18 posts tagged “me”

So there's a lot of really great stuff happening to me right now and it is taking up more and more of my time.

I find that I don't really want to blog that much about movies and TV shows and stuff like that -- at least not to the degree that I have in the past. I'm sure I'll still update here and there -- let's face it, I can't foresee the day I'll ever get tired of talking about Twilight -- but looking at the amount I posted in the past months and especially last year, yeah, I just don't think I'll be able to devote that much time to the inner workings of Damon Lindelof's brain. (Not that that wouldn't be an utterly fascinating post.)

Anyway, I'm excited about what's going on and what that will develop into and have actually been blogging about it a lot. Just on my other blog. The one that is entirely dedicated to these particular events and basically who I am as a person and not my hobbies, as this one more or less is.

Who thought I'd ever reach the day where I'm interested in learning more about John Piper than John Krasinski?

Yeah, me neither.

Since I started blogging, I've been pretty much obsessed with how my blog is received. Do I come across as witty? Am I boring? Do people like reading what I have to say? Should I have written about this? Should I stop talking about that? Am I getting enough comments?

Yeah.

It's kind of exhausting.

So I've decided: I don't care anymore whether I get 32 comments (highly unlikely) or zero comments (most likely) on various posts. I'm going to write about what I want when I want and say things how I want to say them. That's not to say this blog is going to become all serious and focused and even remotely intelligent. I'd still much rather talk about pop culture-related matters than anything else. But at the same time, if I want to throw in something more serious and gasp! controversial, then I'm going to stop second-guessing myself and post it.

If you don't want to read my blog because you don't like my style or my penchant for self-deprecating sarcasm, or because you don't like pop culture, or because you (inexplicably) don't like Kristen Bell or Kristen Stewart or think that Twilight is the best book ever written or that Lost, Veronica Mars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are among the best TV shows ever created, then fine. Whatevs. That's a matter of individual preference.

But if you have a problem with me simply because I'm an evangelical Christian, or because I'm a conservative, or because I have absolutely no problem being outspoken about what I think, perceive and believe, well, I'd say that says a lot more about you than it does me.

And I'm tired of censoring myself so that someone who obviously wouldn't like the real me anyway would, you know, like me.

I think I got about four hours of sleep last night, so these might be interesting, and not in altogether good way, but rather a sleep-deprived, random, scattered way.

Anyway.

1.  I'm watching Regis and Kelly, and they've got this 11-year-old math genius. I'm all about fostering intelligence in one's kids and encouraging advanced education, etc. That's precisely why, if I have kids, I'm going to homeschool them. (Well that, and the fact that I don't want the liberal-choked teacher's unions to warp their brains.) However, I think the parents of kids such as this 11-year-old math whiz are doing them a great disservice by not teaching them social skills. I'm not saying they should be all pop-culturally oriented or whatever. However, they should be able to carry on a freaking conversation and be able to, I don't know, emote. Seriously. This kid was a robot. Jimmy Kimmel (guest-hosting) and Kelly were being friendly and funny and asking him different questions, and he barely responded. Never cracked a smile or really even changed expression. It was kind of pathetic.

2.  I watched Grey's Anatomy last night because I forgot to cancel my Season Pass and honestly, I can't believe that a couple weeks ago, I was absolutely raving about its post-strike return and yet last night was ridiculous and uneven and pandering and did I mention ridiculous? It's pretty sad when a show I used to revere for its characterization has painted normal, sweet, emotionally stable characters like Lexie and Rose as being somehow, I don't know, abnormal or, in Rose's case, almost villainous. Cristina behaved so out of character last night I almost didn't recognize her. Don't get me started on the stupid, unrealistic and insipid Callie-Hahn storyline. The writers ruined what was an awesome storyline -- and Emmy-worthy performance by Elizabeth Reaser -- when they took the Rebecca-Alex story down the  ill-fated soap opera path it's on. I'm so glad Reaser is getting her own show in The Ex List next season, and am even more excited that she'll be playing Esme Cullen in Twilight come December. Steve Betz and I commiserated on the decline of Grey's recently and he made a point that I whole-heartedly agree with: the decline started as soon as the writers started trying to tell the stories of too many characters. Sloane, Callie, the despicable Hahn, even the Chief and Bailey -- they're minor, supporting characters. Frankly, I could care less about their personal lives. Perhaps Steve's best point was that Bailey was always the rock and I loved her unshakable, "at work" mentality and how she was such a stabilizing force for the interns/residents. Now that isn't the case. I don't want to see her fall apart. Anyway, I find I just don't care about this show anymore. At all. And though there are no details forthcoming, if ABC president Steve MacPherson's comments (and the analysis of those comments) are to be believed, Shonda's planning some drastically different directions for the show next season that nobody is all that enthused about. I'm glad to be getting off the train before it derails.

