Category: Art

distract me…

Published on by Mae @ RainydayinmayLeave a comment
Being the big Glee fan that I am, I have been waiting months to catch a peek at Ryan Murphy’s new show American Horror Story. I have read critic pieces on it, touting it as the anti-Glee and terrifying. Whatever. Though he may not always be the nicest guy, i think he is uber talented and I was excited to see what his new adventure was all about. 
Problem was, i decided to do that at 11:30 at night… 
It was pretty freaking scary and while I was feeling tired before, now i’m feeling a little like I could stay awake forever. I needed a distraction, of happy sorts. What better distraction than to blog? 
Exactly! 
Genny didn’t have school yesterday or today, due to parent teacher conferences. We had our conference last night and it went really well. Yesterday morning however, hours and hours before said conference was schedule, Gen and I sat down to make our school holiday bucket lists. With the luxury of a four day weekend blankly beautiful and glistening ahead of us- I knew that it was going to take pro-active excitement to get us through it. 
Our list had things like baking pumpkin treats and cookies… 
It had things like manicures and pedicures… 
It had board game playing, library book reading and movie watching… 
It had wii game playing and chocolate eating and caramel apple cider drinking… 
It had Genny making dinner one night, a special family movie night- complete with special treats… 
That girl and I, we planned a fantastic four day weekend and we’ve knocked a lot of happiness and beautiful moments off of that bucket list. 
Of course, I had to get a little work done too. She was, in true Genny form, pretty awesome about that. So awesome, in fact, that while I was out doing a photo gig, she dressed up and decided to take advantage of the moment… 
She’s pretty lovely, eh? 
I think so… 
As much as I miss her during the day, now that she’s schooling mainstream- and as much as I worry about her and the things that happen at school- I have to admit I’ve loved this… I’ve loved the something special that comes along with days together. I’ve loved hearing how much she appreciates the more structured classes and knowing that it is truly because of me and the way that I educated her. The things I always got so frustrated with, and told her one day she’d love (while she screamed her doubts) are now the strengths she owns. {and she owns them well…} 
I have loved the laughing and the smiles and the sweet multitude of minutes that have filled our days. 
Sure, she’s 12. She’s rude sometimes. She’s mouthy sometimes. She is totally entitled and self centered most of the time. Then again, she’s 12, I can not expect much less. But, she is also open and shares with me about her life. She sings when she does her chores, and every other second… She is happy and she is whole and she is amazing and lovely… {and sometimes amazingly frustrating, but whatever…} 
In a nutshell: She’s the perfect distraction from the scary show… and to think, she kind of used to be the scary show… I’d say this is definite progress! 
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Categories Art

a favorite memory…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay4 Comments
Dear Ms. Thompson, 
I know some may view it as a little sad that one of my all time favorite movies involves a celebrity whom I don’t really know, and not one single friend or family member. I feel like I should apologize for that, but not really… I have millions of frozen moments with them, but this moment (hour) with you is completely set apart. 
First and foremost, please allow me to say that I think you are amazing. 
When I met you, back in January of 2006, I was still still fairly moon eyed over the whole celebrity interview thing. It had been a horrible trip out to LA though, and I was emotionally exhausted and at a loss in pretty much every area. I had sat down to interview Colin first and all composure, no matter how hard I’d tried to maintain it, had flown right out the window when he walked in the room. I mean, and please excuse the side note for a moment but what girl wouldn’t grow a little faint and speechless when Colin Firth walks in to a room to talk to you, and it occurs to you that you are actually sitting in the Regent Beverly Wiltshire- ala’ Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. (though of course you are not a prostitute!) First you are sipping coffee, ranting about LAX security and how the Beverly Hills police department deals with things, when suddenly he walks in- tremendously taller that expected and clad in tremendously expensive jeans, a leather jacket that smelled of heaven… I mean, it was all a tad on the surreal and overwhelming side, you have to admit. Well maybe you wouldn’t, which reminds me- how do you do it? 
Anyway, moving back towards the point of this letter: you… 
By the time you sauntered in to the interview, I was done for. Tired, stressed, and greatly thrown off my game. Truthfully, I was ready to simply call a cab and go nurse my impending migraine in a stiff chair at the airport, waiting for my flight. 
And you, Emma, were exactly what I needed. Over the years I’ve met several people of celebrity status and I have never met anyone like you. You are easily one of the most comfortable people, celebrity or not, that I’ve been around. Twenty minutes into our interview, (where you chose to sit on the floor, mind you) I felt like I had known you forever. The passion for your work, combined with the way you spoke of motherhood and your family inspired me in countless ways that I can not even put into words… Thank you for that. Thank you for taking a moment that was the polar opposite of great and comfortable- and making it my absolute favorite memory… 
I hope, someday, to get the opportunity again. If not, though, I am happy to have had the beautiful brunch and talk that we did… 
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Someone that pesters your mind – good or bad

