Not to bitch about the weather yet again. Everyone else seems to be contributing to that dilemma on Twitter and Facebook more regularly than I. However, it was another nasty day on the roads. If it is not frigid temps, then massive snowdrifts. So I found this photo feature charming as two young women brought the characters from Frozen to life here in the Twin Cities. Lisa Rosenberg and Meagan Marie take on the iconic roles from the Disney blockbuster. They created their own costumes for Elsa and Anna using hand sewn pom-poms and crystals. After that, they found perfect settings that reflect the animated world of the film using the Swedish Institute, Landmark Center and a frozen Minnehaha Falls. A spectacular world you will not likely see in the Magic Kingdom anytime soon.
Just so everyone knows - this is a flash back entry, not current. But a decade or so back, there was an annual tradition in town to board a busload of gay men & women, party on the ride up and hit the gorgeous slopes of Lutsen Mountain for a great weekend of skiing over Super Bowl Sunday. Apparently most of us could care less about the "big game" and Lutsen was looking to fill up some spare rooms on a slow weekend. This was not your typical weekend at the chalet. There were dancers, pool parties, and even tropical themed soirees in the suites we shared. I somehow landed on board and had a great time, although it is only one of 2 times in my entire life I have been on downhill skis. My two favorite stories of the adventure: Skinny dipping in the lodge pool on night one. On arrival, there was an elaborate pizza party mixer with beer of course (after the keg on the aforementioned bus ride.) I met several new friends and as the evening was winding down, we were itching to take a swim in the gorgeous main pool. But we found it silly to venture out into the frigid cold and go back to our rooms JUST to fetch our Speedo suits. This was 2000 before the dawn of board shorts - and gay men no less! So we decided to just shuck our clothes and dive in. It was at least 1:00 AM and no one else seemed to be around. Expect for the custodian who blew a gasket when he stumbled upon us. The big buzz the next morning was the gossip of the naked orgy in the pool. Funny how those kind of stories get blown far out of proportion in a group of that size. We all just kept out mouths shut and giggled. Story two was my aptitude for skiing. I had done so only once with my brother in college and I remember coming in from the cold to near lacerations on my arms and legs from my falls. I had great balance, but no idea how to stop, so I simply flung myself to the ground in minus zero weather and had no idea of the welts I was receiving. So in Lutsen, it was suggested that I take an early morning class for free. Which went just fine. But I discovered by the time everyone else was hitting the slopes at noon, I didn't want to stay by myself on the bunny runs. SO I hopped onto the gondola and followed suit having no idea I had arrived at one of the black diamond runs. Of course the only way down is forward. So being bold and fearless, that is exactly what I did. I did take a few tumbles, but was well within range of the others and have great pics of me on very icy slopes with gorgeous views of Lake Superior in the vista. Something I have longed to get back to since...
and not what you would think.... In honor of the upcoming Oscars, here is a small featurette that highlights a great group of Seniors from the Contilia Retirement Center in Essen Germany. They were making a holiday calendar for the residents and decided to have some fun with the assistance of professional stylists and photogs. They each picked some of their favorite classic movie shots and recreated the characters. The oldest was 98 years old. This is only a handful, so please visit the original link to catch the whole year in snapshots. They are precious beyond years. Contilia Retirement calendar
Most of you MUST know that I am heavily involved with color guard and all the winter marching activities in the Region. But a close cousin of this genre are dancelines which have massive participation in the Twin Cities. This ultimately bleeds over into the University of MN and their danceline program. We always hear about the U of MN hockey teams, the girls' basketball program and even the Big 10 football team. But why is it that no one knows about their Championship Dance Team? This last weekend they blazed to their 5th consecutive - number 5 - National Title. And before any of you pooh pooh them for being little Dolly Dance Divas - watch what they can do in a mere 3 minutes. Yes it is pure precision synchronization. But there is as much art & athleticism as any figure skating routine that you will see in the upcoming Olympics. Bravo!
Even though the days are getting longer, there is much winter to be had. We now enter our second Arctic blast of what has already been a hard year. (Just as the Farmer's Almanac had predicted - how do they know these things??)
