What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Just a little something to get the New Year's weekend going (h/t Evil Blogger Lady) -



I knew Zooey Deschanel could sing, but Joseph Gordon-Leavitt? Wow. (I guess I just don't pay much attention to that area of pop culture)

God Bless Theater People!

On Friday (or maybe Thursday - I get my days mixed up sometimes), this little gem was spotted floating around Facebook and elsewhere.  And if it doesn't make you laugh and/or cry, you have no soul.



From what I've been able to glean from the comments, Amy and Isaac are both in theater (Amy is a choreographer and Isaac's currently in a production of something-or-another) and that's how they met.  So OF COURSE, he's going to propose in full-on Broadway fashion!  This is totally what I love about theater people - it's no-holds-barred, over-the-top fun - not just for the people putting on the production, but for the people watching.

(Also, Bruno Mars tweeted out about the video. Great stuff!)

A few extra thoughts -

- I'm pretty sure the lyrics isn't "dancing Jews," but those guys totally cracked me up.  Them and the marching band.

- Speaking of the marching band, I almost lost it when the people in band uniforms came in.  The only thing that would have made this any better is if they had instruments and were playing the song.  But this loses nothing by that omission.

- Loved the little kid in the Oregon Ducks jersey with the Dancing Jews.  Also, the older couple with the flowers. Too cute.  There was nothing about this that I didn't completely love.

- The girl in the front with the red dress?  I want that dress.

- And this just may be my own preferences, but Amy is one lucky girl.  Not just because her fiance staged this whole production for her (and props to him for doing so), but he is quite the good-lookin' guy (it could be the suit, but - damn!)

- Finally - just want to add my congrats to Amy and Isaac and all the best wishes.  Thanks for sharing your special moment with all of us - it certainly made my week!

And Now - Some General Silliness

Yes, yes, I haven't been writing.  Haven't had much to blog about (though I have been writing - top secret stuff, very "hush hush").  But since today (this whole week, really) has been sort of "bleah," I went searching for something to cheer me up.  And, what do you know, the incomparable Babelcolour has delivered.  For those not in the know, Babelcolour is a guy on YouTube who does Doctor Who videos and he's quite good at it (to say the least - holy cow, Tribute to Every Doctor Who Story!)  I had not seen "Doolally Who," though, until today.  And it's very funny and silly and just what I needed. And thusly, I share it with you all.



(You know what gave me the most joy? Peter Davison's little cheeky grin about a minute into the video. Definitely from the blooper reel, but frankly I don't care where it came from.)

Show Me Something Real

I'm in a posting mood today.  This probably won't have anything substantial to it and I reserve my right as a blogger to have posts where I just ramble.

First off - this is funny.  Even for people like myself that know almost nothing about Star Trek (Captain Kirk, Captain Picard, Spock, Data, the Enterprise, The Final Frontier... yup, that's about all of it) will enjoy the joke.



Today I ended up working with one of my classmates and I am very grateful I did.  I am having the hardest time with this capstone thing for my end-of-master's-program wrap-up.  The professor keeps harping about applying theory to what we've learned in this program.  Only problem is that we talked about theory in the first semester and then it was never heard from again.  And with good reason - in the real world, there's no such thing as "theory." Either something works or it doesn't and no amount of academic bull-s****ing will make it work (just ask the Soviet Union. Oh wait...).  In my entire academic career, I have treated theory as something nice to look at and something that makes you feel important when someone else says it but when I say it, I sound like a pretentious little snot-nosed student that no one will ever take seriously.  So, instead of spouting off a bunch of researchers' BS, I just call it like I see it (using my own terms and my own experiences) and it works out just fine.  People know I'm being honest and real with them and they know that I have internalized what I was supposed to learn rather than who supposedly thought of it first.

So back to work tonight - my classmate said that he really didn't understand the whole thing about "theory" because we never covered it (which is good to hear because I was freaking out when I heard we were all of a sudden expected to know what it was) and besides, this is just a one-credit class and once it's over, we've passed everything and we can go get awesome librarian jobs and do something real in the world.

(hey, I like that term - "do something real."  Sound much more proactive that just sitting around "doing good." Because "real" and "good" are not mutually exclusive.  Hmm... I'm going to hang on to that one for a while).

