Spiderman - Turn Off the Dark (Review)

I thought the show was entertaining. I thought the sets were great. I think I would have enjoyed the show more if I had gotten better seats -- Unfortunately, I waited until the last minute to get my ticket. I was was in the back balcony in the second to last row, in the corner, with the guide rail blocking my view. If I didn't have my binoculars, I probably would have been really annoyed. As for the show itself, I thought it was nice. Not being a real Broadway goer, I'm not the best person to comment. Personally, I thought there were too many slow songs. At times, it was hard to tell if the cast were singing or if it was a sound track -- probably from being so far back. I thought the actors played their roles well. I thought the Green Goblin received the best lines/ moments in the show. I wanted to take photos, but no picture taking was allowed, not even before the show started. So, the photos I'm going to upload were taken from the internet. However, the outside photos are mine.

https://picasaweb.google.com/jannxb/SpidermanTurnOffTheDark#

Wicked

Yesterday was my second Broadway show.  I almost missed it.  I was returning to my "eat/sleep away the weekend" mode.  I wasn't in the mood to see the show.  But since I already had my ticket and I was the one who had planned the social networking event, I decided to go anyway.  Once again, no one signed up, so I was going solo. 

I arrived with a minute to spare.  I paid for an obstructed view, so my ticket was a bit cheaper than others.  The view wasn't  that bad.

Anyway, at 2hrs and 45minutes (almost three hours), I thought the show was very nice.  I'm not really a musical kind of guy, but I thought it was a nice show.  I enjoyed "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" more.  For someone like me, I need a hook to enjoy a musical (for the "Desert" it was the songs).  For "Wicked", I enjoyed the retelling of a familar story most know so well.  Now, I want to read the book.  After doing a Google search, I just discovered that there are about 40 stories of Oz adventures.  From Wikipedia, I learned that the original author wrote about 15 of the first part of the series.  Another author wrote the next 15 books in the series.  And various other authors wrote the remaining books in the series.  I had no idea this book was a series or a cash cow.  I did a quick search  on Amazon.com to see if they had a complete collection of the series.  Yes, they did.  However, the bound books are a collection minus the illustrations.  I think I would like to have the series -- only the first part written by the original author.  I'm not interested in the cash cow continuation.  I'll have to try reading the original book I bought a few months ago.  I was bored by it then.  However, I'll see if I can get into the book again.  If I can enjoy the first book, then I think this would be a good series to get on an electronic reader.  I'm still holding out for an e-reader.   The Stephen King book "The Dome" is also on my to read list.  However, I don't want to get an e-reader until I finish reading  the paperback books I already have.  And yet, I keep buying more books.  It will be quite awhile before I get an e-reader, unless I buy one on an impulse.

Anyway, I was entertained by the show.  And I was lucky enough to have a seat right by the exit with the bathroom.  With my second Broadway show, I'm learning that it pays to leave quickly to reach the bathroom, or you will have to wait on a long line (although not nearly as long as the women's line).

After "Wicked", I walked to 42nd street to see "X-men: First Class". I enjoyed the movie, despite the rowdy crowd in the theater.  It has been a long time since I've been in a theater where people talk loudly during the movie, and making loud comments during the movie.  As for the movie itself.  I thought all of the characters were well casted.  If you can get past the "creative license" the movie takes with the origins, then I think most sci-fi fans will enjoy the movie.  It isn't a great movie, but I think it is an enjoyable one.

After the movie I stopped at Midtown Comics Shop to use the 25% coupon that was in the free daily paper.  My last stop of the evening was dinner at Tick Tock Diner on 34th Street.  I had their BBQ bacon burger with waffle fries, soda, and pie with ice cream for dessert.  I won't even count the calories for that meal.  Since I haven't exercised this weekend, and I've been eating nothing healthy for the last three days,

I guess you could say that (in a way), I've been Wicked.  

I asssumed that picture taking wouldn't be allowed, so I didn't bother to take my camera.  the only photo I took was during intermission when others were taking out their cell phones. I took a photo of the stage screen.  The logo attached to this entry was taken from the internet.  My photo is the small one. 

Continuation of Our Broadway Walk

Not a very exciting walk. We basically walked through the lower income neigborhoods. There was nothing to take a picture of.

Weekend. Saturday, I did a couple of errands. I went to the bank, then I went to the post office. each was at opposite ends of my city. I took a train ride to the bank. A train ride back to Yonkers, then I bus ride to the post office. by the time I returned home, I was tired. After a nap, I graded papers.


Post Date - Thursday, November 27, 2008 10:32AM
Completion Date - Monday, September 15, 2008 2:58PM

Errand and Walk Day

I'll have to keep this brief. It is almost midnight. I would like to be in bed by then.

