Category Entertainment

Why I’m a Huge Fan of Wicked (the Films and the Broadway Musical)

drstaceynaito 1 Comment

If there’s one story that has captured my heart across every version—the Broadway musical and the two film adaptations—it’s Wicked. What makes Wicked so special to me goes far beyond its stunning visuals, unforgettable music, and emotional storytelling. At its core, Wicked is a powerful character-driven tale about friendship, identity, and what it truly means to be “good” or “wicked.”

The Characters and What Makes Them Compelling

Elphaba – The “Wicked” Witch of the West

Elphaba is the emotional heart of the story. Born with green skin and misunderstood from the start, she grows up labeled as strange or dangerous, even though she’s intelligent, compassionate, and principled. Her journey is about learning to embrace who she is rather than who others expect her to be.
What I love about Elphaba is that she stands her ground; she refuses to stay silent when something is wrong. She is one of the most morally driven characters in Oz—even though the world paints her as a villain.

Glinda – The Good Witch

Glinda begins as everything Elphaba is not: bubbly, privileged, popular, and deeply invested in what others think of her. What makes Glinda fascinating is that she isn’t purely “good” from the start; she grows into it. We see her struggle with vanity, guilt, responsibility, and how hard it is to choose the right path when it costs something.

Glinda’s arc shows that goodness isn’t about perfection—it’s about change, empathy, and difficult choices.

Fiyero

Fiyero begins as the charming, carefree prince-type, but as he grows closer to Elphaba, we see past the façade. He becomes braver, more thoughtful, and ultimately someone willing to sacrifice everything for love and integrity. His relationship with both women adds emotional depth and shows that people can evolve beyond their reputations.

The Bonds Between the Characters

Elphaba & Glinda: One of the Most Beautiful Friendships in Musical Theatre

Their relationship is the soul of Wicked. They start off as rivals—complete opposites who can hardly stand each other. But as the story unfolds, they bring out the best in one another.

  • Glinda helps Elphaba experience acceptance and joy.
  • Elphaba teaches Glinda about honesty, moral courage, and compassion.

Their friendship becomes a transformative force in both their lives. Even though the world tries to push them apart, their bond remains one of respect, heartbreak, and deep, genuine love. The emotional peak of Wicked is not romantic—it’s the moment these two friends acknowledge how much they’ve meant to one another.

Elphaba & Fiyero

Fiyero’s love for Elphaba is powerful because it’s based on seeing who she truly is, not how she looks or what others say about her. Their bond highlights one of the story’s biggest themes:
being loved not for your reputation, but for your heart.

Glinda & Fiyero

Their relationship serves as a contrast—sweet and charming, but ultimately surface-level. Glinda’s heartbreak when Fiyero chooses Elphaba is handled with sincerity and maturity, grounding her growth.

How Wicked Connects to The Wizard of Oz

One of the most ingenious parts of Wicked is how it reimagines the classic Wizard of Oz narrative from an entirely fresh perspective.

  • Elphaba isn’t a villain—she’s a misunderstood rebel fighting corruption.
  • The Wizard is no longer a whimsical hero; he becomes a symbol of manipulation and propaganda.
  • The events we know from The Wizard of Oz—the ruby slippers, the flying monkeys, the green elixir, Dorothy’s arrival—are cleverly reframed with deeper meaning.

Wicked doesn’t contradict the Oz story; it enriches it. Suddenly, every moment from The Wizard of Oz feels different—more bittersweet, more complex—because we now understand the people behind the myths.

Why the Two Wicked Films and the Musical Mean So Much to Me

All versions of Wicked share the same emotional core, but each medium brings something special:

  • The Broadway musical gives us iconic performances, soaring music, and live emotional intensity.
  • The two films offer visual spectacle, expanded world-building, and a more intimate look at the characters’ inner lives.

What stays the same across all three is the message:
that people are more than the labels society gives them, and that true friendship can change the world—even if history forgets it.

That message—and the unforgettable characters who bring it to life—is why Wicked will always have a special place in my heart.

My Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday Tree

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

I have had a 4-foot Christmas tree for many years which is an accompaniment to the 7.5-foot Christmas tree I also have. Sadly though, I have never had the same enthusiasm for the decorations on the smaller tree as I do for the ones I place on the big tree, but since I love the glow of the tree lights in the den, I always put it up during the holidays. There have been a couple of times I have considered coming up with a theme for that tree, but nothing ever sparked enough for me to take action.

