Christmas Ramblings

I survived another holiday season despite a valiant effort by a stomach flu to do me in. My rush into health came just in time for Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was spent with family, and I'm happy to report that nothing too traumatic occurred.

In between sleeping & feeling like a limp dishrag, I did manage to squeeze in a viewing of Twilight with a twelve year old girl borrowed from a friend (Okay, okay, it was part of her Christmas present!). It was interesting, as both she & I had read the book, and much discussion ensued. We concurred that we (naturally) like the book better, but our major issues were with casting. Bella was too flat while Edward's voice was much higher than either of us imagined while reading the book. We just looked at each other & started laughing when Edward walked into the sun. The effect was defnitely not what I imagined when reading the book & was truly quite comical to both of us. The first half of the movie had a rushed feeling that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it was the course of the relationship being different than in the book. I can't say I hated the movie, but it is not among my favorite vampire films (I'm now having trouble conceiving of Meyers' creations as vampires, as my image falls more in line with the old school Lugosi type vampire). I'm now reading the last book in the series, and that is driving the feeling more than the movie, I think.

Oooh, more Christmasy stuff! I managed to catch the Doctor Who Christmas Special -- The Next Doctor. While not quite what I originally envisioned upon hearing about the departure of David Tennant, it was quite enjoyable. There was an especially teary moment at the end. :)

All in all, a nice holiday filled with good fellowship with friends & family. Hope each of you had a joyful holiday.

And the World Smacks Back

Recall me saying something in an earlier post about the world watching out today because my class would be over? I think someone warned the world because it beat me down with a stomach bug. I survived the final (don't get me started on the craziness of that), but I'm watching the world go by from the comfort of my couch, where I've bedded down with my doggies, my blanket, and a CSI marathon. Guess the world will have wait until tomorrow. Back to my ginger ale. Anyone know how to train dogs to make drinks so I don't have to get up to refill my ginger ale?

Heroes: Volume 3 -- The Reaction

Ten minutes ago, Heroes Volume 3 ended. My thoughts? All in a jumble. There is so much I want to write, but I also do not want to post spoilers for those who have not seen it yet. All in all, I like what ended up happening. The show seems to be returning to its character driven roots. That was a strength of the show from the beginning, and I hope it highlights those strengths again in Volume 4 (starting Feb. 2).

On to more reactions:
The Petrelli Clan: Are they cursed to unhappiness? Is there such a thing as a happy Petrelli? It was nice to see Peter taking a stand. Angela is a guilty pleasure. She's so good at what she does. Even if she is doing wrong, I enjoy watching her do it! Loved that final scene with Nathan. He's finally going the direction I've always felt he should. It is the way he has been written from the beginning to me, and I'm eager to see how it turns out. Loved that little cameo there at the end too!

Sylar: I'm happy to see him getting off the fence & making a moral choice. Sylar bad is best & I'm looking forward to seeing him revel in his villany (at least for a little while). He's almost as good at mind games as Angela!

Claire & Noah: These two need a father-daughter weekend in the worst way. Noah was one the characters I liked the least at the beginning & now I've come to really him.

Suresh : I'm really getting tired of him. His strength was being the moral center & the one without powers. He was the check & giving him powers changed that. If only he would lose his powers.

Daphne & Parkman: The struggle between these two over Daphne's morality is cute! I really like Daphne's spunk. I want these two to be happy, but I want resolution on Matt's family.

Hiro & Ando: I absolutely adore Hiro! The scene with his mother was wonderful, and his relationship with his father is enjoyable, too. Ando & he are a great team! I can't wait to see what happens with Ando's power.

Mostly quick reaction tonight. More later as I turn it all over in my head!

Let the Christmas Season Begin...

The Christmas season officially kicked off this weekend with a holiday gathering on my father's side of the family. My grandmother's little farmhouse was packed to the rafters, and the merriment spilled onto the porch, meandering out into the yard. It was nice to catch up with family I haven't seen in a while, and the fun and frivolity helped get me in the Christmas spirit. I have two Christmas parties at work this week, so I'll definitely be feeling Christmasy by Friday. Which reminds me, I have to do my holiday shopping yet.

