Even though the revival is now available on Netflix (and I've watched it twice in it's entirety) I'm still dedicated to blogging my "essential" Gilmore girls episodes.
Season 1 Episode 17: "The Breakup, Pt. 2"
Here's what happens:
Rory and Dean breakup because Dean says "I love you" on their 3 month anniversary and Rory says she needs to think about it. She reiterates how amazing and perfect their date was and how she just needs time to respond, but this isn't enough for him. Ugh, Dean ... this is why you get such a bad rap.
In true "Rory fashion", she wakes up bright-eyed and bushy tailed the next morning with a list of tasks and projects to complete as a way to avoid dealing with her emotions (I'm also a list-maker!).
Lorelai tries to convince Rory to stay home in her pajamas, eating pizza and ice cream while watching sad movies. But Rory has furniture to rearrange and garden hoses to buy. Clearly this is the best breakup recovery method ever, right?
Rory decides to go with Lane to a Chilton party ... yikes. Rory, are you sure you want to spend your first single night with people who you can't stand?
Meanwhile, Lorelai is experiencing her own feelings because she hasn't fully recovered from her breakup with Max Medina. All this stuff about wallowing is making her realize that she's still not over Max.
LORELAI: Yeah, Rory and Dean broke up and um, she won’t wallow. And I told her that she should wallow you know because that’s supposed to help you get through the pain and then you can accept it and then you can get over somebody and you can move on with your life. And then she asked me how long it was before I got over you and I didn’t know what to say you know because I can’t lie to her, and I realized that if I gave her any time frame at all I would be lying because I’m not over you and I don’t know how long it will be before I am. And who am I to be teaching her about healing and moving on and breakups any how. I mean I might as well be teaching her how to eat fire or swallow a sword or put her legs behind her head you know, because at least that’s a trade. I mean the first two are, I don’t know about putting the legs um, behind your head, but the point is that I’m an idiot and I’m a hypocrite and I really miss you.
Lane hits it off with Henry, a Chilton student on the path to becoming a doctor. Yes, even Mrs. Kim would approve ... which freaks Lane out in every way possible.
Fresh from his public breakup with Summer, Tristan - the guy who has been creepy and pursuing Rory the entire season - makes a move and kisses Rory. And she cries. A lot of teenage hormones in this episode.
Synopsis: As a way to make up for lost time with his daughter, Christopher unexpectedly comes to Stars Hollow to see Rory and Lorelai. When Emily becomes aware of his arrival, she arranges a dinner for both the Hayden's (Christopher's parents) and the Gilmore's to reunite. Despite the fight that arises between the two families, Christopher and Lorelai rekindle their teenage romance...kind of. The next morning emotions are high when Lorelai realizes she's letdown Luke and broke her promise to re-paint the diner with him.
Who is Christopher?Up until now we know 1) Christopher and Rory talk once a week and 2) Dean (Rory's boyfriend) reminds Lorelai of Christopher - below is a clip from Episode 7 "Kiss and Tell".
Right off the bat we get the impression that Christopher hasn't visited Stars Hollow and that he is very unreliable. The fact that Lorelai reminds Rory that he's "going to come and go as he pleases" doesn't set the tone for a typical father-daughter relationship, especially compared to the connection Rory has with her mom. Christopher tells Lorelia he's been "tying up the loose ends" of his life which Lorelai wants to believe, but she knows Christopher better than anyone and doesn't feel so confident about his life changes.
Emily coordinates a family reunion with the Hayden's and Gilmore's. It's interesting to see both Lorelai and Christopher dreading the evening. Emily and Richard dote on Christopher and Richard is very proud of Christopher's business sense. It's kind of hard to watch because in other episodes Emily and Richard react so negatively to Lorelai's choices and how she progressed to where she is.
When Christopher's parents show up words are exchanged, insults are swapped and Presidents' heads are mocked. I love that Richard takes defense of Lorelai and states how successful she's become. The moment between Lorelai and Richard is so real and the most honest we've seen between Richard and Lorelai. We heard in the episode "Forgiveness and Stuff" that Lorelai feels like a disappointment to her parents, especially her dad. Watching Lorelai thank Richard for defending her and then hearing him go on about how he felt embarrassed and upset that she didn't follow "proper procedure" is tough to watch.
