These Are The Voyages

The finale of Star Trek: Enterprise aired tonight. The last new Trek show in production. Next season will be the first time in 18 years Star Trek has not aired at least one new season. Often there has been two series airing simultaneously. The episode was odd to say the least. For one thing, it is the first finale since the original series, which didn't really have a finale, to only be an hour long. Second, it was a Next Generation episode. Let me explain. The finale was basically set during a Next Generation episode from the 7th and final season of that show called "The Pegasus". The episode aired in 1994. They recreated many of the sets - the holodeck, the hallways, Troi's quarters, even Ten Forward. These were sets they destroyed in a 1994 motion picture when this ship blew up. It was wonderful except Riker and Troi definitely look ten years older, try as they might to make them not. They tied it in with voice overs from Brent Spiner (Data) and Patrick Stewart (Picard) relating to events in that episode. Anyway, the first officer, William Riker, was faced with a difficult decision in that episode. Troi, the counselor, encourages him to access the holodeck program of the Enterprise NX-01's final voyage. This means Riker is watching the events that happened about 200 years before his time. The Enterprise events are set six years after the previous Enterprise episode so we get to see those characters older and what has become of them. They are about to mothball the ship, and at the same time the UFP is being formed. They take a nice little excursion on their way home with recurring character Shran (Jeffrey Combs, who also played Bunt and Weyoun on Deep Space 9 as well as appearing as Shran in numerous episodes of Enterprise). We find out they think Shran died three years ago. This would be interesting to explore if Sci-Fi picks the series back up, as it is considering. Anyway, Riker has alone time with each member of the crew by replacing their Chef, who basically served as their counselor. They throw in references when one of the Enterprise characters says "all good things..." (the title of The Next Generation's finale) and Archer talks about a "next generation." In the end, the chief engineer Trip Tucker has to decide to disobey his captain and sacrifice himself to save the ship. Trip is the most interesting and popular character on Enterprise and watching his death was painful. It helps Riker make the decision he made 11 years ago when "The Pegasus" first aired. After Trip's death, they show a scene that happened earlier when Riker had his chef session with him, something omitted during the episode until the end. Riker gets some last advice, then end the program before the UFP signing. I as initally mad as The Next Generation music swelled and the Enterprise NCC-1701-D took off into space until Patrick Stewart's droning "Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. It's continuing mission..." The suddenly the view shifted to the Enterprise NCC-1701, the ship featured in the original show and William Shatner's voice clip from the sixties continued the monologue. "...to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations..." Finally the NX-01 appeared with Scott Bakula (Captain Archer's voice) finishing "...to bodly go where no man has gone before." The monologue used throughout Star Trek history. I got chils. It was the perfect ending as the credits rolled. I am torn between wanting to see the intervening six years on the sci-fi channel and letting Star Trek rest...at least for a year or two until it premieres the sixth television show and the 11th motion picture. Or next year if Sci-fi picks up Enterprise. Live long and prosper, Star Trek!

Qops! (Enterprise quotes from the main and major recurring characters)
"Malcolm's got this rule; you have to be taller than a gun to use it." ~ Trip about Reed

"If I'm not mistaken, they are preparing to mate. Do you think they might let me watch?" ~Dr. Phlox

"And one thing I can tell you is that at warp one point eight, you've got a lot of time on your hands between ports. That's how my parents wound up with me."
"Do you have any helpful information on this vessel beyond its recreational activities?" ~ Travis and T'Pol

"He's a Klingot.
"A Klingon."
"Where'd he come from?"
"Oklahoma." ~ Admiral Leonard, Tos, Captain Archer, Commander Williams

"Someone hasn't been taking very good care of my engines."
"Speak with the Klingons." ~ Trip and T'Pol

"I'm a translator. I didn't come out here to see corpses hanging on hooks."
"It goes without saying that you're going to encounter the unexpected."
"Not corpses on hooks. " ~ Hoshi and Dr. Phlox

"Captain Archer, your presence on this mission has not been... unduly burdensome."
"I think he likes you, pink-skin." ~ Soval and Shran

"Where did you put those phase pistols?"
"You're going to shoot a bug?"
"I'm just going to stun it." ~ Trip and Reed

"You son of a bitch!"
"Actually, mother was a chemist." ~Dr. Lucas and Dr. Soong

"Captain, this may surprise you, but I agree." ~ T'Pol

"You know that you and cheddar don't get along." ~ Archer to his cheese-loving beagle, Porthos

Don't Laugh At Me

So I have been under a great deal of stress lately, but as of 4:30pm this afternoon, and not before, I am fully registered in all of my classes and will be graduating. Thank you very much. That is a lot of worry off my shoulders. So tonight I worked on my book a little bit, and then kicked back to relax and blow off some steam. I chose to do it by watching Joey's season finale, which was kind of sad and made me a little depressed. So I had a smirnoff. I ended up drinking only two, so don't think I'm being an alcoholic. But it does help me relax. So here I was feeling sad at the tv and a little relaxed and I just needed a cry and a outpouring of emotion. A cleansing of my soul if you will. I need one every so often. I feel I have become very numb in real life and have trouble achieving that release, howevere for any of you that know me, I can easily get that release from a movie or favorite tv show. I chose to watch the Buffy The Vampire Slayer episode "The Body". If you don't know the series, that is a mid-fifth season episode where Buffy's mother dies. The opening sequence if Buffy finding her mother's cold stiff body on the couch. Needless to say I was quickly moved to tears and sobbing, allowing me my much needed release after the past month or two. So then Tim walks by as Buffy is trying to tell her 13 year old sister that she will never see her mom again and he laughs at me! And tells me to get over it, it's just a tv show! Now this is a great guy whom I have never been mad at. I am incredibly pissed right now. I yelled at him, but he probably thought I was joking. Oh, well. Just don't mess with me in that mood. Please. I need it to keep my sanity.

Qop!
"I wish Joyce didn't die. Because she was nice. And now we all hurt." ~ Anya (Emma Caulfield), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Body"

Randomness Yet Again

Ok, so it is too much to put all my memories in one week, so I am doing one year per week. Here are a few more freshmen memories that I thought of, and then I have some fun news headline for you all!
FRESHMAN:
~Erin and Esther and Kelly lipsinking I Touch Myself as Erin and Esther danced on Nathan andI ~My Christmas party: Julie, Nora, Cindy, Brianna, Esther, Erin, Nathan, and WJ crashers
~Going to see a midnight CPC movie with Kenny starring Jolie and falling asleep
~Enterprise premiered
~Tricking Amber and K with my Wizard trick
~Staying at the Hilton at Easton for band tour

INSANE NW HEADLINES - SIGNS OF THE END TIMES??? :)
~Governor Taft was voted the least approved governor in the country by the first ever all-governor poll. He only got a 19% approval rating. The next highest had 27%. Taft sucks.
~Girl from Portsmouth found to have Lyme Disease - green braclets made to support her
~Cell phones are costing colleges tons of money in lost phone charges and having to dial long distance numbers to reach students. Boo-hoo.
~Two people who were bad at reading maps flew over DC and caused a panic that evacuated the White House and the Capital. Hahaha. The men were not charged as it was an accident.
~Another proof of gayness is genetic, not a choice. Gay men have been found to read maps like straight women - badly. They don't have spatial intelligence.
~ Jennifer Garner is pregnant and engaged to Affleck, whose ex J-Lo is in a movie opposite Garnmer's ex Michael Vartan
~ABC is remaking The Ten Commandments because they like screwing with classics. Naveen Andrews of Lost will play Menerith. They start filming May 23.
~ West Virginia is trying to start their own Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their first entry? Don Knotts
~Elf found hanging in tree

And Question Week Continues!
Tuesday - Why do they sell boxes of boxes?
Wednesday - Does anybody really know what time it is?
Thursday - Does anybody really care?

Qop!
"I didn't feel anything at all. I hope I'm not some kind of psychopath." ~ Chloe to Edgar on 24

Bonus Qops!
"We don't have time for your personality disorder." ~ said to Chloe on 24
"If you need to talk to someone, I'm here. You know, not now, later." ~ Chloe to Jack on 24

Freshmen Year

This week I am following the example of some of my friends and posting college memories. This is Week 7 of my final quarter here at the 'bein, and it is a bit emotional. Here are the memories from my freshman year.

