The "zed" word. Don't say it!

Over on LiveJournal

2008-09-25T15:27:00.000-07:00

Since I spend so much time on LiveJournal, I decided to just move my blog over there. Just follow the magical link...you know you want to!

The "zed" word. Don't say it!

Leavin' on the midnight train...

2008-01-11T12:44:00.000-08:00

Made. Of. Awesome! Hope you enjoy!!

Raindrops keep falling on my head...

2008-01-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

January 4, 2008: While it might seem like a great idea to leave your raincoat in the car so you always have it, this doesn't mean you won't get drenched trying to retrieve said raincoat from the trunk of the car. I suggest owning several raincoats and strategically placing them in your home, car, and office...that or learning to enjoying being rain-drenched!!

And that was good advice!

2008-01-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

Well, it's only been 3 months this time...That should definitely count for something. I mean, it is 2008. So far I haven't bungled 2008 up too badly.

So I have decided to start this whole blogging thing up again, but this time with a brilliant idea. You see, while my life is extremely interesting (just nod your head in agreement), I actually ran out of things to talk about. But not to worry, while watching The Gods Must Be Crazy and it's sequel in preparation for the midnight ball drop on New Years, I had an epiphany. Why not pass along my good advice. I mean as a wise man once said "Good advice costs nothing, and it's worth the price!" So here goes my new blogging experiment! Hope all 3 of my readers enjoy!

January 2, 2008: I might be a little late with this advice, but I guess better late than never. Stay away from the film Eragon. It barely resembles the book (which admittedly I have some issues with since it is a knock off of a number of other superior fantasy series) and although it has some hotties in it, the movie is not worth your time...even if it is free and you have a couple of hours to kill. I'm not sure how Jeremy Irons, Djimon Hounsou, Rachel Weisz, John Malkovich, Garrett Hedlund, or Alun Armstrong got duped into taking a role in this film. However, I am sure the million of dollars they got paid help and since I got paid nothing, I'm still a bit pissed by the whole experience.

Hello, my friend(s), hello!

2007-10-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am aware it has been almost 4 months since my last post, but what can I say...I haven't really had anything to say. (Ok that is a lie, I ALWAYS have something to say, but I just felt I needed to take some time off and simply fall off the radar for a bit. I do this every once in a while, so no need to panic!!) Anyhoo, since today I turned 26 and therefore feel I have lived long enough to pass on some useful bits of knowledge, I present...

Pearls of Wisdom I acquired over the last 4 months:

A thesis will NOT write itself.
Growing old isn't easy...not one bit.
Car repairs are often costly and always come at the worst time.
Friday Night Lights - the tellie series NOT the film - is made completely of AWESOME.
Betta fish like to jump out of bowls.
Social lives are highly over-rated.
Electric cars are far from being perfected.
Moments of nostalgic weakness are often followed by eons of profound regret.
Pre-season college football rankings mean bupkiss.
Flirting with single librarians can be a terrific hobby.
EW’s Popwatch blog is highly addictive!
No one wins in forum wars.

To Russia With Love...

2007-06-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

So, today I thought I would share with the world my hatred of Russian websites. While I have no real issues with the country itself, Russian websites simply rub me the wrong way and I'll tell you why: I can't figure the out.
You see, many of my favorite image websites are from Germany, France or Italy. While I don't understand the actual entries themselves, I can always decipher where the photo gallery is located. With Russian sites, I simply have no clue. Nothing looks familiar and I end up clicking all the links with little to no success. Anyway, just thought I would share.
On a completely unrelated note, I recently rediscovered the U2 video for "The Sweetest Thing". It will brighten your day...I promise!!

And I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation!

2007-06-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Do you know what I love more than anything in life? (With the obvious exceptions of Buffy, scavenger hunts, U2, and chocolate of course!) I love rediscovering a 'lost' love. Yes, over the weekend I rekindled my unabashed adoration ofr the short-lived, but completely genius, series Freaks & Geeks.
The dvds have been lost in my Netflix queue for nearly a year, always being overlooked for some reason. Perhaps it had to do with the pain of losing the series 7 years ago or the fact that I have the attention span of a gnat, but I finally got around to catching up with my friends over at McKinley High!
And man did they get the most awesome dvd treatment. Granted I'm a commentary geek, but I think anyone would be impressed that every episode has at least 1 commentary track, with several eps featuring 2. And these aren't the awful giggling commentaries in which the phrase "I don't remember" or simply silence take up most of the track. I could go on and on, but I don't want this to sound like a pitch for the dvds...which it totally is my friends!
I'm just so excited. While I love The O.C. and other completely unrealistic high school shows, there is just something about watching a series that reflects more of my own high school experience. Sure, it is set in the 80's and therefore differs from my own experience in many ways - my high school lacked a smoking patio and John Bonham unfortunately died before I was born - the people were all oh so familar. There is something comforting in knowing that others experience the same things. High school can feel so isolating and there is some comfort in knowing that you weren't the only one that saw PE as 101 ways to be humiliated.

I'm coming up so you better get this party started!

2007-05-29T14:56:00.001-07:00

Well it is official, dear reader(s). I made it a whole year without indulging in soda. I proved the ciritcs wrong and I'm guessing left a substantial dip in Pepsi Cola's revenues! (Although stock in New Belgium's Fat Tire should be skyrocketing!!)

So, as you might have imagined, I didn't think I would last a month, but somehow I beat the odds. My mom gave it a week and Crystal, bless her, gave me a month.

As this anniversary approached, I had a blog extravaganza planned to celebrate my first year of Soda Pop Sobriety. There was going to be a band. And streamers. And balloons...lots of balloons. And of course some B-list celebrity was going to stop by and congratulate me on my accomplishment. I know it isn't like solving the problem of world hunger, but if you knew how much soda I used to go through on a daily basis...

Anyway, sit back and enjoy the balloons, imagine you are listening to a 70 piece marching band playing Everybody's Everything with special guest, tv's Craig Fergeson!

I've still got sand in my shoes...

2007-05-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

Now I really have to find a rich husband!

10022-SHOE

hopelessly...I'll love you endlessly...

2007-05-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

Well, today it became official. Supernatural got picked up for next season!!!! 22 all new episodes, baby!!! And to top it off, Veronica Mars was cancelled. Now I know this might offend some of my readers - actually I don't know that, but I thought I would at least be a bit courteous since I am about to bask in the joy of a shows demise - but this was the best news I heard today. You see, I love VM andI mean that whole-heartedly. But you must understand that the VM I love lasted only a season. Sure I have watched the subsequent 2 years, but that was a different VM...I don't really like that Veronica. She was kind of a bitch a lot of the time...
I will say that I think the CW handled the whole cancellation quite crappy. If you are going to cancel the program...cancel the program. Don't do a pr dance in hopes of not pissing off a vocal crowd...a crowd that is still pissed about the whole Everwood/7th Heaven debacle last spring.
However, as I said before, VM has been dead for quite some time and I look forward to not having to watch it since I have stayed ever faithful. If only they could have done a Logan spinoff that somehow featured Weevil, Mac, Wallace, Keith & Cliff I would have been happy, but alas that isn't meant to be. Here's hoping some of those faces pop up again on the small screen in the near future!!

Hump Day Hotties: Winchester Edition

2007-05-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

So, this is actually a post I co-wrote with ChickLit, but I figured I would just put it up here as well. I mean, I did find all of the pics and formatted them! That counts for something in this world!! Oh and in case you are not familar with the nickname, I go by Mad Madam M over on her blog! Now onto the pretty!!!

Today's Hump Day Hotties is dedicated to tomorrow's season finale of Supernatural. A show with a plot, some bad acting, and some very pretty boys we're going to share with you. Keep in mind, the Mad Madam M has lost most of her touch with reality and interchangeable refers to the cast and characters by their real names, characters names, and weird nicknames that she picks up God knows where. Here's a cast list to help you keep it straight:

Dean Winchester (aka El Deano & Lil' Stumpy) - Jensen Ackles (aka Mad Madam M's future pool boy!)

Sam Winchester (aka Sammy & Ginormotron) - Jared Padalecki

John Winchester (aka Shut Up Daddy) - Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Metallicar - 1 of 5 '67 Chevy Impala

(In case you didn't know...these are the Winchester brothers! Just a little hint!!)

Mad Madam M: *squee* Season 3, people!!! Season 3!!!! We have a SEASON 3!!!!! *squee*

Crystal: Yay! If we'd have had to come up with another mutual show to watch, it could have gone badly. I mean, we don't watch the same TV. We just don't.

(Towels...are they really necessary?)

Mad Madam M: Yes, I watch the show for the plots. Why do you ask?

Crystal: Yes, the depth of characterization in this show is...intense.

(Jensen Pool-side & preparing for his second career!)

Mad Madam M: This settles it...we definitely need a pool so Jensen can lounge next to it. Although, he will be wearing far less clothing!!

Crystal: Well, you are my one-woman entourage. When I get rich and famous, I think you should have a pretty pool boy. And why not him? I mean, he looks like he'd enjoy the life of pool boy.

(The Winchester Lean™)

Mad Madam M: *pets computer monitor* Now that is a queue I wouldn't mind waiting in for any length of time...perhaps even eternity!!! Even if Ginormotron has to slouch a bit...

Crystal: They are just so preeeeettty. I'll take one of each.

(Dean & Metallicar: A match made in heaven!)

Mad Madam M: I'm not sure which is sexier, El Deano or Metallicar. However, together they make one beautiful sight. I'm surprised that evil still exists when everyone could just stare at that all day. I know I do...

Crystal: I love Metallicar and the random displays of car porn during the show when they have nothing better to do.

(An artistic black & white image of Jensen - hey they all can't be amusing!)

Mad Madam M: *gets lost in his eyes* Please excuse me for a moment... *gets re-lost in his eyes*

Crystal: Umm...Should I give you a moment?

(Wannabe Punkish Jared - but hey I still love you!)

Mad Madam M: Yes I know this pic is cheesy, but I love it anyway! What are you going to do about it? He's still pretty!

Crystal: Amazingly enough, this pic mkes him look even more ginormous.

(Dean & Books...need I say more?)

Mad Madam M: Remeber how a couple months back I wrote that the pic of Adam Brody holding videos was the hottest thing I had ever seen...well this narrowly beats it out. Dean lounging in front of old books...excuse me I must go day dream for a while!

Crystal: You can almost imagine he's smart here. That's hawt.

(Jared with short hair that doesn't at all resemble Cousin It! Miracles do happen!)

Mad Madam M: While I am concerned at the position of the tree branches (it seems even inanimate object want to feel up his torso!) I can't seem to turn away. And I'm not even a SammyGirl?!?!?

Crystal: Dude, to be that pervy tree on his shirt...it's stroking his nipples, I swear.

(Jensen in the Junkyard)

Mad Madam M: Could someone point me in the direction of the nearest junkyard? I think I might find something I want there...

Crystal: I know you're not big on mechanics and such, but let me tell you this is dramatized for public consumption...real junk yard workers do NOT look like this.

(A Winchester Family Portrait...an appropriately bloody one!)

Mad Madam M: Is it sad that even bloody and beat up, I still find these 3 men sexy? On a side note, I would like to point out that apparently Sammy inherited his hair issues from Shut Up Daddy. There goes the theory that his father was actually the Ceiling Demon!

Crystal: Yum.

(Bed head Sammy...a sight everyone should wake up to!)

Mad Madam M: *guh* I can't add to that... *wipes drool off chin*

Crystal: Dude, that rat bastard is cheating on me! He looks pretty doing it, but still!

(Jensen on a Vespa! Magnifico!!)

Mad Madam M: So remember how last week I wanted to be a chair...I have changed my mind. I think I want to be a vespa...a red one!

Crystal: I will refrain from making a comment about how a vespa gets mounted.

I can't get a life if my heart's not in it...

2007-05-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

Today is Monday...oh and what a Monday it is...excuse me while I whine! (I can't even muster up the energy/will to find a pic!)
Apparently, Western has deleted my student record. Good thing I don't need to do anything official at the moment. I do think it is funny that I have library books checked out. You would think that would be something they would check!
Apparently, I am not supposed to volunteer at an archives in Sacramento. Everywhere is full and has no need to little ol' me!
Apparently, Financial aid wants me to start paying back part of my loans. I felt like laughing hysterically at them, but instead I went and listened to Oasis's "The Importance of Being Idle" for a couple hours...while at work of course. Man am I going to miss this job!!
Alright, enough of that...here is an amusing article ChickLit sent me in hopes of making me feel better. Since I recently went through hell trying to buy something on eBay, I ended up enjoying the article quite a lot!

eBayer driven to edge by email quippery

Highway to Hell!!

2007-05-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

Look...it's Ginormitron in Frontier Town!! This screencap just makes me laugh...and if I need anything today (besides a couple million dollars and a hot guy to do my bidding) it's a good chuckle!!

Let this be a lesson...alway eat your green veggies!!!

C'mere and kill a president...

2007-05-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, two things that might never have been associated together, enter my head at the same time and combine. Let me explain...
A couple of weeks ago, a friend emailed me her joy at discovering Yimou Zhang's amazing film Hero. It is not only a beautifully shot film...it also brings up interesting ideas about an assassin's place in society.
Anyhoo, I recently have found myself in one of my musical-obsession phases. Last night I finally got my hands on Stephen Sondheim's musical Assassin (You know the revival cast that has Doogie Howser in it!!)
All I can say, is if you are looking for an interesting night. Watch Hero and listen to Assassins. Then email me so we can discuss. So far, I have been having debates with myself...and I always loose!

Like a storybook ending, I'm lost in your charms...