I admire Lorelai in this episode, vocalizing her rights and her wants for her life and Rory's. Like I've said in previous posts, I identify with each "Gilmore girl" separately ... and in this episode I'm on Lorelai's side.
Christopher and Lorelai meet up on the balcony of her old bedroom to commiserate together, reminisce about their childhood and get a little too intimate with one another. Christopher confesses that even if Lorelai hadn't gotten pregnant he still wouldn't have made it through Princeton, which Lorelai doesn't believe to be true.
The next morning Lorelai wakes up panicked because she wasn't there to help Luke repaint the diner as she promised. She immediately heads to the diner to apologize, but Luke knows it's because of Christopher. Later, Christopher tells Lorelai that he wants to marry her, which exposes how immature both Christopher and Lorelai can be.
RORY: Do you love him? LORELAI: Honey come on. RORY: Answer me. LORELAI: Honestly? RORY: Yes. LORELAI: I will probably always love him. RORY: Ok so? LORELAI: But that doesn’t change the fact that he still has a long way to go before he is ready to take us on full time. I mean you are a handful, Missy. And while I am pure joy and sunshine every waking hour, I still have my own set of needs that - that must be met. It just wasn’t right babe. You have to trust me on that. Mm? Talk please
In the grand scheme of all Gilmore girls episodes this one doesn't necessarily stick out for most people, but for me this is one of my favorites in the first season and in the series. It has all my favorite things which makes this show my favorite ... 1) the uniqueness of Stars Hollow with the opening scene where Miss Patty is leading the Christmas Pageant dress rehearsal. 2) Major Lorelai and Luke moments where we see how much Luke cares for Lorelai (as a "friend") and for Rory too. 3) Lorelai and Rory's relationship which we know is very close, but I love the insight we get of Lorelai worrying about Rory and her concern of Roy being like her.
MISS PATTY: Taylor come quickly. Our ‘before’ Mary is about to become an ‘after’. Who else in town is knocked up?
It's the aftermath of the fight from Rory's Dance between Lorelai and Rory and also with Emily and Lorelai. Emily un-invites Lorelai to the Christmas party.
Dean comes over (albeit very creepily to the window) to apologize to Lorelai for keeping Rory out too late on the night of the dance. This is a nice scene between Lorelai and Dean where we once again hear about her worry for Rory and how she doesn't want Rory to end up like her, since she was 16 when she got pregnant.
DEAN: We sat down and we were reading this book and then we fell asleep.
LORELAI: Pick a more interesting book next time.
In this scene Luke shows a lot of concern about Rory dating Dean, and Lorelai tells him she's bummed she isn't at her parents Christmas party. He makes her a Santa burger because he knew she was feeling left out from being un-invited to the party. I love the hints of flirtation we get between these two.
When Lorelai gets the phone call that, Richard, her dad was taken to the hospital Luke decides to drive her so she can be there. In the car we learn that Lorelai doesn't have any warm childhood memories with her dad, but says he was a good provider. She confesses to Luke that she feels her dad sees her as a disappointment. At the hospital Emily is surprised to see Lorelai since she didn't expect her to show after their fight. Luke remains at the hospital to support Lorelai even though he hates hospitals.
I really enjoy Emily in this episode because we're starting to her depth as a character. I love the part in the hospital room when Richard is starting to have a serious talk in case he dies and she demands to "go first" because she didn't "sign on to his dying". I also like how she's more perceptive about Lorelai and Luke's friendship moreso than Lorelai is. During the episode with Rory's birthday parties Emily says that Lorelai is pleased that Luke looked at her like a Porterhouse steak. Which is a very funny line. In this episode, at the end when Emily and Luke are sitting outside the hospital room, she asks Luke about his friendship with her daughter.
EMILY: So what exactly is going on between the two of you?
LUKE: Nothing. Really. We’re friends, that’s it.
EMILY: You’re idiots, the both of you.
I really like the moment that Lorelai has with Rory when she tells her she knows nothing happened with Dean the night of the dance and that she trusts her.
LORELAI: Because you are your mother's daughter.
Finally, the last scene of this episode is really great with Lorelai stopping by Luke's diner to give him a present. The blue hat she gives him is the hat he wears throughout the entire series.
