Rockin' and Rollin'

Is it sick that I actually really, really enjoy earthquakes?

In case you haven't heard yet, a 5.8 quake struck Chino Hills around 11:40 a.m. today, as I was typing away in my lovely little cubicle. It was quite the tremor!!! I haven't felt an earthquake like that in years - not since the Northridge quake, really. Man, the adrenaline just gets pumping! I still feel a little shaky.

And, not gonna lie - I kinda feel like a kid on Christmas! As long as no one gets hurt and there's not property damage, I really get a kick of of quakes. I even hopped onto the US Geological Survey Web site and filled out the "Did You Feel It?" form.

It's so funny, because I was just lamenting to myself the other day that we hadn't had a quake in years. There have been a few minor shakes in the last few years since I came back from college, but none of them have been anything noteworthy.

Have you ever seen L.A. Story? It's a hilarious Steve Martin flick from the early 1990s that pokes fun of all things L.A. In once scene, there's an earthquake, but instead of getting up and ducking for cover, everyone just keeps on doing what they're doing. Well, that scene is more true to life than I thought! Most of us just kind of stopped, sat through the quake and then chatted about it for a few minutes - excited, but not too scared, except for Chelsea, the newest member of the team. She's an East Coast gal, so this was her first earthquake. What a way to get that good ol' Californian rite of passage!

What were you doing when you felt the quake? Any fun earthquake memories? I'll reminisce about the Northridge quake later - back to work for me. Ciao!

Cinema Studies Lesson #2: So Bad It's Good

Kenny Ortega, you've come a long way.

Ortega, the choreographer/director dynamo behind the High School Musical powerhouse, has quite the list of talent with whom he's worked. Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus et. al. are great and all, but before the tween scene, Ortega set the footwork for a pre-Batman Christian Bale (Newsies, anyone?) and headed choreography for essential '80s flicks like Pretty in Pink, Dirty Dancing and, yes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. That dance scene in the street parade? Classic!
And to think, all of Ortega's choreographic goodness may not have happened without the film that started his Hollywood career: Xanadu.


Ah, yes, Xanadu. Who can forget this infamous 1980 roller disco extravaganza starring Olivia Newton John, coming off of her Grease success, and the incomparable Gene Kelly?

With such talent, you'd think the film would be a hit, right?

Wrong!


Xanadu is one of two films that were so awful, they sparked the creation of the Golden Raspberry Awards, or "Razzies," honoring the worst films of the year. (Trivia: the other film was You Can't Stop the Music, a film starring the Village People, of "YMCA" and "Macho Men" fame.)
Xanadu tells the tale of Sonny Malone, a frustrated artist who falls in love with the muse sent to inspire him - the same muse who had visited retired musician-turned-real-estate-tycoon Danny McGuire in his heyday. McGuire has dreamed of opening a nightclub since his closed in the 1950s, and he teams with Malone to make it a reality.

On a recent Costco trip, one of my roomies spotted the newly released, "magic musical" edition of Xanadu for a mere $10 - and that included a CD of the film's hit soundtrack plus a free ticket to Mamma Mia!, a $10.50 value itself (and worth every penny!!!). A steal, right? And, after all, I had fond memories of the film. We'd watched it in the 8th grade drama class I loooooved, and so, feeling a little nostalgic, I forked over the $10 for the film, eagerly listening to the delightful Electric Light Orchestra-filled soundtrack.


We finally sat down to watch Xanadu last night, and... well... now I understand Esquire Magazine's famous review of the film: "In a word: Xana-don't."


The film was supposed to launch Michael Beck's film career - "Michael who," right? Olivia Newton-John returned to her music career, Gene Kelly never made another musical... but, on the bright side, he took a liking to 20-something Kenny Ortega and taught him the art of choreographing for the camera. Considering the amazing body of work that's come out of Ortega's career (like it or not, HSM helped revived the movie musical), I'd say that's a good thing!