Everything changed this year when I decided to have a Nightmare Before Christmas theme for my front door Halloween decorations. One of the most wonderful aspects of the film The Nightmare Before Christmas is that it honors both Halloween and Christmas. Since the film is one of my favorites, I finally got the inspiration to change the theme of my smaller tree, and I have been so happy with the results. I even added the curl onto the existing tree to mimic the spiral mountaintop in the film.

Online Games As Stress Relievers

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

Online games can be a lot of fun, and are often a great way to relieve stress for many people. Whether it’s getting lost in a fantasy world, or solving puzzles at your own pace, online games offer a kind of escape that’s both engaging and satisfying. One of the biggest appeals is the chance to step away from real-life pressures for a while. When you’re focused on gameplay—strategizing, reacting quickly, or just exploring—you’re giving your mind a break from whatever might be stressing you out. That kind of mental shift can be incredibly refreshing.

There’s also a real sense of accomplishment in progressing through a game, leveling up, or unlocking new content. That feeling of achievement, even in a virtual world, can be a confidence booster and help you feel a bit more in control—especially when real life feels overwhelming. It’s also fun to play online games if there’s a bit of downtime during a workday (provided you can clock out and play games on your own time). I recently got into the habit of using lulls in my telemedicine work schedule by playing some fun games which I found online.

I have always liked Mahjong, so I was happy to find a Chinese New Year Mahjong. Here’s what it looks like:

https://www.mortgagecalculator.org/money-games/chinese-new-year-mahjong/

I also found a unique and fun game which reminded me of a teenage dream I had, to own a sushi bar. The game is a simulation game in which you serve sushi as the orders come in, collect money, and also order food supplies when you run low. Instead of opening up an actual sushi bar, I can play this game and indulge in my sushi bar ownership fantasy.

https://www.mortgagecalculator.org/money-games/sushi-bar/

I could actually imagine a younger person playing the sushi bar game and learning the cadence of running a restaurant. It turns out that the website on which I found both of these games has a plethora of fun online games of all kinds.

Wicked Has Made Green Cool Again

drstaceynaito 1 Comment

123rf.com Image: ekina ID 139588183

Thanks to the release of Wicked, the color green (evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495–570 nm) is very much in style, which is fantastic for someone like me who has always adored most tints of the color family. To top it off, emerald green in particular has been one of my favorite hues, especially if the item is somehow faceted or sparkly. I have enjoyed seeing a plethora of items for sale right now which feature the verdant shade, because this is a color which rarely gets center stage. Of course, when the second act of Wicked is released next November, there will be another surge of green things popping up, which is absolutely fine with me.

Suddenly, the green designer leather handbags, clothing items, makeup, and even luggage that I have longed to be able to find are popping up everywhere. In perfect keeping with Wicked, that also means that pink has made a strong comeback, almost on the heels of the Barbie Movie craze which popularized the bubble gum hue. Since I absolutely abhor the color pink, this is a downside I must endure, especially because the rosy shades that are popping up are rather pastel and girly, and certainly nowhere on my list of preferred tones. Yet Glinda is known to say, “Pink goes good with green!”, and I know that if my mother were still alive, she would agree with Glinda’s assessment of the two shades beside each other.

I’ll just stick with the green.

Don’t Get Genie Plus When At Disneyland

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

I have gone to Disneyland three times in the past two years, and was foolish enough to believe that Disneyland’s Genie+ app would provide a better experience while at the park, primarily because Genie+ enables people to access the Lightning Lane feature. However, after struggling with the app during all three recent visits, I honestly believe that the app is a complete waste of money and time. There are numerous reasons why I came to this conclusion, and they are listed and detailed here. 

Cost and Value for Money:

In order to have the privilege of using Genie+, you must pay for it. When I went to Disneyland in 2022 and in April 2023, the app was $25 per person, and in December of 2023, it jumped to $35. Given the fact that tickets for entry into Disneyland are egregiously costly ($104-$194 per person when I checked on 12/30/2023), as well as parking ($35 for general parking access), I can’t help but feel that Disney is gouging their customers from every angle. 

Glitches and User Interface Issues:

After using the Genie+ app three times, I have found it to be glitchy and definitely not user-friendly. Imagine struggling to get the app to work as you traipse through the park, all the while staring at your phone and cursing at it because the Genie+ app interface is poorly designed and also doesn’t update quickly. Instead of looking around the park and taking in all the sights, I was frustrated by the fact that I kept having to check the app to see which rides offered Lightning Lane reservations.