When I originally created my list of "essential episodes" Episode 9 "Rory's Dance" did not make the cut. However, upon re-watching I realized "Rory's Dance" advances a couple of common themes in the series and solidifies Rory and Dean's relationship. Plus the story from this episode flows into Episode 10 "Forgiveness and Stuff", which I knew was going to be included on my list because it's one of my favorites.
Season 1 Episode 9: "Rory's Dance"
Brief synopsis: There's a formal dance at Chilton and Rory decides to go with Dean. At the dance Tristan (a Chilton student who has a thing for Rory) gets into a fight with Dean, which reveals just how much Tristan likes Rory. Meanwhile, Emily and Lorelai share some sweet bonding moments which are later obsolete after a huge fight between the two, caused by Rory coming home late after the dance. Or ... like, the next morning. Oops.
I love all of the Gilmore girls for different reasons. Re-watching the series as an adult I've identified with Lorelai more than I did when I watched the show back when it aired in the early to mid-2000s. However, I still see myself as a Rory ... even if she can be painfully naive at times.
The scene with Lorelai and Rory in the car coming back from Friday night dinner is a sweet moment between mother and daughter. I like how Lorelai (the social and outgoing Gilmore girl) communicates with her daughter Rory (the more shy and reserved Gilmore girl) about going to the dance.
Tristan has been pretty insufferable so far and the way he treats Rory is really irritating. Re-watching this series I'm more "team Dean" than I thought I'd be, which I know won't last very long (foreshadowing). However, between these two, Dean is shining brightly and I'm seriously worried for Paris, who obviously likes Tristan ... she also is not high on my favorite character list at the moment (also foreshadowing), but she definitely deserves better than Tristan.
DEAN: Rory's mentioned you.
TRISTAN: Oh yeah?
DEAN: Yeah. I wouldn't get quite so excited about it.
TRISTAN: Oh, why, did she say something mean?
DEAN: She said you're a jackass.
TRISTAN: Really?
DEAN: Actually, no, Rory doesn't use words like that. I embellished a little.
Connection between Lorelai and Emily. So far in the series we have not seen the softness between Emily and Lorelai. We've only been aware of the strained relationship they have due to Lorelai's pregnancy and her leaving Emily and Richard when she was 16 years old. We're also starting to get the underlying thread of Emily parenting Rory - her granddaughter - because of the circumstances with Lorelai. This is an apparent theme throughout the series.
In this episode, in the process of making Rory's dress Lorlai hurts her back. On the night of the dance Emily stops by to take some pictures of Rory, and she notices Lorelai in pain and insists on staying and taking care of her. This is the first time we see Emily as "mothering" Lorelai, which is a very sweet moment for the two of them.
Within mere minutes we're back to the contentious relationship between mother and daughter because Rory accidentally stays out late. Emily starts to have flashbacks of Lorelai at 16 and reprimands Lorelai for Rory's behavior. The tensions between mother and daughter are so apparent in this episode and not only are the moments of Emily and Lorelai washed away, but we're left with a rift between Lorelai and Rory.
I'm including the second episode of Season 1 on the list of necessary episodes to watch because it is essentially an extension of the pilot episode. It gives us more insight into already existing characters, introduces us to new characters, and sets the tone for a couple of themes for the future.
Season 1 Episode 2:
The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton
Have you ever had one of those mornings when you hit the snooze button and sleep right through the alarm, only to frantically wake up late for a major appointment? If the answer is yes, you will relate to Lorelai in the first part of this episode.
It's the morning of Rory's first day at Chilton, a private school in Hartford, Connecticut, and Rory walks into Lorelai's bedroom to discover that Lorelai is still asleep. This scene cracks me up because it shows Rory being the more level-headed and responsible of the two, as opposed to Lorelai who has overslept, uses a fuzzy alarm clock and didn't appropriately plan her laundry schedule.
Rory: I can't be late on my first day of school. Do you know what happens to people when they're late on their first day? Lorelai: It's shorter? Rory: For the rest of the year, they're labeled "The Late Girl." Lorelai: How dramatic.
