphin high or something because I'm almost feeling euphoric, and I got home from running like 4 hours ago.
This is why I started running!
Happy day...happy weekend!

Random 10 Friday

I was watching the news this morning while I ate breakfast, and the weather man said it's supposed to get up to 79 by Monday! 79 DEGREES! Can you believe the high will be something like 48 today and in three days it will rise 30 degrees? (Only in Utah)
That actually makes me so excited for the weekend! My first thought was that maybe I can run on Saturday morning without 12 layers of clothing!
I think I might take the kids to the park, or go on a bike ride or something.
I wish there was no school on Monday, and we could just go play outside all day.
(Isn't it terrible when it's the Mom wishing school was out.)
I'm actually feeling myself get excited for school to be out. The kids and I had some a great summer last year. I pulled them out of all their activities and we just swam at the pool and relaxed everyday.


The thought of just taking it easy and not running around like a crazy person all the time sounds soooooo appealling.
Tonight, Clint promised me that he would be home early from work today, and we both agree how "exciting" it sounds that we have NO PLANS. Isn't it pathetic when we actually have an evening with no plans and we're excited.
We both thought that it sounds so nice to just be home with the family.
I took the kids to the store last night (because Clint was working late, as usual) and bought them some perler beads. Have you ever seen them?
Holy Cow! If you want to entertain your kids for hours and hours (without the TV) than perler beads is the way to do it!
They've already made a few lovely creations, and all they want to do today after school is play with their beads.
I love it! (I'll admit, I think they're kinda fun, too)

Here's hoping this weekend is peaceful and relaxing.

My Random 10 List:

1. Please - The Kinleys
2. Donde Estas Corazon - Shakira
3. That's Where It Is - Carrie Underwood
4. What It Takes - Wynonna
5. Good Times - Edie Brickell (this is the perfect song for this weekend)
6. Meet Me Half Way - Kenny Loggins
7. No One Needs to Know - Shania Twain
8. This Woman - Shedaisy
9. I Miss You - Miley Cyrus
10. Lay Your Hands on Me - Bon Jovi

Bonus:
Another Rainy Day - Corinne Bailey Rae (I hope not)

Book Tag

I got tagged by my cousin Holly. I like this one, It's a little different.

Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)

2. Turn to page 123.

3. Find the 5th sentence

4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog

5. Tag 5 people

Suddenly, like a striking snake, she reached out and grabbed my hand in a fierce grip.

This is from "The Other Boleyn Girl", which is what I'm reading right now. It's very long (661 pages), but I'm amazed at how fast I'm reading it. I started a week ago Saturday, and will probably be done within the week. It's very intriguing. I LOVE historical novels. It's about how Anne Boleyn married Henry VIII and became the queen of England. I'm hoping to finish this week, so I can go see the movie, while it's still in the theaters.
Since I got this tag, I thought I'd put in a plug for goodreads.com. (See the link on the side of my blog)
I love being able to see what my friends are reading and compare our reviews, if we've read the same books. It gives me ideas, and it's fun. If you are a reader, you should try it!

Ok, I'm tagging:
1. Elisa
2. Megan
3. Liz
4. Jodi
5. Shannon

I didn't tag my sisters because Holly already tagged them.

Happy Reading!

Success...AT Last!!

I think we might, finally, have Peter on the road to being potty trained. Sunday afternoon, after the last conference session, we decided to send the kids in for a bath. I went in to make sure everyone got in OK, and Peter had gone in her little training potty...of her own will and choice! I made a huge deal about it. Well, since then she has been wearing underwear (adorned with Ariel, her favorite) and going on the potty. She's only had one accident today, and one yesterday. HOORAY!
I'm so proud of her. When she starts to fight, which she tends to do, if we try to get her to do something she doesn't want to do, I remind her of her potty treats. I promised her I would get her a Barbie if she can stay dry all day with no accidents. Once I remind her, she is all excited.
We've read a LOT of stories in the john in the last two days.

Random 10 Friday

I'm running another half marathon tommorrow. I'm feeling a little ill-prepared. I have hit a complete mental wall as far as running goes...OK, maybe with everything else, too. (When was the last time I vacuumed? I don't remember) I don't know if it's nerves getting to me about the upcoming marathon, or just burn out.
Did I mention before that I'm training for the Ogden Marathon? Well...I am. I chose that one because it is rumored to be pretty easy. You start at the top of Ogden Canyon and just run down. I've heard it's pretty much downhill the whole way.
The marathon is in only 6 weeks. SIX WEEKS! Yikes!
On another note, I've completely fallen off the Isagenix bandwagon. After my little "episode" last weekend, I decided I would just kind of "cheat" my way through it. And I was doing pretty well until Wednesday, when I had a total relapse and ate probably 10 hershey's kisses. Then Thursday, we got pizza for dinner and I probably ate half of it. So much for self control.
Ok. This post is going to be totally random and full of different topics. Just now, while typing this post, I heard water running in the bathroom. So I went down there to check it out to discover Tyson, bare bottomed, standing over the toilet holding down the flusher, while water is flowing freely from the toilet bowl. He put a whole roll of toilet paper in after "taking care of business." HOLY CRAP! (no pun intended) Have you ever had to plunge the toilet while it's full of you know what? DISGUSTING! Not to mention the poop water flowing all over the bathroom floor and leaking out on the carpet in the hall! I had to rig up the thing-a-ma-jig (I don't know what it's called--I'm not a plumber) in the toilet tank to get the water to stop running while I plunged. Oh, by the way, this is probably the 6th, yeah, the 6TH time he has done this. Come on, give me a break, people!
I can tell by the way it's starting that is going to be a GRRREAT day! (read with complete sarcasm)

