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Thursday, December 10, 2015

Unfortunate Subway Interactions: Overcoming Awkward Eye Contact



You've done it. You've passed the point of no return. You made eye contact with the person standing across from you not only once, not only twice, but THREE inexcusable times. It's over, right? You should just change your name, move to Antarctica and live among the polar bears.

WRONG. Don't pack your snow shoes just yet. This is one of many unpleasant interactions you will positively encounter when traveling via subway in New York City and all of them can be resolved (with the help of New Girl GIFs).

The Triple Eye Contact

We're starting off this Unfortunate Subway Interactions series with a basic, everyday subway embarrassment. If you have traveled by this underground means of transportation before, you will already know that the game of finding a place to look while going about your ride is not only difficult, it's downright impossible. No matter how hard you try, there will come a time when you accidentally make eye contact with someone.

The first time, you'll both probably look away instantly, embarrassed that you were caught looking at another human being. It is an unspoken code of the NYC subway system that you don't look at anyone, ever.



The second time you lock eyes with the same individual, the awkwardness has escalated tremendously and your gaze may linger on their's a second longer as you give a sympathetic smile that says "I am an absolute idiot and a horrible New Yorker. Please forgive me and go about your day." Then you'll immediately look away once more.



If you make the unforgivable third eye contact, (as I did on the subway yesterday) you will find yourself grimacing in their direction, mad at both yourself for making contact again and at the other person for continuing to make contact with you as well. At this point, you should just turn around and face the other direction.



So, how do you avoid this?

"Oh, I know! I'll just stare straight ahead of me!" This is a rookie move, my friend. Without a doubt, there will be a fellow rider standing directly across from you no matter where you're standing (especially during rush hour traffic when everyone is packed like sardines). This person will think you are hardcore staring into their soul, and that makes the ride a little less comfortable for everyone involved. As humans, we are naturals at being easily distracted, so even if you've found that one spot on the wall across from you where nobody is standing, you will still make eye contact with another individual if anyone moves, falls over, coughs, sings, chants or snores.



"Okay, then. I'll stare up at the ceiling!" If you're not worried about people thinking you are an absolute lunatic, then feel free to use this suggestion. However, I have personally tried this method myself and thought I had a broken neck for the rest of the day. You've been warned.



"Fine. I'll stare at the ground." For my fellow ladies with long hair, if you don't have it tied back somehow, your hair will fall in front of your face and you will look like the creature from The Ring. I have also found that the people around you think you are staring at their feet and will glare at you as they shuffle around and try to escape your downwards gaze. Again, as long as you don't care what people think (which you shouldn't, most of them are self-absorbed New Yorkers) and aren't afraid of being hated by everyone standing near you with deformed feet, feel free to use this method.



"Can I at least read the advertisements?" Yes! This may seem like a simple solution, but this method actually requires strategic planning. There aren't going to be many advertisements in your eye range, especially on a train during rush hour. So, your plan of attack is to pretend that you are the slowest reader in all of human existence. Stare at a single advertisement for at least five minutes before moving onto the next one. This way, you will keep yourself occupied and won't be tempted to make awkward eye contact with others.



Whatever you do, avoid letting them talk to you at all costs. Sometimes when you make awkward eye contact, people see this as an invitation to communicate verbally with you. If they start to ramble to you on the subway...well, that's another unfortunate subway interaction altogether (to be continued).



If all else fails, just do what I do and bring a book. I'm usually so invested in the story that I almost miss my subway stop. #Casual.



Until next time,
Leah

Friday, October 9, 2015

"Welcome to New York!" Oh, Thanks, TSwift.

**Author's Note: I am listening to Taylor Swift's "Welcome to New York" while writing this post. It may or may not be on repeat. It seemed appropriate.

Four weeks ago today, I moved to New York City. Um, what.

Just the casual view from my apartment. NBD.

