Les Miserables: the Movie

If I knew how to do photoshop-y things, I would make a picture that has the classic Les Mis Cosette on it, wearing hipster glasses.  And it would say: I heard the people sing before it was cool...  But.  I don't know how to do that, so you have to use your imagination.  Unless Carl knows how to make one.

I have loved Les Miserables since I was in 7th grade... which was basically 17 years ago...  And by loved, I mean have been kind of obsessed.  It is with a mix of pride and embarrassment I share these facts:

1.  My first email address was Eponine83@aol.com.
2.  I once dressed up as Eponine for Halloween (yes, I had to explain to EVERYONE who I was... no one guessed, can you believe that?)
3.  I made my mother wait outside a theater so that I could meet Colm Wilkinson (who is the original and definitive Jean Val Jean).  And I am still a little crushed that he didn't come out.
4.  Yes.  I was that girl who wore her Les Mis t-shirt a little too often in 8th grade.

My obsession has gotten a little more under control as I've gotten older...  But.  It started to come back a bit, once things began heating up for the movie.

My husband & I (along with our families, and my buddy Mere) went to see it opening night.  I know you are all dying to hear my thoughts and impressions of the movie; don't worry!  I am about to oblige :-)

First, let's talk acting.  When I heard the cast ahead of time, I was pretty thrilled; it seemed like they nailed many of the parts.  And for the most part, the cast did not disappoint!!

1.  Hugh Jackman.  Basically seemed to be born to play the part of Jean Val Jean; I had really high expectations.  I thought he looked and acted the part super-duper really well!! ... But, honestly, I was a little disappointed in his singing.  Again, this probably has something to do with the fact that he wasn't Colm Wilkinson.  To me, no one can compare to his Jean Val Jean.

2.  Speaking of Colm Wilkinson...  One of my favorite things about the movie is that they got him to play the Bishop.  PERFECTION.  I was so excited when I heard that he was doing it, and I completely geeked out during that part of the movie.  Uh.  I clapped.  In a packed movie theater.  All by myself.  Want to see him playing JVJ?  Check out the 10th Anniversary Concert!

3.  Anne Hathaway as Fantine...  MAN ALIVE!!!  I loved her.  Loved her.  Even non-Les Mis fans can't deny that she gave a great performance   She totally deserves her Golden Globe nomination.  Here's hoping for an Oscar!!  My favorite Fantine ever!

4.  Ooooooh Russel Crowe...  So.  I was not thrilled by this pick for Javert.  And when I saw some clips, I became even less thrilled.  My poor husband had to hear me lament (several times) that Russel Crowe was going to ruin the movie...  I won't say that he was great, or that he did the part justice.  But he wasn't as bad as I thought he would be.

5.  Jean Val Jean is my favorite character, but Eponine runs a close second.  Samantha Barks was terrific.  It helped that she played her on stage (and in the 25th anniversary concert!).  She had the voice and I loved her!

6.  Eddie Redmayne has maybe made me change my mind about one of my least favorite characters- Marius.  I'm not sure why I haven't like him that much in the past, but I loved him in the movie.  Usually, Empty Chairs & Empty Tables is at the bottom of my "favorite parts" list (usually my butt has gotten pretty numb by the time it rolls around).  But it was one of the BEST parts of the movie!!

7.  The rest of the cast was fine.  Nothing super awesome, nothing super bad :-)

... Moving on...

Admittedly, I have not seen Les Miserables on stage since they re-did it.  I can only compare the movie with the turn-table, folding baracade, version...  In May I get to see the re-staged version!!!...  But, for now, my reference is the old one ;-)

There were quite a few differences.  Ahead of time, I thought I would be upset if they made a lot of changes, but in the end?  I thought they really worked.  Some stuff was in a different order, they took out some dialog/parts of songs, some plot stuff...  But.  I think they were good changes.

I thought doing I Dreamed a Dream after Lovely Ladies really added some emotion behind the song.  It wasn't just about a girl with a broken heart any more.