2007-05-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been forever folks, but here it is...one of my fabulous photodumps: PicSpam Spectacular!™. However, this time I have actually gone above and beyond the call of duty...I didn't just find the pics, I actually scanned 4 of them. You see, as I explained a couple months back, I have joined the fascinating world (read: all-encompassing club, no wait...cult) of comic books based on tellie programs. Not only am I enjoying season 8 of Buffy, but I have now starting reading the Supernatural Origins series. I can guess what you are thinking, but no time for that now. I should note that I didn't think that the drawings of the different characters were going to be exact, but with the Buffy drawings, you can easily decifer who is who...with the exception of all those stupid slayer potentials...well I guess they are no longer potentials, but you know what I mean. I could never tell them apart...except the one Willow dated, silly hat girl, and Robena (or is it Rowena? I honestly don't care) the whiner.
Anyhoo, after enjoying 3 issues of Buffy, I started reading my first Supernatural comic and boy was I in for a shock. I'm not sure what show the artist was watching, but I don't think it looks like anything I have seen. Well, I tried to tell ChickLit all about it, but she wanted so see...so I scanned some of the pages. I should warn you, the scans aren't high quality and for some reason all of the writing is backwards. I have included an assortment of imags from the show in order to try and make comparisons easier. Anyway, hope you all enjoy!

PicSpam Spectacular!™: What Where Those Artists Smoking?

The Winchester Men...Sam, Shutup!Daddy, and Dean

Oh and Missouri...

Now the drawn versions...

ShutUp!Daddy & Missouri

A young Dean & Sam...really!?!?! Dean's blond and I'n not sure what is up with Sammy!

Again, I'm not quite sure what the artists were on...

Well, at least they gof Sammy's crying right. That's something at least!

Only the echoes of my mind...

2007-05-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

I think perhaps it is a very good thing there are only 2 episodes of Supernatural left in season 2. You see, I have started handing out - only in my mind of course - "Fabulous Drunk!Sam Seal of Disapproval" honors to people. Now I do take some comfort in the fact that I didn't create this special award myself, but that doesn't excuse the unimaginable joy I get handing them out to people.
Although, I should probably seize the day and have as much fun with the dubious 'prize' as I can since the next two weeks may be the last to ever offer a new Supernatural episode. Oh and in case you were wondering...the image comes with the distinction!

You're the apple of my heart...

2007-05-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

I don't really have much to say...who am I kidding? Of course I have much to say, it just isn't all that exciting or interesting. Sure I could rant about what I feel is wrong with congress and the horrific consequences of employing young, low-paid legislative staffers. It would make me feel better for a while, but in the end it is only a momentary relief and I would simply find something else to go on about.
I could talk about the new Supernatural ep on tonight, but I don't think many of my readers are Winchester fans. (I know, I know that hasn't stopped me in the past, but I am trying to be a more considerate person...at least for today!) That show has had a really strong second half. Hopefully that convinces the powers that be to keep it around. *fingers crossed*
Oh, I am thinking of moving my blog over to Wordpress, but no final word on the subject. I figure if I do switch, it will only be after ChickLit figures out all the ins & outs. I know I don't want to figure it out!
I guess, I could talk about the pic I chose for today's blog. In case you are unfamilar, I love when my worlds combine and this is a pretty sweet image. The pic features Simon Pegg (if you have not seen Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz, go and see both now...I can wait!), Kevin Smith (If you haven't seen a Kevin Smith film, I don't know why you would ever be interested in my blog!), and Edgar Wright (Pegg's co-writer and the director of Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz.) Somehow, things don't seem so bad anymore...
Perhaps, I should have talked about last night's One Tree Hill episode. I didn't watch most of it, since I don't enjoy watching violence again women, but I do appreciate that the 2 girls fought the sicko-stalker guy and defeated him on their own. I thought sure the show was going to have one of the guys rush in and save them, but for once the female citizens of Tree Hill really stepped up!

You Know He Ain't Gonna Die...

2007-04-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't have much to report today other than last night's episode of Supernatural completely rocked! Funny story though...I keep calling it Prison Break! I mean think about it the story centered around 2 brothers completely devoted to one another, first breaking into a prison and then breaking out. Sounds a bit lik Prison Break to me.

In other, non-tellie news, ChickLit and I created a fabulous vidspam follow-up to this week's Hump Day Hotties column featuring hetero-life partners! You should totally go check it out because, hey...no reading involved!!!

I've been too long, I'm glad to be back!!

2007-04-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

Ok...I know it has been quite a while since I have blogged, but hey, I have been jetting all over the west coast. So, in order to make up for it, I have compiled a list of thoughts, questions, and tips I have discovered over the last 3 weeks. (Oh and in case you are worried, my daily blog pic will be back tomorrow. I just couldn't find an appropriate one for today's entry!)

It turns out that even though I hate birds (hey I got pooped on once and it was really traumatic...just ask ChickLit...she was there!), I still can’t handle watching birds fall from the sky onto the pavement and get run-over. Apparently I do have some compassion left!
Sci-Fi Conventions are Awesome!!
Never visit a hospital hungry...after a couple of hours, hospital cuisine starts to look good!
Will I ever not be broke?
I have a new fern named Bernadette. Yes I name plants...they really do live longer that way!
Damn the CW for creating inner conflict for me once again!
I have figured out what is wrong with the US Federal Government - no one picks up the phone.
The Powers That Be better not cancel Supernatural...all I can say is that it won't be pretty!!
12-14 hour work days are not fun.
Apollo is cute in person, but shorter than I thought; Starbuck is a lot more girly...
Travel Tip #1: Always obtain a rental car from a state you do not live in. That way when you drive like a crazed maniac in Canada, it will be blamed on someone else...like Oregon! I mean we all know about those insane Oregonian drivers...
Tell me again why No one does comedy like the Brits. If you haven't seen Hot Fuzz yet...drop what you are doing and go. Go Now! I can wait. My blog will be here when you get back! *starts humming The Girl From Ipanema*
The staff working for Congressional members are never at their desk and never ever answer email or voicemail!
Apparently I am more of a Trekker than I thought. However, I still find people in costume creepy.
So while the Prison Break finale was completely preposterous, I have to say...I can't wait until next season!
Travel Tip #2: When traveling in Canada or Britain, B&B’s are the way to go!!
I love tea.
Chekov is kind of a cranky old guy.
Travel Tip #3: Burbank airport is truly the airport time forgot!
Once you have been in an incarnation of Star Trek, you have it made...unless you resent being on Star Trek. Then you are simply screwed for all eternity.
The awesomeness of flower vending machines is immeasurable...I mean it is a spinning diner pie case that has flowers for sale!!!
Did I mention Sci-Fi Conventions are Totally Awesome!!
You don't believe me about the whole B&B thing...I have two words for you: Fresh Scones!
Please let the Powers That Be cancel Veronica Mars. I don't want to watch anymore, but I lack the willpower to do so on my own.
No matter what various people said, I still think Avery Brooks is an ass...a pompous ass!
Tell me, how did I get mixed up in dealing with animal vaccines again?
Travel Tip #4: Flying in high winds is not fun and should be avoided as much as possible. If you do have to fly in high winds, make sure you know where the air sickness bag is. Trust me...
Is it pathetic that I was genuinely happy to recieve flowers on Administrative Professionals Day?
I can die happy...Tom Paris used the term 'lizard babies'. Perhaps the worse ep in the history of Star Trek actually brought some good! All I can say is it is about time!!
TVGuide did a whole page article about Supernaturalin this week's magizine...does that mean it is coming back next year? (And doesn't El Deano look a lot like Wentworth Miller in that pic? Ok...maybe that is just me!)
Travel Tip #5: Travel with people who have money. It just makes everything better!
In case you missed it, Sci-Fi Conventions are Frakkin’ Awesome!!

But trust me on the sunscreen...

2007-04-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

Jon Stewart put it best,"As an adolescent, [Vonnegut] made my life bearable." If you haven't heard already, I don't know how to break this news gently: Kurt Vonnegut has died. Now I know he hasn't published a whole lot recently, but still American literature has lost a titan...a voice of the people. As with Arthur Miller, I didn't need to see a new book published every couple of years, it was just compforting knowing that somewhere Vonnegut was alive. I saw him on The Daily Show a few months back and marvelled at how 'with it' he still seemed and the way Jon Stewart seemed at a loss for words and simply just somewhere was enough.

So it goes...

[Note: Yes I know that Kurt Vonnegut didn't write the speech used in the Baz Luhrmann hit, but I sitll think it is somewhat fitting. I think it is advice that he would give.]

Move along, move along, just to make it through...

2007-04-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

The Mad Madam M strike continues and you're still stuck with me. You'll manage, I'm sure. I was inspired to do another VidSpam in honor of her...because, well, it is her invention. I think. Actually, I don't really remember. Whatever. So, on with the VidSpam done up Supernatural style.

This is a creepy video. The music is almost peppy, which makes it even creepier.

This one has fire, which is cool because it appeals to my inner pyro.

This one I just went what the *&&%^%??? Be afraid, be very afraid.

And the beat goes on...

2007-04-03T07:12:00.000-07:00

The Mad Madam M has run away with the circus (don't worry she'll be back next week), but I promised to put in an appearance over here and keep you entertained while she's gone. Today, I bring you a VidSpam of Veronica Mars songs. Enjoy!

Creepy ass, yet funny video with these boots are made for walking. Have fun with this one.

And for those of us who have a love/hate relationship with the annoying, tiny blonde one.

Veronica Mars in rewind mode. It's kinda creepy though to watch people go backward so much. I got a little bit sea sick.

Leaving on a jet plane...

2007-03-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

For years, I have tried to stay away from the world of comic books. You see, I feel it's pull like a siren's call. Here would be the perfect hobby for my affinity for fantasy/sci-fi as well as my OCD tendencies. See why I have tried to stay away...there is just too much temptation.
Anyhoo, leave it to Joss Wheadon to suck me in. Most of you probably already know of his plan to release a season 8 in comic book form. No network. No budget. Just Buffy and the scooby gang (unfortunately now including all the potentials) fighting evil. Can you see why I finally gave in?!?!?!
Well, I read the first issue the day it came out and now await the second. I also read all of Frank Miller's 300 at Barnes & Noble. (You can only get the book in hardback and I don't have $17 lying around to spend on something I may not like. It just makes sense, although I never thought I would become one of those people that reads an entire book at the store. Seems kind of sad... On second thought, perhaps I should have kept that to myself!)
And now, I am being tempted to read the Supernatural prequels. I mean, how could I resist learning more about the adventures of Charleton Heston and wee!angry-man Dean. (Oh and chubby baby!sammy. How could I forget him...) I only know one phrase to express my current state of mind: KHAN!!!!!
In other news, ChickLit will be filling in for the next couple of days while I soak up the sun in Victoria, BC. *takes a moment to try away the tears caused by hysterical laughter* Hopefully I finally get to use the new raincoat I spent an arm and a leg on. Wait on second thought, scratch that...
Anyway, be nice to the guest blogger or I'll be forced to create another Procrastination Station™ Competition. You wouldn't want that would you!?!?!?

I will feel a glow just thinking of you...

2007-03-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I have finally finished. Yes, I can now proudly - perhaps not proudly, but I couldn't think of better word - say I have watched all of Star Trek: Deep Space 9. (For those of you playing the home game, it only took me 8 months! However in my defense, I watched the last 3 seasons - 26 episode seasons - in 2 months...that was how good it got!)
I ended up quite loving the series as a whole. For those of you wondering, Quark turned out to be my favorite full-time cast member character with the combo of Bashir and O'Brien coming in a close second. I even grew to tolerate Sisko. He will never be a favorite, but I could stand him in the end...believe me that is an amazing statement. I wrote back in late October that the series was starting to get better, but I didn't realize how good it was going to get!
Luckily I watched the series finale alone last night. I was doing pretty good and then the show threw me a curve ball and snuck in a rendition of the Jerome Kern classic "The Way You Look Tonight" at a going away party. After that I kept tearing up...especially when Bashir and O'Brien said goodbye and especially when Kira and an tux wearing Odo parted for the last time. No matter what, I will always think of them all (Jadzia Dax NOT Exri Dax of course) on that former Cardassian space station near Bajor dealing with the latest tragedy - normally involving Gul Dukat, Kai Winn, or the Dominion - but never forgetting to enjoy time with good friends while hanging out in Quark's...

Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl...

2007-03-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

Since this is my blog and I can do whatever I want (I'm used to having my way since I am an only child...you don't want to fight me on this), I want to talk about the Battlestar Galactica finale. However, I promis this is going to be cryptic since I have no clue if any of my loyal readers watch BSG. I know ChickLit is only through part of season 1 - since she is borrowing my dvds - and I would hate to ruin the series for her or anyone else just coming to know the awesomeness of BSG. I have to say, after a slow and often frustrating season 3, BSG redeemed itself and hooked me again. I can't believe I have to wait until 2008 to see a new episode. Hopefully season 4 doesn't disappoint and I can get some juicy tidbits from Jamie Bamber and Katee Stackoff in a couple of weeks!
Again, I would hate to ruin things so I will leave it at this...I think I know who the two riders are, but that still leave the joker, the thief, and the prince left to identify. Let the theories roll...

and her heart it is in Ireland, deep within the Emerald Isle...

2007-03-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has an awesom St. Patrick's Day. I have already had my corn beef & cabbage along with some potatoes and Guiness. Anyhoo, Knows-It-All sent me this awesome card that I just had to share. If you know me, you know how perfect this card is...

Back in Black...

2007-03-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a couple of days. Wish I could say I was doing something cool, but in all honesty, I got a bit overloaded a work. It happens sometimes. Anyway, I had planned to do a blog entry on 300, which I saw on Monday, but I'm just not feeling it at the moment. I enjoyed the film immensely, so perhaps next week...
However, as you probably have guessed by the image appearing in the top left-hand corner, this entry is all about the return of Supernatural. Yes, after a month long hiatus one of my fav shows is returning and with a very special guest that completely rocks my world. Caprica Six - Tricia Helfer - from Battlestar Galactica is this week's damsel in distress. Although I find it somewhat creepy when my worlds combine, this mixture I'm actually looking forward to. Besides both shows film in Vancouver...and it isn't like that creepy scene from Dark Angel that features Col. Kira from Deep Space Nine Boomer from BSG and Jensen. You would think that Kira's (I don't remember her name on Dark Angel and to be honest I don't care. Nana Visitor will always be Kira...) bleached hair would have been the scariest thing in that scene, but no...it is the weird collection of people. It just isn't right!
So read a fun interview with Jared about Sam finally gettin' some lovin' or an interesting article about the show or even watch Jensen's interview with Jimmy Kimmel. I honestly don't mind which you do, but for goodness sake click on something. That is what the internet is for. (Although Avenue Q does have their own theory that might be a bit more accurate.) Trust me on this...
Oh before I sign off, remember that today is the last day to participate in my first ever Procrastination Station™ No Prize competition. At this moment, only ChickLit has entered. Come on! If you don't enter, the terrorists win! You don't want that do you?!?!?! (Not that I am implying in any way that ChickLit is a terrorist, mind you. Just that participation in idiotic competitions is part of the foundation of American life. I mean how else do you explain the fact that Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader got picked up for another 13 episodes?!?!?!)

