Monthly Archives: October 2012

Weathering the Storm

Posted in The Observer, Thoughts by

Was it just a year ago that the threat of Irene caused thousands of New Yorkers to rush to supermarkets and fill up tubs? As Sandy makes her debut I look back in wonder that a year has past by and that we find ourselves in the same situation, buying canned goods, filling up the tub with water, charging up the electronic devices…

I hope that, like Irene, Sandy will just pass us by, but there is always that small anxiety that this one might be worse than the last, that the lessons gained from the past experience will not be applicable to this current one and that all our preparations were in vain. Sometimes it’s not destruction, but the expectation of destruction that causes anxiety. Does that mean that I shouldn’t prepare? That I should just give up? These are just things I wonder.

I think preparing for things ahead is important, but I think knowing that, even with preparation, things might not turn out great is also important. In any case, be safe, smart and find a good book to read. It’s time to weather the storm.

Potted Potter: 7 Books in 70 Minutes

Posted in Bookish, Broadway, Cultured, My New York by

Take two guys, seven books, seventy minutes and an assorted array of props and you have Potted Potter! This is a show that Harry Potter fans will truly enjoy.

Dan and Jeff take the audience on a hilarious ride from Platform 9 3/4 to Hogwarts as they fearlessly battle dragons, Slytherins and You-Know-Who. There’s a bit of crowd participation with a rousing game of Quidditch and tons of opportunities for laughter. There was hardly a time that I wasn’t laughing!

The one and only issue I had with this show was the closing number – there were times when I couldn’t understand what they were singing, I’m not sure if this had to do with the audio in the theater or the fact that they were singing really quickly and I just couldn’t make out the words, either way, it would have been great to hear all the words of the song! Since this was the very end it felt a bit anti-climactic, which was sad because I thought the rest of the show was hilarious!

Overall, it was a fun experience. I don’t think they are playing in New York anymore, but if you do get the opportunity to see the show in another state/place, it’s definitely a show to watch.

We Were Infinite*

Posted in Bookish, Thoughts by

A beach. A long stretch of sand bordered by a layer of large rocks. The sound of the waves gently touching the shore. The smell of salt. The feel of sand between my toes.

The air. The tension in the air is thick. A storm rages outside the metal box where 150 strangers sit. Lightening flashes between the stormy clouds, and the audible sound of breaths being held can be heard. Finally, we fly out of the storm; safe.

Water and colour. A first former approaches and asks, “Can I put powder on you?”. We race around the school yard, avoiding water and powder, but not nearly as concerned as we pretend to be. Then the after, we laugh together.

Whether it was a lazy moment, a funny moment, or the calm moment after an intense experience, there are times in life when we are so present in that moment, so aware of what is happening, not just seeing it unfold but being an active participant in its unfurling. In those moments, we were infinite.

* This post is inspired by The Perks of Being a Wall Flower. Not only is it a great book and (now) awesome movie, but it’s a wonderful story of the difficult life that we face, and the pockets of joy we experience. Each paragraph is a memory.

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