"Heroes" tonight - except I was posting mission pictures on Facebook (this is heavily overdue... and I am nowhere near being done), so I didn't pay attention well enough to do a full rehash this week. However, I do have a few comments to make.
***SPOILER WARNING***"The Fifth Stage"***SPOILER WARNING***
Move Over Fonzi, Here Come the Bennets: We seem to be out of the shark-infested waters as far as Gretchen is concerned - but Daddy Bennet finds this Lauren chick. And that extremely low-cut top... doesn't help her case much. No wonder Claire wants to join the circus.
Just Where Are You Shooting Those Nails?: Sadistic!Peter with a nail gun - FTW!! (especially because it's Sylar - but Nathan isn't going to feel too good when he gets out and he's nailed to a table-board-thing)
(ADD Moment - Holy cow, New Orleans is picking the Patriots to pieces here! For tonight, I am a Saints fan ^_^ Hope the Pats don't pull a Peyton and come back in the last minutes.)
I Won't Let Go, Jack! Oh wait, never mind...: Peter and Nathan's little heart-warming moment gets ruined when "Nylar" falls... and just walks off. What the crap is Peter doing letting the %$#*&! walk off???? Dude - you have the ability! Get the... oh wait... we need material in January.
(ADD Moment 2 - WHYYYYYYY???? WHY are the commercials for Real Salt Lake Cat-Herding on ESPN??? The hell I'm buying tickets for your retarded communist plot. I wish the dream would die already... I'm still waiting for an NBA title.)
Montage: The ending bit with Hiro, Ando and Mohinder running through... somewhere. Where are they and when did that happen?
It's official: "Heroes" is less funny without Hiro Nakamura.
By the way - it's wonderful and fitting that Paul Kruger was the one to pick off the Steelers and get Baltimore the win last night (even though I like the Steelers). Kruger probably was having flashbacks to intercepting max hall last night. *snerk*
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
I'M LEGAL!!!!
I AM OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL!!!! I must shout it from the rooftops, my happiness!!! I start January 22!!! Let's hear it for the smart peoples!!!! (and the fact that I'm so happy that I've forgotten all about proper grammar)
YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!
(oh yeah, this is awesome ^_^)
YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!
(oh yeah, this is awesome ^_^)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
World Class Cat-Herding
It's just my luck. You know, I've cheered for the Utah Jazz and the Utah Utes (football and basketball) all my life. I've seen these teams have success, but never win any championships. They've come close, but never got there, much to my disappointment and many tears (ask me about a Jazz Finals game I went to when I was 13. Heartbreaking...)
So, in order to be more "diverse" Davey Checketts brings Euro-trash - I mean, soccer - to Salt Lake. And wouldn't you know it, they would win their retarded championship. The one pro team in Utah I hate - and they win their championship (after having a losing season, it seems). There is no justice in this world. This idiotic Real Salt Lake team has only been around for - what - five years? The only people who will be celebrating are all the illegal Mexicans. What about us white folk that have been holding out for one of our American teams to bring home a title? This is SO not fair!!
How the crap do you win by tying? What kind of stupid game is this? What kind of stupid name is Real Salt Lake? Can't you at least have a real team name? This isn't Spain - this is the Wasatch Front. We speak English. We're not trying to impress people here. If you want to be accepted in this country, have a name like - Tigers or Bulldogs (or Aggies or Utes). We're not France or England or any other stupid country in Europe. And we're sure as heck not Mexico (contrary to what some people might think).
I hate soccer (or as I like to call it, Cat-Herding). Because it's popular in Europe and the "world" likes it and they tell Americans that we have to like it, I hate it. I could be more tolerant of it if they weren't so snotty about it.
I will say this: at least they don't have "Utah" in their name. I don't have to cheer for them. I don't live in Salt Lake. They have no claim on me and I have no claim on them. Just like I don't live in Provo, so I don't cheer for BYU (there are other reasons, but that's the relevant one right now). If it was Real Utah - I'd move to Nevada.
Now the Jazz need to win the Finals. It's only fair. They've been in town longer and they've been denied for more years. More importantly - I've been denied for longer than soccer's been around. Cough up, NBA, NCAA.
(Barring that, Davey Checketts can fork out some money and give Utah an NFL team. If the Rams still stink it up in St. Louis - they can move to Salt Lake. They wouldn't even have to change their initials. Checketts owes us for this humiliation).
So, in order to be more "diverse" Davey Checketts brings Euro-trash - I mean, soccer - to Salt Lake. And wouldn't you know it, they would win their retarded championship. The one pro team in Utah I hate - and they win their championship (after having a losing season, it seems). There is no justice in this world. This idiotic Real Salt Lake team has only been around for - what - five years? The only people who will be celebrating are all the illegal Mexicans. What about us white folk that have been holding out for one of our American teams to bring home a title? This is SO not fair!!
How the crap do you win by tying? What kind of stupid game is this? What kind of stupid name is Real Salt Lake? Can't you at least have a real team name? This isn't Spain - this is the Wasatch Front. We speak English. We're not trying to impress people here. If you want to be accepted in this country, have a name like - Tigers or Bulldogs (or Aggies or Utes). We're not France or England or any other stupid country in Europe. And we're sure as heck not Mexico (contrary to what some people might think).
I hate soccer (or as I like to call it, Cat-Herding). Because it's popular in Europe and the "world" likes it and they tell Americans that we have to like it, I hate it. I could be more tolerant of it if they weren't so snotty about it.
I will say this: at least they don't have "Utah" in their name. I don't have to cheer for them. I don't live in Salt Lake. They have no claim on me and I have no claim on them. Just like I don't live in Provo, so I don't cheer for BYU (there are other reasons, but that's the relevant one right now). If it was Real Utah - I'd move to Nevada.
Now the Jazz need to win the Finals. It's only fair. They've been in town longer and they've been denied for more years. More importantly - I've been denied for longer than soccer's been around. Cough up, NBA, NCAA.
(Barring that, Davey Checketts can fork out some money and give Utah an NFL team. If the Rams still stink it up in St. Louis - they can move to Salt Lake. They wouldn't even have to change their initials. Checketts owes us for this humiliation).
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wolves, Vampires, Humans - Can't We All Just Get Along?
Well, just came from seeing "New Moon" - the first movie I've seen since I've been home that merits a first-run movie review on my blog.
But before I get that far: To the ornery goth Wal-Mart cashier chick that gave me a crusty when I bought my $1 New Moon Sweethearts - I don't give you nasty looks when you go see your indie porno artsy crap. I'm having fun and I'm not bothering you. In fact, I'm probably paying part of your paycheck.
Okay - on to the review! Spoilers are a given - but if you're really the type who cares about being spoiled on New Moon, you have read the book multiple times and have seen the movie at least once by now. But it's a common courtesy I extend.
***SPOILERS BEGIN HERE*** Beware - this is LOOONG. I'd recommend putting a pizza in the oven before you start this. But I have a lot to say. Please read this in it's entirety. There are things that bugged me about this movie and things that I loved. And, being a bit cynical, I have to carp about a few things first.