I loved the way they did Do You Hear the People Sing at General Lemarc's funeral.  So powerful!!

I also loved the way the finale came together.  That is one of the best parts of the show, and I thought they hit the nail on the head!  Not to mention I was thrilled that they included Colm again!!

I was glad they didn't do the full songs for Dog Eats the Dog or Turning (though I wonder if those are cut short in the new stage show too).

I think the movie did a better job than the stage show does of showing how abandoned the student rebels are.  On stage, I never really got how they were sure the people of Paris would rise up with them, and how very wrong they were.

Also.  I was excited how they made Enjolras' death reminiscent of the way it looks on stage.  Hanging upside-down, with the red flag.  That is one of the most striking parts of the show & it was neat to see how they nodded to that.

Some things I didn't totally love:

I was disappointed by One Day More...  There is just no good way to show that on screen.  It is so much cooler when basically the full cast can be on stage at one time for that song.  It lost some of its power without that.

There are several... unsavory... parts in the show.  And I was a little concerned about how graphic they would make the movie.  For the most part?  I thought they did it fairly tastefully...  There is just one part.  With Santa.  If you saw the movie, you know what I mean.  It just didn't add anything to the movie at all.  I think they only put it in their because it was a Christmas release.  Not a fan.

As much as I loved the finale, I was a little sad they didn't include Eponine's spirit with Fantines.  I get why they did it.  And most people probably would think Eponine didn't fit there very well...  But.  I love that she is included in the show.  I missed how Fantine & Eponine harmonize there.

For me, the verdict is still out on the new song Suddenly.  I just don't know it like the rest of the movie.  I am sure it will grow on me.  It certainly helped develop the relationship between Val Jean and Cosette :-)

Overall??  It was great.  I wanted to stay for the next showing, but it wasn't until 10:30 and my husband had to drive us back to Virginia the next day...  Hopefully we'll see it again in the next few days.  I might have more impressions! ;-)

One of the greatest things about the movie???  I got to see it with a whole bunch of loved ones.  My mom & Carl, my dad, Brian's parents & sister Amy, and my best friend all saw it with us.  And.  I know some of them saw it, just because it means so much to me (not because they are Les Mis fans).  It was so special to have them there, and be able to share it with them.

Can't wait to go see the show in Rochester in May.  My mom & I are going, and she is my favorite Les Mis buddy.  We're gonna have such a great time!!

So.  Did you make all the way through this post??  If you did, you 25 brownie points.  Once you reach 500 brownie points, I might actually make you brownies.  So, you are well on your way to some delicious treats.

Also.  If you made it through this post, you might also be a Les Mis fan...  If you saw the movie, let me know what you thought!!

Red Wine.

I am not a drinker.  I don't have anything against it, or people who do it responsibly.  It's just not something I've ever been into.

But, since I've started cooking more, I've found a lot of recipes call for some kind of alcohol in them.  I know wine and other adult beverages can add a lot of great flavor to things, and decided that I was ready to jump in to cooking with them.

Today when I was meal planning, a recipe I wanted to use called for red wine, so I added it to my grocery list without thinking much of it.  This would be easy, right???

So, I got to the store and when I hit the wine section.

Do you know how many kinds of wine there are!?!?

So, feeling completely overwhelmed, I did the only thing I knew to do...  I called my daddy.

Honestly.  My dad is the best cook I know, so I knew he would be able to help.  And after a 10 minute over-phone wine lesson, I had one picked out.

Then I get to the checkout and buy all my groceries.

It isn't until the drive home that I realize the clerk did not card me.

First, I wondered if somehow the wine never made it to the checkout.  But then I got home and it was right there.

Then I wondered...  Am I so old that she felt carding me was unnecessary!?  I have been noticing more grey hair.  And I have this stupid pesky wrinkle on my forehead.  And I am turning 30 this coming year...  AM I OLD!?!?

In my panic, I (again) did the only thing I knew to do...  I texted my best friend.  I explained the situation, and asked the very dangerous question am I so old that I don't need to be carded?