-Didn't want to go to college, didn't want to do marching band.
~Within moments of arriving at OC, loved college, loved marching band.
~Missed my old friends had hung out with them all summer, hung out one saturday in october, and suddenyl had lots of new friends.
~Nate sleeping on my dorm room floor for a week
~being in a squad with jenn and amber and someone else...don't remember who.
~watching All in the Family until my roommate old me to flip to news on the second day of classes: Setember 11, 2001. Not concentrating in class, being scared, canceling afternoon classes.
~Hanging out with Heather Deem over in Davis
~Dinner with Jami Letizia and her band directors, and Roy and Amber and K
~Being pregnant with Liz's baby
~Dating K for exactly one month
~Julie encouraging me to date K, and me trying to help her with a boy she didn't get
~bowling and winding up asleep on the floor with Julie
~Dating Julie for 5 1/2 months
~Esther's 21st b-day party
~Going out to dinner and getting the 'contract' signed with Scott, Evan, Erin, and Timmy J
~Playing soccer with Absurdly Green (Julie, Kristen, etc.)
~Scott coming out of the closet to me
~Brian Grey was only 20% gay
~Hanging out with Brandon
~Falling asleep during concerts
~Pledging Kings. Enough said. :)
~Seeing OC win nationals in basketball with Liza, Nora, and Julie
~Trip to Colorado with Julie, Nora, and Steph
~Having sex on the grassy knoll with Kristen (not really)
~A roommate I never talked to
~Skiing with Julie, Steph, and Jeremie. Sleeping on Steph's parents' floor.
~King's formal with Andy
~Hanging out at the Kings house, being depressed sleeping there
~Roy and Boogie getting me to drink Smirnoff for the first time
~Boogie introducing me to Kevin Smith
~All of us in Boogie's room finding out how to be male porn stars
~"Losing my virginity" to a King's panel
~Evan composing the Jimmy Dailey song
~officially moving into the King's house with Evan, Boogie, Doug, Ivan, and the others.
~My black Santa Claus
~late nights on the Kings porch and walking t Dairy Queen drive through
~Dating K again come summer

That's all I can remeber at the moment. May do attional memories at the end of the week.

Also, it is Question Week in my away message. Today's question is (Feel free to answer it):
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Won't you be mine?

Qop!
"So we talked all night about the rest of our lives, where we're gonna be when we turn 25...keep on thinking things will never change, keep on thinking things will always stay the same. But we leave this year and we won't look back, no matter hanging on cause we're on a different track."
~ Vitamin C, Graduation Day

Good News For People Who Love Bad New

I stole today's title from the Modest Mouse album of the same name which is, by the way, an amazing album. Anyway, the bad news is that J-Lo wants to runs for president. Jennifer Anthony (as she now wants to be called) wants to run for president and, if elected, plans to redecorate the White House. God help us all. Also for those of you who hate the former Bennifer, Ben Afflek's new fiance, Jennifer Garner, is being heavily rumored to be pregnant and due late this year. Hmm. Wonder how they would work that into Alias? All they need on that show is another member of that dysfunction family!

And now some good news for people who love good news:
Will Ferrel is slated to host Saturday Night Live this weekend. Yes, you heard me correctly. Will Ferrel. Hell yeah!
And starting this coming fall, The Daily Show will be expanded to one hour. Sort of. Comedy Central plans to start a new half hour show airing directly after Jon Stewart's power house entitled The Cobert Report which will of course star Stephen Cobert. Current plans call for the shows to transfer seemlessly, like real news shows, making it seem like one hour-long show. Cobert is equally as funny as Stewart, in my opinion, and I am greatly looking forward to this expanded format. And for those of you who still tell me I am lying, I will state this one last time. My friend JonATHAN Stewart is NOT Jon Stewart! There, I've said my piece. It didn't help that a month or so ago Jon Stewart said something on the air to his friend Jimmy watching at home. I have been unable to shake the rumors since, but I swear I'm telling the truth. What's sad is that I am not making any of the above up.

Qop!
"You have the best show on television." ~ Martin Short to Jon Stewart on a recent episode of The Daily Show

Randomness

In honor of my second viewing of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, my blog today will be completly random.
~ I have not posted in a week since right after my first viewing.
~I posted 11 times last month on 10 days. Yay! I met my goal.
~I have not been on a date in months, have not had a girlfriend in two years. My life has been shit, and not just in the love department. I wonder if that's connected? And here's the kicker. I am not unhappy for the most part. Although I do wish my life wasn't such shit. :)
~Hitchhiker is better the second time. There are some very clever things in it.
~I am absolutely horrible at reading people.
~Will & Grace got renewedand for the first time Jack and Karen will match Will and Grace's salaries. Is that bullshit or what that it took this long?
~I spend too much on food. Meaning I eat out too much, not that I eat too much in general.
~I cannot be thin. I've tried, and I've put effort into it, and while I now have muscles I've never had before, my belly shows no sign of going away and my weight has stayed steady.
~I have slept more this year than probably the last three years combined. And I'm still tired right now. Am I old?
~I really want to amount to something, but I'm not sure I will.
~I have never been able to see my life past this point. Does that mean I will die soon?
~Why aren't the comics more popular? They're funny.
~I have watched more tv in the past two years than the rest of my life combined, and yet feel I have no time for it.
~What is the point of life?
~Why isn't Buffy back on the air yet in some incarnation?
~Why can't Paramount fire Rick Berman?
~Why does everyone like Grey's Anatomy and ER so danged much?
~Family Guy is the funniest cartoon ever. Hands down.
~Why is there brail on the drive through ATMs?
~How come I can't meet a woman that likes me, no matter how perfect they seem?
~Why do pants all fall apart in the same week?
~What is the purpose of getting out of bed in the morning?
~Why did I care about my grades so much for the past 17 years (until this year) when they don't mean shit in the real world?
~Why is my blog so long?
~Why have I been so restless and emotionally numb for so long now? Is something big coming in my life? I've felt it for two years and I'm still waiting for it to hit. But will it ever?

Qop!
"The best laid plans of mice."
"And men."
"What?"
"The best laid plans of mice and men."
"I don't think men had anything to do with it." ~ Slartibartfast and Arthur Dent, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, on the creation of the Earth

So Long And Thanks for All The Fish

I just got back from opening night of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It was great. Very close to the book, it definitely fit the attitude. I'm afraid some people who went with me didn't like it so much, and that was kind of disheartening, but I guess some people just don't understand it. It is very odd. And if you haven't read the books, it can be a bit confusing to figure out what's going on. Still, Alan Rickman was great as Marvin, and I loved Thomas Lennon of The State and Reno 9-1-1 fame (and Joey's hand twin on Friends for those of you who are uncultured :)) as the voice of the computer. The special effects were amazing. Zoey was hot as usual as Trillian. I enjoyed Bill Nighy, Sam Rockwell, and John Malkovich's performances as well. Arthur was definitely Arthur - confused as ever. The best part had to be the signing dolphins that opened the show in a musical number entitled "So Long and Thanks For All The Fish", as is their message to humans as they leave, and the title of the fourth book in the series. I would love to see it again with someone who understands it and would enjoy it with me.

"In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." ~ Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Don't Throw That In The House!

So you know how your parents never let your throw footballs in the house? Good thing this apartment isn't our parents' house! Last night Phil and I started a rousing game of keepaway from April, then Tim and Kayla joined in in guys vs. girls. It was so much. We played for over an hour. Though there were some close calls, we didn't actually break anything. Tim's mom came over, but though I asked her to, she didn't scold her son. She just laughed at us. Needless to say, the guys won. The girls pulled a view minor victories, and I can't believe April found the ball when we hid it in the refrigerator, but the men were victorious overall. We did out number the girls, but that's beside the point. It was so much fun.

TV Season Finale Updates - West Wing rocked. Of course. Desperate Housewives and Lost did recaps this week. Ugh. Seeing Enterprise on the big screen with Lisa and Michael on the Friday the 13th. 24 this week was so amazing! Chloe kicks ass!!! And Alias was equally enthralling. Elena Derevco (sp?) OMG!?!?!? Can't wait for the return of Lena Olin. That's it for this week

Qop!
"I'm the Slayer...Slay-er. Chosen one? She who hangs out a lot in cemetaries...? 'In every genera-' You know. I really don't feel like doing the routine. Ask around. Look it up: 'Slayer comma The.'"

