Movies I Can Watch Over and Over

Raiders of the Lost Ark
That first reveal of Harrison Ford. Need I say more? No.

Ironman
Super cool! And I mean Gwyneth Paltrow's shoes. And Robert Downey Jr. Any movie that starts with Back in Black, has to be awesome! And it is.

Lord of the Rings
Every time I watch these movies, I'm struck all over again by what a genius Peter Jackson is. And how sexy Viggo Mortensen is. Grr!

Hot Fuzz
Simon Pegg's wonderful! "Fascist!" "Hag."

Love Actually
Hugh Grant as PM of Great Britain?! Dancing to the Pointer Sisters?! Obviously.

Batman Begins
Best Batman movie EVER! Dark Knight was great too. But Begins is the one I own.

Casino Royale
Best Bond movie EVER! Quantum of Solace, not so much.

Delayed Gratification is Highly Overrated

Is it Monday? Is it Friday? Who cares! It's 9am and I'm still in my jammies! I love not having school.

I also love getting Christmas presents early. I never was one for delayed gratification and neither was my mother. She caved the other night and gave me the first season of The Big Bang Theory on DVD.

Here's my latest favorite quote. (Only ten more days until the Doctor Who Christmas special!)

Leonard: What are you doing?

Sheldon: Every Saturday since we've lived in this apartment, I have awakened at 6:15, poured myself a bowl of cereal, added a quarter-cup of 2% milk, sat on this end of this couch, turned on BBC America, and watched Doctor Who.

Leonard: Penny's still sleeping.

Sheldon: Every Saturday since we've lived in this apartment, I have awakened at 6:15, poured myself a bowl of cereal...

Leonard: You have a TV in your room, why don't you just have breakfast in bed?

Sheldon: Because I am neither an invalid nor a woman celebrating Mother's Day.

Cruisin' Civilization

I'm all registered for my next semester of class and I even have textbooks coming in the mail already. I'm pretty excited about my classes, except for one small detail. My textbooki for my "American Civilizations" class has Tom Cruise on the cover.

Tom "Scientology-Has-Sent-Me-'Round-the-Bend" Cruise. I skimmed through it and it looks like something from a sixth grade social studies class. Chapter 4: The U.S. Government, the Judicial Branch. Seriously? No, SERIOUSLY?!

I'm hoping my Neoclassic/Romantic Literature class will make up for the inanity of American Civilization. Who knows. Maybe the first day of class will be like that scene in Dead Poet's Society when Robin Williams has his students rip the textbook to shreds! I love that scene! I should really own that movie.

Anyway, here's to a well-deserved break for the next few weeks. My L.A. family and my Vegas family will be here a week from today and I can't wait! Let the holiday merriment commence!

Astonished by the Expected

I got out of my 7am final this morning, walked outside and said, "What the hell?!" In the hour and a half I'd been inside, it had started to snow like crazy! I had no umbrella, I had no hood on my coat, and I had no scarf. I shouldn't have been surprised that it decided to snow in Utah, in December, and yet I was!

Freakin' winter!

I have one more paper to turn in tomorrow and a linguistics (or linguini) final on Thursday and I'm done until the new year! Huzzah!

I Don't Share Well

For the last few weeks I've been sharing my bed with a very handsome guy.

There are two downfalls to this, though. First, he snores. It's more of a purr, but still he makes noise. Second, he doesn't share worth crap. And neither do I. Since my bed is only a Twin, this makes a big difference!

He insinuates himself into the covers some time during the evening and when I go to bed, there he is!

This is Pie. He's a muffin and very vocal. He also drinks out of the faucet.

It's a good thing he's so cute or I'd have to hurt him. I'm such a sucker, I've been letting him stay. Of course, I have to squeeze my legs around him all night.

You guys thought I was talking about something else at first, weren't you? Sadly, it's just a dashing cat instead of a dashing human.

They're Watching You!

I went with my clan to get the Thanksgiving gobble yesterday. It's a bit of a tradition.