3.  The Office finale was probably the best episode of its season, and maybe the best since "Casino Night." I loved it and didn't even notice that it was an hour -- and I'm one of those who believe super-sized episodes are too much of a good thing. The cold open was HILARIOUS, and my obsession love for Jim Halpert (and John Krasinski) has been heightened. If that is possible. (Is cloning really so immoral if it's used for good -- namely so that Cori and I can both have him?) I wasn't spoiled, but I figured that Jim and Pam wouldn't get engaged, only because we knew it was coming, and so how would it be a surprise or somehow shocking if it happened in the finale? I am so glad the writers have fixed Pam because as I've said before, my love for her has returned to Season 1 and 2 levels and I'm happy to forget Season 3 Pam. Also, how great is Amy Ryan as the very Michael-like Holly? I look forward to seeing more of her next season.

4.  The penultimate episode of Bones was beyond awesome. Best this season, and that's saying a lot, because Bones is one of those shows that -- almost non-traditionally -- has gotten better with each season. I am regularly amazed at how frakking funny David Boreanaz is. His comic timing is unbelievable. And it goes without saying that his chemistry with Emily Deschanel is fantastic. I am so excited that John Francis Daley has been brought on as a regular cast member instead of just recurring. It's so weird to see him all grown up after watching him as the tiny, adorable Sam Weir on Freaks and Geeks, and I now have a ginormous crush on him. He's so very Acronym-y.

5.  The first part of the House finale -- "House's Head" -- was phenomenal. As with Bones, best this season, even topping the awesome post-Super Bowl episode. Hugh Laurie is bound to get yet another Golden Globe and Emmy nomination for this performance alone, and gee, maybe he'll even win the Emmy this time. It's long past due. The man is brilliant. Also, as an unimportant aside, I can never call Thirteen by her real name. The first and last names don't go together. At all. And her first name is...weird. So yeah. Thirteen it is.

6.  No, I haven't watched the first part of Lost's three-part finale, because there's just the little matter of the four previous episodes I still have to watch. And I know, as always, I'm setting myself up to be spoiled -- and I already know a couple of things -- but I'm looking forward to diving face-first into, like, five (what better be) spectacular hours of the best show on television.

7.  If you didn't see my previous post, you must check out the bits of Fringe and Dollhouse that have leaked. They both look awesome -- especially Fringe -- and I expect Fringe alone to replace a woefully derailed Heroes as the sci-fi cult show of the moment. It could possibly reach Lost heights.

8.  And because I wouldn't be my obsessive self without a mention, I thought I'd post a yummy Edward Cullen picture. Because last night in my four hours of sleep, I dreamed that he turned me into a vampire. It was...lovely, and I definitely didn't want to wake up. Would that any boy (especially one this dreamy) look at me like this...

I'm hanging out at home tonight to tackle one of my obsessive-compulsive projects: namely, taking my gobzillion pictures and putting them in photo albums. Now, that might not seem like that big of an ordeal, but because it's me, I'll be taking all the pictures that are currently in the albums out of the albums and then reorganizing all of them.

I think there was something similar featured in an episode of Friends -- seriously, you can just call me Monica Geller.

While picture-organizing, I'll be watching The Messengers (yes, finally) and In the Land of Women. I haven't seen the latter in a while, but I've recently been pimping it to Steph -- probably ad nauseum, sorry about that -- and then I found this (awesome) vid set to one of my favorite songs, "Dark Blue" by Orange County piano rock band Jack's Mannequin, and so I need to watch it.

For the 123rd time.

I'm trying to see how many consecutive posts with which I can bore people. This might be the third.

Anywho, I'm sure there will be a QotD or whatever this weekend, but I never see them on the new layout, so I rarely answer them anymore.

So here's my question to anyone who feels like commenting: what are your Easter plans?

Mine: church and lunch with my parents, sister, Kailin, Emily, and Eli (and maybe Kevin and Mia), and then steadfastly avoiding yet another (extended) family get-together. Seriously. It's hard for me to be all cheerful and smiley to certain relatives who talk about me behind my back and then pretend they don't. I'm hanging out with my sister-in-law and Ava on Thursday, and then I'll see the rest of my immediate family Sunday morning, so that takes care of everyone. (I know, I know, I really need to work on my ability to be fake. But I have a hard time grinning and bearing it.)

So after church and lunch, I shall be taking myself to see 21, which opens on Good Friday. It stars Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey, and I loved Ocean's 11 and Rounders, so obviously I'm a sucker for any casino-style flick. Plus I like Kate Bosworth a lot.

