Just got back from seeing Wicked in San Francisco. LOVED. IT. I can listen to a Broadway cast recording of a show a million times, but it simply doesn't compare to seeing the real thing in person. Definitely one of my favorites, up there with Phantom of the Opera and Avenue Q. And the musical is SO much better than the book...the musical is much more like what I *thought* the book was going to be and never was.

Also went to the Horse Expo up in Sacramento on Saturday, which is basically like a giant fair for just horse-related things, with tons of vendors and clinics and demos etc. I picked up quite a few things for Bo and myself, spent way too much money. ^^; I went with greenanimal and donnajean2277 and her husband and hung out with them for most of the time. It was a lot of fun!

If you haven't seen this yet, you HAVE to watch it! =D

Who the heck is Terushima Takuma and why are so many people voting for him on seiyuu?

I finally watched the new Phantom of the Opera movie. I knew it would be bad (Joel Schumacher directing? *shudder*), but GEEZ. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was awful, awful, AWFUL. If you're going to do a movie of a musical about a musical genius, at least cast someone who can SING in the title role!!! Dear lord, it was seriously painful to listen to him butcher all my favorite songs. >_< And why did they change some of the words/not sing many of the lines that are meant to be sung?

Oh, and the phantom is supposed to be absolutely *terrifying* to look at, NOT a totally handsome guy merely suffering from a second degree sunburn! COME ON. And Minnie Driver as Carlotta? WTF? She's not an opera singer, is she? She completely didn't fit the image I have of Carlotta. The girl who played Christine was really dull and had only one look on her face for the entire movie: vapid airhead. I guess her singing was okay, but not nearly powerful enough. The rest of the cast I didn't pay much attention to, but I did like Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry. Also I recognized the guy playing Andre was that one guy from Shakespeare in Love; he seemed pretty good.

People weren't kidding...if you like the musical and the original Broadway cast, stay the hell away from this travesty!

Yesterday I spent something like FIVE HOURS in a department store returning and exchanging clothes. Ugh! If you know me you know I HATE shopping like nothing else. Clothes shopping is the worst, though, because it takes so much time and effort to try everything on. At least I got some things that actually fit and that I'm happy with now, but sometime this week I have to go back to another store and try to exchange some other things. Oh yay...

Last night I went with my family to the Sharks game. The Sharks lost when they really didn't deserve it. That was the most blatantly rigged game I'd ever seen! The first two periods were fine, and they were leading 2-1. Then when the third period started suddenly the refs completely decided the Coyotes had to win and attacked the Sharks. They gave them no less than four or five penalties within the space of five minutes (most of which were completely undeserved, and they were really grasping at straws for things to call; "delay of game"? WTF?). So for at least four minutes it was 5 on 3, and with an advantage like that the Coyotes scored 4 goals in about 4 minutes. It was really disgusting.

I think poor Nabokov was pretty flustered by it all; one of the goals was his fault since he accidently kicked it in behind him. After that he was pulled and they sent in Toskala. And for the rest of the game no matter what the Coyotes did, they were never given any penalties! Tripping, interference, high sticking, who cares? But if a Shark puts one toe out of line, it's off to the penalty box with you! They did manage to score two more goals and make it 4-5, but the refs made sure that if they were coming any closer to scoring another goal they'd get a penalty. There's no question that whoever was making those calls was completely biased and totally destroyed any fairness there was in the game.

As for some good news, in about two hours I'm going to the airport to pick up Josh! ^_^ Also, today is my brother's 23rd birthday, so I'll be going out to dinner and a movie with my family tonight. He wants to see Fun with Dick and Jane. Is that supposed to be any good? It looks kind of stupid in the commercials...

It's freaking COLD outside!! I was freezing tonight while I was closing at work. And I'm subbing trails half the day tomorrow, I'm going to freeze again. How can it be so bright and pretty outside and be this cold?? Eek.

There's a new episode of Monk on tonight! Did they advertise that at all? Last I heard they wouldn't have any new episodes until January. I'm glad my brother told me about it or I would have totally missed it. Well whatever, more Monk! Yay!

Ooh! I just saw an ad for Memoirs of a Geisha on tv. I LOVE that book. I shall have to see this movie. ^^

Oooh...another good one is coming out, The Producers. Gotta see that as well.

I really don't want to go to school. there's a big nasty storm outside and I'll have to stay there until 8:30 tonight. I also have lots of reading left to do and a presentation to prepare (for today). I didn't get any work done yesterday because I went to see Mamma Mia! in SF with my mom. she had won tickets to it from a radio contest (so what else is new?), and she had thought my dad wanted to go, but he didn't so I got to go instead. it's a pretty good show; I don't know anything about ABBA but I liked the music, though I thought the overall plot was kind of dull (a girl wants to get married and have her father walk her down the aisle; she doesn't know who it is out of 3 possibilities so she invites them all). Starlight Express still stands out much more in my mind, but maybe that's because of all the rollerskating and crazy costumes. I went with Jennie to see that a couple weeks ago and it was a lot more entertaining; probably partly because it's so weird, but it's still interesting. if you haven't heard of it (I hadn't), it's about a kid dreaming he's racing different types of trains against each other, and the train engines and cars are represented by people singing and dancing on roller skates. most of the music is synthesized/high energy, and the races are 3-D film sequences. lots of catchy music in both shows; I should get the soundtracks. later, must start reading now *sigh*