Monday, January 29, 2007

Monday, January 22, 2007

Why the sudden break?

What I watched tonight
  • The Office Season 1 DVD, all of the commentaries...and I mean all of the commentaries




  • My computer broke. Well...I broke my computer. I managed to spill Hot Tea all over it, so it's making sounds and doesn't do anything past making a low whirring sound. So I have to send it into Apple to have them fix it. This might take a little while, so I won't be updating as much as I have been.

    The spontaneity of my posts will be lost. I usually write whenever I get bored or I need to vent or come across something hilarious, so unless I'm sitting in a computer lab and that happens...this will be a lot less spontaneous.

    I also have some weird music on my iPod that I wouldn't normally have on there, but for some reason I'm crazy. So now, I'm stuck with what's on there until I get my computer back. Which means I can't really listen to my podcasts. I'm going to miss them...ahhhh babies come back.

    In other news...
    Steels and I (plus Pat) went to Jared Campbell's last show at his old church in Endicott. It was awesome. We taped it for our Video Workshop project, and I think it went pretty well. I was the backstage camera, and Steeley did the stationary performance camera. It was really dark in some of the backstage areas. I had to get creative about finding my angles. There were a few spots where he was standing that I could get him against one of the screens on the stage, so he was backlit in blue. I hope it translates well on the tape, because it looked pretty cool from where I was standing.

    We're meeting up with Jared, and I think Meridee too sometime later this week. No word yet when, but shouldn't be a problem.

    I should see if we can edit any of the footage yet.

    Classes started today...YAY for school. Advanced Web and Acting should be the only really difficult classes I'm taking. Well...besides Workshop.

    But off to Park!

    Thursday, January 18, 2007

    Happy Birthday Joe.

    What I watched tonight
  • SuperTroopers
  • The Office
  • Scrubs Re-runs
  • Scrubs Primetime
  • 30 Rock
  • I Love NY



    So it's my friend's birthday today, and I am a horrible person and I started getting jealous of all the Happy Birthdays he had on his facebook wall. And then...I went and counted the ones that I had had on my birthday, and I damn well near came close. Look at that.

    I thought I was this horrible person, but maybe not so much. Kick youself out of it, girl. Kick, kick. Done. Out...no more negativity. This will be a positive final semester of fun.

    the end.
  • Wednesday, January 17, 2007

    now I know for real, I'm growing up

    Now I know I'm growing up.

    Hanson has a Greatest Hits/20th Century Masters Album.

    Click on the title of this post for the link to Amazon.

    oh man...special

    True Texans know this...

    You are a true Texan if: I will bold the ones that I relate to

    1. You can properly pronounce Corsicana, Palestine, Decatur, Wichita Falls, San Antonio, Burnet, Boerne, Nacogdoches, Mexia, Waco, Amarillo, and Waxahachie.

    2. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.

    3. You've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.

    4. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but by the availability of shade.

    5. Stores don't have bags, they have sacks.

    6. You have seen people wear overalls at funerals.

    7. You measure distance in minutes.

    8. Little Smokies are something you serve only for special occasions.

    9. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean.

    10. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.

    11. You know cowpies are not made of beef.

    12. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date. (maybe not a wedding date, but other things, yes)

    13. You have known someone who has had a belt buckle bigger than your fist.

    14. You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, and bait all in the same store. (not anymore)

    15. Your "place at the lake" has wheels under it.

    16. A Mercedes Benz is not a status symbol; a Ford F350 4x4 is. (or a Mustang)

    17. You know everything goes better with Ranch dressin'. (of course it does)

    18. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.

    19. You actually understand this and you are "fixin' to" send it to your friends.

    20. Finally, you are 100% Texan if you have ever heard this
    conversation:
    "You wanna coke?"
    "Yeah."
    "What kind?"
    "Dr. Pepper"

    (that conversation happens more often than you'd think)

    Tuesday, January 16, 2007

    I'm sorry...I had to

    Separated at birth?




    and





    I think so.