She responded that I am not old.  That the store was irresponsible.  She is the best of best friends.

I felt very very relieved.

And then I felt guilty because I was more glad about not being old, than I was concerned about a local grocery store potentially selling to underage kids.

King Tut & Other Disappointments.

When I was younger my family and I were in Chicago, and we went to the Field Museum.  It is a really neat place to visit, and I highly recommend it.  But...

We went to see their King Tut exhibit.  It was a really extensive exhibition- there was a lot of Egyptian history, and ancient Egyptian artifacts; you even got to walk through a replica of a tomb!!  It all seemed to be building to the grand finale... King Tut's famous sarcophagus !  

And then.

We got to the end of the exhibit.

And.

There was no King Tut.

It was called the King Tut exhibit.  They used images of the sarcophagus for all the promotional stuff; the brochure, great big signs on the outside of the museum.  Everything pointed to the fact that King Tut would be there.

I was super disappointed when we got to the end, and found out he was still in Egypt.  

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One of my favorite shows is the Office (the first few seasons, anyway).  In one episode Michael gets gum in his hair... here is his explanation:

I was walking in and I saw something shiny under Stanley's car.  And I got under Stanley's car.  I got under to see what it was, and I messed up my hair.  All for a stupid piece of tinfoil.

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This world promises us shiny, exciting things.  King Tuts and surprises under cars.

And this world is full of disappointments.  No King Tuts and stupid pieces of tinfoil.

Maybe you are feeling disappointed today...

... You were promised a sparkling career, and you find yourself in a dead-end job.

... You were promised that she would love you forever, and now you are alone.

... You expected someone to come home for the holidays, but they've changed their plans.  

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In a world full of let-downs, there is one thing that will never disappoint us... 

Romans 5:5 tells us that 

hope does not disappoint.

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I am not saying that we will never feel disappointed by God.

Anyone who has spent time praying for a sick loved-one, only to have them pass away, knows what it feels like to be disappointed by God.

Anyone who has prayed for an unbelieving family member, only to be rebuffed by them again, knows what it feels like to be disappointed by God.

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But, rather, the hope we have of eternal life will not disappoint.

When we face disappointments in this world, we can know this is not the end.

We will not be disappointed.  

This hope that we cling to, will not let us down.

We will not be disappointed.  

When we reach the end of this life, and make our way into eternity?

We will not be disappointed.  

Bake These Cookies.

So.  Here's a secret:

I don't have a huge sweet tooth.  As I've gotten older, fewer and fewer sweets have been appealing to me.

Want to know an even bigger secret?

Included in that is chocolate...  I like chocolate (or at least tolerate) it in small doses.  Like a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup?  The peanut butter out-weighs the chocolate, and those aren't too bad...  But I just don't like M&Ms.  Or Hershey Kisses.  Or brownies.

Sorry.

I hope we can still be friends.

With that said, there is one thing that I crave pretty consistently  cookies. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal, sugar, or my favorites: snickerdoodles.  I love cookies.  So, since moving to Virginia, I've made about a batch a week for my husband and I...  Is that a lot of cookies??  Don't answer that...  We have shared some with guys on the boat.

This weekend I decided I needed to take a break from eating cookies, but I still wanted to make some for the Mighty Monty crew.  I picked a recipe for some extra chocolaty, brownie-like cookies, that I knew I wouldn't like...  Apparently they were a hit.  And I think you should bake some for someone you love:

I found the recipe on Pinterest (again).  It is by Martha Stewart (who I kinda like... again, I hope we are still friends), and you can see the original here.

... Also...  I didn't get any pictures.  Next time kids.

You need:
8 oz of semisweet chocolate...  Honestly, I estimated using a 12 oz bag of morsels.
4 tablespoons unsalted butter... I wouldn't substitute salted for these.
2/3 cup AP flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 tsp salt, plus a pinch... the original recipe called for 1/2, but my cookies ended up just a touch too salty.
2 large eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate! ... the recipe calls for 12 oz of semisweet chunks.  But I ended up using the rest of my bag of morsels, the remainders of a bag of mini chips, and a 60% cocoa fair trade chocolate bar.  The variety of chocolate was really fun for texture in the cookie.  I'd do a mix again.  Use what you've got!

