As I sit on my windowsill looking at the snow falling down outside--- SCREECH!
It's not snowing outside and I am definitely not sitting on a windowsill. But that would be cool, wouldn't it?! No, I am on my lunch break on my last day of work before my L-O-N-G Christmas vacation and I just can not wait to be home. Christmas is only 4 days away and my 72 hour celebration is only 2 days away. (You read that right. 72 hour celebration. Word.) I know you, my readers, just love to get my sound and sage advice on just about everything so I will give you a present early: my Christmas Entertainment Survival Guide.
My favorite Christmas movies are 90% old classic cartoons and classic movies with a few newbies thrown in for good measure.
5. The Holiday- An instant classic, this holiday romance stars Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and Cameron Diaz. I think this might be some of their best acting (although Kate is always superb) and honestly it is very true how most people feel around the holidays. And you can always benefit from learning what a 'meet-cute' is and how to stage your own. I mean... whoops.
4. The Family Stone- Drama, drama, drama. The ensemble movie, lead by SJP, Diane Keaton, and Rachel McAdams, is a touching, hilarious, and sometimes brutally honest look at a big family dealing with life and the holidays. Need a good cry? This is your movie.
3. Elf- I honestly held off on this movie for a really long time. But when you work in a video store and it's your boss' favorite movie and he watched in on repeat for the entire holiday season (not kidding), you realize that you had been missing out on a great movie. Will Ferrel, you might be an anchorman, race car driver, and a step-brother but to me you'll always be Buddy the Elf.
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas- It's not the holiday season if I don't watch this movie. I need to hear Linus explain the meaning of Christmas and I need to see Lucy flirting with Schroeder over a piano. And who doesn't love Snoopy playing all the animals or Charlie Brown bringing everyone together over a sad, but symbolic Christmas tree? I don't want to meet that person.
1. White Christmas- The greatest Christmas movie of all time (sorry Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, and It's A Wonderful Life) has all the best elements: Bing Crosby, singing, Vermont, a Christmas miracle, and snow, snow, snow! I can recite this movie by heart and it's not Christmas without it.
Now there are also some classic Christmas TV episodes that help me bide my time til Santa comes. Bones has a couple of good entries but the best is the season 3 episode "The Santa in the Slush" really hits the ball home. The Big Bang Theory won me over 3 years ago with "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis" and I haven't looked back. Grey's Anatomy has two memorable episodes "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" in season 2 that sparked this quote "Why are you helping me?" "Because it's what Jesus would freaking do!" and a season 6 holiday mixture, "Holidaze" that packed an emotional punch. Glee also joined the season with two holiday themed episodes that features two albums worth of classic (and new classics) Christmas music. My newest classic is from the phenomenal comedy New Girl which is the gift that just keeps on giving in "The 23rd."
Some TV shows created their own holiday's such as Seinfeld's "Festivus". While not a fan of the show, I can appreciate this episode. But my favorite new holiday was introduced to me by The O.C. by Seth Cohen: Chrismukkah. With a holiday episode each season, my love for Jesus and Moses just grew like the Grinch's shrunken heart. (The Grinch is a classic with Frosty, Rudolph, Kris Kringle and The Night Before Christmas. I watch these back to back after Charlie Brown because we have them on a VHS tape. Yet, old school. Represent!) All I need to truly celebrate the holiday is my very own yamaclaus.
I also can't get through the holidays without a couple songs. I personally love all the Glee Christmas songs. I also own the Rosie O'Donnell Christmas CD's and there are some great renditions on those as well. And who doesn't love the N*Sync CD? Here are some other can't miss songs on my playlist:
-Baby, It's Cold Outside. (Pretty much any version but I am a fan of the Glee/Elf versions.)
-Christmas Shoes. (LOVE. Cry every time.)
-Last Christmas (Not the Wham version, it's too slow. Glee and most others!)
-Any Celine or Josh Groban or Michael Buble versions
- White Christmas (Best holiday song.)
I think that should keep you busy for the next 4 days, readers. Just remember that the holidays are better with the people you love and not the presents you get.
