Well the truth it fell so heavy...

In the fall of 2003, I embarked on an intellectual journey of self-awareness. Yes, I decided to move to Bellingham, WA to attend grad school and learn new sadistic ways of torturing myself. However, I also fell under the spell of 2 similar and yet drastically different teen-angst soap operas: The O.C. and One Tree Hill. I can't really explain why I watch them...I just do. I mean, I don't even like most of the characters!!

I think some of it had to do with the people I associate with the shows. The O.C. was chosen specifically with the goal of allowing ChickLit and I to have at least 1 show in common after moving thousands of miles away from eachother. OTH, however, found people later on. After spilling my guilty addiction to the show with DolphinSue, we began watching the shows together, eventually adding her roommate Wonderwall to the mix. Although I have now moved back to Cali and watch the shows alone, there is something about watching them that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I only bring this up because both shows are in the middle of a creative re-awakening. After years of sucking The O.C. is actually decent again since the 'tragic' death of Marissa (oh how I love Rylor). Unfortunately, no one is watching. OTH has also made a comeback in a way (thank goodness we finally have a somewhat stable couple), which I also link to the unexpected death of a main character. Although I miss the character on OTH, the storyline possibilities that arose from that event have made for some compelling tellie - well compelling if you like CW teen-angst dramas like I do!

Anyway, last night's OTH was a thing of beauty: drama, laughter, suspense, and the heart attack I have been waiting a year for. If you don't believe me, just ask Wonderwall!!! All in all, I have to admit I am looking forward to next week's ep. That hasn't happened in quite a while. Thank goodness I have a new O.C. ep tonight and a new BSG ep tomorrow to help me make it through!!

You make it sound like Christmas is a 4-letter word!

For those of you tuning into an in depth review of last night's finale to the Veronica Mars "Who Was the Campus Rapist" mystery...this is not that blog. After careful thought, I decided that it was unfair to post such a reivew at this time. I have a couple of readers who are VM fans or at least budding fans and I would hate to ruin the ending. I will say this, all in all it was a pretty good ep and who didn't love Mac's "Ask Me About My STD" t-shirt. I soooo want one of those. Perhaps I will write a review before the next mystery kicks off, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you...that won't be until January 2007 at the earliest!

Well, Christmas is in the air...or at least on the muzak everywhere. Unfortunately, that signals the time of year in which Christmas music gets ruined by perky pop groups hoping to sell a new record of 'classic' songs played non-stop. After years of Christmas retail, I thought I had killed any possibility of ever liking holiday music again. Then it turns out Sufjan Stevens makes ELFI mixes. Well, not like I do, but still for 5 years he created Christmas albums for friends and family, documenting the times and his feelings concerning the holiday season. What he has created is brillant...the work of a genius. First of all you get to listen to the evolution of his music from 2001 to the present and second he plays an interesting collection of classic Yuletide hits, hymns, and originally pieces like the catchy "Get Behind Me, Santa!"
One of the things I love most about Sufjan's music is that he is a musician that sings, not a singer that can play an instrument. He has an interesting voice that is not overwhelmingly "beautiful" or polished in sound, which means that you can singalong without stressing over how bad your voice sounds in comparison. With Sufjan it doesn't matter. I especially love that on the 2003 mix, "Ding! Dong!", Sufjan and a bunch of non-singing professionals belt out a version of "O Holy Night", a song usually reserved for opera singers and the like. You know what I am talking about - the "professional" singers. I kid you not, it is the most amazing version of the song I have ever heard, not because they hit all the notes in perfect harmony, but because they don't. They sing from the heart and to be honest, that is what music is supposed to be about!
Anyway, enough of my gushing about Songs for Christmas. I transcribed the cd intro Sufjan wrote since it explains Christmas music in such an interesting way. Go out and by the album...it will be well worth your money and time!

In December of 2001 (the Year of Epiphanies), I decided to record a collection of Christmas songs at home in Brooklyn, as a kind of musical benediciton to a tumultuous year. It would be something to give as a gift for my family and friends, something with which to appease the apprehension of everyday life, which had been uprooted by all the extraordinary events in the world.

What did the angles renouce in the wake of the shepherds' trepidation? "Have no fear," they petitioned with trumpet blasts and a garish display of constellations. But that's like waving a gun in a bank lobby and demanding: "Everybody stay calm!" Music, of course, works much differently. The most discriminating of chord progressions can disarm the most arrogant of men, including myself. Christmas music does that to the highest degree. It intersects a supernatural phenomenon (the incarnation of God) with the sentimental mush of our mortal lives (presents, toys, Christmas tree ornaments, snow globes, cranberry sauce), leaving in its pathological wake a particular state of mind one can only describe as "that warm, fuzzy feeling." Was this what I was after? The search for existential significance in all that sentimenal oatmeal? Perhaps, but I'm not so certain "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells" can be used as an exegesis for the big questions in life.

Or can they? I decided to find out, continuing the tradition year after year, plummeting into the abysmal canon of Yuletide carols, strumming the banjo, shaking the bells, tipping my Santa hat to Saint Nick, all the while assembling a ramshackle mix tape of Christmas "hits" (sometimes adding my own originals), wondering "What does it really mean to deck the halls with boughs of holly?" These short collections ("Songs for Christmas" EPs, I called them) were assembled at home, transferred to CD-R, sent out with stickers and stamps to family, friends and loved ones, year after year. I had a few accomplices whom I invited as transient collaborators: a college friends, a Presbyterian pastor and his wife, a string quartet, my little brother, to name a few. Whomever was around, I put them in front of a microphone and demanded: "Deck the halls with boughs of holly!" It's amazing what you can do with an 8-track and some mistletoe. I have great admiration for the people who participated in these musical exercises, sometimes against their better judgement. Perhaps they were just humoring me. At the very least, I discovered that sleigh bells are, in fact, difficult to play well (there is a technique to these kinds of things), and that Christmas music poses a cosmological conundrum in requiring us to sing so sweetly and sentimentally about something so terrifying and tragic. In the end, I had asembled five complete EPs in six years, skipping only one year, 2004, when I was anguishing over another album called "Illinois."

