Dear Readers,
I was watching You've Got Mail, one of my all-time favorite movies last night. I can't help but watch it whenever it comes on TV; no matter where it is in the film I will either sit down and watch it or tape the remainder despite owning it on DVD. I will probably have to buy it on Blu-Ray soon because I just feel that it needs to be watched in all its glory but I digress. It got me thinking about what movies or songs or CD's that I just can't live without. And so an idea was born! (I know, I don't have many but this one is good! I promise.) What if you made a time capsule filled with all of your Must Haves?
"Wow! Kate is just a genius." "I know! I can't believe I never thought of that." "She is so pretty..." Oh stop, guys, you're making me blush.
In all seriousness, have you ever thought about it? I know I've asked what your favorite movie is but have you ever considered what the essentials were? I decided to take a swing at it; we'll see if I can keep relatively small. (Oh, who am I kidding. I'm gonna need a trundle to house my essentials.)
1. Dirty Dancing- Duh. But which copy? The one my dad got me for my 16th birthday that started it all? The 20th Anniversary 2-Disc Copy that I got before I saw the movie in theaters? Or my Collectors Box Edition with a book and 3-Discs? Decisions, decisions.
2. The rest of my top 5 movies: Empire Strikes Back (or if I am being realistic my Blu-Ray of all six Star Wars movies), The Princess Bride, Shrek, and Transformers. Plus You've Got Mail. Pretty Woman, RENT, Star Trek, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, and the Harry Potter series.
3. My Live in Las Vegas: Celine Dion DVD and her Taking Chances CD/DVD combo. Why? Celine is amazing. Get used to it.
4. My Zune with the following CDs/Artists/Soundtracks/Playlists: Taylor Swift, Kate Voegele, The Fray, the Footloose soundtrack (I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's the best soundtrack. Ever. Debate!) the One Tree Hill soundtracks, RENT/Moulin Rouge/Mamma Mia!/ Wicked soundtracks, all of the Glee songs, Maroon 5's Hands All Over, Journey's "Don't Stop Believin' ", and Brendan James.
Here is where it gets tough. ("Really? Because you were being so discretionary before." "Quiet you...") How to decide which TV gets brought? I own over 20 series (way over 20 but that's a nice number so we'll stick with that.) of television on DVD so I just dump them all in but I won't do that.
1. One Tree Hill series. And I already broke my rule. It's my all-time favorite show. I can tell you what my favorite episode is (Season 4, Disc 4, Some You Give Away) but I can't not have the series in its entirety.
2. The series finale of Dawson's Creek. I have the 2-Hour DVD of this great show and it manages to make me laugh and sob every time I watch it.
3. Glee- "Pilot", "Power of Madonna", and "Dream On". All from Season 1 and probably my top three episodes to this day.
4. Buffy- "When She Was Bad", "Becoming Part 2", "Something Blue", "The Body", "Once More with Feeling", and "Chosen". These six episodes are what Buffy was all about: teenage drama, forbidden love, enemies becoming allies, death (supernatural and natural), music, and a sense that you can be chosen but not alone.
5. Alias- The Rimbaldi Cube Series Collection. What? It comes in a cube (the Rimbaldi cube which is so frakking cool.) and so it automatically is travel size.
6. Friends- Really, I just would like to watch the bloopers. But any episode from any season still makes me laugh so I would just grab a random disc from each season and be content.
7. The Nanny- "Green Card" and "The Finale Part 1 and 2". I love The Nanny. Sue me. She cracks me up and I think all of life's most valuable lessons can be learned from the nasal-tastic Fran Drescher.
Books. Oh the books I've read. This is a much easier list for me to compile than the rest because I reread these ones so frequently.
1. My paperback set of the Harry Potter series.
2. Nora Roberts' Tribute, Divine Evil, and The Chesapeake Bay series. I own 95% of all her books now so I can say with some authority that these are some of her finest books.
2. Nicholas Sparks' A Walk to Remember. Lightweight, less than 250 pages, and still one of my favorite books.
3. Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game. I read this book back in 6th grade for a book club and still pulls me back in.
4. Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy. Recently devoured these books and they became an instant classic in my mind.
5. Julie Andrews' Mandy. A childhood favorite and just a lovely book.
6. James Patterson's Beach House. I really enjoy his Women's Murder Club series as well.
Well I think that should fill a time-capsule the size of a trunk. What can I say? I love a lot of things and I don't want to be without any of them. Can you create your own time-capsule? Did I miss something? Let me know!!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
The Edge of Glory... or Anticipation.
I was recently reading my Entertainment Weekly and came to an excerpt from Uncle Stevie or as you might know him Steven King. I haven't actually read any of his books but I really enjoyed his column in the magazine. He is only a guest columnist now but I miss his weekly rants. I also like the idea of his excerpts running in the magazine so I am going to copy him. After all imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right?
Chapter One:
He watched her. Hidden in the shadows, low to the ground and daring not to move an inch, he watched her.
Lily marched triumphantly down the street. She had gotten the lead in the play! Ha! Finally all her hard work had paid off. All those acting classes. How many head shots had she labored over, debating over which pose and hair style before selecting the top three. And the voice lessons, don't even go that direction. Eponine from Les Miserables was hers and no one, especially that tart Julia, could take that away from her.
