I could possibly be fading...

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...

Am I in hell or the promise land?

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?

While you were sleeping, the time changed...

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!]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the pageant of the bizarre...

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

The O.C.

Episode: "The Metamorphosis"

Original Air Date: November 16, 2006

Rating: Bloody Brillant


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time is contagious...

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

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

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