Tobia Ziklik

Since Wicked is ending its run in San Francisco soon, we went to see it last week. We last saw the show five years ago, and we noticed quite a few changes. Some were good, like the goat’s shortened solo, while others took away from the show, such as foreshadowing the scarecrow’s creation.

Still, it was highly enjoyable and I laughed a great deal.

Speaking of laughter, I love to be around people who laugh with gusto, and Brady (who was with us at the show, as well as Mitch and Jaime), laughed heartily throughout the show. His laughter is infectious and made for a more enjoyable evening.

By the way, did you know that a film version of Wicked is in the works? I hope they cast Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in it.

Arnon and I try to avoid watching popular TV series because we become obsessed with them. (Remember our Six Feet Under lunacy?) And yet, we were convinced, by Mitch and Brady, to start watching Dexter (with the same lead from Six Feet Under) late last month. Actually, Arnon did most of the watching, while I kept my eyes closed (a show about serial killers is visually disturbing, after all) and kept asking Arnon what was happening on the screen.

Anyway, five minutes into the first episode, we were hooked, and we watched all twelve episodes of the first season over the next few days.

I tend to obsess over images and sounds, so I was sure I would have nightmares, but I didn’t. Instead, Arnon had a couple of restless nights. When I asked him what was bothering him, he said he was deeply frustrated that the ice-truck killer was “owning” Dexter.

At the conclusion of season one, Arnon decided that he had to put an end to the madness. Despite my protests, he read aloud the episode summaries for the next three seasons. I suppose it’s just as well. Deb, Dexter’s needy, insecure, whiny sister was driving me nuts. I hope they kill her off in the fifth season.

Recently, and once again at Mitch’s suggestion, I started watching True Blood starring Anna Paquin. I liked Paquin in The Piano, and I think she’s great as Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood, but I find her teeth to be distracting. It’s almost as if she once rinsed her teeth with acid, eroding dentin and allowing each (now smaller) tooth to cast a shadow.

I’m about half-way through the available episodes, and soon I’ll be free … that is, until the fourth season airs next summer.

Giant Twilight Eclipse movie poster in Old Town Prague. It was strange to see so many of these posters amidst centuries-old architecture and Christian statues.

I rarely watch movies at theaters, but in the last month I watched two. First, there was Twilight Eclipse. I’d like to say that I only went to humor and accompany Emily, but truth be told, I was a bit intrigued. And in the end, I thought the movie was enjoyable, while Emily enjoyed Taylor Lautner’s physique.

I also watched Ramona and Beezus with my sister. We loved the books as little girls, and even thought that Beezus and Ramona were modeled after us. So we were excited when we heard that a movie was in the works, but disappointed by the cast. The little girl who plays Ramona is cute, but too bratty to play Ramona, and Selena Gomez is all wrong as Beezus.

Also, the first book in the series is called Beezus and Ramona, so I think it’s rude that the names have been switched in the movie title.