I went to a concert this week. This makes me feel pretty cool. Oddly, though I obviously love anything in the entertainment industry and am a huge fan of live plays and musicals, I've never really been a fan of concerts. The crowd annoys me, and I can never really hear the lyrics. So I've only ever paid for a few concerts in my life, with the exception of Colors. (my friends and I were obsessed in High School.) Anyway. A few years ago I started following this band called Walk Off The Earth. They are super interesting. You may have seen one of the first of their videos to go viral. It was this cover of Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye:
This was the first video of theirs that I saw and I've since seen every video they've made. I really like their style. They all sing, but Sarah and Marshall's voices just suck me in. The thing I love the most though? They make making music look like so much fun. Watch any of their videos. They are trying to find new ways to use the instruments we've all seen, make random things instruments, or play multiple instruments at once.
They have a massive YouTube following (check out their channel HERE) that started mostly from their covers, but they've started to release their own albums. Red Hands is the best video I've ever seen. I challenge you to find a better one (post it in the comments, I love music videos).
So, I went to their concert. I had to stand for 3 hours and by the time they came onstage everybody around me was drunk, but I had an amazing spot and loved every second. Their concert was just like their videos. They were running all over, playing tons of instruments, throwing them across the stage, and having a great time.
This is all part of my effort to be better this year. (See my post 30 Years of Wisdom.) I guess going to a last minute concert falls under "take advantage of this city."
If had had to pick a song that best describes Walk Off The Earth, I'd go with Gang of Rhythm. Let's just sit in a room, sing a song, and be happy.
My friend Simini Blocker is an illustrator and did this piece for goodreads. I love it so much. Obviously the quote is amazing. I also just love the image. A girl looking out into the great unknown with so many options. I'm gonna use this as my theme for 2014 and see how it goes.
Yesterday I had a spur of the moment opportunity to see Waiting For Godot for a relatively low price. Obviously I jumped on it.
I mean who doesn't love these two?
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Patrick Stewart
Best Buddies.
In case you haven't been following it, these two are best friends in real life and have been posting a lot of fantastic photos during their time here in New York. Google Images.
The play, which I'd never read or seen before, is about waiting. It's about how our lives really are just waiting, but it is what happens in the meantime, and who we wait with that matters the most. These two actors, and the other two supporting actors were incredible. I was laughing out loud for so much of it, and it really is A PLAY ABOUT NOTHING. Nothing happens. The entire time. But I was so entertained.
Most importantly, it made me think about life and myself, and who I am choosing to spend my time with.
Some Quotes:
"I'm like that. Either I forget right away or I never forget."
"Let us do something while we have the chance! I tis not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late!"
"Don't touch me! Don't question me! Don't speak to me! Stay with me!" "Did I ever leave you?" "You let me go."
"This is becoming really insignificant."
"Let us not waste our time in idle discourse."
"We wait until we can get up, then we go on."
"I can't go on like this!" "That's what you think."
It is days like today where I feel very lucky to be here right now, doing this.
I was lucky enough to be home in Utah from Thanksgiving through the first week of January. While I was there I ran spotlight for Elf at Pioneer Theater. That was good because it didn't feel like I was taking a ton of unnecessary time off. So I stayed with Katie and Sam, worked at the theater, played in the snow, and had a TON of fun. I got back to New York a couple of days ago, and have had a bit of time to put together this little video. I've posted it elsewhere, but just in case you didn't see it there, here it is:
When Google decided to combine YouTube and Google+, they gave me a new YouTube channel. So I've recently uploaded most of my old videos to the new channel. You can check those out here if you are interested: Lizzie Robinson YouTube Channel
I don't think it comes as a surprise to anybody that I watch a lot of television. I mean, I AM in the entertainment industry. Nice excuse right? These past few months I've also been working from home, so I like to have the TV on to keep me company during the day. I've been thinking lately about what kind of shows and characters end up being my favorites. General theme? If there is a strong female lead who can think on her feet and rely on herself, I'll probably love it. Here are some of my favorites:
She's a secret agent that is the best of both the CIA and SD-6. She literally kicks butt everywhere she goes, knows any language you can think of, and still has time to be a great friend.
Her greatest weakness is that she jumps to conclusions and speaks in absolutes: "NEVER speak to me again." or "I will NEVER forgive you for this." She always does this when she doesn't have much information.
I wasn't a follower of the show until last year when my roommate introduced me. Veronica quickly worked her way up my favorite characters list. She's spunky, tough, intelligent, and doesn't let what other people think or say effect the way she lives her life. I also love her sarcasm.
Veronica: If I ever die, do me a favor. Go on Oprah and tell the world that I loved kittens.
Her greatest weakness is that she can't forgive without getting even. Most of the time it's awesome, but it does mean she ends up with more enemies than friends.
I understand that this show may be too scandalous (see what I did there?) for some people. It does get pretty crazy.
Olivia Pope is a fixer. That woman get's things done, doesn't get scared or intimidated, and has a team that would do anything for her because she'd do anything for them. What a great leader.
Kerry Washington has done an amazing job in this role. It wasn't until Season 3 that we started to learn more about Olivia's background and character. I won't give any spoilers, but let me tell you it's some amazing acting.