    Socks, Campus Ladies and Lawyers

    What I watched tonight
  • No Direction Home: Bob Dylan Documentary...well, we fast forwarded through the middle of it. Research for Video Workshop.
  • American Idol...the last 15 minutes or so. I probably only saw the people they were hyping up for the first 45 minutes of the show.
  • Boston Legal...always hilarious, and for some reason, I love Craig Bierko. I don't understand exactly why...but he's awesome.
  • Campus Ladies...meh...i wasn't as amused as I thought i would be. Maybe it was just too hyped by Court. Maybe I didn't see the right episode. I did see Rob Riddle(?) though. He's good.
  • Fashion Police: Golden Globes. Even though I didn't actually watch the Golden Globes, it's good to catch up for the Fashionista in me.



    I knit a lot tonight. I finished one of Courtney's socks though...and I kind of love it. I love the color work I've done. I'm just proud of it. I think I've come a long way from the crazy-ridiculous sweater I made for Amanda forever and a day ago. For now, I like the more instant gratification something small like socks (although there are two to make which can be troublesome), scarves, headbands and hats.

    It's kind of special...me and my knitting. I'm realizing that I haven't really learned how to practice at anything. I want to learn so many things, but I have little to no drive to actually practice them. I want to learn how to play guitar better, but I don't push myself to practice. I want to sing better, but I don't practice. I'm not studying any of those things. But maybe it's a good thing, because what I am practicing right now is how to be a student. I am good at that, as my grades from the past semester show. I can handle that responsibility.

    I'm hoping that I can learn to practice more. I need to not focus on the instant gratification anymore. I'm taking more interest in knitting gauges. For you non-knitters, gauges help you determine sizing, finding out how many stitches you knit per inch is important in deciding how many stitches you need to make a whole hat that will fit a 24 inch head, or to fit around a sweater or something like that. It's very important for sweaters and other tops. I just need to do a little better at the practicing part, outside of knitting or school.

    I really want to learn guitar, but I'm not going to get any better if I continue to only pick it up once every 3 months. I should ask Rebecca about her practicing strategies. She's a piano major, she's got lots and lots of practicing to do, maybe she can help a little. I think I just don't know how to approach it all. Hopefully, she can help me come up with a plan.

    We'll see.
  • Monday, January 15, 2007

    I love Rebecca

    What I watched tonight
  • The Class
  • The Last 1/2 hour of "I Love NY"
  • This past week's "The Soup" episode
  • almost watched the Golden Globes



    I love how the past 2 days I've had 3 amazing conversations with amazing people, with completely different themes, each time.

    1. Melbor and Religion/Politics/General Belief Systems...we had a 5.5 hour road trip and an iPod full of disney songs...religion is the natural topic of choice.

    2. Gogal, about Friends...a hot tub, comfy couch, and PJ pants...natural conversation choice.

    3. RC and Love, Relationships and Men...Golden Globes, books, and an empty apartment.

    Good people, good conversation.

    Now I've got some good books to read, I think I'll get ready for bed and try one of them out.
  • Because I'm bored tonight

    Where did you bring in 2006?: I was in New Hampshire until about 11:30, and then I drove home I think I might have missed the whole countdown thing. I don't really remember...I just generally bad about remembering.

    What was you status by Valentine's Day?: Status? What status? HA! I laugh in the face of status

    Were you in school (anytime this year)?: IC IC IC

    How did you earn your keep?: Radio working, St Rose working, SASP working

    Did You have to go to the hospital?: once, in January. But I haven't been since! New record!

    Have you encountered the police this year?: of course, I work with them all the time

    Where did you go on Vacation?: Home...NYC, Rhode Island

    What did you purchase that was over $500? My sanity. No, wait...didn't spend any money on that.

    Did you know anybody who got married?: uhh...nope

    Did you know anybody who passed away?: Danielle Goren...though I didn't really know her...I might have, but you know...one of those things.

    Have you ran into anybody you graduated high school with? actually no...I should get on that

    Did you move anywhere?: 139ers

    What sporting event did you go to?: Football games for IC, I worked them though

    What concerts did you go to?: Rocksteady Explosion, Highway Beautiful, Jared Campbell, Matt Nathanson

    Where do you live now?: Ithaca

    Describe your birthday: oh, I turned 21, Rocksteady played the night of, and then the older ones and I went out and had a blast!