Overall, I loved "Twilight" as a movie. It was the first movie I watched when I came home from my mission. I parked myself in front of the TV in my parents' room, shut the door and watched it on my own. Maybe the "on my own" part was key because "New Moon" wasn't quite the same. Don't get me wrong, I liked it well enough - it had it's high points. But there were things I missed. Or maybe it was pre-teen giggling that permeated the theater when Jacob took his shirt off. Please - have you never seen a shirtless guy before? Oh wait - most of you are twelve. At least, I assumed most of you are twelve. *trying not to think that maybe some of that twittering was coming from middle-aged moms... oy...*
Also - the music in New Moon didn't quite do it for me. For being based on a book for which the author depended a lot on music for inspiration, the soundtrack wasn't much to write about. Either in the movie or outside. Which brings me to another gripe about movie soundtracks in general: Why in the smell do you make a movie soundtrack that none of the songs on the CD are in the movie? That makes zero sense! I can see not including some of the songs from the movie on the CD, but the one song I do like on the New Moon soundtrack ("Meet Me on the Equinox" by Death Cab for Cutie) didn't make the movie at all! And ALL the music in the exceedingly well-done Twilight soundtrack made the movie, if only in the end credits. Feh...
Anyway - music - you guys had a perfectly good score in "Bella's Lullaby" from the first movie and I never heard any of it in New Moon. There were plenty of places you could have put it and you didn't. Even if you wanted to be symbolic and put a discordant version of it to emphasize that Bella's not doing so hot with the whole Edward leaving thing. Anyway - missed the haunting piano music from the first movie in this one. That, at least, would have tied this movie to the first one (beyond having the same actors and what-not - Harry Potter has proven that you can have the same actors in a series of movies, but they don't all fit together the way they should).
This is a problem with changing directors (Harry Potter has suffered from this as well). Each director does something so different with each movie and they don't even look like each other. I missed Catherine Hardwicke :( Her low-budget style worked so well in Twilight. This series really isn't that sweeping-epic-save-the-world kind of story. It's more personal and intimate and that's how it should be done.
Okay - done griping! There were some things about this movie I did find satisfying. Like the fact that Kristen Stewart's jumpy-Bella is reserved for when Edward is "dazzling" her. That was something about Twilight-Bella that drove me nuts - like she was unable to form complete sentences (or at least, form them in one breath). She finally did loosen up a bit around Jacob, which I can appreciate (and is almost enough to make me jump on the Team Jacob bandwagon. Almost). But Kristen still is a little awkward to watch. Meh - guess I'll get over it.
I've said it before about Harry Potter and I'll say it here: FLASHBACK!!!! MONTAGE!!!! YAY!!!! *does little happy goofy dance* This is how you get the most story in the least amount of time!! (Naw -DUH!) Even better when you use actual scenes lifted from previous movies to do it. I'm sooo stinking glad they got the picture in the Twilight series early (instead of waiting for the fifth or sixth movie like the jokers who are doing Harry Potter did - granted, there are only four Twilight books, but you get my point).
The part where Bella gets on the motorcycle with the psycho-biker guy was a little odd. Um... how did she get him to take her back to the theater? And why was Jessica still just standing there? Shouldn't she have called the police by then or something? Chris Weitz - can you say "plothole?" (crap, I said I was done griping...)
Beyond not calling the authorities when her friend gets captured by menacing biker-bar guys, Jessica's little spiel about there not being any hot guys or kissing in the movie they went to was priceless. Um, honey - you're kind of in a movie with kissing and hot guys. There are so many jokes with that.
Taylor Lautner is awesome! Until he has to be angsty. Then it's kind of embarrassing to watch. Like voyeurism - like it's something you shouldn't be watching. Not sure if that's a good thing. Or maybe I felt that way because I was in a theater full of people and the guy next to me kept slurping his Mountain Dew (to be fair, his girlfriend probably forced him to come. Take notes boys, there are certain women that use the "Twilight" litmus test - if you're willing to sit through the movies, you are worth a second look. If you read the books - it may be time to go ring-shopping). But I'm glad that he can do the whole "hero-don't-mess-with-my-girl" thing. The movie theater scene with Mike Newton was pretty funny.
Also - I was immensely happy that they didn't use the crappy "Bella - I would never, ever hurt you" line that they had in the trailer. For the first time, I was more pleased with the take that made it into the movie rather than the one in the trailer. The movie version wasn't as cheesy - it was sincere and I wasn't inclined to snicker at it. In fact, this helped Jacob's character in that he keeps berating himself for breaking his "promise" (to not hurt Bella), even though it's not his fault. You know that he means it and this is going to make "Eclipse" that much more interesting (don't screw this up, guys).
It's one thing to read the "bloodsucker/dog" banter between the vampires and the wolves in the books. It's something else to see it acted out in a movie. Alice's reactions to Bella being in league with the wolves was wonderful. Ashley Greene and Taylor Lautner deserve mad props for that. It had the potential to be horrible, but they pulled it off. *applause*
I never knew vampires to look so pasty and sick. Edward really let himself go over Bella. It says something for Edward and Bella's love when, after weeks/months of staring at ripped and yummily shirtless wolf-boys, Bella can still run after Edward's pale sickliness. (I never said I didn't appreciate the shirtless-ness; I'm just not a fan of the teeny-boppers' squealy giggliness that gets made fun of on The Jay Leno Show)
Quick Note: Obviously, the vampires have to wear lipstick. My roommate went with me to see the movie and we ended up sitting on the second row and she pointed that out to me (intelligent us didn't leave until 30 minutes before the movie started. I should know better - be at the theater at least an HOUR before the movie starts on opening weekend). Anyway, yeah. Lipstick on vampires. Sorry to ruin the magic for you all.
Oh - yeah, this is a love story - Cedric... I mean, Robert Pattinson pulls off Edward's angst over leaving Bella very nicely. When I read the book, I was ready to kick Edward's teeth in over his "I'm leaving because it's safer" BS. But in the movie, I actually wanted to give the poor guy a hug (which, is why we're in this situation in the first place, so maybe that wouldn't be such a good idea). I could hardly believe Bella believed Edward when he said that he didn't love her anymore - um, chicky-poo - don't you SEE the pain in his face??? sigh... That made the movie good - I can't get into it more without getting overtly mushy and cheesy - but it was great. Made it even better when Bella tackles Edward in Volterra before the nut shows himself in the sun (by the way - the sparkly-vampire effect is greatly improved over the last movie. We are now able to sparkle without wind chimes and without much fanfare, either).
Okay - the big fight with the Volturi at the end. Umm... some things I liked, others I didn't. Edward's face cracking????? Ummm... yeah... vampires are described as being like marble. It's not literal. Sure, they could destroy the Volturi's marble conference room-thing, no problem. But vampires don't crack and then heal. They just don't. That was just weird.
As was the whole fighting and the Volturi letting them all go. The smell??? The Volturi don't let people go! That was something I had a hard time accepting in the book, even without the fight between Edward and Felix (that was Felix, right?) I had to go back and re-read it and realized that Alice promised the Volturi that they'd turn Bella into a vampire. So, the book's version worked out fine, but you don't pick fights with the Volturi. It just doesn't happen.
Oh yeah, I know I said there was something I liked about this scene. Aro was damn good. He's supposed to be that sickly-sweet polite, but still be out and out creepy. When he touched Alice's hand to "see" her vision of Edward and vampire!Bella frolicking in the forest -the contrast between him and little Alice was startling. So, the Volturi themselves were very well-done. Oh - Dakota Fanning - that was typecasting, to say the least. She's always played the little creepy girl and it would have been a shame to not cast her as Jane.
Jasper has a sense of humor! ^_^ That was a happy thing to see at the end of the movie (question - does he have a southern accent too? I mean, he is from Texas). I was glad they had the whole Cullen family back in the house the way they were at the beginning of the movie - I guess that was tapping into the symbolism. Especially since I love Carlisle and Esme. There is simply not enough of those two in the books or movies. I think I like them so much because they don't get as much airtime. I'm curious about them.
