defy gravity
Aug. 12th, 2007 09:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hathycolI love you guys. I really do. *clings* Thank you all for assorted messages of 'You're not old yet!' and other various related birthday things.
In the end, I had a rather special birthday. Admittingly, it began with me sitting in my pajamas, drinking pink wine like it was the elixir of life, eating a warmed-up roast dinner that my mother had left for me, and watching Princess Mononoke on Film4. I like that film, I like pajamas, I like pink wine, but it wasn't the way I imagined my teenage years going out.
In the end, I stomped to bed - both my parents and my sister were out - and tried to sleep in between the lot of them coming in and waking me up. Mum also, in the tradition of the last fifteen years, decided that waking me up on my birthday was a great idea. She will wake me up at obscure times, possibly to make up for her guilt at so rudely concieving at a BLOODY AWKWARD TIME. She decided, on this auspicious day to wake me up merrily at 10am.
I threw a cushion at her. "GO AWAY!" I howled. "I'm an old lady now. I NEED MY SLEEP." Bear in mind that I've been getting myself up for about six years now whereas my sister still needs physically pulling out of bed.
She threw the cushion back at me. I relented and trawled my way downstiars to be greeted by presents - a digital camera (!!!) from my parents for use in Italy, and a Torchwood book from my sister. Er, yeah.
Anyway, Simon turned up to the sight of me sitting somewhat rebelliously in my pajamas, and presented me with tickets for Wicked.
I woke up by flinging myself at him babbling 'OMFGYAYSQUEE' and then throwing myself into the shower to prepare myself. A few hours later, after lunch at the Diner of Awesome in Liverpool, we caught a train to London and had slightly amusing adventures with broken points. Alas for British Rail, the rail service you have to give yourself an hour to cross over on. Still, we made it, and I was taken to a nice hotel, where we settled in before getting changed and heading out into Victoria. Due to a wonderful Simon, we ended up in a hotel in Victoria, so didn't even have to arse around to much with the Underground - we ate in Wagamama's and then headed out to the theatre. Simon bought me a program, and off we headed to our surprisingly good seats.
Here is the thing. I really wanted to see Wicked for a long, long time because everyone told me it was good. Unfortunately, what I knew about it was, essentially, based on other people's icons and their fandoms, and an appearance on the Royal Variety Show. (I'm looking at you,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
spockette.) From what I was able to ascertain, it was about the witches of Oz, about their wild japes in university, and about their tragically doomed romance.
I have to admit, I was genuinely surprised to discover they were not, in fact, canonically romantic, but the rest was about right. My main wish was for there to be flying monkeys. There was. All was well in the world.
I can't describe how much I enjoyed the show, in a sort of 'I bought the book this morning and am devouring it in a really scary way.' I've always liked Oz - the Wizard of Oz remains a staple in my life as the Best Film Ever, and Return to Oz as Scariest Film Ever - but I didn't know very much about it. I still don't, canonically, but I really, really enjoyed it. I laughed a lot, I, erm, sort of wept my heart out at a couple of songs, and I want to go and see it again. The whole presentation was simply wonderful, the cast were great, the story rattled along brilliantly; I can't say anything bad. I really can't.
And then I danced out into the London air, the weird air that's always a bit too warm for a provincial Northerner like me, and I saw the life around me, still awake at that time of an evening, wearing my dress that was naught but a £4 piece of cotton I bought in Primark, with Simon next to me, realising that I may be twenty but I was still justified in being like this.
It was a wonderful evening. Travelling back today was a bit awful - British Rail strikes again - and Simon is off to play in the Edinburgh festival next week so has disappered off into the night on the National Express night bus to Aviemore for rehearsals (where the hell is Aviemore other than Scotland?) and I have to go to work tomorrow evening but STILL.
Tonight, I am happy, I am twenty, and all is pretty good in the world. Definitely one of the best birthdays ever. And bear in mind I once got a solar eclipse for my birthday. :-)
ALSO BEFORE YOU GO. I need to practise with my new and shiny camera. I will take a photo of anything you want - the outside of my work, me, my house, El Parento, anything. Just ask!
In the end, I had a rather special birthday. Admittingly, it began with me sitting in my pajamas, drinking pink wine like it was the elixir of life, eating a warmed-up roast dinner that my mother had left for me, and watching Princess Mononoke on Film4. I like that film, I like pajamas, I like pink wine, but it wasn't the way I imagined my teenage years going out.
In the end, I stomped to bed - both my parents and my sister were out - and tried to sleep in between the lot of them coming in and waking me up. Mum also, in the tradition of the last fifteen years, decided that waking me up on my birthday was a great idea. She will wake me up at obscure times, possibly to make up for her guilt at so rudely concieving at a BLOODY AWKWARD TIME. She decided, on this auspicious day to wake me up merrily at 10am.