Except, never mind, I just checked and it doesn't open till the 28th. Crap. I suppose I'll see Definitely, Maybe, or maybe Jumper -- I hear Kristen Stewart has a cameo, and I like Rachel Bilson and the kid from Billy Elliot.

I had the TV on yesterday, or the day before, can't remember which, and Oprah was on in the background while I was doing other stuff. Apparently it was a fashion-themed show dealing with both women who dressed too young and those who dressed too old. Her guest "judges" of sorts were Stacy London from What Not to Wear, and then two other annoying people, a man and a woman, I'd never heard of.

The annoying woman was going on and on about how you should never wear tennis shoes or sneakers or whatever anywhere except the gym, and how you should dress stylishly even when you go to the grocery store, blah, blah, blah. There were lots of mentions of heels. And patent leather. And...well, I tuned out.

Guess what? I loathe dressing up. I prefer Old Navy and Target to designers I can't even name. I haven't worn a dress or a skirt since my sister's wedding five years ago. I can't walk in heels to save my life. If I have to dress up, I'll go with Ann Taylor or Banana Republic. I wear capris and button-downs and loafers without socks to work. If I could get away with wearing jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, and Chuck Taylors (or flip-flops) every day, I would. (Fortunately, we attend a church where the men don't wear ties or even jackets, the women rarely if ever wear dressy dresses, and the pastor frequently wears jeans and t-shirts. In fact, last week the entire staff was wearing jeans and those three-quarter-length baseball tees.)

If that makes me unfashionable, well, no big deal. I've never thought I was, and I've never really cared. I prefer classic and comfortable to trendy any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

And if guys don't like me because I don't dress like Jessica Alba, well, their loss, I suppose. (Although I guess I wouldn't mind looking like Jessica Alba.)

This was the phrase most frequently uttered tonight, in varying states of desperation.

That's right, I found a reason not to pack tonight, even though I'm moving in four days. Kevin called and wanted me to come play video games and have dinner, so of course I was there.

First we played Guitar Hero II. OMG. I am so addicted. It was the first time I've ever played, and I did really well. I stayed in the 90% range and I think my highest consecutive note tally was 92. Granted, we stayed on the Easy level, but still. Kevin was impressed, and usually he just laughs at my lack of coordination where those frakking controllers  (and in this case, a guitar) are concerned. He said I would have an easier time of it since I could play the piano, and he was kind of right -- I found that it helped me get the timing down a lot more quickly than I probably otherwise would have.

After a few rounds of GH, he popped in Halo 3. Oh good LORD I am so, so, so insanely bad. So bad. I have never been great at those first-person shooter games at all. I just don't have the coordination to control the movement joystick and the "looking" joystick. Consequentially, I usually end up walking around in circles, or staring at my feet or up in the sky as I run into walls.

We hung out at the practice level for a while (in which I ran into numerous walls, accidentally blew myself up with a spike-launching grenade, and got splattered by Kevin in some random armored vehicle) and then moved into the co-op missions.

Can I just say that my nephew deserves a medal? I have never seen a more patient kid. Because take one look at the post title -- that was me. I was supposed to be following him, but I kept getting lost. If you're not familiar with the game, it's got a split screen, and I couldn't figure out where I was on my screen, and I couldn't even find me on his screen.

We chose the mission where we have to pass through several checkpoints and go down this long highway while battling alien combatants in various scary flying machines with various scary weapons, and Kevin's driving this jeep and instead of hitting the button to shoot, I kept hitting the button that made me jump out of the jeep, and so Kevin would have to circle back and rescue me. Multiple times. I couldn't figure out how to cross this narrow bridge and kept landing on my face in a gully. I could barely climb a ladder.

Once we'd wandered into the middle of this firefight (because Kevin had to come back for me again), he says, only slightly exasperated, "Jenny, you go stand in that tunnel and don't move. Don't do anything. I'll come back and get you when I've killed all these guys."

Talk about humiliating.

He hijacked an enemy armored vehicle and I managed to get myself into the turret, where I had unlimited ammo. I just had to learn how to move my line of sight so that the target on the screen would lock onto the enemy soldiers. I think I managed to kill three and shoot down one flying drone-type thing, and Kevin was so excited, you would've thought I beat the game.

Such a great kid. He told me I'd have to come back on a Saturday, when he'd have plenty of time to "teach" me.

Hi. My name is Jen, and I got royally schooled by an 11-year-old.

A few weeks ago I canceled my Facebook account. At the time, the main reason I did it was because I needed to be less accessible (for reasons a couple of you know) and I'm related to half of my neighborhood/friends list/whatever.