1.  In a bowl, whisk together your flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2.  In another bowl (or your stand mixer) beat together your brown sugar, eggs & vanilla.  Beat it until it gets light & slightly fluffy...  It won't be as fluffy as it would if you had fat in there like butter or shortening...  It'll take a couple minutes.

3.  In yet another bowl, melt your 8 oz of chocolate & the butter.  Either in a double boiler, or in 20 second increments in the microwave.  Stop just before the chocolate completely melts; you don't want to scorch it!  Stir until smooth.

4.  Beat your melted chocolate into your sugar/egg/vanilla mix.  Don't over-do it, but you want them to be totally mixed.

5.  Add your dry ingredients, and mix on low until just combined.

6.  Stir in your other chocolate

7.  Now...  you could bake these right away.  But you'll find your dough is more like a batter, and you will get really flat (but still delicious) cookies.  Or you can wait 15ish minutes for the melted chocolate in it to cool, and you'll get a more truffle-like dough and less-flat cookies!!

8.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 12 minutes.  I rotated half way through, because my oven isn't very even.

9.  Let cool about 10 minutes on the cookie sheet before moving to a wire rack.

10.  Eat some very chocolaty & chewy cookies!!  You probably should have a big glass of milk handy!

Christian Colleges

I saw this picture on postsecret.com tonight.  Its making me think about my Christian college experience.  Would Jesus have gone to my school??  I just don't know.

And moreover.  If Jesus did go to my school, why would He haven chosen it, and where would He have fit?

What do you guys think??  Would Jesus go to your Christian college?

Wild Rice Casserole

Last Saturday my husband was on duty, which meant he was stuck on the boat for dinner.  Rather than spend the evening apart, I went and joined him on the Montpelier for a couple of hours!  It was my first time spending a significant amount of time on board.

I found a delicious looking wild rice casserole that I was waiting to try.  Brian's mom makes the best wild rice soup, and this looked like it would have some similar flavors.  Bringing my husband dinner at work for the first time seemed like a good time to test this recipe!

I found it via Pintrest, by picky-palate.com; you can view the original recipe here :-)

You need:

-3ish carrots- diced

-3ish stalks celery- diced

-some chopped onion... I used less than the original recipe calls for... maybe about a quarter cup?

-3 cloves minced garlic

-2 or 3 chicken breasts ... cooked & shredded.  This would maybe also be good with thighs.   

-cooked wild rice (I used a combo of wild rice & brown rice)

-couple tablespoons olive oil

-2 cups of cheddar cheese

-2 cups chicken broth

-half a stick of butter (4 tablespoons)

-1/4 cup flour

1.  Cook your chicken & rice...  I poached my chicken in some broth, butter, parsley & cracked black pepper.  

2.  Heat the oil in a skillet, and add celery, onion & carrots...  Cook for about 10 minutes.  Stirring pretty constantly, until tender.  I like mine a little more crisp, so you might want to cook yours a little longer if you like mushy. 

3.  Add the garlic, and stir another minute or so.

4.  Take off heat, and add chicken & rice.

5.  In a medium sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour and WHISK WHISK WHISK!!  Once you've got your roux on, add salt & pepper.  Then start slowly whisking in your broth.  Whisk the whole time.  I am not kidding.  

6.  Keep whisking, and let your sauce thicken & reduce slightly.  Then add most of your cheese.  Keep up the whisking.  Your arm is pretty tired now, huh??

7.  Add your sauce to the chicken/rice/veggie mix.  It is gonna look AWESOME!

8.  I am sure you could eat this as is.  But do you want to make it even better??  Spread this into a 9x13 baking dish, and sprinkle it with the rest of your cheese.  Bake it in a pre-heated, 350 degree oven, for 25 to 30 minutes.  Or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly.