Vegas Or Buzzzzzzzt

So I am supposed to be packing right now to go catch a flight to Vegas and get married (sorry, Jess. We did two years ago. Time for an annollment) but somebody (cough)April(cough) went to bed instead because she can't even stay awake for her own wedding. :) Ok, joking aside, work sucks. My college loans finally came through but I'm still not enrolled in this quarter. My work tried to cut my bonus for last quarter but not anyone else's (they 'accidentally forgot'), and my car is broken and needs fixed. I have the worst luck with cars. And yet I'm in a pretty good mood anyway. Ah, well.

Qop!
"You just like the alien butt sex." ~ Jenn Meister

Bonus Qop!
"I did it for you David!" ~ Michael imitating Penny Johnson Jerald a.k.a. Sherry Palmer

Busy Busy Busy

I have bee so freakin' busy lately! I finally got through classes yesterday (oh, who am I kidding. Like all my classes were cancelled for once and I spent most the day hanging out with Tim and April, but the rest of the week I had classes, and did have hours of training last night!) and then I got home and Jonathan called me so I went and hung out and slept over at his place. We had lots of great conversations about geese and amusement parks (the two are NOT related - the implications if that were true chill me to the bone). Now I've got more training all weekend. School work to do. Then I'll be gone all next weekend to visit Kristen. Plus I am arranging a Cole Porter medley for clarinet ensemble and really want to get back to writing my book. Plus I just want a few hours in a practice room at Battelle with a piano and my sheet music because it's been so long since I've did that...Ah, well. Life marches on.

Qop!
"A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." ~ Douglas Adams

My Parents, The Assholes Parts Deux

So I tried to get the title trasnferred this morning on the Buick to my name, but my aunt had checked some box about the odometer that she wasn't supposed to check, so I wasted an hour of my time, gas, etc. So I call my parents to tell them I'm mailing them some green form that she has to sign for me to get the title, and they're like "Can't you just run it out here?" Keep in mind, we're talking almost an hour and a half and lots of gas round trip. I said No, I don't have time, I'm next out there Tuesday. I'll mail it this morning, they'd get it Monday. They said No, we'll go get a form ourselves in Madison County. I said fine, I'll pick it up Tuesday when I'm out there for work. That wasn't acceptable. They wanted me to drive out Monday, never mind by the time I had time to drive out and get back the title office would be closed anyway, and my working 7am-midnight on Tuesday would not allow me to file it until at least Wednesday evening anyway. So my dad chews me out for not having time. They have no idea what my schedule is like. I've tried to show them before and they wouldn't listen. Those fucking bastards. This is why I get so frustrated at them. They don't listen, they think I'm lazy and have tons of free time even though that's far from the truth, and they're just closed minded idiots.

Qop! (my sanity today)
"I wish I could fly, From this building, From this wall. And if I should try, Would you catch me if I fall?... I look in the boardroom; a modern pharaoh's tomb, I'd gladly swap places, if they care to dive. They're lined up at the window, peer down into limbo, They're frightened of jumping, in case they survive." ~ Barenaked Ladies, When I Fall (from their album "Born on a Pirate Ship")

Arrrrgh

So life just pain sucks right now. Incredibly busy, and of course things are falling apart faster than I can fix them, as has been the case many times in my life, but I feel this is te worst. I may not even be at graduation...or in this apartment next week. I don't know. We'll see. Plus my parents have been particularly nasty as of late, having left me several angry voice mails about something I told them I would not have time to take care of until Saturday morning, but that I would do it on Saturday. So why another voice mail tonight? Because they don't listen! The worst part is, the idea of giving up has never seemed more attractive either. I was so tempted today to empty my bank account to pay rent and move into some little apartment and just not tell anyone where I was. Yes, I would still have to go to work and stuff so people would find me, and even if I didn't answer my phone people still have my number, and I really don't want to cut myself off from everyone permanently. Just for a day or two. Read Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus and you'll understand. I need my man cave. It is a very insiteful book. Anyway, the reason I didn't do all that was because as much as I fear the bad things, I fear losing the good things even more. Road trips. Throwing football in the courtyard last night. Movie nights on Sundays. Drinking with my friends. 24, Alias & Lost nights. And a girl. There is always a girl. The latest one came on rather suddenly and unexpectedly. Again, not someone I will probably ever date or even approach, but a girl is always inspirational. This one is a bit different, not because I think she would reject me, but because of awkwardness or hurt with friends because of it. So I'll drop it. Anyway, too bad it never amounts to anything. The belief that same day it will keeps me getting up in the morning. And not giving up. So in that way, thank you to all the girls I've ever crushed on, even though most of you never knew it, and I don't think any of you read this blog. :)

Qop! (very random)
"So Dawn's in trouble. It must be Tuesday."
~ Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in reference to her sister (Michelle Trachtenberg), Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "Once More, With Feeling" (the musical episode)

We Apologize For the Inconvenience

" Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy, lies a small, unregarded yellow sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly 92 million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, whose ape-descended lifeforms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea. ___________________ There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for, and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. ___________________ In the Beginning, the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. "

So The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has been remade many times in many forms. No one admits more openly that it is a very fluid thing and there is no definitive version. The movie that hits theatres on April 29 will only loosely follow the book, which only loosely followed the radio show, etc. And since the author choose to do it this way, and he's now dead, we really can't argue with him. I am soooo looking forward to the movie! Here's why:
Zoey Deschanel as Tricia - The only surviving female of planet Earth is one of my favorite actresses! Hell yeah!
Mos Def as Ford Prefect - Wow, is all I can say.
Alan Rickman as the Voice of Marvin - Rickman is perfect to be doing the voice of this highly depressed robot. Just look at Snape! Also Richard Griffith, another Harry Potter name, will be voicing a Vogon.
Tom Lennon as the Voice of Eddie, the Computer - loved him on "The State" and "Reno 9-1-1
and as Joey's hand twin on "Friends". How can they go wrong?
Sam Rockwell as Zaphod - His villanious nature, as shown in "Charlie's Angels", will come through wonderfully. Plus the second head only pops up occasionally as a gag.
John Malkovich as Kavula - this character was created just for the movie. He is the high priest of a people who believe the universe was created out of the mucus that came out of their god's nose when he sneezed.
Douglas Adams, the author,'s family is so happy about this project they will appear in the film running from Vogons.

Get ready! Get set go!

Qop!
"42."

Great Actors

Great actors can make you feel great emotions. For instance, I went and saw Ice Princess yesterday with Jenn. The story was stupid and most of the actors were terrible. And yet the three lead actresses had me in tears. Michelle Trachtenberg, Kim Catrall, and Joan Cusack are all three amazing, not that I didn't know that! I think Michelle might make my very short list of actress I would love to be with. Which, I have thought about some more, and here is my official top (and only) ten:

10. Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted)
9. Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Scooby Doo)
8.Cameron Diaz (The Sweetest Thing, There's Something About Mary)
7.Michelle Trachtenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eurotrip, Harriet the Spy)
6. Alicia Witt (Mr. Holland's Opus, Cybill)
5.Amy Acker (Angel, Catch Me If You Can, Wishbone)
4.Zoey Deschanel (Almost Famous, Elf, The Hithhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
3. Alyson Hannigan (American Pie trilogy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
2. Sarah Silverman (School of Rock, Greg the Bunny, Star Trek: Voyager)
1. Meredith Monroe (Dawson's Creek, Minority Report)

Qop!
"Is that it? Am I done?"
~Glenn Quinn as Francis Doyle on Angel, as videotaped and shown at the end of his final episode, "Hero"

Just When I Felt Sorry For the Catholics...

I was resolved to not do any Catholic bashing and just feel sad and sympathetic towards them for at least a week after the death of the pope, but they had to go and do something utterly ridiculous. A prominent Catholic group in Michigan pushed a bill into the legislature that just passed in the Republican-dominated House and is now heading for the also Republican dominated Senate. The bill allows medical professionals to refuse medical care to homosexuals if they think gayness is morally or ethically wrong. That is the stupidest idea I've ever heard, and ti make me angry. I know all Catholics are not this morally corrupt or intolerant, but I can't imagine any group pushing this bill, and the fact that it actually passed leaves me in disgust of my fellow Americans. I thought we had hit an all time low with the so called 'marriage protection' acts, but this is a whole new level. I am just repulsed. And yet people still wonder why I turn my back on the religion I was raised in and my own government.