Which brings me to this elaborate box set. When I finally decided to "officially" release all this music (for better or for worse), I was determined to present each EP in its original form. A compliation would have been a cumbersome compromise. A "Greatest Hits" would have been heartbreaking. (How to choose?) It just seemed best to preservethe spirit of each individual EP - mistakes and all - as a document to the times. But I also wanted to augment the music with a lavish display of ornamentation - it just wouldn't be Christmas without all the festive frills and flourishes. Which might help explain the technicolor packaging, the chord charts, the animated video, the photographs, the comic strip, the family portrait, the essays, the short story, the Christmas stickers, all the incredible cornucopis of junk that has come to represent Christmas more than anything else. This is what it means to deck the halls, afterall. This is my gift to you. Enjoy - and have a Happy Christmas!
- Santa Sufjan

Let it snow!

I should write a blog about how much I love Sufjan Steven's Christmas music experiment or perhaps even tonight's Veronica Mars, I mean we do get to learn the identity of the rapist.

I could even tackle some daunting social questions, but instead I give you pictures of last night's snowy Seahawks vs. Packers Monday Night Football game. Doesn't look like Seattle does it, but at least my boys played well in horrible weather. With Alexander and Hasselbeck both healthy, I see nothing but victory!!

Special Edition PicSpam: Snowy Seahawk Fun!

40 carries with 201 yards...Alexander is back my friends!!


Although the first half didn't show Hasselbeck any mercy...the second half made up for it!!


See...this is more like it!!


For a second, I thought the game had been moved to Green Bay!


Stevens actually caught a ball...I kid you not!

Don't Fear the Reaper!

I'm Back!!! Yes, after a somewhat scheduled break from blogging due to several holiday circumstances, I have returned. Sure, I had adventures I could have written about including the fun of dog-sitting for Tucker, the cutest Dachshund puppy ever, but unfortunately I lacked internet access at the house and as much as I love blogging, I don't love it enough to drive to work when I don't have to!
ChickLit braved the drive from Salt Lake City, making the week especially fun. She decided she wanted to watch the entire first season of Supernatural, a request I saw no reason to deny. All in all, it took 4 days, but we made it through. I bring this up, only because I have devised a special Picspam edition to celebrate the event. Go on and enjoy the pretty...you know you want to!!

PicSpam Monday: The Winchester Brothers Motivational Posters

In the pageant of the bizarre...

Note before I begin: Since I now have 2 shows on Thursday nights, I have decided to pick only one to review. Ideally, I will be flipping back and forth, but who knows. I loved Supernatural last night, but I decided since The O.C. has returned to it's original genius form, I couldn't resist!

The O.C.

Episode: "The Metamorphosis"

Original Air Date: November 16, 2006

Rating: Bloody Brillant


What I Loved:
"It's so hard to believe, but its all coming back to me now." I may not be a Celine Dion fan, but when the woman is right, the woman is right. After last week's solid ep and this week's fantastic ep, I finally feel like the show is back on track for the most part. Although I can't forget all of the horror of last season, it's becoming a bit hazier.
Okay...I love the Ryan/Taylor pairing. I'm not sure if they have an acronym yet, so I have decided to call them Rylor. (Sure it sounds like a warrior that turns out to have a heart of gold in a cheesy 80's fantasy movie but Tayan seemed just as odd.) Their scenes together were not just good, they were fantastic and 0h so wonderfully awkward. Her lead-up for the favor that included the term 'sexual Jedi' ("Ok some people are trying to eat here...incuding me someday so...") cracked me up. No one does facial expressions better than Ryan. They just play off eachother so well. Like Taylor trying to decide whether or not to shut the door of the poolhouse...just awesome! I didn't really like Taylor last year, but she is really growing on me. At least as LoVe falls apart, I will have a new couple to cheer for.
As always, the Ryan/Seth moments were some of my favorite. Seth's early morning call to Ryan concerned that Summer was about to break up with him was classic. It's good to see them talking again. It's also hilarious to see Ryan actually trying to be the optimistic one:

Seth: Ryan, she's going to dump me!
Ryan: No one believes that, alright. Summer loves you.
Seth: No, the old summer loved me...

And if that conversation wasn't enough, we got a similar conversation later with Seth hanging up before Ryan can get advice about dealing with Taylor. Awesome people...just swesome!!

Although Kirsten disapeared for most of the ep, but her conversation with Sandy at the beginning of the ep was just perfect.

Sandy: "You know Jimmy left. Caleb died. Then Jimmy left again. Even Neil's gone. Look I wasn't a pennet winner, but at least I had a bullpen!"

I hadn't really thought about it, but Sandy has run out of guys he can hang with. It was so cute to see the normally confident Sandy, nervous about setting up a playdate for himself. Hopefully this new guy doesn't go anywhere!
Extra little nuggets of goodness: Julie giving up men (well for a day!); the French lawyer's "La Marseillaise" ringtone; another Grey's Anatomy joke (Dr. Roberts "getting bossed around by that short sassy lady"); Summer's 5 stages of grief ("Aw yeah, you just punched me; my baby's back!"); next ep's promo's including a shirtless Ryan and an infatuated Taylor!; and last but not least, Sandy calling Ryan "one of his kids"; can I hear you say awwww!