Clicky Licky for the Details

The closing walls and the ticking clocks...

2007-03-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

I hate Spring Forward Day (SFD). I know it actually happened yesterday, but I am still upset. I mean I hate SFD like I hate people who try to jump the queue and Hilary Swank films. (If you have never been presence when someone tries to cut in a line or heard my rants about Hilary Swank count yourself lucky...just ask ChickLit!)

Anyway, that is all I really had to share at the moment. I did recently watch "Shut Up & Sing", the documentary about the whole Dixie Chick controversy a couple of years ago. Even if you don't like country music, this is a fascinating film that takes place over the course of 3 years; detailing the original incident, in which Natalie Maines made disparaging remarks about Bush and the Iraq war in 2003 during a concert in London, and concluding with the release of their new album Taking the Long Way.

Ireland, Scotland, Britian & Wales, I can hear those ancient voices calling...

2007-03-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

Since ChickLit made my day by creating some posters for my first ever Procrastination Station™ Competition (as well as helping me brainstorm the name I might add), I decided to create a blog all about Ioan Gruffudd, one of her favorite people! Sure he has made some questionable flicks - *cough* Fantastic Four *cough* - but Horatio Hornblower is still one of the best BBC produced series EVER! I mean, no one does not-so-subtle HoYay! like BBC does HoYay! Besides what is not to love about hot guys running around really cool looking ships in loafers...LOAFERS. Forget muskets and ponytails...I don't think there is any better fashion accessory for Napoleonic naval battles that the low-heeled loafer for men. Reminds me of the women of Star Trek always going into battle in 3 inch heels...I snicker every time they have to survive a fire fight or even hike through rough terrain in such ridiculous shoes! But I digress...
A while ago I stumbled upon a video of Ioan and his real-life best friend Matthew Rhys (yes FemeNazi...Kevin from your new fav series) speaking Welsh in a short 2 minute film. I have no clue what they are saying, but it is one of the sexiest things I have ever watched. Why do other languages always sound so exquisite?!?! Anyway ChickLit...this one's for you!!

I Can't Live...With or Without You!

2007-03-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

I'mmmmm Baaaack! Did you miss me? Come on...you can admit that you did! (Or at least say that you missed me...my self-esteem could really use a boost right now!) Big thanks to ChickLit for filling in for a couple of days!!

Anyway, the good news is that last night I finally regained my internet connection. Apparently 'the powers that be' decided I'd served my time and so my punishment finally ended. At long last, my first blog entry since February 16th...well except for the marathon OC picspam I co-authored with ChickLit! But that really wasn't an entry as much as a fond farewell to a friend!

So, for my triumphant return I have decided to include you, the faithful and long-suffering reader, in my first ever Procrastination Station™...when any excuse will do! I recently discovered the joy of making my own 'motivational' posters. (Television Without Pity has a 390+ thread on their boards filled with them!) You know like the posters offered by Despair Inc., the company that has provided motivational posters for pessimists for years! Anyway, all you have to do is find an image, figure out a catchy title & motivational text, and follow the easy steps on the website! It is as easy as that and you can spend hours upon hours making these posters...like I did!

Consequently, I have decided that it is about time my blog served some sort of purpose other than my ramblings about pop culture, so I'm issuing a challenge. I stress that this isn't a competition since there will be no real prize other than the chance to get your poster published on my blog! I'm looking for posters that make me laugh! Please upload your posters to an image hosting website like Flikr or Photobucket and post the link in the comment section. Posters can be about anything pop culture related include but not limited to tellie, books, movies, celebrities, or the horrors of grad school/academia! The winning poster, or really any poster that gets submitted since I doubt anyone is going to take me up on this, will be posted next Friday, St. Patrick’s Day Eve. So readers get ready for an addictive new activity to waste more time!

Here is a sample I made!

Create Your Own Now!

Stop Me from Making Movies of Myself...

2007-03-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

The saga continues...day five of Mad Madam M without internet. Sorry folks.

Anyway, I give you the first real quiz on this blog. To make it fun, I forced the Mad Madam M to take the quiz too. It's about being a movie buff. Those of you who know anything about her know she's an expert in pop culture. She'd seen everything on the list except one move that she made a personal choice not to watch. I'll let you guess which one it was.

Your Movie Buff Quotient: 98%

You are a movie buff of the most obsessive variety. If a movie exists, chances are that you've seen it.
You're an expert on movie facts and trivia. It's hard to stump you with a question about film.

Are You a Movie Buff?

And here's me. I cheated and added a few to my list to make her feel better. Remember the post about making your best friend feel better about herself by lying? Friendship in action here, people. Check it out.

Your Movie Buff Quotient: 48%

You are well on your way to becoming a movie buff.
You've seen many of the great films, and you have even probably developed an expertise in a few genres.

Are You a Movie Buff?

Lucy in the sky with diamonds

2007-03-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

Day two of the Mad Madam M not having internet, so you're all still stuck with me, her dubious partner in crime.

I'm going to take a swing at her vidspam posts. This week will be popular songs turned into Lord of the Rings and/or Pirates of the Carribbean music videos.

Aragon *hearts* Arwen. Awww...while ocking out to Nickelback.

This is Johnny Depp at his weirdo best...and a really dorky song to help him along.

Because when I think of pirates, I think country music. Fer Sure.

Because a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do...but Keira Knightley will smack you across the face with her opinion.

This should totally have been the Rohan theme song. Totally.

I've been waiting for this moment, for all my life...

2007-03-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

Since this is my first foray into Mad Madam M-land and she asked me to throw up a blog because her 'net is down, I decided to make a list of all the reasons I'm her best friend:

I completely understand her fetish for all things pop culture, though I don't share it. If I didn't understand, we couldn't be friends. If I shared it, wee'd be too much alike and we couldn't be friends. Sense a pattern?
When she told me it was Jensen Ackles birthday today, I immediately assured her that the older he gets, the lower his asking price will be when I'm famous enough to buy him for her as her own personal pool boy. I want to be a fmous author, and we all need a loyal entourage to spoil. It's the perfect set-up for both of us, I think.
She's totally supportive of my writing career, but she never reads my books. Why does this make us awesome friends? I write romance! She doesn't need to read the kind of stuff that come out of my head. Ewwww.
I watched Buffy for her. I mean, that says something right there. I'm just not sure what. Anyway...moving on!
We both suffered through the same heinous senior project together. And there was ice cream after. Lots of ice cream.
We both went to grad school. It was in different states, so how would this draw us together? Grad school messes with your mind, man. You'll never be the same again. So, we're similarly wacked out.
When we're old and widowed and still wacked out, we can be biddies with fifty cats. The neighbors can think we're weird and smell kind of old-lady menthol funny, but we'll still be propping up and reassuring each other delusions. That's what real friends are for. They don't help you move or move bodies, they see that you're crazy and old and lie to your face about it to make you feel better.

California, California...here we coooooooome!

2007-02-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

So some of you might be wondering where I have been. I have 2 words for you...Annual Meeting. Yes, I am planning an annual meeting and the 'blessed' event is now less than 2 weeks away. Anyway, I'm making up for it today! Every Wednesday, ChickLit and I do a "Hump Day Hotties" column over on her blog. Since today marks the end of an era, My beloved O.C. shuffles off it's mortal coil, I have decided to post the same entry on my blog. (Plus I spent hours finidng th pics and writing comments so I figured I should get some mileage out of it as well!) So without further ado I bring you...
*drum roll please*
Wait, wait...I should warn you that the following is not fo the faint of heart. The images are often sexy and the comments are always a bit racy!
*ok...drum roll please*

Hump Day Hotties Extravaganza!

Some of you might be wondering why there was no Hump Day Hotties on Wednesday. Here's why: today is the end of The OC, a show the Mad Madam M and I watch religiously, much to the chagrin of all who know and love us.

Now, M refers to all characters interchangably between their real names and their character names. I think relaity has warped for her a bit and it's all one in the same now. Anyway, to avoid confusion, here's a run down of the cast with real AND character names (the dude characters anyway).

Peter Gallagher played Sandy Cohen
Adam Brody played Seth Cohen
Ben McKenzie played Ryan Atwood
Chris Carmack played Luke Ward

Mad Madam M: Welcome to the O.C. indeed. I'm telling you, if I ever came across a hitchhiker that looked like that, I might have to change my policy about stopping. I mean we have all seen Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. There is a "hitcher's code" you know!

Crystal: Or what about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? There are exceptions to the hitcher hiker rule. And really, if something that cute wanted to jump me, I might be willing to lie down and take it like a girl.

Mad Madam M: Nothing like a black and white photo to make a sexy boy even hotter. I don't know what is better... his piercing look that makes me think that he has eyes for no one but me or the awesome gentle-tossled-hair/stubble /tight-black-t-shirt combo. Thank goodness I don't have to decide!

Crystal: I love that his macho-I-slept-with-your-mom character ended up with a gay dad. Priceless!

Mad Madam M: Sure the hair screams "I'm a soap star" but to be quite honest I spend most of my time staring at the naked abs. I mean really...naked abs ON DISPLAY!!

Crystal: All I can say is Thank God I have really good glasses and can enjoy this view. Being blind would be really inconvenient here.

Mad Madam M: Sure he has an interesting facial attribute that has lead to the nickname "Crazy Eyebrow Man", but he wears those eyebrows proudly and you have to give hims some credit for that. Besides it's Peter Gallagher people...Peter Gallagher!!

Crystal: I'd do him. And his crazy eye brows.

Mad Madam M: I know what your are thinking...how can he make this list when he was such a jerk in several 90's flicks? My only answer for you, he has also starred in several Broadway musicals including the revival of Guys & Dolls. I personally find that quite sexy!

Crystal: Oh my God. If you made me listen to that CD of Gays & Drag Queens ONE MORE TIME. *)*%&amp;amp;amp;amp;%^#^T*&Y&()*)* So there!

Mad Madam M: Ah...aren't they a cute family? Clearly Ryan takes after Kirsten, but still...it could happen. Besides Ryan is smiling. I repeat...Ryan is smiling!! Check out a pic of the whole family.

Crystal: Clearly Ryan is the hotter of the twin boys here. Seth is the lovable genetic reject, like Danny DeVito in TWINS.

Mad Madam M: Sure Ryan has always been my favorite of the two (Crystal claimed Seth from the beginning), but this photo has to be the hottest pic I have ever seen. Cute boy holding videos IN A video store. I can't tell you how many of my fantasies start out this way...

Crystal: You know how some video stores just have the empty cases on the shelves and you have to take them to the counter where they stick the videos in so you don't steal them? He's hiding porn in those cases. It's all just a front. Which is why he MAY be the Danny Devito, but he's clearly the man for me.

Mad Madam M: From the backdrop, I would guess that he is in a prison cell of some sort. But hey...haven't we learned anything from Michael and Linc over on Prison Break. Prisons can be sexy too!

Crystal: Again, the man for me. Prison bitches and porn. Oh, yeeeeeeah. Cue bad '80s porno flick music *Bow chica bow bow*

Mad Madam M: I love this pic, although upon further study - 'cuz let's just say I have studied it well - I am a bit disconcerted by it's resemlance to a Buffy the Vampire Slayer poster I once owned. (Who am I kidding with the whole 'once owned' crap? It's somewhere in my storage unit at the moment!) Here's the original poster.

Crystal: He looks like he wants me to frisk him. *Bow chica bow bow*

Mad Madam M: As you may have already realized...I am a sucker for black and white photos. I especially adore the soulful look in this pic. I think he is staring into my soul...

Crystal: Nah. This is his gay shot. You can have this one, M. I prefer them on the straighter side of life. Unless he wants to go shopping with me. Then we can work this out.

Mad Madam M: Doesn't he just remind you of George Clooney is Ocean's 11? Doesn't he? Okay I guess that might just be me, but he does look good. The unbuttoned shirt...the stubble...the look that makes me want to confess to every naughty thought or fantasy I have ever had...

Crystal: Mmmmm. George Clooney. Ocean's 11. Sorry...what were we talking about?

Mad Madam M: The boy knows how to lean. And wear a tight Lynyrd Skynyrd t-shirt. And model well-fitted jeans. And tossle his hair just so...
*Takes a moment to wipe the drool away from my chin*

Crystal: He kinda has the 1980s rocker look going here. It's hawt. He's yours, I understand, but he's still hot!

Mad Madam M: I admit this isn't the greatest pic, but Ben McKenzie is wet. And you can see his muscles. Did I mention he is wet? What more could a girl ask for? Except one night to use his body as a jungle gym? A weekend? An eternity? (I can't believe I just wrote that. Perhaps I need to spend some time at the Supernatural Obsessive Support Group Sanitarium to try get my mind off of Ben McKenzie and perhaps recover from my Jensen Ackles obsession at the same time!)

Crystal: Dude, don't lie. You totally threw that bucket of water on him. I saw you.

Mad Madam M: There is a distressingly large amount of images featuring Ben standing around. Sometimes things just work out wonderful for everyone involved...especially the viewer!

Crystal: Well, it's awesome when you can make money just standing around. I'd do it if I could. Totally.

Mad Madam M: So I admit the jacket is a bit camp, but once again we get Ben leaning...and with good hair! For those of us who have endured 4 years of Ryan's follicle ups-and-downs (far more downs than ups) that is a wonderful sight!!

Crystal: Nope. I'm not digging on the hair. It's a bit too feathered Farrah Faucet for me. And the jacket? Dude, he and Seth are in a gay love square, aren't they?