Qop!
"All that matters to them is their hate."
"Do you suppose they's all they ever had, sir?"
"No. But that's all they have left."
~Spock, Uhura, & Kirk, Star Trek "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" on tolerance

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

So I am ready to settle down I have been ready to settle down for years. I want to find the woman of my dreams, be married for a few years, have the 2.5 kids and live with the picket fence in the suburbs. Any takers? I need to find that girl. I have had two girlfriends, and in all honesty the first one probably fit me better than the second, even though we weren't right for each other. I have pictured this situation with both, and it definitely wouldn't have worked for the second. My roommate Tim says I date bossy, bitchy girls because I have low self-esteem. We'll see how that works out. I'm random because I am trashed.

(I usually don't go for celebrities, but...) TOP SIX HOTTEST GIRLS OF ALL TIME:
1. (Censored because I know her in real life)
2. Sarah Silverman (Greg the Bunny, School of Rock, Star Trek: Voyager, etc.)
3. Zoey Deschanel (Almost Famous, Elf, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Coming Summer 2005))
4. (Again censored because I know her in real life)
5. Alicia Witt (Cybill, Mr. Holland's Opus, Minority Report)
6. Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted)

Qop!
"Men are weak."
~Lord of the Rings

Ketchup and Kites

I mean catch up, but I like alliteration. Sorry if my haitus has been longer than Desperate Housewives (actually, it hasn't been!) I said last month I wasn't going to hit 10, and I meant it. End of the quarter madness, exams, band tour, and some killer birthday fun all contributed to that. But this month I will hti at least 10. Sweeps are coming up after all. :)

Speaking of television, let's talk new premieres. I give a 3 out of 10 for the premiere of Grey's Anatomy. It really didn't hold my interest. Eyes on the other hand gets like a 9. I loved it. Jake in Progress gets a 7 out of 10 because it if unique. Every time it thinks about getting dirty, it slips back into Full House values. It's odd and I admit a bit refreshing for today's shows. It would have done very well in the late 1980's. We'll see how it fares today. At least it has a good cast. In terms of season finales (yes, some shows are doing them already) Committed's was o.k. It's a decent show, nothing spectacular, but it makes me laugh occasionally. It will be back next season, as will Joey and Will & Grace. The former I am happy to see because it continues to grow in my heart, but the latter, much as I love it, needs to make next season their last and do a nice send off. It should have been this season. The West Wing season finale this week promises to be amazing, and I look forward to the new presidency coming the middle of next year. Enterprise is going off the air with a dudd, much to my disappointment.

Also, please remember the pope and don't be insensitive and use the phrase "Is the pope Catholic?" for at least a couple of weeks. If you want to know how the election of a new pope works, I recommend watching Eurotrip and reading Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. I'm not kidding. You learn a lot aout the process. It's really pretty neat. Let's just hope a nuclear bomb doesn't mess up the process like in A&D.

Anyway, the reason to write this morning is because Tim bought me a kite for my birthday. Phil and I decided to take it out for a fly this morning. After 45 minutes and our combined brain power we figured out how to put it together and launch it into the air. Ten minutes later the Kite Eating Tree from Peanuts made it's appearance. I tried to climb the tree to get it down. The lower brances weren't even in my reach. I had to jump, grab on, and pull myself up. And I did! By the time I made it to the top of the tree, I was very out of breath and felt totally old. I used to climb tress all the time (see, I'm straight!). I couldn't shake it loose, and the wind kept shaking the thin branches very hard and I almost died. Since Tree Herder wasn't around to help, Phil and I went inside and gave. Amanda Rhymes With Homosexual witnessed the end of these events, and she will attest to their funniness. (Is that a word?) Anyway, I'm going to take some of this free time to watch some TNG. Take care.

Qop! (after Simon Cowell called Ryan Seacrest on American Idol):
RYAN: Pot, kettle, black, boring.

Not Posting

So I have been so incredibly busy with work and school, barely getting a social life anyway, that I have nothing to write about. I will be out of town until Monday, so there will definitely not be another post until then. I don't think I'm going to hit 10 this month. Oh, well.

National Procrastination Week

So I have known for seven days now that this week is National Procrastination Week, and yet I have not posted during that time although I intended to. How is that for irony? And it is Week 10, which always encourages Procrastination. I have commited the ultimate procrastination this quarter - I've never been this bad before. I have still put off taking a math class, which I need to graduate. I need to register at Columbus State or something ASAP, or at least register to take it OC this summer so they will let me walk across at graduation. I also have a 8-10 page research paper due at 11am tomorrow, as well as a 1-2 page summary of it. I have done hours of research this week, but have yet to uncover a single fact. With only 10 hours left, I need to get started on it. I have help at the Westerville Library tomorrow at 9am, but I need to write most of it tonight because I won't have much time tomorrow. So I am working on it now. NOT! I am writing in my journal, listening to Modest Mouse, and IMing people, hoping someone will run to a bar with me before they close. And I spent all evening with Jonathan and Michael watching Deep Space 9 and That 70's Show. I know, I know. Ok, so I really need to get to work now. Seriously.

Qop!
"Every choice we make has a consequence..."
~ Command Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space 9 "Emissary"
BONUS Qop!
"I want to buy a mattress."
"But we don't even sell...oh!"
~Kitty and Red, That 70's Show (about to have sex!) :)

Top 100 Actors of Star Trek - Part One

As part of my ongoing attempt to memoralize Star Trek (there will be other ways before the finale in May), I was thinking about the actors involved. I plan on doing a series of entries that briefly discuss the Top 100 Actors - as judged by me. Not necessarily the big names, but those actors that appeared many times throughout the shows or who played characters essential to Star Trek lore in some way. This first entry will look at the 10 most famous captains of the Enterprise (and crewmen who served on the Enterprise and became captains).

