All the things we hold near and dear to our hearts....

Today was quite the day. I really don't know what to say about it other than that I am still quite in shock. To have two celebrities die in the same day (and not just minor celebrities, but actual icons. ) is quite unnerving (for lack of a better word - there probably is a better word, but I can't think of it). It took a long time for me actually process the fact that Michael Jackson had died and I don't think I have yet. I had known that Farrah Fawcett was ill so it wasn't the same type of shock but it is still sad. My thoughts go out to their friends and families.

Now on to my favourite thing - which that soooooo isn't.

Tonight, as we had planned as of Saturday, my sister and I went to see the travelling production of the musical "Chicago". I love that musical. Of course, it is actually the only Broadway musical I have ever actually seen and I have now seen it three times. I saw it for the first time on Broadway seven years ago. I saw it again 2 and a half years ago back home in Regina, also through the touring production. It's quite funny and the songs are catchy and it is just so enjoyable. My sister and I managed to get box seats so it was nice not to have to climb over anyone to get in or out. I had never sat in a box so it was a new experience. My sister would have liked to have gotten a lower box and she didn't like how high it was. She also didn't like me pointing out how high it was. Anyway, today's favourite thing is the stage production of the musical "Chicago".

"I think this line's mostly filler."

I went to the theatrical production of the musical "Nunsense" tonight which I enjoyed rather enjoyed. There's nothing like biblical humour ("Mary Magdalene tarts, they look easy." "And cheap!") I tend to enjoy musicals (both the plays and the movies). Some people get thrown off by people randomly bursting into song, but I am good with that because, quite frankly, I actually do occasionally randomly burst into song. The choreography needs work and I don't have the musical accompaniment, but other than that, I can relate. Some of my favourites include (but aren't limited to): Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, the Once More With Feeling episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Chicago (both the movie and the play, but mostly the play), White Christmas, Singing in the Rain (other than the whole movie in the movie thing, that was weird), and probably many more.

Freeze Ray. Stops time. Tell your friends.

In July, the web series Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog was released. It was and continues to be awesome. It was made by Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and the upcoming Dollhouse) and several members of his family as well as some of his friends. It stars Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible who wants to get into the Evil League of Evil and win the heart of Penny (Felicia Day) who he knows from the laundromat. His main obstacle for both of those goals is the oafish Captain Hammer played by Nathan Fillion. Today, the DVD arrived. I want to call it mine but it is actually my sister's so that wouldn't entirely be accurate. One of my favourite things about the DVD is that one of the commentaries is Commentary: The Musical. It was rather amusing. I think to accurately detail why I like Dr. Horrible, I will have to rely on another list:

• Neil Patrick Harris (I have mentioned that I think he is awesome before, haven't I? If not, I am rectifying the omission now.)
• Nathan Fillion is brilliant as the oafish Captain Hammer (Corporate Tool).
• The songs are darned catchy (I will be surprised if I ever get the Bad Horse songs out of my head)
• It has lines that I wish there were more cause to use in normal life such as "Look at my wrist, I gotta go," "What a crazy random happenstance," and "You give my regards to St. Peter. Or whoever has his job, but in Hell."
• Spoiler alert: Bad Horse is actually a horse
• The ending has a vastly different tone from the rest in that it's kinda depressing, but in a totally expected, Joss Whedon sort of way
• Some the lines are not all that funny in writing, but the way the actors say them, they are hilarious. ("Captain Hammer threw a car at my head" (Actually that one is still amusing in writing) and "That's not a good sound")
• Two more of my favourite quotes:
  1. "It's not about making money, it's about taking money. Destroying the status quo. Because the status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just...need to rule it."
  2. " Alright. The wait is over. This, my friends, is my Freeze Ray, which, with the addition of the wonderflonium I obtained at my famously successful heist last week... I say successful in that I achieved my objective. It was less successful in that I inadvertently introduced my arch-nemesis to the girl of my dreams, and now he's taking her out on dates, and they're probably going to...French kiss or something...! She called him sweet? How is he sweet? [long pause] Right, Freeze Ray"
• The fact that Captain Hammer possesses and dry cleans sweater vests

I believe you can still get Dr. Horrible on iTunes and you can get the DVD through Amazon. This blog definitely does not do justice to the show but it is definitely today's favourite thing. I was very excited when I saw that it had arrived. Sad statement about my life, but there you go.

Wicked through and through

Today, I spent much the day in the car. I really only tend to listen to the radio/ CD's while I am in the car because it is the only time I really am able to listen without many distractions. The CD that is currently in the car is the Wicked soundtrack. I have never seen the musical, but my sister has, hence the soundtrack. The show does have some catchy songs that get stuck in your head. Incessantly. I don't listen to every song on the CD but some of them are catchy. I especially like "What is this feeling?" which is a very upbeat song for two people telling each other how much they hate each other. I also the songs "Popular" and "For good." I tend to sing along with most of the songs even though I don't know half of the words. I wouldn't mind actually seeing the musical sometime because it seems interesting and I feel odd knowing many of the words to a musical I've never seen. I probably don't know as many of the words to musicals that I HAVE seen. So anyway, today's favourite thing is the WICKED soundtrack.