I've moved!

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.

I've moved to tumblr. Yes, I know. "But, Susannah, everyone's doing that! You're following the crowd!" I know, I know. But I tried it out and it seems pretty awesome.

Check me out: susannahbrynn.tumblr.com

You know you want to!

Ways Texas is like New England

Ways in which Texas can be said to be similar to New England:

1. Occasional snow in March.

Yeah. You heard me.

Les Amoureux des Bancs Publics by George Brassens

Interesting and entertaining song. It appeared in one of my French lessons this week. The professor didn't mention it in class or reference it ever, but it was in the online part of the lesson. I find it highly amusing. The French are awesome.

I've put the English translation underneath [thanks to brassenswithenglish.]

Enjoy!


GEORGES BRASSENS - Les amoureux des bancs publics



Lyrics with translation:

Les gens qui voient de travers
People who give funny looks
Pensent que les bancs verts
Think that the green benches
Qu'on voit sur les trottoirs
That you see on the pavements
Sont faits pour les impotents ou les ventripotents
Are made for people with bad legs or pot-bellies
Mais c'est une absurdité
But that’s an absurdity
Car à la vérité
For in truth
Ils sont là c'est notoir'
They are there , it’s common knowledge
Pour accueillir quelque temps les amours debutants
To welcome for a little while couples whose love is new

Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique
Not caring one bit about the sidelong glances
Des passants honnetes
Of the proper folk who pass by
Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's
Saying to each other « I love you », so emotional
Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's.
Have little faces that are very appealing

Ils se tiennent par la main
They hold each other by the hand
Parlent du lendemain
Speak of the morrow
Du papier bleu d'azur
Of the sky blue paper
Que revetiront les murs de leur chambre à coucher.
Which the walls of their bedroom will assume
Ils se voient déjà doucement
Sweetly, they see each other already
Ell' cousant, lui fumant,
She sewing, he smoking his pipe
Dans un bien-etre sur
Comfortably secure
Et choisissant les prénoms de leur premier bébé
And choosing the names of their first baby

Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique
Not caring one bit about the sidelong glances
Des passants honnetes
Of the proper folk who pass by
Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's
Saying to each other « I love you », so emotional
Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's.
Have little faces that are very appealing

Quand la saint' famill' Machin*
When the holy family what’s-their-names
Croise sur son chemin
Pass on their way
Deux de ces malappris
Two of these badly brought up people
Ell' leur décoche hardiment en passant des propos venimeux
They let fly at them, full force, with hurtful remarks as they walk by
N'empech' que tout' la famille
No matter that all the family
Le pér' la mér' la fille
Father, mother, daughter
Le fils le saint esprit
Son, Holy Spirit
Voudrait bien de temps en temps pouvoir s' conduir' comme eux
Would very much like to be able to behave like them from time to time


Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique
Not caring one bit about the sidelong glances
Des passants honnetes
Of the proper folk who pass by
Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's
Saying to each other « I love you », so emotional
Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's.
Have little faces that are very appealing


Quand les mois auront passé
When the months have gone by
Quand seront apaisés
When they have cooled down
Leurs beaux reves flambants
The fires of their beautiful dreams
Quand leur ciel se couvrira de gros nuages lourds
When their sky is covered with big heavy clouds
Ils s'apercevront emus
Deeply moved, they will become aware
Qu' c'est au hasard des rues
That it was through a random choice of streets
Sur un d' ces fameux bancs
On one of those notorious benches
Qu'ils ont vécu le meilleur morceau de leur amour.
That they lived out the best piece of their love.

Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique
Not caring one bit about the sidelong glances
Des passants honnetes
Of the proper folk who pass by
Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's
Saying to each other « I love you », so emotional
Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's.
Have little faces that are very appealing


*If you can’t think of a man’s name you say: le père Machin = Mr. What’s-his-name.
Similarly “Mrs what’s her name” = la mère Machin.

Georges Brassens 1954

Crazy Heart

"That's the way it is with a good song: you're always sure you've heard it before."

"I wanna talk about how bad you make this room look."

Go see it. You'll love it.

The soundtrack is also pretty awesome. It won a Golden Globe, you know.

A Single Man

I spent the entire movie not knowing how I was supposed to feel. Most movies will tell you what you're feeling with music or camera angles or uncomfortable glances. Then you can choose whether you agree with that feeling or perception or part of the movie.

During "A Single Man," I sat cringing in my chair, not knowing what was happening emotionally.

The lack of emotional guidance, however, perhaps made the movie that much more wonderful. It's about a gay man who has lost the love of his life and decides to attempt suicide. The story is both heartbreaking and glorious, cliche and newly amazing.

All in all, I'd recommend seeing "A Single Man." Definite thumbs up.

P.S. I've seen so many good movies, lately. I'm starting to bore myself by saying every movie is good or wonderful. But, it's true. There are so many excellent movies out there, and I'm trying to see them all.

Daniel Schwarz

"Rather than being divorced from life, our reading experience -- if we read actively and with intelligence -- is central to life and contributes to the development of the mature personality. Literature provides surrogate experiences for the reader, experiences that, because they are embodied within artistically shaped ontologies, heighten our awareness of moral discriminations. Yet, I suggest, what distinguishes moral philophy from literature is its specificity, its nominalism, and its dramatized particularity."

"Literature calls upon us to respond fully, viscerally, with every dimension of our psychological and moral being."

From "A Humanistic Ethics of Reading" by Daniel R. Schwarz, included in the book Mapping the Ethical Turn

The Last Station

Helen Mirren gave an amazing performance in this movie.

I nearly cried by the end.

An awesome cast: James McAvoy, Anne-Marie Duff, Paul Giamatti, and, of course, Christopher Plummer

The movie itself is about the last part of Tolstoy's life: when he created his own sect, Tolstoyan. The film starts out with a series of bold claims about how amazing Tolstoy is, but the movie is good enough to make up for a few flaws.

"The Last Station" fails to mention to the audience, however, that Tolstoyan is actually a sect of Christianity, and that Tolstoy based his teachings largely on the Sermon on the Mount and the Gospel in general. Perhaps we're meant to infer this from the specific references to Christ and the basis of the religion in "freedom and love," but I felt vaguely as if the entire audience had been mislead. Tolstoy didn't create his own new religion, he took the principles he found in the Sermon on the Mount and founded a new way of living to glorify God in the best way he knew how. Whyever would director Michael Hoffman leave this out?

Either way, love that hat.

Burns' Day!

I do believe I did a post one year ago on the proper ways to celebrate when in Scotland.

Unfortunately, I am not located there at this present moment. And, apparently, in this country we celebrate by studying. Highly disappointing.

This month I am repeatedly wishing I were travelling again. Every few months like clockwork.

On that cheerful note,

Happy Burns' Day!

Eat some haggis, wear a kilt, and procure some scotch.

Upright Citizens Brigade Theater

You should go.

Turner (but not classic movies)

This weekend I went to NYC. Obviously, a few museum trips were included.

We did make the rounds at the MET, the necessary visit, but also included was a visit to The Frick, which only one in our small band of four had ever experienced.

While there, I fell in love with a new artist.

His name is Turner.

The Young Victoria

Emily Blunt never fails to amaze me. I love her more and more every time I see her in something. She has a fantastic accent, looks good in everything, and acted so well I was near tears at the end. All around win, I'd say.

This movie was directed specifically at a female audience, but, to be honest, it didn't bother me. It's still an excellent movie.

Oh, and the period castles and grounds and costumes are GORGEOUS.

Worst Dressed

At the Golden Globes last night, very few actors disappointed in their choice of clothing. My least favorite dress, however, had to be Kate Hudson's. Take a look for yourself:







The dress looks like fondant (that sugar thing they use on top of cakes to make fancy designs) with feathers poking out the top.



The structured look doesn't seem to work for Kate. At least, not in this form.



Not a fan.

Haiti

My very first year at college, my school sent me a copy of a book. Anxious to get to school, I read the book, trying to dissipate some of my nervousness of going away to a foreign land.


The book, shown below, was Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.





This particular book happens to be extremely relevant this week. It's about Haiti. I'm sure everyone out there has heard about the tragic earthquake Haiti experienced.



In the book, Kidder details the plight of Paul Farmer as he attempts to bring medicine, water, and liveable conditions to poor towns. The stories are true, tragic, and hopeful. Recommended.

The Book Thief

I decided the best way to begin a morning is to sleep an extra couple of hours, wake up slowly, open the shades to sunshine, and finish a book. The book of choice this morning was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

It's a painful and beautiful story about a girl living in Germany during World War Two, narrated by Death.




"Sentences were strewn everywhere. Words fooled her."

Gidget

Favorite movie of the week: Gidget.

The TV show is great and all, but the movie is sublime. And just the one with Sandra Dee. Not the second and third movies with other girls.

Just the first movie. "It's the absolute ULTIMATE!"