Anyway, theory be damned - I know I learned something significant (and real) in this program.  Whether or not I can spout off a bunch of pretentious, pipe-smoking professors who wrote papers about the concepts is another story (and, really, I'm never going to have a five-year-old ask me who came up with the theory of library usage.  More likely they'll be asking for an Elephant and Piggie book).

In Need of a Pick-Me-Up

I'm going to be "bleah" for a minute here, so if you'd like to skip ahead to the video, feel free.

Had a really weird day.  First of all, last weekend, our neighbors' son drowned at Flaming Gorge Reservoir and that's been tough on all involved.  Today, I found out when and where the funeral's going to be.  I fully plan on attending because that's the best way for me to deal with the grief.  But I'm always apprehensive at funerals.  This one's going to be especially rough because I went to high school with this kid and he graduated with my sister and his parents live down the road from my parents.  I mean, I'm solid in the knowledge of where he is right now (and I know his family is too) and that's a comfort.  I'm sure that he's having a great time meeting up with his grandparents and other assorted relatives and it's just us who are still here being weepy and teary-eyed about it.  It's natural to grieve, of course, and I would be the last to diminish anyone's feelings of loss.  But I don't deny that I know he's in a place that's a million times better than this life.

So - there's that I'm dealing with.  Plus, just the regular crap that gets piled on in the course of normal life.  The study abroad office decided to be punks and bug us all about getting our paperwork in.  This is the same paperwork we had to wait for three months to get just because some director or ombudsman or some other made-up academic pencil-pusher couldn't be bothered to send to us until three or four days ago.  But now that we have it, they can ride our butts and carp that we don't have our stuff in (which requires two academic references, two passport-sized photograph, a notarized signature and a fecal sample from our firstborn.  Okay - maybe not that last one).  Well, I'm sorry, but you're just going to have to wait.  My life wasn't going to wait for you to get on the ball.

Add to the fact that one of the supervisors at the library I subbed at today was a total pain-in-the-neck.  She kept giving me the stink-eye when I would help a patron at her workstation and check in books where she thought I wasn't supposed to be.  I think she was worried I was after her job or something.  Truth is, I'm not after a full-time library clerk position.  I want a post as an actual librarian - at the information desk.  With a Master's degree and potential to become a manager.  Worry not my sweet little part-time retiree - your pension is safe and secure *pat, pat*

Oy - if you read all that whining, good for you.  This calls for something that is complete light and fluffy and just a bundle of feel-good-ness. And since I had Owl City's "Galaxies" stuck in my head all day - and because Doctor Who just automatically puts me in a good mood - I decided to search for a DW video with that song. And this one is one of the best. Makes me wish I was better at vidding - alas, I'm too cheap to spring for the really good video-making software. So, I will just enjoy some of the stuff other people come up with.

Enough yakking - watch the video!

Happy 25th Episode Traveling the Vortex!

Now that Traveling the Vortex has released their 25th episode, I can post this:


Feedback: Mark II from Wildcat Media on Vimeo.

(Note to Shaun - Nope. They're still just shirts.)

Is It Reasonable to Suppose Anybody Would Be Inside a Cupboard Like That?

I love it when people put New Who music with Old Who.

Verily I Say Unto Thee, It's the Summer Movie Season!

Despite all weather patterns to the contrary (there was frost on my windshield this morning), the big Hollywood movie studios are gearing up for the summer movie season.  Which means comic book hero movies! (yay!) Which also means ItsJustSomeRandomGuy is up to his old hijinks! (double yay!) And thus, I must share his latest creation with my readership (all five of you).

Prepare, mortals, to laugh thy butts off.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Here's wishing everyone a happy and glorious 2011!!

Tomorrow is Christmas - It's Practically Here

Our internet was out all day, which means I am woefully behind on all my internet stuff.  But, it's Christmas Eve and that meant that I actually got presents wrapped among other sundry things.

The cousins and I are caught up and ready for the Doctor Who Christmas Special tomorrow (squee!)  And there's presents and food and family and all that wonderful stuff that comes with the holidays, so this is pretty exciting!

There's not much else I want to say - except for you all to have a Merry Christmas!  And also - to post this video that I have already posted, but I want it up for today and tomorrow -

Yes, Virginia. There is Life West of Redwood Road.

Saw this on Facebook and I had to laugh.  But I wonder - isn't Callao a great candidate for the name of a town that no one knows how to pronounce?