As she walked home, she felt a tickle in her shoulder blade. Idly scratching it she continued on her merry way, whistling a cherry tune and waving to the people she passed. It was dusk and the sun was setting on the glorious day, at least in Lily's mind. What could possibly go wrong on this wonderful day! Pausing at the sidewalk, she bent over and retied her shoe lace. That nagging sensation washed over her again and this time she looked over her shoulder. Just a couple of bushes next to an old church. But... a small tremble. She peered closer and felt the wind blow through her hair. "Lily, get a grip. It's just the wind for Pete's sake." Straightening she continued her march home as she skipped across the street.
"She almost saw me," the shadow thought. "So close... maybe next time." His hatred for her was as pure as white snow and deep as a well. It had always been this way, he was raised to believe in certain things and hating the tall brunette was one of those things.
But... sometimes he felt that his hatred wasn't pure. Sometimes he worried he wasn't going to be able to fulfill his goal. In those times, he would sit and think hard on the subject. His entire life in question but what would he do if she wasn't there? His mother would banish him for sure and when he thought of that it was too much and banished all other thoughts.
Soon it would be dark and then he would plan. Planning was crucial to his plan. Everyone in the clan knew that he planned and thought he was crazy. "Why plan?" they would say. "Just act. Why do you wait? She will get away from you. There are more to taken. Hurry!" They didn't understand his need for the perfect moment. Then and only then, would he act.
Lily reached her sidewalk, her keys jingling in her hand. "Lily!!! Lily!!! Did you get it!" Lily turned her head and saw her next-door-neighbor Aaron rush out from underneath the hood of his rusty 1963 Mercury Comet, his pride and joy. Wiping the grease from his hands on his shirt, he moved across his yard to hers with surprising speed for a 6 foot tall man. Hands on his hips, he asked "So? Do I live next to a famous person yet?" She lowered her head and whispered something. "Oh Lils. I'm so sorry..." "Gotcha!!" "What! You got it!? I knew you would!" With a whoop and no care for her clothes, he lifted her off her feet and carried her over his shoulder doing a very Rockyesque imitation. Laughing, Lily held on for her life; it would be a long way down if she fell.
"Aaron!! Put me down! You're ruining my outfit." "Who cares about your outfit dollface! Let's celebrate." "Only if you shower and clean off first." Aaron looked down and grinned, not at all sheepishly. "If you say so. Order a pizza and I'll bring the wine. You can tell me all about it!" She laughed as he raced inside his house. "What a fool," she said with a smile on her face.
He watched the man lift his target and run like a baboon around the yard. "Idiot man." An unfamiliar sensation filled him and for the first time he seriously considered abandoning his plan. "Get a hold of yourself. Now is not the time to have second thoughts. It's almost time." Yes, yes it was almost time. The days light was growing dimmer by the minute and soon he would be cloaked in darkness, his favorite time of day. It was his own personal playground at night and only a few of his family attempted to go out during the day. It wasn't done.
He passed by her house. Yes, tonight was part of the plan. Her lights started flickering on and though he wished he could stay and watch, that was not on the agenda for the evening. No, tonight was the trial run and he couldn't afford any mistakes. All the kinks had to be ironed out before he went to her.
He prowled the street looking, just looking. "Ahh..." he thought as he spotted his mark. "This will be fun..."
So readers of my blog, are you intrigued? Are you on the edge of your seat with anticipation? Let me know if you want to know more about Lily, Aaron, and our mysterious italicized menace!
Chapter One:
He watched her. Hidden in the shadows, low to the ground and daring not to move an inch, he watched her.
Lily marched triumphantly down the street. She had gotten the lead in the play! Ha! Finally all her hard work had paid off. All those acting classes. How many head shots had she labored over, debating over which pose and hair style before selecting the top three. And the voice lessons, don't even go that direction. Eponine from Les Miserables was hers and no one, especially that tart Julia, could take that away from her.
As she walked home, she felt a tickle in her shoulder blade. Idly scratching it she continued on her merry way, whistling a cherry tune and waving to the people she passed. It was dusk and the sun was setting on the glorious day, at least in Lily's mind. What could possibly go wrong on this wonderful day! Pausing at the sidewalk, she bent over and retied her shoe lace. That nagging sensation washed over her again and this time she looked over her shoulder. Just a couple of bushes next to an old church. But... a small tremble. She peered closer and felt the wind blow through her hair. "Lily, get a grip. It's just the wind for Pete's sake." Straightening she continued her march home as she skipped across the street.
"She almost saw me," the shadow thought. "So close... maybe next time." His hatred for her was as pure as white snow and deep as a well. It had always been this way, he was raised to believe in certain things and hating the tall brunette was one of those things.
But... sometimes he felt that his hatred wasn't pure. Sometimes he worried he wasn't going to be able to fulfill his goal. In those times, he would sit and think hard on the subject. His entire life in question but what would he do if she wasn't there? His mother would banish him for sure and when he thought of that it was too much and banished all other thoughts.
Soon it would be dark and then he would plan. Planning was crucial to his plan. Everyone in the clan knew that he planned and thought he was crazy. "Why plan?" they would say. "Just act. Why do you wait? She will get away from you. There are more to taken. Hurry!" They didn't understand his need for the perfect moment. Then and only then, would he act.