So, on to bigger and better things:
My random 10 list:

1. Elsewhere - Sarah Mclachlan
2. Loved Too Much - Ty Herndon
3. Savin' Me - Nickelback
4. Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie
5. I'd Like to - Corinne Bailey Rae
6. Bigger Than Us - Hannah Montana
7. The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani
8. The Fire - Chely Wright
9. Blaze of Glory - Bon Jovi
10. Closer to Fine - Indigo Girls

Bonus:
Ice Cream - Sarah Mclachlan

HaPPY fRIday

10 Types of Runners

Ok. I found another article from Active.com that I just loved! It's called the 10 Types of Runners.
It was totally hilarious for the simple fact that it is soooo true! If you have a moment click above and check it out!
I have seen the Dr. 90210/Desalination Machine. This description is NO EXAGGERATION! After I ran my last half marathon in St. George in January, I saw this girl who, no joke, was in full make-up, perfect hair, and not a drip of sweat on her perfect body and she strutted to the finish line in her little sports bra and shorts (Hello--it's January! and even in St. George it's still only 50 degrees!)
Nissa and I also spotted, during the race, a woman who was actually doing the "Phoebe run" Did you ever see that episode of Friends? Phoebe runs in the park flailing her arms like a maniac while running sporatically in a sort of Kermit the Frog fashion. This woman was seriously running like that. I think she would be categorized as "the Frightened Dog Swatter"
I hate to admit it, but I think I am a cross between "The Salination Machine" and "The Sloth" and "The Human Cybertron".
(Another one of my very embarrassing features is that I sweat like a pig when I exercise)
I might scratch the surface of the Human Cybertron because of my I-pod, and my Garmin (equipped with GPS and Heart Rate monitor). I LOVE my Garmin. Santa gave it to me for Christmas. I can't run without it now. I LOVE IT!!! But, I really don't think it's all that weird..a lot of people run with an I-pod and a GPS.
And the Sloth because of this: if you scroll down to the very first post I ever put on this blog it has pictures of me running my first half marathon.

Look at my feet. Am I really actually running? It looks like I'm ice skating across the pavement...do my feet really actually leave the ground? No wonder I'm always tripping! Luckily, I haven't fallen yet...knock on wood!

One Word Tag

I decided I needed to put something a little more "light-hearted" on my blog after all the drama of the last few posts. So, I wasn't officially "tagged" but I borrowed this one from my cousins, Stacey.

1. Where is you cell phone? counter
2. Significant other? Clint
3. Worst bad habit? yelling
4. Hair? curly
5. Favorite Food? chocolate
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dream last night? forgot
8. Favorite drink? water
9. Dream/goal? Happiness
10. Room you are in? hallway
11. Your ex? None
12. Your fear? heights
13. Where you want to be in 6 years? Happy
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you're not? sane
16. Muffins? apple-cinnamon
17. Wish list item? grand piano
18. Where did you grow up? Layton
19. Last thing you did? Bike
20. What are you wearing? running-clothes
21. Your TV? dusty
22. Your pets? kids
23. Your computer? on
24. Your life? crazy
25. Your mood? good
26. Missing someone? Yes
27. Your car? tan
28. Something you are not wearing? Shoes
29. Favorite store? Target
30. Your summer? Swimming
31. Love someone? YES
32. Last time you laughed? Today
33. Last time you cried? Sunday

The Starving Runner

My friend Megan sent me this article today. You can read it here
It was SOOOO what I needed to hear this week.
Thank you Megan! You are awesome!

So, I had a little epiphany today. I was talking to me sister, and we were laughing a little bit over my drama of the past weekend. She mentioned her friend read my blog, and said how glad she was that I was willing to talk about what everyone else is afraid to say. I've had a lot of comment regarding this, and I want to thank everyone for their support.
As a person who has been battling depression my whole life, and I felt ashamed for so many years...like it's some kind of plague or weird mutation that I have.
A little while ago, my aunt said that depression runs in our family. That's just the way it is. So what, if we have to take a little pill to be happy.

So, here is my little epiphany. YES! So what, if I have to take a pill to function normally, to take care of myself and my family. I AM NOT ASHAMED of that! The Lord put us here to live this life and find out how to be happy. There is nothing wrong with doing whatever it takes to be happy. So, There is NO shame is having to take anti-depressants.
I used to be embarrassed, like I was a failure if I admitted that I was depressed. And being the prideful person that I am, I HATED that I had to take medication to overcome that. But after talking to some friends and family members who also struggle with depression, I finally realized that it is OK.
If the darn pills work, then it's obvious that there is a chemical imbalance, and if they help, then what's the big deal?
People with diabetes or asthma or heart conditions have to take medication to deal with their ailments? Why is depression so taboo? I don't know....

But I'm just saying....LIFE IS HARD...that's just the way it is...it's no different for me than for anybody else...Everyone has their challenges in life...and it's OK to do whatever it takes to make it bearable...whether it be taking a pill, running to blow off steam (yes, running is such a mood booster for me!!---that is partly why I do it), pounding the piano for an hour (I do that too), or whatever it is that works...it's OK.

So, I want to thank everyone of you for your comments and support. And for giving me the courage to be Honest, and hopefully, somebody out there will get something from all my crazy ramblings...