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
What is Kirstin's storyline this season exactly? So far she seems to cook and occasionally call Sandy and deal with Taylor. Now I am not advocating giving her a new 'issue', but at least have her doing something other Strip Scrabble. Have her work on her dating business or something. I mean I guess that is still in business. At this point, I really don't know.
Although I liked the Summer/Seth scenes for the most part, I hated that "Activist Summer" left Seth in the hall on his last night in town. Just because you believe in a cause doesn't mean you abandon the people you love when they fly thousands of miles to visit at YOUR request. Sure she will see him in a month or so, but that is no excuse to be that rude. I'm guessing there relationship isn't as solid as we all hoped it would be after her break through. (Also could they at least pretend that Summer isn't living in Cali. By now, Rhode Island is getting a bitt chilly!)
I know I harp on this every week, but I hate Kaitlin and her idiotic/annoying twin posse. I find myself fast-forwarding through all their scenes in hopes of making through an entire ep without griping. So far that hasn't worked, but I will prevail. Just as long as Ryan takes off his shirt every once and a while!

If Wishes Were Horses:
Top 5 wishes at the moment:
1. Develop the Rylor relationship with Seth as a third wheel.
2. Give Kirsten a storyline - and not one involving alchohol.
3. Something horrific happens to the annoying twins and if possible Kaitlin as well.
4. Give Julie a new 'man' to manipulate not just little boys.
5. Could we please go back to either the diner or Bait Shop for continuity sake!

The One-Line Zinger:
"All they do is create fake problems for fake people just to distract viewers from the real problems in the world!" & "I’m just distracted. I haven’t been keeping up on how much blow Lindsay Lohan’s doing, and did you hear about J.T. and Cameron?"

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Ryan: You might want to relax.
Taylor: Distract me. Tell about this, uh, cage fighting. It's something I've been meaning to get into.
Ryan: Yeah? Ask me for another favor and I'd be happy to show you.
Taylor: Ohhh?!?!? Ryan Atwood with a side of sauce! I like it!! [Short pause] You're going to have to do better though, 'cuz right now all I can think about is him...my husband. His arms; his smell; making love in that barn in Burgundy...
Ryan: [Quicky interrupting] Sounds like the perfect guy. Why would you want a divorce?
Taylor: Well, despite being agnostic in most things, I do believe in true love and this was not it. [Awkward pause] But back to you and your life Ryan: What is your favorite fruit?
Ryan: Peaches.
Taylor: [Looking dreamy again] He used to say my breasts were like two soft...
Ryan: [Quickly interrupting again] Is that him?

Time is contagious...

So after spending a couple of hours visiting 3 (yes 3 - I'm really beginning to hate the closing of Tower Records!) different stores, I finally got my hands on the new Damien Rice cd 9. Man...all I can say is that it's was worth the effort. My close friends are familar with my 'scavenger hunt adventures' (expeditions to find the latest item to catch my fancy!) since most of them have been drug along on one or two over the years. For the most part, the 'hunt' is the best part of the whole trip, but this time the coveted item is living up to expectations! I have been listening to it non-stop since purchasing the albumn yesterday and so far I'm not growing the least bit bored. If anything I am keep falling more and more in love with Damien Rice's music.

Since I loved his first album O so completely, I worried that his sophomore attempt wouldn't live up to my high standards. Rice stuck with what worked on the first album, creating an even deeper and angier yet sweet musical odyssey! I would gush more, but I can't quite articulate my completely feelings yet!

In other news, the more I think about it, the more I like Borat. I knew I liked the film when I left the theatre, but I didn't make all of the connections while sitting through the 90 minute film. The movie isn't about Kazakhstan...it's about America and the 'backwards' people that populate this country. Fascinating idea for a film! Long live Sacha Baron Cohen!

As the days keep turning into night...

So, I hate to disappoint, but today's blog entry will not feature an insightful, and yet thoroughly snarky, review of last night's Veronica Mars ep. You see...I can't make up my mind on whether I liked the ep or not. I know what you are thinking, "What do you mean you don't have an opinion on a tellie program? You always have an opinion? Something is terribly wrong!" or you are rejoicing in the fact that I might have actually 'gotten a life' after avoiding the inevitable for so long. (Or perhaps you have no thought on the subject and simply wandered over to this blog in hopes of stumbling upon some articulate discussion of Shaun of the Dead.)

So instead, here are a couple of thoughts about last week's Thanksgiving inspired O.C. ep.!! I liked the ep quite a bit. Here's hoping that this is the turning point and soon I will forget about the travesty that was Season 3. (Ok...maybe not forget, but at least move on!) Anyway, I have to say that I LOVED the Battlestar Galactica reference/discussion after Seth and Summer bring home a dozen or so homless guys for dinner (apparently the soup kitchen didn't need more volunteers) and Kirsten demands he keeps them occupied!

Seth: Ok...who here has not seen Battlestar Galactica Season 1?
[Less than half of the dozen homeless guys in the room raise their hand. See even homeless people find a way to watch Sci-Fi on Friday nights. Why are they considering changing the timeslot? Explain it to me, Lucy! I just don't get it. Now back to the show!]
Homless guy: I missed the season finale!
Seth: Get ready to have your mind blown! In this version Starbuck is a woman!!

First Veronica Mars and now The O. C.. I love it when I am with the 'cool' people! I mean, it happens so infrequently! (Hey...geek chic is 'In' at the moment!!) Besides cool pop culture references, Summer and Julie finally started dealing with their grief; Sandy got a cool new nickname: Crazy Eyebrows Man; Taylor keeps getting funnier and funnier; my random joke about Grey's Anatomy's Seattle Grace (Ask ChickLit! I made the funny comment long before it made it on the show!); oh and the world's ugliest dog! I won't go into my nickpics, but I thought I would end with a short excerpt from Television Without Pity's review of the ep. I have to confess, I thought the same thing about Ryan!!

"It's like he's turning into an island," Kirsten says. 'Turning into?' Hasn't Ryan always been an island, really? A peninsula at the very least.

Nobody does it better...

Ok...so I completely forgot about my newly created PicSpam Monday weekly column yesterday. So to make up for my gaffauw, I thought I would post and extra long entry today. I created this list last summer, but never published it online. So without further ado I give you...