Limited Lightning Lane Rides and Inconvenient Time Slots:

Every time I checked the Genie+ app, only a few rides were available for Lightning Lane access at any given time, and the rides I wanted to go on the most (Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain, Rise of the Resistance, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion) were often either unavailable or had time slots which were unreasonable. The other infuriating feature is that once you book an attraction for Lightning Lane, you cannot book another ride for Lightning Lane until you redeem the reservation. Another thing is that once you book something for Lightning Lane, you will be tethered to a schedule, and have to manage your time and figure out which other rides you might be able to go on before you need to be at the ride you reserved. In other words, you simply aren’t free to roam the park at your leisure.

Additional Costs for Certain Attractions:

Certain rides within the Genie+ system come with an additional cost beyond the standard Genie+ fee, and those fees are outrageous. Rise of the Resistance is an incredible ride and wildly popular, so at times it will have the Lightning Lane option, but at an additional charge of $28 per person. Sorry, but I’m not about to pay an additional $28 to go on Rise of the Resistance.  

As a result of the recent struggles I had while using the Genie+ app at Disneyland, I will not pay for Genie+ again. I would much rather spend time at Disneyland NOT staring at my phone and dealing with an app which doesn’t offer much over the general park experience. 

Why Raves Are So Appealing

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

Copyright: cunaplus

Back in March of this year, I attended my very first rave, a smaller event which was held indoors at a theater in downtown Los Angeles. What surprised me was how loving, accepting, and cool just about everyone was at the event and how consistent they were with PLUR, an acronym which stands for Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. It was as if all judgement, criticism, pretense and posturing had been left at the entrance to the event, and I have to admit that it was refreshing and lovely. I was so enraptured by the energy at the event and so into the music that I was left wanting more when it was time to leave.

I have to admit that I am a bit hesitant to attend the larger, outdoor festivals, for a number of reasons which are well detailed here. It just doesn’t seem like it would be very fun to sit in a Porta-Potty with a full length bodysuit gathered around my ankles, nor does it seem like fun to have a bunch of strangers sweating on me while I dance to electronic music. It was already quite stuffy and hot while I was at the indoor venue, and that was during a part of the year when the outside temperature was in the upper 40’s Fahrenheit. Bear in mind that it is customary and almost required that attendees dress scantily, primarily to offset the increased ambient temperature which develops as a result of all the human bodies gyrating and dancing together in a small space, and also as a proclamation of body awareness and acceptance.

Despite the fact that the venue was pretty packed, and the ambient temperature was pretty toasty, I had an incredible time, and can’t wait to attend another rave. There is something so liberating about dancing without a care in the world, moving with the beat of the music, and feeling absolutely no judgement from other people at the event. It was also fun to dress up, especially because it has been years since I have dressed up for Halloween or masquerade balls. Raves are a fantastic way for adults to align with their childlike energy, and let go.

Incredible Doja Cat Schiaparelli Inspired Look By Holly Murray

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

I simply cannot get over how dazzling this makeup look turned out for UK based makeup artist Holly Murray, who was inspired by Doja Cat’s look which she donned at Schiaparelli’s Couture Spring-Summer 2023 show. While I am not a fan of the rather frightening effect of Doja Cat’s red body paint and 30,000 Swarovski crystals, I absolutely adore how Holly’s rendition turned out. She spent 27 hours affixing 13,000 Swarovski crystals on her face, head, neck, and decollette. It truly is breathtaking.

If you like following premiere makeup artists, be sure to follow @hollymurraymakeup on TikTok!

@hollymurraymakeup

DOJA CAT SCHIAPARELLI INSPIRED LOOK ✨ THIS TOOK 27 Hours! Guess how many rhinestones?!

♬ desperado x need to know II by altegomusic – ALTÉGO
@hollymurraymakeup

DOJA CAT SCHIAPARELLI inspired look! Ok had to do one last video with this because it took 27 hours 😅 ib: @Doja Cat

♬ Get Into It (Yuh) – Doja Cat
@hollymurraymakeup

Doja Cat Schiaparelli Inspired look Draft ✨ it took me 27 hours! ib: @Doja Cat

♬ Need to Know – Doja Cat
@hollymurraymakeup

Removing 27 hours worth of makeup with liquid latex! 😱

♬ original sound – Holly Murray Makeup

A Queen and a Princess

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

With my mom a couple of months after being selected as SFVJACC Queen.