Here they are staring at us. I think they know that we're going to eat one of their own.

Usually when you gobble at them, they gobble back furiously. Yesterday they were just silent. Very creepy.

Happy Thanksgiving, my cherubs!

This, I Believe... (3 Years Later)

I started this blog on a whim three years ago. I've been fairly good at updating it regularly. It was an excellent way to let my family know how my day to day life was when I was two states away. Now that I'm back? Well, it entertains Ang in Vegas for one and my aunty in L.A. for another. And it stills amuses me to post the funky stories that make my life so rich.

I thought another installment of "This, I Believe..." would be a good way to celebrate the anniversary of What the Hell?!

I believe every once in a while you need to take a terrifying step in life. It shakes you out of your complacency and wakes you up to what you really want. It may hurt like hell, but in the end, you'll be better off for it. (You, meaning me.)

I still believe in starter fluid and it's miraculousness. Vice grips are still phenomenal. And white lightning? Righteous. Grandfather? Better than all of the above combined.

Good theatre? The stuff of legend. A way to escape and a way to feed my soul. I miss it desperately every day.

I believe Utah is good therapy in many ways. A support system like no other (well, maybe one), a world of excellent food, exemplary company, my clan, and the comfort of my childhood.

I believe in kindred spirits and supporting them however I can. From two states away or just a chair away.

I believe in my dear sweet kitty and how much she loves me and INSISTS on being where I am.

I believe in my mum and dad. Always have and always will. Unconditionally.

Life is better than ever and I'm more thankful than I can say.

The Return of the Gobble

It's that time again! Gobble time!

When I figured out that I'd actually get to go with my grandfather to get the turkey this year, I was thrilled! Tuesday afternoon we'll cart ourselves out to White's Turkey Farm and pick up the 30 lb behemoth.

Wednesday night we'll gather to break the bread for the stuffing.

And Thursday, I'll make my Uncle Josh's fabulous Kentucky Pecan Pie, including dark chocolate! Mmmmm......

And we'll probably all gather for leftovers on Friday.

Life is good!

A quote for this sunny, and yet freezing, Friday...

"Our rural ancestors, with little blest,Patient of labour when the end was rest,Indulged the day that housed their annual grain,With feasts, and off'rings, and a thankful strain."
~Alexander Pope

An Ovation for Banshee!

Theatre Banshee has finally won it's first Ovation Award! This is the L.A. equivalent of the Oscars and our own Barry Lynch nabbed one last night for his work as Candy in Of Mice and Men!

Last year, we got one nomination for Matt Foyer in Power and we got two nominations this year! (For Mark Colson's Slim in Of Mice and Men in addition to Mr. Lynch.)

I wrote Barry and e-mail today to congratulate him and he replied with two words, "Come home."

Congrats, Barry!

Ballet and the Bard, Part 2

The Tempest was quite lovely on Saturday. You could tell the really good dancers, though, because you couldn't hear them land when they leaped.

One of my favorite parts was the very beginning. They had Shakespeare writing on a blank black stage in a spot light. Ariel then flew in over his head. And poof! There was Prospero, appeared out of thin air. It was very effective.

The second act was mostly wedding celebration for Miranda and Ferdinand, so the gods were in evidence. Juno and Neptune, Ceres and Bacchus, Iris and her rainbows, etc.

Mum and I had lunch at the Hong Kong Tea House in Salt Lake. We did not have the steamed chicken feet, but stuck with some very tasty potstickers and eggrolls. The "silver wrapped chicken" was OK, but far too much work to make it worthwhile. The experience was a hoot and we'll definitely be back.

Ballet and the Bard

My mom and I are going to see The Tempest tomorrow. Not the lovely evocation by Mr. Shakespeare, but the interpretation by Ballet West. Yup, a ballet of The Tempest. And I am SUPER excited! I haven't seen a ballet in years and I think that was The Nutcracker (which I love, by the way).