When I looked this up on YouTube, there were some Wasatch Front dwellers commenting on how they'd never heard of some of these towns, despite having lived in Utah all their lives.

And they say we small-town folk are sheltered *shakes head* Poor, deprived souls....

Oh... Duh...

In the midst of my tired-and-snarky ramblings, I forgot that I actually had something relevant to update with and have had for a long time (I imagine that feeling is similar to the feeling one gets after just sobering up.  But I can't say with any kind of certainty, having never been drunk and never planning on it).

I was scrolling through here and realized I had yet to post this video here!  And it's my favorite that I've made (so far).  It's "Falling for the First Time" by Barenaked Ladies and it's centered on Donna Noble, the Doctor's companion in Series 4.  Watch the video, then the description and my thoughts on Donna are below that.

(Goes without saying that there are spoilers)



The first time I saw "The Runaway Bride," Donna just grated on me.  Maybe it was because I was still in mourning for Rose (having become quite the Doctor/Rose shipper - honestly, what's fandom without a good ship?), but Donna's abruptness was such a stark contrast to Rose's understanding of the Doctor that I couldn't stand the woman (and who in the world would not want to travel with the Doctor?  I credit the writing skills of RTD and company for creating such a well-rounded cast of characters - all with their own personalities and motivations.  I can only hope that readers will someday say the same of me.  But I digress).

Then Series 4 came along and there was "Partners in Crime."  Holy crap-on-a-cracker - I began to LOVE Donna!  Maybe it was seeing her home life - that her mother didn't believe in her and she didn't even believe in herself - possibly seeing that her failure to get married compounded the list of perceived failure she'd already experienced (still living at home, being a temp) - no wonder she sought out the Doctor.  There was a promise of adventure, yes, but also the promise of someone who would see past Donna's faults and find the gem of a person she really was.  It didn't need to be a romantic relationship, per se (shoot, the Doctor later calls Donna his best friend) - just the fact that Donna was validated in her life's decisions, and by someone who's opinion mattered (Of course, Wilf had a high opinion of Donna, but it, was one of those things like "Oh, that's just my crazy grandpa - he loves me, but he has to say things like that.")

The series' crowning moment is the DoctorDonna - all of a sudden, Donna single-handedly saves the entire universe, purely by accident (or so it seems - was Dalek Caan orchestrating some of that?  That's another discussion for another day).  The best line of the entire finale (maybe even all of Series 4) is "Did I ever tell you - best temp in Chiswick?" rivaled only by Doctor 10.2's assessment of the reason for Donna's sarcastic nature: "I can see, Donna - what you're thinking.  All that attitude - all that lip - 'cause all this time - you think you're not worth it.  Shouting at the world 'cause no one's listening.  Well, why should they?"

Eventually, Donna gets to see what the Doctor sees in her and it likely saves her life.  Not in the sense of being hauled back from the edge of a cliff, but it gives her something to look forward to - just like with all the Doctor's companions. Of course, to have that growth and experience taken away from her is tragic - it's terrible.  And I love, love, LOVE the Doctor's parting words to Sylvia: "Maybe you should tell her that once in a while" (I think it's the tone of his delivery that I love more than anything - like, how dare anyone suggest Donna is less than she is).

Of all the companions I've seen, I think I relate to Donna the most.  And maybe we've all felt that way sometimes - that we have to be funny or smart-alecky or sarcastic in order to compensate for our shortfalls.  Maybe we haven't gone as far as we know we should, even if we've come far enough.  And it takes a friend like the Doctor to point out those things.

Personally, I don't think she ever completely forgot her time with the Doctor.  Somewhere in her mind, her subconscious reminds her of the important things she learned.  Maybe she doesn't recall the Ood or the Sontarans or the Daleks, but she remembers someone who brought out the best in her.  I have no canon proof to back it up - just my own thoughts on the matter.

So anyway, this video is my salute to all the wonderful, fun, quirky, inspiring things about Donna Noble.  And this song is one of my favorites from one of my favorite bands and it works so well with Donna.  The funny thing is that I originally was going to use the BNL song "It's All Been Done," but I ended up wanting something a bit more meaningful and "Falling for the First Time" was next on the list.  Listen to the lyrics and you'll see why I switched to this song.  It really illustrates the way her personality and outlook on life evolve throughout the series.  And the tune is fun and catchy - you can't be too depressed around Donna (in spite of what ultimately happens to her).  I deliberately did not include any Donna clips from "The End of Time" because that's not what I wanted to focus on.  What can I say?  It's Donna!  Just watch it and have fun.