The Enterprise Captains
Jeffrey Hunter (Captain Christopher Pike - TOS "The Cage"). Jeffrey Hunter was originally cast as the lead for the original show. He filmed the pilot "The Cage" and his character (but not the actor) returned badly mutilated in the two part episode "The Menagerie" which featured many clips from "The Cage". Hunter's real name was Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. Hunter was a movie actor, appearing in about 50 films, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in the movie King of Kings. He also guested on numerous television series including The Green Hornet, Bob Hope Presents, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Disneyland, and This is Your Life. Hunter died on May 27, 1969 at the age of 42.
William Shatner (Captain / Admiral James T. Kirk in all 3 seasons of Star Trek, The Animated Series, Phase II and the first seven movies). Shatner was brought into replace Hunter when the cast was revamped. He portrayed Kirk in all 3 seasons for the first five year mission, was promoted to admiral for the first four movies, then demoted to captain for the next three. His character died in Star Trek: Generations and hasn't been seen on screen since. Shatner writes a series of books where his character lives on. When Shatner was first cast he was trying to be a rock star although he had several screen credits including starring roles in Howdy Doody, The Brothers Karamazov, and Marc Anthony in Julius Caesar. He went on to star in the television series TJ Hooker, Tekwar, and is currently on Boston Legal. He has been in numerous movies including Miss Congeniality, Dodgeball, Free Enterprise, Osmosis Jones and National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon. He is also the author of numerous books including The Ashes of Eden, Star Trek: Memories, and Get a Life! He will be 74 next month.
Leonard Nimoy (Lieutenant / Commander / Captain / Amabassador Spock in all 3 seasons of Star Trek, the animated series, the first six movies, and the TNG two parter Unification). Nimoy's Spock was the only character not cut after the original pilot "The Cage". In the 1970's Nimoy seeked to distance himself from that role by writing a book called I Am Not Spock and refusing to do the animated series and initially the first movie. He later did do the first six movies, although he turned down a role in Generations. He tried to leave the franchise again by insisting that he be killed in Star Trek II, the movie in which it was revealed that he was now captain of the Enterprise, but due to his popularity, his character was resurrected. He directed Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, TJ Hooker, and Three Men and a Little Baby. He was a producer for Star Trek VI. He later wrote a second book in the 90's called I Am Spock and came to terms with his character. Other than a stint on General Hospital his career is unspectacular before Star Trek but immediately after it he starred in the series Mission Impossible and went on to appear in Invasion of the Body Snatchers and lent his voice to Transformers: The Movie and Atlantis. He has guest starred in Becker, Futurama, Duckman, The Simpsons, TJ Hooker, Gunsmoke, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Outer Limits, and Bonanza. He currently runs an audio book company with John deLancie called "Alien Voice" in which actors renact classic sci-fi and fantasy books. He will be 74 next month on my birthday.
DeForrest Kelley (Dr. / Admiral Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek, the animated series, Phase II, the first six movies, and the pilot of TNG) - Kelley was a classic western star, but brought on to play the cranky doctor. He was added to the theme song in the second and third seasons, the only one in the theme song besides Shatner and Nimoy. His early credits include Taxi and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He turned down a role in Generations. He didn't have much of a career post-Star Trek, although his voice did appear in The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars. His guest apperances include Bonanza, The Donna Reed Show, The Fugitive, Have Gun - Will Travel, Zane Grey Theatre, Gunsmoke, and The Lone Ranger. Kelley was so excited when the Star Trek actors cemented their names on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that he misspelled his! He kept in touch with his fellow ST actors and always wanted to bring Kirk, Spock, and McCoy back to the screen. He died in 1999 at the age of 79.
James Doohan (Lieutenant / Commander / Captain Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in The Original Series, the animated series, Phase II, the first seven movies and the TNG epsidoes "Relics"). Doohan was the king of accents and asked to do Scottish for Star Trek. Pre-Star Trek he did a few guest star roles including on Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, Bewitched, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Post Star Trek he appeared in Fantasy Island, Magnum PI, MacGyer, Knightrider, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Ben Stiller Show, and Duckman. Doohan was also in National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon. His character currently heads Starfleet's Corps of Engineers. He recently retired from showbuiness and turned 85 today.
Alan Ruck (Captain John Harriman in Star Trek: Generations). Ruck played the captain of the Enterprise-B. His film credits include Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Bad Boys, Speed, Twister, and Cheaper By The Dozen. He also starred in the television series Spin City. He also guest starred in Scrubs, Mad About You, The Outer Limits, Tales From the Crypt, and Picket Fences. Ruck is 48.
Tricia O'Neil (Captain Rachel Garret on the TNG episode "Yesterday's Enterprise"). O'Neil was the captain of the Enterprise-C. Her other film credits include Titanic, Brave New World, Police Story and guest appearances on JAG, Beverly Hills 90210, Babylon 5, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Dallas, LA Law, Dynasty, MacGyver, The A Team, Charlie's Angels, Barney Miller, and Hawaii 5-O. She will be 60 next week.
Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard on TNG and the last four films, as well as in the pilot of DS9). Stewart has had a very busy career. Before doing Star Trek, his credits included North and South, Hamlet Prince of Denmark, and Excalibur. His credits since then include X-Men, X2, X3, A Christmas Carol, Moby Dick, LA Story, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Pagemaster, Jeffrey, Jimmy Neurtron: Boy Genius, and Animal Farm. Stewart sang for the film The Prince of Egypt. Stewart has also guest starred on Ellen, Fraiser, The Simpsons, Reading Rainbow, and Saturday Night Live. Stewart is 64.
Jonathan Frakes (Commander / Captain William Riker on TNG and the last four movies, as well as guest starring on DS9, and Voyager and an upcoming apperance on Enterprise). Frakes's character served as first office for the Enterprises-D and E and is now captain of the USS Trident. His other credits include Camp Nowhere, Gargoyles, Clockstoppers, North and South, Futurama, Roswell, Third Rock From The Sun, Lois & Clark, Wings, Cybill, The Twilight Zone, Hill Street Blues, The Waltons, Dukes of Hazard, Fantasy Island, Charlie's Angels and a recurring role on Falcon Crest. He has directed several films including The Thunderbirds, Clockstoppers, First Contant, Insurrection, and episodes of Deep Space 9, Voyager, Roswell, and Diagnosis Murder. He is 52.
Scott Bakula (Captain Jonathan Archer on Enterprise). Bakula was best known for his starring role on Quantam Leap. Other film credits include Life As a House, American Beauty, Major League III, and guest apperances on Murphey Brown, Matlock, Designing Women, and Dream On. Bakula is 50.

Qop!
"Don't let them promote you...don't let them transfer you...don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship...Because while you're there...you can make a difference."
~William Shatner to Patrick Stewart, Star Trek: Generations

Randomness

First, let me start out by saying that while I did not hit my magic 15 posts this month, I did more than my minimum 10 from last month, so I'm proud of myself. Hopefully it'll stay up.

As I was walking back from class I saw a slip of paper on the ground that said 'Wear White On Monday to Support Academic Intergrity at Otterbein College'. What if I don't support Academic Integrity? What if I like cheating? Ok, so it's a strategy I don't run arond employing, but if the oppurtunity presented itself, I would memorize multiple choice answers. I am a busy man! If it saves me time and doesn't seem too big a deal, I may do it! I wouldn't put effort into cheating or try to sneak answers into a test or anything the least bit risky, but still... Cheating has been around since the beginning of time. I submit it isn't always bad.

My job and my bosses at this moment suck my ass. Does anyone have a job I can work at close to my present salary and will be flexible with me until school lets out and then let me have my week off in July for vacation? If you know a job, please let me know!

I was watching Yesterday's Enterprise last night and it occured to me that the ulta-military version of the Enterprise-D reminded me of the bridge of the Enterprise-E especially in color scheme and station positions (especially Riker's), which was built during the Dominion War. The first two shows and seven movies always threatened war, the last three shows and three movies carried on with it. What does that say about our culture today versus the sixties or even the eighties and early nineties?

I watched the first ever episode of SNL today (Jonathan - I put it on your tape). Some trivia: It was hosted by George Carlin. He did numerous monologues throughout, but acted in no skits. He sounds totally different today. It had two musical guests, both of whom performed twice. It had 'commercials', a Weekend Update with Chevy Chase, and a film by Albert Brooks. In the opening instead of saying "The Not Ready For Prime Time Players", the announced said "The Not For Ready Prime Time Players". The first skit was the famous John Belushi wolverine skit. It also featured some Bees. They liked those bee costumes in the early days.

My name is Jim and I am an alcoholic (not really).

I have not had a girlfriend since I got addicted to tv. As much as I love tv, and as much as I know I would never let tv interfere with a girlfriend, I'm beginning to think I can't wait until I'm with someone to ditch the tv addiction. I am contemplating doing it soon. If I go through with it, it will be painful.

I also watched a great episode of The Practice where Alan Shore hired Denny Crane to represent him against the firm. Yay!

Qop!
"God isn't perfect... Everything he has created so far has died!"
~George Carlin, SNL

The Next Generation

Ok, so I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. I must admit I was hooked on Star Trek after watching The Motion Picture (I know, the most boring of all the movies), but TNG was what I had my constant diet of when I was little. And yet I remember so few episodes. I bought seasons one and two long ago and watched them early on in college. I had a hard time getting a hold of season 3 until this past fall and now I am only missing season 5 from my collection. This weekend, being sick, I cleared out my DVR and needed something else to watch. So I chose TNG Season 3. And all I can saw is WOW! I'm halfway through it and I hope to keep going as much as I can around the chaos that will make up the next couple of weeks.