PicSpam Monday: The Top 13 "Should Have a Role in EVERY Film" Actor List!

1. Jim Broadbent



2. Steve Buscemi



3. Alan Cumming



4. Christopher Guest



5. John Hannah



6. Tom Hollander



7. Djimon Hounsou



8. Justin Long



9. Bill Nighy



10. Pete Postlethwaite



11. John C. Reilly



12. Stephen Root



13. Tony Shalhoub

Tell me why I don't like Mondays!

I'm sure, that all of my loyal readers waited with bated breath for my exceptionally inspired reviews of The O.C. and Supernatural. Well, I hate to share bad news on a Monday, but I doubt you will ever see those reviews. To be honest, I never wrote the snarky evalutation of The O.C.'s Thanksgiving Day ep (although I really did enjoy the ep!). I decided I could only handle writing one review a week for that show. Since it conflicts with one of my shows no matter which night, I just hope that Fox makes a decision and sticks with it. Otherwise, I just might give up on the show...ok maybe not, but I won't be happy that that will reflect in my reviews!

My Supernatural review, however is a whole nother story. I wrote the sucker...and then blogger lost it. It was pure brillance! The ep actually exceeded my expectations and included a joke specifically designed for me ("Pee break? So soon?") After a couple of "Not-a-complete-waste" weeks, I'm hoping this ep gets them back in track. It was good! (Well, except for the forced pea soup joke at the end. Come on Kripke...everyone knows that Linda Blair starred in The Exorcist. No need to remind us in such a lame way!!)I had a funny Mulder/Scully joke and even an Indiana Jones reference ("Looks like Germany has declared war on the Jones Boys!") Anyway, after the review disappeared somewhere into cyberspace I realized that I could never rewrite the whole episode to the same brillant level. Perhaps I will go back and review it during the winter hiatus, but I wouldn't hold your breath!

So other than that, nothing much to report. I saw both The Queen and Borat over the holiday weekend. Both interesting films, but for extremely different reasons. Oh...and my parents brought me back the coolest present from their weekend away: a fiber-optic Seahawks' baseball hat that lights up. It's AWESOME!!! If only I could find a pic. Speaking of pics, I chose today's blog image based on the fact it cracks me up ever time. (In case you are wondering, that is an unmodified screencap from Supernatural's "The Usual Suspects".) I mean, we all knew that Jared Padalecki was tall (6'3"), but since he is most often paired with Jensen Ackles (6'0") as a viewer it's really easy to forget just how tall that really is. Paired with Linda Blair (5'2") he really does look like the Jolly Green Giant!!

The end's not near...it's here!

The O.C.

Episode: "The Gringos"

Original Air Date: November 8, 2006

Rating: Not-a-complete-waste










What I Loved:
First, I would like to say I loved the sunglasses in this ep. Ryan's in particular come to mind, but Kirsten and Sandy's also rocked!
Once again...Taylor steals the screen everytime she has a scene. I mean, who didn't love her showing up in Summer's bed? ("Do you want to get in? We could snuggle!") And to top that off we learned her big secret - which I already knew but do think is a step in the right direction storywise - while also getting a Lord of the Rings reference. I'm looking forward to learning more about her French husband! Che is also turning out to be a scene stealer. He isn't just a pretty face. He's also a 'deep thinker'. ("What an amazing spirit you have. I'll bet you in a past life you were an eagle soaring through mountain passes. Do you ever have dreams of flying?")
So the other random things that rocked my world include: Seth's tattoo (and Semper Fi t-shirt) - who knew he could drink with marines?; the donkey show references, although those could have been even better with a well placed Clerks II reference!; "Gay dad always trumps slutty mom!"; Some good Seth/Ryan banter ("I won't get in the way. You know how stealth I can be!" and ); and last but not least, the Sandy/Seth phone conversation with Kirsten commenting every once in a while ("Please say Newport...He didn't say Newport did he?"). I almost wish Angry Nudfo Chocolate Love was a band!

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
I'm sooooooo over Marissa's death. Why can't the show? I mean, I know I am normally a stickler for "let's deal with the emotional ramafications of a storyline", but at this point, The O.C. just needs to move on. I know most fans have!
On a similar note, why can't the show keep a solid timeline? I mean, last week established that 5 months had come and gone since the propitious death of Marissa, but this week, Julie tells Ryan on the phone it took the private investigators 6 months to find Volchok. Come on...I know this is nitpicky, but it would be nice if the show had some consistancy. And while on the subject of nitpicky details, how do they expect me to believe that Seth will make it back over the border without his passport or driver's license/birth certificate? Or am I to assume that Seth always carries his passport or driver's license/birth certificate with him at all times? Either way, I'm not buying it and perhaps they stop holding to the "What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico" matra since only crappy things have happened there (although I did quite enjoy the passed out Marissa from season 1...she's never acted better!). However, this would explain why they keep going back! Personally, I think they should try Canada. Sure it's a longer drive, but perhaps they could work out whatever issue on the way there instead of on foreign soil. Just a thought!
Speaking of mistakes...this Lorelei/Rory-esque split between Ryan and Seth better not last too long. It nearly ended GG, I don't think that The O.C. could survive that. I know I would stop watching since the Ryan/Seth interactions got me watching the show in the first place and kept we watching through the crappy seasons that followed. The poolhouse can not be closed for long. I never thought the locking of a door and closing of blinds could be so heartbreaking...
Oh and before I go...does Seth not know how to pronouce Volchok's name? He says it different every time and on top of that, pronounces the name different from everyone else. Did no one notice? Did no one feel like talking to Adam Brody that day? Consistency people...

If Wishes Were Horses:
Well, if I had it my way, the Volchok storyline would be over by now and Chrismakkah would be right around the corner. However, I don't see that happening for at least another couple weeks, so I am simply crossing my fingers for a quick Seth/Ryan reconcilliation and the quick disappearance of Mini-Coop and the annoying twins!