Lily reached her sidewalk, her keys jingling in her hand. "Lily!!! Lily!!! Did you get it!" Lily turned her head and saw her next-door-neighbor Aaron rush out from underneath the hood of his rusty 1963 Mercury Comet, his pride and joy. Wiping the grease from his hands on his shirt, he moved across his yard to hers with surprising speed for a 6 foot tall man. Hands on his hips, he asked "So? Do I live next to a famous person yet?" She lowered her head and whispered something. "Oh Lils. I'm so sorry..." "Gotcha!!" "What! You got it!? I knew you would!" With a whoop and no care for her clothes, he lifted her off her feet and carried her over his shoulder doing a very Rockyesque imitation. Laughing, Lily held on for her life; it would be a long way down if she fell.
"Aaron!! Put me down! You're ruining my outfit." "Who cares about your outfit dollface! Let's celebrate." "Only if you shower and clean off first." Aaron looked down and grinned, not at all sheepishly. "If you say so. Order a pizza and I'll bring the wine. You can tell me all about it!" She laughed as he raced inside his house. "What a fool," she said with a smile on her face.
He watched the man lift his target and run like a baboon around the yard. "Idiot man." An unfamiliar sensation filled him and for the first time he seriously considered abandoning his plan. "Get a hold of yourself. Now is not the time to have second thoughts. It's almost time." Yes, yes it was almost time. The days light was growing dimmer by the minute and soon he would be cloaked in darkness, his favorite time of day. It was his own personal playground at night and only a few of his family attempted to go out during the day. It wasn't done.
He passed by her house. Yes, tonight was part of the plan. Her lights started flickering on and though he wished he could stay and watch, that was not on the agenda for the evening. No, tonight was the trial run and he couldn't afford any mistakes. All the kinks had to be ironed out before he went to her.
He prowled the street looking, just looking. "Ahh..." he thought as he spotted his mark. "This will be fun..."
So readers of my blog, are you intrigued? Are you on the edge of your seat with anticipation? Let me know if you want to know more about Lily, Aaron, and our mysterious italicized menace!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Dancing Through Life
::deep breathing:: So sorry guys. I know its been a while since I have graced your Internet but I have been extremely busy with a new job (WAHOO!) and enjoying my new found freedom of evenings and weekends. But have no fear, Kate is here! Well, back. And for good this time!
::still catching my breath:: You'll have to excuse me, I'm just catching my breath. From what you ask? Well, I didn't want to spoil anything for you, but I think I found the cure to... basically everything. Mildly intrigued? Come on, you're dying to hear what the cure to everything is, I just know it. Well, here it is...
DANCING!!!
::chirp, chirp:: Um. Let me try this again. Drum roll please! ::badabadabada:: DANCING!!
Still nothing? Wow, you are a hard crowd to please. Do you need some hard evidence to believe me? Ok. I got your evidence right here.
Dancing is a great way to exercise. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't. Um... off track.
At my old job, I used to a wake up/get pumped for the day dance. I would put some hip-swinging, toe-tapping song on and just let go. Yes there were windows all around me and in a heavily trafficked area. So? I didn't care who saw me. If they did see me, I can guarantee that my dancing at the very least put a smile on their face. I would also dance down the aisle around lunchtime and definitely late at night. (There are two videos for proof.) I miss being able to just let go and de-stress by dancing. I do my best by dancing in my swivelly chair now. I'm a grown up. I have to act like one. Psych! ( I do act like an adult Mom and Dad! Just have to maintain my persona on here!)
Did you know that you can dance in your car. It's true! There are a couple of techniques I would like to share with you. The first one is the torso swivel. You just wriggle like a snake. Simple, no? The shoulder shimmy is another personal favorite. I am a big fan of the head bang but it does not help with headaches. I have a specific play list that I put on whenever I'm in the mood to do some hardcore rocking out in my car. Windows down, back seat... whoops! Just kidding. In all seriousness, nothing makes my day better than a good car jamming session where I amaze fellow drivers with my dancing and singing skills in my car.
If my personal testimonials aren't enough to convince you, just look at pop culture. All of the dance shows (Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance...) and the current release of Footloose. My rating: B+. Good acting, so-so music (Long live the original soundtrack, which coincidentally is one of the best car soundtracks EVER.), and the BEST dancing I have seen in a really long time.
Well, I think I have the best case I can make for dancing as the cure for everything. Try it. Can't hurt anything. (Unless you pull a muscle. That hurts.)
"Dancing through life/Mindless and careless/Make sure you wear less/Troubles and strife/Woes are fleeting/Blows are glancing/When you're dancing/Through life!"
::still catching my breath:: You'll have to excuse me, I'm just catching my breath. From what you ask? Well, I didn't want to spoil anything for you, but I think I found the cure to... basically everything. Mildly intrigued? Come on, you're dying to hear what the cure to everything is, I just know it. Well, here it is...
DANCING!!!
::chirp, chirp:: Um. Let me try this again. Drum roll please! ::badabadabada:: DANCING!!
Still nothing? Wow, you are a hard crowd to please. Do you need some hard evidence to believe me? Ok. I got your evidence right here.