Recently I thought about re-establishing it, because apparently all you need to do is log in again and everything's like it was before, but at the time I canceled FB, I also set up a new email address and deleted the old one. The one that I used to set up FB. The one that FB sends the link to reactivate the account.

Oh well. While I liked SuperPoke! and Oregon Trail and random other applications, I find I don't miss it much, except for maybe Scrabulous. I found I was online way too much as it was. Plus I was never crazy about the lack of anonymity.

I probably won't be back, ever, but I did find the Scrabulous website, where you can still play. Woohoo.

So yeah. My FB has gone the way of my MySpace, LiveJournal and BlogSpot.

I think I'll stick with Vox, especially now that it's organized the way I like it. I've cleaned up my profile, changed the design, tagline, and sidebars, and I've finally gotten my neighborhood and permissions structured.

Who knew you could be anal about your blog?

While I was working on my LOST blog from this morning, I had to find the post where I quoted Damon Lindelof and Matthew Fox. So I hit up my LOST tags and found 50 posts. I started reading through them, and I have to say, some of them -- particularly my more in-depth reviews and the (multiple) posts ridiculing all the LOST whiners -- are pretty good. Apparently not only do I write better than I think I do, but I also apparently understand LOST a lot better than I thought I did. Who knew?

Anyway, that led me to the realization that my blog is much better suited to the purpose for which it was originally intended after all: pop culture and (pretty much) nothing but pop culture. Oh, sure, I'll throw in some other stuff for good measure, but any personal stuff will be suitably tagged and filtered. I've realized over the past couple weeks that not everyone cares to read about my trials and tribulations, and for that, I offer up my profound apologies. I've rearranged my filters accordingly.

There. Now that that's out of the way, some TV musings.

House: I have thoroughly been enjoying this season of House. Do I wonder why Cameron and Chase have practically been relegated to the most far-reaching corners of the background? Occasionally, and usually only because I really do like Cameron and would like to see more of her. Chase (and certainly Foreman), I can do without. I far prefer Taub, Thirteen (for some reason I cannot call her "Remy"), and Kutner. If they could find a way to get Cam more involved, awesome. I hear that Katie and David (Jacobs and Shore, House PTB) still have a penchant for a House/Cameron hook-up, and that pleases me. Jen Morrison and Hugh Laurie have some fantastic chemistry.

The post-Super Bowl episode, "Frozen," was fantastic. I'm normally pretty ambivalent about Mira Sorvino, but I really liked her character. A lot. And I particularly liked how she had House's number from the beginning and how obviously attracted to and intrigued by her he was.

Someone who wrote into Matt Roush's twice-weekly Ask Matt column today complained that House was getting too formulaic. He, as usual, called said whiner beautifully by reminding her that, ahem, House is a formulaic show. Like CSI, Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, etc., the structure of each episode remains largely unchanged. What makes the show so fascinating -- and popular -- is the cast and the writing and, of course, Laurie himself. He, Lisa Edelstein (Cuddy), Morrison, and Olivia Wilde (Thirteen) are on the cover of last week's TV Guide, and Wilde is quoted as saying that when she looks into Laurie's blue eyes, she melts a little bit. If that's not the understatement of the year, I really don't know what is.

I am so looking forward to the 4-6 new (!) episodes that shall be returning in April/May.

On to one of television's newest offerings, Eli Stone.

I love this show. I cried 15 minutes into the pilot. Greg Berlanti's (Everwood, Brothers and Sisters) touch was immediately felt -- he manages to weave excellent storytelling with faith and heart and evokes a great deal of emotion in his writing. Matt Roush described the show as part Pushing Daisies (for its undeniable charm and whimsy) and part (much less silly) Ally McBeal. I have to whole-heartedly concur. Who knew a show would come along that can conceivably work George Michael into its concept? (All of its episodic titles are Michael/Wham song titles, and he makes several cameos.)

Jonny Lee Miller is awesome (and definitely an acronym), and it goes without saying that Victor Garber is a fantastically stellar addition to any cast.

I absolutely adore this show and am glad it landed a plum post-LOST time slot.

1.   Acronyms (and by acronyms, I don't mean the literary device)
2.   How, when my nieces see me, they act like I'm more important than Belle and Snow White combined (Trust me -- these are very important figures in their lives at present.)
3.   The word "twitterpated" (thanks, Cori!)
4.   Grande low-fat no-whip gingerbread lattes from Starbucks in festive red cups
5.   my TiVo
6.   Boys who are deliciously tall and acronym-y
7.   Early-series Gilmore Girls re-runs
8.   my iPod
9.   Christmas
10.  the scent of my lime mint soy candle