I'm sitting here trying to process the idea of summing up four weeks into one blog post and unfortunately I've come to this realization: you simply won't know everything that happened to me in the weird, fun, bizarre, frustrating, eye-opening, heartbreaking, amazing weeks I have had thus far.

But I'll give it my best shot.

Four weeks can sound like a short or long amount of time, depending on how you look at it. And let me be frank... a lot has happened in these four weeks.

Four weeks seems like a long time in terms of my job. It has given me the time to grow as a Social Media Intern for The Knot wedding magazine and exponentially increase engagements and followers (no big deal or anything). It has given me time to learn what works and what doesn't. So basically I'm a Kung Fu master when it comes to social media. Just kidding. I'm literally a 22 year-old post grad living in a brand new city. The most I've mastered is how to make a bowl of cereal.

Actually, now that I think about it I'm pretty sure my milk is expired, so I guess we should renege my cereal expertise award. I'll settle for a bronze star.

But I have learned what "adulting" is like in the professional working world, and (I must admit) I am pretty much loving it every single minute. It's like I'm a real person now. Kind of. Sometimes. Only on Tuesdays.

Here is me pretending to adult at work:

The woman made my ID, looked down at it and said "Sorry 'bout it." I legitimately look like a bandit.

Adults take selfies too, right?

And on Thursdays, we drink. Thirsty Thursday @ the office, ladies and gents. Literally everyone gets drunk and goes home early.

(Featuring Social Media Intern #2 Abby) We actually put this on The Knot's Snapchat account that I run. I'm really not sorry about it. 3 strangers saved it to their phones. I'm somewhat concerned.


Four weeks can also go by in a blink of an eye. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was with my best friend from home watching our daily dose of The Bachelorette? We would end every night saying, "See you tomorrow," because we would, in fact, be seeing each other the next day. And the next day. And the one after that. It's weird to be without her. I also recently lost a friend and I can't seem to find where he went. Wasn't it just last week when we were talking and everything was fine? I don't know just how we screwed it up. If you end up finding him, be sure to let me know. I miss him.

Despite the trying events I've put up with during these four weeks, they have challenged me to "find myself" (as cheesy as that sounds). I literally went to a movie BY MYSELF. It was the most freeing experience. I managed to dart in and out of the theater without people realizing that I was a complete loner (I'm in my third month of CIA spy training). I wandered around the city and even found a bookstore that I fell in love with. If you know me, you'll know this is a very bad thing because I read more than a normal person should. "It's okay," I told myself. "Just browse and don't buy anything today. You have to budget!"

I left the bookstore with three books that day.

I like to call this masterpiece: "Money Pit"

In the heroic quest to find myself, I also decided to buy myself Sprinkles cupcakes one day, because why not? I wanted four. At the same time, I knew the workers would judge me if I straight up ordered four cupcakes for myself, so I pretended like I was buying them for my work. 

"What flavors would you like?" the guy asked me as he brought out one of the boxes. I was literally about to spend $15 on cupcakes for myself. 

"Hm, let me see what flavors my CO-WORKERS want because I'm getting them for WORK," I emphasized as I pretended to look at a "text" from my "co-workers." I was actually just flipping back and forth through the apps on my home screen. Then I proceeded to order four cupcakes for myself. No ragrets. Not even one letter. 

Ignore my special, deformed friend in the top right. He had a rough night.

Things are continuing to look up for me. Something cool I was able to do yesterday was attend a product event at LadurĂ©e. You know, the events that only the best-of-the-best's get to go to in order to publish articles and promote them. Serious stuff. My boss had me go and pretend to be a full-time employee in order to learn more about the new bridal collection for which they were releasing new cakes and venue options. I networked like nobody's business. I became friends with the coolest lady who runs the wedding blog Fab You Bliss. She was originally a wedding photographer until she found she was making more money with her blog. I truly envied her. Overall, people thought I was really cool (at least I'm 85% sure). It was kind of a big deal for me. ALSO: I learned that Americans spell macaron wrong. It's not macaroon people. Stop with the double o's. 