Xanadu was on a list of the top 10 best bad movies ever, and I have to agree - it's so bad, it's good.

The film had serious potential, but apparently two roller disco films were released around the same time, so the filmmakers scrambled to revise the plot into more of a timeless love story. Apparently shooting with an incomplete script is a bad idea - the acting is painfully bad (except for Newton-John and Kelly, who shine despite the milquetoast material) and the film requires such a suspension of disbelief, it's like watching a live-action Salvador Dali painting! It's so surreal... but, on the other hand, that gives the film a bit of an ephemeral quality.

It's kitschy, the music's catchy, the effects are ridiculous (mostly due to putting all of this magic in the "real world" of 1980s Santa Monica and Venice Beach) - and I can totally see why it's become a cult classic (and is now a hit off-Broadway stage musical!).


For your viewing pleasure - drum roll, please! - here's the film's finale:



Apparently they kept coming up with different genres for the nine muses to dance until they ran out of time and money, hence the bizarre amalgam of styles there at the end. The finale set alone cost $1,000,000 - crazy, huh?

If nothing else, Xanadu is a fun time capsule into the trends of the early '80s - I didn't realize zoot suit pants were all the rage around then, in addition to the stereotypical legwarmers and spandex. It's weird to see how some of the hairstyles are quite de la mode today, too. I looooove Olivia Newton-John's hair at the end (which is also the same 'do from the film's beginning), ribbon barrettes and all!

Driver's Ed

Does anyone remember the 1950 Disney short, "Motor Mania"? It's the bit where Goofy plays Mr. Walker, your everyday nice guy who, when placed behind the wheel, becomes Mr. Wheeler, an aggressive beast of a driver, in the spirit of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Well, I'm not quite that bad, but, admittedly, I am not my sweetest and most Christlike behind the wheel - and this morning I had a wake-up call on why that's not a good idea!

Driving along my usual morning commute, there was a big, slow truck in the right-hand lane, so I wisely moved into the left lane and carried along. Well, when I got up to the truck, some poor sap in a silver pick-up was trying to get into my lane - and why should he push ahead of me when I'd thought ahead, right?

The pick-up squeezed in, and, much to my chagrin, I realized that the driver was none other than my buddy, Brian B., one of those guys who is so amiable and fun, he always brightens my day! Boy, did I ever feel like a jerk.

We both pulled into Costco for gas, so after I got my pump going, I walked over to say hi and apologize for being a brat on the road. He was like, "Yeah, I thought that was Christa being a hater!" We laughed, no big deal, right? But it cut me to the core to think that if it hadn't been Brian, I totally wouldn't have cared.

So, my little PSA for this Monday morning is to remember to be nice on the road. You never know who you'll run into, and isn't it always important to put your best foot forward?

PS: Here's a 16-second clip from "Motor Mania" - enjoy!

Soooooo Excited...

Thanks, Heather, for posting this! I can't believe we have to wait until December... torture, man!

At least Breaking Dawn comes out in a mere two weeks. These books are addictive!!! If you thought Twilight was good, you have to read Midnight Sun, the story from Edward's perspective.

Oh, wait, that's not out yet... unless you're cool like me and have a sneak copy of the first 12 chapters! Thanks again, Aubri!!!

Cinema Studies Lesson #1: "The Man That Got Away"

If I could do any profession, it would be cinema history.

Film fascinates me, especially classic cinema. I can't get enough of it! One of my goals is to watch all 78 of the American Film Institute's top 100 films that aren't rated R - I'm a little more than halfway there, thanks to Netflix!

Without another platform for geeking out about my beloved classics, I'll just start educating y'all on why they just don't make movies like they used to, beginning with A Star is Born.

Although not on AFI's list, A Star is Born is one of Hollywood's classics, telling the tale Norman Maine, a leading man whose star is falling right as he discovers the next big star, Esther Blodgett (whose name is, of course, changed, to Vicki Lester).

