Rydell High Forever

I love musical theatre.  I always have, and I always will.  I even love bad musical theatre... and bad movie musicals.  I can't seem to turn away when they happen to be on television.  I am helpless.

My love affair with musicals began in high school.  I was in a few plays at Pennsauken High School, including How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Annie Get Your Gun, and Once Upon A Mattress.  I fell in love with musicals during those years, and always connect that love back to my alma mater.  Maybe that's also why I love musicals like Grease, Grease 2, Footloose, and Hairspray - they take me back to high school, and the beginning of my love affair with this art form.


Oh, Grease 2.  I just found it on television - and of course, I'm watching it.  Part of me feels so happy that it's on, and part of me feels slightly dirty and as confused as I always am about my love for this terrible film.  I mean, honestly - did we need a second film about the kids at Rydell High?  Is it a tour-de-force of magical, meaningful lyrics?  Phenomenal performances of powerhouse singers?  Skilled, elegant method actors assuming roles they were meant to play?  No, no, no and heck no.  So why do I LOVE to watch this movie?  

Let's start with the obvious: there are few characters in film that look completely hot in both argyle sweaters and silver biker leathers, but Michael Carrington (Maxwell Caulfield) is one of them.  Combine that with the smarts and the accent, and I'm tuning in for every single airing of this movie.  Poor Michael, so distantly, misguidedly in love with Stephanie Zinnoni.  He takes the long road and tries to win her love on the back of a bike.  He writes papers for other students (so smart, but so illegal) to earn the money for his chopper.  He doesn't buy one already built - he builds his own (guys with tools and mechanical knowledge?  Hot.).  He's equal parts stand up guy and rebellious outsider.  Do I need another reason to watch this movie?

I love the fact that every actor in the show is about 30 years old, playing a high schooler.  I love that they sing about bowling as a metaphor for sex.  I love to hate Cool Rider and Prowlin'.  I adore the Reproduction song and want to teach my 15 year old kiddo about sex by making him watch that sequence.  I love that Frenchie is back in high school for absolutely no reason.  I love all the foolishness.


I also think I'm a sucker for any story about someone who wants something, and goes through a heck of a lot to get it.  There are lots of books and films out there with this very theme that I have loved... and I think it applies to even bad movie musicals.  


I think my feelings about Grease 2 are very similar to my feelings for this diet.  It's wonderful and it's horrible.  It's going great, but I want to be done drinking shakes.  Like Michael Carrington, I find myself wanting something that's just a bit out of my reach - to lose 49 more pounds - and I'm reinventing myself in order to achieve that goal.  Sometimes I break out into song when nobody's expecting it, but I did that even before the diet.  For those around me, sometimes watching me drink shakes instead of eating is painful... just like watching two non-teenagers sing about "doing it for their country" in a bomb shelter.  Yes, my diet is strangely like Grease 2, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

Perhaps the most startling similarity between New Directions and Rydell High Redux is the finale.  At the ridiculously elaborate senior luau, the closing song addresses the students' concern about finishing high school and losing tough with one another.  I think every high schooler thought about this when their time came... some of us sad to lose our friends, some of us eager to get away from our hometowns.  The song reassures the class of 1961 with lyrics that affirm "we'll be together - always together - like birds of a feather, forever and ever."  This is absolutely my weight loss battle anthem.  Even when the shakes are done, and I'm into maintenance mode at my goal weight, I'll always be thinking about food, nutrition, and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I won't ever really graduate from this high school of dieting... we'll always be together.  I've come to accept that in these past 4 months.  Now, I just need to get to graduation day.

Weekly Weigh In #16 and #17: Getting Back to the Routine

Mom, Paul, me and Max at the Member Preview
for Crystal Bridges.

The last two weeks have been incredibly eventful, exhausting, exciting, and most of all - historic.  I have not had a moment to breathe, let alone blog.  I also found it terribly difficult to find time to get to the doctor's office and weigh in- in fact, I didn't weigh in at all last week.  I went yesterday and finally caught up, and here's what it said:


Weight:  218
Pounds lost:  0
Pounds gained:  0
Total pounds lost:  51


The fact that I did not gain any weight is pretty incredible... it's been quite a journey.


I weighed in on November 2, and the next day, I went to Little Rock.  I saw approximately 360 of my favorite art teachers on earth at the Arkansas Art Educators Conference, which I enjoy every year.  While there, I was honored with an award for Distinguished Service Within the Profession of Art Education, and I delivered a keynote speech at the closing luncheon.  I spent time with colleagues and friends, and really enjoyed reconnecting with some of the most talented teachers in the country.

I came home and immediately launched into opening week activities for the museum.  There were galas for two nights where people in black tie attire discovered the museum for the first time.  I met artists who hang in our collection, leaders of other museums, collectors, donors, and other notable art lovers - and it was magical.  The volunteers and staff were amazing - even though their feet hurt and they were beyond exhausted, each and every one of them was generous with their smile and their time.  The clothes I bought to wear for the events were actually too big for me on the nights of the galas - which is awesome, but highly inconvenient when you're heading out to a black tie affair!  I wore a roomy black suit the first night, and shopped the next day for something that fits better.


Next was the 25-hour Member Preview Day.  Over 7,000 people came to see their museum, and it was fantastic.  Well organized and thought out, our special events team, security, and facilities folks deserve a lot of kudos.  People were amazed, and they loved the museum's architecture and collection.  I worked late into the night, and gave a midnight tour of the collection.  The next day, I was part of a private tour for former President Clinton - a real honor.  He is smart, funny, and was very interested in both our collection and our architecture.


Then, opening day came, and the world was finally let in to Crystal Bridges... it was exciting!  There was a great opening ceremony on the downtown Bentonville square, where our architect, executive director, and board chair all welcomed the world to Bentonville... and the museum opened.  It actually opened.  After all this time.  It was open.  I was emotional, excited, and overwhelmed - this day that I had been working towards for more than 3 years was finally here.  


Public response has been great.  Most everyone has left smiling and saying they cannot wait to come back.  


I am incredibly proud of so many people.  Our Gallery Guides and Trail Guides have been training for nearly a year to tell the world about our museum, and they were brilliant! Our staff produced an audio tour, that's downloadable in the iTunes app store and wildly popular with the public.  All the museum educators have done a fantastic job this weekend, in fact - with the drop in studio and experience art studio particularly.  Our galleries look incredibly beautiful, thanks to our curatorial and prep staff.  Our grounds and trails are stunning, even as the leaves begin to fall off the trees... and the architecture glows at night from within.

The museum opening was not the only thing happening this week.  Among the opening events, we also had visits from family - my parents, and Paul's sister Marion.  Max was in his very first school play - The Trojan Women - and it was fantastic!  And, Max turned 15 on Sunday.  I'm really glad we had family in town for all the big events of the beginning of November - it's been great to share it with everyone.


With all that has happened in the last 2 weeks, it's no wonder I didn't have time to weigh in.  In fact, my diet was not the most important thing in my life for two whole weeks... and I survived.  I ate a couple meals with family or work folks, but I ate smart meals - and stayed in ketosis.  I walked miles and miles of gallery floors, and stood for so many hours that my legs were weak and fatigued.  I didn't have enough water because I was in galleries all day (and water is not allowed) so I'd drink lots of water at night to make up for it.  Overall, I made great choices so I could stay on track, but I didn't let my diet prohibit me from enjoying two of the biggest weeks of my life.  I felt good about all my choices, and I'd do it all over again, just the same way.


Many times during the week, when I was feeling tired and sore, I wondered if I could have made it through all of this with 51 extra pounds on my frame - I think the answer is no.  I am so glad that I started this journey when I did, and got at least halfway there by opening day.  I was  much more ready for the physical demands of opening week than I would have been at my starting weight.  The last two weeks are absolute proof that being healthy is the goal, as well as the reward.