Maria!

I'm kind of obsessed with West Side Story. It wasn't too long ago that I actually-finally!-watched the whole thing, and I really appreciated the color and the story and the choreography and music. I think it's because I'm also obsessed with Romeo and Juliet, and was on a R+J-related-anything kind of phase as well, but there's no denying this was a revolutionary and amazing musical. (Although it seemed strange to me that they cast Natalie Wood as Maria, as she's not Hispanic?)

I was super-excited to hear that they were reviving it on Broadway (anyone want to go see it, by the way?)
And now Vanity Fair has a set of amazing photos recreating West Side Story with Camilla Belle, Ben Barnes (aka Prince Caspian), and more!


PS: See if you can ID the other stars hidden as the other characters in the background.

via Vanity Fair

Muse #1: Sara Bareilles

This is why, as a singer, I aspire to be her...

via APARTMENT 34

Math that makes (common)sense

via New Math

The made-up things...

"Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things - trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in any case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones."

~Puddleglum (CSL), The Silver Chair

I'm going to start a new chapter soon, in a new city, in a new role, with new friends--it's a new life. But as I start the new, I don't want to forget the old--it was here in Philadelphia, after all, through every person that I've met, that I learned to yearn for what is truly important.

They are the ones who have always reminded me, every time I get pulled down into cynicsm, that what the world thinks is real is not always what is real. They remind me that though the world may believe that we are impractical, we are stupid, we are immature, we are merely dreamers and that for which we dream for will never become real--our hope is true and real.

So help me remember. Help me not to forget. Help me to dream. Continue to remind me that "the made-up things" matter more than what is "real."

So come on. I'm bringing you along for the ride.