9.  EAT!! ...  This was really tasty!  It made A LOT, but the leftovers are great too!!  Though, for just Brian & I, I think I am going to try to cut this recipe in half...  Or.  Does anyone know if something like this would freeze well??  

The Giver

I don't remember what year in school I read the book The Giver; I think it was either very late elementary or maybe Junior High?  But, since then, it has become one of my favorite books.

In general, I am a fan of that style of story- young adults, living in some sort of dystopian world.  I've read quite a number of books that fit into that genre, but The Giver is probably my favorite.

It's the story of a boy, Jonas, who lives in what appears to be an ideal world.  There is peace, everyone's needs are met.  All seems well...  But as you read, you start to learn that in order to achieve this world, its people have given up so much; color, feelings, memories of the past...  Jonas is selected to become the Receiver of Memories, and the Giver shows him all his world has left behind.

I've found people either loved this book, or hated it.

As I was talking with a friend a few months ago, the Giver came up; she liked it too!  She asked me if I'd read any of the follow-up books the author, Lois Lowry, had written.  I didn't even know there were other books that went along with it!!

I went to the bookstore, and sure enough!  There were 2 more books- Gathering Blue & Messenger!!

AND THEN!

As I was heading for the check-out I noticed an end cap, featuring a brand-new 4th book that concludes the series!!  It's called Son!

I've since finished up all the books.  The Giver is still my favorite, but the other 3 are great too!!!

Anyone else enjoy this book??

What books from school have become favorites of yours???

Back Home

So, my husband and I are both FINALLY back in our apartment in Virginia!  It was a seriously crazy couple months, with Brian's boat being unexpectedly stuck in Georgia.  It was starting to feel like we would never get here, but after 7 long weeks we are both starting to settle back into "normal" life :-)

I've been mostly keeping busy...

1.  I've had some cooking success & some less-than-success:

One of the first nights Brian was home we had a fancy steak dinner.  I haven't made a lot of steak, and my prior experiences haven't been great.  But I found a method that involves searing it first on the stove top, and then finishing it in the oven.  According to the website, this is how restaurants often cook steaks.  I've got to say, it was pretty darn good...  I'll share the step-by-step next time I make it & can take some pictures. 

I found a chicken recipe that involved breading the breasts with Ritz crackers & cheddar cheese...  The picture looked really good...  But the execution left something to be desired.  The breading didn't stick very well, so I sprinkled it on top.  While baking, it got soggy.  And then when I took the chicken out of the pan, the topping fell off...  So, we were basically left with unseasoned baked chicken breasts.  Not delicious.  

Chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies = heavenly.  Again, I will be making these again, and will post the recipe once I have some pics.  

2.  I've also been doing a lot of laundry.  Brian brought home a ton of stuff- clothes, towels, bedding, etc...  And it all smells like submarine.  They use something to treat the air on the boat (because they keep circulating the same stuff for weeks on end) and the smell of that is very unique.  It is kind of like an airplane smell, mixed with machinery, and something else stale.  It honestly isn't a horrible smell, but it isn't spring-time fresh either.  And it is hard to get out.  I've been washing --> drying --> rewashing --> redrying --> spraying with Febreeze. This seems excessive, plus it doesn't get the smell completely out.

Anyone have any tips on getting stuck-smells out of fabrics?

3.  Looking forward to a couple things this weekend:

Tonight Brian & I are shopping for Christmas decorations!!  We are for sure getting a tree & lights.  And then whatever else we decide would be good.  I can't wait to put on the Christmas music, and decorate with my husband!!!

Tomorrow night I am going to the boat to have dinner with Brian while he is on duty...  I pretty recently got decals for my car, so that I can drive down to his pier.  So, now when he's working over the weekend, we'll be able to have a meal together...  I'm also trying to decide what to bake for the crew.  I am thinking probably some sort of cookie??

That's about it for now!!  Sending everyone lots of love from VA Beach!!!