Dancing is a great way to exercise. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't. Um... off track.
At my old job, I used to a wake up/get pumped for the day dance. I would put some hip-swinging, toe-tapping song on and just let go. Yes there were windows all around me and in a heavily trafficked area. So? I didn't care who saw me. If they did see me, I can guarantee that my dancing at the very least put a smile on their face. I would also dance down the aisle around lunchtime and definitely late at night. (There are two videos for proof.) I miss being able to just let go and de-stress by dancing. I do my best by dancing in my swivelly chair now. I'm a grown up. I have to act like one. Psych! ( I do act like an adult Mom and Dad! Just have to maintain my persona on here!)
Did you know that you can dance in your car. It's true! There are a couple of techniques I would like to share with you. The first one is the torso swivel. You just wriggle like a snake. Simple, no? The shoulder shimmy is another personal favorite. I am a big fan of the head bang but it does not help with headaches. I have a specific play list that I put on whenever I'm in the mood to do some hardcore rocking out in my car. Windows down, back seat... whoops! Just kidding. In all seriousness, nothing makes my day better than a good car jamming session where I amaze fellow drivers with my dancing and singing skills in my car.
If my personal testimonials aren't enough to convince you, just look at pop culture. All of the dance shows (Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance...) and the current release of Footloose. My rating: B+. Good acting, so-so music (Long live the original soundtrack, which coincidentally is one of the best car soundtracks EVER.), and the BEST dancing I have seen in a really long time.
Well, I think I have the best case I can make for dancing as the cure for everything. Try it. Can't hurt anything. (Unless you pull a muscle. That hurts.)
"Dancing through life/Mindless and careless/Make sure you wear less/Troubles and strife/Woes are fleeting/Blows are glancing/When you're dancing/Through life!"
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
To Live and Die By...
Will they or won't they? And when they do, will they be able to move past the curse? Epic or regrettable, destined or spontaneous. TV is full of romance and the reason many viewers come back is to see their couple(s) end up happily ever after. As the new TV season approaches, I feel many emotions. These characters have become my friends, I am invested in their lives. If they were to be real and ask me for advice I could and would do my very best to do right by them. But do the writers share that feeling? Let's evaluate, shall we?
Observation 1: Breaking up for breaking up's sake.
I can name so many classic couple who have been broken up and for the dumbest reasons. Last year, Glee was the biggest offender. 3 main (and beloved) couples were broken up purely to create drama. But the reasoning behind all the breakups was not believable. Believe me, I get it. Happy couples aren't entertaining. You can make as many arguments as you want but that's not why you watch couples. (An example would be every supercouple from Soap Operas. They are happy 10% of the time and the 90% is spent getting them together, causing misunderstandings, random plot devices, and breaking up for the 99th time. Luke and Laura anyone?) But when you break up a couple at least have a solid reason. I can't stand the stupid breakup.
Observation 2: Spontaneous couples are superior to initial couples.
This theory is very murky because there can be no hard evidence. Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (Eh? Eh?!) An initial couple are two characters that are slated to be together at the end of a series and they will get together and break up during the show, but they end up together. A good example of this would be Amy and Ephram of Everwood. Spontaneous couples are something a little more random. Two actors and their counterparts out of the have the best chemistry than could possibly have been foreseen. Our example would be Brittany and Artie of Glee. Now, clearly the initial couple has the advantage because they are who you are supposed to root for and have been programmed to love. But the beauty of the spontaneous couple is that you get to fall in love with them. There is no road map, it's just chemistry and it's a great thing to watch.
Observation 3: Falling for doomed romances.
The reason we watch TV is to forget our lives and troubles and to get so absorbed in somebody else's life. The worst part happens when you fall in love with the secondary romance or coupling that will never end well. Sure you might enjoy a lengthy storyline, a couple meaty episodes, or just lingering looks and touching moments. This is if your lucky. Sometimes all you get are moments where you create emotions and meanings behind every little nuance. I have luckily been on the winning side of the majority of winning couples but I have finally found myself in love with a doomed couple. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I know I have finally lost. And I find I don't like losing.
Observation 4: Moonlighting Curse
The "Moonlighting Curse". This phrase makes me so angry, for so many reasons. In case you don't know what it means I'll explain it. In the 80's there was a show called Moonlighting. Their "will they or won't they" drama ended when they finally "did" and ratings plummeted. This is always brought up when two popular characters have yet to "couple" and are dancing around the issue. I have two examples, Booth and Bones of Bones and Castle and Beckett of Castle. The writers of Bones have chosen their strategy to bypass the curse and I feel cheated. I won't go into much detail because of spoilers but I feel that you can't create a device to overcome the so-called "curse." If you have a talented staff of writers, your stories and plot lines should be realistic and complimentary to the couple. I don't mind waiting (and waiting and waiting and waiting...) for a couple to get together in the end. That's half the fun!!
Realistic or absurd, the couples are the core of a show. And we're stuck with them til the bitter end. Whenever that may be.
Observation 1: Breaking up for breaking up's sake.
