#also i would like to see the 3hr cut please matthew!

[lovecolibri]

SaL anon here friend, overjoyed and obsessed with everything about the RWRB movie!! Obviously there's a lot I wish we'd seen, and this absolutely deserved to be a 4-6 episode mini series because it didn't give us much breathing room, but if I think about what we did see there isn't a single scene I would take out or exchange for another. Like if 2 hours was all they were allowed to show (I know you have an extended version somewhere Matthew Lopez, we are begging) I can't imagine them spending those 2 hours any better than the way they did. And given they couldn't tell every facet of the story in that time I'm glad they chose to just focus on the love story and do that well. The book will always be iconic in its own way but its not a bad thing that the movie struck out on its own to tell the story its way with the medium they had. I even can't be to mad about some of the missing lines since the movie had its own incredible dialogue (which of course includes every Zahra line).

I still think I'll keep Neptune as a song choice for now, but strictly applied to the one shot of Henry just floating in the water because ugh, that combined with his face right before he went in just broke me. But I can see so many other songs for this movie that are much happier and more hopeful because that's really what we got in the end, a fun, sweet, and amazing love story that I will be rewatching 15 more times. Cheers friend, we absolutely won 🪅🎉🪅🎉!!

Hello my friend! I'm back from my Tumblr post limit induced exile, followed by a quick trip out of town to meet my week old nephew (who is absolutely perfect).

I am still, as I re-read the book, mourning moments we missed that I just KNOW this cast would have performed perfectly, HOWEVER, thanks to the movie, it's very easy to hear/picture the cast while reading which was an unexpected delight I discovered (I usually still have "book" versions of characters in my head as I read, even if there is a movie, but this is proving to be an exception). This story and this cast really did deserve to be a mini series but Matthew Lopez did a great job with the 2 hour time limit distilling it down to it's essence: a love story. (But also, LOTR taught us that you can make a 3hr movie and people will still watch it in droves so like, why stop at 2 hours when 20-30 extra minutes would have made a HUGE difference in depth and clarity? ANYWAY)

Zahra was an icon in the book and she was an icon in the movie and every scene she was in was solid gold! TZP and NG sold THE FUCK out of every moment! It was FUN, it was PAINFUL, it was HILARIOUS, it was soft and gentle and intimate and fucking earnest in it's expression of this love story. This is WHY people love romantic books and movies! Because in a world that loves to mock anyone and anything for expressing true emotions outside of Anger and Lust, it's soothing to see people allowed to be earnest about Love, and Fear, and Heartache, and Romance, and Intimacy, and Desire, and Hope, and Joy and, and, and, and.

One of my favorite lines from National Treasure is "People don't really talk that way you know?" "I know, but they think that way." And to me, that's what I love about romantic books and movies! I think that way, with all the earnestness my soul can manage and it's so refreshing to see/read characters being able to do that and not be mocked mercilessly for it by the people around them. Not to soapbox too hard, but the amount of people calling this movie (and the book) "cringe" even in an vaguely affectionate way always rubs me the wrong way because it always seems to be the label put on things that are uninhibitedly joyful, and emotional, and romantic, and FREE to be that way, and also, typically, genres made by and loved by women or seen/derided as "effeminate". And consequently "cringe" and a waste of time, and a "lesser" form of art. This movie isn't perfect and of course there's more from the book that I wanted to see. But it's exactly what it said it would be. It's a romantic comedy! It's fun/funny, light, and enjoyable! There are stakes but you know love is going to win because how could it not? It gets you invested but not *worried* or stressed it's not going to work out or someone isn't going to make it, or will end up miserable because going in, you know the story is, at it's heart, a love story with a happy ending that is trying to make you relax and laugh for a bit. And in that regard, it's done perfectly.

Okay, soapbox done. I didn't sleep much so sorry not sorry if it's an incomprehensible mess. ANYWAY. Since this was more focused on the love story rather than the angst, Neptune doesn't fit as well as we thought it might, though you are ABSOLUTELY correct that it's perfect for the lake scene. I can't wait to hear your thoughts and which song we're going to talk about because there are SO many good options in the happier/hopeful catalog! I can't wait to turn this movie into my new "sick day/comfort watch" fave because it's just so full of heart and fun. Cheers bestie, we got a good one!

