Being Cultured on a Budget

Folks always ask how I see so many plays and movies as often as I do. That’s a pretty fair question, since the prevailing wisdom is that these things are uber-expensive and take up a lot of time. Well, here’s how I manage to swing it:

I have no children, just a cat. Therefore, it’s just me and Mr. Random, and often Mr. Random has to go to class on Saturdays. Since I hate staying around the house, it is a perfect time to see movies and go to museums.

Culture is cheaper than you think. When I go to the movies it is usually at 10:30-11 in the morning. Tickets are at matinee prices and the theaters are somewhat empty, so you aren’t smooshed next to random people. Then you also get the movie out of the way and can go on to other adventures for the rest of the day.

Theater tickets can be pricy, but if you go on off days (like Tuesdays and Wednesdays) or during preview weeks, the tickets are much cheaper than on Friday or Saturday night. Also, most small theater companies are have pretty cheap tickets as a rule, since they just want to get people to come and see their productions. The most expensive theaters I’ve been to are the Kennedy Center and the Shakespeare Theater Company here in DC, but we don’t go to those very often and only for really big plays. There is also an outlet here that sells half-price tickets for some shows, and that can be a god-send. Besides, we only usually hit one or two plays a month, which seems like a lot when you don’t go to many plays normally, but when you see the whole universe of plays available out there it is only a drop in the bucket. I wish I could go see more! And that doesn’t even count all of the music I wish I could go see . . .

It’s a priority for me. I LOVE being out and seeing things. This Shakespeare project that J and I are doing has opened up a whole world to me that I hadn’t experienced before. I’m starting to be able to evaluate productions and acting. I think I can knowledgeably discuss plays now. The English major in me is just thrilled to be in semi-literary settings on a regular basis. I guess this may make me a snob, but it is FUN to me . . .

I bring my lunch to work at lot and cook more food at home. Doing that has really cut down on that sort of spending for me, which means more money can go towards entertainment. I don’t watch a lot of TV, I don’t travel anywhere, so this is how I find my joy.

Hope this answers any questions and concerns. Besides, what other exciting things would I have to write about otherwise? Even *I* get tired of me whining about work too . . .

Random Cultural Show and Tell(er)

So here's some of what I've been doing . . .

Teller at the Folger

Teller, the normally silent half of Penn and Teller, was in town at the end of February to discuss his co-directing duties for the production of Macbeth that is currently running at the Folger Theater, and which I’ll luckily get to see next week (the full run sold out really quickly!) The discussion was held the night before the play opened and we were able to grab a quick and grainy photo at the end of the hour. I had never head him speak before and he seemed extremely bright and witty, and we could have sat and listened to him discuss Shakespeare and magic and other things all evening if possible.

Chicago 10

This part documentary/part animated film did not really fulfill the potential of its premise very well. It tried to do a lot of things and most of them not very well. It is a good jumping off point for a lot of good discussions and further research for the background and history of the 1968 Democratic Convention, but I wouldn’t advise any young people to watch it as a stand-alone history piece.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

This is one of the few movies that I’ve ever attended where the audience burst into applause at the end. After a few months where most of the movies I’ve seen were either deep, bloody dramas or political documentaries, it was such a breath of fresh air not to leave the theater feeling emotionally drained. A funny, poignant film that I highly recommend you go see if it’s playing in your town – it definitely deserves wider notice.

Major Barbara

I saw this George Bernard Shaw play at the Shakespeare Theater Company last Thursday. It is a wonderful production which was only marred by the fact that the play ended at 10:50 PM and the nearby parking garage closed at 11 PM – therefore we could not really pay attention to the last 10 minutes of dialogue because we were freaking out, ardently hoping the play would end in time for us to run the three blocks to retrieve the car. We didn’t even stay to applaud the actors: as soon as the scene ended and the curtain went down, we hightailed it out of our row, down the steps, out of the theater and ran like heck. Of course, because Mr. Random has been running forever, he was able to zoom ahead easily, while me and J . . . well, we were a bit slower. We did make it to the car with a few minutes to spare, but the moral of the story is to always check a play’s running time before you find a place to park.

More to come . . .

And . . . We're Back

Happy Spring, Everyone!

Oops. More than a week has passed since I last blogged and at LOT has been going on around here. Saw a play, saw a movie, went to some meetings, did some schoolwork and did a lot of freaking out with more to come.

I've got summaries and pictures and stuff to post, which I should do in the next day or two. Today is going to be crazy busy with Easter Services, visiting a friend's family to celebrate a birthday and then quickly scooting down to my parents' house for Easter Dinner where my grandma and youngest sister will be in attendance.

So I'm off to start another action packed day. I'm waving and wishing a happy Spring to you all!

But My Words Like Silent Raindrops Fell

I’ve been feeling kind of blah this week, so there is not much to report.

This song has been in my head all day. It fits my mood. Thing is, it’s a beautiful song – I utterly adore Simon and Garfunkel – so there are worse things that could be hanging around my brain. I can imagine the delicate guitar strumming and then the first set of lyrics coming in: “Hello darkness, my old friend . . .”

There are some songs that are just plain peaceful and put one in a mellower, if melancholy, place. This is one of them for me . . .

The Sound of Silence
P. Simon (1964)

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turn my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools," said I, "you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence

Frailty, Thy Name is Woman

My grandmother has moved to a new independent senior living complex. The good news is that she is no longer in the outer boonies –she is now in the “inner” boonies. It’s still a schlep, but the drive is a half-hour shorter for me and Mr. Random.

This place has better security, it has more activities for the residents and the apartment my grandmother is much larger, more spacious and more light-filled than her old one. In fact, I would argue that it is too large because her furniture now seems tiny and sparse in the big open space of her combo living room/dining area/kitchen and the expanse also gives the illusion that she is smaller and frailer than she truly is.

And seeing that makes me sad. Each time I see her, it’s like she moves a little slower and she’s shrunken a little more. She now walks slowly and gingerly with a cane – this being a woman who used to walk for miles back and forth across Philadelphia dragging her two little granddaughters behind her. I remember her standing strong (not tall, she’s always been kind of short) and being fearless, and now . . . while she still has a lot of spunk in her and her mind is still very sharp, something about her is a bit more tentative and she has to depend on more people to help her do many things that she used to just charge ahead and do herself.

Seeing my grandmother, helping her out when I can, brings me face-to-face with what it means to age and what it means to watch someone you love slowly decline. I am very lucky – my grandmother will turn 90 this year and I will have spent most of my life with her living within a 50 mile radius of me. She has always been in my life, one way or another, and I can’t imagine her not being here - being cranky and crotchety and hating people, while having a heart of gold.

At least I know that we have a good relationship. That I am still close to her. That I am one of the few family members that she relies on and talks to on a regular basis. It means a lot to me and I think it means a lot to her. My only regret is that I don’t have any children of my own yet for her to put her blessing.

When my grandpa died 21 years ago, it hurt. A lot. And it still hurts in some ways, but I’ve moved on and try to do the best I can to honor his memory. But my grandma? Oy! The dread I have! There are some situations where you won’t know how you’ll react until it happens but this is something . . . I don’t want to know right now. Yes, I am trying to be rational and I know that she has lived a full, exciting life and she is tired and has ailments and has already told us that when she goes she doesn’t want any fuss but to just put her “in a Hefty bag by the curb.” (No, seriously! She’s said that several times. She has a wicked sense of humor . . .) I know a lot of things intellectually. I get it. But still . . .

So a cloud hovers heavily on my brain, even though it shouldn’t. Every time I see her I hug her tight and tell her I’m so glad I could be there. What more could we do in this life that would be more important than taking the time to appreciate the moments we have remaining and making the most of those?

Coming in Like a Lion

It’s March – woo hoo! Mr. Random’s birthday is this month and I have no idea what to get him that would be special. I have some things in mind but because he’s going to be graduating in May, I want to save really nice gifts for then. We may just go have a nice dinner somewhere and call it a day for now . . .

I have a Georgia O’Keefe calendar by my desk. The month of March has a beautiful picture of two bright yellow flowers on a gray/white background, which is very cheery and uplifting to me. I need all the cheer I can get!

The next few days are going to be in the 60s here in Northern Virginia, which is kind of a waste when you think about it since I am going to be stuck at work and in meetings all day. I’m going to try to sneak outside to get some lunch and hope I can get enough healing sunshine from that . . .

I had a very enjoyable weekend: On Saturday I saw the movie, Chicago Ten, and on Sunday I saw the Ibsen play, Hedda Gabler. A bit of running around, but it always makes me so happy to have activities to go to and new things to experience on the weekends. The play was rather cheap, since it is a small local acting company who will soon have to find new digs other than the abandoned warehouse that is currently its home.

When I was out yesterday, I was sitting in a coffee shop where they had local artists’ work on the wall for display and sale. Looking at the works made me want to start taking photos again and think of ways maybe I could sell a few of them at an art show or two. I have a photo printer now and there are a few pictures that are interesting enough that people might want to buy. I have a feeling that it would be an expensive project to undertake, so I’ll just keep mulling it over for the time being . . .

OK, to change gears for a moment, my newest thing is for the month of March to cut out a lot of dairy, soy and grains in my diet. Now I’m usually not one of those diet freaks who follows whatever trend is going around – I’m more of the “eat less, eat healthier, exercise more” school of living. However, I’ve notices that in the past several months, whenever I eat or drink certain things I feel horrible and sluggish afterwards. I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of starches that I eat, but after reading an article in Health magazine I thought I would try this for a month and see what happens, and then start adding them back into my diet sparingly. This also will help my goal of eating more fruits and veggies and not get as filled up on rices and pastas, as can easily happen with a lot of stuff that Mr. Random and I usually eat. I’m also learning to size portions a bit better and not try to eat mounds of nut and berry mix as a snack – a handful should suffice at a time.

This is the week before Spring Break - for both college and the ESL program – but I’m not going to get much rest or time off at this point because of work. It would be a great opportunity to take a week and get caught up on all sorts of reading and get a bit ahead in some other things, but alas, that is not going to happen. Bummer.

Well, this has been a crappy blog post, but I wanted to pop in and say hi, I’m alive and kicking around, just not visiting very much. Sending much love to all . . .