" 'And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Your Love Is My Drug
I... can't... breathe. I'm sitting in a panicked state of frozen silence. There is a crippling sense of helplessness that won't dissipate.
I left my phone at home today.
This is a serious issue. My mind constantly wanders, thinking of all the important (i.e. Facebook updates and notifications) that I am not receiving as they happen. I will forget for a minute and when I look to my right to look for that shining light that means I have a message... nothing.
Clearly this is a bit dramatic. (Only a bit.) I had always laughed at people who would post on Facebook "Left my phone at home todayyy. What am I going to do?!!!?" (Yes, I realized that there is only one 'y' used to spell 'today' but this is how people talk. Irritating, isn't it?) I finally understand the emotion.
I can hear all the adults saying "Kate, you're at work. You shouldn't be worrying about your phone." I know, I know. But I can't help it. We live in a society where being connected 24/7 is the norm. People sometimes say they were born in the wrong decade or time period. Not me. This is my era, the era of instant gratification. And I am the reigning Queen.
If you have never hung out with me I can understand that you might not know my nickname: The Enabler. I can make any situation seem ok and plausible; especially when it involves food and purchases. Why? Because money is just money. When you die, what good will all the money do sitting in a bank? None. (Unless you thought it out and donated it or something cool like that.) I do think that a certain amount of your money needs to be saved for the more unpleasant spending events in life: college, a new car, bills, a house, etc. But the rest? SPEND IT. When I see something I want, I think to myself "Kate, do you need this?" "Yes." "Really?" "No." "Will it make your day better?" "Yes." "Go for it." (Just kidding Mom and Dad! ::skeptic look on my face::) I do weigh the pros and cons, but if I want it and can afford it out of my spending money then I go for it.
That might seem like an off-topic train of thought but if you think about it, society made me that way. They gave me vehicles to have whatever I want at my finger tips. TiVo (my first clandestine love) and its other family members, cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, and all other social medias. If I come home and my show isn't waiting for me, WATCH OUT. Not a happy camper. Feeling connected to all of my "friends", real and Internet, is a way to instantly gratify my need to be in the loop.
I thought about driving home at lunch today to pick up Jarvis. (That's my phone's name.) I decide to write this blog instead. Sacrifices have to be made sometimes.
Only 5 more hours til we are reunited. I'm counting the minutes.
No. Really.
I left my phone at home today.
This is a serious issue. My mind constantly wanders, thinking of all the important (i.e. Facebook updates and notifications) that I am not receiving as they happen. I will forget for a minute and when I look to my right to look for that shining light that means I have a message... nothing.
Clearly this is a bit dramatic. (Only a bit.) I had always laughed at people who would post on Facebook "Left my phone at home todayyy. What am I going to do?!!!?" (Yes, I realized that there is only one 'y' used to spell 'today' but this is how people talk. Irritating, isn't it?) I finally understand the emotion.
I can hear all the adults saying "Kate, you're at work. You shouldn't be worrying about your phone." I know, I know. But I can't help it. We live in a society where being connected 24/7 is the norm. People sometimes say they were born in the wrong decade or time period. Not me. This is my era, the era of instant gratification. And I am the reigning Queen.
If you have never hung out with me I can understand that you might not know my nickname: The Enabler. I can make any situation seem ok and plausible; especially when it involves food and purchases. Why? Because money is just money. When you die, what good will all the money do sitting in a bank? None. (Unless you thought it out and donated it or something cool like that.) I do think that a certain amount of your money needs to be saved for the more unpleasant spending events in life: college, a new car, bills, a house, etc. But the rest? SPEND IT. When I see something I want, I think to myself "Kate, do you need this?" "Yes." "Really?" "No." "Will it make your day better?" "Yes." "Go for it." (Just kidding Mom and Dad! ::skeptic look on my face::) I do weigh the pros and cons, but if I want it and can afford it out of my spending money then I go for it.
That might seem like an off-topic train of thought but if you think about it, society made me that way. They gave me vehicles to have whatever I want at my finger tips. TiVo (my first clandestine love) and its other family members, cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, and all other social medias. If I come home and my show isn't waiting for me, WATCH OUT. Not a happy camper. Feeling connected to all of my "friends", real and Internet, is a way to instantly gratify my need to be in the loop.