Lorelai's rough start to the day gets much worse when she goes to meet Headmaster Charleston and finds her mother, Emily already in his office. Poor Lorelai. I love this scene because Emily has such funny remarks about Lorelai's cowboy wardrobe. "Do you need a ride or is your horse parked outside?" and "Dinner, Friday night. No spurs please." She's one funny broad.
To recover from this horrible morning, Lorelai stops in at Luke's where she orders a "jumbo coffee". We are once again reminded of Lorelai's coffee addiction and Luke's resistance to serving it to her. I love that we're starting to see some banter and chemistry between Luke and Lorelai.
More than one person in Stars Hollow commented on Lorelai's outfit choice for Rory's first day at Chilton, and because of this we're starting to sense that Lorelai and Rory don't just "live" in a town ... but they're part of a unique community where everyone knows what's going with everyone. A little invasive, but charming.
Similar to her mom, Rory is also having a rough day. At Chilton we are introduce to some new characters - we meet Paris, Madeline and Louise (AKA the "mean girls" of Chilton). Paris Geller is very academically competitive and is currently at the top of the class, so she sees Rory as a threat which causes conflict between the two. To make matters worse, Rory accidentally wrecks Paris' school project while trying to open her locker ... oops!
Tristan is another student at Chilton and he keeps calling Rory "Mary". At the end of the episode we learn that it's a reference to the Virgin Mary because they think she's "goody-goody". I find Tristan very annoying and creepy ... I really can't stand him.
Themes:
1) Rory wants to go to Harvard and become a journalist...and be like Christiane Amanpour. In the Pilot episode we learned that it's Rory's dream to go to Harvard and this premise is strong throughout the first couple seasons of the series. Also, her idol Christiane Amanpour is mentioned again in the future.
Headmaster Charleston: What are your aspirations?
Rory: I want to go to Harvard and study journalism and political science.
Headmaster: On your way to being…?
Rory: Christiane Amanpour.
Headmaster: Really?
Rory: Yes.
Headmaster: Not Cokie Roberts.
Rory: No.
Headmaster: Not Oprah, Rosie, or one of the women from The View?
Rory: No.
2) Luke and Lorelai are "just friends". This might be my favorite scene of the episode ... the look on Luke's face when Lorelai mentions that a Chilton dad asked her out is priceless. Major foreshadowing ...
3) Contention between Lorelai and Emily. Emily's involvement is coming across rather pushy in this episode. It's nice she wants to be involved in Rory's school (because she is in fact paying for it) but it's starting to be a little too much for Lorelai. In one scene Emily wants to buy more skirts and socks for Rory, which Lorelai explains she's already purchased. In another scene Emily informs Lorelai that she's purchased a parking space for Rory, when Rory doesn't even have a car. The realization that Lorelai left home when she was 16 years old is becoming apparent in some of these scenes. Emily comes across as mothering Rory because these were some of the things she wasn't able to experience with Lorelai, after Lorelai got pregnant and moved away. This tension will obviously be an underlying theme throughout the series.
A couple honorable mentions:
I needed to include this short clip somehow. This show is known for it's fast talking and I just find this scene so funny with Lorelai's rambling and how Rory needs to nudge her to get her to stop. Classic Gilmore girls.
In this episode we meet Jackson, Sookie's produce supplier. The peach scene was a quirky moment for Sookie and Jackson, and while this interaction didn't advance the plot forward, he will eventually have a larger presence in Stars Hollow and the series.
Gilmore girls has been a favorite show of mine since I started watching it in the early 2000's, back when the WB housed Dawson's Creek, Felicity and had a frog as the network mascot. It's crazy to realize how long ago that was because I still feel so connected to the characters of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.
The Gilmore girls revival, A Year In The Life is coming to Netflix on November 25th, 2016 and in preparation I've been re-watching the series. I wanted to indulge in my obsession just a bit more and recap what I think are the necessary episodes for each season. So, if you're behind on your bingethon or don't have time to watch the entire series ... maybe I can help you get caught up, but no promises!