Check it out: 

The new wedding cakes from Ladurée's bridal collection.

A really cool box. It's new. It holds one macaron. 

A closeup of one of the cakes made entirely of macarons.

Cake topper from one of the three-tiered wedding cakes.

Cool boxes. They hold macarons. Also stackable. 

A traditional French macaron cake (According to the French marketing woman. She seemed legit).

Pretty mini cakes! It's pink, what's not to like?

My favorite cake from the event. Gorgeous.

On September 8th I thought I was moving to Los Angeles. I had a roommate, she found an apartment and we were going to move in October. The next day I got a job with The Knot. I moved up two days later and found an apartment the same day. It has been a whirlwind of an adventure ever since. 

Still a view from my apartment. I will never cease to be amazed by what is surrounding me.

But, hey, it's only been four weeks. There's still many more to go. I can't wait to fill you in on the shenanigans I get myself into. After all, it's me we're talking about. And that's an adventure in itself.

Until next time,
Leah

Friday, September 4, 2015

Why I Shouldn't Be Watching Horror Movies


I created a mental "Horror Movie Checklist" last night when I was lying frantically in my bed unable to sleep because of something my mother told me.

I was watching Paranormal Activity for the first time yesterday, and my mother said, "Oh my goodness I will never watch that. When you watch that, you open yourself up to the demonic spirits."

Crap. As I lay there, I realized that the spirits and ghosts were definitely onto me now.

She continued, "The more afraid that you are of them, the more you are opening yourself up to them."

I was practically hyperventilating in my bed. My ceiling fan rustled some papers in my bedroom and that's when I knew it was all over. I was never getting to sleep. This whole situation is ironic, because my favorite TV show is Supernatural, and I have yet to be haunted by any demonic spirits (knock on wood).

So, as I said, last night's experience led me to create a mental checklist while watching scary movies in order to prevent another episode of "Help: Leah Can't Sleep." A simple list of just four points, this is my thought process as I lay in bed after watching a scary movie.

1. It's Just a Movie
This may seem like a no brainer, but it's very difficult to do sometimes. Especially when you watch a creepy girl with black hair crawling through your television in "The Ring," or when a mysterious hand comes out of the girl's head in the shower in "The Grudge." I'm going to be honest, I had to do continuous circles while showering for an entire month after watching "The Grudge," and I kept my hands on my head at all times. Merely safety precautions, of course. I clearly knew it was just a movie. Totally.


2. Other People Have Survived After Watching "Insert Horror Movie Title Here"
My brother was the one who told me about "Paranormal Activity." He's still healthy and kicking, and I don't believe he is currently being haunted as far as I can tell. In fact, my brother has seen the entire "Paranormal Activity" series. He might not be afraid of them, but when the first film is claimed to be the scariest movie of all time, I'd like to respectfully disagree.

3. If I Die Tonight, I Have Lived a Wonderful Life
If the monsters or creepy ghosts from the movie come to life and bring me to my doom, I've decided that I have lived a great life so I can't complain too much. So long, and thanks for all the fish.

4. I'm Watching a Comedy Next Time
Yep, definitely not going through this again.

Until next time,
Leah

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

10 Tips for Dating in Your 20s

Let's face it: we've all had our share of scares and "wtf" moments while dating. It's inevitable. Nobody has it together in their 20s. I'm still exploring and discovering things I like and dislike in relationships, and I still crack up with my best girlfriends over the latest "oh no" moments when it comes to men.

It's been a while since my last blog post, so let me refresh you all with who I am. I am 22 years old. I am unemployed. I am about to move to a new city across the country, yet technically I am still homeless without an apartment. Oh, and I will have an entirely new sea of men to explore, for which I am particularly enthusiastic. 