When I was a little girl, my mother told me that one of her dreams was for me to be in a Japanese American beauty pageant which was closely tied to a week-long festival in Los Angeles known as Nisei Week. The first Nisei Week celebration took place in 1934, and a year later, the queen pageant was added. With the exception of the years during which World War II took place, the Nisei Week Festival has taken place yearly. I knew how much my mother wanted me to participate in Nisei Week, but since I wasn’t that interested in vying for a queen title and being in a pageant, I tucked the idea of pursuing such a goal in the back of my mind and kind of forgot about it.

Shortly after I turned 18, I decided to contact the Japanese-American community center close to where I lived and inquired about the pageant, only to be told that the age requirements for queen candidates were changed to 19 to 25. The following year, I inquired again, but the area’s queen selection had already been made at that time. After that, I simply forgot about the Nisei Week queen selection. Then the year that I turned 25, I figured that I had one final chance to see if I could win a queen title and advance to the Nisei Week pageant. So I submitted my candidate profile and waited for the queen selection day to approach, while also keeping my plans completely hidden from my mom. I thought that if I wasn’t selected as the San Fernando Valley queen, I wouldn’t say anything to my mother, so as to spare her any disappointment.

While at the queen selection event, I noticed that I was up against only one other candidate, but that candidate had competed for the queen title for two consecutive years previously, and since she was also 25 years old, the event was her final chance at being selected as queen. I made an assumption that since the judges were familiar with the other candidate, she would most likely be chosen as their queen.

We were assessed on our physical appearance and poise, were asked impromptu questions while standing on a small stage, and were interviewed individually by every single judge. When it was time to announce the 1991 San Fernando Valley Japanese Community Center Queen, who would then go on to compete at the Nisei Week pageant with 8 other regional queens, I prepared myself to hear the other candidate’s name, so it was a complete surprise when I heard my name called. Next thing I knew, the judges and guests were congratulating me, and the former queen placed a bouquet of tulips in my arms. When I arrived home, I called my mom to tell her the news, and she was incredibly proud and thrilled.

At Mayor Tom Bradley’s office with fellow Nisei Week Princess and WLAJACC Queen Alice Akahoshi

Over the next three months, I went to pageant practice 3 days per week, attended events with the rest of the court, and was primed and polished for business visitations and parades. It was like attending Japanese-American charm school, and I was grateful for the experience. I wore a tiara to many events, and also wore a sash whenever clad in kimono or in the matching outfits the court was expected to wear during events and visitations. We performed in front of 1,200 guests during the pageant, and though I didn’t win the Nisei Week Queen title, I was a Nisei Week Princess, still held the Queen title for my region, and became part of an incredible community.

Cool Radio Websites

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

Copyright: popovia

I stumbled upon two very interesting radio websites which I wanted to share with you. The first is http://radio.garden/ which enables you to tune into thousands of live radio stations all over the globe. The site consists of a globe map which enables you to explore different regions of the world and listen to their local radio station offerings. You can save favorites to visit later, and you can also utilize the search bar to search by country, city, or specific station.

I also got a kick out of https://radiooooo.com/ which enables you to search for music from different eras, spanning from 1900 to present. The music featured is worldwide, so if you wanted to hear music from Italy in 1975, you could plug into that region and era, and listen to the music that Italians were grooving to in 1975. You can listen for free, but if you want to skip or rewind songs, or bookmark tracks, you would need to join their club, which is $4.99 per month.

Happy listening!

Dipping Into Indie Funk

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

Image ID : 132080302
Source: 123rf.com
Copyright : skovoroda

If you were to listen to the songs which I have in my iTunes and Spotify libraries, you’d probably scratch your head in wonder over the vast assortment of genres which I enjoy. One of the reasons why I have so many different genres in my music collections is that I tend to obsess over a certain artist or genre for a while, soaking it up until I begin to get tired of it. The latest musical genre which has caught my attention is Indie Funk, and I specifically latched onto one band in particular, Magic City Hippies.

If you want to listen to music that has an easy vibe, catchy beat and tempo, and just puts you into a feel-good mood, then I would definitely recommend checking out Magic City Hippies, Cool Company, and other related groups which create this vibey, groovy music. The past several months have been pretty difficult for me, so I rely on my relaxing home space to provide consistency and comfort. This means that on most days when I find myself hanging out or working at home, I turn on the Magic City Hippies Spotify station. Friends and clients have actually commented on the station, asking about the musical artists featured. I’m not kidding when I say that indie funk can instantly put you into a great mood and cause stress to just melt away.

Here are a few YouTube videos from bands within this genre: