Thursday, April 28, 2011

Bye, Michael Scott

Anyone who watches The Office knows Steve Carell's last episode will air tonight. I got into the show only a few months ago, but I love it. It is one of the most hilarious shows I have ever seen, and Carell does a brilliant job playing Michael Scott. I will miss him, for sure!

This video has most of Michael's best moments. I love the "unicorn" bit!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Quotes from Audrey


As soon I fell in love Marlon Brando, I abandoned my enormous obsession with Audrey Hepburn. It's unfortunate I considered the first "classic film" actor I ever admired too "perfect," compared to the more controversial Marlon. Now back in the Audrey-groove, I realized I compared apples to oranges, and both belong on my DVD shelf.

Also an obsession with these quotes mark her return to my film-life:

"Sex appeal is something you feel deep inside. I can convey as much fully clothed, picking apples off a tree or standing in the rain."

"For me, the only things of interest are those linked to the heart."

"Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you're exactly the same."

"I have accomplished far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it happened to me without me ever seeking it."

"I'm not stacked like Sophia Lauren or Gina Lollobrigida, but I don't need a bedroom to prove my womanliness."

"As a child, I was taught that it was bad manners to bring attention to yourself, and to never, ever make a spectacle of yourself ... All of which I've earned a living doing."

I found all quotes in Audrey Hepburn: A Life in Pictures, edited by Yann-Brice Dherbier. Hopefully they inspire your Saturday :)

~F.

Monday, April 18, 2011

What I'm into ...

~What I'm into:


~The new Jane Eyre film. Have you seen it yet? I loved it! It is just as wonderful as the 1943 version with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine, and the 1980s miniseries with Timothy Dalton. The more films I watch Mia Wasikowska in, the more I like her. I am not sure why, she just appeals to me. Michael Fassbender, on the other hand, gives off the clear dreamy vibe.

~The return of sunshine


~Mad Men, Season 4. Amazon sent me my DVD last week! Oh, Don, Don, Don ...

~The hunt for my new Tennessee Williams book. Every summer, I read "new" works of his for me. It seems harder to find this year.

~F. Scott Fitzgerald moves! Yay!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Taking a break from film and fashion ...

Picking up from the last post, Mary Richards actually spoke a fantastic line on a Mary Tyler Moore Show episode I just watched:

"Sometimes I feel I could discover the secret of immortality, and people would just say, "Oh, there's that SINGLE GIRL ... discovering the secret of immortality.'" 

While typing it here does it little justice, I consider the line (and Mary's delivery) so brilliant because it covers society's interest in relationships, and settling people, particularly women, in them as early in life as possible. At the same time, this interest (considered, "just what people do") demeans other attributes and accomplishments by individuals who choose alternate paths. As someone who has opted for a "single lifestyle," and has little interest in altering it any time soon, I completely relate to this. I have not lived in enough places to know if this holds true outside my hometown, but my choice to remain single is often considered an abnormal one. When I meet people, or endure "small talk," prime questions remain, "Do you have a boyfriend? Are you seeing anyone? Are you married?" No, no, and no.

Reactions tend to involve either confusion, and/or sympathy, poorly masked by politeness. Some individuals have actually boldly remarked I am "alone." Difficult to believe, considering I live close to my family and many friends ... I have become so used to this, I do not bother to feel offended anymore. However, I still question it. 

Going back to Mary's quote, I also often feel because I am single, what I do does not matter as much as someone who has landed that person and had a couple kids. I have smiled and nodded through many "relationship conversations" I cannot relate to, looking for a chance to interject and bring something about myself to the discussion. Often, I get a chance, but the conversations quickly turn back to the previous subjects. Maybe it's me. Maybe I am not interesting, or skilled socially. However, the topic of my single status never fails to invite interrogations. Meanwhile, Happy Marriages on the other side of the table can do no wrong. Everything they do is great, and wonderful. Because they can "do it all." I, on the other hand, am merely deficient. I landed a job in tough economy. I actually got to CHOOSE this job over other offers. But who am I dating? No one. Oh, that's too bad. 

Those last few sentences were meant to be sarcastic. This is not a pity post, and I do not feel sorry for myself. I only feel confused. Some of the most demeaning people in my life have been those in past relationships, and those who expressed attraction toward me. Why should I settle for them to matter in this society? 

Unfortunely, I have to close this hot topic for now. I feel a sudden craving to watch Mildred Pierce. This brings me to another point ... After all this, why do I still find it hypocritical that people tend to champion the single, hard-working women in films? Again, confusing! It's a mad world.

~F. 

P.S.-I should add, I also do not look down on relationships, and people who have chosen them. Most of my friends are married, or in long-term relationships. It is of course, fine, but I still often wish for the company of more long-term single people. Furthermore, I only think the playing field could be more equal. People find happiness in all sorts of situations, and it is dangerous to assume the married couple happy, and the single woman alone and depressed. And let's just leave the general regard of single men out of this, because that just makes me angry. This has been my experience, and struggle, but I cannot speak for everyone, obviously. 

Thursday, April 14, 2011

"Love is all around"

My upcoming move to the Twin Cities has resurged my interested in several related aspects: attending the University of Minnesota at some point, F. Scott Fitzgerald research, and most notably, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I remember watching a couple episodes, but not many, in middle school when Nick at Nite played better shows. It clearly seemed like a "grown-up's show" to me, and I preferred I Love Lucy and Happy Days. So, I never got into it, and I soon knew Mary Tyler Moore more for her role in Ordinary People than her iconic sitcom.

Anyway, I have been catching up, and I love it! Of course, what's not to love about a single woman moving to the Twin Cities who exhibits equal amounts of style and wit? I must admit, though, I almost love the style most of all. In the past year, I have become very interested in '70s fashion, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show seems to capture its best trends. The little coats, long skirts, fake eyelashes, and bell-bottoms seem perfect. Mary's outfits in the first season credits capture my tastes right now:



Also, an interesting "me-note": My mom actually worked at that Minneapolis Donaldson's Department store shown right before Mary tosses her hat in the air. She worked there during the show's running, too. Both my parents (my dad worked in a bank a couple blocks away) remember it clearly, even though that downtown areas has changed. However, I wonder if my mom worked the day the scene was filmed ...

~F.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

All Yellow





Gotta love matching. This suit is one of my favorite things ever. It has a Holly Golightly feel to it, which is always perfect in my book! 

~F.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Back, with BIG news!

Wow, I meant to blog more over Spring Break. I actually have more photos for an outfit post and plenty of movie reviews, but just never got around to posting them. Well, the reason being I had a job interview in Minneapolis, MN. I actually received an offer, and will move to Minneapolis later this summer! I am really stoked to finally live in a new place, and do a job I am excited about.

The frosting on the cake is I also got to visit a very special place (to me) while in St. Paul.


I felt Scott's and Zelda's spirits all around me while there, ha. It was totally meant to be. I LOVED the Cities. This will be a great adventure, I can tell :)

~F.