I would have like to have seen Charlie's reaction to Edward coming back with Bella after Bella and Alice take off to Italy. Maybe it's in deleted scenes. Maybe they opted for the more tension-filled Edward and Jacob face-off - poor, poor Jake :(
I started to wonder how they were going to end the movie. There are so many things to wrap up, yet keep open for the next movie. But the whole "Marry me" and then end credits - that was brilliant. They didn't have a prom scene to end this movie, so this worked just as well. I can forgive the other crimes in this movie because of that.
All in all, "New Moon" has good points and bad. Kind of like the book - this is my least favorite of the Twilight books, but that's because I HATE it when the main love interest decides to go all "I'm being noble and going to save your life by leaving." Sure, it breeds plenty of angst for an author to work with, but it drives the fans nuts. Especially fans who KNOW that it's supposed to be Bella and Edward (but that's another rant about love triangles and titles and how it is that characters fall in love in stories) BUT - "Eclipse" is my favorite of the books, so they better not botch the movie (*cough* Prisoner of Azkaban Alfonso Cuaron SUCK!!! *cough cough*)
See you in "Eclipse" (which, there was a poster for in the theater lobby when we walked in. *grin*)
But before I get that far: To the ornery goth Wal-Mart cashier chick that gave me a crusty when I bought my $1 New Moon Sweethearts - I don't give you nasty looks when you go see your indie porno artsy crap. I'm having fun and I'm not bothering you. In fact, I'm probably paying part of your paycheck.
Okay - on to the review! Spoilers are a given - but if you're really the type who cares about being spoiled on New Moon, you have read the book multiple times and have seen the movie at least once by now. But it's a common courtesy I extend.
***SPOILERS BEGIN HERE*** Beware - this is LOOONG. I'd recommend putting a pizza in the oven before you start this. But I have a lot to say. Please read this in it's entirety. There are things that bugged me about this movie and things that I loved. And, being a bit cynical, I have to carp about a few things first.
Overall, I loved "Twilight" as a movie. It was the first movie I watched when I came home from my mission. I parked myself in front of the TV in my parents' room, shut the door and watched it on my own. Maybe the "on my own" part was key because "New Moon" wasn't quite the same. Don't get me wrong, I liked it well enough - it had it's high points. But there were things I missed. Or maybe it was pre-teen giggling that permeated the theater when Jacob took his shirt off. Please - have you never seen a shirtless guy before? Oh wait - most of you are twelve. At least, I assumed most of you are twelve. *trying not to think that maybe some of that twittering was coming from middle-aged moms... oy...*
Also - the music in New Moon didn't quite do it for me. For being based on a book for which the author depended a lot on music for inspiration, the soundtrack wasn't much to write about. Either in the movie or outside. Which brings me to another gripe about movie soundtracks in general: Why in the smell do you make a movie soundtrack that none of the songs on the CD are in the movie? That makes zero sense! I can see not including some of the songs from the movie on the CD, but the one song I do like on the New Moon soundtrack ("Meet Me on the Equinox" by Death Cab for Cutie) didn't make the movie at all! And ALL the music in the exceedingly well-done Twilight soundtrack made the movie, if only in the end credits. Feh...
Anyway - music - you guys had a perfectly good score in "Bella's Lullaby" from the first movie and I never heard any of it in New Moon. There were plenty of places you could have put it and you didn't. Even if you wanted to be symbolic and put a discordant version of it to emphasize that Bella's not doing so hot with the whole Edward leaving thing. Anyway - missed the haunting piano music from the first movie in this one. That, at least, would have tied this movie to the first one (beyond having the same actors and what-not - Harry Potter has proven that you can have the same actors in a series of movies, but they don't all fit together the way they should).
This is a problem with changing directors (Harry Potter has suffered from this as well). Each director does something so different with each movie and they don't even look like each other. I missed Catherine Hardwicke :( Her low-budget style worked so well in Twilight. This series really isn't that sweeping-epic-save-the-world kind of story. It's more personal and intimate and that's how it should be done.
Okay - done griping! There were some things about this movie I did find satisfying. Like the fact that Kristen Stewart's jumpy-Bella is reserved for when Edward is "dazzling" her. That was something about Twilight-Bella that drove me nuts - like she was unable to form complete sentences (or at least, form them in one breath). She finally did loosen up a bit around Jacob, which I can appreciate (and is almost enough to make me jump on the Team Jacob bandwagon. Almost). But Kristen still is a little awkward to watch. Meh - guess I'll get over it.
I've said it before about Harry Potter and I'll say it here: FLASHBACK!!!! MONTAGE!!!! YAY!!!! *does little happy goofy dance* This is how you get the most story in the least amount of time!! (Naw -DUH!) Even better when you use actual scenes lifted from previous movies to do it. I'm sooo stinking glad they got the picture in the Twilight series early (instead of waiting for the fifth or sixth movie like the jokers who are doing Harry Potter did - granted, there are only four Twilight books, but you get my point).
The part where Bella gets on the motorcycle with the psycho-biker guy was a little odd. Um... how did she get him to take her back to the theater? And why was Jessica still just standing there? Shouldn't she have called the police by then or something? Chris Weitz - can you say "plothole?" (crap, I said I was done griping...)
Beyond not calling the authorities when her friend gets captured by menacing biker-bar guys, Jessica's little spiel about there not being any hot guys or kissing in the movie they went to was priceless. Um, honey - you're kind of in a movie with kissing and hot guys. There are so many jokes with that.
Taylor Lautner is awesome! Until he has to be angsty. Then it's kind of embarrassing to watch. Like voyeurism - like it's something you shouldn't be watching. Not sure if that's a good thing. Or maybe I felt that way because I was in a theater full of people and the guy next to me kept slurping his Mountain Dew (to be fair, his girlfriend probably forced him to come. Take notes boys, there are certain women that use the "Twilight" litmus test - if you're willing to sit through the movies, you are worth a second look. If you read the books - it may be time to go ring-shopping). But I'm glad that he can do the whole "hero-don't-mess-with-my-girl" thing. The movie theater scene with Mike Newton was pretty funny.
Also - I was immensely happy that they didn't use the crappy "Bella - I would never, ever hurt you" line that they had in the trailer. For the first time, I was more pleased with the take that made it into the movie rather than the one in the trailer. The movie version wasn't as cheesy - it was sincere and I wasn't inclined to snicker at it. In fact, this helped Jacob's character in that he keeps berating himself for breaking his "promise" (to not hurt Bella), even though it's not his fault. You know that he means it and this is going to make "Eclipse" that much more interesting (don't screw this up, guys).
It's one thing to read the "bloodsucker/dog" banter between the vampires and the wolves in the books. It's something else to see it acted out in a movie. Alice's reactions to Bella being in league with the wolves was wonderful. Ashley Greene and Taylor Lautner deserve mad props for that. It had the potential to be horrible, but they pulled it off. *applause*
I never knew vampires to look so pasty and sick. Edward really let himself go over Bella. It says something for Edward and Bella's love when, after weeks/months of staring at ripped and yummily shirtless wolf-boys, Bella can still run after Edward's pale sickliness. (I never said I didn't appreciate the shirtless-ness; I'm just not a fan of the teeny-boppers' squealy giggliness that gets made fun of on The Jay Leno Show)
Quick Note: Obviously, the vampires have to wear lipstick. My roommate went with me to see the movie and we ended up sitting on the second row and she pointed that out to me (intelligent us didn't leave until 30 minutes before the movie started. I should know better - be at the theater at least an HOUR before the movie starts on opening weekend). Anyway, yeah. Lipstick on vampires. Sorry to ruin the magic for you all.