The One-Line Zinger:
"No, no, no. I got the 'Angry Nudfo Chocolate Love' note. I didn't get the one about Ryan following Volchok."

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Julie: Something wrong?
Kirsten: The boys went to Mexico without asking us. I'm sure they're fine, but...
Julie: Wait, Seth went too? Why - I mean, he just doesn't seem like Mr. Donkey Show. Not that they're at a donkey show, or even know what a donkey show...Have you seen how great some of these clothes are?
[Julie's phone rings and she leaves the room]
Kaitlin: What's a donkey show?
Kirsten: That's a question for your mother.

AND

Seth: So where are we going?
Ryan: Mexico.
Seth: Perfect, I need Chicklets.

I'm not in love, no-no...

I hate to say it, but I am just not feeling this season. I like it, but I think I am still frustrated with last season to move on. Tonight's ep didn't help, since I have some personal issues with any mention of 'plagarism'. So if tonight's review seems a little harsh, keep in mind I warned you first!


Veronica Mars

Episode: "Hi, Infidelity"

Original Air Date: November 7, 2006

Rating: Not-a-complete-waste (but once again really close to Bloody Brillant!)








What I Loved:
Much to my utter shock - and horror - I'm currently loving Sheriff Lamb. I mean, when did he become a moderately sensitive guy that at least gives the impression he can handle the responsibilities of being sheriff without acting like an ass? Before last week, I never got the impression that he could ever be a compentent law enforcement officer. I mean he looks good in the uniform (see image at bottom of review), but other than that I never understood his purpose other than inconveniencing Keith/Veronica in some way or another, but never actually thwarting their investigation in any way. I am beginning to really love the Veronica/Lamb interations ("Oh rape humor...it never gets old!") Since LoVe is only a couple of weeks away from breaking up - AGAIN - perhaps I will begin hoping for a LaVe storyline. On second thought...maybe not!
Sheriff Lamb isn't the only character getting some redemption this week. Lucky Tim, it turns out is actually a 'good' guy, who only had Veronica's best interest at heart. Awwww. I was just glad he wasn't the "couple ep story arc leaning towards bad guy role, but really not" character again, apparently proving Rob Thomas isn't just rewriting last year's scripts by making Lucky Tim the unhinged clue dropping character twice. Well, at least not yet!
I may have been the only one, but I loved the "aaaawwwwkkkkwaaaarrrrd" bowling! I mean really...not only do you bring back Piz and Parker in a setting I could enjoy, but we get the continuation of the amusing over-emphasis, constant referral of "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" by LoVe to make sure others know. Of course the bowling event also lead to the great Piz/Veronica's "type" converstation later on. Although that was somewhat cheapened by the contrived meeting of Mercer and Parker. I get we had to bring them together in order to reveal that Logan has some big secret he's keeping from Veronica in order to cause the complete breakdown of LoVe, but still...that original converstation was gold. Piz is soooooo in love with Veronica and Veronica is soooooooo oblivious!
And to conclude...apparently Weevil and Veronica have made up after the quick assumptions of last week - awesome! - since she is 'babysitting' his keys while he was away (and thank goodness we got a medical explanation for Francis Capra's puffiness!) Also I love that Evil Wallace is already gone (although I don't really get why he, or the guy selling the exams, didn't get expelled). I would hate for the show to ruin Wallace and Keith in the same night! I'm having real issues with one...I would hate to see my reaction to both characters going down the drain!

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
Ok...Keith...wtf?!?!? His character always seemed to have a moral conscience, but in the last weeks he's mocked an LA detective and started a torrid affair with a married woman. Again...wtf?!?!? I have no words...NO WORDS!!! (On a side note, I would like to add that the car crash reminded me a bit too much of Supernatural's cliffhanger ending last year. I was also like an explanation as to how/why a fender bender leads to rethinking a rational decision? Did he sustain brain damage?)
I know I harp on this every week, but once again LoVe makes the list of things that made me unhappy. Although we saw some nice interaction during the bowling outing and right after (along with the totally awesom Emma referenced converstaion), I just feel completely ripped off! Okay, I'll move on...
My last two gripes, plagarism and the villifying of teaching assistants/proctors, are probably only my own. You see I had a bad experience in undergrad that involved an accustation that I plagarized a paper. (I forgot to add the closing quotation mark on a long quote and instead of treating the mistake as a grammatical error, the idiot prof called in plagarism, thereby earning him a place in my own personal "Hall of Impudent Narcissistic Vainglorious Pricks".) To make matters worse for VM, I was also a TA for 2 years, therefore I don't really appreciate the stereotypical portrayal of TA's and proctors as the personification of petty, evil, mini-dictators out to destroy students. Perhaps this is all supposed to be funny, but it hits a bit too close to home, especially after weeks of typecast feminists and frat boys!

If Wishes Were Horses:
Oh alas, how I long for Mac to return. It doesn't look like that is going to happen for another few weeks, but still this is my wish section and I can hope for whatever I want (even if it's highly improbable)!
As far the the "Rape Mystery" goes, apparently I didn't hit the bulls-eye with my Mercer guess, but since he is clearly shifty for a reason, I'm guessing he is somehow invovled. I can at least cling to that. I just hope it doesn't somehow involve the on-campus feminists themselves. I don't think I could handle that level of misogyny from this show.

The One-Line Zinger:
"Did you just make a Jane Austen reference? It's official. The end of days are upon us!"