I threw a cushion at her. "GO AWAY!" I howled. "I'm an old lady now. I NEED MY SLEEP." Bear in mind that I've been getting myself up for about six years now whereas my sister still needs physically pulling out of bed.
She threw the cushion back at me. I relented and trawled my way downstiars to be greeted by presents - a digital camera (!!!) from my parents for use in Italy, and a Torchwood book from my sister. Er, yeah.
Anyway, Simon turned up to the sight of me sitting somewhat rebelliously in my pajamas, and presented me with tickets for Wicked.
I woke up by flinging myself at him babbling 'OMFGYAYSQUEE' and then throwing myself into the shower to prepare myself. A few hours later, after lunch at the Diner of Awesome in Liverpool, we caught a train to London and had slightly amusing adventures with broken points. Alas for British Rail, the rail service you have to give yourself an hour to cross over on. Still, we made it, and I was taken to a nice hotel, where we settled in before getting changed and heading out into Victoria. Due to a wonderful Simon, we ended up in a hotel in Victoria, so didn't even have to arse around to much with the Underground - we ate in Wagamama's and then headed out to the theatre. Simon bought me a program, and off we headed to our surprisingly good seats.
Here is the thing. I really wanted to see Wicked for a long, long time because everyone told me it was good. Unfortunately, what I knew about it was, essentially, based on other people's icons and their fandoms, and an appearance on the Royal Variety Show. (I'm looking at you,
spockette.) From what I was able to ascertain, it was about the witches of Oz, about their wild japes in university, and about their tragically doomed romance.I have to admit, I was genuinely surprised to discover they were not, in fact, canonically romantic, but the rest was about right. My main wish was for there to be flying monkeys. There was. All was well in the world.
I can't describe how much I enjoyed the show, in a sort of 'I bought the book this morning and am devouring it in a really scary way.' I've always liked Oz - the Wizard of Oz remains a staple in my life as the Best Film Ever, and Return to Oz as Scariest Film Ever - but I didn't know very much about it. I still don't, canonically, but I really, really enjoyed it. I laughed a lot, I, erm, sort of wept my heart out at a couple of songs, and I want to go and see it again. The whole presentation was simply wonderful, the cast were great, the story rattled along brilliantly; I can't say anything bad. I really can't.
And then I danced out into the London air, the weird air that's always a bit too warm for a provincial Northerner like me, and I saw the life around me, still awake at that time of an evening, wearing my dress that was naught but a £4 piece of cotton I bought in Primark, with Simon next to me, realising that I may be twenty but I was still justified in being like this.
It was a wonderful evening. Travelling back today was a bit awful - British Rail strikes again - and Simon is off to play in the Edinburgh festival next week so has disappered off into the night on the National Express night bus to Aviemore for rehearsals (where the hell is Aviemore other than Scotland?) and I have to go to work tomorrow evening but STILL.
Tonight, I am happy, I am twenty, and all is pretty good in the world. Definitely one of the best birthdays ever. And bear in mind I once got a solar eclipse for my birthday. :-)
ALSO BEFORE YOU GO. I need to practise with my new and shiny camera. I will take a photo of anything you want - the outside of my work, me, my house, El Parento, anything. Just ask!
no subject
Date: 2007-08-12 10:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-13 01:16 am (UTC)Do you have the cast album? If not, d'you want me to upload it for you?
In fact, if you email me (spockette@gmail.com) with your home address, I can copy a few of my DVDs, and give them to my mother to post on her way to work tomorrow. Because...eeee, Wicked. You should have it on DVD as a belated birthday gift, indeed.
The gay love between Glinda and Elphaba...depends very much on what cast you see. I've seen casts where they're almost entirely platonic. And then I've seen casts where Elphaba open-mouth kisses Glinda on the neck during the hug at the end of "For Good", so...yes. (Idina and Kristin (original Elphaba & Glinda) played it INSANELY GAY. It was awesome).
Do you want fic recs? I have plenty. :)
(where the hell is Aviemore other than Scotland?)
Aviemore is in my bit of Scotland. I'm close enough that Simon could probably pop round to my house for tea. It's quite lovely. They have a huge Santa Claus land...thing. And there used to be reindeer. Also, skiing.
And, hmmm. Take a photo of your socks. Yes.
Happy birthday. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-08-13 05:33 am (UTC)OR cheat and show me a link on t'internet
Uhm... Show me your favourite thing & a picture of you because I haven't seen you in ages!
no subject
Date: 2007-08-13 09:36 am (UTC)And I'd like to have a picture of a river or a tree or a lake - if there's something as such in your neighbourhood.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-13 11:47 pm (UTC)Of course you're not old you bloody silly bugger. You're younger than me!
no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 09:29 pm (UTC)x