I can name so many classic couple who have been broken up and for the dumbest reasons. Last year, Glee was the biggest offender. 3 main (and beloved) couples were broken up purely to create drama. But the reasoning behind all the breakups was not believable. Believe me, I get it. Happy couples aren't entertaining. You can make as many arguments as you want but that's not why you watch couples. (An example would be every supercouple from Soap Operas. They are happy 10% of the time and the 90% is spent getting them together, causing misunderstandings, random plot devices, and breaking up for the 99th time. Luke and Laura anyone?) But when you break up a couple at least have a solid reason. I can't stand the stupid breakup.
Observation 2: Spontaneous couples are superior to initial couples.
This theory is very murky because there can be no hard evidence. Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (Eh? Eh?!) An initial couple are two characters that are slated to be together at the end of a series and they will get together and break up during the show, but they end up together. A good example of this would be Amy and Ephram of Everwood. Spontaneous couples are something a little more random. Two actors and their counterparts out of the have the best chemistry than could possibly have been foreseen. Our example would be Brittany and Artie of Glee. Now, clearly the initial couple has the advantage because they are who you are supposed to root for and have been programmed to love. But the beauty of the spontaneous couple is that you get to fall in love with them. There is no road map, it's just chemistry and it's a great thing to watch.
Observation 3: Falling for doomed romances.
The reason we watch TV is to forget our lives and troubles and to get so absorbed in somebody else's life. The worst part happens when you fall in love with the secondary romance or coupling that will never end well. Sure you might enjoy a lengthy storyline, a couple meaty episodes, or just lingering looks and touching moments. This is if your lucky. Sometimes all you get are moments where you create emotions and meanings behind every little nuance. I have luckily been on the winning side of the majority of winning couples but I have finally found myself in love with a doomed couple. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I know I have finally lost. And I find I don't like losing.
Observation 4: Moonlighting Curse
The "Moonlighting Curse". This phrase makes me so angry, for so many reasons. In case you don't know what it means I'll explain it. In the 80's there was a show called Moonlighting. Their "will they or won't they" drama ended when they finally "did" and ratings plummeted. This is always brought up when two popular characters have yet to "couple" and are dancing around the issue. I have two examples, Booth and Bones of Bones and Castle and Beckett of Castle. The writers of Bones have chosen their strategy to bypass the curse and I feel cheated. I won't go into much detail because of spoilers but I feel that you can't create a device to overcome the so-called "curse." If you have a talented staff of writers, your stories and plot lines should be realistic and complimentary to the couple. I don't mind waiting (and waiting and waiting and waiting...) for a couple to get together in the end. That's half the fun!!
Realistic or absurd, the couples are the core of a show. And we're stuck with them til the bitter end. Whenever that may be.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Crash Course in TV Watching
"Are you ready to rummmmmbbbllleee!?" Actually it's more like "Are you ready for Fall TVVVVVV?!" At least in my world the darkening of the leaves, the colder weather, and wearing of comfy clothes means that my beloved Fall Premiere Season is back. There are some many familiar faces that I have missed all summer long and fresh faces to fall in love with. ::Sigh::
Now as a seasoned veteran of TV watching, I am well prepared for the onslaught of new shows, confusing time changes, and managing my returning shows. But I realize that you may not be. Before I can even give a heads up on what shows I think you should pay attention to come September, I feel it is my duty, nay, my birthright to help prepare you. This may seem simple but in reality it is a grueling day to day training that rivals actually working out. (Thank goodness because I actually have doing any physical exercise.)
1. Get a good TV: Your current TV is probably old. You need a new one. If it looks like a bubble or box, you need to join us and get a flat screen. Choosing a TV is like choosing a fine wine. You need to examine style, substance, and the overall flavor. Bigger is always better. (That's what she said. Yep. I just went there. Deal with it.)
2. Be comfortable: This is where most newbies make the first and worst mistake. You never wear jeans or dress outfits to watch TV. Rookie mistake. Invest in some super comfy sweats or shorts. Anything that feels like you could die from happiness just by wearing it is a good sign. Avoid tight shirts as well.
3. Snacks: This is the best part of TV watching. There are so many possibilities. I have a couple go-to snacks but I like the idea of a snack for a day. Mondays are all about the comedies, eat some popcorn. Tuesdays are drama, drama, drama; chips are the way to go. Wednesday is a grab bag of shows; fruit and crackers and cheese. Thursdays is TVs version of a film festival with the heavy hitters trying to take each other out; go for gold and eat whatever you want and lots of variety.
4. Viewing Parties: This can get tricky. Some shows beg to be watched with a certain crowd, others are just more enjoyable to watch with others, and still other shows make you so tense that if someone interrupts it you kill them. It happens. Give yourself two to three weeks to judge what category your lineup falls into.
5. To DVR: If you eventually get to my level of TV watching, you can not watch every show on the night it airs. It happens, and this is a good thing. This allows you to choose a show you can't wait to see til the next day. And then you also have leftovers the next day! Win win!
Now that I have shared my some of my trade secrets, I hope you listen to my advice before the fall season starts! It's coming fast! EEEEK!
Now as a seasoned veteran of TV watching, I am well prepared for the onslaught of new shows, confusing time changes, and managing my returning shows. But I realize that you may not be. Before I can even give a heads up on what shows I think you should pay attention to come September, I feel it is my duty, nay, my birthright to help prepare you. This may seem simple but in reality it is a grueling day to day training that rivals actually working out. (Thank goodness because I actually have doing any physical exercise.)