I recently watched the 1937 version starring the darling Janet Gaynor and the dashing Fredric March (surprisingly in Technicolor!). It's a great backstage drama that tells how life was in Hollywood back in the day.

The film was updated in 1954 as a musical starring Judy Garland and James Mason in the starring roles, and I had the pleasure of watching it the last two nights. I really enjoyed how the plot was updated to fit the changes in the movie industry by then, during the Golden Age of the studio system. Truth be told, I agree with the many people who say the first film was better.. but in the second, you get the incomparable Judy Garland.

Need I say more?

The film is a whopping 176 minutes, so I doubt many of you will pick it up anytime soon - especially since Blockbuster doesn't carry old flicks (much to my chagrin!) - so I thought I'd post the film's most important musical scene, "The Man That Got Away."

The scene captures Judy Garland singing one of the best torch songs ever, having fun with the band without knowing that James Mason's character is watching from the wings. It's phenomenal - one of the best songs ever!


The film is such a famed classic, and now I see why. Garland's dynamite in the role that was touted as her big comeback after MGM dropped her contract in 1950. She was up for Best Actress for the part but lost to Grace Kelly's homely turn in "The Country Girl" by a mere six votes! Groucho Marx called the loss the "biggest robbery since Brinks," and it's still the talk of Tinseltown more than 50 years later!

Garland never quite got over the loss. Her drug use spiraled out of control, and she only really made two more movies, neither of which was a major success. What a shame!

Anyways, enjoy the clip!



PS: I'm watching the filmreel from the film's premiere at the Pantages, seeing the parade of stars arrive, and can I just say, what was with the hairstyles of the mid-1950s?! All the women have terrible, short hairdos - I think the mens' hair is longer!

Oh, and bless her heart, but did you know that Judy Garland had snaggle teeth? MGM capped them for her films there, but they aren't capped in this footage, and they aren't pretty. Poor thing!

44 Questions

Thanks, Brittney, for these questions! You're too fun!

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes - LOVE it!
2. Have you ever smoked? Nope
3. Do you own a gun? Nope - but I'm all for the practice as long as it's done responsibly
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? I never was a big KoolAid fan. I'm more of a lemonade gal
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointment? Not really, unless they're drawing blood. Then I nearly faint every time!
6. What do you think of hot dogs? They're great for beach days or kids, but I'll take a hamburger over a hot dog any day.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? "Holiday Inn" with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, closely followed by "Christmas in Connecticut" with Barbara Stanwyck
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Diet Pepsi. Gross, huh? And plenty of water
9. Can you do push ups? If I have to!
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Necklaces in general... but I have a bracelet I got in San Francisco's Chinatown that I adore. Oh, and my charm bracelet, of course!
11. Favorite hobby? Singing, taking dance classes, scrapbooking when I have time (which is never!)
12. Do you have A.D.D.? Nope, but sometimes I feel like it!
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? My lack of self-discipline
14. Middle name? Jeanne, after my grandma, Jean
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? Dang, Judy Garland can sing! Old movies are amazing. I really should be working on my freelance stuff right now...
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Diet Pepsi, water, milk with protein powder
17. Current worry? Catching up with my finances, organizing my room when there's too much stuff and not enough space!
18. Current hate right now? Windows Vista; BMG music club
19. Favorite place to be? My grandma's cabin in Idaho, San Francisco, Seattle, Coronado Island
20. How did you bring in the New Year? Camping out on the Rose Parade route in Pasadena with my friend Christine, my cousins and a bunch of 14-year-old Boy Scouts. It was an adventure!
21. Where would you like to go? New York City, Europe
22. Name three people who will complete this. Heather, Rebecca, Aubrey (either one!)
23. Do you own slippers? I do, but I don't wear them all too often during summer. Boy would I love a pair of these, though!!!
24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Coral
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I wouldn't know!
26. Can you whistle? Yep
27. Favorite color? Totally depends on the day. Usually red or purple
28. Would you be a pirate? Nope - I like brushing my teeth too much!
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Broadway and old standards from the American Songbook (the stuff Frank Sinatra or Judy Garland would sing)
30. Favorite Girl's Name? Jenna Elaine
31. Favorite boy's name? Something traditional, like James or Charles
32. What's in your pocket right now? No pockets in my PJ pants!
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Talking with my stepmom, aunt and cousin at the beach yesterday. My family is too fun!
34. Best bed sheets as a child? Rainbow Brite. Awwww yeah!!!
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Slicing off my fingertip last year. It was the most painful thing I've ever experienced!
36. Do you love where you live? It's alright, but I look forward to moving to somewhere more permanent eventually. I'm getting sick of living in a little room!
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Three - one for each roommate
38. Who is your loudest friend? Heather, I guess... but she's not too loud
39. How many dogs do you have? Two, a Sheltie named Shep and a Skye terrier named Maisie. Apparently we like Scottish dogs in my family. :)
40. Does someone have a crush on you? Sadly, I doubt it...
41. What is your favorite book? The Great Gatsby
42. What is your favorite candy? Peanut butter M&Ms or jujubees - depends on if I'm in a chocolate or sugary mood
43. Favorite Sports Team? BYU Cougars, all the way!!!
44. What song or songs do you want played at your funeral? Something by George Gershwin, or "Someday" from West Side Story. Oh, and "Thanks for the Memories" - the Bing Crosby version.

I'd love to hear what all of you have to say!!!

What If...

So, here's my deep thought for the night, the culmination of a lot of fretting and pondering in the recent and not-so-recent past: how much energy do we exert worrying about what other people think?

I've realized lately that, hands down, I bet more energy is spent with people fretting about their own images then fretting about others' welfare. I'm totally guilty of this myself - more than I should admit, I'm sure.

I'll own it: I'm awkward.

There, I said it out loud. *gasp!*

No matter how old I get or how many friends I have, if I have the *right* job or shop at the *right* stores, I will always, always feel like a freckle-faced geek who doesn't really know what the heck she's doing.

You know what I'm starting to realize, though? The secret of life: nobody does.

I once asked my nearly 80-year-old grandmother if that feeling ever goes away. You know what she said? Nope.

The trick is to just be comfortable in your own skin. Imagine how liberating it would be to not worry about it! Imagine how amazing the world would be if instead of worrying about ourselves, we worried about others, made the effort to ensure their comfort rather than stressing about saving face. It's like in that children's story about the Wemmicks. What would it be like to be so self-assured in who we are, deep down inside -- no regard to how beautiful we are or aren't, or how much money we do or don't have, or whether we run with the *right* crowd -- but just who we are, plain and simple, that no one's gold stars or grey dots can stick?

My stepmom has an awesome quote up in our house that I wish I could relay verbatim, but I'll have to paraphrase. Essentially, Emily Post, the Manners Queen herself, once said that the point of good etiquette is to make those around you comfortable. If you have that down, who cares what fork you use?

Well, you know what? The stress of worrying what others think is something I could live without. That's going to be my new goal - to shrug off that feeling. After all, it's just fear, and we all know where fear comes from... Yeah, not good. So, will this be an easy switch? Probably not at first... but I bet I'll be a heck of a lot happier about it in the end.

And you know what I, for one, think about you?

It's true. You are. And please don't let anyone tell you differently!

Fighting Flab with the Force

May the Force be with your in your Jedi journey to fitness!

The video is a little long, but there's a major twist around 4:00, so stick with it.



(And yes, my job is turning me into a mega-geek - I found this on a site called geekologie. This is what happens when your job is to research Web 2.0 / social media for the computer/tech enthusiast audience all day. I've even learned how to do XML coding for RSS feeds, for crying out loud!)

More blog posts to come, I promise... if you want to see what I've been up to for the last few days, go to my friend Heather's blog (my *BESTEST* friend, we're really super good friends, hahaha) - she's posted on a bunch of stuff I did over the weekend (using my *amazing* 4th of July photos, no less!).