It's been a while, primarily because the vacation ended and I had to go back to work, but no worries, I'm still on the "happy train" right now, so today I continue the "Favorite Things" theme, shining light on my favorite movie (or film, if you wanna call it that) of all time: Speedy.
You've probably never heard of it. And it's not your fault, Speedy is a very early movie, a silent film from 1928. My favorite actor (or comedian?), and one of my historical crushes, Harold Lloyd stars in it.
A Tidbit of History
Speedy was Harold Lloyd's last silent movie (and in my opinion, his best), set in New York City. Lloyd, known as Speedy (both in real life and in the film) is a young man who always has his heart in the right place, but for the life of him can't quite hold down a steady job. He's always either a tad clumsy or daydreaming, or he's distracted by the New York Yankees' games and stuff like that. He lives with his girlfriend (Jane) and his girlfriend's grandfather (Pop Dillon), who has an old-fashioned (ha!) horse-and-buggy trolley thingy. Anyway, I'm trying not give away too many of the movie's details, but the main story is that some "big shot" businessman tries to make Pop Dillon give up his buggy rights so that he may begin developing new roads or whatever on Pop's buggy route. It's up to Speedy to save Pop's buggy rights and provide financial stability (simultaneously of course).
My Thoughts on Speedy
Personally, I feel Speedy has an air of innocence and good intentions. It's kind of funny that this film came out in the late 1920s, a little before the Great Depression, and it's remarkable how it's "dated" and fits in historical context. Coney Island shows up (which, by the way, I hope to visit one day, and which also shows up in one of my other favorite films, "Annie Hall"), and so does Babe Ruth (cameo appearance!) and (can you believe it!?) the Prohibition!!! History at its best, the film does a splendid job of being so natural in this regard. (Might I also be a historian at heart? ...)
One of my favorite scenes.
On a last note, Speedy hits a soft and dear spot of my heart for one more particular reason. You see, the first time I saw this film, we (my sister and I) were home alone. The air was heavy with summer heat, family-political tension, and an immeasurable foreboding of the terrible things that would occur later that summer of 2005. While my father supposedly worked all day long, my dear, resilient mother had secretly taken on another job, working almost every evening. It was my duty as the oldest daughter at home to keep things together. My younger sister and I would eat dinner, then we'd clean up (whatever had to be done) and wait for Mother to get home.
All summer. Speedy came as some sort of ameliorating escape from the brewing troubles. A sort of nostalgia, a sort of assurance that things always get better, and a sort of encouragement to persevere and enjoy all that comes our way.
Truly, if you get a chance sometime in your life, watch Speedy. While it has a deeper meaning for me (obviously), it is a lighthearted comedy as well, and very worthy of a viewing (or 500 or so!). Below is my favorite part of the entire film, Speedy's visit to Coney Island with his love, courtesy of Turner Classic Movies (I couldn't get the clip to embed on teenytinytidbits, but this link does provide a very high-quality version!!) Enjoy:
Going along with my "Favorite Things" theme, I thought I'd start off with a light and cheery peek into one of my hobbies, our society.
Yeah...
Society is truly a fascinating subject, there are just so many layers and levels of depth to analyze, and even more thrilling and exhilirating is the fact that you and I are both components of this subject. Isn't that amazing?? Perhaps it's my good old SMU education, or maybe it was all chance or coincidence, but the courses I took exposed me to several diffirent aspects of society. My favorite course, for example, was on the History of Sex in America, from the beginning (colonial times) through the 20th (and beginning of the 21st) century. It was baffling, to say the least, actually slightly overwhelming, that we as human beings, components of our society, create and construct categories and characterize (and sometimes blindly enforce) sexuality. While social and sexual revolutions do take place over time, I find (and this is the part that truly fascinates me the most) that even though some social constructions deteriorate, new ones are born and so the cycle is renewed.
After that course, I had the lovely opportunity of taking two more interesting courses, "Dumb White Guy Politics in America" and "Troubled Youth." Perfect complements to my fascination with society. While these courses didn't focus on the social constructions of sexuality (they did brush on occasion with this sub-subject), they did allow for a more well-rounded overview into our society. While at times it seems that sexuality and gender roles play a major part in our society's behaviors, it turns out that social constructions exist everywhere. It's all breathtakingly amazing. I love society. I love human beings. I love social constructions.
Sometimes I wonder if I majored in the wrong thing, but then I realize: I am a social scientist. I'm an economist, and I will find a way to amalgamate my interest in social constructions with my passion with Economics. I've got a feeling that a major study is going to break through both fields of Economics and Sociology, perhaps behavioral Economics?? :)
Till then, enjoy the following clip. (A special thanks to my "Troubled Youth" professor!)
