Madonna's Daughter Lourdes is Going to The University of Michigan!

Madonna and her daughter Lourdes Ciccone Leon.

I still remember the day in February 1993 when I submitted my application to attend the University of Michigan. It was so last minute, that I had to call in sick for work, and drive 40 miles to Ann Arbor and complete the application in person. That was the final day to apply for the Fall semester that year. I had to write a four or five page essay on the spot and have all my transcripts and supporting paperwork with me, along with a money order for the application fee. Determination is my middle name. Two months later, I received the letter that I was accepted (which I still have). I graduated in 1996, and I've been proud of my Alma mater ever since. So that's why it has sparked such a huge amount of joy in me to learn that the daughter of Michigan native Madonna, Lourdes, has registered to attend the university this coming Fall, as reported by the Detroit Free Press.

Of all the schools Lourdes could have had selected, all throughout the country and the entire world, she selected U of M in Ann Arbor! Madonna was quoted in 2012 as saying that she wanted her daughter to go to U of M and mentioned how awesome Ann Arbor was. And so it came to be. Lourdes will be enrolled in the School of Music, Theater and Dance, the same program her mother was a student in back in the late 70's. I think in this day and age, Lourdes is going to go through the entire curriculum and graduate in 2018. Well done Madonna, with all your wealth and influence, you raised a daughter who is bright and ambitious enough to attend U of M. Congratulations and Go Blue Lourdes!

Vacation Time is Here!

I made it! Just a few more hours here at work and I'm off for the next five days! I'm going home to finish packing up, tidy up just a bit for the cat sitter, eat dinner, and relax. I have an 8:36am flight to LA, meaning I'll arrive 10:30am, probably a tad too early to check into my hotel, but that's ok, I'll drop off my small carry on, and just mosey on down to the beach. This is what I have done on my previous trips to LA/Venice Beach, but this time, things are a little different. I'm going there to assess the city as my future home, and I'm so damn excited about the prospect of living in California. But at the moment, I'm happy and lucky as hell to go there on holiday!

The past two weeks have been unusually busy, a good, but tiring way. All while I was busy, I had my eye on the prize: my vacation. Although I'm only going for 4 days, that's 4 days NOT in Michigan! Don't look at the glass half-empty. I've visited Venice Beach five previous times and I treat it like its a timeshare holiday. It's expensive staying in Venice Beach, but it's worth every penny.

Scenes from Opening Night of Cinetopia 2014 - Ann Arbor

The Michigan Theater

After missing out on The Cinetopia Film Festival during its first two years, I did my first of four volunteer shifts tonight as a Wayfinder. Here in Ann Arbor, there were three simultaneous film screenings at three different venues within a three block radius. At the Michigan Theater, the 7:30 showing was the film '1982', at the State Theater's 7:30 screening was 'The Skeleton Twins', and at the U of M Modern Languages Building at 7:00 was John Sayles' 'Go for Sisters'. My duty was to direct people to where to go for their movie and hand out programs and just be nice and answer questions. Some of the scenes immediately reminded me of my time at TIFF in Toronto, but on a much smaller micro scale.

It was fantastic to see so many people lined up. I over heard the disappointment of a handful of people who failed to be in line 15 minutes before the film started and they were not allowed into the screening because the theater was completely full, as in Sold Out. That's great news for Cinetopia, but not so much for the film goer. Friday night, I'll be an usher at the State Theater and then I'll try to catch Buzzard immediately afterwards, even if I have to stand through the film. It's my only chance during the festival to watch it.

Here are just a few images from tonight:

State Theater, down the street from Michigan.

A very long line at The State Theater.

A film festival volunteers wear a red Cinetopia shirt.

Very nice programs with full film schedule and film synopsis'.