How to Read Minds

If you can make it on Wednesday to help out with the filming of this (and would like to learn how to read minds) that would be great. We are meeting at UVU at 7pm in the Liberal Arts building in front of room 127. It won't take long to get the footage needed so if you can take time out of your busy schedule and do me a solid that would be amazing.

See you on the 4th!

Clearing out...

I've been clearing out my movies and getting ride of some that I don't watch anymore. If anyone is interested in buying Sleepy Hollow or Sweeney Todd let me know. They're $5 a piece.

elysekanno@gmail.com

"I have a Ph.D in horribleness..."

For those of you not familiar with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, you are seriously missing out! Go to drhorrible.com and scroll down to where it says "Watch It Right Now" and see what you think. There are 3 Acts and each one is only about 15 minutes. SO FUNNY!

Favorite line: "It's curtains for you, Dr. Horrible! Lacy, gently wafting curtains."

http://drhorrible.com/

President's Day

In view of the fact that this month holds President's Day, Lincoln's Birthday, and Washington's Birthday here is my favorite monologue from my favorite movie to help you feel patriotic. Enjoy!

"Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do like many of you appreciate the comforts of the everyday routine, the security in the familiar, the tranquility, the repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke.

But in the spirit of commemoration whereby those events of the past, usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful, bloody struggle, are celebrated with a nice holiday. I thought we could mark this November the fifth, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat.

There are, of course, those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now orders are being shouted into telephones and men with guns will soon be on there way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power.

Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice. Intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission.

How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well, certainly there are those who are more responsible than others and they will be held accountable but again, truth be told, if you are looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it.

I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War. Terror. Disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now High Chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order. He promised you peace and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.

Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than 400 years ago a great citizen wished to embed the 5th of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice and freedom are more than words. They are perspectives.

So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, I would suggest you allow the 5th of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight outside the gate of Parliament and together we give them a 5th of November that shall never, ever be forgot."

-V (V for Vendetta)

Happy President's Day!

Fear is a friend who's misunderstood...

I heard this in one of my favorite songs and wondered at the phrase. "Fear is a friend who's misunderstood, but I know the heart of life is good." What a strange idea that fear is a good thing. I have always seen fear as a thief who holds a spirit back and hinders progress.

Why do we experience fear? To learn from the past? Self-preservation? I guess if seen in that light fear could be considered a good thing but only if we make sure it doesn't hold us back. Never let it stop you from the new and unknown.

We cannot go through life without experiencing pain of some kind so why not just get used to the idea and embrace all that life has to offer. Turn and face it head on. Keep running at it even though failure and pain may try to suffocate you.

Never let go of your dreams because of fear. Although the pursuit of your dreams may require regrouping after many crashes and burns we should never give them up. Nor should we ignore the blessings right in front of us because we are so focused on what we want.

I was thinking on this because of a dream I'm currently pursuing. It hasn't been going the way I hoped and I wondered if there comes a point when it's better to let dreams go; to move on and stop hoping. The conclusion is, never. I had to step back and decide on a new approach to the same dream but never giving up.

Dreams are always coming and going. When we catch one that touches our hearts and urges us to try then it's worth holding on to. "Come what may and love it." Without fear.

"Know it won't all go the way it should but I know the heart of life is good."

Happy Birthday, Gromit!

For those of you not familiar with Wallace and Gromit... shame on you! I grew up watching the three short films and I think that "A Close Shave" is my favorite one. Yesterday was Gromit's birthday so we watched the movies, ate cake and ice cream, and of course... had cheese. Happy Birthday, Gromit!

We had a fairly good turn out including a few people who hadn't be introduced to Wallace and Gromit before. Here are some fun facts about Gromit and keep an eye out for a birthday party in August for Wallace.

Since Gromit has no visible mouth (and possibly also because he's a dog) he cannot express himself with spoken words. However, his facial expressions and body language speak volumes.

He is very sensitive, intelligent, resourceful and skilled at coping with Wallace's hare-brained gadgets. Gromit holds a genuine affection for his master and remains loyal to him, even at his own expense, or when Wallace's contraptions inevitably blow up in his face. Although frequently frustrated by Wallace's antics, he cares deeply for his master.

He likes knitting, reading the newspaper and cooking. His prized possessions include his alarm clock, bone, brush and a framed photo of himself with Wallace.

"It's Not Easy Being Green...

...spending each day the color of the leaves."

Hair. My way of self expression. An outlet for when I'm restless, upset or discouraged. I've been wanting a change for a while and realized the other day that I have an excess of green clothing. That was all the excuse I needed to dye my hair. It's actually blonde highlights but I have a whole bunch of colored gels that I can put in it to spice things up.

It's funny the way people treat you when you have green in your hair. It's very different than the time I dyed my hair bright pink. When it was pink they looked at me like I was an irresponsible punk but when you're hair is green people avert their eyes like their embarrassed for you.

Maybe they are embarrassed for me, but I love it! Let me know what you think. ;)

Make Work Fun...

...it's easy!

This week has been pretty crazy helping my sister move into her new house but it's been so much fun. When work is being done in the Kanno household it becomes a time of singing, talking (we usually talk loudly and over each other) and laughter.

I remember being a kid and having to weed the front garden. We were all assigned a section and told not to come back into the house until it was clear of weeds. :)

During those hours in the summertime I learned the harmony to every Beatles song and the words to most of the Carpenter's songs.

This week of moving my sister started with carpet cleaning and dusting, followed closely by painting and then the unpacking. 4 sisters, 1 brother-in-law, 1 mother, 1 grandpa, 1 cousin, 2 nieces and 1 nephew. The paint was soon being thrown at each other with claims of, "My hand slipped!" or "I was just getting you back from the last time!" The fumes filled the air, the laughter increased (due to the fumes, I'm sure), and Bennie and the Jets was sung about 10 times in one night.

During the breaks from working I gave pony rides to my niece, Amelia, discovered I can still do a back walkover, and had a hand stand contest with myself while dinner cooked.

No one can escape doing work but that doesn't mean that it has to be boring. Sing! Play games! Large rooms are excellent for doing cartwheels but be careful that you don't hit anything fragile like vases or children.

There's still a lot of work to do but I'm looking forward to it.