Sunday 21 October 2012

we used to be number ten



Recently I've started purging my apartment (more on that another time).  I have a constant flow of massive recycling/garbage/donation bags and boxes going as I attempt to be ruthless with the amount of stuff I keep.  One box that I knew I would eventually come across in my storage room was the one that was full of old CDs.  The ones that didn't quite make the cut to be out in my livingroom on stands with the rest of the ones that are in (semi) regular rotation.

I wanted to get to that box because a few months ago, I had the urge to listen to a particular song.  You know...one of those random moments when an old song pops into your head and you absolutely need to find the CD that you probably haven't listened to in years?  At the time, I wasn't willing to tear apart my entire storage room for a box buried in the back corner, but I also didn't forget about finding this CD weeks and weeks later.

Which CD?

The Fugees.  The Score.


This CD was on repeat for a large portion of high school.  At least one or two songs made it onto the majority of the mixed tapes I made too.  It's been back in my car for the past week or so, and it's good.  So very good.

Remember when Lauryn Hill was sane?  And so talented that we couldn't wait to see what she put out next? Yeah....me to.

Thursday 18 October 2012

movies of the week

In a rare move, I went to see two movies last week.  And I loved them both.

First, my friend Kristen and I went to see Pitch Perfect.  It was great!  A little bit cheesy college movie, a little bit of an edge, a lot of a cappella = the perfect Sunday afternoon movie for me.  My fascination with a cappella college groups started a couple of years ago with this video:


And it has grown ever since.  I may have even spent a Sunday morning searching for covers of Kanye West songs (they do exist and some of them are actually pretty good!).

One note about Pitch Perfect...I could have done without the vomit.  Especially the times you really didn't see it coming.  Too much.

While we were there, Kristen mentioned that she had never watched Finding Nemo.  I'll admit that I was pretty shocked...it's definitely one of those movies that I assume everyone has watched at least once before, if not more given all of the times it has been on tv.

So a couple of days later, we were back at the theatre to see Finding Nemo in 3D.  And it is one of the best 3D updated movies that I have ever seen.  There are so many opportunities for quality 3D images - all of the underwater scenes with the different plants and fish swimming around.  It really was worth seeing on a big screen, and I don't often think that about 3D movies.  But Finding Nemo is such a quality movie anyways that 3D or not, it's always worth watching.

Saturday 13 October 2012

keeping it simple

Wow, is it tough to find an available blog address.

The night that I sat down and figured out my first blog address - maybe three or four years ago at this point - it took a couple of variations of the title I had been thinking of before I found one that was available.  But tonight...I've been at my dining room table for at least an hour now, typing different combinations of words and trying to figure out what I want this blog to really be about.

As usual, it comes down to me wanting a place to keep track of the good things in my life.  The amazing times that I have with friends, the great experiences that I have in this city, and the memories I want to keep. Hence "She Smiles, She Writes".  That's what I hope to do.  It's easy to get stressed out and overwhelmed with day to day problems and responsibilities, but there's a lot to be happy and grateful for too.

And maybe one or two people will read about it as I go.