Welcome to Tartonia

My favorite movie as a child was a musical version of the classic fairy tale, "The Frog Prince." Made by "Cannon Movie Tales." I watched it so many times my brother hid the tape after he couldn't take anymore. I loved it so! I still watch it frequently, and seem to find myself in the main character--Princess Zora. I sing the songs and I'm in love with the Prince and "sometimes...it helps." Helps me remember who I am and what I should be worried about, how I should act, and which things really matter to me. I love the music. In fact--if ever anyone could figure out the music-box melody and play it for me, I think I might just kiss them... which is big for me, because I've never kissed anyone. Sorry to have bored you with my personal details. It really is a good movie. Helen Hunt is in it--if that helps to endorse it.

It wasn't until just this last summer that I discovered that "The Frog Prince," as I know it, was filmed in Israel. NO WAY! That made me even more excited to go. And when I got to Israel I found a number of places that could have been duplicate locations for the film. Showing here: The fountain outside the JC (one of many that reminded me of "THE fountain" from the movie, The gate (which is really a door outside of Dormition Abbey), a clip picture from the movie, and the Woods of the Dark Heart.

I love love love love love this movie. In fact, the hard drive on my computer is actually labeled "Lucky Ball" and it has a golden colored tag. Why? After Zora's lucky golden ball. Yeah yeah yeah, I'm fully aware that I am nutso. Greg told me it was really funny to watch me when I'd find a place that reminded me of the movie-- like when everyone was gaga for the lookout tower over the cactai at Zippori, but all I wanted to do was stay in the shade of the wind-blown trees that reminded me so much of "the woods of the dark heart" when Zora risks her chance to be a princess all so she can rescue her friend Ribbit, the "too tall frog." Anyway. I just wanted to tell everyone about how cool it was for me to find similar scenery.

Nope. Not Jesting.

Wrong wrong wrong. On so many levels. No one should have to see this. You must excuse me for sharing the pain, but it is too hideous for me not to mention.

These pictures were taken on our group field trip through Tel Aviv. From what our tour guide told us, all of the sculptures are done by the woman who owns the property. The two larger women are "Rachel and Leah," according to the... sculptor.

EEEEEEEW.

My friends freaked when I started taking pictures--after all, why would you want to remember something so awful? Because it's so awfully funny! I had to share this, I just had to. So pay attention, because I took these pictures for you. Blow them up--they're much harder to bear at visual range.

Can't resist it

I love music. I love singing. And while I'm sure you would prefer that I post some music befitting my posts, I would rather post music that I listen to on a daily basis. That's why you get stuck with Simon and Garfunkel, and weird quotes from movies about "Abby Normal" and brains.

Today's selections are in honor of one of my favorite broadway stars, Robert Westenburg. He's brilliant. LOVE HIM. Break out of your shell and listen to "Lily's Eyes," fro the musical "Secret Garden." He's the baritone. Also listen to "Agony," from my favorite musical of all time-- "Into the Woods." The song is from the perspective of the princes from the Cinderella and Rapunzel stories-- who just can't quite seem to get a hold on the girl of their dreams.

I also posted more Jon Schmidt for you instrumental purists.

Actually I posted it for myself. "Song of the Ocean" is one of my favorites. ; )

Two Picture Tuesday

This picture was taken at temple ruins just inside the city of Amman, Jordan. The pillars are huge, as you can see. They dwarf me.

The second picture is of Me, Lauren Timmins, and Kerri Regher modeling our "HEBREW U" sweatshirts. Five people at the JC bought the same type and style--one in black, one in brown, and us three hotties who snagged the red (shown above). Quite by coincidence we all happened to wear them on the same day--no, it was not planned. We were all shopping with different groups that day and our three groups collided near the crepe-maker-stand (ohhh, the crepes are to die for, I wish I had five shekels right now and a way of teleporting myself to that stand.....drool). Anyway, we ran into each other, noticed that we were matching, and posed for the picture. "And thus we see," that good taste is common among friends.