Season 1 Episode 1:
"Pilot"
Welcome to Stars Hollow! I think this episode sets the tone for this series so well. We see the relationships between mother and daughter with such apparent dichotomies: Lorelai and Rory Gilmore have a close relationship while Emily and Lorelai Gilmore have an estranged relationship. In the first scene we notice a couple things about "the Gilmore girls", they are more like girlfriends than mother and daughter ... and they LOVE coffee. Throughout the episode we learn that Lorelai became pregnant with Rory at 16, she left home and because of this she now has an estranged relationship with her parents Richard and Emily Gilmore. Rory has a dream of attending Harvard, and when she gets accepted to Chilton, an esteemed private school, Lorelai goes to her parents for help in paying the tuition. In return for assisting with Rory's school, Emily requests a weekly Friday night dinner.
So, who do we meet? . . . . Stars Hollow is full of unique and eccentric characters: 1) Luke runs the diner, wears flannel and a baseball cap, serves the coffee (that Lorelai and Rory very much need) and judges Lorelai and Rory on their coffee consumption.
2) Sookie is Lorelai's best friend. She is an adorably, clumsy and talented chef at the Independence Inn.
3) Lane has been Rory's best friend since Kindergarten and loves Alternative Rock CDs and junk food, but has a strict Korean mother - Mrs. Kim.
4) Michel is the sarcastic and unpleasant concierge of the Independence Inn.
5) Dean, who in retrospect is more endearing than I remember, is the guy who just moved from Chicago to Stars Hollow and has "noticed" Rory. Dean's first interaction with Rory is very innocent and teen awkward, but it's kind of sweet he's paid attention to what she's reading and he gets her cultural references.
Overall, I think this was an impressive first episode to a series. It introduced characters in an organic way and provided tension and conflict, which really advances the story and relationships forward.
LUKE: Coffee. . .fries. I can't stand it. This is so unhealthy. Rory, please, put down that cup of coffee. You do not want to grow up to be like your mom.
i.Listening: I have a new appreciation for Tori Amos now that I've seen her in concert. So, I've been listening to her a little more than I usually would. Also earlier this week I was perusing my last.fm account and came across some artists that I haven't listened to in a while. The Dresden Dolls being one of them. I've been listening to "Dirty Business": "To the ones who hated me the most, a toast! - you really had me going, for a second I was nervous." And "Coin-Operated Boy" which is one might think is cute at first, but then you focus on the awesome lyrics, and realize that it's not so "cute" after all. The other resurrected group that I've forgotten about are the wonderfully wicked gals in the group The Pierces. I've blogged about them before, back in 2011 (why does that seem so long ago!?).
ii. Reading: I'm still plowing through Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, although I haven't been able to read as much as I'd like. Before bed I've been exploring little snippets of Philosophy, which seems like an unusual thing to read before bed but in fact it makes sense to read a non-fiction book before going to sleep - that way I won't stay up all night trying to finish a book I'm completely invested in. I've also been doing a bit of research on a topic slash life-change that I'm considering, but I'm not ready to make it public yet . . .
iii. Wearing: Today is black and red day. Black jeans, black and white polka-dot top and red pumps. I've had this outfit planned since Wednesday and I really wish I had plans after work because I feel this is a really fun Friday night outfit. But alas ... this cuteness will only be seen by co-workers, unless plans to go out happen within the next 3 hours, which actually ins't all that unlikely. I love spontaneity. Also can I just say I hate humidity - can I please wear my hair straight one of these days?
iv. Watching: The ONLY thing I've been watching lately is West Wing. I'm just about halfway through Season 4, and I only have two questions I want answered right now: 1) Why did Sam leave!? 2) When are Donna and Josh going to just admit they love each other? I already have an idea of writing a post about my favorite West Wing episodes coming up after I finish the series. So, stay tuned . . . .
v. Wanting: A fresh start. I want a redo in more than one area of my life. Recently I've been thinking about where I see myself going and I'd really like it if I could undo some of the things I've done and make different decisions. However, every day is a new beginning ... so why look back when I can look ahead. Maybe some really wonderful things are on the horizon and I have no idea.
Well, it's been a week. I think enough time has passed for me to write an
official post about my first Tori Amos concert experience. If you don’t already know - and how could you not - I’m a huge fan of
Tori Amos. Since I first heard her cover of Nirvana’s “Smells
like Teen Spirit” when I was in high school and after my purchase of Little
Earthquakes, I can easily say I haven't been the same. As a person who has always loved music, I don't think I had ever heard or connected with such a musical artist until I listened to Tori. Every song somehow speaks to me in a way that I can't even try to explain.