Mad Madam M: While this might not be the "hottest" of images, there is something sexy about the two foster brothers together that makes me happy inside. What I am going to do with their poolhouse conversations? Or the ever-patient look on Ryan's face while Seth dithers on about some inconsequential matter? What am I going to do? Please tell me. TELL ME!!!! The Winchester brothers better not leave me this year as well. I'm not sure what I will do!!

Crystal: Calm down before I throw a bucket of water on YOU. Sheesh. There's always the DVDs. And I do like this pic, it's funny looking. And I like funny looking shit.

Mad Madam M: This almost makes me want to live in Southern California and deal with all the pretty people on the beach. Well almost...

Crystal: No. Because I am not one of the pretty people. The pretty people would point and laugh at me. And that would be bad.

Mad Madam M: Again this might not be the prettiest pic, but it has charm and charisma! Seth sporting a strung out look with funky hair and Ryan with a crazy look in his eyes. (Not that crazy eye Ryan isn't sexy...) Take a good look (as if you need an excuse!) it looks like at any moment he is going to go crazy on someone and throw a punch!

Crystal: They look stoned. Seriously stoned. I like it. Bad, bad, bad, bad boys...you make me feel so gooooooood!

Mad Madam M: Two hot boys in a pool. Do I really need to add anything more? I mean, I can stare all day at Ryan's abs...can't you?

Crystal: I have no words. Except...take off the swim trunks and go naked. Yeah!

Mad Madam M: I would really like to know what the photographer said to achieve those looks. Ben looks confused while Adam seems to know a secret, a really good one, that he is just dying to share. Or maybe he is just grabbing Ryan's butt. I mean we see the arm, but the hand disappears somewhere behind Ben...

Crystal: Seth farted. Ryan is trying to escape the smell and still look pretty. Oh, the ANGST of Hollywood.

Mad Madam M: Can you ever get enough of these two? I know I can't, even if Ryan is suffering from some blood loss and looks like he could faint at any moment. Seth couldn't leave him behind...I mean, what about the zombies?

Crystal: I love that the one I liked is afraid of zombies. I guess this is The OC edition of Shaun of the Dead. Or something.

Welcome to The OC, bitches!

2 + 2 is on my mind!

2007-02-16T13:30:00.000-08:00

I hate math. Hello! I mean why do you think I switched from an engineering major to history!?!?! Or attempting to complete a masters in HISTORY. I mean you can't get more anti-alegebra than that. Anyway, one of the chicks that works in my office sent me an email containing pics taken from real math exams. I kind of wish I had been smart/brave enough to come up with some of these answers. Get ready to laugh and/or be offended!!

PicSpam Special Edition:
"No really, I can't add those numbers together in my head!"

Oh so obvious and yet oh so wrong!

I thought this was quite the accurate answer. Although I might not agree with all the adjectives, overall I think they got it right!

I'm telling you...there is always an elephant in the way!!

Peter, if it makes you feel better, I really do think it was funny in a completely unsarcastic way!

This one is my absolute favorite. This is so me in my calculus class!!

I Wanna Love You Tender!

2007-02-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

When I got to work this morning, I was so going to write a blog entry concerning last night's One Tree Hill episode. You see, it was, quite simply, awesome. Not only are high schoolers in Tree Hill allowed to strip, but now they have a sex tape scandal to deal with. While that was completely awesome, I was acutally planning to discuss the exact familial relationship of the two babies about to be born. You see, Karen (Lucas's mom)is pregnant with a kid. The baby's father is Lucas's uncle. So the kid would be both Lucas's half-sibling as well as cousin. As if that wasn't complicated enough, Nathan's, Lucas's half brother, wife Haley is pregnant. Clearly the two babies are related, but how? As you can see, the whole family heirarchy is completely screwy and I kept getting so confused I had to start to create a chart on a piece of scratch paper.
That made me sad, so instead I have decided to bring you one of the most awesome vidspam ever. I was originally going to call this edition of VidSpam Spectacular!™, "Videos That Restore My Faith In Humanity But Also Make Me Wonder About How Much Free Time Some People Have", but in the end, I felt that was a bit too long and convoluted. So, instead I bring you:

VidSpam Spectacular!™: How Do People Have This Much Free Time? (Vol. 1)

First of all, how does anyone come up with that idea? And second, how do you actually make it happen and choregraph an entire video consisting of treadmills. To be honest, I don't really care. I just think it is one of the most brillant things I have ever seen!

Again...who thinks up these things. I mean really...

Thank goodness for the Finnish disco duo: Armi & Danny. The world is a better place because of them!

Love Stinks!

2007-02-14T14:21:00.000-08:00

That's all I am going to say about the significance of today my loyal readers!
Tune in tomorrow for a slightly less bitter entry...or at least I hope!

Wish I could be part of that world...

2007-02-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

I love reading blogs. Somehow it is reassuring to know that others spend great amounts of time wondering about completely off-the-wall things. It isn't just me...and I have proof.
Anyway, I read a variety of blogs daily that, with the exception of ChickLit, focus mainly on pop culture or television. I'm a pretty big fan of Tim Goodman over at The Bastard Machine, Maureen Ryan over at the Chicago Tribune, Joe R.'s gem Low Resolution and most recently, Entertainment Weekly's Popwatch. I bring this up only because I read the most delightful column, 'O.C.' Deathwatch: Everybody Loves Ryan . Not only does it have a title I wish I had thought of, but it clearly articulates what has been so awesome about this season. More of a focus on Ryan with Seth adding fun filler to the background. Althoguh I find the Prince Eric comparison odd, it is still worth a couple minutes of your time. So go ahead and click on the link. You know you want to. And hey...you really should listen to the song while reading. I don't know why, but it does make it better!!

That's amore...

2007-02-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

Well, I am finally feeling better, but I must still be sick since I have not only done one of these stupid quizes, but posted it! All in all, it makes some interesting assumptions, but I doubt I will be following any of the 'tips'. Hope y'all enjoy!!

Libra - Your Love Profile

Your positive traits:

You are open minded enough to date outside your typical "type" ... successfully!
You are diplomatic - and likely to end a fight instead of dragging things out.
You are easily loyal and faithful, but only for the right person.

Your negative traits:

You're a bit gullible, and partners take advantage of you. You still may not know it.
You find it difficult to decide where to go to dinner, what movie to watch, who to date...
You have to be in a relationship, or else you just don't feel like yourself.

Your ideal partner:

A smooth talker who enjoys socializing as much as you to.
Someone classy and cultured who knows which wine to order with dinner.
Is beautiful to you - although not necessarily attractive in the traditional sense.

Your dating style:

Romantic. If your date comes bearing flowers, wine, and poetry... well, your heart soars.

Your seduction style:

Giving. Your lover's pleasure is as important as your own.
Soft and sensual - you don't like anything to be rough.
Extravagant ... your fantasy involves staying at a five star hotel with your love.

Tips for the future:

Don't be so quick to compromise in relationships - and you'll get taken advantage of yes.
Try being single for a while. Seems impossible, but you'll learn so much about yourself from doing so.
Make some decisions about your romantic life, right now. You'll be happy that you did.

Best color to attract mate: Green

Best day for a date: Wednesday

What's Your Love Profile?

I didn't mean to have it end like this...

2007-02-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

I'm sick and currently hopped up on over-the-counter medications. Therefore, today's picspam will actually be a vidspam without any commentry. I hope you enjoy...but if you don't please refrain from sending an email...I'm fragile at the moment!

VidSpam Spectacular!™: Super Bowl XLI Commercial Highlights

It's 5 O'clock somewhere...

2007-02-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

Douglas Adams was a genius. Not only did he write very clever books and provide us with the "Answer to The Ultimate Question Of Life, the Universe and Everything" (42), but he articulated an idea that explains so much of my life:

"This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays."

You might be wondering where I am going with this, but bear with me. You know how people use the excuse of "it's 5 o'clock somewhere" when they want to drink in the morning or afternoon? Well, I am going to start to use the excuse of "it's Thursday somewhere; I could never get the hang of Thursdays" when I do really stupid things. Like today, when I accidently poured water into my paper clip container thinking it was my glass. Sure today is actually Thursday so it fits easily, but given my past...by tomorrow I will have done something just as idiotic. It is in my genes!

I don't get around much anymore...

2007-01-31T14:37:00.000-08:00

I recently read a most interesting article in The Sacramento Bee about blogs. Apparently, only 8% of Americans read blogs. Although that number seems lower than I would have thought, I'm really not that surprised. Here's an excerpt:

That came from CBS chief research officer David Poltrack and MRI Research, a respected New York firm that sampled 20,000 people.

"One of the things that's probably overstated by the press is how many people are visiting online blogs," Poltrack said in a presentation to TV critics. "I think you all blog each other, but I'm not sure the rest of the world is joining in the process that much."

In a conversation later, Poltrack said he would guess the majority of people who do read blogs are bloggers themselves.

"That does not leave a whole lot of real people who spend their time with blogs," he said.

Ah yes...once again I am not a 'real person'. I read approximately 6 on a daily basis!

Sunrise, sunset...swiftly flow the days!

2007-01-30T12:38:00.000-08:00

So, this morning I discovered yet another addition to the "Things That Make Me Die a Little Inside" list. I read a couple of months ago that Daniel Radcliffe - aka Harry Potter - is starring in a new West End production of Equus, a controversial play that centers around a stable-hand who has an erotic fixation with horses. Yes it seems good ol' Mr. Potter (as you may have guessed, I will be refering to Daniel Radcliffe as Harry or Mr. Potter for the remainder of this blog entry) is really trying to change his image and not become the next Mark Hamill. Now, I don't have a problem with Harry branching out and going against stereotype. He was 11 when the Harry Potter films began and he is now 17. I get that he is becoming an adult and all that, but did he really have to go to the extreme of appearing naked in a play? I would have been happy with just his hilarious appearance on Extras...I mean he was looking for sex in that show as well. And he was funny. I could have easily lived with the new knowledge that Harry Potter could do comedy. I didn't need to know that Harry Potter works out...
Anyhoodle, the image for today's blog was taken from a photoshoot for the upcoming production, funnily enough also staring Uncle Vernon. If you are brave, or just really curious, I have added links to the other photos at the bottom of the blog. Word of warning, though, click at your own risk. Some of the images include a pretty naked chick and 2 others feature Harry and a horse. In case you missed that, I repeat, 2 images feature a semi-nude Harry Potter and a horse. Once you look at them, you will never see Harry Potter the same way again. To be honest, I kind of wished I had never found them. For my viewing I used the mantra "Please let him be wearing reeeaaallly low cut jeans." Feel free to use it as well! Either way, it looks like Mr. Potter has really grown up and we will all just have to get used to it...or at least pretend to get used to it!

Studio Shot 1
Studio Shot 2
Studio Shot 3
Studio Shot 4

And away to his castle we'll go to be happy forever I know!

2007-01-29T15:28:00.000-08:00

Today, my dear reader(s), you shall witness something momentus...not only will I mention Snakes on a Plane (more than once), but I will also include the first ever Disneyland images to ever appear on my blog. (Sure I have put up the occasional Disney movie that caught my eye for some unknown reason...Like Mary Poppins or some other Julie Andrews sing-song movie. Or High School Musical...did I just actually admit to that one. Too late now...man I wish I understood why I like High School Musical. Okay maybe like is too strong of a word. Although, I do know all of the songs by heart... However, I don't know the dance moves so that is something... Where was I going with this? How did I get on this embarassing stream of consciousness?)
Anyhoodle, before I get onto the Disney ad photos featuring David Beckham as Prince Charming, Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella, and a scene from Alice in Wonderland featuring Lyle Lovett, Oliver Platt and Beyonce(bet you can't wait for that!), I want to share my thoughts on one of the most fabulous movies of 2006 Snakes on a Plane. Now don't get me wrong, I am not recommending anyone actually rent - or Netflix as the case may be - this cinematic triumph...yes TRIUMPH. It isn't really that great of a movie. Hilarious in various ways, but by no means actually 'good'. I don't think I have ever seen so many different cliches played out in a single film or Samuel "The Man" Jackson have that much fun in a film for a while. But what I will cherish most is the shear joy at actually getting a film that lives up to what the title promises: snakes on a plane. How often do titles of movies actually live up to their name? Think about it for a moment. How many movies today have titles that tell you nothing or mislead you to think you will watch a movie about one thing when it is really about something completely different. The Constant Gardner. Some Like it Hot. Trainspotting. Grease. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is sort of refreshing to read the title "Snakes on a Plane" and that is actually what the movie is about. Sure it is a b horror-esque film, but that is what it was designed to do. And before you start questioning my use of the term horror. I think that anything that involves poisonous and agitated snakes in a highly confined space can be considered horror. I know if scared me...
And now onto the happy Disney moment to counteract the often crude Snakes on a Plane. (Can you tell I like writing Snakes on a Plane...no I didn't thinks so!)

PicSpam Monday™:
The "David Beckham Can Be My Prince Charming Any Day!" Edition

He can come charging on his white horse any day...
I don't care if he can't speak in full sentences and
wooed his wife by coloring pictures from The Lion King.
I don't really want him for conversation!

Is it just me, or does it seem like Scarlett has too big of boobies to be Cinderella.
I mean, given her rack, servant or no, she would have a rich man by now!

There is so much going through my head staring at the image...
First of all, who thought of putting these three together in a photo.
And second, could I please talk to them since they have as warped a mind as I do!!

A little bit of resolve is what I need now...