1. Get a good TV: Your current TV is probably old. You need a new one. If it looks like a bubble or box, you need to join us and get a flat screen. Choosing a TV is like choosing a fine wine. You need to examine style, substance, and the overall flavor. Bigger is always better. (That's what she said. Yep. I just went there. Deal with it.)
2. Be comfortable: This is where most newbies make the first and worst mistake. You never wear jeans or dress outfits to watch TV. Rookie mistake. Invest in some super comfy sweats or shorts. Anything that feels like you could die from happiness just by wearing it is a good sign. Avoid tight shirts as well.
3. Snacks: This is the best part of TV watching. There are so many possibilities. I have a couple go-to snacks but I like the idea of a snack for a day. Mondays are all about the comedies, eat some popcorn. Tuesdays are drama, drama, drama; chips are the way to go. Wednesday is a grab bag of shows; fruit and crackers and cheese. Thursdays is TVs version of a film festival with the heavy hitters trying to take each other out; go for gold and eat whatever you want and lots of variety.
4. Viewing Parties: This can get tricky. Some shows beg to be watched with a certain crowd, others are just more enjoyable to watch with others, and still other shows make you so tense that if someone interrupts it you kill them. It happens. Give yourself two to three weeks to judge what category your lineup falls into.
5. To DVR: If you eventually get to my level of TV watching, you can not watch every show on the night it airs. It happens, and this is a good thing. This allows you to choose a show you can't wait to see til the next day. And then you also have leftovers the next day! Win win!
Now that I have shared my some of my trade secrets, I hope you listen to my advice before the fall season starts! It's coming fast! EEEEK!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Hi, My Name is Kate and I'm an Addict.
It's time to just admit it. It's really difficult to tell you guys but I just really feel like I should be honest. It's not that bad really. Everyone does it. We're all addicts. So, welcome fellow addicts. Welcome to Bad Movies Anonymous . We are all guilty of loving awful movies. Don't even try to deny it.
I can hear you all denying it. I don't love bad movies. I would never be caught dead watching that movie. (Actually, I caught you. Fess up.) My friend/spouse/whoever made me watch that. I hated it. I don't own it on Blu-Ray. Yeah. Sure. I believe you. (I know someone who owns 'Xanadu' and that movie is B-A-D. But totally awesome.)
I'll tell you straight up that I proudly love some truly awful movies. I have no shame. I could tell you that in order to appreciate really good movies you have to see some gosh darn bad ones but that wouldn't be quite true. I honestly love bad movies. Why? They are so easy to make fun of and just relax when watching them. Bad movies are just enjoyable. And who says they are bad in the first place? Entertainment Weekly? ( I love that magazine but rarely agree with their reviews.) Working in a video store has given me a lot of perspective on people who rent gems like 'Life is Hot in Crack Town'. (Yep, that's a movie title. It's on my list of movies to watch.) Or why people watch every SyFy (Still hate the new abbreviation. Grrrr...) movie that they come out with. 'Birdemic' anyone?
The people who watch these movies are genuinely excited about them. And who am I to tell them that they are wasting their money. I love so many movies that most people sneer at. For example I can't go more than a week without watching 'Burlesque' and let me be the first to tell you that if you want some campy Cher/Christina action this movie delivers. 'Grease 2' is a classic in my book, not only for the stellar musical number "Let's Do It For Our Country" or "Reproduction" but for a sassy Michelle Pfeiffer singing that she needs a 'Cool Rider.' You haven't seen it because it would be sacrilege to the late great 'Grease,' I understand. But if you consider them as completely separate entities you can fully enjoy the awesomeness.
What about Sandra Bullock's supposed flop 'All About Steve?' While no where in league with 'The Blind Side' or 'The Proposal,' 'Steve' allows for a slow-building, sincere plot while engaging in insane antics that really delivers a fantastic message about just being yourself. I'm only a tiny bit ashamed to say that I own not only the CD but the DVD for 'American Mall' and 'Spectacular,' some cable channels attempt at 'High School Musical' fame. I'm sure I own way more "bad movies" than I can think of, but who cares? If it's entertaining, why let someone tell you differently?
So the lesson that is being learned today is that it is okay to embrace bad movies. Every movie is someones favorite movie. Some of your best memories can come from watching a truly horrendous film. Would you really miss out on those moments because someone told you it was 'a bad movie' ? I say, heck no. So, welcome to Bad Movies Anonymous. There's coffee and donuts after we're done.
I can hear you all denying it. I don't love bad movies. I would never be caught dead watching that movie. (Actually, I caught you. Fess up.) My friend/spouse/whoever made me watch that. I hated it. I don't own it on Blu-Ray. Yeah. Sure. I believe you. (I know someone who owns 'Xanadu' and that movie is B-A-D. But totally awesome.)