We're taking Frontrunner (the local commuter train) down to Salt Lake and hoofing it to the Capitol Theatre. The Capitol is a lovely theatre and I've seen everything there from Les Miserables and Jekyll & Hyde to the Utah Opera's Turandot and The Magic Flute. ( I admit I had much more fun at the first two than at the last two.)



Expect a full report on Monday!

Tell Me a Bedtime Story, Mr. Lovecraft

I didn't fall asleep until midnight the other night, despite the fact that I went to bed at the ridiculously early hour of 8:45pm. So, what did I do for those hours? Stared at the ceiling. Tried to get the cat to actually share the foot of the bed with me. He got pissed off and left. Listened to my sacred iPod. And finally fell asleep listening to The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society's old-time radio drama "The Dunwich Horror."

Isn't that about a slimy monster who tries to take over the world, starting with the town of Dunwich? Why, yes. Is that weird?

Picture of said greedy cat to follow...

Writing Technicalities

When I started my technical writing class this semester, Mum suggested that I start another blog where I could collect my technical writings. I could use it as a portfolio in the future. I set it up and waited for something cool to post. Well, it's a month to the end of the semester and I just can't get myself to post my "Instructions for How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea" or "The Parts of a Pointe Shoe."

OK, so it shows that I can write a set of instructions and can explain the workings and functions of the agonizing parts of the shoe, but for general public consumption? I don't think so. I can't even bare to think of reading it and I wrote it!

Sure, I'll keep copies of all the assignments I've done, but I'll come up with something clever to post on "What's Next?" (That's the other blog, by the way.) Think Jed Bartlet and the title will make sense.

Friday Quote

For my mom's December tea, she's asking the invitees to bring a quote. You'd think this would be easy for me, being that I'm the Quote Queen, but it's actually pretty tough trying to decide which one would be best.

It can't be just any quote, either. It has to be a spoken quote. No thoughts or super cool descriptions allowed.

I've been looking at Shakespeare, Anne McCaffrey, Robin McKinley. All my usual standards. Nothing's jumping out.

I'm planning on re-reading Lord of the Rings and hoping for inspiration. Maybe Sherlock Holmes said something genius that I can borrow for an afternoon.

In the meantime, here's a Friday Quote for you. *Rifling through my memory*

"Few other griefs amid the ill chances of this world have more bitterness and shame for a man's heart than to behold the love of a lady so fair and brave that cannot be returned."
- The Return of the King, Aragorn

Just envision Viggo Mortensen saying this and it will fill your weekend with contentment.

My Wailing Wall

What's this, you say? Well, Robyn dubbed this my "Wailing Wall." This is my wall of Banshee postcards. There's one for each show I stage managed and one for Red Noses, since it was what inspired me to stage manage for these guys in the first place. I've got the card for The Year of the Hiker (thanks, Sean!), since I did the sound design for it, but I need a frame for it.

Why is there a set of keys hanging next to them? Those are my keys to the theatre. Being held in a place of honor until my return.

There are some excellent reviews so far! Go here to see all the fantastic things being said! Would they have left my name out of the program if I'd been there? Who knows, but I'm guessing not.

*Note* I painted my walls this color many years ago. It was supposed to be more red than fuschia... It was a phase. What do you want from me?

You Want Me to Accentuate It?!

Last Monday, the woman who teaches our african dance class was out of town. Did we just go home and sit on our asses? Well, yeah, but only after class!

Candace, one of our fellow classmates, gave us a belly dance lesson! Talk about awesome. There were veils and jingly shawls to go around your hips. (You only want those if you're really good, otherwise the jingling at the wrong time gives you away.)

It makes you feel sexy and curvaceous. (No, that's not a kind of dinosaur. Read a book!)

There are a few moves that will, hopefully, help us rid ourselves of our muffin tops. Think of a figure 8 with your hips, with your knees bent and your gut sucked in as far as it will go.