Oh - yeah, this is a love story - Cedric... I mean, Robert Pattinson pulls off Edward's angst over leaving Bella very nicely. When I read the book, I was ready to kick Edward's teeth in over his "I'm leaving because it's safer" BS. But in the movie, I actually wanted to give the poor guy a hug (which, is why we're in this situation in the first place, so maybe that wouldn't be such a good idea). I could hardly believe Bella believed Edward when he said that he didn't love her anymore - um, chicky-poo - don't you SEE the pain in his face??? sigh... That made the movie good - I can't get into it more without getting overtly mushy and cheesy - but it was great. Made it even better when Bella tackles Edward in Volterra before the nut shows himself in the sun (by the way - the sparkly-vampire effect is greatly improved over the last movie. We are now able to sparkle without wind chimes and without much fanfare, either).
Okay - the big fight with the Volturi at the end. Umm... some things I liked, others I didn't. Edward's face cracking????? Ummm... yeah... vampires are described as being like marble. It's not literal. Sure, they could destroy the Volturi's marble conference room-thing, no problem. But vampires don't crack and then heal. They just don't. That was just weird.
As was the whole fighting and the Volturi letting them all go. The smell??? The Volturi don't let people go! That was something I had a hard time accepting in the book, even without the fight between Edward and Felix (that was Felix, right?) I had to go back and re-read it and realized that Alice promised the Volturi that they'd turn Bella into a vampire. So, the book's version worked out fine, but you don't pick fights with the Volturi. It just doesn't happen.
Oh yeah, I know I said there was something I liked about this scene. Aro was damn good. He's supposed to be that sickly-sweet polite, but still be out and out creepy. When he touched Alice's hand to "see" her vision of Edward and vampire!Bella frolicking in the forest -the contrast between him and little Alice was startling. So, the Volturi themselves were very well-done. Oh - Dakota Fanning - that was typecasting, to say the least. She's always played the little creepy girl and it would have been a shame to not cast her as Jane.
Jasper has a sense of humor! ^_^ That was a happy thing to see at the end of the movie (question - does he have a southern accent too? I mean, he is from Texas). I was glad they had the whole Cullen family back in the house the way they were at the beginning of the movie - I guess that was tapping into the symbolism. Especially since I love Carlisle and Esme. There is simply not enough of those two in the books or movies. I think I like them so much because they don't get as much airtime. I'm curious about them.
I would have like to have seen Charlie's reaction to Edward coming back with Bella after Bella and Alice take off to Italy. Maybe it's in deleted scenes. Maybe they opted for the more tension-filled Edward and Jacob face-off - poor, poor Jake :(
I started to wonder how they were going to end the movie. There are so many things to wrap up, yet keep open for the next movie. But the whole "Marry me" and then end credits - that was brilliant. They didn't have a prom scene to end this movie, so this worked just as well. I can forgive the other crimes in this movie because of that.
All in all, "New Moon" has good points and bad. Kind of like the book - this is my least favorite of the Twilight books, but that's because I HATE it when the main love interest decides to go all "I'm being noble and going to save your life by leaving." Sure, it breeds plenty of angst for an author to work with, but it drives the fans nuts. Especially fans who KNOW that it's supposed to be Bella and Edward (but that's another rant about love triangles and titles and how it is that characters fall in love in stories) BUT - "Eclipse" is my favorite of the books, so they better not botch the movie (*cough* Prisoner of Azkaban Alfonso Cuaron SUCK!!! *cough cough*)
See you in "Eclipse" (which, there was a poster for in the theater lobby when we walked in. *grin*)
Monday, November 16, 2009
Beware the Walking Smiley Faces
Before I really get into it, I don't mind Wal-Mart. Really, I don't. Where else can you get 4 for $5 pizzas and the latest Coldplay CD for $11.88? (Whereas at Borders or Hastings, you have to fork out $15). And they have a nice journal selection. Things are inexpensive and in one place, which I like because I am still trying to get on the other side of being a "poor college student" where I'll one day be able to afford to go to other places - you know, like ShopKo and Target. And if Wal-Mart employees don't like working there, they can quit and get a 9-5 salaried job like the rest of us who have moved up from being minimum wagers.
That being said, I have a rather hilarious story to tell.
I was at the new Wal-Mart in town getting a few things. While I was looking for a composition notebook, I came upon a group of "suits" from corporate Wal-Mart. I knew they were suits because... well, they were wearing suits as well as those cute little red, white and blue name tags. And they were oohing and aahing over a magnetic whiteboard as they walked (wasn't even a high-quality one, as far as I could tell - I was minding my own business, as usual). This would not have merited a mention, except the ringleader looked right at me and in his greatest impression of those yellow Wal-Mart smiley faces, he said *imitate goober falsetto happy voice* "HOW IS YOUR DAY GOING?!!!!!!"
I replied "okay" and continued on - they went on to talk to some "Maurice" that they probably have never met before but only knew his name because he had a Wal-Mart nametag on. Yet, they talked him "Liek - OMG! We're BESTEST BEST FRIENDZZZZ EVAR!!! LOL!!!"
I guess this is a thing with corporate people in general, that when they come to mingle inside the stores (or even restaurants - I've had experience with these in the food service industry as well) that they have to pretend to be the customers long-lost grandmother rather than have this relationship - "You own the store, you're here to make sure things are getting done - I am merely here because you are the only store in town that lets me buy $1 microwave dinners. We don't have to be BFFs, kthx."
Seriously, these guys were creepy. And I have seen enough magical girl anime to know that it's the creepy ones that you have to be the most wary of. (Honestly, if the heroine would just blast the first nit who came along with a terminal illness and/or a lot of money and a hot sports car, they'd be saved a lot of headaches... but the fans wouldn't have a story to enjoy... wait - what was a I talking about?)
Oh, but you want to know the best part of the story? I got up to checkout and I asked the cashier if they were being visited by corporate. She said she'd seen a few suits around. I told her that I saw a few and I knew they who they were because no normal person is that happy on a Monday. She laughed - I think it was a highlight of her day. I think that's a first - a customer "complaining" to a cashier about management. Usually it's the other way around. Really wasn't much of a complaint as it was a comment.
I can't imagine that corporate types are so deluded that they think they have to be sugary-sweet to the everyday customer that walks into the store. The regular employees know why we come in and we know why the employees work there. It is NOT because we're this huge happy Wal-Mart family or any of that other bullcrap that the sociology propaganda videos against Wal-Mart show you. We don't do the gay "Wal-Mart squiggly" cheer when we walk in the door. Most people working at Wal-Mart just need a job and didn't get beyond a high school education (some didn't even get that much). In fact, I suspect the only reason there's such a thing as a "Wal-Mart greeter" is to keep retired people from causing too much trouble being retired. And the customers are just there because we need to pick up a 58 cent 2-liter bottle of pop and a flat-screen TV. We're in, out and gone. End of story and I'll probably never see you again.
I have little patience with this kind of stupidity. And it's not exclusive to Wal-Mart either. Even in the most high-class stores in the mall this happens and would probably be worse if I showed up on a day when corporate came to call. I think stores need to have a sign out front that says "Warning - Corporate Goobs are here inspecting us. Beware of sugary-sweet idiocy and offers to wash your car and kiss your baby or your butt - whatever is bigger. Seriously, these guys are worse than presidential candidates in Iowa - they don't even offer taxpayer money to fund ethanol."
I'm not saying that they should be rude - but you don't have to go overboard to show how much you appreciate my business. You're getting $30 from me and I'm getting a week's worth of groceries from you. Fair exchange.