In addition, I'm preparing for a final on Tuesday, and the accompanying anxiety has prevented me from focusing my attention on the holiday season. So, world you'd better watch out on Wednesday, for it will be full on Christmas then.

Just Another Manic Monday

Wow, has it been a crazy day! Work chaos followed by a roller coaster of a Heroes episode. Ending with a mad dash down the street after a freaked out dog! Don't know about y'all but I'm ready for bed.

Thankfully, the pup was recovered without incident & he's fine. It's just his mama that's still freaked out. The adrenaline surge will be over soon & my heartbeat will return to normal.

It's days like this that let me know I'm still human.

Ramblin' On

Wow, I guess it's been a while since I've visited this space. I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted anything. What few readers I had have probably wandered off in boredom now. For those you still out there, I'm still alive.

The most interesting thing that has happened has been the addition of two new dogs to our family back in April(Can you hear them barking?). It was supposed to be just one with the second a surprise for my parents. My mother decided she did not want another dog (their dog passed away a couple of years ago), and we could not bring ourselves to part with the little fellow. Our menagerie is holding at six. Hubby keeps saying no to the penguin and the pygmy hippo! Getting everyone settled took quite a bit of time, but we've all survived mostly unscathed.

Nothing interesting on the movie front in quite some time. I loved Iron Man! Hated Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! Zack & Miri was sweeter than I expected, but not too saccharine. Very enjoyable. I'm still waiting to see Quantum of Solace and Twilight.

Oh, that reminds me! I achieved a dream of mine! I got to go to a Kevin Smith Q&A. He actually did on at the local university. The night was phenomenal! Ok, a few of the questions sucked, but Kevin was amazing!! I laughed until my entire body hurt, and then he made me laugh more. The man is awesome!!!!

I have not been able to read as much as I'd like because I started taking a few classes. Textbooks are not as interesting as novels. Someone should do something about that. I have managed to read The Dresden Files up through White Night. I can't wait to get my hands on Small Favor. I also read the first three Twilight books. Not nearly as angsty as I expected. Most recently, I've read the last two Goldy Schulz mysteries (well, I'm still reading the last one.)

One other thing that has consumed a lot of time has been Rock Band! The second is even better than the first. The DLC lately has been nice. Still haven't persuaded hubby to dl the Foo Fighters and RHCP yet, but the day will come. Oh, and Netflix on the 360 freakin' rocks!

I've developed an addiction to Deadliest Catch and Surviorman! Dirty Jobs too! I'll watch these shows whenever they are on, no matter how many times I have seen them. Ok, that's the real reason I haven't been blogging. Damn you, Discovery Channel!!

Just a brief update, more to come -- maybe. :)

Off the Shelf -- Broken

Broken is the 6th book in the Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong. The series tells the stories of several supernatural women. This outing continues the tale of Elena, the only female werewolf in the world. Elena & her pack mates have been hired to steal a letter written by Jack the Ripper, and numerous complications ensue. The most pressing is the opening of a portal that may have released Jack the Ripper into our modern world. In addition to trying to close the portal, Elena is also dealing with being pregnant, something completely new to both she & her pack.

Like the previous entries in the series, this tell a great story. You get pulled in from the beginning and want to know what happens. Armstrong does a wonderful job weaving in other characters from the series and creating a cohesive world. The novels stand on their own, but reading them as a series unifies the characters and develops a deeper sense of understanding of their motivations. All in all, a fun urban fantasy read.

Massive Movie Review

After a drought in my movie going life, I've made up for lost time since Christmas, seeing five movies that I'm going to attempt to review in some coherent fashion. So, hang on!