[rodriquerussell]

JUMP

My Wisdom Tooth Journey... September 29, 2020

a chill Tuesday morning, a feeling of contentment to finally get something out of the way that has been in the back of my mind for 2 weeks "the removal of my wisdom teeth." Two minutes to spare then one and finally, my name is called: RODARIQUE! my nerves instantly set in an at that moment nothing matter, not even correcting the assistant nurses mispronunciation of my name...as i wait for the dentist, laying stretched down with a beaming light overhead I start to think about my life and everything that i have done up to this point good and bad, thinking more about the bad an how i could have maybe been more of a good steward...then I started to think about my dreams and aspirations how i always come so close, but never have or find the courage to JUMP! an in the end watch some unqualified egotistical narcissist take my hopes my dreams....Just then Dentist enters the room, throws a few jokes to break the ice, or tension between both foreigners, because soon shes going to be invading my mouth. Lying there fully awake then my jaw the only thing numb, thinking God i should have just went to sleep, I have slight trust issues; (thinking that if i fall asleep under some unknown, something might happen to me...) well that something, just did happen to me; my surgery that was only suppose to be 30-45mins was 3hrs; my teeth on top came out effortless "so-to-say" when the dentist got to the bottom on my left tooth she ended up cutting my gum and tooth in 5 pieces and pulled out one by one; the pain was about a 5 an in that moment the 5 drop down to a 2; I believe that is when Jesus stepped in, because this sense of peace came over me and I started to think about...then she made her way over to my right tooth and she ended up cutting this last tooth in 5 pieces as well and ended up pulling each out one by one as well, while she was pulling out my teeth and she asked me about every 5mins are you okay? i thought about Jesus where in Matthew 27:33 it talked about the Crucifixion of Jesus, "They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews. 38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him." I thought about how this pain i felt was nothing to what Jesus had to endure and in that moment of thinking about Jesus that is when my faith set in and was reminded by Jesus when he said i will never leave or forsake you; I AM with you to the end, Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." twenty-five minutes later the dentist got the last tooth out on my left side and asked me if i wanted to take a break i said: YES! my mouth numb and in mild pain not afraid anymore knowing now that Jesus is by my side I was ready to get this last tooth out on my right side; I was praying hard in my mind telling the Lord please God just let this last tooth slide out like my top tooth, but the dentist ended up cutting my gum and cutting my tooth into 5 pieces as well; this one hurt a little more, because when she started to drill she hit a nerve an my hands flew up and she ended up numbing my jaw more, I broke 3 of her instruments LOL! I knew this was the enemy, but i wasn't afraid anymore the extra numbing kicked in and i just started to quote, Luke 10:19 "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you..." just then this scripture I had read that seem so short I can't explain it, but its like after i was done saying it the dentist was done as well...Later, as i was leaving the dentist i was prescribes narcotics for the pain and was told to take this for "the extra pain would be feeling later tonight and the next 3 days." What i experience in that dentist's room i knew now more then ever how powerful Gods words are and how we literally have the power to speak life and not death, because life and death is at the tip of are tongues, Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit..." also, Matthew 12:37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” So even though the dentist was saying this stuff to me to be "prepared" my faith was already in the Lord...I went to the hospital to pick up my "assigned" medication a wait that turned into 2hrs, but while sitting there I asked God what are you trying to show me God!? why am i waiting here!? and then it hit me, God showed me how there still is allot of lost sheep and told me to pray for everyone there, some people are dealing with way worst then what i had been through, some are battling cancer and there to just renew their prescriptions, some are their for other aches and pains in their bodies...Pray...so that's what i did i prayed for every person who came through those doors, I prayed for every worker, I prayed against COVID, I prayed for everyone and those 2 hrs turned in to 20minutes...as i was watching the presidential debate later that night six hours after my surgery the numbness subsided nine hours after surgery i got feeling back in my mouth...later that night as i was laying in bed i felt pain start to creep up, but then i remembered all of Gods promises, I thought about Mark 5:25-34 "25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” I also, thought about Dr. Gary Wood and Amazing Man of God who was in a life and death car accident who died and went to heaven and woke up bruised, beaten and broken from injuries... the pain I felt turned into a 3...I ended up not taking those narcotics, because of the side effects and stuck with Ibuprofen from taking 2 after surgery taking 2 four hours later 1 before bed, next day 1 before bed next day none...today is October 5th Monday and i have slight discomfort in my mouth a 2 and i honestly can say that i feel 99.9% better...All Glory To God! To Sum Up, It is now October 13, 2020 I can honestly say that i did grow some wisdom from this whole ordeal and certainly have a new perspective on life, to have courage and be kind, and that patience is a virture and God's timing is better than mans...wait on God and when your ready; you will know-->JUMP!