I'm one of those people that tries to keep salespeople away because I like finding what I need on my own. Funnily enough, I am smart enough for that (Just a thought: are there people who are so stupid they can't find what they need on their own?) And I find that salespeople complicate the process more than it needs to be complicated. If I need help, I will ask for it (and then hell will freeze over).
On the bright side: inspiration for a blog post can't be all bad. I guess these guys do have a function.
That being said, I have a rather hilarious story to tell.
I was at the new Wal-Mart in town getting a few things. While I was looking for a composition notebook, I came upon a group of "suits" from corporate Wal-Mart. I knew they were suits because... well, they were wearing suits as well as those cute little red, white and blue name tags. And they were oohing and aahing over a magnetic whiteboard as they walked (wasn't even a high-quality one, as far as I could tell - I was minding my own business, as usual). This would not have merited a mention, except the ringleader looked right at me and in his greatest impression of those yellow Wal-Mart smiley faces, he said *imitate goober falsetto happy voice* "HOW IS YOUR DAY GOING?!!!!!!"
I replied "okay" and continued on - they went on to talk to some "Maurice" that they probably have never met before but only knew his name because he had a Wal-Mart nametag on. Yet, they talked him "Liek - OMG! We're BESTEST BEST FRIENDZZZZ EVAR!!! LOL!!!"
I guess this is a thing with corporate people in general, that when they come to mingle inside the stores (or even restaurants - I've had experience with these in the food service industry as well) that they have to pretend to be the customers long-lost grandmother rather than have this relationship - "You own the store, you're here to make sure things are getting done - I am merely here because you are the only store in town that lets me buy $1 microwave dinners. We don't have to be BFFs, kthx."
Seriously, these guys were creepy. And I have seen enough magical girl anime to know that it's the creepy ones that you have to be the most wary of. (Honestly, if the heroine would just blast the first nit who came along with a terminal illness and/or a lot of money and a hot sports car, they'd be saved a lot of headaches... but the fans wouldn't have a story to enjoy... wait - what was a I talking about?)
Oh, but you want to know the best part of the story? I got up to checkout and I asked the cashier if they were being visited by corporate. She said she'd seen a few suits around. I told her that I saw a few and I knew they who they were because no normal person is that happy on a Monday. She laughed - I think it was a highlight of her day. I think that's a first - a customer "complaining" to a cashier about management. Usually it's the other way around. Really wasn't much of a complaint as it was a comment.
I can't imagine that corporate types are so deluded that they think they have to be sugary-sweet to the everyday customer that walks into the store. The regular employees know why we come in and we know why the employees work there. It is NOT because we're this huge happy Wal-Mart family or any of that other bullcrap that the sociology propaganda videos against Wal-Mart show you. We don't do the gay "Wal-Mart squiggly" cheer when we walk in the door. Most people working at Wal-Mart just need a job and didn't get beyond a high school education (some didn't even get that much). In fact, I suspect the only reason there's such a thing as a "Wal-Mart greeter" is to keep retired people from causing too much trouble being retired. And the customers are just there because we need to pick up a 58 cent 2-liter bottle of pop and a flat-screen TV. We're in, out and gone. End of story and I'll probably never see you again.
I have little patience with this kind of stupidity. And it's not exclusive to Wal-Mart either. Even in the most high-class stores in the mall this happens and would probably be worse if I showed up on a day when corporate came to call. I think stores need to have a sign out front that says "Warning - Corporate Goobs are here inspecting us. Beware of sugary-sweet idiocy and offers to wash your car and kiss your baby or your butt - whatever is bigger. Seriously, these guys are worse than presidential candidates in Iowa - they don't even offer taxpayer money to fund ethanol."
I'm not saying that they should be rude - but you don't have to go overboard to show how much you appreciate my business. You're getting $30 from me and I'm getting a week's worth of groceries from you. Fair exchange.
I'm one of those people that tries to keep salespeople away because I like finding what I need on my own. Funnily enough, I am smart enough for that (Just a thought: are there people who are so stupid they can't find what they need on their own?) And I find that salespeople complicate the process more than it needs to be complicated. If I need help, I will ask for it (and then hell will freeze over).
On the bright side: inspiration for a blog post can't be all bad. I guess these guys do have a function.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
I have decided something...
When the Colts play the Patriots, I need to not watch the first half and then the Colts will pound the Patriots well before my blood-pressure goes skyrocketing.
It happened in 2007 - when the Colts played the Pats in the AFC Championship game, I turned off the game at halftime because New England was up a bazillion to 3 and I couldn't stand the Brady bootlicking. Then I turned on to see highlights later... only to find out that the Colts were going to the Super Bowl thanks to some fantastic 2nd half heroics.
It happened in 2009 - just two minutes ago - I turned off the TV partway through the 3rd quarter because Chicken-Neck drooling over the Patriots was making me physically ill. Then Dad called to see if I was watching the game and told me to turn it on because the Colts just might win. Good thing I did because then I could see the wonderful, wonderful-ness of Peyton Manning's last-minute scoring drives.
A few thoughts:
- I hate the Patriots.
- If there was one guy I could count on to screw things up, it's Austin Collie. WAY TO FREAKING GO LASSIE!!! WHY DO YOU DROP A PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING???!!! In the name of all that is good in heaven and earth, WHAT IS WITH THE RETARDED INTERFERENCE CALL???!!! Can't you at least pretend you're making the Utes fans miserable again? The Patriots do have red in their uniforms. I have two words for you: REDEEM YOURSELF!!
- I hate the Patriots.
- I find it hilarious that, during the post-game press conferences, Peyton Manning is dress like he just played a football game (ball cap, t-shirt) and Tom "Backstreet Boy" Brady is dressed for his next GQ shoot. Something that was pointed out during the game was that Brady and Manning are on a lot of magazine covers. And they showed some samples. Most of Brady's appearances were GQ and Esquire while Manning was on Sports Illustrated and ESPN Magazine. Gee - who's the more focused quarterback? (not to mention I think Peyton's a LOT more attractive than Brady).
- Pierre Garcon= LOVE
- Dallas Clark=LOVE!
- Reggie Wayne=DOUBLE LOVE!! (and love for the "Blue Crush" leap a la Lambeau there at the end. Every team needs something like that).
- I hate the Patriots.
- I hate Bill Belichick. I hate Tom Brady. I hate Randy Moss.
- I LOVE the Colts.
- It's interesting that the two 9-0 teams are the Colts and the Saints. For those who are uneducated in NFL history, Peyton's dad, Archie, played for the New Orleans Saints back-in-the-day. They weren't very good then, but obviously they've improved over they years. How would it be if the Colts played the Saints in the Super Bowl? Hm....
- Now Al and Chicken-Neck are talking about the idiocy of Belichick going for it on 4th and 2 - well, it's not hard to figure out. Belichick likes to run the score up on teams. If there's an off-chance he can beat the Colts by more than a touchdown, he'll take it and statistics be damned. Belichick and the Patriots are freaking emotional two-year-olds and they like to win as such. And they're pretty poor losers as well.
- I love how the Colts can win when they have no business winning a game. (see Week 2 vs. Dolphins) How can you not cheer for a team like that?
- I hate the Patriots.
- I LOVE THE COLTS!!
- (Austin Collie has some repenting to do)
- 9-0 SQUEE!!!
It happened in 2007 - when the Colts played the Pats in the AFC Championship game, I turned off the game at halftime because New England was up a bazillion to 3 and I couldn't stand the Brady bootlicking. Then I turned on to see highlights later... only to find out that the Colts were going to the Super Bowl thanks to some fantastic 2nd half heroics.