So my memory of 1 & 2 may be a bit vague but I remember the sadness near the end of Season 1 with Tasha's death, and I remember the absence of my beloved Dr. Crusher, much as I respected Dr. Pulaski who should have been made a main character (only sitting out for about four season 2 episodes), but season 3 I think is when the series began to click. Riker and Troi got over each other and could pursue their own love lives without jealousy (although I am still glad they eventually will end up together). Worf got more complex, Geordi became more likeable, O'Brien began showing up more and more, the Bevely / Picard love thing began to blossom, although I am still disappointed nothing will ever come of it. Picard's interaction with the crew became more charming, and yes, Wesley got annoying. We get the first of many, many guest appearances by James Cromwell (who will play a variety of characters), we get plenty of Romulans, Tasha returns with the Enterprise-C (haven't seen that episode but will make it that far before bed tonight!), and the season will end with the second best season cliffhanger in Star Trek (I think DS9 losing the station wins best, especially when it turned into a 7 parter). I am of course referring to The Best of Both Worlds. Yes, Season 3 is bliss. It renews my love for a series I honestly often think of as 'okay'. Perhaps my judegment was clouded with my extreme obsession for DS9, but I can definitely appreciate TNG. I feel like I just renewed my vows with it. :)

Qop!
"I'll have ten hot fudge sundaes."
"I have never seen anyone eat ten chocolate sundaes."
"I'm in a really bad mood. And since I've never eaten before, I should be very hungry."
~Q and Data, TNG: Deja Q, after Q is made mortal and follows Troi's suggestion to feel better

Sick Sucks

So even though I've been trying to be happy and put a positive spin on things (I did go to the opera on campus last night - about fifty feet from my apartment) I have been sick. Strep throat and all that. Even today I have a 101 degree temperature, despite the fact that I have been on antibiotics for 2 days now. So I am supremely bored, but most of the day I couldn't get off the couch. I tried to get some work down, but my head is so messed up I can't concentrate for very long. I am no longer contagious, but still feel like crap and haven't been able to go into work today. We'll see about tomorrow. If I can barely be at my desk for an hour, eight hours in a restaurant would just suck. I made it through the opera because it was so awesome, but yeah, anyway, point is sickness sucks!

Die Fledermaus To Die For!

Die Fledermaus, or literally "The Flying Mouse" or "The Bat" is one opera I have to say I enjoyed tremendously! Otterbein put it on (in English) and it was amazing! The cast was wonderful, led by Jen Braun and David Kaverman as Rosalinda and Gabriel von Eisenstein / the Countess and Marquis Renard. Show stealers included Nora Erhardt as Adele the chambermaid / Tanya Vanya, Robert Price as Frank the prison warden / Chevalier Chagrin, and especially David Price as Frosch the jailer. For those of you unfamiliar with the plot, a man named Dr. Falke (Brian Gray) is mad at Gabriel for tricking him and publically embarassing him last year when Falke was left dressed as a bat and wants revenge. Gabriel is supposed to be going to jail for eight days for insulting an official, but Falke convinces him to go to a party hosted by the humorless Prince Orlofsky (Caitlin Szarnecki) who has been promised no boredom tonight. Falke also manipulates Adele to attend as the actress Tanya and Rosalind to attend as a masked Countess, as well as the warden as a Chevalier. Hilarity ensues as Rosalind's lover is arrested and mistaken for Gabriel, and Gabriel falls for the Countess at the party. It all culminates back in the jail cell with a few unexpected twists and much drunkeness. I cannot recommend it enough. Frosch, as well as being the jailer left behind during the party, frequently comes on stage to stop the action and talk to the audience while highly inebriated. He makes some cracks about the 2005 Hockey Season, Westerville, viagra, and someone named Eckenroth. They put a few modern references in such as us finding out Frank the warden is actually just moonlighting as a warden because his hockey team (The Blue Jackets - during one scene he dones the jersey) is on strike. Shh, don't tell the NHL! I would highly recommend this show. It will be performed in Riley tonight at 8pm and tomorrow at 2pm. Tickets are $5 for students. Oh, and Scott Henning came down from Cleveland and saw the show with me, and then him and Nora and Nora's family and I went to Steak 'n' Shake which was a lot of fun. And no work today!

Qop!
"I once was so desperate for booze that I tried to squeeze the juice out of scotch tape!"
~ David Price as Frosch, Die Fledermaus

Project Runway

So yesterday I felt like total crap and laid on my couch for hours. This gave me the chance to watch the Project Runway marathon that Lisa told me I should watch. The marathon started with eight contestants left so I missed the first few shows. Oh, well. After twenty minutes I noticed that Runway backwards started to spell Yawn, which is what I was thinking of. Forty minutes into it, I started to get involved. Two hours into it and I was liking it more. By the time I got to the last few episodes, I was hooked. I didn't get a chance to watch the finale yet, but that's all I have left. Probably watch it today. Definitely glad they paraodied it on SNL or I may never have wanted to watch it. I hate that bitch Wendy and she needs to go down!!! I think Kara should win, and I so miss Andrew. Jay is my favorite, though. He reminded me so much of Scott Henning I had to tell him. We ended up talking for awhile and that was fun, and he confirmed that others have told him Jay is just like him. Now I gotta see how it turns out. After I go to the doctor and get drugs. :)

U.S.S. Dorkerprise

So I know I have only seen a few episodes of Enterprise and the few I have seen were before they even changed their mind and renamed it Star Trek: Enterprise, as they should have done in the beginning. And yet I am extremely hyped about the finale. When I see the preview for the 'final episodes' of this series of 'television's most enduring franchise' I get excited. Not quite in honor of it, but at least in my mind relating to it, Michael and I, being the humongus dorks that we are, have decided to put together our own Star Trek crews and decide how they would face off. We each picked eight characters and I've been working on a basic scenario for the last few days. I think my crew would kick his crew's ass, and he feels the same way about his crew. Go ahead and give us some feedback about what may happen! Sadly, no Enterprise crew members made the cut. Maybe if I would get around to watching the show...

Michael Me
Ship U.S.S. Voyager N.X. Defiant
Captain Jean-Luc Picard Benjamin Sisko
First Officer James T. Kirk Ezri Dax
Doctor Julian Bashir Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Engineer B'Elanna Torres Reginald Barclay
Security Natasha Yar Kira Nyers (I originally chose Ro but I'm reluctantly giving her up because of a duplication)
Helmsman Ro Laren Tom Paris
Science/OPS Spock Kathryn Janeway
Miscellaneous Guinan Worf

My scenario involves a learning session between Q and his son q. I will post the scenario after I go over it with Michael and we finalize it. Until then, live long and prosper!

Qop!
T'PAU: Live long and prosper, Spock.
SPOCK: I will do neither. I have killed my captain and my friend.
~from the original series episode "Amok Time" after Spock believes he has killed Kirk

Weekend Update

So SNL's Weekend Update this week? Hilarious as usual! The Gates thing was funny, and so was Amy Poehler's stupidity. It was great! Now a quick update of my weekend. Warning, it is not that interesting.

Friday I hung out with Kristen, Amanda, and Jenn playing cards and games. It was a blast! And I drank, but I've been doing that less and less to save money and lose weight, so I guess it's ok. Then right as I was going to bed, Michael called and so I got Laura and went to hang out with him and Lisa and Cindy and Evan until like 2:30. It was a lot of fun, but then I had to get up the next morning and work a 15 hour shift. Work is getting to be a huge drag and I hate it. Saturday night I came home, did laundry, and by the time that was done, I was exhausted and it was late again. I got up early Sunday to work. Sunday night was probably the highlight of my weekend, though. A friend came over and we watched a movie and then hung out really late (I know, sleep is important, blah blah blah :)). It was great. Except even after 10 hours of sleep yesterday, I am still bone tired and have class and another 8 hours of work today. I really don't want to go. Oh, and Monday was Lisa's birthday so her and Michael and I hung out and had Outback. It was also fun. Now I have to go shower and start my marathon day. I'll try to update again soon. I really had nothing to say today, but I'm dangerously close to not getting my 10 postings this month so I had to write.

Qop! (from the Buffy episode "Older and Far Away")
RICHARD: You have weird friends.
XANDER: News from the file marked 'duh.'