(I have another video I was going to post here, but this ended up being so long that I'll post it another time).

WEEEE!!!

I don't have Geico insurance, but I've gotten a kick out of their commercials over the years.  However, I was beginning to feel that the style of "Can Geico save you money? Does [insert randomly funny and obvious question here]?" was losing its touch (speed pitching snowballs?  Are you kidding me?)  Until today when this little gem sent me on the floor laughing:



It's a taste of the Super Bowl in the off-season.  I love it when that happens.

The Dog Days of Summer Blues

It's that time of year - when it's unbearably hot, you've done everything you wanted with your summer vacation, you are sick of being in the house... and you still have two weeks of vacation left to kill (hopefully before it kills you).

(Side Note: I am giggling over the the little "Happy Birthday Mr. President" the HillBuzz guys gave to Teh One.  Actually, it was inspired by the state of Missouri, but all the same - I love those Boyz ^_^)

While I have officially been hired by the Tintic School District as a Teacher's Aide at West Desert High School, my job doesn't start for two weeks (though I'm hoping I'll be called in for some kind of "Start-of-School-Year" meeting soon - just to get my bearings).  The youth are all at youth conference - doing the trek reenactment thing (personally, I'm glad I never had that "opportunity."  I'm sure it's spiritual and an uplifting experience, but Girls' Camp was enough for this little indoor geek every summer thankyouverymuch.  So, nothing is going to happen in the foreseeable future ("foreseeable" here meaning "tomorrow").

In the meantime, while I am battling boredom and the crazed leftists on Facebook (in my own passive-aggressive way), I have found some small fun joys thanks to YouTube.  And yes, I have movies/shows that I am embarrassed to admit I have watched (this girl doesn't outline any of mine - but I did cringe at the Captain Planet clip on AIDS.  Holy Cheese!) -

One Year Ago...

(x-posted to LiveJournal)

A few days ago, I realized this week I would be celebrating one year since I've been home from my mission.  A year ago today I was in Orange Park, Florida having my exit interview with my mission president with a handful of other missionaries also heading home.  It's so weird that it's only been a year - I feel like I've done so much since then.

Also - yesterday I went with my mom and my sisters to get some stuff for youth conference and I met up with my last mission companion, who is now working and going to school in Provo (I forgive her for that - she's the biggest sweetheart in the whole world and I was very blessed to have her as my last companion).  It was so fun to reminisce about mission stuff and to hear how things went after I came home.

I'm also happy to report that the new mission president is going to keep the mission blog going - my mission president and his wife went home at the beginning of the month and I was afraid that the mission blog was going to go the way of the dodo (different mission presidents do different things).  I just like being able to see what's going on with all those wonderful people I got to serve around.  I recognize the missionaries less and less, but I know the places.  It's like when you've been out of high school or college for years and years, but you still get happy and squee-ful when you hear that their teams are having success (I can apply sports to pretty much anything).

Shifting gears for a moment - I bought my one textbook for fall semester and it was $30 and I am happy.  The syllabus for my other class doesn't list a textbook, so I'm thinking I'll only have one book to buy.  That makes me happy because I'm going to have some excess money coming from my student loan and I can use that for a new laptop and for travel expenses (now I'm waiting to hear back from the high school if I have that aide job - which, it looked good as of a week or so ago.  And I wouldn't have to move).

Beyond that - I have one more project to turn in that's due in two weeks.  It's an annotated bibliography, which feels more like busywork.  I'm trying to find one more article to annotate, but it's getting harder to find what I need for my topic.  Something will turn up, though.  I'm having too good a day to have that go down the tubes.

Oh - for something completely unrelated (but cool nonetheless), here's a video!  I found this when I was lurking about on HillBuzz.org's comment threads and I thought it was pretty good.  I've gotten to where I like to share fun videos on my blog because - well, because I can.  I feel like I have a backlog of stuff to share - I might do some kind of 30-day meme where I post a video each day that I find entertaining.  Hmm... I'll have to think about that.