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Logan: You guys know eachother?
Veronica: You want to tell him, Ratner?
Ratner: What's to tell?
Veronica: This is the guy trying to get me tossed out of Landry's class.
Ratner: You should be. You cheated.
Veronica: Now it turns out you work at the Neptune Grand, which happens to be where the fake paper was posted from. Strange, huh, Rory Finch?
Ratner: What are you talking about? I don't "happen to work here". I've worked here for 2 years. You've seen me a hundred times, but you don't notice the little people 'cause your with Captain Moneybags, here.
Logan: That's Admiral Moneybags!
Ratner: Trust the steak's to your liking?
Logan: Always.
Ratner: Good night, then.
[Ratner leaves]
Logan: That't my girl...spreading sunshine where ever she goes!
Veronica: That boy doesn't know it yet, but he's the living dead!

Perhaps I would like to go see "the Wizard"...okay on second thought maybe not.
Two weeks of decent human behavior does not mean anything after a lifetime of being an ass!

Well, there's pride in every American heart...

No one knows how to kick you while you're like grad school. It's almost like its family. I mean, sure there is some mutual love in the relationship, but at the end of the day family just instinctually knows how to figuratively kick you in the groin (unlike Raider's defensive end Tyler Brayton who actually knee'ed Seahawk tight end Jerramy Stevens in the groin near the end of last night's Monday Night Football game). Although the lastest blow surprisingly doesn't have any fiscal element, I'm once again plagued with "I will never finish this sucker" thoughts. Man, and I was actually moving forward. I mean, I just found myself a thesis babysitter and everything! (Thanks again Cerebra!!) I guess I will just have to ignore this latest development like I do family and simply ignore it. (Speaking of family...apparently my mom volunteered our house for Christmas dinner...looks like I will be making mash potatoes by the pound this year!)

In other downer news, it's midterm election day. Since I vote absentee, I don't get one of those nifty stickers that identify you as someone who voted, but I would rather actually physically punch out my ballot chads. (I'm not sure about the whole 'electronic voting machine' development. I like knowing that out somewhere out there, in the physical plane, my ballot sits. It's just reassuring.) The other bummer about voting absentee is you don't get that election poll place rush. Hence why I will be tuning into The Daily Show's coverage of election night featuring Jon Stewart & co., Stephen Colbert, and Dan Rather. (Yes my friends...Dan Frakkin' Rather. How awesome is that?!?!?)

So here is some other weird but awesome news...I have a website tracker set up for this blog. I know it's kind of 'Big Brother', but it is interesting to see how people get to this blog (i.e. google searches, other blogs, or no refering link which means the blog is a favorite or they have memorized the address) and where they are currently setting up shop (i.e. Tucson, Manchester, Israel, Spain, Philippines, you get the idea...). I usually check once a week just for giggles. On a normal day, I may have 5-10 unique visits with 2 to 3 people staying for longer than 1 second. But I noticed that I tripled that average over the weekend. It turns out that someone on an O.C. message board recommended reading my review. So...weird... Flattering, but really weird...

Theres a world where I can go and tell my secrets to...in my room!

I have decided to make Mondays Picspam! days. This means that every Monday I will fill my blog with some sort of themed image-filled drivel to feast your eyes!! Now onto today's Monday Picspam! Fun: My Dorm Room...

When I moved back in with my parents - typical I know - after living alone for over 2 years, I hoped that our relationship would not devolve into the high school/college home life we had moved on from. I understand that they will always be my parents, but keep in mind...I'm an only child. (There is only one of me to check-up on.)

Anyway, my biggest concern about moving back into my childhood home was the loss of my independence and not being able to decorate my door/room (I overcame the first by creating a door bulletin board that hangs from the door and therefore doesn't cause permanent damage!). Man was I in for a shock. I mean, I didn't even get my old room back. I set up shop in my mother's sewing room; a small room filled with dolls, but with one window!!

Over the past 8 months (I can't believe I have been here that long...I think I am going to have to contemplate where my life went wrong while drinking my nightly beer), I have reconfigured the room a couple of times. You see, I have a lot of stuff. While most of it lives in a storage unit, I have quite a few bulky items that need to be in the room (i.e. computer, tellie, bed, bookselves, etc.) and since the closet was already full, I needed to fit in one of those as well. Anyway, long story short, the arrangement of the room never seemed to work since I always had to have a clear area around the sewing machine so my mom could actually sew. But a week ago, she decided to move her sewing machine into her bedroom, thus allowing me a bit more space!!! (See did it because I am always in the room so she can never sew, but I am still seeing this a a small victory!!)

Anyway, I love the latest configuration, even if it does resember a dorm room. I never lived in a dorm, so I guess this is my chance. Although, I doubt I will be partaking in any druken partying. Enjoy the pics!!

I would like to add that the dolls aren't mine.
To be honest, I find them a bit creepy!


See...I even have a faux-shelving unit made out of crates.
How much more 'dorm' can you get?


I get 2 shelves on that bookcase! Can you guess which ones?


In case you're wondering...the keyboard and mouse are in the drawer.
I use a hardback book filled with cake decorating tips as a tabletop!
(Yes I stole it from my mother!)

I was cruisin' in my Stingray late one night...

NikNak put up a quiz I actually liked. So go, loyal readers, and learn your final words. I mean, you want to be ready, don't you!

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"I can pass this guy."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Surrender, but don't give yourself away...

