I'm in the DMA lab right now... trying to get started on this stupid script and it won't let me do it. Someone help me!!!! It says I need the serial number that is on the software package and I obviously don't have that. I'm a little confused becasuse we did that to these computers a few weeks ago. WHY WON'T IT WORK!!! SOS...SOS...SOS...SOS...

I'm sitting here mooning over Mr. Darcy.Yes, I'm watching Pride and Prejudice. The BBC Miniseries, although it is lengthy, is the only one worth watching. And I love it. I love Jane Austen too, she makes being single bearable, because I can dream about the men in her stories with no guilt whatsoever. I watch this movie too much.

"I feel I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers" *SIGH*"
"You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." *SWOON*

I love the awkward silences in this movie. These are things that you obvioulsy cannot pick up on in a book, but I imagine they are there I love watching girls made happy by a truly good guy. But I don't htink I'll ever be ready for one. Maybe I will, and 'til then I'll live in my Jane Austen world. I also love the awkward stares that are exchanged between Elizabeth and Darcy--its so corny its is amazy.

I cannot believe the amount of work that I have had to do this week. Its just a constant flow of homework with no time for myself. My brain is being suffocated with information and ideas. All of my ministry class intertwine to where I just don't know what I'm supposed to be learning for each class. I haven't gotten to read a script yet or work on my character sheets. But they'll get done. I'm praying that they'll be done well.

I got so mad at the media this week. Did you know that 200 people were killed in Iraq last week? In the war that is supposedly suppost to be over. 200. Who heard about it? Was it the lead story in every paper across the nation, no. That's okay, because the Ipod Nano came out and Britney Spear's had her baby. Yay for the world.

In '94, 109 and nine people died in the Oklahoma city bombing, and the media ate it up. We practically were spoon fed every victim's life story and family background, and the lifestory of every victim's great-grandmother. The point is, we were beyond informed about this story. And 200 people died last week and no one knows. Sometimes I hate my journalism major, but then most of the time I can't wait until I get to the point where I get to control what gets covered.

Last week I went to see The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with two of my good friends. I am in love with the books for one reason--I could be best friends with the characters. They are amazingly written, and after three books I feel like I know them as well as any of my friends. So I walked into the theater ready to be disappointed, and I walked out surprisingly satisfied. It was a cheesy, girly story and they did change some needless things from the novels (most of them things only the die-hard readers would have picked out), but thecharacters I saw on the screen are the same girls I have had dancing in my head for the past few years, drinking up these books.

One of the cool, and I am sure hard things about this film is that it is set in four different locations. The four central characters head off to different places on their summer vacation--Greece, Mexico, South Caroline and Maryland. The set in Mexico and Greece was beautiful and it was cool to bounce from place to place. The four different stories, all conncected, reminded me of Love Actually, one of my favorite movies. My favorite part of the film was the emotion that was evoked. You could feel the love between the characters, and it was in a fresh way because it wasn't the typical boy-girl love. It was girl on girl friendship love. It was a sweet movie.

Okay so my top ten favorite books are (in no particular order):

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
3. There's a Girl in my Hammerlock by Jerry Spinelli
4. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
5. The Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot
6. The Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling
7. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Anne Brashares
8. The Cider House Rules by John Irving
9. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
10. An Acquaintance With Darkness by Ann Rinaldi

A lot of my favorites are series. I'm a sucker for in-depth characters and long, long stories. These books have been my friends and comfort in all different areas of my life.

Today after my amazingly short day of classes ended I went to the library and picked up Welcome to Mooseport. I chose this script because my script is going to be a comedy so I wanted an example of one that I knew would make me laugh. I had already seen this movie, which I enjoyed, so it was kind of cool to compare the script to the film.

My favorite part of the script is the world of Mooseport that the writer created. Characters like the nude jogger, the old ladies at the Hardware store, and the councilman who steals the President's portrait with Julia Roberts--they make this old town loveable and believable. Quirky characters are what make a film fun and the protagonist's life more interesting to me.

I like how the story flowed. It didn't cover a huge span of time, but that made it less intense and more fun. The portrayal of the media also made me laugh, and the comedic insight into the life of the new president. Overall, I really like this script. It made me laugh a lot.

I thought it was interesting thinking about Todd's coach film idea, and the thousands of other ideas that are about a sports coach. I've always been able to relate to these films because it feels like my life could easily fit into a more boring version of one of these movies. You see, my dad is a high school basketball coach of 23 years.

Every winter since I was in the womb, I spent my Friday and Saturday nights in a high school gym. I went through these stages growing up where I switched back and forth from wanting to be a cheerleader or a basketball player. So dependent upon my year in life, I would be seen at these games decked out in either a cheer outfit or an old practice jersey my dad scrounged up for me. I was my dad's biggest fan. Me and my sisters would annoyingly be the only one's cheering after the players were announced, when they announced the coach's name over the loudspeaker. The outfits always changed colors though.

We moved all over when I was growing up. All three of my dad's daughters (me and my sisters) were born in different counties in Indiana. Everyone in my extended family has lived in the same, small Ind. town all their lives. We were always the outcasts, driving 2-7 hours to visit on holidays. When we lived in Ohio, we didn't even get to come home for Thanksgiving because Dad had a tournament. My older sister went to five different schools from k-12, and I went to three, my little sister only two. I asked my mom how many houses her and my dad have lived in during their marriage, and she counted them for me. It was some ridiculous number like 12. Yes, and they owned four of them, my crazy noneconomic-minded parents.

Sometimes, at best, we moved when my dad found another opportunity to coach a bigger school. At worst, we were practically run out of town. Kids were so cruel to me in school, saying things like, "everyone in town hates your dad, they're going to fire him." Have you ever seen "Friday Night Lights"--I have lived that scene with the for sale signs in the yard many a time. Seriously, no joke--you don't really do that about basketball in Indiana.

Although its been really hard, coaching is what my dad does...its who he is, and it sort of feels like when that part of his life is over-- his last night on the bench, pacing the sideline, jumping up and down, stamping his feet and making noise with his hard soled shoes, throwing tantrums, cursing out loud, consoling a crying senior as they leave the floor for the last time, and doing all sorts of other crazy things I've witnessed in my 19 years--that I will be losing a part of my dad at the same time. It hasn't been always pleasant watching him, but I really wouldn't have chosen to grow up any other way.

Its quite possible that I am going to be ridiculed a little after this post, but I want to discuss some people who have been very close to my heart the last few years--The Gilmore Girls. I love those women. I started out watching it because I thought the dialogue was so incredibly fresh and funny, but now I am so in love with the story. I love how the writer makes a completely hilarious, strong character in Lorelai out of what I think could have been the regular, depressing single mom character that is played so much.

My whole life is kind of Gilmore-ized to the point where I am constantly quoting the show, or saying things like, "You are so much like Kirk" (an amazing small-town wacko on this show. I watch the first three seasons on DVD constantly in my room, and I laugh at the same lines over and over. Its just the right amount of drama, comedy and whimsy to make me want to watch it and wish my life could be filled with so much wit.

Here is some dialogue that I recorded of my friends.

Sarak K.: So, Jenn is writing a paper on dating vs. courtship. Nevermind. Scratch that. She's writing on euthanasia. I did not know what euthanasia was. I always thought they were saying "youth and Asia." I was like, "Who cares. Aren't they the same as youth in America?" Then I found out its assisted suicide. So no I know.

Sarah G.: Why do you have that thing? (the tape recorder)

Sarah K.: Because I asked for one for my birthday because I thought I'd use it and I really don't use it but its really fun because you can walk around and be like, "Note to self." Crazy. In fact I think I'll do it tomorrow. And also I found some stuff my friends talk about on Spring Break, ON THE WAY TO SPRING BREAK and I didn't even know it and I listened to it.

Sarah G.: Did I tell you about this morning?

Sarah K: Yes you did. You told me about your hairdryer. It caught on fire. But anyway. Here's Joanna.

Joanna: What do I do? Is it already recording right now? Wow. This thing is amazing. I just have to let you know Sarah that I love you.

The next day.

Sarah K.: Note to self. Make Mindi leave me a note. She's right here.

Mindi: Hi Sarah. How are you? I just wanted to let you know that you're awesome. Every time I hear your funny voice it just makes me jump for joy. Jump! Jump! Jump! Just like Tigger. Just like Tigger. Every time, you aren't here I feel as if I'm Eeyore. Its saddened with out Sarah Keyse. You know, that's just what you brought to me. Joy and laughter. And really fun times. Here's AJ.

AJ: Hey Mindi. This is AJ. Um.... (laughs hard for a few seconds). Well, here's Mindi.

Mindi: That reminds me of piglet. (More uncontrollable laughing)

Sarah K: Note to self. Pray for Ashley and her grades. Pray for Travis Williams. Pray for Daniel. Start on colloquium paper. Go see Martha next Monday at 3. Thank Mom for making her making me take that CLEP test.

Sarah G.: 1400 red balloons. Sitting in a canopy. White dress, maybe beige. Definitely sleaveless and a really long veil. No poofy skirt. Sarah Keyse' wedding dress.

Sarah G: Another wedding note, definitely definitely chicken. No Disco music, maybe, maybe punk 'cause that would be fun. Definitely Definitely dancing to the Gilmore Girls theme song. And obviously Dave Barnes' wedding medley.

Later

Sarah G.: And then I'm like, my sister and my mom are in front of me, who in the crap. And she's like, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CUT YOUR HAIR! And I turned around and its Britney, the girl I was really good friends with in jr. high and kinda friends with in high school and now is like a complete druggie slut frat girl.

Sarah K.: Me too.

Sarah G: Amen sister.

Sarah K.: This weekend I went to this frat party at Rose Hulman and it was oh man, oh baby oh baby.



This was some dialogue that my roommate and I recorded last year for fun. I got out her tape recorder, but I couldn't get past this recording, so I decided to jot it down for this week. The thing that really stuck out to me was the difference in the speed of the real people talking compared actors in movies. We never pause between our sentences. We talk so fast.

Today, my first Saturday of the year in Huntington, I went with my floormates to the Ft. Wayne zoo. Reflecting upon the day, I am very glad that I went on the trip so that I could acquire this useful knowledge that I will be using in my adult life...that is, the future I'm not so looking forward to where I will probably be responsible for more persons than myself. Most of this came through some hearty discussion from the girls on my floor, as well as some careful observation of strangers at the zoo.

I'll never live in Amish country. It's too much to put your kids through. As we walked toward the entrance of the zoo, we found ourselves surrounded by a see of navy, homemade cotton clothing: women in long, pioneer-style dresses with bonnets and men with long bowl cuts and suspenders pants. Seeing the group reminded me of my own childhood experience with Amish and Mennonite groups. The first time was when I lived in southeastern Indiana. I couldn't have been more than five years old and I was at the grocery with my mother. As we turned the aisle we came upon a group of Amish women. Perplexed, I tugged on my mother's arm and asked her in my loud, unaware-that-strangers-have-ears way, where the pioneer people came from Its a story my mother has told numerous times to friends and family, and I never want my kids to have a story like that tacked on to their legacy.

I am not letting my children out of the house until they are ten years old. When you bring children to a public place, whether it is designed for children to enjoy or not, they act like complete and utter brats. If kids knew better, they would never ask their parents to go anywhere in public. When my kids ask, I'm going to sit them down and explain to them, "If we do go, one of two things is most likely to happen. One, you are going to see something you want me to buy for you, and when I say no you will cry for the rest of the trip and not enjoy yourself. Two, you'll do something that I've asked you repeatedly not to do and I'll have to spank you in front of a lot of people and you will not enjoy yourself. Now, do you still want to go?" I know that this is impractical and useless planning. I will probably be one of the idiotic parents who toted their two year-olds around the zoo so they won't be able to remember or learn anything. But now, it feels good to be idealist about things, because as I get older, its a rite of passage to throw all the ideals away.

I also learned a lot about wildlife I have never experienced before. But somehow, I think these two lessons are going to stick with me a lot longer than facts about orangutan and sea lions.

Today I read a script entitled "The Set-Up" by Sydney Lumet. It said that it was based on a poem by Joseph Moncure March. After doing a little research I realized that it was a remake screenplay from a 1949 film by Art Cohn. This was definitely an updated version of the story though, the content was really... let's say "modern."

I'll have to admit at first that I was biased as soon I realized it was a boxing story. A few weeks ago I rented Million Dollar Baby and I turned it off as soon as I realized it was going to end in euthanasia...not thanks Clint. I also sat through Ali in a week moment with my dad...biographical movies are always a bad idea for me, halfway through the person's life I'm ready for them to die already. But when I got into the story, I was somewhat drawn in.

The beginning of the story was not developed well at all. I felt thrown into a the relationship with Stoker, the main character, and his long-time girlfriend Julie. The worst part of the movie, though, was Stoker's manger Arnie Manoff, who sells Stoker off to a low-life, dangerous boxing promoter. It made me laugh for awhile because the character reminded me of Derek Zoolander's agent played by Jerry Stiller when he sells Derek off to the evil fashion designer Mugatu (I LOVE that movie).

I think that the most well-written part of the film was the sequence of scenes in the locker room where Stoker and four other boxers were preparing for their matches. I loved how the character Sam helped Stoker see where his life was heading, like he was looking through a mirror that was fast forwarded 5 years. I think the best relationship portrayed in the story was that of Mugsy Lawler and Stoker. There are no flashbacks, and hardly any stories that arise from the two, but there is a deepness to the words that are exchanged between the characters that tells me that there is a heartfelt respect between them. I think it was a better love relationship than what was written about Julie and Stoker.

The script really wasn't that well written--the character's seemed to be underdeveloped and I felt rushed through the whole thing, like there was no depth to it. But ultimately, I think it is a good story, even if it is a boxing movie. I'd be happy just seeing the Art Cohn original though, I love black and white movies. I'm not sure that this modernized version would attract a wide audience.