2007-01-24T22:25:00.000-08:00

Do you know what I love? As you may already know, I love watching angsty teen soaps on the CW network, especially the over-the-top cheesy, One Tree Hill. You never know what completly contrived concept they will throw at you next whether it be teen marriage or complete wacko stalkers. Take this week's episode, I'm not sure why (or 'how' for that matter since I think some of them are still "technically"underage), but 3 of the guys on the show entered a amatuer strip competition. I'm not sure why two of the guys did it, but one simply wanted cash to buy is pregnant wife a prom dress. Let me say that again...he wanted to purchase a prom dress for his pregnant wife. This of course is after she gets hit by a car because he was dumb enough to borrow money from a loan shark and failed at fixing a high school state basketball championship. How completely awesome is that. And to make things even better, viewers actually got to witness guys with very little rhythm try to do a strip-dance to old school hip-hop. (Or so the show would like me to believe. I honestly don't listen to enough hip-hop to understand the differences. So I guess I will just have to take their word for it!) I have searched YouTube for a video, but no one has put it up yet as far as I can tell. When they do, expect a VidSpam™.
So don't forget to tune in for next week's rerun, once again featuring some sort of Peyton-drama that only Lucas can fix. This time it involves a crazed stalker pretending to be her long lost half brother. (Yes once again OTH offers the viewer a glimpse at seperated siblings. I mean it is not like the whole show concept is based on that already...oh wait it is!)

Can't you see I'm white and nerdy...

2007-01-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

I suck at math. Perhaps not as bad as spelling - thank goodness for spell check - but it is definitely not an area I excel in. Neither is money management it turns out. After putting off creating a budget for, well years, I finally took an honest look at my finances...and man it isn't pretty. I now understand why the highest percetage of suicide in the US is in the 25-34 category. I can also see why some people completely shun material crap and become hermits. It is sounding better and better every time I think about it.
But that isn't the point of today's blog entry. No siree! No, today's blog is all about the reason I finally understand my complete failure at money management...I 'm going to a Sci-Fi convention in April. In Burbank. Jamie Bamber is going to be there. And Katee Stackoff. And Gul Dukat. And Major Kira. And wow, I'm already sounding like an over excited fangirl.
Now, I attend conventions for self-assteem reasons. That might sound backward, but keep in mind, at these events, I am one of the 'cool' geeks. That doesn't happen for me very often. I am not cool. (Just look at my profile pic if you don't belive me. ..I'm standing next to a giant Pride & Prejudice poster while attempting to add my head to a U2 poster. I blame it on being an only child. Not ) Sure I can speak the geek lingo and know the trivia, but at the end of the day, I'm not a pathetic loser sitting at a table of faux Klingons speaking a language created by other nerds. (No offense to anyone who does speak Klingon fluently, but keep in mind, I live in my mother's sewing room, work for a couple of agricultural organizations setting up livestock sales & sending vaccine, and my thesis advisor keeps ignoring me...I need something in my life to feel good about! Don't deny me this! Please...)
So after agreeing to go with a friend down to the event, I hunkered down today to review my finances...or lack there of. All I am at liberty to say, is that, in layman's terms since that is all I know, I am up a creek without a paddle or a canoe really. I'm floating on a door...like that one in Titanic. Fortunately Leo isn't haning on for dear life trying to bring me down, but still I am doing a pretty good job on my own.
Speaking of Titanic, man I hated that movie. I just don't get the appeal. I mean, Victor Garber and Kathy Bates together couldn't save that flick. Perhaps if Djimon Hounsou had a role, I am pretty sure he can save any film, but alas, we will never know. And it did really launch Kate Winslet's career. ..there is a positive.
(Wow, I just realized I wrote an entire log about my finances, Titanic, and sci-fi conventions. Sometimes I really do wonder about my sanity...or lack there of!)

I fought the law...

2007-01-23T14:08:00.000-08:00

The Academy Award nominations were announced this morning and here is the kicker...I'm not that unhappy. Sure I would have changed some thing here or there, but overall...I can't complain too much.
In completely unrelated news, Prison Break returned last night after what seemed an eternity. But all in all, I have to say it was worth it. If only Mahone would go over to the dark side what fun we all could have. Or perhaps since Linc and Michael are technically the 'good guys' of the show since they are all about family - I mean, come on...one of them broke INTO prison to get save the other - and proving their innocence. However, in a way it is revenge, which would clearly put them back on the darkside...not to mention all the people they have killed. Although, now that I think about it, while quite a few people have died, I don't think Linc or Michael have ever actually pulled a trigger and LJ just clipped Kellerman that one time. Heh...I can't wait for that reunion! However, Kellerman did deserve it. He killed LJ's mom. It is kind of funny though that Linc took Veronica's death harder than the untimely death of the mother of his kid. I liked Veronica better too, but that is because I love Empire Records. But back to my original thought...
So I have no clue where I was going with that, but to sum up the point of this blog, I loved the ep, especially Michael's two line explanation of the entire series:

"So this is the conspiracy, huh? Bunch of little boys in suits running around trying to kill each other. It’s pathetic."

Tune in next week when Linc, Michael, and Kellerman kidnap a reporter, T-Bag holds a family hostage, C-Note provides his daughter with 5 more reasons to seek therapy in the coming years, and Sucre cruises Mexico hopefully not saying the name "Maricruz" more than 5 times!

I Fought the Law...

2007-01-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

As you might notice, this blog is quite late, but I felt I needed to commemorate the return of Prison Break. After what seems an eternity, Michael, Linc, Sarah, Kellerman, and perhaps Mahone, return to bring some much needed, suspend-you-reality fun. I mean we all need that. I won't go into it, but what a day...sometimes you need a bit of fun tellie!

PicSpam Monday™: Hiatus No More - The Return of Prison Break

I have always been a sucker for Wanted Posters.
Could be I love the bad boys...or could be that I watched too many Westerns during me formative years...

And tv brothers! I have a soft spot for them too...

You can never stare at Michael and Linc for too long. It is a scientific fact!

Well, here are the ones that escaped. Onle a few of them are still alive at the moment!

The other players for this season...

And here's where we left off...

Well kinda...we were a couple scenes past this, but Ilike this pic better
and since it is my PicSpam I can do what I like!

And here is where we are heading...

Here too! Kellerman, Linc, and Michael in a hotel room together...
I'm sure fanfic writers everywhere are giving a little squee of joy!

There's always room in life for this

2007-01-17T15:16:00.000-08:00

So...I had grand plans for todays blog detailing the horrific death of my alarm clock, but instead I spent all of my creative genius on finding Bond images for ChickLit's blog entry last night. (I know it doesn't make sense, but if you think about it...when do my thoughts ever really make sense?!!?!?!) But lucky for you lot, I found 3 images for the new Bourne flick, The Bourne Ultimatum. With such a strong sequel, I am really really looking forward to the third installment!!

God Save the Queen!

2007-01-16T13:29:00.000-08:00

I love pretty much everything about England. Perhaps not the teeth or the lack of clothes dryers - why any country that deals with daily rain showers would ever rely on 'hanging the clothes out to dry' as a laundry method instead of a dryer (they have them they just don't get used often it seems) is beyound me - but other than that...I'm a complete Anglophile. (Wow that was a long sentence with quite a few grammatical errors I'm guessing!) Anyway, couple of months ago I Netflixed a BBC show I had come across while researching Mr. Darcy - or the lastest Mr. Darcy, Matthew MacFadyen, if you prefer. Anyway, I decided after little to no hesitation to obtain the program at any cost. But obtaining the DVD and watching said DVD are two completely different issues. So after sitting on my desk for 2 months (arrivied 11/4/2006), I finally popped in the disc and sat mesmerized for the next 4 hours.
Now I should take a moment to confess that I normally go for cheesy spy stuff like Bond, the Pink Panther films, or even seasons of "Alias". (Come on...other than Victor Garber, do you think any of them could really be spies?) But this show actually seems to portray, in a more real sense, the life of a spy. And what a fascinating life it is and a lot more complicated than I even imagined (and I daydream about convoluted situations all the time...really).
So, if you are looking for an interesting hour long - yes this is the BBC and when they have an hour long series get this - the episode lasts of a whole hour - spy drama that not only deals with MI-5, but also the personal lives of its people, I recommend "Spooks" or "MI-5" depending on what country you live in. It is worth the time and each ep has a commentary track. And in case you are interested...Matthew MacFadyen met his wife on this show - that's her in the pic!

And cutting to a commercial for Del Taco...

2007-01-15T10:59:00.000-08:00

So this is going to be a hybrid PicSpam that will not only feature images from films nominated in tonight's Golden Globes Award show, but feature my thoughts on who should win...even if they weren't nominated for the award. I thought that the nominations this year were completely crap and so, at times (well most of the time to be honest), I have added people that I deem worthy. Also, it should be noted that I haven't actually seen all of these films or tellie programs and most likely won't watch the GG Award show tonigh. I mean, for the most part, the Golden Globes are simply a nationally televised popularity contest nominally based on acting merit. Why tune in when I can watch the highlights tomorrow on YouTube? (Hey that's a great idea for a VidSpam column!)

PicSpam Monday™: The "If I Ran the Golden Globes & they actually meant something" Winners List

Best Actress in a Motion Picture: Drama
Penelope Cruz - Volver
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Sherrybaby
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Kate Winslet - Little Children

For once, I think the GG might get it right and give the award to Helen Mirren. The dame deserves it, even though I do hope that eventually Kate Winselt gets some awards.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Departed
Peter O'Toole - Venus
Will Smith - The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland

Honestly, I'm not into any of these nominations and so I think I will go with Will Smith only because that scene with him holding the door shut with his foot while cradling his son in a BART bathroom make me tear up every time.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Comedy/Musical
Sacha Baron Cohen - Borat
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Aaron Eckhart - Thank Your For Smoking
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Kinky Boots
Will Ferrell - Stranger Than Fiction

I'm going to have to go with Aaron Eckhart for his performance as Nick Naylor in Thank You For Smoking. I thought it was a brillant film that not only entertained, but did have some thought provoking points. Sure Eckhart has not chance against Borat or Depp, but I thought someone should give him something!

Best Actress in a Motion Picture: Comedy/Musical
Annette Bening - Running With Scissors
Toni Collette - Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles - Dreamgirls
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Renee Zellweger - Miss Potter

I'm going to have to go with Streep on this one. Although I adore Toni Collette and really want Little Miss Sunshine to succeed, Streep was marvelous to watch! Besides, the only other film from the group that interests me, Miss Potter, hasn't even made it to the theatres yet.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Ben Affleck - Hollywoodland
Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson - The Departed
Brad Pitt - Babel
Mark Wahlberg - The Departed

I don't really like any of these choices and so I am going with Michael Caine in Children of Men. For the first time in quite a while, Caine was actually playing a role and not "Michael Caine". For that alone, I think he should get the award.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Adriana Barraza - Babel
Cate Blanchett - Notes on a Scandal
Emily Blunt - The Devil Wears Prada
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi - Babel

I'm going to have to nominate my own award recipient. This time, Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine.

Best Director - Motion Picture
Clint Eastwood - Flags of Our Fathers
Clint Eastwood - Letters from Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears - The Queen
Alejandro González Iñárritu - Babel
Martin Scorsese - The Departed

Wow, this is becoming a trend. I once again know better than the Hollywood Foreign Press. I'm giving my vote to Alfonso Cuarón for the brillant Children of Men. If I did have to choose from the list, I would have gone with Stephen Frears...The Queen was an amazing movie that surprised me quite a bit.

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Guillermo Arriaga - Babel
William Monahan - The Departed
Todd Field & Tom Perrotta - Little Children
Patrick Marber - Notes on a Scandal
Peter Morgan - The Queen

Ok...so sure I could choose one of the screenplays from the list - either Morgan or the team of Field and Perrotta - but instead I am going to make another plug for Little Miss Sunshine and go for the write in candidate

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Bobby - "Never Gonna Break My Faith"
Dreamgirls - "Listen"
Happy Feet - "The Song of the Heart"
Home of the Brave - "Try Not to Remember"
The Pursuit of Happyness - "A Father's Way"

Once again I march to my own drummer. I have to go with the latest new Bond song from Casino Royale, "You Know My Name". It totally rocks!!

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Babel - Gustavo Santaolalla
The Da Vinci Code - Hans Zimmer
The Fountain - Clint Mansell
Nomad - Carlo Siliotto
The Painted Veil - Alexandre Desplat

I love Hans Zimmer, so I think I will go with Da Vinci - even if it wasn't a very good movie. The music wasn't half bad, though, considering.

Best Foreign Language Film
Apocalypto
El Laberinto del Fauno
Das Leben der Anderen
Letters from Iwo Jima
Volver

No clue and so I am not going to vote. I figured Fearless was going to be on the list, but since
I haven't seen it, I don' think I can add it in good conscience.

Best Animated Film
Cars
Happy Feet
Monster House

Again...I just can't be bothered to choose!

Best Television Series - Drama
"24"
"Big Love"
"Grey's Anatomy"
"Heroes"
"Lost"

LONG LIVE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!!!! I can't they believe they overlooked the best show on tellie at the moment. So, I'm writing them in. Take that Hollywood Foreign Press!!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Patrick Dempsey - "Grey's Anatomy"
Michael C. Hall - "Dexter"
Hugh Laurie - "House M.D."
Bill Paxton - "Big Love"
Kiefer Sutherland - "24"

In keeping with my BSG write in initive, I'm going with Edward James Olmos for his portrayal as Admiral William Adama. If push came to shove and I had to go with someone from the list, Hugh Laurie would get my vote.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Patricia Arquette - "Medium"
Edie Falco - "The Sopranos"
Evangeline Lilly - "Lost"
Ellen Pompeo - "Grey's Anatomy"
Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer"

So given the past 2 categories, my vote fo Mary McDonnell for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama should come as no suprise.

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
"Desperate Housewives"
"Entourage"
"The Office"
"Ugly Betty"
"Weeds"

To be quite honest, I have no clue how "Desperate Housewives" is even considered a "comedy". Is that so it can stand a shot against "Grey's Anatomy"? I have no clue and since I don't really watch comedy - unless you count the slow downhill slide of Veronica Mars...but come to think of it, that isn't really funny. Anyway, long explanation short, I just don't care and so they can give the award to whoever they want. Perhaps "Weeds", since I like both Mary-Louise Parker and Kevin Nealon.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin - "30 Rock"
Zach Braff - "Scrubs"
Steve Carell - "The Office"
Jason Lee - "My Name Is Earl"
Tony Shalhoub - "Monk"

I catch "My Name Is Earl" whenever I can and I have to say that I have absolutely fallen for Jason Lee's Earl. Who would have thought I would ever like his redneck character better than the preppy & geeky guys he played in Kevin Smith movies? But then again, stranger things have happened!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Marcia Cross - "Desperate Housewives"
America Ferrera - "Ugly Betty"
Felicity Huffman - "Desperate Housewives"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Mary-Louise Parker - "Weeds"

As I stated earlier, "Desperate Housewives" isn't a comedy, therefore Mary-Louise Parker wins by default.