I'm ready for my date with Tori
It’s not surprising to think that I haven’t seen Tori Amos in
concert until now, mostly because I was a lone Tori fan in my circle of friends.
None of my friends knew who she was … let alone wanted to see her in
concert.
However I did meet a fellow Tori lover in college, I’d
call her more of an acquaintance than a friend. She even provided me with bootleg
versions of Tori’s live concerts; but I wasn't close enough with her to be like
“hey, let’s go to a concert.”
It wasn't until I met my cousin’s now wife that I found my “kindred
spirit”. She’s just as big of a fan as I am - if not bigger. She’s always told
me that seeing Tori live in concert would change my life, and indeed it
has. When we learned that Tori was touring
this summer we immediately agreed to go. Mind you, said “kindred spirit” was
pregnant with twins at the time, but this would not stop a Tori fan … except
that it did.
So, I was left with a pretty expensive ticket on my hands, to a show that
I figured no one would want to go to. I
had it set in my mind that I would be going alone … until I wrangled my dad
into joining me for the evening. As a music buff himself (and the person I get all
my music knowledge from) I knew he would enjoy a live show, but I was hesitant
about exposing him to such a femmy and angsty artist, and showing him a part of myself that not everyone sees.
Tori Amos is easily my most played artist so I didn't change any of my habits leading up to the concert. I would stalk her twitter feed after every show and check out the set list, even creating my own “ideal set list” that I’d like to hear on August 7th at Cain Park, Cleveland, Ohio. In anticipation of the concert, I made sure to listen to zero Tori songs all day ... because I wanted a fresh perspective the night of the show.
The day of the concert I felt like a kid on Christmas!
See evidence below.
I had a seminar for work from 2-3:30 pm, which allowed me to work from home the rest of the day. So I was conveniently able to calmly (but excitedly) get ready without feeling rushed. When my dad called me to ask me what time I would be meeting him at the house, I told him that I was “primping” and “I feel like I’m going on a date with Tori tonight.” I wanted to be sober for the concert so I could remember EVERYTHING and I wanted to be completely immersed in my experience, but I did have a glass of wine while getting ready … and my dad and I “cheers-ed” to Tori with a beer before she took the stage.
It was my first time
at Cain Park and I was blown away by the venue. It’s a very intimate setting
and our seats were perfect! We were on the left side in row K, so we had a
great view, especial during her dual piano playing! When we got to our seats I was sitting next to 3 gals about my age,
who were such pretentious Tori fans … I felt at home. We talked about our favorite albums, how “old
Tori” is better than “newer Tori stuff”, but that her “latest album has a hint
of old Tori”. I kind of left my dad to
himself for a couple minutes as I’m sure he had no idea what he was getting
himself into with this conversation.
note the red nervous blotches on my neck
The opening act was pretty bad (in my opinion). The folky
male and female duo sounded like they played the same song for 20 minutes. Nothing varied and it wasn't anything that
put me in the mood for Tori ... but then again, what could? Instead my
anticipation grew even MORE and I started to become anxious … my red blotches
are always evidence of my nervousness. Also, the guy who would come out and polish
her piano keys must have done this two or three times and I just kept wondering … “OK,
how much longer are you gonna make us wait, Tori?!”
The other thing that
irritated me about this wait were the two girls in the row ahead of us, who were flirting with the security guard – and probably 3 songs
into the concert he allowed them to move up to one of the first rows. I said to my dad, “I’m cute and pretty, and can
flirt too … but I’m with my dad, so I won’t!" I wasn't too upset though because
I paid for some pretty damn good seats.
Finally around 8:40 pm Tori fluttered onto the stage. The next hour and an a half went by in a blink of an eye, but I took in as much as I could. I love the connection that Tori has with her fans. She feeds off the energy of the crowd ... off their excitement ... their rowdiness ...all the "I love you, Tori!" shouts.