Lauren and Kerri are great. Lauren played the piano for me for the JCenter's talent show and would chat late with me about boys and all sorts of stuff. She's in the Marriott business school @ BYU--isn't she spiffy? And Kerri is the life's blood of the party. She is loud and always in a good mood. She's infectiously funny. In fact-- she coined a phrase that everyone ended up using at least once fall semester: "that is all." She would tell a long story or explain a homework assignment and then instead of saying "the end" or just changing the subject she'd announce with finality, "that is all." Sort of like Porky the Pig saying "that's all folks," only Kerri is way cooler than Porky the Pig. Kerri also founded the sarcasm game, Jerusalem style, in which you say (every time) I'M CLEAN, I SMELL GOOD, AND ________ then you fill in the blank. It was the sarcasm game because due to the nature and location of our field trips we were often neither clean, pleasant smelling, or whatever. A good example of the sarcasm game, in Kerri's own words:

"I'M CLEAN, I SMELL GOOD, AND.... I THINK CISTERNS ARE FASCINATING. THAT IS ALL."

I Like Linoleum

I could write a textbook about all of the mosaics that I've seen. Probably. I'm sure it wouldn't be very accurate, but it would be interesting. I could call it, "the Average Guide to Amateur Mosaic Observers" or "Why All Mosaics Look the Same" or "Bet You Didn't Notice, but This Is Supposed to Represent the Goddess of the City--Read Further for Full Details" or "Blah Blah Blah Mosaics Blah Blah."

Hmm. On second thought, that doesn't sound like a good idea. So I won't write anything and you can just look at the pictures.

New Music

Ha! That title is a pun--it's a song from my second favorite musical, "Ragtime."

Anyway. I'm announcing the edition of music to my blog. Ta da! I would have done it ages ago, but I didn't know how to do it. My sister Melissa graciously taught me how. It's not music that matches the posts-- its just music that I love. Enjoy (if you dare to listen to my tastes.)

The tracks that should be visible are "All the Wasted Time," from the musical Parade (that I've recently discovered due to a recommendation from a deeply trusted friend,) "My Romance," by Wynton Marsalis, "Arabian Nights" from Aladdin, Rockapella's "Carmen Sandiego," "Sleep," an Eric Whitacre choral piece, and the last song is mis-labeled--it should read "Stars and the Moon" from the hit musical "Songs for a New World" that incidentally is written by the same man who wrote Parade. You've gotta love that guy-- Jason Robert Brown is a genius for unconventional (but captivating) harmonies and syncopation. The piano is intoxicating! A friend of mine can play it and I practically drool all over him when he does-- he's amazing.

If you have the time, please listen to the selections from the musicals--they may be long, but they're excellent. And forgive the woman singing for Lucille Frank in "All the Wasted Time." I don't like her voice either, but her placement is clean. And Stars and the Moon is guaranteed to move you. It's a classic choice from dozens of Musical Theater buffs like myself. I'm so glad that I have an outlet to share this good stuff with you! Sadly, the best Musical Theater stuff cannot be found for public sharing... like the song "How Can I Call This Home" from Parade. That song would actually apply to my blog. ; )

And I do so STRONGLY apologize if the wrong playlist like it did for me and you get stuck with a bunch of songs that scream and swear at you-- that happened to me once and it took me half an hour to recuperate from the shock. I don't listen to that filth, so please forgive me if that erroneously happens here.

Oh yeah! The sample picture is of my friend Emma Hanks at the "Bell Caves" in Israel. I picked the picture for this post because the acoustics in the caves were fabulous--we sang hymns for a good long while inside, and the reverbs were overlapping. It was a cacophony. Later I ended up whistling the Andy Griffith's theme... and smiled to myself.

Friends

This ice cream was SO chocolatey. Probably because it's from West Jerusalem.













This is at the entrance to Hezekiah's tunnel. Tiffany looks like she's gonna explode with deviousness.









Inside the water channel underneath Meggido. Moldy walls.



























The only proof I have of having been on a camel. Sad, really.













Halloween Costume: I went as a Zombie from Thriller (a good likeness, no?) And Caleb here was Lawrence of Arabia. You see, CALEB has dignity. Oh, and-- we're both Ancient Near Eastern Studies majors. Just the two of us. I have classes w/him now too.




This was the night the group of the girls here ordered pizza. We were up in the lounge loft having girl talk when Lance Evanson showed up and inserted himself into the group. Then he started to make cheeky comments about how all the girls were there for him, and how he's irresistible. So we snapped a picture of how we're all ADORING him.