Memorial to Star Trek

As a memorial to my beloved franchise, I am publishing a brief timeline of the most important Star Trek events as today' blog entry. You can skip it if you want, but I would guarantee there are things in here that you don't know, and it won't be that long. Please read it as a tribute to this great series that has been around for 39 years and counting.
Spring 1966 - Star Trek by Gene Roddenberry is bought by the failing production studio Desilu (failing after Lucy & Desi's divorce). The original pilot stars Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike, Majel Barrett as Number One, Leonard Nimoy as a smiling Lt. Spock, Susan Oliver (Vina), John Hoyt (Dr. Boyce), Peter Duryea(Lt. Tyler), and Laurel Goodwin (Yeoman Colt). NBC rejects it, but asks them to make 2nd pilot.
September 1966 - Star Trek premieres starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Recurring characters include DeForrest Kelly (Dr. McCoy), James Doohan (Scotty), George Takei (Lt. Sulu), Nichelle Nicoles (Uhura), Grace Lee Whitney (Yeoman Rand), and Majel Barrett (with hair cut and die as Nurse Chapel).
1967 - Whitney (Rand) is fired for drug problems and Walter Koenig (Ens. Chekov) is brought on to draw the younger crowd. DeForrest Kelley is added as the 3rd and final main character.
1969 - Star Trek is cancelled after 3 seasons and 79 episodes. It becomes wildly popular in syndication.
1971 - The first Star Trek convention is held, drawing a crowd of nearly 10,000 where less than 2,000 were expected.
1973 - Star Trek: The Animated Series is launched starring the original cast minus Chekov (not by Koenig's choice, but he still wrote an episode) and featuring new characters Lt. M'Ress (a cat voiced by Barrett) and Lt. Area (the three armed, three legged lt. voiced by Doohan)
1974 - The Animated Series (produced by Filmation which would become Hanna Barbara) is cancelled after only 22 episodes. Deemed "too cerebreal" for Saturday mornings.
1978 - A new live action series called Star Trek Phase Two by Gene Roddenberry goes into production starring the original cast (with Chekov reinstated and missing Leonard Nimoy who published his book I Am Not Spock) and three new characters: Xon (A Vulcan played by David Gautreaux), Commander Decker (Stephen Collins), and Lt. Ilia (a bald Deltan played by Persis Khambatta). The series is set to launch the first ever Paramount TV Network. This would be the crew's Second Five Year Mission. The show is canned along with the network as rumors of a new sci-fi hit, Star Wars spring to press. Paramount decides to compete with movies.
1979 - The pilot for Phase Two becomes Star Trek: The Motion Picture except Decker and Ilia are killed at the end and Xon is killed at the beginning in a transporter accident. Nimoy reluctantly agrees at the last minute to reprise his role as Spock. Other episodes of Phase Two would go on to become Next Generation episodes and the Decker / Ilia story became Riker /Troi. Majel Barret begins voicing the computer and will continue to do so in every movie and television show until Enterprise, when the computer doesn't talk.
1982 - Due to the success of TMP, Star Trek II is released, allowing for Spock's death at Nimoy's request so he never had to play the character again.
1984 - Star Trek III hits theatres with the reinclusion of Spock, whom Nimoy is finally beginning to accept as his life-long role.
1986 - Star Trek IV directed by Nimoy hits theatres.
1987 - Star Trek: The Next Generation is launched by Roddenberry starring Patrick Stewart (Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Riker), Marina Sirtis (Troi, audition for Yar), Denise Crosby (Yar, auditioned for Troi), Gates McFadden (Crusher), LeVar Burton (LaForge), Brent Spiner (Data), Michael Dorn (Worf), and Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher). Guest starring Colm Meany (O'Brien). John DeLancie (Q) begins the first of many apperances on the next 3 shows.
1988 - Denise Crosby has them kill Tasha Yar and Gates McFadden leaves the show, allowing Diana Mauldar's Dr. Pulaski to step up. Worf is promoted to actual position. After a call to Roddenberry, Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) lands a recurring role. Roots: The Gift is made starring LeVar Burton and featuring Kate Mulgrey and Tim Russ (Voyager's Captain Janeway and Tuvok) as well as Avery Brooks (DS9's Captain Sisko).
1989 - Star Trek V directed by Shatner hits theatres. McFadden returns to TNG due to it's overwhelming sucess and Mauldar's lack of contract.
1990 - Afraid of being typecast and tired of being stepped on and berated by Shatner, Wil Wheaton quits TNG. Later he regrets it, but understands he needed to at that point. Dwight Schultz makes the first of 5 TNG episode appreances as Lieutenant Barclay.
1991 - Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek creator dies. Rick Berman takes over. Star Trek VI hits theatres billed as the last voyage of the original crew. It features a cameo by Michael Dorn (Worf) playing his own grandfather. Michelle Forbes (Ro) is cast on TNG as an introduction into the character they plan on making first officer of Deep Space 9.
1992 - Forbes reconsiders doing DS9 and leaves TNG.
1993 - Star Trek: Deep Space 9 is launched starring Avery Brooks (Sisko), Nana Visitor (Kira, instead of Forbes' Ro), Rene Auberjonis (Odo), Terry Farrell (Dax), Colm Meany (from TNG's O'Brien), Alexander Siddig (Bashir), Armin Shimmerman (Quark), and Cirroc Loften (Jake). Ratings are mixed, but the writing is the best of the franchise. The pilot features the TNG cast and Frakes will guest star later.
1994 - Star Trek: The Next Generation leaves the airwaves after 7 seasons, still on top of the ratings. Star Trek: Generations hits theatres allowing a smooth transition from the original crew to TNG. It features a cameo by Tim Russ (Voyager's Tuvok).
1995 - Star Trek: Voyager airs in January launching UPN, Paramount's first TV network (sound familiar???). It will go on to briefly become the #1 on satellite television. The pilot starts on Deep Space 9 and gives Armin Shimmerman (Quark) a cameor. The series will also guets star Frakes (Riker) and Burton (LaForge), as well as those two directing many episodes. Q (John DeLancie) will also recur. It stars Kate Mulgrew (Janeway), Robert Beltran (Chakotay), Tim Russ (Tuvok) Robert Picard (the Doctor), Garret Wang (Kim), Robert Duncan McNeil (Paris), Roxann Dawson (Torres), Ethan Phillips (Neelix), and Jennifer Lien (Kes). Dwight Schultz makes a one-time Voyager apperance as Barclay in Season Two. Michael Dorn joins the cast of Deep Space 9 in his character of Worf and temporarily soars ratings.
1996 - Star Trek: First Contact hits theatres directed by Jonathan Frakes (Riker) (featuring cameo by Dwight Schultz and lacking the camero by Terry Farrell of her piloting the Defiant no matter how much she begged the studio). Two Voyager actors do cameors: Robert Picardo (who has also been guesting on DS9) and Ethan Phillips. Alexander Siddig (Bashir) and Nana Visitor (Kira) are married in real life and give birth to a son. The pregnancy is disguised with a second O'Brien baby storyline.
1997 - The characters of Worf (Dorn) and Dax (Farrell) are married on DS9. Jennifer Lien (Kes) leaves Voyager and Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine is added.
1998 - Star Trek: Insurrection hits theatres directed by Jonathan Frakes (Riker). Terry Farrell asks that they kill off Dax so she can do the show Becker and not be stereotyped. Nicole deBoer takes over as Ezri Dax, who is NOT married to Worf.
1999 - Dwight Schultz's Barclay is added as a recurring character on Star Trek: Voyager and will star in six episodes, most with Marina Sirtis (Troi). Star Trek: Deep Space 9 leaves the airwaves after 7 seasons, culminating in the death of it's captain, Benjamin Sisko.
2001 - Star Trek: Deep Space 9 Season Eight hits bookshelves featuring Nog's promotion to enginerring chief, a new 100 year old human first officer, Kira's promotion to commander, Ro's return, and a host of new characters. Jake Sisko goes missing. Torres (Dawson) and McNeil (Paris) are married on screen in Voyager and have a child. Star Trek: Voyager ends it's seven year run. Enterprise is launched starring Scott Bakula (Archer), Jolene Blalock (T'Pau), Connor Trinner (Trip), Dominic Keaton (Reed), Anthony Montgomery (Mayweather), John Billingsley (Phlox), and Linda Park (Hoshi). The theme song has words! DeForrest Kelley (McCoy) becomes the first and only main cast member to date that dies.
2002 - Star Trek: Nemesis hits theatres and features Brent Spiner (Data)'s death and a cameo by the now Admiral Janeway (Mulgrew), as well as the long awaited Riker/Troi wedding and promotion and the return of Wesley Crusher. It will be the last TNG movie. Kate Mulgrew escapes being the first lady of Ohio when he husband loses the governor race to Taft.
2003 - Deep Space 9: Season Eight ends with the return of Jake and his father, Ben. Star Trek: Voyager finally launches it's own Season Eight books, but no more books are forthcoming. Enterprise is rennamed Star Trek: Enterprise, a long overdue change.
2004 - Deep Space 9: Season Nine launched on bookshelves. Siddig (Bashir) and Visitor (Kira) divorce quietly. William Shatner(Kirk) and Rene Aubjeronis (Odo) star in the new hit show Boston Legal. Brent Spiner becomes the villian on Enterprise playing Data's creator's ancestor.
2005 - Star Trek: Enterprise is cancelled with a bang featuring Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes (Riker and Troi) and the '05-'06 season will be the first in 18 years with no new Star Trek. Production begins on a new Star Trek movie featuring a completely new cast, probably to be released in 2006.
2006 - Star Trek's 40th Anniversary.