In honor of starting this exciting yet horrifying new chapter of my life, my best friends Emily and Victoria and I have compiled a list of some vital dating tips to get you through your 20s. So, sit back, get ready to laugh at our misfortunes, and prepare to learn a thing or two about how to survive dating in your 20s (and how I've decided to embrace being single). 

1. If he is interested in you, he will text you.
And no, Snapchat does NOT count. Ok, I admit that this was partially taken from the movie "He's Just Not That Into You," but I have learned this the hard way. I have always made excuses for why a guy hasn't texted me. "Oh, maybe he is sick." "I think he's really busy with work this week." "He probably died." If a guy truly likes you, he would be interested in talking with you. Bottom line. A snapchat takes less than 2 seconds to take and is usually sent out to a mass audience. If getting a snapchat from the person you're interested in makes you feel appreciated, I'm sure the other 15 people he/she sent that to must be feeling the same way.

2. You can't create chemistry over time.
If you are on a date with someone and you find yourself wanting it to end, you're simply not into it. This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes people try to be polite and find themselves hoping to find chemistry somewhere down the line. Don't let yourself get swept up into the idea of dating someone solely based on the idea that you will be dating someone. If there is no chemistry, don't go on a second date to "just see" if there's chemistry later on. It won't be there.

3. Are we on the same boat?
"Some idiot ended a relationship with me through a letter. I was very confused because I didn't think there was any kind of official relationship to begin with." (-Emily) It is important to make sure you are on the same page with the person you are dating. Establish clear expectations with your relationship in order to avoid awkward moments, such as when someone tries to break off a relationship that never existed. Yikes.

4. "Get out, right now, it's the end of you and me." - JoJo
 
Don't be afraid to end things when it isn't working out. Don't let the other person guilt you into staying with a relationship that is sinking faster than the Titanic. Some horror stories include a guy that told his girlfriend that he had cancer in order to make her stay in the relationship. Needless to say it still didn't work out, and he had to deal with the awkwardness that follows when your ex-girlfriend finds out that you are not sick with cancer. If you do not see a long-term relationship, don't bother continuing to waste your time or their time. 

5. Three is not the magic number
If a guy brings a friend to your date, this could mean one of two things. 1) It's not a date in his mind or 2) he views you only as a friend or someone he wants to get into his bed. He shouldn't even have to ask if it's okay to bring a friend, because if he was really into you he would want to focus on spending time with you and not juggling his attention. Sorry, but that's the cold-hearted truth. 

6. Fool me twice, shame on me.
"There's an old saying 'fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.' Don't let anyone make a fool out of you. If he screwed you over once, okay maybe be forgiving. If he screws up twice? Don't give him a third opportunity because it is likely he will do the same exact thing again and again until you stop letting him." (-Victoria)

7. If it's going down, I'm yelling "TINDER!"
disgusted
In this day and age, people are more frequently turning to apps and online dating websites to find that possible connection. While I am in no way diminishing the success of online dating, it is important to be careful and stay smart while using such services. Pictures can often be misleading, so when getting to know someone via the internet or a dating app just realize that the person may look different when you meet in person. "One time I matched with an attractive man and went to the bar to meet up and he looked completely different. He was also half of my height." (-Emily) Awkward.

8. Comfort level: 0
You want to feel comfortable with the person you are dating, right? You want to be yourself and honest with this person. Here's a tip to decide how comfortable you are with someone: if you aren't comfortable enough to tell the person you are dating when they have spinach stuck in their teeth, then you are not comfortable enough to date them. "I went on a date with someone and didn't tell them they had spinach stuck in their teeth, and looking back it never would have worked out." (-Emily) It may seem like a silly guideline, but it helped me determine with whom I was just being polite and with whom I was actually connecting. Plot twist: this guideline can also mean you like this person A LOT and are too nervous to tell them because you don't want to be rude. 