Today, Deja's back so we're returning to the dark continent.

*Jingle, jingle*

Need a Summer Job?

The campus newspaper has a notice in it today for "Sheep Shearer's." Sure, I know people need to sheer the woolies so they don't run around in their "woolens" all year round, but I never thought I'd see a Want Ad for it.

That's almost definitely something you wouldn't see in L.A.!

The awesome part of it is the difference in what you get paid for a Ewe, a Lamb, or a Ram! Is that for crankiness of the animal involved? Size? Nooks and crannies?

The very idea just makes me giggle with glee. I've been showing it to people all morning, but nobody thinks it's as funny as I do.

Am I just weird?

Don't answer that.

Happy Halloween, my Cherubs!

I Vo-ted!

I went to vote today (yes, early, thank you very much)! I took great delight in doing my meager part. I touched that screen with joy and hope in my optimistic little heart.

This is the great part of living in a democracy! Even living in a red state, as I do, I still get to have my say. It may not do anything, but nothing ever changed from people saying, "One person doesn't matter." As President Bartlet says, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world." And as Will Bailey responds, "It's the only thing that ever has."

So, go vote somewhere between now and Tuesday and let's see if we can change the world.

I Love the Smell of Creosote in the Morning

***UPDATED: Now with pictures!

In between writing papers and moping about missing Burbank, I've been working with my sweet grandfather. The man is a force of nature in more ways than one.


Recently, we've been working on replacing a set of stairs made of railroad ties. Quoi, you say? Well railroad ties are the giant wooden... logs that go under the railroad tracks. They're soaked in creosote to prevent rotting, so they last really well.


This set of stairs was originally built 50 years ago when GF first built their house. We've been slowly removing the old ones, leveling out the surface we need (by hacking through some serious roots), cutting the new railroad ties (which I'll get back to), and putting them in their new place.


This sounds like a fairly simple process. Well, it's not! It's a gigantic pain in my pale Irish butt! Railroad ties are HEAVY! Trying to cut them in two is a whole process that leaves you sweaty, somewhat cranky, and stinking of creosote. For instance, this morning it took us two and a half hours to cut ONE! Granted, it was on an angle, so the cut was about 30 inches long, but still. It involved a rotary saw, a skill saw, a hand saw, a broken can of WD-40, three chisels, a clamp, enough saw dust to really piss off Grandmother, enough stinky creosote smoke to make the house reek, and enough expletives to make the two of us sound like sailors (or actors, who have horrendous potty mouths).


Grandfather asked me if I have any classes that require story writing. I said, not really, but that it sounded perfect for a blog post.

Now that I've been home for a few hours, I don't stink anymore, but my knuckles are still bleeding. I'll be so proud when the damn thing's done!

The Big Bang, Just a Theory

Aside from my standing weekly date with Mark Harmon (watching NCIS every Tuesday), and since Doctor Who is gone until Christmas, I find not much enticing on TV lately. I'm only slightly mourning the loss of cable (I love you, Jon Stewart!).

My mom has sucked me into a new show, though. The Big Bang Theory on Monday nights. It's super smart and really freakin' funny! I can't drink anything during that show, because I'm bound to either do a spit take or squirt it out my nose. Red wine's not comfy when it comes through the nostrils.

The premise is this. Four physicists work and play together. They're young and genius's. One can never talk to girls unless he's drunk, another says he's too evolved to learn how to drive a car so he needs someone to drive him to Pottery Barn so he can return his Star Wars sheets. (Darth Vader's looking at him funny.) And across the hall lives the pretty, blonde girl who works at The Cheescake Factory and dropped out of community college.

While trying to drive a simulator on Monday, they asked Sheldon what color he wanted his simulated car to be and he said, "You know the light blue color of Luke Skywalker's lightsaber? Before it was digitally remastered." Being the geek that I am, I love this stuff!

And when someone asks why I have to leave my african dance class RIGHT on time on Monday nights? Well, I have a date with a physicist.