about louisville and jennifer.

There is a lump in my throat the size of... I don't know... a gerbil, probably. Not in an emotional way so much as a nervous way. Why, you ask? Well. Because the extras casting for, uh, Artemis, looks like it's moving on to finding people for the Capitol. And, you know. I'd really, really like to be a part of that. They've got my info. I guess I just have to wait... again. Sigh.

In other, moderately related news, being home in Louisville is fun because Jennifer Lawrence is a big deal to everyone, not just folks who follow The Hunger Games. And, let's be honest, those folks are a little scant in Knoxville (no matter how much we supposedly read). I went to see X-Men last night with a friend, Dani, who used to babysit Jennifer, and when James McAvoy kissed her on the cheek, Dani leaned over to me and stage-whispered, "JAMES MCAVOY JUST KISSED HER!" Another friend from church growing up, Matt (we'll call him Matt W, because I have a lot of Matts in my life), was there with his girlfriend, and we sat and talked about what Jennifer was like as a kid all through the credits. We kept talking until the lights came back on, and then talked some more in the hallway. One highlight was Matt W saying, "That's not Mystique. That's... ... ... ... ... Jennifer."

I can't imagine how strange and exciting seeing her as Katniss is going to be.

Baahh!

And if you're wondering if I'm blatantly name-dropping for the fun of it, I guess I am.
But, hey. It's legit. :)

In other news, I turned 26 yesterday, I still have a hundred pages left of Monsters of Men, and I'm going to be starting my first week at camp on Monday. This is going to be a good summer.

[but pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease pick me for filming in August]

because we could all use a little more gush and squee.

There's no questioning how I feel about The Hunger Games.  I read the whole trilogy twice through in five weeks.  Remember that?  Remember how often I gripped at my heart and stammered over my own words?  And have you noticed how I still can't stop talking about it, six months later?  How it invades my thoughts for days at a time?  Maybe you haven't noticed that last one, but I sure have.


You'd think I'd have moved on by now, but it's only getting worse.  I feel uneasy recommending the books to people, for fear that they'll hate them and I will take it personally.  Because, likely, I will.  Sheesh.

Well, if you've been following the buzz, you can see where this might be going.  How they got it all wrong and ruined everything by casting a tall, blonde, 20-year-old as Katniss.


Not so, my friends.  Not so.  I'm here to tell you that they got it right.

And also maybe to jump up and down and scream in your face a little about how (ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh) it's Jennifer Lawrence!

Is there a not-stupid-sounding way to say that she and I are from the same town, and that I grew up going to church with her family, that my mom remembers when she was born?  That all of Louisville is a-flutter with her, that I set aside my usual Oscar-grievances because there's no way not to watch, when you know a nominee?


How's that for an equation in self-destruction?  The film version of your favorite book + an incredible actress you still think of as the twelve-year-old sister of a boy in your Sunday School class... as the main character.  As Katniss...

KATNISS!!!

And that equals my mind right now.  Totally blown.

I spent the whole day at work yesterday telling every possible person about this.  None of them had read the books or heard of Jennifer Lawrence.  I told them anyway.  I jumped up and down every time I went into the back.  I started squealing while straightening clothes.  I almost threw up a couple of times.  Every thought was taken up by trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Jen Lawrence is going to be Katniss Everdeen, and that I used to know her. That I'm not making it up.  And that this is going to be the best thing ever.


Around my lunch break, I calmed down enough to remember something:  Jennifer looks nothing like how I'd pictured Katniss.  Oh, no.  People are going to hate this.  They are going to hate me for being so excited.  She's pale, she's blonde, she's got all the wrong features (though, there, I disagree).  This could be a disaster.


I know this is how some people will feel, and I don't blame them.  But to those people, I say:  go watch an interview with Jennifer.  Listen to her voice.  Watch her eyes (which, indeed, are rather grey).  No.  No, it is definitely not a disaster.  This girl is incredible.  Have you read this announcement?  Allow me to quote from the article what Suzanne had to say:  


"'Jennifer’s just an incredible actress. So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave... I never thought we’d find somebody this perfect for the role. And I can’t wait for everyone to see her play it.'”


There you have it, folks!  If the author is behind the decision, how can I not be?  Regardless of the fact that, you know, I sort of know the girl.


Eeeeee!!!!!


Jennifer, I am so proud of you.  You represent home so well.  You will be excellent, and you already shine.  Go knock 'em dead.  :)

movies and home and family and a cat.

Well, it's a good thing I read nine books last month, because I don't think I'm even going to make it to five this month.  I, um, got burnt out?  Ha!  That didn't last long.  Another part of it, I think, is that I was reading a lot of fast-paced, addictive stuff, and now I'm rummaging around in that dreaded to-read list.  I'm not used to adult fiction.  Or, for that matter, Christian fiction.  Or non-fiction.  And I really want to get back into reading plays, but does that count as a book?  [My vote says yes.]  Plus, I've been working more, and not sick, and spending time with friends.  Amazing, right?

And I've been watching movies.  Books were starting to overwhelm me, I guess?  Who am I, all of a sudden?  I'm sure I'll get back into it soon enough.  Anyway, Joshua and I watched Ramona and Beezus the other night, as well as Despicable Me (a veritable marathon of feel-goodery, there), and it was delightful.  I loved the Ramona books as a kid.  And the movie was just wonderful.  And, oh, how I cried.  Not that that means much.  I cry at everything.

how cool is this frame? [found here] i need to learn how make these.

I'm home in Louisville right now, by the way.  It's great.  Other than being away from Joshua, that is.  But I get to see my parents and grandmother and friends and some extended family, too, this week.  Oh.  It will be so good for my soul.  Living away from my hometown is both liberating and frustrating.  I like having my own life, being totally independent (at least, of my parents), and working and making my own friends, etc.  But I miss my family.  Gah!  It's not like I'm college anymore, where you sort of prove who you are to yourself by being away from home.  That's how it was for me, and it was the right move to go out-of-state, but I'm past that now, you know?  I have proof of my maturity.  Or whatever.  I just want to be able to have lunch with my mom every once in a while.

Thus, a three-and-a-half-day trip to Louisville.  Go Cards!

I brought Oliver, too, which is kind of hilarious.  How often do you see cats chilling in a passing car, like you would a dog?  We travel with our cats a lot, and I like to think that others get a kick out of it.  Of course, it's a lot easier to let cats roam free in the car when there are two of us.  Since it was only me today, poor Olly Bear had to stay in the carrier.

I think he's over it now, though.  :)