I'll tell you straight up that I proudly love some truly awful movies. I have no shame. I could tell you that in order to appreciate really good movies you have to see some gosh darn bad ones but that wouldn't be quite true. I honestly love bad movies. Why? They are so easy to make fun of and just relax when watching them. Bad movies are just enjoyable. And who says they are bad in the first place? Entertainment Weekly? ( I love that magazine but rarely agree with their reviews.) Working in a video store has given me a lot of perspective on people who rent gems like 'Life is Hot in Crack Town'. (Yep, that's a movie title. It's on my list of movies to watch.) Or why people watch every SyFy (Still hate the new abbreviation. Grrrr...) movie that they come out with. 'Birdemic' anyone?
The people who watch these movies are genuinely excited about them. And who am I to tell them that they are wasting their money. I love so many movies that most people sneer at. For example I can't go more than a week without watching 'Burlesque' and let me be the first to tell you that if you want some campy Cher/Christina action this movie delivers. 'Grease 2' is a classic in my book, not only for the stellar musical number "Let's Do It For Our Country" or "Reproduction" but for a sassy Michelle Pfeiffer singing that she needs a 'Cool Rider.' You haven't seen it because it would be sacrilege to the late great 'Grease,' I understand. But if you consider them as completely separate entities you can fully enjoy the awesomeness.
What about Sandra Bullock's supposed flop 'All About Steve?' While no where in league with 'The Blind Side' or 'The Proposal,' 'Steve' allows for a slow-building, sincere plot while engaging in insane antics that really delivers a fantastic message about just being yourself. I'm only a tiny bit ashamed to say that I own not only the CD but the DVD for 'American Mall' and 'Spectacular,' some cable channels attempt at 'High School Musical' fame. I'm sure I own way more "bad movies" than I can think of, but who cares? If it's entertaining, why let someone tell you differently?
So the lesson that is being learned today is that it is okay to embrace bad movies. Every movie is someones favorite movie. Some of your best memories can come from watching a truly horrendous film. Would you really miss out on those moments because someone told you it was 'a bad movie' ? I say, heck no. So, welcome to Bad Movies Anonymous. There's coffee and donuts after we're done.
Monday, July 18, 2011
To The Boy Who Lived
I haven't written in a while, mostly because I knew I really wanted to dedicate a blog to the world wide phenomenon that is Harry Potter. But in reality, I just didn't want to say goodbye. I would be already to sit down and write about my rereading of all seven books but something would stop me. I thought, wait til after the movie. You can compare and contrast. And so I forgot. At the theater, I thought it would be a really great time to write about waiting in line and some fun memories. I just couldn't seem to sit down and say what this series really means to me, because if I did it would be mean that it was really and truly over.
My story of Harry Potter begins about 14 years ago. After reading the first three books quicker than Voldemort can say "Avada Kedavra", the first movie was coming out the day before my high school placement test in 2001. Aunt Nan came over and we had our first ever Harry Potter premiere party (soon to be the place to be when a new movie came out. Nobody throws a Potter Party then us.) and I still have the picture of us wearing our very own broken glasses. This led to waiting in line for seats and waiting in line for the following 4 books to come out.
The last book was amazing. People died and people came together and expressed their true feelings. Not really that different from most epic stories, I'll admit, but the way J.K. Rowling brought it all together made all the difference. I read the book in 5 hours ( Albeit I took breaks to prolong the ending. I remember pausing on the beginning of the battle, closing the cover and taking deep breaths because this was it. The end.) After it was over, we had three more movies to look forward to.
Before I tell you about my last two weeks, I want to stress a point I don't think most people care to take into consideration. The movies.... (Ready for this?) are not going to be as good as the books. Did I just blow your mind? I know, crazy sauce. The movies are a companion to the books. Do I still compare them? Of course. But they are meant to be taken as entertainment and to allow people who haven't or won't read the books to enjoy them. ( Why I don't think I will ever understand. If you still haven't read them, at least listen to them on tape.) The writers of the movies are going to change things, it's inevitable. Sometimes it's for the better, sometimes not. They have to take what's in print and translate it to the screen and put their own mark on it.
I have actually never read the books back-to-back. I've read them all at least 5 times, but never 1-7, making it my new goal to do so before the last movie came out. I was doing really well; the Tuesday prior to the movie I was on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was not always my favorite but on rereading it this time I actually fell in love with it. I had my tickets (14 to be exact) for the midnight movie and my tickets for the 3 a.m. 3-D IMAX showing. Did you just read that right? Was I actually seeing it twice? Back to back? It gets better...
See, I don't like getting to movies late. I like to get there early. Well, seeing as this was the last Harry Potter movie I was convinced people would be there very, very, very, very early. So I needed to be there first. I got there at 5 a.m. Thursday morning. Yep, you read that correctly. I got there and the cleaning crew was finishing up. But, I was first! I pulled out my book and started reading in my car. Around 6 o'clock, the parking lot lights went off but by 6:30 the sun was coming up. I sat in my car til 9 when the theater opened up and went in and sat in my line.
You can call my crazy, others already have. I had nothing better to do that day then to dedicate it to Harry Potter. I met some great people and made it into the paper. If you have Facebook you can go see my video blog I did during my 17 and half hour wait til midnight, they are quite comical if you can imagine. As I sat in my seat, with the lights dimming, all I could think was this is the end.