Supernatural

Episode: "No Exit"

Original Air Date:
November 2, 2006

Rating: Not-a-complete-waste











What I Loved:
I should begin this review with a warning...as soon as I saw the title of this ep I thought of the French existentialist philosopher and novelist Sartres' play "No Exit". (In the play, one of the characer comments that Hell is other people, well at least dealing with them anyway. That idea has always stayed with me and that is the only reason I know this). Now the title could also have been refering to the maze like construction of H.H. Holmes' basement lair. I chose to think it was the more philosophical choice, but who knows. Anyway, for some reason this made me happy and so I enjoyed the ep quite a bit. However, I can't be sure if I liked the ep for the ep's sake or if I just wanted to like it because of the title. I guess we will never know.
But onto the actual episode. First of all....loved the Ghostbusters reference (Stay Puft Marshmallow Man) and the heckling of Katie Holmes (Especially funny since Jensen Ackles was once on Dawson's Creek or and I just watched Thank You for Smoking only to realized that I no longer buy her in any roll other than the zombified fiancee of Tom Cruise. I kind of hope she doesn't really act anymore!) Oh and Dean's comment that he should have "cleaned the pipes". Classy Dean-o. Really classy! And how can I forget Dean's first excuse to Ellen why Jo can't come to the phone ("She’s gonna have to call you back, she taking care of... feminine business."). While I'm on the comedic moments of the night, how awesome were the cheesy tourists that just wandered into the The Happy Hunter Hangout for Wayward Winchesters (or the Demon Bait Shop for any O.C. fans out there!)? I would really like some clarification on exactly were this bar is located. Scratch that...this show has enough geographical issues already. No need to add more.
I also found the Monster of the Week freaky enough, although I am really getting tired of salt being used so much. I understand that they can't change it up every week, but it's getting a bot ridiculous. I only made it through parts of Devil in the White City, to be honest the book just freaked me out, and so I was somewhat creeped out even before the episode began. I am also a closet claustrophobic (get it) so those scenes also got to me a little.
But the burning question that Supernatural fans are dying to ask me - if by chance someone who actually watches this show wanders onto this blog - what do I think of Jo? This is a complicated question. You see, that is a really loaded question. I loved Alona Tal as Meg Manning on Veronica Mars and feel she really got a shitty deal over there in the end. So for that reason, I really want to like her on this show. That said, I'm not sure if I actually like her characer Jo. I guess wanting to like her is something, but all in all I'm very confused. I am not sure if I actually do. I'm not sure if I could ever really buy her as a love interest for Dean, but as a character I think she is okay at the moment. I will have to think about this more while on the phone with incoherent sheep ranchers.

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
I hate to say it, but I missed Sammy. Who knew I was also a closet Sammy!girl? (Yeah it came as news to me as well and no snickering NickNak!). I understand the reason behind his absence (he recently had hand surgery and therefore couldn't do as much), but still I missed the friendly/snarky brother banter. It is a staple of the show and when you only have 2 main characters the absence of one is glaring.
I'm also conflicted about the introduction/use of the roadhouse (The Happy Hunter Hangout for Wayward Winchesters) as a home base and the characters it brings with it. Don't get me wrong, I like the addition of Ash, Ellen, and Jo, I just don't like what it is doing to the intellect of the boys. I mean, it seems like they can't even do their own research anymore. They have to get Ash or Jo to do it. And Ellen, while I like her tough as nails attitude, I don't understand what side she is going to end up on. I mean, all she has to do is let it slip that Sam has some supernatural psychi premonitions and they Winchester brothers would have a muderous posse of demon hunters on their trail with Gordon leading the pack. I understand why she lashed out at the brothers at the end of the ep, I'm sure if I had a child in danger I would act the same way, but this questions the amount of rationality/sanity that she could bring to the role of the boy's mentor. I mean if she has John issues, that's fine...I'm just not sure how much the boys should have with her and Jo.

If Wishes Were Horses: La
Ah...what to wish for this week. I hope that we get more brother banter and perhaps a few more stand-alone eps that don't deal with angst. As much as I love to watch that single tear fall down Dean's face...I just can't handle that sadness every week. Same goes for "I show emotion through my forehead" Sammy!

The One-Line Zinger:
"Sweetheart, this ain't gender studies. Women can do the job fine. Amateurs can't."

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Dean: Los Angeles, California.
Sam: What's in L.A.?
Dean: Young girl has been kidnapped by an evil cult.
Sam: Yeah? Girl got a name?
Dean: Katie Holmes.
Sam: Funny. And for you, so bitchy.

In a better time you could be my friend...

The O.C.
Episode: "The Avengers"
Original Air Date: November 2, 2006
Rating: Bloody Brillant






What I Loved:
Let's face it...the last couple of years of The O.C. have stunk worse than the 'special present' someone left on the office doorstep over Halloween. (Believe me when I say, Ajax may mask the smell, but it is with an even worse aroma!) I have stuck by the show through this time pretty much because I made a pact with ChickLit (who had to give up CSI I might add) and well, habit. Needless to say, I didn't have high hopes for the season premiere, especially now that it is up again Supernatural. In the battle of the ratings, the Winchester boys win out. All this said, I quite enjoyed the episode. However, I don't want to get too excited. This show has let me down too many times in the past...
No Marissa is like a gift from the gods. I didn't miss her one iota. Unfortunately, most of the ep dealt with those left behind trying to make sense/recover from her death. Hopefully after next week she will only come up occastionally. I think I could handle that! And Ryan cage fighting shirtless. I mean, really, what more could you ask for. Although the whole "Ryan isn't taking Marissa's death well" could have been handled more subltly, but well...he is a fighter and without him there would be no "Fists of Fury".
Speaking of "Fists of Fury" I really liked the comic book - or graphic novel if you prefer - intervention. It's completely ludacris, but then again, so is the entire show. That is why I love it. I also loved Summer in the ep. Hopefully, next week deals more with her complete personality change and all that. But come on, how could you not love her interactions with Ryan: "I'm going to need you to come with me now" and "So what I say Atwood...". I loved the fact that she cared enough to help him reconnect with his family. Such an awwwww moment! On a similar Summer note, I also loved Chris Pratt as Che. I wasn't too sure about the choice to cast him as an enviro-freak, but I stand completely corrected. He was comically sincere and I can see him adding some amusement to the season!
Oh and before I head off to Unhappy Camper Land, I think I love Julie even more. Who knew you could get so attached to the evil bitch character? I guess there is a first for everything!