Check out this first of many "handled" speeches we heard from Olivia:
Her greatest weakness? Who she has fallen in love with. Man, it's the most frustrating thing about the whole show.
This is different, because in general I'm not a fan of comedies. I don't really think you can have much of a story line in 30 minutes. The thing is, I've done some really heavy thinking about all of this, and I think Leslie wins as my favorite female TV character. She is weird, intelligent, a true friend, obsessed with breakfast food and Christmas, and really good at her job.
"Leslie has a lot of qualities I find horrifying, but the worst one by far is how thoughtful she can be." - Ron Swanson
My favorite thing about her has got to be her attitude. Even when everything looks awful, she has the positive attitude that it's all going to turn out right.
Her greatest weakness? Does she have one? Maybe it's her kindness that lets people walk all over her. But she likes that, so I just don't know!
Some Quotes:
"I mean, that's why people respect Hillary Clinton so much, because nobody takes a punch like her. She's the strongest, smartest punching bag in the world."
"I always keep emergency smore rations in my car."
"One time when I was in high school a guy’s mom called me and broke up with me for him. There was another time when I was on a date and I tripped and broke my kneecap, and then the guy said he wasn’t feeling it, so he left and I waited for an ambulance. One time I was dating this guy for awhile, and then he got down on one knee and he begged me to never call him again. One guy broke up with me while we were in the shower together. Skywriting isn’t always positive. Another time a guy invited me to a beautiful picnic with wine and flowers. And then when I tried to sit down, he said, "Don’t eat anything. Rebecca’s coming.” And then he broke up with me."
"There are very few things I have asked for in this world. To build a new park from scratch, to eventually become president and to one day solve a murder on a train."
"Perfect. I’m gonna go see a man about some porcelain, you know what I mean? I’m not buying cocaine. I’m going to the bathroom, the wiz palace as I like to call it."
"We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third."
Imagine working with somebody this supportive and over the top.
So that's my list of positive strong female leads. Television has come a long way. I'm not able to identify too much with the 50's housewives. I like where this is going.
If you haven't seen these shows, I recommend clicking on the supplied links and fixing that asap. And let me know your thoughts. Do you have any that you think I should've added to the list? Or perhaps shows I may not have seen yet?
Honorable Mention goes to Orphan Black.
I watched the show because the posters I was seeing about it in the subway did not give me any idea what it was all about. And it looked like Julia Roberts might be in it (she's not). Tatiana Maslany is the lead in this show and better start winning some awards for her performance or else something is very seriously wrong with the world.
It happened. I turned 30. My 20's were so fantastic that it's hard to imagine this next decade measuring up. I guess if I've learned anything though, it's that you can never predict the awesomeness that will happen in the future. Awesomeness.
As I've been reflecting on my birthday, the end of a decade, and the beginning of a new year and adventure, I decided to put together a list of 30 things I've learned so far, want to improve on, or will accomplish in 2014.
10 Things I've Learned So Far
Always document life through pictures and video, even (or especially) when you are the only one and people think you're being weird.
Try not to let people take advantage of your kindness, but always err on the side of being kind over being cruel.
When you expect the worst of people, you're almost always right.
When you expect the best of people, you may not always be right, but you are much happier.
You don't have to be rich to travel.
A bad me comes out when I'm hungry. The worst me comes out when I'm scared.
"Because that's how we've always done it" is the worst reason to continue doing something. Find a better reason or a better way.
Things are cool, but in the grand scheme of it, not important at all. Things, are just things.
Some people just won't like me, and I have to be ok with that.
It is our differences that make us all unique and beautiful. Embrace them.
10 Things I Want To Do Better
Be funny without being mean. Ellen taught me this, and she is so wise.
Gratitude.
More openly supportive and uplifting. People in my life just need to know how freaking awesome they are.
Walk more. There simply isn't a reason not to.
Listen.
Forgive quicker. Especially myself.
Be more thoughtful. As in, think before I speak, or judge, or make significant life altering decisions.
Take advantage of this city. I've been experiencing it, but I can do even better.
Soak in more wisdom from the elderly. Those people know what's up.
Budget my time. I love freedom, and budgeting my time will open so many doors.
10 Things I'll Do This Year
Say Yes. My main New Year's Resolution is to live my life with a Yes attitude. I'm not going to be crazy or weird about it, but a lot can happen when you open yourself to possibilities.
Take a moment to be selfish. Sometimes it's ok to work on yourself and find what makes you most happy.
Find creative ways to serve others. New York is full of small service opportunities. I'm going to work harder to jump on them.
Find the charity that I want to be associated with and get involved. I've been doing a lot of research on this. If you have any suggestions feel free to leave a comment.
Travel. It's been a few years, and I feel the need to see some new places.
Read. I fell away from that a bit last year and have really missed it.
Reactive myself on this blog. I've been so busy blogging for Zagg lately, but it wouldn't be hard to add posts here as well.
I'd like to run a race this year.
Cooking. My cooking is embarrassing. This year I will find, practice, and perfect what will become my signature dish.
Work harder. I found myself in a bit of a slump because I'd started to slack. This year, I'm going to do better.