9. All the Single Ladies
"One of the newest trends seems to be settling down and starting a family when you're young. My advice? Live your twenties to the fullest. I'm not saying you should break up with the man you think is the love of your life, but marriage entirely changed the dynamic of a relationship. Go ahead and spend your twenties together if that's what you would like, but don't feel rushed to get married. If he's the one, he's still going to be by your side 5+ years down the road. If not? Screw him. Take advantage of your youth and explore the world, get to know your adult self, set new goals for yourself, etc. Take this time to be selfish and love yourself! And don't be afraid to be single, either." (-Victoria)

10. If it's meant to happen, it will.
At the end of the day, I believe that if you are meant to be with someone, you will be. When you find that person with whom you can 100% be yourself, make weird jokes, laugh way too loudly, tell all of your secrets to, be unashamed of who you are, admit all of your weird fetishes, and miss immensely whenever they are away, then you'll know. The timing is never perfect, and you usually find said person in the most inconvenient of times. However, when you find this person, don't let timing or other circumstances make you give up. Don't let them go. If it's meant to happen, it will. 

As for me and my best friends (who graciously helped author this blog post), we are happily single at this time. They're my people. You know, the ones with whom I can 100% be myself, make weird jokes, laugh way too loudly, tell all of my secrets to, be unashamed of who I am, admit all of my weird fetishes, and miss immensely whenever they are away. We have learned the art of being happily single.

Until next time,
Leah, Emily and Victoria

Friday, January 30, 2015

Days 6 and 7: Leah Finds Luck in a Hopeless Place



On Wednesday I learned a couple valuable lessons that most people should keep close to heart:
1) People with good morals still exist in this world
2) When good karma comes your way, make sure to return the favor.

A group of seven of us took to the slopes and spent the majority of the day skiing or snowboarding. Seeing as the few times I tried snowboarding I spent the majority of my time scooting down the hill on my butt, I stuck with what I know (skiing). I truly enjoyed having a day of exercise and fun, a day not spent holed up in a dark theater (though don’t get me wrong, I have been loving my times in the theater just as much). Though I haven’t been skiing in six years, I was ecstatic to be able to get back onto a snowy mountain and work my way back to the level of skiing I used to brag about.

Standing above a Black Diamond

Unfortunately I never made it back to a level of skiing that was worthy of bragging. In fact, I wiped out two times too many, and my knees hate me for it. The first time I wiped out I had been skiing down the slope gracefully, impressed that I was doing so well, when I realized that my legs were tired. Boom, it was all over. I flipped over my skis two times, causing one ski to fly off and the other ski landed in a way that caused my knee to bend unnaturally. My poles were easily twenty feet away. I was completely alone on the slope. I laid there for a few minutes before realizing that I had no feeling in one of my hands because I dropped my glove off the chairlift on the way up.

Life: 1. Leah: 0.

Too foggy to see; probably why I fell the second time

Since we would be buying lunch and I was unsure if we would need our licenses for the rentals, I brought my credit card and license with me in the zipped pocket of my ski jacket, which also happened to house my cell phone. It seemed like a safe place to house two of the most important items that enable me to get around and function in society. However, this assumption was entirely wrong. During that first wipe out on a "Green" slope called "Homerun," I took my cell phone out to snap a quick picture of the beautiful scenery after gathering myself, not realizing both my credit card and license had escaped in the process.

Of course this would happen to me, I'm Bad Luck Leah. We were all having such a great day and I didn't want to let these circumstances ruin the rest of my ski day, but I was grumpy and had no idea how I would replace them. I felt bad because people on my trip aren't used to seeing a version of Leah that isn't smiling or laughing 24/7, but I was completely bummed about these turn of events. However, I am pleased to report that as my friends and I were leaving the ski area, I received a call from the lost and found. A woman found my credit card and license on the “Homerun” course and was wonderful enough to turn them in! I have decided to take my good karma and return in when the time comes, because it is important to spread the happiness around.
Sigma Kappa takes on Utah

Utah mountain selfie

Holly and I taking a break on the slopes

Today was another day of movie watching, starting off with the film "True Story," starring James Franco and Jonah Hill. Personally I thought it was okay, but it definitely intrigued me to research more on the relationship between Christian Longo, who was convicted of murdering his family, and Michael Finkel, New York Times reporter. Personally I thought Jonah Hill was exceptional in this film, further demonstrating his acting abilities and range.

In the afternoon I presented the research I've completed at Sundance to my classmates and J. I chose to explore the question: Do actors drive the success of movies? With the obsession and fixation on celebrities that is especially seen at the festival where an enormous amount of well-known industry personnel are walking around, I thought this was an important topic to cover in determining how a movie is cast and whether it determines its success. I thought I was clever and titled my research "Do A-Lists Make A-Plus Movies?" It is clever. You cannot deny it. Overall I think I did fairly well on the presentation and enjoyed hearing everyone else's work too.

I also saw "The Witch" again tonight with my friends as promised. I'm still scarred and it still scared me immensely. So that was a lot of fun.

Until next time,
Leah

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Days 4 & 5: I Got Sick At Sundance

The most unfortunate and dread thing happened to me while at Sundance: I got sick.

My friends quarantined me, suggesting that I not attend dinner outings and proposing me to sleep in rather than attend an 8:30 a.m. screening of "The Tribe," a Ukrainian sign language film (Fun fact: there are no subtitles for "The Tribe." It is only in sign language. Nobody would go with me.).

I don't know how I got sick either because I have one of the best immune systems that I know. However, I took one for the team and even gave my friend my bottle of Purell to keep on her side of the bed since we are sharing one and I'm sure she'd rather not catch the horrid sickness.

Despite being sick, I woke up on Monday with a burst of energy because at 8:30 a.m. I was seeing the film I had been dying to see at Sundance: "Z for Zachariah" starring Chris Pine and Margot Robbie. Despite one moment in the film that had me clutching at my heart (I won't give away what happens, don't worry. But it may have something to do with my boy Chris.), I was most excited for the Q&A portion of the screening because I wanted to see Chris Pine again and hear him talk about his experience with the film. However, to my disappointment, Chris nor Robbie nor anyone else was to be seen at the Q&A portion other than the director. I was absolutely devastated. Clearly Chris didn't care about reuniting with me one final time before our lives took us in separate directions. What a pity.
Watching "Z for Zachariah" at the Eccles Theater
That night I managed to get onto the wait-list for the documentary "The Wolfpack." It was directed by Crystal Moselle and followed the lives of the Angulo brothers who learn how to interact with the outside world after living primarily inside of their Lower East Side apartment for the majority of their lives. I was unsure of whether I truly liked the documentary, but I realized that I loved the film once experiencing the Q&A portion, during which each of the brothers featured in the film came onto the stage with the director. There were two goofball brothers in the center who wore sunglasses during the Q&A and pretended to be British with convincing accents. I decided that if we ever meet in person we will be the best of friends.

The Angulo brothers at the Q&A of "The Wolfpack"
This morning was the morning I was supposed to see my wonderful Ukrainian sign language film, but there was absolutely no way I was going to make it. I actually thought I was dying. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but still. Sickness is not becoming of me. Instead, I slept in until 11:15 a.m., which was the most amount of sleep I've gotten in over a week. I have gotten 2-3 hours of sleep per night while at Sundance, so I guess it makes sense that my immune system would break down on me. I'm still incredibly mad and bitter that I'm sick.

I refused to be a hermit and spend my entire day in our mansion of a house (seriously, it's huge), so I wait-listed for the film "The Witch" at 3:30 p.m. I thought it was going to be a slight thriller, nothing too scary. It was also one of the films I had been most looking forward to at Sundance.