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Bleak House
"Broken Trail"
Elizabeth I
Mrs. Harris
Prime Suspect: The Final Act

Okay...I choose one of the Helen Mirren projects. I really don't care which one. Although, it would be nifty if Mirren recieved the award for Best Actress in both the film and tellie categories for playing a "Queen Elizabeth". So perhaps I should save that vote for later. I'm goin with Prime Suspect!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Andre Braugher - "Thief"
Robert Duvall - "Broken Trail"
Michael Ealy - "Sleeper Cell"
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Tsunami: The Aftermath
Ben Kingsley - Mrs. Harris
Bill Nighy - Gideon's Daughter
Matthew Perry - The Ron Clark Story

Didn't see any of these, but I like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Bill Nighy. One of them should win!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Gillian Anderson - "Bleak House"
Annette Bening - Mrs. Harris
Helen Mirren - Elizabeth I
Helen Mirren - Prime Suspect: The Final Act
Sophie Okonedo - Tsunami: The Aftermath

Helen Mirren since it would be totally awesome if she won for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I AND Queen Elizabeth II!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Thomas Haden Church - "Broken Trail"
Jeremy Irons - Elizabeth I
Justin Kirk - "Weeds"
Masi Oka - "Heroes"
Jeremy Piven - "Entourage"

I have a friend who loved Masi Oka, so hey...why not?

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Emily Blunt - Gideon's Daughter
Toni Collette - Tsunami: The Aftermath
Katherine Heigl - "Grey's Anatomy"
Sarah Paulson - "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"
Elizabeth Perkins - "Weeds"

Alrighty, we're nearing the end. Now I stopped watching "Grey's Anatomy" last year. However, I did catch the death of Denny. Now coupled with the nifty Hallmark movies she has done, I'm going with Katherine Heigl.

The coldest blood runs through my veins...you know my name!

2007-01-12T22:57:00.000-08:00

Finally saw Casino Royale...and I loved it. And I was so totally right...Daniel Craig rocked! (And so did his amazing abs that were often dripping water in the most beautiful, mesmerizing way... Oh and Judi Dench (everyone should know Judi Dench), Mads Mikkelsen (hawk-boy from King Arthur), and Jeffrey Wright (Tobey Maguire's sidekick from Ang Lee's Civil War film Ride with the Devil). That's all I have for y'all at the moment. Perhaps more later, but I wouldn't count on it.

And to love I rhapsodize...

2007-01-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

For those of you who may have spent the last few years hiding under a rock, just a little piece of information: I LOVE U2. Yes, not just an, "Oh I have a couple of their CDs" type love, but a "I paid over $200 for a ticket to a show, another $200 on souvenirs, and lost my voice for 3 days" kind of love. I'm sure I am not the biggest fan, but I have reached a level that scares me some of the time (and that is really saying something). Anyway, I absolutely love the video to their latest single, "Window in the Skies", and so I thought I would dedicate this week's VidSpam to the greatest band...EVER!!

VidSpam Spectacular!™: The "My Favorite U2 Videos of 2006" Edition

I don't quite know how this video came about, but I do think it is totally awesome. Seeing all of those artists singing other songs, but looking like they are siging along with U2 - something brillant! I love bands that can appreciate and value otehr artists...and not in a poncy way of course.

Although I loved the most recent Green Day album, I wouldn't call myself a huge fan. However, this collaboration is not to be missed by any music lover and besides, all the money went to a good cause - instruments for musicians!

This isn't my favorite song of of "Vertigo", but I love watching the video since it reminds me of the concert I attended. You remember, the one where I could see Bono's facial expressions...and the Edge changing from guitar to piano...and had to explain to my grad professor why I had no voice. Ah the memories...

Sure this music video looks like one of those trippy computer screen savers - which I can easily watch for hours I might add - and the sound isn't the best...but with lyrics like "Baby slow down/The end is not as fun as the start/Please stay a child somewhere in your heart", how could you not love this song? Well maybe you could, but I will never agree with you and that's the end of that!

In theory I respect your right to exist...

2007-01-10T18:57:00.000-08:00

Before I begin to gush about the awesomeness of Children of Men, I should begin with the confession that I love Clive Owen and have loved him since stumbling upon him in the BBC mystery series Second Sight on PBS. (And for those wondering...yes I did like King Arthur because how can you not love a film that begins with the phrase "Historians agree" and pulls off the classic Arthurian love triangle with good ol' Guinevere breaking up Arthur/Lancelot instead of Lancelot/Guinevere crushing Arthur and Camelot.) But I digress, the purpose of this blog is simply to encourage everyone to go and see this film since the studio is pretty much ignoring its existence. I mean, just view the studio trailer...it is just not good enough. If you want to see a good trailer, take a look at this fan-made trailer. (Quick warning though, it is a bit more spoilery than the studio trailer and features a song that uses the "c" word quite a bit. I never use this word, but somehow it fits for this movie. Or perhaps...my love of Clive knows no bounds!)
Anyway, the bottom line is, EVERYONE should go to this movie. It is exceptional in everyway. And as LeVar Burton would say, "Of course, you don't have to take my word for it." Check out the critics' opinion over at Rotten Tomatoes or the 'real person' reaction over on IMDb! It is just an amazing film. I mean, it has been 5 days and I am still thinking about it. Ok...well that ends this 2 paragraph public service annoucement!

Did you have that strangest dream before you woke?

2007-01-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

I love finding new music...it is as simple as that. I can't really explain how I stumble opon new artists, but it just happens. As Geoffrey Rush would say in Shakespeare in Love, "I don't know. It's a mystery. "
Anyway, I recently discovered Elvis Perkins, a guy who conjures up, for me at least, a hybrid between Damien Rice and Bob Dyan; if you applied Damien's voice to the poetic nature of Bob Dylan's lyrics). It might just be me and a few others (NPR and The O.C. to name a couple), but I find Elvis Perkins' lyrics to be prosaic...so metaphorical, insightful, and sensitive. Here are the lyrics to "While You Were Sleeping", which made it into my top 5 songs of 2006. (Click here or here to listen to the song.)

While you were sleeping, your babies grew
The stars shined and the shadows moved
Time flew, the phone rang
There was a silence when the kitchen sang
It’s songs competed like kids for space
We stared for hours in our Maker’s face
They gave us picks, said don’t mind the sun
And go golden, come back when you’re done

While you were sleeping, you tossed, you turned
You rolled your eyes as the world burned
The Heavens fell, the Earth quaked
I thought you must been but you weren’t awake
No, you were dreaming, you ignored the sun
You grew your power garden for the little ones
And you found brides for them on Christmas Eve
They hung young Cain from the Adam Trees
And danced...

While you were sleeping, I tossed and I turned
‘Til I closed my eyes, but the future burned
Through, the planet turned a hair grey
As I re-lived the day

While you were sleeping, the money died
Machines were harmless and the Earth sighed
The wind, you swept sound
And gravity brought my love around
The oceans rose about decay
While witches few and the mermaid stayed
Full of dreams, you over slept
And keeping with the quiet through the walls I crept
I walked on tip toes, sent darkness swirling
Over all the kitchen in the early morning

I’ll never catch up to you, who sleeps so sound
My arms are useless, my heart beats too loud
To go to sleep my mind’s to proud
To bow

While you were sleeping the time changed
All your things were rearranged
Your vampire mirrors, face to face
They saw forever out into space
And found you dreaming in black and white
While it rained in all the colors of the night

I watched the tv’s memories
Champion ships vanish to sea
Can it be, my honey
Between you and me?

So I waited for the riddled sky
To be solve again by sunrise
I made a death soup for life
For my father’s ill widowed wife
Did you have that strangest dream before you woke?
‘Cause in your gown, you have the butterfly stroke
Did it escape you like some half-told joke
When you reached for you plume of smoke?

And it will haunt you, my honey, be
Anyone who’s anyone has that same dream
Were you’re falling? Were your flying?
And were you calling out? Were you dying?
But thank God you’re up now, let’s stay this way
There’ll still be no mornings and no more days
‘Cause when we’re dreaming the babies grow
The sun shines and the shadows flow
Time flies, the phone rings
There is a silence when everybody tries to sing

These are a few of my favorite things...

2007-01-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

So I had kind of a crappy morning. Not only did I get to make the same phone call for the fifth time and get absolutely no result - so much for the helpfulness of customer service - but I ended up speaking with one of the dumbest people ever. (Okay maybe not ever, but still quite high on my personal "Idiots I Have Met or Talked To" list.) Not only could she not help me, but she kept calling me 'Mister' even after I told her twice - yes TWICE - that I was a woman. Sometimes I really do wonder about the future of America. I think perhaps Giles was right...the Earth is doomed. Anyway, to help me get through the day, I composed a PicSpam of activies or things that make me happy.

PicSpam Monday™: The "Things That Make Me Happy" Edition
(Or at least 5 in no particular order)

1. Slurpees
You cannot drink a Slurpee and not smile. I mean just saying 'slurpee' makes me smile. Besides, there are always some 'interesting' people (aka weirdos) that hang out arounf 7/11's!

2. Scavenger Hunts (On the Internet Mostly)

I can easily spend hours looking for a specific image I want (or someone else wants), even going as far as searching for a certain size. There is nothing quite like the satisfactiom you feel after navigating through the immense amount of stuff on the Internet to find the small thing you are looking for!!

3. Used Book Stores/CD Shops

Oh how I love the smell. And the clastrophobic inducing shelving arrangement. And the labyrinth like organization. And the prices. Oh and the fact that you never know what you are going to find.

4. Debates on Message Boards

Well actually message boards in general. I love lurking and reading the subjects - however absurd - people feel the need to debate. The Internet can be so entertaining, although every once in a while, I do wonder about what the world is coming to...

5. English Historical Buddy Films/Any Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie

No one does Historical movies like the British. With just a touch of and an amazingly small budget, the films never fail to entertain. Besides, who doesn't love actors trying to run around on a ship during the Napoleonic Wars in loafers while trying to look 'manly'? As far as cheesy goodness...Hallmark normally always hits the mark. (And unlike Sci-Fi, doesn't devolve into some awful "Nature Gone Wrong" plot!)

And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end...

2007-01-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

Oh, Snap! Yes, my dear readers, in a bowl game that had me on an extreme emotional rollercoaster, the Broncos of Boise State University pulled off one of the most spetacular upsets college football has ever seen. Now some of you might be wondering why I even care. I never attended the university and can count the number of times I have visited Idaho on one hand. But you see, I have a cousin that played college basketball at BSU and now works as the business manager for the athletic department. (I remeber vividly running around on the famous blue stadium turf!)
Anyway, while she got to attend the game in person, I sat with my father, holding my breath and hoping for a miracle. And it came. I will admit that at the 18 second mark, when all seemed lost, I paused the game - I just couldn't take anymore - and returned to watch it 45 minutes later, awaking both my parents. (Who incidently thought someone was trying to break into the house!) And then in a very Whovillian scene, I watched with my parents - yes even my mother - as the BSU Broncos pulled off the improbable with confidence and some of the riskiest plays I have ever seen!!

PicSpam Special Edition: "I'd Sooner Be A Bronco!"

Welcome to the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
Be sure to fasten your safety belt, you're in for an emotional ride!!

You got to love an equestrian entrance.
Although, I guess you have to choose a horse that doesn't get too excited!!
That could make come interesting running obstacles!

We skip to the game tying touchdown...a beautifully executed Hook & Ladder
play in which Zabrasky threw to James who pitched it to Rabb
with 7 seconds to go in the fourth quarter!

And now the Overtime touchdown, a fake thrown by Perretta to Schouman!

"Ohhh, brother, we're going to do it in style!"
(Apparently Coach Peterson thought after the Statue of Liberty play was called!)

Let's look at that beauty of a play again!!

Stormin' the field of victory!!

And here's some more celebration!!

Sing it with me!! "We are the champions my friends (Da Da), and we'll keep on fighting 'till the end..."

Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho!

2006-12-21T14:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I just got back from, what is affectionately called in my office, a "drunk lunch". We don't really get drunk...wellI guess we do sort of, but we can still function at most of the higher levels for the rest of the afternoon. Since technically my 'office' only consists of 3 people, we go out to lunch for holidays. (You can't really have a potluck with 3 people and Secret Santa doesn't have the same "I wonder who it is?" element with such limited numbers!)

Anyway, at the moment I don't have a whole lot to do. I have a bunch of jobs that need to get done, but all of them take more than an afternoon, so I figure this afternoon is just doomed as far as work goes.

So...enjoy the one and only pic of Keith Richards on the set of the last Pirates of the Caribbean film and ponder the title, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Apparently, that is the title of the final installment of the Harry Potter series! Not sure what I think yet, but when I do, y'all will be the first to know. (Well, actually the second since ChickLit usually knows everything first...or my parents...either way you look at it, y'all be in the top 10 or so!!)

A little less conversation, a little more action please...

2006-12-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

So, I seem to be running in about 8 different directions and let's face it...I'm not a runner. (If we're honest, I'm not much of a jogger either. Perhaps a fast walker, but you get the point!) With my mom and I hosting Christmas this year, I now fully understand why people end up lying on the floor in the fetal position during the holiday season. I'm about 2 disasters away from that myself.

Anyway, imagine my utter joy at seeing the delightful trailer for the new Ocean's 13 flick coming out next spring. Sure the last one wasn't the greatest, but let's face it...I spend a good portion of the film just staring at all the pretty!!

If you want to see the trailer, click here and remember...drooling on your keyboard could cause extensive damage!!

Puttin' on the Ritz

2006-12-19T15:52:00.000-08:00

In memory of the great Frank Boyle, who passed away one week ago, I present a short video of the first flick I ever saw him in Young Frankenstein. (It was instant love as you might suspect!!)

Failure's Not Flattering!