I thought about driving home at lunch today to pick up Jarvis. (That's my phone's name.) I decide to write this blog instead. Sacrifices have to be made sometimes.
Only 5 more hours til we are reunited. I'm counting the minutes.
No. Really.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
They Scream, I Scream?
::thousands upon thousands of screaming fangirls:: "Ahhh. Shut it already!!!" Sorry readers. I've reached my Twilight fandom quota for the day. I can only take so much these days. "But Kate, the movie comes out at midnight Thursday. Aren't you going to that?" Ummm... yes. "Well, haven't you been to all the movies at midnight?" Errr... "Don't you have 'I <3 Edward..."
YES. Ok, I am going to the movie at midnight. It doesn't mean I like the movies. I own all the current movies, in 2-Disc Special format. So what. I will be waiting in line for about 8 hours. Who hasn't!?
It's time I faced the truth: Twilight is my drug of (non)choice. As Edward states in the book and movie, "“You're like my own personal brand of heroin." I see you Edward. It's awful; I know I should stop. I just can't. I ::gulp:: like these movies.
I've talked about this franchise before. The books are by far superior to the movies. When the trailer for Twilight originally came out it gave me shivers. This was going to be fantastic. What ensued was one of the biggest movie letdowns I have ever experienced. I was hiding in my hoodie and in the arm of my friend Sam. It was just awful. Vampires looked like they had sparkles dumped on them. The acting was... atrocious is the word that comes to mind. Am I being harsh? You bet. But when you get so invested in a book series only to be monumentally letdown on the big screen, it's hard not to be.
Two of my best friends and I decided to go see the first movie when it was in the dollar theater for a good laugh. Color us stunned when the entire audience acted like the movie was the greatest thing since Titanic. It took all of our willpower to not bust out laughing at the film and the serious movie watchers.
Now as the movies progressed, they did get better in all aspects. Acting was improved, special effects were mastered, and the directing changed and helped boost my approval for the series. One of my friends biggest complaints is that Kristen Stewart can't act. "Did you know someone cast Kristen Stewart in another movie!" was a legitimate conversation I had with a friend when they found out that Hollywood didn't expel Stewart from the acting world. My take- I don't really care either way about her. I hate her character to begin with so whatever she does is irrelevant to me at this point. I have proof of all the other actors/actresses acting ability so I firmly blame the directors on the failure to make the characters not a joke.
What I do like about this series is the tradition I have developed. I go see these movies with my best friends (lately kicking and screaming but they still love me enough to join.) and just have a good time. I'm young and I enjoy the friendships you develop with random strangers. After 10 hours together, they aren't strangers anymore. (Holla HP family!) And yes, I will probably do this when I'm an "adult" as well. (I say adult in quotes because I might be an adult in age or by society's standards, but in my heart I'll always be this obsessive and kid-like.) I enjoy the camaraderie that happens when hundreds of fans come together, even if they take it INCREDIBLY serious. (What else would I have for entertainment?)
So, I woke up today excited. Very excited. Will I only get 3ish hours of sleep tonight and then come to work? Yep. Will I sit in line and race into the theaters to get my prime seats? Heck yes. (I'll knock you down if you get in my way. Try me.) Will I argue for hours about the series with people I have never met before? Yes. Will I pick a team? Team Edward. Duh.
But more importantly: Team Memories for Life.
(Gotta throw this joke in here: Stephanie Meyer's boggart is logic.)
YES. Ok, I am going to the movie at midnight. It doesn't mean I like the movies. I own all the current movies, in 2-Disc Special format. So what. I will be waiting in line for about 8 hours. Who hasn't!?
It's time I faced the truth: Twilight is my drug of (non)choice. As Edward states in the book and movie, "“You're like my own personal brand of heroin." I see you Edward. It's awful; I know I should stop. I just can't. I ::gulp:: like these movies.