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
I understand the Sam/Diane syndrome. I really do, but why do we have to again return from hiatus with Seth and Summer broken up over the summer after Ryan makes an exit for the hills after a drama/traumatic moment? Okay, maybe they haven't completely broken up, but the relationship is cracked. I've seen this one before! Next thing you know we will have to survive another "Hallelujah" montage. Although we can all rejoice at the disappearance of Marissa, we do have to deal with Marissa Jr. Kaitlin. She isn't nearly as bad - or as bad an actress - as her dearly departed tellie sister, but she still sucks. I mean, I may not be a wild child, but it just seems stupid to smoke pot in broad daylight while two guys do your homework.
Speaking of the uber-annoying twins...Luke grew on me after a while. I don't see either of these boys doing that. The chest shaving while debating if having a Mrs. Robinson for a mom out ranked a gay father, stood as the only moment I could stand their presence. Please let them get phased out or bring back Luke to control them.

If Wishes Were Horses:
At this point, I don't have any specific hoped/dreams. I would like to see more of the comedic elements the show used to have, a stable Sandy/Kirsten relationship, and more Ryan/Seth time, but we shall see. Perhaps if I think about it enough, I can wish Kaitlin and the uber-annoying twins away!

The One-Line Zinger:
"Chicken lovers of the world, Unite!" & "It's people like you keeping the chickens from flying free!"

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Seth: Ryan! Ryan!
Ryan: Seth, go away! I'm sleeping.
Seth: You're sleeping? You're talking? Ryan, I don't even see how that is possible unless you're talking in your sleep. [Ryan opens the door] Hey! Look you're awake!
Ryan: Package from your mom? Thank you.
Seth: Yeah, uh. Aren't you going to invite me in? So the utility closet is the new pool house. Things change. It's the Seth/Ryan time that counts!

Sunshine, we all see the same sky...

So, on Monday while purchasing my weekly turkey & cheese croissant from LaBou, I came across a most interesting sight. I had parked next to an older pick-up truck and as I walked back to my car I noticed the bumper sported a "These Colors Don't Run" sticker. Unfortunately, only the American flag and "These Colors" still appeared on the bumper sticker leaving me to conclude that the colors don't run, but apparently they can fade. (Insert your own Iraqi War quagmire joke here!)

In other, sighly related news, The O.C. makes a return to tellie tonight. (Get it...since season 2 the show has been fading...get it?!!?!?) I actually watched the premiere over on MySpace last week and to be quite honest, I unfortunately liked what I saw. It seems like the show might have regained the dark humor and over-the-top antics of the first season. Damn you, Josh Schwartz. Damn you!!! Now I have 2 programs at 9pm on Thursday (thankfully neither rhyme Mey's Onatomy). Why me!?!?! At the moment, I don't have any problems since my parent's DVR can tape 2 shows at once, but this means I can't move out until next May. See...I am the master at procrastination!!

I'm Busted!

Veronica Mars

Episode: "President Evil"

Original Air Date: October 31, 2006

Rating: Not-a-complete-waste (but exceedingly close to "Bloody Brillant")









What I Loved:
Although the ep didn't capture me like last week, I loved quite a bit about this week's outing. First of all, I would like to reiterate my love of Cliff. The man not only upholds the law, but has one of the best slogans I have ever heard: "Call Cliff and get off!" And if that wasn't enough, he started to sing the catchy radio jingle. Priceless, folks. Simply priceless!
And speaking of second tier characters with amusing moments, I have to say Sheriff Lamb is slowly growing on me. If you listen carefully in the background during the Lamb/Veronica scene, you can jear an extra exclaim: "Hey, the sheriff’s doin’ the robot!… Give me the camera phone." Also we saw the Back Up 2.0 and Wallace, although I will get to my issues with that later.
Other moments I loved include: Danny Rossow, Veronica's one man fanclub; The revisiting of Logan and Weevil's HoYaypast; the Olive Garden ad reference (although it took me 2 times to get it); the use of Johnny Cash's song "Busted" at the end of the ep; Veronica's fake southern accent; and last but not least, Logan not-so-subtly pointing to Veronica as a guy tries to get him to invest in bad independent films.

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
I know I keep harping on this, but why can't we get a somewhat stable LoVe relationship. I mean although I loved the "remember when you said 'jump' and I asked 'how high'?" moment, we already see Logan showing interest in other women. WTF?!?!?! (Next week looks like the beginning of the end.) And on a similar note, what is up with that Weevil comment about Logan's treatment of Lilly? Why do they keep doing this too me? I would really like to know what I have I done to piss off the television gods this much!
Moving on to non-LoVe related gripes, I hate how the show is treating Wallace at the moment. The boy finally gets a story - I mean we really haven't seen him since the season primere - and it involves cheating. I'm willing to see where this goes, but for the moment it's not really making me happy.
Oh and get Lucky a new wig. This one looks absolutely ridiculous!

If Wishes Were Horses:
Perhaps if I wish hard enough, Mac will return perhaps bringing Piz with her. I mean, this has got to be the longest funeral ever!

The One-Line Zinger: "Hello Square One. Nice to see you again."

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Weevil: Hey! It's Joe College
Logan: Jose Lunchpail. The living, breathing embodiment of the American Dream. Punch any clocks recently?
Weevil: Are you lining up your next girlfriend?
[Siren chirps] - Couldn't resist. That one is all Closed Captioning, folks.
Sheriff Lamb: [To Weevil] I'm guessing the lowrider's yours?
Weevil: Any reason why everyone suspects me for a crime I don't even know anything about?
[Deputy Sacks begins to search Weevil's car]
Deputy Sacks: Got 'em. They match the robbery description.
Sheriff Lamb: Yikes! Hey, what do you say we do your Miranda Rights in harmony this time. I'll take the lead. You take tenor?
Logan: Is it still called Deja Vu when something happens more than twice? Or is that something different? I'll have to look that up. Ask for Cell B; it has the best light!
Sheriff Lamb: [To Logan] Hey good looking. We'll be back to pick you up later!