I think I've reached a new level of understanding and approval with my mother, with regards to the love of my life. Here's the story, and I'll try to be sweet and concise:
So here we were talking about my friend, the love of my life, and it wasn't some serious conversation or anything, but I guess my mother, with all her motherly wisdom knew that I still love my friend. She austerely asked, do you like him? I said, all cool and clearly, yes. But that being his girlfriend (or stuff like that) isn't my priority. I'm okay either way, with or without title or whatever. She asked then, does he plan on staying in (let's call it) City X, and I said, I've no idea. And then, I kid you not, it was like that moment in "The Little Mermaid" when King Triton is about to turn Ariel into a human so she can be with Prince Eric, and my dear mother started saying, I think you're going to leave us behind, in a sort of wistful but accepting tone. I in turn said, no! I wouldn't want to live in City X permanently, maybe Boston, but not City X haha! After this weird and peaceful moment of understanding, I continued and finished the story that had to do with my friend, and my mother reacted more positively.
Could it be? Has she finally let go of the bad impression she had of my friend?! :) Now I can love without guilt!
Necks. So, because of Fall's nostalgic atmosphere, every now and then I remember my friend's aroma. I can't explain it, and I feel like a total "goofy" "doofus" (yes, I actually used those words!) because what I remember most is, well, his neck. Not like I ever touched it or anything. But yes, the neck. It's there. I want to see it in person soon. I sure miss terrible times with terrible people. And their necks. (Or in this case, his neck.)
Lastly, for this evening, my mother's implicit approval has lightened things up for me: I feel that I can't go wrong in anything. I am simply content with life, and it doesn't matter that not everything is going the way I would like it to, I have my love and that's all I need!
That leads me to the last portion of this post's title "Favorite Things." I think I'll go ahead and write a post about one Favorite Thing for the next few times, I find that if I focus on the good things, the things that agree with me, the things that cancel the bad things (I'm very well aware I've used "things" too liberally tonight), I generally get along in a better mood and attitude. You should give it a try.
Brief example: Instead of saying, "I hate it when stupid drivers merge in front of me and drive slowly," I now say, "I love it when everyone drives appropriately," or "I love it when I find a way to get home in a good amount of time."
So come on, enjoy the beautiful Fall weather, enjoy your love, enjoy your life!!! :)
(Yes, cats. Not the literal and natural version, but the musical, legging/spandex-wearing, dancing and singing version.) So I saw the musical "Cats" last night while studying for the GRE, and...wow. It's hilarious. I had always wondered what all the excitement about it was, and now my curiosity has been quenched.
That's my favorite scene. Rum Tum Tugger...such a suggestive kitty.
Uhm, I can't top that video, so I guess I'll write more soon!! I took more pictures outside with my little cousins, so I'll play around with the images a bit and see if anything good comes out of them. Till then, enjoy the cats.
So it's the end of the week and the start of a new month, October. Several things have happened in the last few weeks:
I finally purchased a digital camera. It's a Nikon L110, and I don't know if it's the best or the worst, but it works! (And it's my very first camera!)
I'm still working at the bank, though I've realized that I don't really like it there.
I paid for and am currently studying for the GRE. It will take place on October 16th. ***Super fun times!***
The weather has been simply amazingly gorgeous. Beautiful, pristine Fall is here. Along with nostalgia.
Actually, with regards to the last bullet point, I realized why I love Fall so much, and why such passionate bouts of nostalgia overcome me more frequently throughout this peaceful season. it was during Fall, you see, that I first fell in love.
And it wasn't the same kind of love I felt when I had my first legitimate long-term boyfriend; no, this love had a sense of purity, a sense of platonic innocence. Taking in the beautiful, clear blue sky and letting out a deep wistful sigh. Taking in the crisp, cool Fall air and feeling like you were with your love right then and there.
As I write about this love, I become overwhelmed by the everlasting intensity that has survived these years. This love is immortal. It seems to transcend all earthly measures. It is real and true. And it doesn't matter if anything comes from it (i.e. reciprocity); I am perfectly pleased by its mere existence. I love this feeling. A natural high.
Well, well! I really mustn't dwell on this realization, there are so many things to do! I need to find a better job, I need to find out what I truly want to do with myself, I need to carry on with my quest to find my place in this world!!
In other news, as you may or may not be aware of, I am a new fan of Mr. Bret Easton Ellis, and I recently purchased "American Psycho." I haven't seen the film adaptation (with Christian Bale) in its entirety, but I hear the book is a lot more graphic than the movie...I guess I'll find out soon; it makes for some good Halloween reading at least hahaha.
P.S. Here are some pictures taken by my new camera (heeheehee), and with a little help from iPhoto, I made them look cute and artsy:
