Speaking totally for myself, if I had a significant other (pffft... riiiiiiight...) and he was going to spend money on me, I'd rather he take the money and buy me something of real value. Like a Wii.
Monday, November 29, 2010
It Must Be Christmas...
...because, apparently, every girl on the freaking planet wants diamond jewelry (according to Monday Night Football advertising, anyway). Personally, I don't know what the heck is the big deal with diamonds - beyond that they're stinking expensive and sparkle like Edward Cullen. I can see the big hoopla if a guy is asking a girl to marry him, but last I checked, a guy traditionally gives a girl a diamond engagement ring. Not a necklace or earrings (but what do I know?)
Speaking totally for myself, if I had a significant other (pffft... riiiiiiight...) and he was going to spend money on me, I'd rather he take the money and buy me something of real value. Like a Wii.
Speaking totally for myself, if I had a significant other (pffft... riiiiiiight...) and he was going to spend money on me, I'd rather he take the money and buy me something of real value. Like a Wii.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Win or Lose...
... I take consolation in the fact that I will never have to suffer through another Utes game called by the Orem Community College Remedial Sports Broadcasting class.
(For those lacking a sense of humor, I know there's no Orem Community College. It was a joke. Sort of like the Utes' passing game of late. C'mon boys - pick it up in the second half!)
(For those lacking a sense of humor, I know there's no Orem Community College. It was a joke. Sort of like the Utes' passing game of late. C'mon boys - pick it up in the second half!)
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Happy Turkey Day! (and NFL Picks)
First of all - do you know how hard it is to find celebratory videos that are purely for Thanksgiving? Not that I'm complaining - because I love this old classic:
(originally from here, but I like embedding videos, so YouTube it is! Except when they block stuff I make).
ANYWAY... another grand Thanksgiving tradition at our house is football and this year is no exception. There's the traditionalLions getting their butts kicked games on Thanksgiving, plus the end-of-season Utah-byu rivalry game on Saturday. Say what you will about it - that's how our family rolls ^_^
So - onto the picks!
New England @ Detroit - Tradition dictates that the Lions play someone we absolutely hate on Thanksgiving. This year will make forbloody interesting conversation because little cousin Johnny loves the Patriots, but nobody else in my family does. And Johnny is a cocky little twerp when he wins (though I do have to give him credit for not being a punk last Sunday over the Pats-Colts game). So, my prediction is that New England will win and Johnny won't make it to the pumpkin pie.
New Orleans @ Dallas - Tradition usually dictates that Dallas (who we also hate) plays some little cream puff team, orchestrates a blowout and further ruins any joy we otherwise would have. However, Dallas has become the cream puff this year and New Orleans is the defending Super Bowl Champs. It is with much joy and happiness that I call it a win for the Saints.
Cincinnati @ New York Jets - A fairly new tradition - a third Thanksgiving Day game in prime time. Sadly, it's two teams that I'm not particularly fond of, so I really don't care (I'll probably be in a turkey coma by then anyway). Even so, I pick the Jets.
Green Bay @ Atlanta - Back to the regular Sunday format... Green Bay
Pittsburgh @ Buffalo - Steelers
Carolina @ Cleveland - Browns
Titans @ Texans - mmm.... Texans
Jacksonville @ New York Giants - The Giants need some good juju, so I send some post-Thanksgiving Day good feelings in their direction.
Minnesota @ Washington - Now that the Vikings' coach has been replaced, will they pull out a win? Mm... probably not. Redskins.
Miami @ Oakland - Oakland has been doing better... but I'm going with Miami.
Kansas City @ Seattle - I've been silently cheering on the Chiefs in this renaissance year and I think that will continue.
Tampa Bay @ Baltimore - Ravens
Philadelphia @ Chicago - Eagles
St. Louis @ Denver - Feh... Broncos
San Diego @ Indianapolis - I predict Philip Rivers will channel his inner fanboy and crap out again as the Colts look to vent some frustration over that stupid loss to New England (Please note: fanboys don't like it when the status quo in their fandoms is upset). Colts.
San Francisco @ Arizona - Man, how did Monday Night Football get such crap-fests this year? Sigh... I can never in good faith cheer for a team with classless max hall and certainly not after Rivalry Week. Niners.
Current Standings - Last week's result was a rather impressive 13-3, which bring my current totals to 66-37.
(originally from here, but I like embedding videos, so YouTube it is! Except when they block stuff I make).
ANYWAY... another grand Thanksgiving tradition at our house is football and this year is no exception. There's the traditional
So - onto the picks!
New England @ Detroit - Tradition dictates that the Lions play someone we absolutely hate on Thanksgiving. This year will make for
New Orleans @ Dallas - Tradition usually dictates that Dallas (who we also hate) plays some little cream puff team, orchestrates a blowout and further ruins any joy we otherwise would have. However, Dallas has become the cream puff this year and New Orleans is the defending Super Bowl Champs. It is with much joy and happiness that I call it a win for the Saints.
Cincinnati @ New York Jets - A fairly new tradition - a third Thanksgiving Day game in prime time. Sadly, it's two teams that I'm not particularly fond of, so I really don't care (I'll probably be in a turkey coma by then anyway). Even so, I pick the Jets.
Green Bay @ Atlanta - Back to the regular Sunday format... Green Bay
Pittsburgh @ Buffalo - Steelers
Carolina @ Cleveland - Browns
Titans @ Texans - mmm.... Texans
Jacksonville @ New York Giants - The Giants need some good juju, so I send some post-Thanksgiving Day good feelings in their direction.
Minnesota @ Washington - Now that the Vikings' coach has been replaced, will they pull out a win? Mm... probably not. Redskins.
Miami @ Oakland - Oakland has been doing better... but I'm going with Miami.
Kansas City @ Seattle - I've been silently cheering on the Chiefs in this renaissance year and I think that will continue.
Tampa Bay @ Baltimore - Ravens
Philadelphia @ Chicago - Eagles
St. Louis @ Denver - Feh... Broncos
San Diego @ Indianapolis - I predict Philip Rivers will channel his inner fanboy and crap out again as the Colts look to vent some frustration over that stupid loss to New England (Please note: fanboys don't like it when the status quo in their fandoms is upset). Colts.
San Francisco @ Arizona - Man, how did Monday Night Football get such crap-fests this year? Sigh... I can never in good faith cheer for a team with classless max hall and certainly not after Rivalry Week. Niners.
Current Standings - Last week's result was a rather impressive 13-3, which bring my current totals to 66-37.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Ooh, Risotto, Risotto, Risotto!
The Schwan man is coming out today, so I was compiling my "shopping" list for when he gets here (plus, my mom wanted me to get a few things for this weekend). Anyone who knows me knows that I hate cooking and I avoid it if at all possible. It's not like I can't cook or that I won't cook, there are just other things I'd like to do with my time (and all that work for something that's going to be gone in 30 minutes anyway? No thank you). I usually just buy things that I can heat up in the microwave in two minutes and life is great.
However, I've decided that I'm sick of just eating microwave corn dogs and I'd like some variety in my diet. I was checking out the pasta section of the Schwan catalog to see if there was something relatively affordable that I could cook, eat and save leftovers from (leftovers = WIN). I happened upon a risotto and peas. I almost bought it, but it's too expensive (like a lot of things Schwan sells). So, I started searching for risotto recipes because it looked like some relatively easy I could make (and I am insanely curious about risotto - for reasons yet unknown.. Yes, reasons completely unknown. I dare you to click that link. Go on - do it!)
Ha ha ha. And again I say, ha. Twenty-plus minutes of standing over a pot of boiling rice is not my idea of a fun time. I was about to abandon my search for a decent risotto recipe that didn't force me to slave over a hot stove when I found this little gem. Anything that has "microwave" in the title must be promising.
But then I look at the ingredients list - like the Oatmeal says, every recipe I've tried to make at home requires that I go out and buy a boatload of crap that I'm only ever going to use for this one recipe (I think I still have spices from my freshman year of college in a box somewhere. Yes, I probably ought to throw those out - but it seems such a waste. And yet... I'm still not using them. Betty Crocker I am not).
However, this recipe has things that I actually do buy - at least, one of the substitutions says that I can replace the white wine with white grape juice or apple juice and I have been known to buy both. And who doesn't have butter or margarine in their fridge? The only thing I wonder about would be that you have to use a certain kind of rice... and I just buy whatever rice is at the store.
... or I'll just buy another box of frozen corn dogs. sigh... what I wouldn't give for a decent Chinese place somewhere close...
However, I've decided that I'm sick of just eating microwave corn dogs and I'd like some variety in my diet. I was checking out the pasta section of the Schwan catalog to see if there was something relatively affordable that I could cook, eat and save leftovers from (leftovers = WIN). I happened upon a risotto and peas. I almost bought it, but it's too expensive (like a lot of things Schwan sells). So, I started searching for risotto recipes because it looked like some relatively easy I could make (and I am insanely curious about risotto - for reasons yet unknown.. Yes, reasons completely unknown. I dare you to click that link. Go on - do it!)
Ha ha ha. And again I say, ha. Twenty-plus minutes of standing over a pot of boiling rice is not my idea of a fun time. I was about to abandon my search for a decent risotto recipe that didn't force me to slave over a hot stove when I found this little gem. Anything that has "microwave" in the title must be promising.
But then I look at the ingredients list - like the Oatmeal says, every recipe I've tried to make at home requires that I go out and buy a boatload of crap that I'm only ever going to use for this one recipe (I think I still have spices from my freshman year of college in a box somewhere. Yes, I probably ought to throw those out - but it seems such a waste. And yet... I'm still not using them. Betty Crocker I am not).
However, this recipe has things that I actually do buy - at least, one of the substitutions says that I can replace the white wine with white grape juice or apple juice and I have been known to buy both. And who doesn't have butter or margarine in their fridge? The only thing I wonder about would be that you have to use a certain kind of rice... and I just buy whatever rice is at the store.
... or I'll just buy another box of frozen corn dogs. sigh... what I wouldn't give for a decent Chinese place somewhere close...
Monday, November 22, 2010
Happy Birthday Doctor Who!
(Yeah, the date says November 22 - but I'm posting this right before I go to bed, and it's the 23rd in most of the world by now, anyway).
It's an exciting day today - and not just because it's a short week. Today marks the 47th anniversary of the broadcast of the very first episode of "Doctor Who." "An Unearthly Child" was broadcast on November 23, 1963 and the rest is history. You can watch the first part of "An Unearthly Child" here (the rest of it is there too - just look down the playlist).
And I here celebrate with one of my favorite fanvids that includes all incarnations of the Doctor to this point:
Happy Birthday to our favorite Time Lord - and here's to many, many more!
It's an exciting day today - and not just because it's a short week. Today marks the 47th anniversary of the broadcast of the very first episode of "Doctor Who." "An Unearthly Child" was broadcast on November 23, 1963 and the rest is history. You can watch the first part of "An Unearthly Child" here (the rest of it is there too - just look down the playlist).
And I here celebrate with one of my favorite fanvids that includes all incarnations of the Doctor to this point:
Happy Birthday to our favorite Time Lord - and here's to many, many more!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Geek Mama Grizzlies - UNITE!
I know I've posted a boatload of stuff today, but I have to post about this because - well, just because.
First, read this blog post. Or, if you're too lazy - Katie is a first grader who took a Star Wars water bottle to school - because it matched her Star Wars lunchbox and Star Wars backpack. A group of obnoxious littlemaggots boys teased the poor girl because (ahem) Star Wars is only for boys.
Take a minute to let that sink in. Then go beat the stuffing out of your nearest convenient pillow. I'll wait.
This story is similar to something that happened to me in kindergarten. When I was a kid, I LOVED the Ninja Turtles! I watched the cartoon every time it was on and my mom would rent the videos for me to watch. I had some of the comic books and Leonardo was my favorite - I thought the swords were cool (yes, I know they were katana - but four-year-olds don't quibble about details like that). Now, living on a farm outside of town, I didn't get much interaction with kids my own age. Oh, I knew kids in my Primary class and from preschool, but we didn't get too much into things like favorite cartoons and stuff like that.
When I got into kindergarten, however, there were more kids that I didn't know, but I didn't think much of it. I proudly proclaimed that I was a Ninja Turtle fangirl (in not so many words, but yeah). I distinctly remember a group of girls sneering at me for it. Like "Ew - Ninja Turtles are for boys!" And the boys weren't much better - they'd rather eat dirt than let a girl play with them (which, they probably ate dirt anyway, but that's not the point).
It made me feel terrible - like there was something very, very wrong with me because I liked the Ninja Turtles. I kind of starting backpedaling, like "Ha ha, just kidding - I don't really like the Turtles," but that didn't work. If anything, it caused me more heartache because the girls I played with weren't the kind of girls I should have been friends with (boys may like to beat each other up, but girls are just cruel and catty and that's 100 times worse than getting punched in the nose, in my opinion). I eventually learned my lesson, returning to my roots and telling those mean girls to bug off. That was the beginning of my "weird" reputation - a badge of honor I proudly wear to this day. Over the years, the same girls (and boys) that teased me for my odd choice in TV softened in their outward attitudes, but they found other means of tormenting me - the girls especially.
There comes a point where you realize that you don't need to deal with that sort of crap. So what if I'm a cute little five-year-old whose favorite cartoon hero is a giant turtle? So what if Katie is a stinking adorable little girl with a Star Wars lunchbox? This new generation of geek girls is lucky in that the internet has made it possible to know that we are not alone. Dude, there's an entire blog of dedicated geek girls who are into this stuff! Even so, it's tough when no one in your immediate circle of acquaintances shares the same interests as you. It's even worse when they belittle you for it (especially when it's snot-nosed twerps doing it. I've said it before - kids are among the cruelest beasts in the universe).
There is a good side to this story. If you didn't notice, Katie's mom asked for other females who like somewhat-geeky things to share their stories. I added my two cents, but I was amazed by the sheer volume of comments she was getting! And this blog requires you to have an account to leave a comment! (Here's a different blog that doesn't require an account to comment - and the similarity between her title and my title is purely coincidental, I swear!)
And the other good thing - the kind of treatment I received from these kids actually spurred me on to enjoy other geeky things (sort of a "Take That!" to the established idea of what little white Mormon girls in Utah should like). I learned that the more people tell me I should/should not do something and it's something I actually want to do (that last one is the key here), the more I'm motivated to participate in it. So, in a way, those little snotwipes I had to deal with in elementary school did me a favor. Nowadays, I chalk it up to a character-building exercise. Maybe I should thank them.
First, read this blog post. Or, if you're too lazy - Katie is a first grader who took a Star Wars water bottle to school - because it matched her Star Wars lunchbox and Star Wars backpack. A group of obnoxious little
Take a minute to let that sink in. Then go beat the stuffing out of your nearest convenient pillow. I'll wait.
This story is similar to something that happened to me in kindergarten. When I was a kid, I LOVED the Ninja Turtles! I watched the cartoon every time it was on and my mom would rent the videos for me to watch. I had some of the comic books and Leonardo was my favorite - I thought the swords were cool (yes, I know they were katana - but four-year-olds don't quibble about details like that). Now, living on a farm outside of town, I didn't get much interaction with kids my own age. Oh, I knew kids in my Primary class and from preschool, but we didn't get too much into things like favorite cartoons and stuff like that.
When I got into kindergarten, however, there were more kids that I didn't know, but I didn't think much of it. I proudly proclaimed that I was a Ninja Turtle fangirl (in not so many words, but yeah). I distinctly remember a group of girls sneering at me for it. Like "Ew - Ninja Turtles are for boys!" And the boys weren't much better - they'd rather eat dirt than let a girl play with them (which, they probably ate dirt anyway, but that's not the point).
It made me feel terrible - like there was something very, very wrong with me because I liked the Ninja Turtles. I kind of starting backpedaling, like "Ha ha, just kidding - I don't really like the Turtles," but that didn't work. If anything, it caused me more heartache because the girls I played with weren't the kind of girls I should have been friends with (boys may like to beat each other up, but girls are just cruel and catty and that's 100 times worse than getting punched in the nose, in my opinion). I eventually learned my lesson, returning to my roots and telling those mean girls to bug off. That was the beginning of my "weird" reputation - a badge of honor I proudly wear to this day. Over the years, the same girls (and boys) that teased me for my odd choice in TV softened in their outward attitudes, but they found other means of tormenting me - the girls especially.
There comes a point where you realize that you don't need to deal with that sort of crap. So what if I'm a cute little five-year-old whose favorite cartoon hero is a giant turtle? So what if Katie is a stinking adorable little girl with a Star Wars lunchbox? This new generation of geek girls is lucky in that the internet has made it possible to know that we are not alone. Dude, there's an entire blog of dedicated geek girls who are into this stuff! Even so, it's tough when no one in your immediate circle of acquaintances shares the same interests as you. It's even worse when they belittle you for it (especially when it's snot-nosed twerps doing it. I've said it before - kids are among the cruelest beasts in the universe).
There is a good side to this story. If you didn't notice, Katie's mom asked for other females who like somewhat-geeky things to share their stories. I added my two cents, but I was amazed by the sheer volume of comments she was getting! And this blog requires you to have an account to leave a comment! (Here's a different blog that doesn't require an account to comment - and the similarity between her title and my title is purely coincidental, I swear!)
And the other good thing - the kind of treatment I received from these kids actually spurred me on to enjoy other geeky things (sort of a "Take That!" to the established idea of what little white Mormon girls in Utah should like). I learned that the more people tell me I should/should not do something and it's something I actually want to do (that last one is the key here), the more I'm motivated to participate in it. So, in a way, those little snotwipes I had to deal with in elementary school did me a favor. Nowadays, I chalk it up to a character-building exercise. Maybe I should thank them.
NFL Week 11 - Back in Action
One more day until the weekend! And I am excited as stink. It's been a long week.
Since Thursday Night Football started last week (and since I missed making my picks last week as well) - here's an early start to the weekend -
Thursday -
Bears @ Dolphins - Erm... ... ... ... the Bears? Sure, we'll go with that.
Sunday -
Ravens @ Panthers - Ravens
Falcons @ Rams - Falcons
Raiders @ Steelers - The Raiders have actually picked up the pace lately... then again, it's the Steelers... and the Steelers spent Sunday night getting stomped by the Patriots and they're ticked off... oh hell - I'm going with the Steelers (the Raiders are still a work-in-progress at this point - a fairly good work-in-progress, but a work-in-progress nonetheless).
Texans @ Jets - ugh. Two teams that I'm not particularly fond of... but I do have my record to consider... so, I'll go with the Jets.
Browns @ Jaguars - Jaguars
Buccaneers @ 49ers - Bucs
Colts @ Patriots - I'll be in church while this is going on - and my anxiety levels rejoice. Going with my head and my heart - Colts
Giants @ Eagles - I think the Giants will pull things out here. They're pretty good at this stuff at this point in the season (usually... I hope so, anyway).
Detroit @ Dallas - Ugh... do I have to make this pick? I guess... Dallas. If only to save my record.
Packers @ Vikings - I like the Packers. I just do :)
Seahawks @ Saints - Saints
Redskins @ Titans - Redskins
Cardinals @ Chiefs - Oh, the Chiefs. Definitely.
Bills @ Bengals - ...sigh... Bengals.
Monday -
Broncos @ Chargers - Broncos (meh...)
Since Thursday Night Football started last week (and since I missed making my picks last week as well) - here's an early start to the weekend -
Thursday -
Bears @ Dolphins - Erm... ... ... ... the Bears? Sure, we'll go with that.
Sunday -
Ravens @ Panthers - Ravens
Falcons @ Rams - Falcons
Raiders @ Steelers - The Raiders have actually picked up the pace lately... then again, it's the Steelers... and the Steelers spent Sunday night getting stomped by the Patriots and they're ticked off... oh hell - I'm going with the Steelers (the Raiders are still a work-in-progress at this point - a fairly good work-in-progress, but a work-in-progress nonetheless).
Texans @ Jets - ugh. Two teams that I'm not particularly fond of... but I do have my record to consider... so, I'll go with the Jets.
Browns @ Jaguars - Jaguars
Buccaneers @ 49ers - Bucs
Colts @ Patriots - I'll be in church while this is going on - and my anxiety levels rejoice. Going with my head and my heart - Colts
Giants @ Eagles - I think the Giants will pull things out here. They're pretty good at this stuff at this point in the season (usually... I hope so, anyway).
Detroit @ Dallas - Ugh... do I have to make this pick? I guess... Dallas. If only to save my record.
Packers @ Vikings - I like the Packers. I just do :)
Seahawks @ Saints - Saints
Redskins @ Titans - Redskins
Cardinals @ Chiefs - Oh, the Chiefs. Definitely.
Bills @ Bengals - ...sigh... Bengals.
Monday -
Broncos @ Chargers - Broncos (meh...)
Small Children = Evil Creatures
I totally speak for myself on this. I don't give a crap what anyone else does. Some people can handle have a bunch of little monsters children of their own. Some people can be Primary teachers who coo about how precious and angelic and close-to-heaven these little turds are. Happy day for you if you are one of these people. I am not.
I constantly am reminded why I like working at the high school and why I want to be a YA librarian. For all their hormones and moodiness and cocky attitudes, I can successfully relate to teenagers on a pseudo-adult level. I basically treat them as adults unless they demonstrate that they don't deserve that kind of treatment. And usually, that's enough to clue them into the fact that they need to knock off whatever stupidity they are currently engaged it (note that I said usually - often, teenagers are just little goobers no matter what you do. That's when you send them to the principal's office).
Small children, on the other hand (and by "small," I mean anything younger than 13 - the generally accepted elementary school age group) are the nastiest little punks known in the world. Especially in large numbers (say, more than four or five). They aren't capable of listening and comprehending that the adult in the room actually wants them to stop throwing pudding at the walls (sometimes, it's worse than pudding). Two-year-olds are the worst because they still have that "I'm so cute" aura about them, but they are about as cuddly as the Rancor in "Return of the Jedi" (you know - that monster that Jabba the Hutt had in his basement. The one that almost ate Luke. The one that one Fat Man cried over when Luke killed it). Honestly, "two-year-old" is merely a euphemism for "Emissary of Hell." I make it a policy to never deal with these people (that is usually reserved for people who are physically older but still act like this - not because of any medical thing, just because they're immature twerps. That's another post).
That being said, I have to admit that I don't mind children in small doses (sometimes). To be fair, I do derive great enjoyment out of my little cousins and the children of various friends and family members. But the thing that works in these instances is that these kids belong to other people. When I'm dealing with other people's kids, I am well within my rights to pawn off the little yard ape onto their parents when the kids become a threat to my temper and my sanity. And I don't mind baby-sitting (especially if I'm being paid for my efforts). I just don't want any little terrors of my own.
I'm not disparaging people who have small kids. If there were no small kids, there would never be any big kids which means there would never be any adult kids. I am very happy that my parents, at least, decided to have kids. I'm looking forward to my siblings someday having kids (if they so choose) and my becoming an aunt. I actually want to the "Fun Aunt." But I'd go completely nuts if I had a child and I couldn't get away from it.
UPDATE: Item #6 on this list pretty much sums it up.
I constantly am reminded why I like working at the high school and why I want to be a YA librarian. For all their hormones and moodiness and cocky attitudes, I can successfully relate to teenagers on a pseudo-adult level. I basically treat them as adults unless they demonstrate that they don't deserve that kind of treatment. And usually, that's enough to clue them into the fact that they need to knock off whatever stupidity they are currently engaged it (note that I said usually - often, teenagers are just little goobers no matter what you do. That's when you send them to the principal's office).
Small children, on the other hand (and by "small," I mean anything younger than 13 - the generally accepted elementary school age group) are the nastiest little punks known in the world. Especially in large numbers (say, more than four or five). They aren't capable of listening and comprehending that the adult in the room actually wants them to stop throwing pudding at the walls (sometimes, it's worse than pudding). Two-year-olds are the worst because they still have that "I'm so cute" aura about them, but they are about as cuddly as the Rancor in "Return of the Jedi" (you know - that monster that Jabba the Hutt had in his basement. The one that almost ate Luke. The one that one Fat Man cried over when Luke killed it). Honestly, "two-year-old" is merely a euphemism for "Emissary of Hell." I make it a policy to never deal with these people (that is usually reserved for people who are physically older but still act like this - not because of any medical thing, just because they're immature twerps. That's another post).
That being said, I have to admit that I don't mind children in small doses (sometimes). To be fair, I do derive great enjoyment out of my little cousins and the children of various friends and family members. But the thing that works in these instances is that these kids belong to other people. When I'm dealing with other people's kids, I am well within my rights to pawn off the little yard ape onto their parents when the kids become a threat to my temper and my sanity. And I don't mind baby-sitting (especially if I'm being paid for my efforts). I just don't want any little terrors of my own.
I'm not disparaging people who have small kids. If there were no small kids, there would never be any big kids which means there would never be any adult kids. I am very happy that my parents, at least, decided to have kids. I'm looking forward to my siblings someday having kids (if they so choose) and my becoming an aunt. I actually want to the "Fun Aunt." But I'd go completely nuts if I had a child and I couldn't get away from it.
UPDATE: Item #6 on this list pretty much sums it up.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
TROLL IN THE DUNGEONS!
It was exactly nine years ago today that "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released in theaters! I know - it freaked me out when I realized it. I was still in high school, for crap's sake! Mom let me skip school that day (she called the school and told them I had an appointment... which is partially true, if you think about it) and I camped out at the movie theater for tickets. The newspaper even came down and took pictures of people waiting. I had been reading "Prisoner of Azkaban" and the newspaper folks got a shot of me reading my book, which ended up on the front page of the paper. To this day, it remains one of the best photos ever taken of me (and I'm looking down ^_^ I probably have a copy of it in shoebox somewhere). Seems fitting, seeing as how this Friday, part one of "Deathly Hallows" is coming out.
But nine years ago today - the SQUEE was unleashed. Enjoy some nostalgia:
(Everybody's thinking it, I'm just going to say it: HOLY CRAP THEY'RE SO LITTLE!!!)
But nine years ago today - the SQUEE was unleashed. Enjoy some nostalgia:
(Everybody's thinking it, I'm just going to say it: HOLY CRAP THEY'RE SO LITTLE!!!)
Sunday, November 14, 2010
In Which I Make Humble Apologies
To my loyal readership who has come to expect I make NFL picks from week to week. Yeah, well, I dropped the ball this week (very much like the Utes have done for the last two weeks. Feh). In my defense, I had my class weekend which included a huge presentation and much driving between home and Salt Lake. Still not a good enough excuse, but I offer it to my followers (all four of you).
This might not make up for it, but this is my blog and I post what I like. The following clip made me SQUEE nine ways to Sunday. Even though I don't watch "Leverage," it makes my heart happy to see American shows do this sort of thing:
(Personally, I would have rather been Mrs. Peter Davison, but only because I skipped ahead and started watching episodes from the Fifth Doctor's tenure - to the joy of my fangirly senses. Maybe once I go back and watch episodes with the Fourth Doctor, I will gladly jump on that Tom Baker bandwagon - but I do love Sarah Jane ^_^)
Oh, and this one made me giggle too. I have been known to catch NCIS from time to time:
This might not make up for it, but this is my blog and I post what I like. The following clip made me SQUEE nine ways to Sunday. Even though I don't watch "Leverage," it makes my heart happy to see American shows do this sort of thing:
(Personally, I would have rather been Mrs. Peter Davison, but only because I skipped ahead and started watching episodes from the Fifth Doctor's tenure - to the joy of my fangirly senses. Maybe once I go back and watch episodes with the Fourth Doctor, I will gladly jump on that Tom Baker bandwagon - but I do love Sarah Jane ^_^)
Oh, and this one made me giggle too. I have been known to catch NCIS from time to time:
Thursday, November 11, 2010
In a Particularly Good Mood
The kids are off getting their Veterans Day program and luncheon ready, which means there must be drama. Happily, I know nothing about it, so I can stay out of the line of fire. They have some assignments due today in the classes I'm over, so I must soon enter the fray to remind them of this. Pray for me.
On a happier "Doctor Who" related note, I decided that I had been getting bogged down in the First Doctor's episodes (after Vicki leaves, it just isn't worth plodding through the rest), so I took some advice from fellow Whovians and started skipping around to find something I like. I watched "The Mind Robber" from the Second Doctor's tenure, which was very good. Then I started in on "The Invasion," which started out okay but then I got bored of it (but I have to say - I love Jamie and Zoe both and I will go back and find other stories with them in it).
In the meantime, I've been introducing my younger cousins to the new series and we just finished Series 3. I included "Time Crash," which is the Children in Need short from the end of that Series (and one of my absolute favorite "episodes" - never mind the fact that it's less than 10 minutes long. Hey, I count it). The kids wanted to know (and I wanted to show them) who that "old Doctor" was - the guy in the beige coat with the celery on his lapel. I've explained about regeneration and the classic series before... but then I got the idea to show them "The Five Doctors," which I have seen before - more or less on accident - but I loved it. After I watched "Time Crash" and "The Five Doctors" with the kids, I was inspired to find episodes featuring Peter Davison as the Doctor because I think he was simply delightful in the DW stories I have seen.
So, last night, I started at the beginning with "Castovalva" and I stinking loved it! My self-diagnosed ADD kicked in only when the Doctor was off working through his regeneration and I had to push through the stuff with Nyssa and Tegan. But I really, really love the Fifth Doctor! The segment where he's unraveling that ridiculously long scarf and trying to find the Zero Room was so funny - and that he couldn't remember his companions names. I just love the goofy characterization of the Doctor (probably why I got bored of the First Doctor - he took himself way too seriously). I can't wait to see more of Five's stories. I think I'll work my way through the Fifth Doctor and then go back for the Fourth Doctor since that's the one everyone seems to love, but I really don't have much motivation for his episodes quite yet (and I hear mutinous mutters of "Blasphemy!" across the Whoniverse).
And I have class this weekend, which I'm excited for but also a little nervous. We have group presentations due this weekend, which I'm happy about becausethe lectures in this class are boring as hell I like hearing what my classmates have been working on and what their take is on the subject material. And I made up our PowerPoint (and some of you know how I am with PowerPoint), which is stinking fun. I made a video to go with the project and it's purely original material (with the exception of the background music because - let's face it - I am totally not a musician. I just know what I like).
Must dash!
On a happier "Doctor Who" related note, I decided that I had been getting bogged down in the First Doctor's episodes (after Vicki leaves, it just isn't worth plodding through the rest), so I took some advice from fellow Whovians and started skipping around to find something I like. I watched "The Mind Robber" from the Second Doctor's tenure, which was very good. Then I started in on "The Invasion," which started out okay but then I got bored of it (but I have to say - I love Jamie and Zoe both and I will go back and find other stories with them in it).
In the meantime, I've been introducing my younger cousins to the new series and we just finished Series 3. I included "Time Crash," which is the Children in Need short from the end of that Series (and one of my absolute favorite "episodes" - never mind the fact that it's less than 10 minutes long. Hey, I count it). The kids wanted to know (and I wanted to show them) who that "old Doctor" was - the guy in the beige coat with the celery on his lapel. I've explained about regeneration and the classic series before... but then I got the idea to show them "The Five Doctors," which I have seen before - more or less on accident - but I loved it. After I watched "Time Crash" and "The Five Doctors" with the kids, I was inspired to find episodes featuring Peter Davison as the Doctor because I think he was simply delightful in the DW stories I have seen.
So, last night, I started at the beginning with "Castovalva" and I stinking loved it! My self-diagnosed ADD kicked in only when the Doctor was off working through his regeneration and I had to push through the stuff with Nyssa and Tegan. But I really, really love the Fifth Doctor! The segment where he's unraveling that ridiculously long scarf and trying to find the Zero Room was so funny - and that he couldn't remember his companions names. I just love the goofy characterization of the Doctor (probably why I got bored of the First Doctor - he took himself way too seriously). I can't wait to see more of Five's stories. I think I'll work my way through the Fifth Doctor and then go back for the Fourth Doctor since that's the one everyone seems to love, but I really don't have much motivation for his episodes quite yet (and I hear mutinous mutters of "Blasphemy!" across the Whoniverse).
And I have class this weekend, which I'm excited for but also a little nervous. We have group presentations due this weekend, which I'm happy about because
Must dash!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Saving All My Luck - NFL Week 9
I'm maintaining that the Utes lost today because I'm saving my luck for tomorrow's NFL matchups (though I don't think I have any control over when my luck gets used. I'd rather have used it today - that was just pathetic...)
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta - The Bucs are picking up steam and doing better, but Atlanta's kind of been a middle-of-the-road-they-don't-exactly-suck-but-they-aren't-fantastic-either team. Oh... I guess I'll pick Tampa Bay.
Miami @ Baltimore - Ravens
Chicago @ Buffalo - Bears
New Orleans @ Carolina - After last week's drubbing of the Steelers, have the Saints returned to being awesome? Even if they haven't, there's no way in you-know-where they're going to get beat by the Panthers (now watch - it'll happen). Pick the Saints.
New England @ Cleveland - New England
New York Jets @ Detroit - Jets
San Diego @ Houston - Um... the Chargers kind of stink this year and the Texans are good (she admitted grudgingly), so Houston.
Arizona @ Minnesota - Perennial Suckage (minus that one really weird year they went to the Super Bowl) versus "Days of Our Lives" in Syndication - well, I hate max hall on principle and I only mildly dislike Brett Favre right now, so I will go with the Vikings.
New York Giants @ Seattle - Giants
Kansas City @ Oakland - This is interesting. Prior to this year, both teams were bottom-of-the-barrel dwellers whose glory days seemed behind them. But now, they've both picked it up and are fun to watch. I'm not saying Chiefs and Raiders fans should book their hotel rooms in Arlington, but still. Hm... Well, my family's cheered for the Raiders for a long time, so I'm going to throw my hat in for the Raiders.
Indianapolis @ Philadelphia - After all these weeks, would there be any question of my pick? Colts.
Dallas @ Green Bay - I think NBC is wishing flex scheduling had already started because these Sunday Night Football games are turning into stinkers. Green Bay.
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati - Steelers.
Next week, I'll have to start making picks on Wednesday because Thursday Night Football is starting up. Just so ya know.
And as a matter of interest, my record last week was a pitiful 7-6 (at least I'm over the .500 mark). My overall record is 53-34. It's a good thing I didn't have money on this venture.
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta - The Bucs are picking up steam and doing better, but Atlanta's kind of been a middle-of-the-road-they-don't-exactly-suck-but-they-aren't-fantastic-either team. Oh... I guess I'll pick Tampa Bay.
Miami @ Baltimore - Ravens
Chicago @ Buffalo - Bears
New Orleans @ Carolina - After last week's drubbing of the Steelers, have the Saints returned to being awesome? Even if they haven't, there's no way in you-know-where they're going to get beat by the Panthers (now watch - it'll happen). Pick the Saints.
New England @ Cleveland - New England
New York Jets @ Detroit - Jets
San Diego @ Houston - Um... the Chargers kind of stink this year and the Texans are good (she admitted grudgingly), so Houston.
Arizona @ Minnesota - Perennial Suckage (minus that one really weird year they went to the Super Bowl) versus "Days of Our Lives" in Syndication - well, I hate max hall on principle and I only mildly dislike Brett Favre right now, so I will go with the Vikings.
New York Giants @ Seattle - Giants
Kansas City @ Oakland - This is interesting. Prior to this year, both teams were bottom-of-the-barrel dwellers whose glory days seemed behind them. But now, they've both picked it up and are fun to watch. I'm not saying Chiefs and Raiders fans should book their hotel rooms in Arlington, but still. Hm... Well, my family's cheered for the Raiders for a long time, so I'm going to throw my hat in for the Raiders.
Indianapolis @ Philadelphia - After all these weeks, would there be any question of my pick? Colts.
Dallas @ Green Bay - I think NBC is wishing flex scheduling had already started because these Sunday Night Football games are turning into stinkers. Green Bay.
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati - Steelers.
Next week, I'll have to start making picks on Wednesday because Thursday Night Football is starting up. Just so ya know.
And as a matter of interest, my record last week was a pitiful 7-6 (at least I'm over the .500 mark). My overall record is 53-34. It's a good thing I didn't have money on this venture.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Utah-byu - Analysis of a Rivalry
Just got my weekly issue of Sports Illustrated, which brings mucho happiness to a Friday so marked with miscues and pessimism (beginning with a power blip that rendered my alarm clock impotent and put me twenty minutes late for work). The cover was all about San Francisco winning the World Series, which I don't care too much about that, but I flip through each issue anyway and this week, I was glad I did.
In the middle of World Series coverage and football analysts scratching their heads over the weirdness that is the 2010 NFL season, there was a very nice and very comprehensive (for being a filler) article about Kyle Whittingham and the #5 ranked Utes, who are set to take on the #3 ranked TCU this Saturday. Now, for all the hoopla and attention Boise State and TCU have gathered, you'd think they were the only non-AQ teams with the BCS in their sights. But Utah's right up there with 'em and it's fantastic. I can even forgive the lack of attention the media has given Utah lately (Imma lookin' at you, ESPN BCS Countdown - every week I've watched them make predictions of who will be ranked, they give Boise and TCU spots, but never Utah).
(And Heaven Be Praised that this was not the cover story. I've endured waaaay too many SI cover jinxes for my liking).
Here is a link to the article. Read that first, then come back for my analysis.
First, it talks about how Coach Whittingham was offered head coaching jobs at both BYU and Utah and he chose Utah despite having played for BYU and having family in the Provo area. Then, the article goes on to talk about Utah being ranked and the TCU matchup this weekend and Utah's been in bowl games before and we scraped by Air Force (but they've always been a pain to play)... and here's where it get interesting - quoting from the article now:
"The BYU-Utah rivalry... is often described as a clash between church and state: the devoutly Mormon Cougars versus the secular Utes. (Certainly there are plenty of BYU fans who choose to see it that way.) The fact is, roughly half the players on Utah's roster are LDS." (emphasis added)
Wow. Speaking from a standpoint of an LDS Ute fan, this is huge. Speaking as an LDS Ute fan who went on a mission to the land of college football blue bloods (Florida), it's about stinking time that a proverbial outsider figured this out. Just because you're LDS doesn't automatically mean you must attend and cheer for byu (my blog's style guide dictates that byu be put in lowercase unless it's being quoted because capital letters are reserved for classy people. Like Jesus).
I get that, for LDS people outside of Utah, attending byu is a chance to go to college somewhere that you don't have to answer to every Baptist Bob and Pastor Pete that thinks you're on a one-way street to hell and your best buds with Beelzebub himself because you supposedly don't believe the "same Bible" and the "same Jesus" that they do (To be fair to my non-LDS Christian brothers and sisters - this doesn't happen that often, but it does happen - it is not my intent to stir whatever "Mormon vs. Non-Mormon" pot you may have here). I can respect people going to byu for those reasons (after 18 months in the Bible Belt, heaven knows I respect that). When you finally have the choice of which school to attend, you should be able to make that choice as you see fit.
However - that being said - I also like what Murphy says here (again, quoting from the article, which also quotes current Utah players):
"[T]his is the attitude that drives Utes (LDS Utes in particular) around the bend - is the belief that the Cougars and their fans are literally holier than thou...
"But wait a minute. If Utah's coach is Mormon, if half his players are Mormon, doesn't that give them common cause with their rivals? Wouldn't that turn down the heat on the rivalry? 'It cranks it up, actually,' says [Utah senior center Zane] Taylor, who isn't Mormon. Speaking for his LDS teammates, he explains that 'it offends them that someone would think they're a better Mormon just because they go to a religious school.' "
When all is said and done, though, this is the best line out of all of it - by Shaky Smithson, who I've come to love after that initial scare during the Pitt game: "That's how you want a rivalry - you want it nasty."
And then there's my dad's take on it - "If the your rival is named after the same guy that founded your school and you were founded first - that's a rivalry!"
So, there you go - for all you people that complain how mean, nasty and un-Christlike we football fans are - the Utah-byu rivalry in a nutshell.
And it's not even Rivalry Week - that's what gets me here. The Utes have to take care of TCU tomorrow. And then Notre Dame, then San Diego and then we can get to the business of eating byu's lunch.
Anyway - here's to a Utah victory tomorrow!!
(pretty, pretty please with sugar on top? I've been a good girl!!)
In the middle of World Series coverage and football analysts scratching their heads over the weirdness that is the 2010 NFL season, there was a very nice and very comprehensive (for being a filler) article about Kyle Whittingham and the #5 ranked Utes, who are set to take on the #3 ranked TCU this Saturday. Now, for all the hoopla and attention Boise State and TCU have gathered, you'd think they were the only non-AQ teams with the BCS in their sights. But Utah's right up there with 'em and it's fantastic. I can even forgive the lack of attention the media has given Utah lately (Imma lookin' at you, ESPN BCS Countdown - every week I've watched them make predictions of who will be ranked, they give Boise and TCU spots, but never Utah).
(And Heaven Be Praised that this was not the cover story. I've endured waaaay too many SI cover jinxes for my liking).
Here is a link to the article. Read that first, then come back for my analysis.
First, it talks about how Coach Whittingham was offered head coaching jobs at both BYU and Utah and he chose Utah despite having played for BYU and having family in the Provo area. Then, the article goes on to talk about Utah being ranked and the TCU matchup this weekend and Utah's been in bowl games before and we scraped by Air Force (but they've always been a pain to play)... and here's where it get interesting - quoting from the article now:
"The BYU-Utah rivalry... is often described as a clash between church and state: the devoutly Mormon Cougars versus the secular Utes. (Certainly there are plenty of BYU fans who choose to see it that way.) The fact is, roughly half the players on Utah's roster are LDS." (emphasis added)
Wow. Speaking from a standpoint of an LDS Ute fan, this is huge. Speaking as an LDS Ute fan who went on a mission to the land of college football blue bloods (Florida), it's about stinking time that a proverbial outsider figured this out. Just because you're LDS doesn't automatically mean you must attend and cheer for byu (my blog's style guide dictates that byu be put in lowercase unless it's being quoted because capital letters are reserved for classy people. Like Jesus).
I get that, for LDS people outside of Utah, attending byu is a chance to go to college somewhere that you don't have to answer to every Baptist Bob and Pastor Pete that thinks you're on a one-way street to hell and your best buds with Beelzebub himself because you supposedly don't believe the "same Bible" and the "same Jesus" that they do (To be fair to my non-LDS Christian brothers and sisters - this doesn't happen that often, but it does happen - it is not my intent to stir whatever "Mormon vs. Non-Mormon" pot you may have here). I can respect people going to byu for those reasons (after 18 months in the Bible Belt, heaven knows I respect that). When you finally have the choice of which school to attend, you should be able to make that choice as you see fit.
However - that being said - I also like what Murphy says here (again, quoting from the article, which also quotes current Utah players):
"[T]his is the attitude that drives Utes (LDS Utes in particular) around the bend - is the belief that the Cougars and their fans are literally holier than thou...
"But wait a minute. If Utah's coach is Mormon, if half his players are Mormon, doesn't that give them common cause with their rivals? Wouldn't that turn down the heat on the rivalry? 'It cranks it up, actually,' says [Utah senior center Zane] Taylor, who isn't Mormon. Speaking for his LDS teammates, he explains that 'it offends them that someone would think they're a better Mormon just because they go to a religious school.' "
When all is said and done, though, this is the best line out of all of it - by Shaky Smithson, who I've come to love after that initial scare during the Pitt game: "That's how you want a rivalry - you want it nasty."
And then there's my dad's take on it - "If the your rival is named after the same guy that founded your school and you were founded first - that's a rivalry!"
So, there you go - for all you people that complain how mean, nasty and un-Christlike we football fans are - the Utah-byu rivalry in a nutshell.
And it's not even Rivalry Week - that's what gets me here. The Utes have to take care of TCU tomorrow. And then Notre Dame, then San Diego and then we can get to the business of eating byu's lunch.
Anyway - here's to a Utah victory tomorrow!!
(pretty, pretty please with sugar on top? I've been a good girl!!)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Second Term Kickoff
Have I mentioned I hate spam? Both the mystery meat and the crap that floods my inbox. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only kind of comments I get on this blog. So, if you do read this blog, would it kill you to leave an insightful comment? It would do wonders for my ego self-esteem.
Second term has begun and I love that my students are realizing that we only have a month in which to practice our play (a month, moreover, that loses half a week because of Thanksgiving break). So, we've decided to take a half hour every day out of our third period class and quickly practice a scene or work out something with sets.
Also, in regards to Monday Night Football last night - I love how everyone's ready to bail off the Colts bandwagon at the first sign of "trouble" (like, losing to the Texans in week 1) and say how they're washed up and they have all these injuries and Peyton Manning isn't that great... and then the Colts still win in prime time. Thus proving that all the analysts and pundits really have no idea what they're talking about. The most entertaining thing to do: DVR any of the Sunday NFL pregame shows and watch their predictions and picks after the games have been played, just to see how totally off-base they were (and to further prove that nothing in professional football is ever settled - even when you know the Raiders and the Lions are going to lose... sometimes, they still win). This could be an example of the pot calling the kettle black, of course, seeing as how I make my own picks every week on this very blog - but I can't resist a little ribbing of the guys in the studios (probably why I enjoy watching Frank Caliendo's picks on Fox every week).
Oh, and it's Election Day today. Rather than launch into my own brand of punditry (which would take all day and just raise my blood pressure and I actually have a project due tonight that I need to work on), I'm going to just say this: payback's a bitch.
Now sit back and watch the drama unfold (pass the popcorn, please).
Second term has begun and I love that my students are realizing that we only have a month in which to practice our play (a month, moreover, that loses half a week because of Thanksgiving break). So, we've decided to take a half hour every day out of our third period class and quickly practice a scene or work out something with sets.
Also, in regards to Monday Night Football last night - I love how everyone's ready to bail off the Colts bandwagon at the first sign of "trouble" (like, losing to the Texans in week 1) and say how they're washed up and they have all these injuries and Peyton Manning isn't that great... and then the Colts still win in prime time. Thus proving that all the analysts and pundits really have no idea what they're talking about. The most entertaining thing to do: DVR any of the Sunday NFL pregame shows and watch their predictions and picks after the games have been played, just to see how totally off-base they were (and to further prove that nothing in professional football is ever settled - even when you know the Raiders and the Lions are going to lose... sometimes, they still win). This could be an example of the pot calling the kettle black, of course, seeing as how I make my own picks every week on this very blog - but I can't resist a little ribbing of the guys in the studios (probably why I enjoy watching Frank Caliendo's picks on Fox every week).
Oh, and it's Election Day today. Rather than launch into my own brand of punditry (which would take all day and just raise my blood pressure and I actually have a project due tonight that I need to work on), I'm going to just say this: payback's a bitch.
Now sit back and watch the drama unfold (pass the popcorn, please).
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