2006-12-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

Over my lifetime I have tried a number of different hobbies. Some I didn't care for; some didn't care for me; while with numerous others, we mutually decided to seperate for the sake of mankind. (Trust me that was for the best!!) I have had the opprotunity to try a number of different things due to the fact that my mom is the Craft Queen...and not just Martha Stewart crafts...I'm talking about tasks that take real skill!!

Over the weekend, my mom and I created a scrapbook for my grandmother. In good news, we actually finished in 2 days and didn't kill eachother. And I learned 2 very important things:
1. My mom and I shouldn't do hobbies together.
2. I'm not cut out to be a scapbooker. Sure I love to preserve documents - just not on floral paper with stickers and such.

Anyway, here is an extremely abridged list of the various hobbies I have tried over the years!!

PicSpam Monday™: Rejected or Abandoned Hobbies

Scrapbooking

Wood carving

Sharp tools near hands = Short-lived hobby

Sewing/Quilting

I even own a sewing machine to this day.
Sure my mom bought it with the hope I would
learn to love sewing as much as she does,
but in the end I can make simple repairs and create thread bobbins.
Oh and I think I still have an
unfinished Amish quilt stashed away somewhere.

Fishing

Although I did find this activity quite fun and relaxing,
I have 3 words (and a preposition) for you:
Sharp Hook in Hand

Bead looming

I'm actually quite proud at how long I kept with this hobby.
All in all, I think it was 2 years. In the end, I just found dealing
with beads too frustrating. They roll way to easy!!

Origami

Apparently, I can't fold paper straight or follow complicated
directions even if they go step by step!!

Rollerblading

Unfortunately, I don't wear spandex or show skin well.
That seems to be an important element of this activity.
To make matters worse, I couldn't even stand in the
horrible contraptions without falling over. I have many talents,
balance just isn't one of them!!

Beeswax candle making

This one didn't take much talent, but I sure didn't have it.
I think I made a couple candles for my grandparents
one year for Christmas and that was it!!

I could possibly be fading...

2006-12-15T13:00:00.000-08:00

The O.C.

Episode: "The Chrismukk-huh?"

Original Air Date: December 14, 2006

Rating: Fan-frakkin'- tabulous

What I Loved:
There has never been a bad Chrismukkah episode of The O.C. and thankfully the ghost of Marissa didn't screw up this one! I now firmly believe; Chrismukkah episodes cannot be ruined…it's just not possible. The more I watch this episode, the more I like it – and keep in mind I don't like It's a Wonderful Life, so, that's really saying something. First, I would like to thank J.J. Philbin and John Stephens profusely for giving Kirsten something to do and some snappy dialogue! (You wouldn't believe how long it took to figure out who wrote the ep - so yes I re-watched the beginning of the ep to figure it out.) While this season has been far superior to pretty much everything since the first half of season one, this is the first ep that I really liked Kirsten in and I especially loved her scenes with Ryan.

Kirsten: Oh, speaking of dinner, are you going to be bringing a guest?
Ryan: That's...pretty subtle Kirsten.
Kirsten: I'm not saying you bring Taylor; I'm just letting you know she's welcome.
Ryan: Oh well. I don't know...I don't know. It's a...it's...it's...
Kirsten: Oh, you think that if you invite her, she's your girlfriend. Boys...so predictable.

Speaking of Ryan, I think he spoke more in this episode than some seasons combined. ("Poor Ryan! All of his muscles are so developed except for the ones in his mouth.") While some of this might have something to do with Alt-Universe, I have to say that I liked it. It isn’t like broody Ryan is gone; he's just expressing some emotions through non "wife-beater-hoody-angst" means. Personally, I think it is a step in the right direction. I mean, who could argue with a speech like this:

Okay, look. None of you know me, but the truth is, each of you saved my life just by being who you are. And right now, none of you are who you are. Like summer for example - what are you doing? I mean Che, Chester...he's completely wrong for you. You should be with Seth. Kirsten, alright...you don't want to run the Newport Group. That place makes you miserable. And you might like you Chardonnay, but I got news for you: it doesn't like you back. And Sandy – you don't want to be Mayor. You're all about saving the little guy not holing up in some mansion giving orders. What you two are best at are being married to each other.

Honestly, I sat in complete amazement. I didn't know Ben McKenzie could memorize that much dialog. And if that wasn’t enough, Ryan also had a great exchange with a drunk Santa in jail as well as a couple of awesome Seth conversations.

Ryan: Alright, you want the truth, huh?
Seth: I know the truth.
Ryan: You know the truth?
Seth: Yeah.
Ryan: I’m from an alternate universe where your dad adopted me and you and Summer are in love. And unless I fix things here, which means getting your parents and you and Summer together – I can't go home.
Seth: I always knew this would happen!
Ryan: Doesn’t surprise me. Put this on. Okay, I’m going to tell you exactly what you need to know to woo Summer. Have you ever heard of a show called The Valley?

And rounding out the character analysis, my love for Taylor grows by the week! Who didn't love her take charge attitude in trying to explain to Ryan what had happened. Oh and her response when he asked if anyone had ever said 'no' to her. ("Once...and I pushed him off the roof...Kidding!") You also had to love her explanation that a George Forman deluxe grill is the perfect gift. If only she had told me earlier...it would have saved me a ton of time!

Other joyous tidbits: Seth's "I hate my life" song; Taylor’s sex change in the parallel universe ("OMG! In alt-world I'm a boy - and my mom is still a bitch!"); "Serious Jedi mindtricks"; the fact that in both worlds, Julie is exactly the same; Ryan pulling Taylor closer to him after she sat down on his hospital bed; "Thong is an acronym for 'The Homeless of Newport…Go' or something."; the alternate "California" theme song to fit the alt-world episode; the term 'coma-lite'; Alt-universes are huge in sci-fi & I love that Taylor went through a phase; Vegetable despots; Ryan, the 'poor street urchin' (come on...when did Newport wander into a Dicken’s novel?); anytime Kaitlin and Julie are in a room together; I concede - activist Summer is better than "mindless bimbo" Summer; the nickname "Slutty McSlutterman"; and last but not least, Cute!Ward and Clown!Ward (aka the Annoying Twins), riding past Ryan on the boardwalk on a bike and skateboard (oh how I love fun little allusions like that!!)

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
I kind of wish we had had Chester ("Oh snap! Thong emergency!"), instead of "save the world one tree at a time" Che. I also wonder if Ryan was a girl in this alt-universe if Taylor was a boy. Oh and explain to me why Taylor was a boy. I just don't understand. Other than that, I'm pretty happy.

If Wishes Were Horses:
Taking the Chester love/Che gripe further, why couldn't they bring back Luke as well. I could totally see him and Chester being BFF's. Then we could have had two friend couples with fun dialogue: Ryan/Seth and Luke/Chester. They seem like matches made in heaven...or my own perverse heaven!!

And if you take that thinking to a whole other level, if Ryan had never come to Newport, I would not have endured Marissa for 3 years. (Although...if that happened I guess we would never have had a show called The O.C. in the first place. Man do I hate time/space continuum conundrums.) Ok, I need to just let that one go!

The One-Line Zinger:
"Between you and me, Taylor in a coma is kind of a nice break!"

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
(I couldn't decide and so I present two this week!)

Julie: Oh no, honey.I told you, my family only drinks wine coolers.
Kaitlin: We’re having a very Britney Christmas, Mother.
Julie: Yes, watch out...I might put you on my lap while we drive there.

And

Summer: So wait? You're saying that you ride horses in the valley?
Seth: No...no. I like plastic horses and the show The Valley.
Summer: Hey! I like that show too and plastic horses. What's yours named?
Seth: Princess Sparkle. Wait. No no. I mean Captain Oats. I just said Princess Sparkle because I think its a really cool name!
Summer: No. Way. You are not going to believe this...

They all have their own hands, but they come from different moms!

2006-12-14T07:51:00.000-08:00

Well, last week I started a new VidSpam Spectacular!™ column for pretty much my own amusement. It has recently come to my attention that although I love professional musicians, I get a kick out of non-professionals singing silly songs. So without further ado I present...

VidSpam Spectacular!™: The Amusing Songs I Love Sung By Non-Professionals Edition

First, I bring you the confrontation song from Les Miserables sung by Doogie Howser and one of the guys from Freaks & Geeks who used to date that nurse chick on ER that broke up with Luka. You know that one I am talking about. Anyway, I have to give them props for not only singing the song well, but also completely acapella.

And now to answer the question of what you do after playing Biff in the Back to the Future films. Well, here to explain what Michael J. Fox is really like and other vital question is Tom Wilson, or Biff if you perfer!!

And to finish off this VidSpam Spectacular!™, I bring you Bruce McCulloch's "Dave's I Know" song from the great Canadian sketch comedy series The Kids in the Hall (Eat that SNL!!!)

It's off to work I go...

2006-12-13T16:30:00.000-08:00

In a strange turn of events, I actually have work to do at work. Who would have thought? Anyway, here are some amusing Calvin & Hobbes snow themed cartoons to make you all smile!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

2006-12-11T15:58:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season fast approaching, I decided to share my top favorite Christmas related films with my loyal readers. Although I don't usually watch these movies during this season, they do usually involve Christmas is some way. I also don't vouch for the quality of the film...sometimes I really like crap movies!! (Oh and a small note before I begin. I didn't forget to add It's a Wonderful Life. I know this will make me seem un-American, but I really don't like the movie. Feel free to try and convince me otherwise in the comments section!)

PicSpam Monday: Top 13 Christmas Related Flicks

13. Holiday Inn (1942)

Although the song would become famous because of another holiday film (#1 on this list),
it was in this film that the song "White Christmas" first appeared!

12. Trapped in Paradise (1994)

I don't know why I love this film, but I do...besides I totally believe
that Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey could be related.

11. The Santa Clause (1994)

Bernard the elf - need I say more?

10. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

"Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy's right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest."

9. All I Want for Christmas (1991)

A delightful Christmas film starring Ethan Embrey (when he was still going by Ethan Randall), a very young
Thora Birch, SNL's Kevin Neelan, and Lauren Bacall. What more could you ask for?
8. Bachelor Mother (1939)

Ginger Rogers gets a baby for Christmas is the fabulous film also starring David Niven!!

7. A Christmas Story (1983)

That leg lamp gets me every time!!

6. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Poor Chevy Chase - he just can't seem to catch a break in this holiday classic!!

5. Elf (2003)

It's just like Santa's workshop! Except it smells like mushrooms...
and everyone looks like they wanna hurt me...

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch...always go for the classic on this one.
Jim Carrey has nothing on Boris Karloff!!

3. A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Michael Caine sings with Muppets. I kid you not!! Besides who could resist a musical version of
"The Christmas Carol" with the Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat as the narrators!
2. Love Actually (2003)

Oh how I love Liam Neeson in this movie. And Colin Firth.And Bill Nighy. And that cute little kid obsessed with
Titani-like love. And Hugh Grant as prime minister. Did I mention Colin Firth? And how could I forget
Andrew Lincoln? Oh and the stripping version of "Christmas Is All Around". And...
well I could go on and on, just go watch the film!!

1. White Christmas (1954)

No film embodies Christmas like this one.
I cried the first time I saw it and still tear up
when all the soldiers come out singing at the beginning of the show! It just isn't
Christmas without watching this movie at least once.

Am I in hell or the promise land?

2006-12-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

Damn you Kripke & Schwartz! Fortunately, or unfortunately in some respects, both of my Thursday night shows completely rocked last night. So...I decided to review The O.C. first since it has a new ep next week, while Supernatural has gone into hiatus without first telling me what I desperately need to know! (Damn you Kripke!!) I will get a review of the totally awesome "Croatoan" ep sometime next week since dialogue like "That's not school; that's Schoolhouse Rock!" have to be shared with my peeps on the internet!!

The O.C.

Episode: "The Summer Bummer"

Original Air Date: December 7, 2006

Rating: Fan-frakkin'- tabulous

What I Loved:
Yes, as in "Yes, it is a 'yes' squared, in all caps with an exclamation point and a smilely face emoticon!", The O.C. completely rocked last night! I wish Josh Schwartz would have gotten it together - or back together - a couple years ago, but better late than never!

I said it before and I'll say it again: Long Live Rylor!! I don't know how they are making this budding relatiohsip seem so new and interesting even though they are obvious couple materials since they only 2 single people on the show's credits. I don't know who the writers sold their soul to, but they got a good deal out of it. I don't even know where to begin: Ryan's 80s-themed fantasies; "Me! Not you!! Me...I'm weird!"; Taylor's clueless responses to Ryan asking her out ("Blog Schmog" & "the erotic memoirs of a soulful college girl"); "I'm a lip-biter...sometimes I draw blood."; 7...no 8...no 9...how about 10 minutes in the closet; "You're a great girl"; the idea of Ryan's body used as a jungle gym; man I could go on and on, but I think I will try and change the subject!

This week also had some strong interactions with Ryan and both Sandy & Kirsten. ("Okay, but you can't repeat this, alright? Because if the 'real' Seth found out I was telling 'substitute' Seth a real secret...") I have really been hoping for some quality Ryan/parental unit time (especially with Kirsten since they have always seem to have had a connection) and I finally got it!!

Along with the great adult time, the ep also featured some limited, but brillant, friendly/sarcastic Seth & Ryan banter. I love it when these two are together, even if most of the time was spent in the phone!

Ryan: Things are wierd and about to get a lot weirder.
Seth: That wasn't vague or ominous at all!

And to top it off, Seth and Ryan even had some decent poolhouse scenes. I know I obsess about this, but the poolhouse is a central location for me. While others may see the Cohen house, the diner, the beach, or even the Baitshop as the central location of action, I have always gravitated towards the poolhouse. I mean, who wouldn't love the poolhouse conversations with exchanges like this...

Ryan: Is Taylor going to be there?
Seth: I assume so.
Ryan: I like her.
Seth: Say waht now? Why would you even think that?
Ryan: Because I keep imagining her on roller skates and washing windows with a big bucket of soapy water.
Seth: Dude, you're fantasies are so pedestrian. A sudsy girl...that is so average.
Ryan: Doesn't mean it is not hot.
Seth: I guess they call them 'Classics' for a reason.
Ryan: Do you want to drive, or should I?