    What is one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2006?: Be on VIC exec staff again

    What is one thing you regretted this year?: that boy

    What's something you learned about yourself?: that I'm totally a stalker.

    Any new additions to your family? Madison!

    What was your best month?: I'm going to go with April, b/c of Rocksteady and my birthday

    How would you rate this year on a scale of 1 to 10?: 5

    What was the funniest thing that happened to you in 2006?: oh I have no clue

    What is your New Years Resolution?: to get a job, somewhere

    How do you plan on bringing in the new year?: with people, maybe Dick Clark

    [x] stayed single
    [x] got kissed
    [x] kissed someone new
    [ ] made out in a car
    [ ] kissed in the snow
    [ ] kissed in the rain
    [x] fell in love with a fool
    [x] had my heart broken
    [ ] broke someone else's heart
    [ ?] had a stalker
    [x] lost a friend
    [ define good ] had a good relationship with someone
    [ ] questioned my sexual orientation
    [ ] came out of my closet
    [ ] got pregnant
    [ ] had an abortion
    [ ] got married
    [ ] had a divorce
    [x] met someone that I will never forget
    [x] did something I regret
    [ ] lost my true love
    [x] lost faith in love
    [ ] kissed under mistletoe
    [x] got a promotion
    [x] got a pay raise
    [ ] changed jobs
    [ ] lost my job
    [ ] quit my job
    [ ] dated a co-worker
    [ ] dated my boss
    [ ] dated my boss's son/ daughter
    [ ] got fired from my job
    [x--for one semester] got straight A's
    [ ] met a teacher who I became friends with
    [x] met a teacher who I really hate
    [ ] found the subject I love
    [x] failed a class
    [ ] cut class
    [ ] skipped school
    [x] did something I was proud of
    [x] discovered a new talent
    [ ] proved myself
    [ ] embarrassed myself in front of the class
    [ ] fell in love with a teacher
    [x] was involved in something that I will never forget
    [ ] painted a picture
    [x] listened to music I couldn't stand
    [x] double dipped
    [ ] skinny dipped
    [ ] went to a sleepover
    [ ] went to camp
    [ ] threw a surprise party
    [ ] laughed till I cried
    [ ] laughed till I peed my pants
    [x] flirted shamelessly
    [ ] visited a foreign country
    [x] visited another state
    [x] cooked a disastrous meal
    [x] lost something important to me
    [x] got a gift I love
    [x] realized something new about myself
    [ ] dyed my hair
    [x] came close to losing my life
    [ ] someone close to me died
    [x] went to a wild party
    [x] drank alcohol
    [x] got drunk
    [ ] got arrested
    [x] read a great book
    [x] saw a great movie
    [ ] saw a movie so scary that it made me cry
    [x] saw a band live or concert
    [x] did something that I want to tell everyone
    [x] experienced something new
    [x] made new friends
    [x] found out who your real friends are
    [x] lied to your parents
    [ ] snuck out
    [ ] got in trouble with police
    [ ] kissed in a pool
    [ ] kissed under the stars
    [ ] did illegal drugs.
    [x] went to a party
    [ ] had the time of your life
    [x] danced
    [x] fell out of love [or like]
    [x] had a crush on someone
    [ ] changed your sexual preference
    [x] swam in a pool
    [ ] went snowboarding
    [ ] went sledding
    [ ] slept in past 2pm
    [x] held someones hand
    [x] held someones hand that you cared about
    [x] got wasted in a public place
    [ ] got wasted in Mexico
    [x] told someone you like them as more than a friend
    [x] gone on vacation
    [x] gone on vacation with a friend
    [x] driven a car
    [ ] played strip poker
    [ ] danced in the rain
    [ ] got in a car accident
    [ ] seen someone get in a car accident
    [ ] got in a fist fight
    [ ] laughed until you couldn't breathe
    [ ] had an amazing year
    [x] missed someone
    [ ] got hit by car
    [x] went to the hospital
    [ ] got a new pet
    [ ] enjoyed this year overall

    2006 LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD - LONGEST FRIEND
    This year it's Steeley...we've fought way too much

    NEWCOMER AWARD - NEWEST FRIEND
    very newest friend is Morgan

    HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
    Rocksteady

    LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
    Between fall break and Thanksgiving break


    BEST HOLIDAY?
    My birthday!