But in spite of going stir crazy, I took the opportunity to bundle up twice over the past weekend to take in some MN festivities for the season. Close friend Rob & I dusted off our sets of snow shoes and hit the trails at Wirth Parkway. Being a chilly morning, we had much of the woods to ourselves except for a single ski-jorer and a few avid cross country folks. Maybe in prep for the upcoming Olympics? The lodge is beautifully rustic for cocoa after and you would never guess you are a short mile or two from the skyline.
Then on Sunday, Jeff and took in the kite festival on Lake Harriet. Waylon enjoyed it more than the two of us although he was frozen and shivering by the end. Gorgeous kites of all kinds - and not the kind from the drug store. Some were expensive and artful creations that were yards long. The pics posted do not quite grasp the scope of them - or the venturous crowd that was present for it. Now I just wish the house had that requisite fireplace to come home to. Although.... Menards is having a clearance on electric fireplace inserts and I am thinking a purchase might still have plenty of shelf life with the cold days ahead.
I am sharing this fabulous work of art since it hits notes on several fronts. First in terms of our winter & ice and how it slowly, but forcefully digs its way into our lives. But more-so, metaphorically. Glacier is a new video by singer-songwriter John Grant that charts the entire history of the US gay rights movement into a very compact 5 minutes. The collage of images is astounding and easily trumps what can be crammed into a 2 hour documentary feature. Of course Stonewall and AIDS is prevalent, but it starts long before that with military, McCarthyism and the Kinsey report. All the icons are there from Dorothy's ruby slippers to Harvy Milk's crusades The song itself stands solidly on its own with a haunting melody and Grant's aching voice. But again, the metaphor is present as this glacier transforms with weight and impending change across decades of years. This piece itself could be a textbook for any gay rights college class. Beautifully done.
The new year always comes with lists upon lists. Resolutions, best of, critics picks et al..... I purposely shied away from them and thought why bother sharing them. But I just came across this one today and got chuckles over it. The Worst Movie Musicals! Rather than the best. I do agree with most of them although a few of them I have never even heard of Flavorwire.com 15 worst movie musicals EVER How about the Apple - a 1980s biblical sci-fi fantasy set in 1994 (gasp!) about Adam & Eve and the commercialization of America. It was disco heavy and trying to ride the purse strings of Saturday Night Fever with a cast of unknowns who remained just that. Don't need to see that!
And who knew that the King and I was made into a dumbed-down animated film aimed at kids by Warner Bros in 1999? It kept a handful of the familliar songs and was voiced by Miranda Richardson. Likely WB's attempt to capitalize on the fame of Disney's string of hits. (with Barbra Streisand in the end credits off her Broadway album..) But Rodgers & Hammerstein quotes that it was the worst decision made in the history of their organization. Don't need to see that! There are other recent ones I would have to agree with - Rent, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia! and even the late Xanadu (which made a great stage show.) But even though they are not my favorites, I sort of liked Nine if we looked at it as an Italian spin on the American machine of musicals. I think many missed the irony and parody of Rock of Ages. And poor A Chorus Line just took to long to get into the can. It had a solid line of young dancers, but reflected the MTV era of splash rather than the original intention of the show. I am however surprised that a guilty pleasure like the Village People's Cant' Stop the Music which is gay in every sense of the word wasn't panned - I've been looking for it on DVD for a decade now.
This is the sort of topic that becomes more fun when opened for discussion. So shoot away.
I am now entering that dangerous mode of the season where I moving past the snowbanks and contemplating the many spring bulbs I have planted. Call it delusional. I am aware that there are several weeks ahead and we have not even spoken of the Groundhog and his perpetual shadow. There is another snow emergency in effect tonight and plenty more grey to be seen before any of those bright colors emerge. However, the holidays are past and the next landmark on the calendar is Valentines Day to add some color to the dreariness. Hopefully small spells of weather will enable a bit of outdoor enjoyment as our days are getting longer. There is a possible kite festival this weekend at Lake Harriet, snow shoes in the basement and ice skates to be dusted off. Can Spring really be that far away? Yes I fear, but no I hope!
I think YES! My birthday is months off, but this AM's Buzzfeed confirmed everything that I already knew about my birth sign if there was any question. I am always surprised by how accurate it fits my personality and begs the question of nature vs nurture.
Other than having stomach medicines in my bathroom cabinet, I would say every last one of the facts is a resounding TRUE. So this post may only get a rise from those that know me well or are Virgo's themselves.