Oh. My. Goodness. "The Witch" was one of the most horrifying films I've seen in a long time, and the end of the film left me visibly shaking in my seat. I almost started to cry, but I held myself together remembering that I attended this film alone and didn't want to look like some crazy loner chick crying in shock because of a Sundance film. However, it featured some of the most twisted events to ever occur in a horror film, such as the gruesome death of babies and dogs. I will forever be haunted by this film. The Q&A portion of the film took some of the edge off of the film, until the director was questioned as to why he ended the film the way he did (which was crazy horrific, might I add. Absolutely terrifying and twisted ending). The director responded,"Because I wanted a happy ending." At that point I realized the director is an absolute nutcase and should probably look into therapy options.

The Q&A for "The Witch"
So of course I am going to see "The Witch" again with my friends on Thursday night. Happy Sundance.

Until next time,
Leah

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Day 3: I Am Friends with Obi-Wan Kenobi

I decided today that the Sundance Film Festival wait list officially hates me.

It is at times like these when I am so incredibly envious of my fellow classmates who managed to purchase the correct package for the festival, allowing them to fast pass the ticket lines for screenings. I, on the other hand, ended up with the "student package," which simply provides me with an abundance of vouchers that can be exchanged for tickets. And that is only if you manage to get onto the wait list. This morning...I did not.

I also found out that I am not allowed to use my vouchers until January 28th, so the vouchers that I exchanged in the wait list line up until this point were illegal, so to speak. I apparently like to fight the Sundance law.

I intended on seeing the film "Mississippi Grind," starring Ryan Reynolds (swoon) and Sienna Miller. However, seeing as I don't have the best of luck in the world, I did not get on the wait list, which I don't understand because I have some pretty speedy thumbs when it comes to clicking. I'd like to thank our generation of texters for that wonderful ability. Instead, I ended up on the wait list for "Sleeping with Other People," starring Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie. Nobody else was attending that particular movie this morning so *gulp* I was forced to go to the movies alone. 

I am SO HAPPY I went to see "Sleeping with Other People" this morning. It was hands down my favorite film so far at the festival, which was classified by the director as a raunchy version of "When Harry Met Sally." It was an honest, realistic look at the relationship between two best friends that end of falling in love with each other. It sounds typical, but it was completely new. Each moment was not predictable and each of these unpredictable moments had me falling out of my chair in laughter. Which, I might add, I was extremely self-conscious about because I was seeing this film alone and everyone else around me was in huge friend groups. Every time they looked at me when I burst out laughing, I threw back some shade with a look that stated, "Don't judge me, fool."

Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie at the Q&A of "Sleeping with Other People"

I also ended up snagging a wait list spot for the PREMIERE of "Last Days in the Desert," starring Ewan McGregor who portrays both Jesus and Lucifer. This was one of my most highly anticipated films at Sundance and I can honestly say the viewing experience did not disappoint. The movie started off a bit slow, with about ten minutes of scenes that showed Ewan simply wandering around in the desert. However, it was the perfect beginning to a powerful film about the humanistic side of Jesus when He walked on the Earth that was filled to the brim with symbolic scenes and images.

The film also featured some humorous moments. For example, when Jesus and the boy protagonist of the film were traveling to get water, they came across a carcass in the desert and the boy just rips the loudest fart I've ever heard. Jesus was cracking up. I could not stop laughing for the next five minutes and I came out of the film with the conclusion: Jesus thinks farts are funny too.

Ewan McGregor happened to sit two rows behind me during the premiere, and when he walked up onto the stage to complete the Q&A portion of the screening with the director, we were so close that I could have held his hand. I didn't though, just so we're clear, but I could have. And it was tempting.

Basically I spent my day with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and everyone reading this should be extremely jealous. He did, however, forget his lightsaber. That was disappointing because he could have easily been attacked, whether by screaming fans or the Dark Side.

Obi-Wan Kenobi at the Q&A of "Last Days in the Desert"
Obi-Wan Kenobi at the Q&A of "Last Days in the Desert" (Minus lightsaber)


Until next time,
Leah