    ANTHEM FOR 2006?
    "Over my head" The Fray

    ANY REGRETS?
    only 1

    BEST NIGHT OUT?
    birthday

    WORST NIGHT OUT?
    the one where I stayed in

    WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?
    probably the roommates of 08-08

    BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
    radio

    WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?'
    graduating and job stuff

    MOST STUPID IDEA?
    one comes to mind

    DOUCHE OF THE YEAR?
    ---lipstight---

    MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
    Steeley

    BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
    SASP training coordinator...who knew? Me? What?

    I am horrible

    What I watched tonight
  • nothing...haven't watched TV today...



    I am just bad at being aloof and mysterious. I should just give up now...I can't do it.

    Bedtime.

    Remember when I used to use the word Figilicious....that was special. It kind of looks like refridgerator, but different. Ok...it's 3am and I should really be sleeping. Tomorrow's yet another day, for watching EVERYTHING on the DVR. ;)

    Lots of catching up to do.

    Broke in Gogal's hot tub tonight. It's pretty much pimp. I'm jealous. Love that guy.

    sleeeeeeep
  • Thursday, January 11, 2007

    Thursday TV

    What I watched tonight

    • Scrubs in Syndication...probably 4 episodes-ish
    • The Office
    • Grey's Anatomy
    • Little Miss Sunshine




    Thursday night TV is the best. Period. I wish I could watch it all at once.


    I also adore that Scrubs is in syndication now, it makes late-night TV and mid-day TV much better. ;)

    oh dear...get off the couch, I've got to go for a walk now.

    Dreamgirls we're your Dreamgirls...well...kind of

    I started this post forever ago (last year) but I finished it, and I wanted it to rise to the top...so here's the post (circa Dec 27th, 2006) with my conclusion, enjoy:

    My sister and I went to see the movie "Dreamgirls" this weekend, and it was dreamilicious. For the most part.

    Synopsis:
    So there's Effie, Deena, and Lorell (who's name I didn't know until 2/3 of the way through) who make up the girl-group The Dreamettes. They're in Detroit and working their way into a talent competition, when they get discovered by a Used car Salesman, Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx--b/c 2 Xs are better than 1). The girls are asked to sing back-up for the Detroit legend James"Thunder" Early (played by Eddie Murphy) for his upcoming tour.

    Musical number, montage, musical number, montage.

    When Curtis learns that Early's brand of R&B is too black for the larger white audiences he's trying to appeal to. He starts the girls off in their own club act in Miami starting a whirlwind of press coverage and pop chart success with Deena singing lead. This rubs the diva, Effie, the wrong way. She's always sang lead for the group and her voice is inherently stronger. Curtis and C. C. (Effie's younger brother and the group's songwriter) convince her that Deena's voice is better for the white pop audiences and smooths out the sound of her brassy gospel voice.

    Eventually, Effie's ego gets the better of her and she despises singing back-up to Deena's softer lead. She storms off a set and returns a few days later to find herself replaced in the group. This is the scene where Jennifer Hudson/Effie looses it. It's absolutely amazing. Just when you think Effie's going to break down, she keeps singing, and keeps pleading. But more on that later...

    Musical number, montage, musical number, montage.

    A few years later...bang bang bang boom boom boom...Effie's got a daughter and is down on her luck, all she knows how to do is sing. Meanwhile, Early is struggling to get Curtis to allow him to find a new sound and a new image that reflect him. Curtis just sees an old washed up R&B star and doesn't allow him to record new stuff. Deena's trying to break out of the shell that Curtis has molded for her as "America's Sweetheart" and wants to take a new edgy role in a movie. Curtis' ego grows and grows. Annnnd...I'll let you see the end.