The experience from what I can remember is as follows:
I of course found myself getting teary-eyed during Northern Lad, "I thought we'd be OK, me and my molasses"; I got chills and threw my hands in the air at the first key strokes of Spark, "if the Divine master plan is perfection / maybe next I'll
give Judas a try"; during Mother I was pretty entranced (probably with my mouth gaping open) and I remember staring at her wondering how any one human can be so amazing: "tuck those ribbons under your helmet / be a good soldier"; I smiled during the crowd favorite Cornflake Girl; finally, and maybe my favorite of the night, Precious Things during the encore, "I wanna smash the faces of those beautiful boys / those
Christian boys".
It was MORE than I could have ever asked for! At times I
leaned over to my dad and said “this is my favorite” and his response was, “I
thought they’re all your favorites.” This
is kind of true. *shameless* As we were walking to the car, after the concert my dad broke the silence with this statement, "All I can say is she's INTENSE!" I think he enjoyed himself and may have possibly walked away a teeny-tiny Tori Amos fan. In my case, I walked away from this experience as an even bigger fan than I was before. Thankfully I had Friday off (which I totally planned) because I knew I would have an emotional / Tori hangover ...
Thank you for making my year, Tori. You are a legend in my book. Until next time . . . because there will hopefully be a next time.
Is astrology real? Does the alignment of planets and the rotation of these celestial bodies have any real bearing on human lives? When Mercury is retrograde are communications more scattered? When Venus is retrograde is there really an emphasis on revisiting / reflecting on past relationships?
I have been interested in astrology since I was teenager. I've enjoyed reading my horoscope and I have described myself to people as a "true Gemini" and have meant it in the most honest way.
Every month I look forward to reading Susan Miller's astrology forecast. I've been an avid follower of hers for the last 4 or 5 years. As I was beginning to read Gemini's forecast for July 2014 I couldn't help but agree with a lot of things that she was referencing for the first part of 2014. So, I thought I'd explore this in greater detail and see if maybe my reading these at the beginning of each month is helpful or . . . if Susan Miller is full of shit.
Susan Miller writes: In so many ways, July marks the official start of 2014 . . ."
I say: I definitely feel this is a true statement. Since the end of June I've felt more like myself, been rejuvenated and have had a fresh perspective on where I'd like the next part of 2014 to go. The beginning of the year felt so muddled. I think Susan Miller explains why this was so.
Susan Miller writes: When the year started, Venus, planet ruling love, fun, beauty and some degree, money, was retrograde from December 21, 2013 to January 31, 2014. Then, almost immediately after Venus regulated her orbit, Mercury, planet of communication, negotiation, commerce, and contracts, went retrograde, from February 6 to February 28, 2014. There was to be no relief for you (or the rest of us), because on the heels of Mercury turning direct, Mars, planet of action and energy, the booster rocket to all major initiatives, went retrograde March 1 to May 19."
I say: I think this gives a great summation of the first part of the year, for me specifically.
December 2013 and January 2014 the relationship I was in started to experience complications.
Which led to a lot of communication issues in February - which resulted in the ultimate breakup.
And pretty much March through the middle of May I felt worn out, exhausted and defeated.
Susan Miller writes: So if you felt like you were walking through glue in the first six months of 2014, you know why. You still could have made progress on many fronts, but it took all the strength you had to do so, and you may have been able to score a few victories in spite of the lack of help from those planets. It's been a trying six months. I say: YES! Indeed, it has been a very trying six months, so I'm glad to hear that July will be a fresh start. Susan Miller writes: While you have Venus in Gemini until July 18, spend a little time improving and refreshing your looks . . . you can about changing the way you wear your hair or improve it's color.
I say: July 12th I had a hair appointment where I increased the brightness of the color and had several inches cut off. I really did start to feel refreshed and more like "me" again.
Susan Miller writes: This year you will be in a role that allows you to use your talents to your fullest extent and push the boundaries of all that you've done in the past to new heights. I say: This year - more so than any other year, - I've felt as though I'm finally in a place where I can shine. I look forward to seeing what's next on this front.
Susan Miller writes: July 24th is the luckiest day of the year! I say: This day did not stand out for me and I don't recall it being very special or lucky.
Overall, I can see some general similarities, however I wouldn't say it's spot on. So ... final summation - astrology is somewhat real, right?
What I can say with complete confidence is that I will continue to read Susan Miller's astrological forecasts on a monthly basis. As a matter of fact, I need to investigate August's right now.