It happened in 2009 - just two minutes ago - I turned off the TV partway through the 3rd quarter because Chicken-Neck drooling over the Patriots was making me physically ill. Then Dad called to see if I was watching the game and told me to turn it on because the Colts just might win. Good thing I did because then I could see the wonderful, wonderful-ness of Peyton Manning's last-minute scoring drives.
A few thoughts:
- I hate the Patriots.
- If there was one guy I could count on to screw things up, it's Austin Collie. WAY TO FREAKING GO LASSIE!!! WHY DO YOU DROP A PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING???!!! In the name of all that is good in heaven and earth, WHAT IS WITH THE RETARDED INTERFERENCE CALL???!!! Can't you at least pretend you're making the Utes fans miserable again? The Patriots do have red in their uniforms. I have two words for you: REDEEM YOURSELF!!
- I hate the Patriots.
- I find it hilarious that, during the post-game press conferences, Peyton Manning is dress like he just played a football game (ball cap, t-shirt) and Tom "Backstreet Boy" Brady is dressed for his next GQ shoot. Something that was pointed out during the game was that Brady and Manning are on a lot of magazine covers. And they showed some samples. Most of Brady's appearances were GQ and Esquire while Manning was on Sports Illustrated and ESPN Magazine. Gee - who's the more focused quarterback? (not to mention I think Peyton's a LOT more attractive than Brady).
- Pierre Garcon= LOVE
- Dallas Clark=LOVE!
- Reggie Wayne=DOUBLE LOVE!! (and love for the "Blue Crush" leap a la Lambeau there at the end. Every team needs something like that).
- I hate the Patriots.
- I hate Bill Belichick. I hate Tom Brady. I hate Randy Moss.
- I LOVE the Colts.
- It's interesting that the two 9-0 teams are the Colts and the Saints. For those who are uneducated in NFL history, Peyton's dad, Archie, played for the New Orleans Saints back-in-the-day. They weren't very good then, but obviously they've improved over they years. How would it be if the Colts played the Saints in the Super Bowl? Hm....
- Now Al and Chicken-Neck are talking about the idiocy of Belichick going for it on 4th and 2 - well, it's not hard to figure out. Belichick likes to run the score up on teams. If there's an off-chance he can beat the Colts by more than a touchdown, he'll take it and statistics be damned. Belichick and the Patriots are freaking emotional two-year-olds and they like to win as such. And they're pretty poor losers as well.
- I love how the Colts can win when they have no business winning a game. (see Week 2 vs. Dolphins) How can you not cheer for a team like that?
- I hate the Patriots.
- I LOVE THE COLTS!!
- (Austin Collie has some repenting to do)
- 9-0 SQUEE!!!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Orange Crushed - **HEROES SPOILERS**
I've stumbled upon the perfect solution for my Monday night conflicts. No longer need I choose between watching Monday Night Football and Heroes. I watch Monday Night Countdown on ESPN then the first little bit of the football game. Then, at 7:00, I turn on Heroes for an hour and by the time Heroes is over, it's the second half of the game, which is the most exciting part anyway. And I am no longer dependent on my internet connection for TV.
Before I get to the Heroes Rehash (Spoiler Warning #2), here are my thoughts on the the football game - Broncos vs. Steelers:
There was a lot of talk about "The Broncos lost last week, they have to avoid another loss." You know, when you're just "trying not to lose," you invariably lose. You have to play to win. Cliche, I know. But it's true (thus holding to the rule that a cliche is a cliche because it is true. Duh).
There are a lot of Terrible Towels in Denver. Ha ha-ha ha ha-ha ha (*insert that annoying laugh from that black-haired kid on Dexter's Laboratory. I forget his name). I don't like the Broncos. I don't care if they're the NFL team I live the closest too. Provo is closer to my hometown that anywhere, doesn't change anything there. I'm happy the Steelers won. And Ben Roethlisberger is extremely attractive. With all the good looking guys in football, I wonder why more girls don't watch football.
Speaking of quarterbacks - where did Denver find Kyle "Porn 'stache" Orton?
Troy Polamalu - Just put him in on offense too. He'll get you a touchdown.
I seriously thought they were going to interview Jimmy the Greek in the pregame. I got all excited. Then I remembered he was dead. Sometimes, I just fail at history. -_-'
Okay - on to Heroes:
***Spoilers Begin Here***Blogger Doesn't Let Me Cut***Neither Does Facebook***Punks***
I find Gretchen a little fickle. First she's all gung-ho about Claire's powers, then she bails at the first sign of trouble. I know Claire is trying to find friends and have a normal life, but even in normal life, those who do not stand by you in tough times are not your friends. Good message for everyone.
On the bright side, those sharks are safely penned away. For now.
Ultimately, if the medical career doesn't work out for Emma, she's has a brilliant future in music. Don't think she'll need it ^_^
Question: So... Peter can't see sounds anymore? I didn't think the powers he absorbed had an expiration date or anything. I always thought he got to keep them (that's what I thought in season 1, anyway). I'm still a little confused on how his power works.
Sylar called her "Mama Petrelli." Ha ha ha ha!! That made me giggle.
As did Matt's attempt at being the obstacle in Sylar's way. But, of course, we're talking about Matt "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" Parkman. Things must go the way of the penguin, it's just the way his life is. As evidenced by next week's teaser where Peter heals him and Sylar/Nathan is standing there ready to cut open his head. And my Matty fangirl alarm goes off (Nooooo!!! Not my Matty!!)
Peter Petrelli is awesome. But I can't help but think that his healing ability is going to do more harm than good.
I also have a hunch that there is more to the story of Becky's dad and Daddy Bennet. Butterfly Man just likes to muddy the waters for Claire-bear (yes, I know his name is Samuel, but he's Butterfly Man. Hiro said so). And you certainly can't trust the sorority girl, either. Even when Noah was perceived as "The Bad Guy" - he's still doing what's in the best interest of the protagonists. Unlike Mama Petrelli, who just likes to screw with people. For this reason, I hope Sylar gets to her before Noah or Matt or Peter get the concrete shoes on him.
So, next week, we'll pick up where Hiro left off because that's the rotation. One week, we get Claire. The next is Hiro. Peter is every week because Milo Ventimiglia is too wonderful to be skipped and Matt gets put in as they can. Yes, I am that perceptive.
Well, I'm off to watch "V." It's finally on Hulu. Took them long enough.
Before I get to the Heroes Rehash (Spoiler Warning #2), here are my thoughts on the the football game - Broncos vs. Steelers:
There was a lot of talk about "The Broncos lost last week, they have to avoid another loss." You know, when you're just "trying not to lose," you invariably lose. You have to play to win. Cliche, I know. But it's true (thus holding to the rule that a cliche is a cliche because it is true. Duh).
There are a lot of Terrible Towels in Denver. Ha ha-ha ha ha-ha ha (*insert that annoying laugh from that black-haired kid on Dexter's Laboratory. I forget his name). I don't like the Broncos. I don't care if they're the NFL team I live the closest too. Provo is closer to my hometown that anywhere, doesn't change anything there. I'm happy the Steelers won. And Ben Roethlisberger is extremely attractive. With all the good looking guys in football, I wonder why more girls don't watch football.
Speaking of quarterbacks - where did Denver find Kyle "Porn 'stache" Orton?
Troy Polamalu - Just put him in on offense too. He'll get you a touchdown.
I seriously thought they were going to interview Jimmy the Greek in the pregame. I got all excited. Then I remembered he was dead. Sometimes, I just fail at history. -_-'
Okay - on to Heroes:
***Spoilers Begin Here***Blogger Doesn't Let Me Cut***Neither Does Facebook***Punks***
I find Gretchen a little fickle. First she's all gung-ho about Claire's powers, then she bails at the first sign of trouble. I know Claire is trying to find friends and have a normal life, but even in normal life, those who do not stand by you in tough times are not your friends. Good message for everyone.
On the bright side, those sharks are safely penned away. For now.
Ultimately, if the medical career doesn't work out for Emma, she's has a brilliant future in music. Don't think she'll need it ^_^
Question: So... Peter can't see sounds anymore? I didn't think the powers he absorbed had an expiration date or anything. I always thought he got to keep them (that's what I thought in season 1, anyway). I'm still a little confused on how his power works.
Sylar called her "Mama Petrelli." Ha ha ha ha!! That made me giggle.
As did Matt's attempt at being the obstacle in Sylar's way. But, of course, we're talking about Matt "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" Parkman. Things must go the way of the penguin, it's just the way his life is. As evidenced by next week's teaser where Peter heals him and Sylar/Nathan is standing there ready to cut open his head. And my Matty fangirl alarm goes off (Nooooo!!! Not my Matty!!)
Peter Petrelli is awesome. But I can't help but think that his healing ability is going to do more harm than good.
I also have a hunch that there is more to the story of Becky's dad and Daddy Bennet. Butterfly Man just likes to muddy the waters for Claire-bear (yes, I know his name is Samuel, but he's Butterfly Man. Hiro said so). And you certainly can't trust the sorority girl, either. Even when Noah was perceived as "The Bad Guy" - he's still doing what's in the best interest of the protagonists. Unlike Mama Petrelli, who just likes to screw with people. For this reason, I hope Sylar gets to her before Noah or Matt or Peter get the concrete shoes on him.
So, next week, we'll pick up where Hiro left off because that's the rotation. One week, we get Claire. The next is Hiro. Peter is every week because Milo Ventimiglia is too wonderful to be skipped and Matt gets put in as they can. Yes, I am that perceptive.
Well, I'm off to watch "V." It's finally on Hulu. Took them long enough.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Price of Romance
I'm here watching Sunday Night Football and I know it's the Christmas buying season because of all the sappy jewelry commercials. And a blog topic occurs to me. No way am I going to let this opportunity slide.
So, I have a question - do diamonds really equate love? I mean, I know commercials are marketing ploys just to get a product's name out there and if you have the most memorable commercial people will buy your product. But honestly, I can't tell one jewelry commercial from the next. They all stinking look the same: guy and girl cuddling all sweetly in a blizzard or in front of a warm fireplace. Maybe she's a little clingier than usual. Guy is the epitome of gentlemanly chivalry - the kind that no living male could hope to be (I'm letting you guys off the hook here, you can thank me later). Using the powers of suave that would put James Bond to shame, he pulls out a black box that contains a diamond necklace or earrings or a ring. Girl expresses surprise - never mind that this has been his Christmas present routine to her the last five-ten years.
I can understand the diamond ring deal if it's an engagement ring (I may be cynical about all this romance crap, but I'm still female and an engagement is a special tradition that even I can't overlook). But I have a pair of earrings from Claire's that are pearl and cubic zirconium that I just love. They look the same as any diamond that any boyfriend could give me, I'm sure. I just don't get what the draw is for a guy to spend zillions of dollars on something that I probably won't wear very often because it's way too nice.
Sure, if you want to spend ten paychecks on something that just sits on my neck or finger or earlobes, I appreciate the gesture. But I'd rather that money be spent on something fun. Shoot, let's take the money and go to a football game together.
Besides, if all you give is nice jewelry, it gets boring. Seriously, how much thought goes into a piece of jewelry? That's the easy way out for a guy. Throw your girl a curveball once in a while - have you ever seen "Beauty and the Beast?" The Beast stresses about a nice present for Belle and he ends up giving her an entire library - something the bookish Belle can truly appreciate. And the Beast gets to save the diamond for another day when he can't think of anything else.
And then I wonder - what's a nice gift that a girl can give to the special guy in her life? The answer isn't quite as easy and it probably depends on what your guy's interests are. She really has to know what he'd like and actually have to put some thought into what she's going to give him. But it's kind of weird - he gives her a "Past, Present, Future" pendant and she gives him "Grand Theft Auto" for the PS3 (well, I guess each couple has their own tastes - maybe I just think it's weird).
Just my musings... these jewelry commercials are stinking boring. And I've never been in any kind of relationship where a guy would feel compelled to buy me something nice, so maybe that's where the cynicism comes from. Meh... take it for what it's worth.
(Man, I keep popping my neck and it feels good. My neck has been giving me grief lately. That would be a gift I could appreciate right now - someone to massage my neck and back.)
So, I have a question - do diamonds really equate love? I mean, I know commercials are marketing ploys just to get a product's name out there and if you have the most memorable commercial people will buy your product. But honestly, I can't tell one jewelry commercial from the next. They all stinking look the same: guy and girl cuddling all sweetly in a blizzard or in front of a warm fireplace. Maybe she's a little clingier than usual. Guy is the epitome of gentlemanly chivalry - the kind that no living male could hope to be (I'm letting you guys off the hook here, you can thank me later). Using the powers of suave that would put James Bond to shame, he pulls out a black box that contains a diamond necklace or earrings or a ring. Girl expresses surprise - never mind that this has been his Christmas present routine to her the last five-ten years.
I can understand the diamond ring deal if it's an engagement ring (I may be cynical about all this romance crap, but I'm still female and an engagement is a special tradition that even I can't overlook). But I have a pair of earrings from Claire's that are pearl and cubic zirconium that I just love. They look the same as any diamond that any boyfriend could give me, I'm sure. I just don't get what the draw is for a guy to spend zillions of dollars on something that I probably won't wear very often because it's way too nice.
Sure, if you want to spend ten paychecks on something that just sits on my neck or finger or earlobes, I appreciate the gesture. But I'd rather that money be spent on something fun. Shoot, let's take the money and go to a football game together.
Besides, if all you give is nice jewelry, it gets boring. Seriously, how much thought goes into a piece of jewelry? That's the easy way out for a guy. Throw your girl a curveball once in a while - have you ever seen "Beauty and the Beast?" The Beast stresses about a nice present for Belle and he ends up giving her an entire library - something the bookish Belle can truly appreciate. And the Beast gets to save the diamond for another day when he can't think of anything else.
And then I wonder - what's a nice gift that a girl can give to the special guy in her life? The answer isn't quite as easy and it probably depends on what your guy's interests are. She really has to know what he'd like and actually have to put some thought into what she's going to give him. But it's kind of weird - he gives her a "Past, Present, Future" pendant and she gives him "Grand Theft Auto" for the PS3 (well, I guess each couple has their own tastes - maybe I just think it's weird).
Just my musings... these jewelry commercials are stinking boring. And I've never been in any kind of relationship where a guy would feel compelled to buy me something nice, so maybe that's where the cynicism comes from. Meh... take it for what it's worth.
(Man, I keep popping my neck and it feels good. My neck has been giving me grief lately. That would be a gift I could appreciate right now - someone to massage my neck and back.)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
*shakes head* Wishful Thinking **SPOILER WARNING**
(x-posted from LiveJournal)
**SPOILER WARNING** If you aren't caught up to speed on the current season of "Heroes," I would suggest going to Hulu.com right now and watching the latest episodes rather than read this post.
sigh... ABC isn't as faithful as NBC or Fox on putting up new episodes. I've heard some good things about this new "V" show. Problem is, I didn't catch the pilot episode. So, I thought I'd just watch it on Hulu... yeah, they're not going to stream it until Saturday - with director's commentary and the like.
Mmmm... don'care... I just want to watch it. Forget all the fluffy frills, just let me watch the darn thing already!!
At least if I miss Heroes or 24, I will be assured of the new ep the next day.
Oh, speaking of Heroes, I have been watching it on Hulu (either my computer or my internet connection - or both - wreak havoc with life, so the quality is pretty jumpy. Or it must be Hulu - because I watch stuff on Veoh and it doesn't have issues). So far, it's pretty good. I should be recapping it on my blogs, just to give me something to write about since topics for gossip have been sparse lately.
Well, I'll just put them here.
***SPOILERS BEGIN HERE!!! THOU HAST HAD WARNING ENOUGH!!!***
Claire going to college - well and good. Gretchen's little crush - eeeesh... I swear, I had flashes of the Fonz on water skis over shark-infested waters. The possibility of the cheerleader going homosexual? My loyal readers know my feelings on this topic in general, so I won't go into to it here, but...puh-leaze - it sounds like something a horrible fan-fiction slash writer would come up with. It's been done, folks and not in a quality way. It's been so overdone that there is no possible way to bring it back from the Plotline Hell that it's been rightly condemned to. Have you guys been so stuck for inspiration that you have to troll FanFiction.net for ideas? Or watch "American Pie"-type movies?
(for the record, I haven't seen any "American Pie" movies - but the homosexual cheerleader is just... it's one of those things that you don't think of as happening in real life, so people have to write it in trash fiction over and over again and... it's worn out. Sounds like something those kinds of movies would depict, anyway.)
Hiro - DYING???!!!! NOT COOL!! Keep in mind, I haven't seen last season and it's obvious I missed quite a bit. I tried to find some stuff on Wikipedia, but it's hard for me to follow. I guess I'll have to splurge and get the third season on DVD (Christmas is coming, after all). Anyway, Hiro dying is not cool (oh yeah, I covered that), but it is incredibly sweet how he is accepting it. But Charlie probably accepted it more three years ago than Hiro is now. Still - just the fact that Hiro's embracing his super-hero role even to the end... sigh... they can't really kill him, can they? *puppy-dog eyes*
Two things that broke my heart:
1. Hiro telling Kimiko that he's dying.
2. Butterfly Man telling Hiro that Charlie is trapped in some time-space whatever. (sorry - I'm bad with new character's names). A sad Hiro is not a happy thing. If you make Hiro sad - you are just a sick and twisted individual and you are going to roast in hell. There, I said it (so it is written, so shall it be done).
But can I get a big hand for Emma? (okay, sign language for "applause!!") Seeing sounds as colors? That is stinking cool! And whatever offensive/defensive properties this has - that's just amazing!
Matt's just always had bad luck. No good deed goes unpunished. And it seems that Noah Bennet is having the same problem. Oy - I'm starting to think it pays to be a bad guy (well, until the season finale, that is... but even then... forget I brought it up...)
Sylar. Sylar, Sylar, Sylar... you're life is just screwed up, man. But I prefer the vulnerable, innocent(ish) amnesia'd version. Much less trouble. Unless your name is Matt Parkman. Then you simply hate life.
...sigh... Oto-san Nakamura's dead - Daddy Bennet is living in the projects, yet we still have Mama Petrelli causing all kinds of heartburn. When can we call in a meteor strike on her house? Or the Haitian? Something! I'm getting tired of her BS. Maybe Peter can put us out of our misery with that wall-cracking rainbow-sound thing he picked up from Emma?
So far, that's all I've got. Or at least all that's stuck so far. More will come later, I'm sure.
**SPOILER WARNING** If you aren't caught up to speed on the current season of "Heroes," I would suggest going to Hulu.com right now and watching the latest episodes rather than read this post.
sigh... ABC isn't as faithful as NBC or Fox on putting up new episodes. I've heard some good things about this new "V" show. Problem is, I didn't catch the pilot episode. So, I thought I'd just watch it on Hulu... yeah, they're not going to stream it until Saturday - with director's commentary and the like.
Mmmm... don'care... I just want to watch it. Forget all the fluffy frills, just let me watch the darn thing already!!
At least if I miss Heroes or 24, I will be assured of the new ep the next day.
Oh, speaking of Heroes, I have been watching it on Hulu (either my computer or my internet connection - or both - wreak havoc with life, so the quality is pretty jumpy. Or it must be Hulu - because I watch stuff on Veoh and it doesn't have issues). So far, it's pretty good. I should be recapping it on my blogs, just to give me something to write about since topics for gossip have been sparse lately.
Well, I'll just put them here.
***SPOILERS BEGIN HERE!!! THOU HAST HAD WARNING ENOUGH!!!***
Claire going to college - well and good. Gretchen's little crush - eeeesh... I swear, I had flashes of the Fonz on water skis over shark-infested waters. The possibility of the cheerleader going homosexual? My loyal readers know my feelings on this topic in general, so I won't go into to it here, but...puh-leaze - it sounds like something a horrible fan-fiction slash writer would come up with. It's been done, folks and not in a quality way. It's been so overdone that there is no possible way to bring it back from the Plotline Hell that it's been rightly condemned to. Have you guys been so stuck for inspiration that you have to troll FanFiction.net for ideas? Or watch "American Pie"-type movies?
(for the record, I haven't seen any "American Pie" movies - but the homosexual cheerleader is just... it's one of those things that you don't think of as happening in real life, so people have to write it in trash fiction over and over again and... it's worn out. Sounds like something those kinds of movies would depict, anyway.)
Hiro - DYING???!!!! NOT COOL!! Keep in mind, I haven't seen last season and it's obvious I missed quite a bit. I tried to find some stuff on Wikipedia, but it's hard for me to follow. I guess I'll have to splurge and get the third season on DVD (Christmas is coming, after all). Anyway, Hiro dying is not cool (oh yeah, I covered that), but it is incredibly sweet how he is accepting it. But Charlie probably accepted it more three years ago than Hiro is now. Still - just the fact that Hiro's embracing his super-hero role even to the end... sigh... they can't really kill him, can they? *puppy-dog eyes*
Two things that broke my heart:
1. Hiro telling Kimiko that he's dying.
2. Butterfly Man telling Hiro that Charlie is trapped in some time-space whatever. (sorry - I'm bad with new character's names). A sad Hiro is not a happy thing. If you make Hiro sad - you are just a sick and twisted individual and you are going to roast in hell. There, I said it (so it is written, so shall it be done).
But can I get a big hand for Emma? (okay, sign language for "applause!!") Seeing sounds as colors? That is stinking cool! And whatever offensive/defensive properties this has - that's just amazing!
Matt's just always had bad luck. No good deed goes unpunished. And it seems that Noah Bennet is having the same problem. Oy - I'm starting to think it pays to be a bad guy (well, until the season finale, that is... but even then... forget I brought it up...)
Sylar. Sylar, Sylar, Sylar... you're life is just screwed up, man. But I prefer the vulnerable, innocent(ish) amnesia'd version. Much less trouble. Unless your name is Matt Parkman. Then you simply hate life.
...sigh... Oto-san Nakamura's dead - Daddy Bennet is living in the projects, yet we still have Mama Petrelli causing all kinds of heartburn. When can we call in a meteor strike on her house? Or the Haitian? Something! I'm getting tired of her BS. Maybe Peter can put us out of our misery with that wall-cracking rainbow-sound thing he picked up from Emma?
So far, that's all I've got. Or at least all that's stuck so far. More will come later, I'm sure.
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