I've talked about this franchise before. The books are by far superior to the movies. When the trailer for Twilight originally came out it gave me shivers. This was going to be fantastic. What ensued was one of the biggest movie letdowns I have ever experienced. I was hiding in my hoodie and in the arm of my friend Sam. It was just awful. Vampires looked like they had sparkles dumped on them. The acting was... atrocious is the word that comes to mind. Am I being harsh? You bet. But when you get so invested in a book series only to be monumentally letdown on the big screen, it's hard not to be.
Two of my best friends and I decided to go see the first movie when it was in the dollar theater for a good laugh. Color us stunned when the entire audience acted like the movie was the greatest thing since Titanic. It took all of our willpower to not bust out laughing at the film and the serious movie watchers.
Now as the movies progressed, they did get better in all aspects. Acting was improved, special effects were mastered, and the directing changed and helped boost my approval for the series. One of my friends biggest complaints is that Kristen Stewart can't act. "Did you know someone cast Kristen Stewart in another movie!" was a legitimate conversation I had with a friend when they found out that Hollywood didn't expel Stewart from the acting world. My take- I don't really care either way about her. I hate her character to begin with so whatever she does is irrelevant to me at this point. I have proof of all the other actors/actresses acting ability so I firmly blame the directors on the failure to make the characters not a joke.
What I do like about this series is the tradition I have developed. I go see these movies with my best friends (lately kicking and screaming but they still love me enough to join.) and just have a good time. I'm young and I enjoy the friendships you develop with random strangers. After 10 hours together, they aren't strangers anymore. (Holla HP family!) And yes, I will probably do this when I'm an "adult" as well. (I say adult in quotes because I might be an adult in age or by society's standards, but in my heart I'll always be this obsessive and kid-like.) I enjoy the camaraderie that happens when hundreds of fans come together, even if they take it INCREDIBLY serious. (What else would I have for entertainment?)
So, I woke up today excited. Very excited. Will I only get 3ish hours of sleep tonight and then come to work? Yep. Will I sit in line and race into the theaters to get my prime seats? Heck yes. (I'll knock you down if you get in my way. Try me.) Will I argue for hours about the series with people I have never met before? Yes. Will I pick a team? Team Edward. Duh.
But more importantly: Team Memories for Life.
(Gotta throw this joke in here: Stephanie Meyer's boggart is logic.)
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Happy Ever After... Psych!
I'm gonna get serious today guys. No, seriously. I mean it! See, this is my serious face.
How to begin. I'm just gonna come out and say it: I believe in happily ever after. That ending of a story that "doesn't happen every day." (Name that movie.) Why? Why not. Life is too depressing to believe that everything will never work out or that life is out to get you. However, the media, movies, and TV would have you believe otherwise.
I saw a great film last night. It is an independent movie and it was about two people's struggle to maintain their love in a difficult situation. Not the most unique story but the way it portrayed the actual relationship was refreshing. I know you can sense the "but" that is coming and I wouldn't want to disappoint you but... it doesn't end well. It ends honestly and to that I can at least be happy. (The movie became an instant hit in my mind and I can see why it won so many awards.) Like the rest of the audience, I spoke (out loud) my frustration as the credits rolled. "What?!" "That's it?" "Maybe they..." "But they were so in love."
That last one stuck with me as I left the theatre. I started thinking about how if you tell a romantic story these days, the result is people not believing the "happy ending". Why is that? Doesn't anybody, besides me, believe in true love and love conquering all?
I am constantly told that I am foolish for believing in these ideas and most times I just let it roll off my shoulders. Writers these days seem to follow the "real life" ending and are you honestly telling me that you can't write a story that's realistic and has a happy ending where the couple ends up together? Now some movies leave it up for interpretation and that at least allows the romantic viewer to say " Oh well, they end up together. Thank goodness."
In a college TV script writing class we had to storyboard one of six films. Dirty Dancing was an option and I practically did it right there. When the assignment was due, the teacher asked one person to come up and write it on the board and I was chosen to present my timeline. When I got the end, I said "And then they end up together." Dr. Dream Killer replied, "Well done Katelin. But they don't end up together." Stunned, I looked at her as she continued to speak to the class. "Of course they do. He came back for her." She looked at me kindly and continued on.