    My Opinion

    Take it or leave it, but its what I think.

    Generally speaking, I liked the movie. But I felt like it was one LONG music video, part of that is the musical part of it, Rent was kind of like that too. But I felt like most of the music didn't really help move the story along, necessarily. Don't get me wrong, the music was great and costumes and special effects amazing, I'm sure it was a great stage show. I didn't feel like the storytelling was right.

    I loved the Costumes, gorgeous. I love the make-up and hair design, gorgeous. Loved the music, loved the choreography.

    I just didn't like how the story was told. The audience was always held an arm's length away from what was really going on. I wanted to get into the character's heads more. The story moved around so much between Effie, Curtis and the other characters that it was hard to determine who's the lead. Frankly, I didn't think Beyonce was the female lead, Jennifer Hudson was.

    And the Jennifer Hudson/Effie huge musical number was absolutely amazing! I just about cried. The minute you think it's over, she keeps singing and digging the whole she stays in for 10 years.

    Conclusion: Wait for more Oscar buzz, or just wait for the DVD.

    Tuesday, January 2, 2007

    The City...

    I'm blogging to you this evening from the Hostelling International New York Hostel on Amsterdam Avenue. YAY!

    It's pretty exciting. The girl on my right has an Australian accent and the boy to my left has a british one. I'm pretty sure that the girl on the bunk above me is from the UK. Sweetnesss...maybe I can make some new friends. That'd be nice.

    Today I took the Commuter Train into Boston and then walked right onto the Fung Wah bus. It's good timing, is all. I waltzed right past a lot of forlorn looking people in the line for the Greyhound bus to NYC right to the eager arms of the Fung Wah girls already ready with change for my $20 bill. It's pretty fantastic like that.

    Once I got on the bus and was being driven on the Manhattan Bridge into Manhattan itself, I realized...oh no...where am I going? I whipped out my subway maps and found out that there is more than one way to skin a cat...but I think I found the right way. It just took me a few trains to get uptown to my hostel and welcoming bed.

    I had just enough time to get settled and stuff my suitcase into my locker before I headed back downtown to Midtown Manhattan. I was on a mission, to find a certain Diane...from Jersey. So off I went, searching, searching for that elusive subway station that should have been down this block, but was infact down that one. I found the uptown side of the station...no...I want to go downtown. hmmm. I circled the block to find nothing but street. Maybe this is the only side of the station? Meh, whatever, I've got time. So I took the train up to the next station and then made the cross to the downtown train. Funny.

    That wasn't enough though. Diane and I had a nice stroll down 5th Avenue and to Tiffany's (which was far too busy to actually consider buying something), into the new Apple Store by the FAO Schwartz. Circling back to her office, we stopped at Starbucks where I paid $.65 for a Grande Latte and a Parfait (everybody loves parfait)...thanks for the giftcard Mom and Dad...err...Santa! Up to the office we went to say hello to Diane's Dad and I hung out for probably another hour or so, just chillin' and eating my parfait, drinking my Latte...just enough to get hyper again. oh geez...When I had first arrived Diane had been the enthusiastic and bubbly one, when I left I was the one that was bubbly...she was just plain tired after working all day.

    Once I left I headed towards Rockefeller Center. YAY for skating in the winter and the big Christmas Tree was still up. It was fantastic, absolutely awesome. I took photos...sweet. Then I was headed in the general direction for scoping out where I need to be first thing in the morning tomorrow, but I got distracted and ended up in St. Patricks Cathedral first. Said a prayer, a decade of the rosary and lit a candle in memory of Erich. Then it was off to H&M...which would probably be my favorite store, except that I don't have ready access to one in Ithaca. Boo. Anywho...

    That's when I started to circle. I would go down 6th Avenue and think I was going down 53rd or vice versa. I just kept going in circles and getting sidetracked, not remembering exactly where I had been coming from.

    It was confusing. But I made it back alright. Fantastic. Now I'm going to crash and probably just sleep the night away, or knit. One of the two.

    More on this adventure later! Next time I decided to pay for internet service.