Other tidbits of ejoyment: Julie & Bullet - match made in heaven even if he is a sexist bigot; Pancakes the bunny; NewMatch serving all your male escort needs; Kaitlin actually caring about a friend; Taylor, Pictionary & "Get High on Life"; Sandy the "He-Bro"; Che's valet; Sandy & Kirsten renewing their vows; and finally...after all the talk we witnessed a Harbor water polo game!!

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
Why, when a show introduces a younger sister of a main character, do all the teenagers seem like cardboard cut-outs? Okay, maybe that just happened on Buffy, but you get my point. While Kaitlin has become a survivable cast addition, all of her friends - and I mean ALL - need to go or at least grow some personalities. Also, I'm getting a bit tired of this Spencer character. Perhaps he come get some horrible STD or something equally awful. Just a thought!!

While I was amused by Seth attempting to go all "Ryan Atwood" on Che (well at least talking about it), overall I am really starting to dislike this whole storyline. I'm glad that Summer took some of the responsibility and Seth decided to defer for another semester in order to move to with Summer to Rhode Island, I'm just not feeling the East Coast storyline anymore. I enjoyed Che for a while, but after last week I don't think he can be redeemed!! (Although, I did eventually like Luke so anything is possible!!)

If Wishes Were Horses:
I don't really have any major hopes or dreams for the show right now other than keeping up this quality level. Just a couple of small things. I'm not to sure about the whole male escort part of NewMatch. I mean, we finally have Kirsten doing something - I would like to keep it that way.

Oh, specifically about next week's Chrismakkah episode: I know there has never been a bad Chrismukkah ep, but what do you mean Marissa's not dead? I could have a problem with this. Does this mean we get to watch her die again leading up to another unfortunate montage featuring yet another horrific version of "Hallelujah" ? 'Cuz I don't think I could handle that.

The One-Line Zinger:
"Usually you talk about yourself and I solve my problems on my own."

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Ryan: What are you doing?
Taylor: Someone wrote "I Love Poop" on this poor boy's face. You know that kind of thing can scar you for life!
Ryan: No, what are you doing paying your gay friend Rodger to pretend he's in love with you?
Taylor: Well what if I did, hmm? What if I did rent a homosexual for the evening and pay him with rare collectables from Asian cinema? What difference does it make to you?
Ryan: Well, it's a little strange.
Taylor: Well, so am I, which is why you ran away from me last night.
Ryan: No, it wasn't 'cuz you're strange.
Taylor: [Clearly confused] You don't find me strange?
Ryan: No I do, but that's not why I took off. Look, I'm not really ready for a relationship right now or a girlfriend.
Taylor: Uh...girlfriend? Cart...horse...aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself there? Well, I mean just because I want to use your body as a jungle gym doesn't mean that we have to get married.
Ryan: I see...
Taylor: I mean my divorce papers aren't even dry yet. Look, you're a sweet, smart, great guy Ryan Atwood...and hot. Did I mention hot?!?!? So whatever happens, happens.
Ryan: Taylor thats...
Taylor: [Interupting] Normal? Yeah I have my moments. You know this is my first high school bash. Have you ever played 7 minutes in heaven?

Now you're messin' with a son of a...

2006-12-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

Well, after a couple week hiatus, Supernatural is all new tonight...an phenomenon that will most likely cost me some sleep tonight. You see, I have two shows at 9pm on Thursdays and both are seriously rocking at the moment. To top it off, I have band practice tonight, which most likely will run late since we have a new musical director and his first rehearsal is tonight. (You know how it goes...)

Normally, I would watch one when I got home and save the other for the weekend since for the last couple of years The O.C. has steadily gone down hill, but now that both are good, I just can't decided. Besides, I know I could say that I was going to save one for later, but everyone knows I will just watch both tonight. Why do they do this to me? Don't they know how much this hurts me? Do they want me to suffer? (Oh right, yes...yes they do!) Why can't one of the shows move to Monday? Why can't I create the television schedules for the 5 networks, USA, and SciFi? Dude, I would totally rock at it! You know I would!! If only that dream could become a possibility...

Video Killed the Radio Star!

2006-12-06T12:17:00.001-08:00

I love wasting time watching videos on YouTube. I mean, what's not to love. I like wasting time. And I like watching videos, whether they be funny& amusing, commercials for products I will never purchase, sentimental, old & rare (usually clips of television series I watched as a child), or weird - often fan-made - videos. So what's not to love on a media website that encourages people to "Broadcast Yourself"? All I can say is Google better not mess this up when they take over!! Anyway, I decided to put all of my YouTube hours to work and start a weekly blog column - or VidSpam as I like to call it - to share some of the 'fun' things I have found. So here goes...

VidSpam: The Inaugural Edition

First up - Darcy meets Hermione

This delightful video features the sounds and dialogue from Pride & Prejudice, but clips from the various Harry Potter films: Harry is Mr. Collins, Dumbledore & McGonagall are Mr. & Mrs. Bennett, and in case you didn't find those casting choices fun, Ron in Mr. Darcy! I know one person who spent a little too much time watching trailer last holiday season!

Next - The Ballad of Sam & Dean

Not sure what is more disturbing about this fanvid: A song about how Tom Jones music saved people's lives and marriage being used for a fanvid about brothers ("I owe my life to 'What's New Pussycat?' "!!) or how well the lyrics fit clips from the first season of Supernatural.

And last but not least - Funeral

Cell phone + funeral x squirrel = So wrong and yet so funny! I don't think I have laughed this hard in a while!!

A day without me...

2006-12-05T16:01:00.000-08:00

Ever have one of those days? Who am I kidding...of course you have! Anyway, today was one of "those days" for me. It started quite early, 5:30am to be exact, which is one of the reasons for today's 'Day Classification' of horrific. Apparently, someone decided to try and break into my car last night before realizing there isn't anything of value in the vehicle (unless you count the $8 extendable squeegee!) before moving onto another vehicle. Unfortunately, they jammed something into my lock (in hopes of breaking the lock I guess) and so I can no longer unlock the door on the drivers side. Thank goodness they didn't fiddle (yes I almost typed another word there...and yes it rhymes with 'duck') with the passenger door as well, otherwise I don't know what I would have done since Ag Council had a board meeting today...a meeting I had to set up for! (Hopefully, it only costs me $250...)
Which leads me to the other crappy part of today. I should preface my thoughts by stating I have attended very few board meetings, but in my opinion, this one didn't really go well. (And from the look on my boss's face through most of the meeting, I think he agrees.) And I think a lot of work will be coming my way...projects with vague ideas attached to them (my favorite...really?!?!?). After that 6 hour event, I came back to the office to complete a bunch of odd jobs that require little-to-no thinking, but does involve the world's most jam-happy copier.
And to top it all off, I am in nylons and heels. (Any of you who know me, knows what that means!!) I just wish I could go home and have a couple of beers. Or better yet, just pretend today never happened!! Yeah...that is what I'll do!! Come back tomorrow for a more uplifting blog. I will be starting a new weekly column featuring my favorite YouTube videos!! Should be interesting, amusing, and perhaps even an intellectually stimulating experience!!

Palms of victory we shall win for Cali-California!

2006-12-04T14:43:00.000-08:00

For those of you unaware, Cal & Stanford met on the field of battle for the 109th Big Game on Saturday. Cal triumped with the final score of 26 to 17. This is the fifth year in a row Cal has retained "The Axe. And so I bring you a very special PicSpam Monday column with Cal fight song interludes! (Click on the song titles to hear a sample of the song played by the Cal MArching Band.) GO BEARS!!

PicSpam Monday: Big "C" means to fight and strive & win for blue and Gold!

My Boy Forsett didn't let me down!

Up with the Blue and Gold,
Down with the Red;
California's out for a victory.
We'll drop our battle-axe on Stanford's head,
When we meet her,
Our team will surely beat her.
Down on the Stanford Farm
There'll be no sound,
When our Oski rips through the air.
Like our friend Mister Jonah,
Stanford's team will be found
In the tummy of the Golden Bear!
-Verse from "The Stanford Jonah"

It's a bird, it's a plan, it's Marshawn!!

We are Sons of California,
Fighting for the Gold and Blue.
Palms of glory we will win
for Alma Mater true.
Stanfurd's men will soon be routed
By our dazzling "C",
And when we serpentine,
Their red will turn to green,
In our hour of victory!
- Verse from "Big 'C' "

Although he may have a crush on Jessica Simpson,
he can sure throw a football!
Thy colors unfold
O'er loyal Californians,
Whose hearts are strong and bold.
All Hail Blue and Gold,
Thy strength ne'er shall fail;
For thee we'll die,
All Hail! All Hail!
- Verse from "All Hail Blue & Gold"

What's better than a 55 yard field goal?
A 55 yard field goal in a swirling, chilly wind!!

Palms of victory, Palms of glory
Palms of victory we shall win
For Cali-California!
Palms of victory, Palms of glory,
Palms of victory we shall win!

What will we do to the Stanfurdites on that great day?
We'll celebrate them on that night after we play!
We now declare our hoodoo's gone, victory is here!
Hit 'em again boys! Hit 'em again boys, harder!
- A verse and chorus from "Palms of Victory"

Eventually the Axe was carried off the field in the
protective arms of Andrew Cameron #51!

While you were sleeping, the time changed...

2006-12-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

The O.C.

Episode:
"The Sleeping Beauty"

Original Air Date:
November 30, 2006

Rating:
Fan-frakkin'-tabulous

What I Loved:
And just like that...The O.C. is back with a vengance. After consistently getting better this season, the show has returned to form with a funny and yet touching ep. And the awesome thing is...next week looks just as good!
Ryan is apparently funny. Who knew!?!?!? He even made a "real" joke and smiled. Yes, Ryan actually smiled (see pic above if you don't believe me!) and for that alone, I fully support Taylor in her mad seduction plan. Anyone that can get that boy to smile and laugh can do no wrong as far as I am concerned. Who didn't love that kiss at the end and Ryan's reaction of "Whoa..." to the dawing realization that he might have feelings for Taylor? Love is in the air. Long live Rylor!!!
Speaking of couples that involve Ryan, I loved his banter with Seth througout the ep beginning with the Bollywood conversation at the start of the ep (see the bottom of this review!). Finally, these two look like they are brothers again. Besides, who didn't crack a smile over Seth's cell phone call to ask if Ryan was ready to date or the awkward 'morning after' poolhouse scene with Taylor. Oh and the discussion concerning why Ryan should date Taylor:

Ryan: Is that look supposed to mean something?
Seth: Crazier things have happened...uh...nothing I can recall this instant...

The boys are back and better than ever. Suddenly everything is right in Mad Madam M's Tellie-Land!!
I could go on and on, but really...you should just watch the ep for yourself. Some other tidbits I loved include: the intro of a wannabe J.R. Ewing; Taylor's giddy clapping; Summer and her bunny, Pancakes; the Seth/Sandy conversation about Rylor; Julie getting hit in the head with tennis balls; the contiunity of the mall; oh and did I mention Ryan smiling?

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper:
Oh Che...how could you? I figured that the whole East Coast storyline would quickly disappear and it looks like Summer may be Pacific Coast bound by next week. Although I think Che's actions were truly lousy, it would be nice to have the whole gang together again!
Other than that, my 'Happy Camper' mood wasn't killed by any new persons or events. Kaitlin was better this week, but there is still loads of room for inprovement! Oh and could something happen to the annoying twins? Please? Pretty please? I'm willing to give up a Christmas present...even two if the method is really creative!

If Wishes Were Horses:
My need for wishes is decreasing at an amazing rate. I only have two wishes really, well three if you count wanting to get rid of the annoying twins:
1) An extened Taylor chasing Ryan would have lasted a couple of eps. After creatively pretending to be a sleep therapist in order to seduce Ryan, I really would have liked to see what else she could have come up with. (However, after veiwing next week's Ryan's fantasy fueled promo, I think I will survive!) Now I understand the need not to let this drag, since I fully predict that they will break up sometime in late winer only to get back together by May sweeps! (That is just my predictions and based primarily on my own random thoughts, not really anything of merit.)
2) More Cohen time, meaning more Sandy/Kirsten/Seth/Ryan together and interacting as a family. I really do hope that Sandy and Kirsten start to get a little more screen time. Oh and now that New Match has a backer, perhaps Kirsten will have something to do! There's a thought!!
Meanwhile, I would like to note that 2 of my wishes from the last review I wrote actually came true (unfortunately neither were, #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!

If only my Grandma watched this show. I could so prove her wrong and show her Beggars Riding !! (Note: One of my Nana's favorite responses is "If wishes were horses the beggars would ride".) If only I had made bigger and better wishes...

The One-Line Zinger:
"This is too wierd for this early in the morning."

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Seth: Bollywood, huh? I didn't know you were such a world cinema buff, especially at 2:30 in the morning.
Ryan: What are you doing up?
Seth: I had a dream. Summer was marrying Ralph Nader and I was playing the marimba at the wedding.
Ryan: Good gig! Why don't you call her?
Seth: I'm giving her space, remember?!?! I promised myself I'd wait at least a week before calling. What are they dancing about?
Ryan: This guy just saw his girlfriend's ankle.
Seth: Hmmm...do you think it's about time to talk to someone?
Ryan: Nobody ever died from insomnia.
Seth: Fine. You know what? I'm kind of in the mood for a chaste Hindu love story with lots of needless dancing.
Ryan: Seth, go to bed.
Seth: No can do. If you're awake, I'm awake!! [He then promptly falls asleep!]

Well the truth it fell so heavy...

2006-11-30T15:37:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-11-29T12:47:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-11-28T16:14:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-11-27T15:43:00.000-08:00

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...

2006-11-17T12:20:00.000-08:00

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...

2006-11-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

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...

2006-11-15T10:53:00.002-08:00

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...

2006-11-14T14:40:00.001-08:00

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!

2006-11-13T14:02:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-11-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

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...

2006-11-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

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...

2006-11-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-11-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

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...

2006-11-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

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?