Did I like it? Absolutely. I loved it. It might be one of my favorite movies. Did they change things around and add some new stuff. Of course. Doesn't really bother me. The movies have always been there to be companions to the books but these last three movies have allowed them to stand alone from the books too. Director David Yates deserves most of the credit for this as do the very talented cast. Did I cry? Duh. As soon as Professor McGonagall came on screen and the battle truly began, there were tears. I did cry harder the second time but that might have something to do with exhaustion.
I saw the movie again yesterday for the third time and it just keeps getting better. You notice new things, are able to actually hear some of the quieter lines, and just really able to enjoy the movie. It was funny but not as funny as others in the past. Some people say that the humor diminished the drama but in real life there are funny moments during devastating events. Also, it's a movie people. The final battle sequence is different than in the books but honestly it doesn't bother me. I was able to say goodbye and still love the movies and books equally.
Saying goodbye to the actors who brought life to our characters was harder than I thought. I won't say who dies but the sniffling and sobbing heard in the theater tells me that I wasn't the only one devastated all over again. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will always be Harry, Hermione, and Ron to me.
Is this really goodbye? Of course not. But in a way it is a goodbye to my childhood. I do know that I will always be a kid at heart so I'm not completely saying goodbye. It's just hard to know that there will never be more. But in a way, we can always go back....
"... so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." J.K. Rowling
My story of Harry Potter begins about 14 years ago. After reading the first three books quicker than Voldemort can say "Avada Kedavra", the first movie was coming out the day before my high school placement test in 2001. Aunt Nan came over and we had our first ever Harry Potter premiere party (soon to be the place to be when a new movie came out. Nobody throws a Potter Party then us.) and I still have the picture of us wearing our very own broken glasses. This led to waiting in line for seats and waiting in line for the following 4 books to come out.
The last book was amazing. People died and people came together and expressed their true feelings. Not really that different from most epic stories, I'll admit, but the way J.K. Rowling brought it all together made all the difference. I read the book in 5 hours ( Albeit I took breaks to prolong the ending. I remember pausing on the beginning of the battle, closing the cover and taking deep breaths because this was it. The end.) After it was over, we had three more movies to look forward to.
Before I tell you about my last two weeks, I want to stress a point I don't think most people care to take into consideration. The movies.... (Ready for this?) are not going to be as good as the books. Did I just blow your mind? I know, crazy sauce. The movies are a companion to the books. Do I still compare them? Of course. But they are meant to be taken as entertainment and to allow people who haven't or won't read the books to enjoy them. ( Why I don't think I will ever understand. If you still haven't read them, at least listen to them on tape.) The writers of the movies are going to change things, it's inevitable. Sometimes it's for the better, sometimes not. They have to take what's in print and translate it to the screen and put their own mark on it.
I have actually never read the books back-to-back. I've read them all at least 5 times, but never 1-7, making it my new goal to do so before the last movie came out. I was doing really well; the Tuesday prior to the movie I was on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was not always my favorite but on rereading it this time I actually fell in love with it. I had my tickets (14 to be exact) for the midnight movie and my tickets for the 3 a.m. 3-D IMAX showing. Did you just read that right? Was I actually seeing it twice? Back to back? It gets better...
See, I don't like getting to movies late. I like to get there early. Well, seeing as this was the last Harry Potter movie I was convinced people would be there very, very, very, very early. So I needed to be there first. I got there at 5 a.m. Thursday morning. Yep, you read that correctly. I got there and the cleaning crew was finishing up. But, I was first! I pulled out my book and started reading in my car. Around 6 o'clock, the parking lot lights went off but by 6:30 the sun was coming up. I sat in my car til 9 when the theater opened up and went in and sat in my line.
You can call my crazy, others already have. I had nothing better to do that day then to dedicate it to Harry Potter. I met some great people and made it into the paper. If you have Facebook you can go see my video blog I did during my 17 and half hour wait til midnight, they are quite comical if you can imagine. As I sat in my seat, with the lights dimming, all I could think was this is the end.
Did I like it? Absolutely. I loved it. It might be one of my favorite movies. Did they change things around and add some new stuff. Of course. Doesn't really bother me. The movies have always been there to be companions to the books but these last three movies have allowed them to stand alone from the books too. Director David Yates deserves most of the credit for this as do the very talented cast. Did I cry? Duh. As soon as Professor McGonagall came on screen and the battle truly began, there were tears. I did cry harder the second time but that might have something to do with exhaustion.
I saw the movie again yesterday for the third time and it just keeps getting better. You notice new things, are able to actually hear some of the quieter lines, and just really able to enjoy the movie. It was funny but not as funny as others in the past. Some people say that the humor diminished the drama but in real life there are funny moments during devastating events. Also, it's a movie people. The final battle sequence is different than in the books but honestly it doesn't bother me. I was able to say goodbye and still love the movies and books equally.
Saying goodbye to the actors who brought life to our characters was harder than I thought. I won't say who dies but the sniffling and sobbing heard in the theater tells me that I wasn't the only one devastated all over again. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will always be Harry, Hermione, and Ron to me.
Is this really goodbye? Of course not. But in a way it is a goodbye to my childhood. I do know that I will always be a kid at heart so I'm not completely saying goodbye. It's just hard to know that there will never be more. But in a way, we can always go back....
"... so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." J.K. Rowling
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