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay2 Comments
While some people are pretty lucky to have an inner devil/inner angel to tease their conscience about every day decisions like what to say, what not to say, etc. I’ve known since you hit the late night talk show interview circuit and started appearing in films that I was more lucky though- because i had my very own Adam Brody living in my head. 
No, I am not crazy. 
Just sarcastic. 
And funny. 
And love great indie music, but I digress… 
I was late to learn of Seth Cohen, your other self who might just be more like you than not… 
And it confirmed it. 
You live in my head. You weigh in, sarcastically, on every thought or decision… 
Thanks for that, because to tell you the truth- you make life pretty freaking awesome. 
And hilarious… 
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Categories Art

A Mere Distraction…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay6 Comments
If you are keeping up with things around Chez’ Wagner, here at Rainy Day in May- then you already know about our super sadness… As you can imagine, we’ve been in the market for some distractions. 
One came in the form of ice cream, and one in chocolate. A major one has come in the form of lots of sleep… When not sleeping or delighting in chocolate and frozen heaven though, I read a book and watched a movie. 
And counted the hours til’ the Glee Project, but that’s an altogether different thing… 
The book I picked up, expecting not to be able to get into it due to my heavy heart was Alice Bliss. Not only did I manage to get into it- but I could not put it down until I had turned the last page. LOVELY! 
I am so incredibly sorry that I left my readers to such torturous books this summer when this amazing piece of literature was out there… 
Thinking that I was on a roll, i ran down and rented this movie: 
The Romantics… Have you seen it? 
I’ve been waiting for awhile. Such an amazing cast, and let’s face it- I have loved Josh since his All My Children days… 
It was interesting. Quirky and bizarre. Dark in strange ways. An awkward human study where, at the same time a part of you questions if humans are really like this odd study portrays. It had strange musical moments or amazing ones. Believably deep performances and some of the cinema shots towards the end were phenomenal. 
Over all, although distracting it was not really what I’d hoped. 
Too bad… 
Tomorrow I plan to start Plainsong, to which I saw the HORRIBLE Hallmark movie for- and found myself completely intrigued by the novel. Also, while my husband scrolled through years of digital photos looking to soothe his soul while Makaila slept beside him- I got busy and {finally} joined Good Reads. Addictive. Are you on there? If so- find me! 
So, tell me- chocolate and ice cream aside- what are your “go to” distractions when your heart is aching? 
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Stolen late show…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay5 Comments
I was pretty lucky to catch a showing of The Help… 
Honestly, I feel like I know a trillion and one people who have been dying to see this film- and therefore waiting on pins and needles for just about a year. It seemed like, as press photos came out and every major motion picture sported the trailer- that August the tenth would never come. 
And then it did. 
Everyone was facebooking and blogging about going to see it. 
And maybe it’s just my little Idaho world askew, or something, but I’ve got to tell you that I was more than a little surprised at the lack of grandiose reception theaters seemed to be giving it. 
Maybe other people had different tales but ours was already allowing discount passes (which usually doesn’t happen until a film has been out for weeks) and the only screen they were showing it in was the smallest auditorium. 
All of that aside, I truly loved this movie. 
I’m pretty much never a fan of film from novel adaptations. This one though, was good. Things were changed in relevant ways. It was good. Nothing was lost, I felt… 
The ONE thing I would have changed was the way the Minny, Celia, Johnny storyline played out. I loved in the novel when he knew about Minny, but she was sworn to secrecy. The whole plot added much needed funny… This movie could have used a little of that. Otherwise though, not a single complaint. I loved it. I loved it equally as much as the book. 
And that sweet little Mae Mobly (played by twins, of course) broke my heart. 
Ninety-Nine percent of the tears I shed, were due to her. (er, them…????) 
Lovely. Just lovely. Lovely to look at. Moving story. 
Haven’t seen it? Do. 
Haven’t read it? Do! 
One won’t ruin the other… 
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Categories Art