Ok, 1.) Baby and Johnny live happily ever after. There is nothing to suggest they don't. End of story. 2.) Why would you tell me that they don't? Did you write it? Do you have insight that I do not. (No, no one knows more about DD than I do. Just so you know.) 3.) If I believed something like that, why challenge it? (Clearly I never got over this moment.)
It's people like that that make me sad. No one believes or allows themselves to believe in a true love story anymore. Society loves to find the messy underbelly of love and exploit it for it's own disturbing purposes. (Wow. Sounding like an actual journalist. Better throw in a couple of ummm and likes.) I will even admit to my own doubt. I can barely watch a romcom without gagging or silently hating the happy couple on the screen with a passion of a burning suns for finding "true love" after a series of ridiculous plot twists.
So I hereby make a vow: I solemnly swear (that I am up to no good.) that as a writer and a believer to one day write a true love story that is believable and realistic. It's gonna be hard, especially with so few examples. But I feel up to the challenge. Now I challenge you readers; look for the happy ever after in your life and media and try to believe in it.
"I thought I understood it. But I didn't. I knew the smudgeness of it. The eagerness of it. The Idea of it. Of you and me." - Like Crazy
How to begin. I'm just gonna come out and say it: I believe in happily ever after. That ending of a story that "doesn't happen every day." (Name that movie.) Why? Why not. Life is too depressing to believe that everything will never work out or that life is out to get you. However, the media, movies, and TV would have you believe otherwise.
I saw a great film last night. It is an independent movie and it was about two people's struggle to maintain their love in a difficult situation. Not the most unique story but the way it portrayed the actual relationship was refreshing. I know you can sense the "but" that is coming and I wouldn't want to disappoint you but... it doesn't end well. It ends honestly and to that I can at least be happy. (The movie became an instant hit in my mind and I can see why it won so many awards.) Like the rest of the audience, I spoke (out loud) my frustration as the credits rolled. "What?!" "That's it?" "Maybe they..." "But they were so in love."
That last one stuck with me as I left the theatre. I started thinking about how if you tell a romantic story these days, the result is people not believing the "happy ending". Why is that? Doesn't anybody, besides me, believe in true love and love conquering all?
I am constantly told that I am foolish for believing in these ideas and most times I just let it roll off my shoulders. Writers these days seem to follow the "real life" ending and are you honestly telling me that you can't write a story that's realistic and has a happy ending where the couple ends up together? Now some movies leave it up for interpretation and that at least allows the romantic viewer to say " Oh well, they end up together. Thank goodness."
In a college TV script writing class we had to storyboard one of six films. Dirty Dancing was an option and I practically did it right there. When the assignment was due, the teacher asked one person to come up and write it on the board and I was chosen to present my timeline. When I got the end, I said "And then they end up together." Dr. Dream Killer replied, "Well done Katelin. But they don't end up together." Stunned, I looked at her as she continued to speak to the class. "Of course they do. He came back for her." She looked at me kindly and continued on.
Ok, 1.) Baby and Johnny live happily ever after. There is nothing to suggest they don't. End of story. 2.) Why would you tell me that they don't? Did you write it? Do you have insight that I do not. (No, no one knows more about DD than I do. Just so you know.) 3.) If I believed something like that, why challenge it? (Clearly I never got over this moment.)
It's people like that that make me sad. No one believes or allows themselves to believe in a true love story anymore. Society loves to find the messy underbelly of love and exploit it for it's own disturbing purposes. (Wow. Sounding like an actual journalist. Better throw in a couple of ummm and likes.) I will even admit to my own doubt. I can barely watch a romcom without gagging or silently hating the happy couple on the screen with a passion of a burning suns for finding "true love" after a series of ridiculous plot twists.
So I hereby make a vow: I solemnly swear (that I am up to no good.) that as a writer and a believer to one day write a true love story that is believable and realistic. It's gonna be hard, especially with so few examples. But I feel up to the challenge. Now I challenge you readers; look for the happy ever after in your life and media and try to believe in it.
"I thought I understood it. But I didn't. I knew the smudgeness of it. The eagerness of it. The Idea of it. Of you and me." - Like Crazy
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
A Collection to Remember
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!!
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!!
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!"
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