Today turned out to be better than I thought it would be. Those of you regular readers know, I tend to do only one thing per day. Today I was up about 9:30AM. I showered. I did my laundry for the week, including hanging up my work clothes. I also walked to the supermarket to do my grocery shopping ($139). I also stopped at the imitation Five and Dime store to buy some brooms. Yes, I did say some brooms. I brought a couple of hand held dust brooms for my students. I brought a couple of cheap regular sized brooms. One for the students, and one for "borrowers"; Ms. Across the Hall often borrows my brooms. I also brought a cheap mop. I already had one spill with more (I'm sure) to come.

After shopping for about 30 minutes, since no train would be arriving in time, I walked back home. About a 23 minute walk each way to and from the supermarket. I had about 7 minutes to put away the food before it was time for me to catch my train to NYC.

The plan was to meet Vpal to continue our "Broadway Walk". The meeting spot was 42nd street and Broadway (where we stopped at the last walk). I arrived about 10 minutes early and Vpal only arrived one or two minutes late. We walked uptown (or north for you none New Yorkers). There wasn't much to take picture of, so I don't have a lot of good photos.

Well, it is time to go. It is almost midnight.



Post Date - Tuesday, November 25, 2008 9:06PM
Completion Date - Sunday, September 7, 2008 11:39PM

Broadway Walk - Slideshow 1

Below is a slidshow of pictures I took along a walk up Broadway (NYC).



Post Date - Saturday, October 18, 2008 10:32PM

55/25 and a Broadway Walk

Today started with a bit of online paperwork. Tomorrow, the 55/25 retirement offer is due to expire. I don't know why, but I did not really seemed interested in joining when I first heard about it. And, as usual, I waited until the last minute.

What is the 55/25 retirement option? Teachers who are eligible to sign up for the retirement option with 25 years or more can retire at age 55 without any penalties or reduction in pension payments. Those not able to join will have to wait until age 62 before they can retire without reductions to pension payments.

At first, I felt that there was no way I would want to retire at age 55. I would die of boredom. But, I've been thinking that maybe retiring early wouldn't be a such a bad thing. I could receive my pension and find another job that was less stressful. I would be able to receive my pension and collect another paycheck doing something else. Maybe start a business.

Well, I almost missed the deadline, but I was able to do a "Yes click" online, so I made the deadline.

After, getting off the computer, I did not have time for breakfast or a relaxing soak in the bath. I had to settle for a shower.

The plan was to meet my epal (Vpal) at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal at 2:30pm. I arrived 2:14pm; Vpal arrived about 2:53pm. The plan was to walk up Broadway as far as we could. Along the way, I took a few photos, and we stopped for pizza. About 6pm, I decided to stop when we reached 42nd street. We walked about 4.2 miles. I needed to get home to get ready for tomorrow. Teachers here in NYC don't have to return until Thursday, but I know I won't be able to set up my classroom in two days, so I want the head start.

The Plan:
Monday
- Heavy moving and lifting. Unpacking the boxes and arranging the furniture. Covering the bulletin boards.
Tuesday
- Moving the materials I took home back to my classroom. I rented a "man with a van". Laminating, cuting, posting wall decorations around the room.
Wednesday
- Finish room decoration. Material organization (textbooks, paperwork, etc...). Begin curriculum planning for the month of September.
Thursday
The official return to school. Organizing classroom library into a proper lending library.
Friday
- Finish up the loose ends.

If I can follow my plan, I should be out of the building by 4 or 5pm. Last June, I spent a bit of time carefully packing my boxes, and labeling each one on the outside with what's inside. I cleaned, wrapped and stored everything that should have been. I should be able to hit the ground running tomorrow. Tomorrow, I want to be in by 9am and out by 4pm. I want to exchanged a shelfing unit to the Target Store. I like the one I bought today, but when I got home, I found out the uglier one would allow me to put 4 containers on each shelf as oppose to only 3 containers(the difference was about 2 inches). What are the containers for? Teachers are required to keep work folders in each subject area for each student, and portfolios for each student. Basically it's a lot of paperwork on display. With the selfing unit, I will be able to keep all the work folders in one place as oppose to finding places around the room which will have much less space with 29 students. I will also be able to keep the students writing journals and science journals in the shelfing unit(the two journals admin will be looking at closely this year).

Well, I better go. I think that's enough for now.

The attached photo is a picture I took of the Empire State Building viewed from Broadway.


Post Date - Saturday, October 18, 2008 9:38PM
Completion Date - Sunday, August 24, 2008 9:48PM