National Treasure : Book of Secrets: Having not seen the first movie yet, I had some anticipation going into this one that I was going to be a bit lost. Definitely not the case! Quite an enjoyable movie with lots of adventure. The pacing was great, and the tension between the characters held my attention. I loved the bit with the President! If you're in the mood for a good action flick with a bit of mystery & romance thrown in, this is the movie for you!

Sweeney Todd: Musicals are a guilty pleasure of mine that the husband seldom agrees to particpate in, but the murderous aspect of Sweeney Todd plus the Depp/Burton combo was enough to persuade him to join me. It's the first musical I've ever heard him say he liked, and I was also not disappointed. Depp was awesome as always, but Helena Bonham Carter & Alan Rickman were also outstanding. Yes, it was bloody, but it was fun!

Juno: I decided not to join the husband for One Missed Call and saw this instead. Awesome movie! Hysterical and heartwarming. A different perspective on teen pregnancy and the impact it has on everyone involved. I love the relationship between Juno and her dad. I highly recommend this one to anyone.

I Am Legend: I don't know if I can honestly give an objective review of this movie. I've read the book & I like it. I went into the movie fully expecting to like it. While different than the book, it was enjoyable up until one scene that put me over the edge emotionally. To be honest, it was an effective scene if it got me as upset as it did, but I was unable to enjoy the rest of the movie because of it. I was too angry at everyone involved! I don't want to say what the scene was, as I refuse to spoil movies for anyone. If you're tenderhearted, bring some tissue.

Cloverfield: My one complaint is the camerawork. While it is effective in the purpose it serves, it is also intensely nauseating. Several people left the theater due to this, and I fought valiantly not to vomit during several scenes. That said, it is a great monster movie!

So, not the most in depth reviews ever but a tidbit about each movie. Feel free to share thoughts about anything I've said here. Now, get out there & go to the movies!

Musical Addendum to Holiday Post

In my holiday post, I neglected to mention the muscial highlight of the season. Christmas music and heavy metal guitars! Christmas Eve Eve, the husband, several friends, and I went to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO). The show has become a holiday favorite for me, and sharing it with friends was awesome. If I'm not in a Christmas mood when I go, I definitely have the spirit when I leave! For the first time, we had floor seats, and the snowfall was amazing!

"The Old City Bar" and "Prince of Peace" are always my two favorite moments of the night, and this year did not disappoint. Jay Pierce is amazing on "Prince of Peace." TSO has got to put that version on an album!

TSO makes me happy!!

Off the Shelf -- On Her Majesty's Occult Service

Thought I'd take a stab at sharing some of the books I read. So here goes...

On Her Majesty's Occult Service by Charles Stross was loaned to me by a friend, who described it as "James Bond meets Cthulhu". It contains two previously published novels, The Atrocity Archives and The Jennifer Morgue. The basic premise is that mathematical theory and quantum physics used in just the right way connect with alternative dimensions or the icky things in our current dimension that we probably don't want to see. It's an eclectic mix of spy thriller and horror.

Bob, the protagonist, works for The Laundry, the branch of the British Secret (and I mean very secret) Service that protects us from the horrors of the universe. When Bob isn't saving the world, he works in the IT department. Balancing the horrors of alternate dimensions, gorgons, Deep Ones, MMORPGs, and interns with the rules, regulations, and form requirements of government service creates chaos for Bob, entertainment for the rest of us. The culmination of Bob's Bondesque adventure is a thrill ride that just keeps coming!

Stross creates a likable hero you want to succeed, seamlessly blending disparate genres into a great read. The beginning of the Atrocity Archives moves a bit slowly, but much of it is setup to establish the working of technomancy. All in all, a very enjoyable read. I'm glad my friend loaned it to me, and I hope to one day find more adventures of Bob!

If you decide to give a whirl, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Christmas & New Year's -- Better Late Than Never

This holiday season was one of the most relaxing I've had in years. Purchasing gifts was achieved in one day with only one loud "discussion" with the husband in the aisles. Unlike years past, we did not have to travel this year, which was wonderful. My brother & sister-in-law came down, and I was able to spend several hours with both my father and brother reminiscing. Now that a was a Christmas gift! Friends, family, and the husband showered me with gifts that will bring me happiness in the coming year, and the joy of spending time with friends always brings a smile to my heart during the holidays. One gift that did not come in a box, but I still treasure, was seeing a friend (who has historically not enjoyed the holidays) infused with the holiday spirit. Christmas Eve was spent quiety at home with the husband and the critters, and yes, Rock Band was involved! (There was new downloadable content!)

As for New Year's Eve, we broke with tradition, deciding not to plan anything special -- kind of a "let's sit back and see what happens" attitude, as we are the event planners in our circle of friends. As we predicted, nothing was planned, and we happily spent the evening at home, where we played Rock Band, watched movies, and just enjoyed each other's company. At midnight, we uncorked a lovely bottle of champagne (you do indeed get what you pay for in champagne!) and stood on our front porch watching the fireworks show the neighbors put on. Quiet but enjoyable. We watched movies together until 4 am, snuggling on the couch, an indulgence we engage in all too litle in recent months (but I'll correct that *wink*).

Something I sometimes forget is that I really do enjoy the simple things in life, like spending a holiday at home. It is so easy to enmesh myself in the bustle of the holidays and overplan. This holiday season reminded me again of the simple. Yes, a New Year's Eve celebration with friends would have been enjoyable, but reconnecting with the simple joy of celebrating a quiet New Year's with the husband and the critters revived my inner being. That is something for which I am truly grateful.

Hey, Hey I Wanna Be a Rockstar!

I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame

I'd even cut my hair and change my name

'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars and

Live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars

-"Rockstar" by Nickelback

The latest sensation in my household is Rock Band. Since it's release in early November, the hearth in front of my fireplace has been occupied by the glory that is Rock Band. If you're not familiar with it, it's a video game that allows you & your friends to pretend to be a real band performing songs you know. It comes with guitar, drumkit, and microphone. It's like Guitar Hero on acid.

I eagerly anticipated Rock Band's release for weeks, and it did not disappoint. The set list is awesome (though it could use some Nickelback & some 80s power ballads). There was a bit of a hassle getting the game, as GameStop screwed up my preorder, but I was still able to get the game the day of release. After supervising the husband in setting everything up, we were ready to play. I quickly called dibs on singing for two reasons 1)I love singing, even though I do it badly 2)I lack the coordination to do guitar or drums well (imagine things breaking & drum sticks flying around the room -- it wasn't pretty). And thus, DeathTüff was born!

Many happy hours with the husband and several friends have been spent rocking out (one friend liked it so much, he went out and bought a PS3 just to play the game). I've agonized my way through Gimme Shelter and Train Kept A'Rollin' (thanks for all those saves, guys), and I can't recall how many times I've sung In Bloom (I'd be happy to never sing it again!). Rocking out to Metallica & Bon Jovi was awesome, and I've found a new enjoyment of songs I didn't think I liked (Celebrity Skin, I Think I'm Paranoid) and learned the hard way that I was not meant to sing Iron Maiden or R.E.M songs!

The customizable aspects of the game are pretty cool. While not a shopper in real life, I find a certain joy in creating just the right look for my rocker. The options are endless. If I have one complaint about the game, it is the "rock band" aspect of the game where you go from gig to gig & sing the same songs over & over again in band mode (guess I wouldn't cut it in real band very long --"But I don't want to sing that again. ") The game also makes band members gradually increase the level of difficulty, making it harder to progress (especially difficult if you're coordination/vocally challenged). For group fun, though, quickplay works great for everyone to just rock out! Despite all of that, I love the game & jump at every chance to play.

I'm waiting for the husband's obsession with the game to end so I can solo the vocals on the game, and one of these days I actually want to finish solo with the guitarist I made. Hmmm...maybe I can just get his boss to make him work overtime. *evil grin*