Qop! (from Star Trek)
"Space...the Final Frontier...these are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. It's five year mission, to explore strange new world, to seek out new life and new civilization, to boldly go where no man has gone before!"
(I was going to use "Beam Me Up Scott!" but no one ever actually has said that on Star Trek).

Miscellaneous

I really don't have anything to write about, but it's been five days, and this is only my fifth post this month. I have to do five more in the next two weeks. I guess I could give you a few television updates. For instance, Armin Shimmerman (Quark on Deep Space 9 and Principal Snyder on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) made an appearance on Committed last week as the building's super. Sadly, he died in the episode. Oh, and William Shatner, because of the popularity and success he has had on Boston Legal, will not be appearing on Enterprise this season as previosuly announced by Paramount. Instead, they have signed Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes (Troi and Riker fomThe Next Generation) to reprise their roles for the series finale. Brent Spiner is also expected to be back before the end of the season as the villian. So they are bringing half the cast of TNG in to finish off the show. I guess that gives it it's big send off, but it's a bit disappointing.

Also, Howard Dean was elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. I heard this news with mixed feelings. I am excited for him that he is in such a high profle job for the Democrats. Although as SNL said, if he's the head, who's going to be the neck? But this also means he cannot run for president in 2008, which saddens me. I wanted him to win in 2004 and am still unhappy about that scream taken totally out of context and ruining his chances. With Dean out of commission, I don't see any other choice for the Democrats but to run their leading candidate, Hilary Clinton. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a huge Hilary fan, and as SNL said, it's a nice, fresh new way for them o get their asses handed to them on a platter. However, who else stands a chance of winning? I mean, if they put Hilary out I think they only chance the Republicans have of beating her is to get the law changed and run Arnold. Those debates could be on Pay-Per-View! Talk about a circus! Anyway, the Clintons did ok for 8 years and other than my man Dean (and admittedly Arnold), I don't know who else might be a good president, so we'll just wait and see.

Qop!
"Laughter really is the best medicine and that story just cleared up my hepatitus." ~ Bobbie, Joey's agent on Joey played by Jennifer Coolidge (Stifler's mom) in last week's episode.

Hospitals

Hospitals scare me. I don't like hospitals. I just got back from visiting my friend Dave in one and have just a few minutes before band so I thought I'd reflect on this. I hate illness and disease. They kind of scare me. I don't take medicine, not even Tylenol, unless it is an absolute last resort. I will take percription drugs if a doctor makes me. I don't want to get immune or resistant to the drugs in case I really need them in the future. I didn't want to go visit Dave today. Not because I don't like him; he's a great guy. He's 30 years old and he has the body of an 80 year old though, I swear. Poor guy. All those health problems. That kind of thing terrifies me. I definitely don't want to spend any time in hopsitals and hope I just die quietly in my sleep one day before I get too old and need serious medical attention. Anyway, on that sombering note, it's band time.

Qop!
"It's no secret that I don't like people much, and I like doctors even less!"
"That's funny, I thought most doctors were people."
"Then you were wrong. Ask any patient."
~ Graves and Troi, Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Schizoid Man"

Drunken Jesus Gaypants

Ok, so my title today my offend some people. I hope it doesn't as it is intended soley as a joke. Well, sort of. You see, my birthday this year, while on Saturday, and during spring break, falls the day before Easter Sunday. You see my dilema about a party? So I will be having it the following Friday, the Friday of Spring Quarter Week One for all your Otterbeiners, and April Fool's Day (April 1st) for everyone else. Obviously this occasion calls for something way more than normal festivities. So it is going to be a toga party. And a Last Supper-themed party. Weird enough for you yet? I am going to try to get goblets to drink our "wine" or whatever out of. Scott Henning will appear as Jesus and I will be John or Mary Magdalen. Which is it in that famous painting? We'll pose for the Last Supper, take pictures of us performing lewd acts, and get totally wasted! Sound like fun? Mark your calendars.

Also, I updated other parts of my web site! I know it's been months since I did that, but I'm up late anyway and it seemed like a good idea. Check it out.

Qop! (from my friend Michael during a recent viewing of 24, when Tony & Jack were talking:)
"Hey, remember that time we both fucked Nina?"

That Won't Be Delivered Until Tuesday

(about the title) I just keep saying that at work when we run out of things. Several of our big weekly orders come on Tuesday. It reminds me of the movie Star Trek: Generations when the Enterprise-B is in danger and nothing that would help them will be installed until Tuesday. If nothing else, I (and probably Jenn) find it amusing. Anyway...

My uncharaectristic lack of postng most probably stems from my uncharacteristic playing of the video games. I really want to finish the Buffy game and move onto other things. I have just three levels left and have almost everything unlocked. That would be super if I could finish that in a week or two, but I usually hardly ever play. I also bought Resident Evil because it was on sale and I had a gift card. It will have to wait until after Buffy, and should wait until after Lord of the Rings, since I bought those two games first. Hmm. The hard decisions of a bland life. :)

Qop!
"Well, Donald Rumsfeld said, when we talked about bombing the al Qaeda infrastructure in Afghansitan, he said there were no good targets in Afghanistan. Let's bomb Iraq. And we said, but Iraq had nothing to do with this. And that didn't seem to make much difference." ~Richard Clarke. Hmm.

Year of Hell

I stole the name of today's blog from a two part Star Trek: Voyager episode. I feel it is a very appropriate title for today. In the episode things kept getting worse for the crew for 365 days and then things snapped back a year and all those bad things were erased. Any chance we could do that here? I mean, Bush getting reelected was bad enough, but someone else actually moved higher up my 'Would Not Care If Someone Assassinated Him' List, which I never actually made in case you were wondering. It's all figurative. Anyway, Bush is knocked down to #2 as someone who has been hgih up for awhile moves to #1: Rick Berman.

WARNING: THE REST OF THIS BLOG IS HERESAY AND PERSONAL OPINION. I HAVE SOME FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE BUT NO ACTUAL EXPERIENCE ABOUT WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

What did Rick Berman do, you may ask? Here's a brief history lesson for you. Star Trek was created in 1966 by Gene Roddenberry. It was a brilliant show that ran for three seasons and really picked up momentum in syndication. By the 1970's, they had made a movie, and the 1980's saw the spinoff, Star Trek: The Next Generation reach new heights. It was soon followed by Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and Star Trek: Voyager. Voyager was the show that launched UPN. While all this was going on, 10 movies were made, and the fifth show, Enterprise, premiered in 2001. Now here we are about halfway through Season Four of Enterprise, it's ratings are going up, they finally have amazing writers (Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens), and the show gets cancelled! Why? Was it UPN? Nope, that network is proud to carry it and can't wait for the sixth installment. What went wrong?

Gene created TNG and even had a hand in the development of DS9, which was the best made show. Ira Steven Behr took DS9 and ran with it and made it brilliant. Jeri Taylor, a producer from the hugely successful TNG took Voyager and developed it. Brannon Braga, writer os the seventh and eighth movies, took over Voyager from Jeri Taylor and made it the Number One show on UPN when UPN was the Number One station on satellite television. Everything dark in Star Trek can be attributed to Braga. Braga went on to help create Enterprise, but has become more and more detached from the show. Why? I think it's Berman!

Berman screwed up Star Trek: Insurrection (the 9th movie) and took the fantastically brilliant script of Star Trek: Nemesis (the 10th movie) and managed to cut the hell out of it until it was mediocre. Berman took over the franchise in 1991 when Gene died. Berman took TNG and Voyager off the air despite their popularity. Berman kept DS9 from reaching the heights it could have. And Berman is pulling Enterprise just when it's earning it's rightful place among great Trek. BERMAN IS AN ASSHOLE!!! Enterprise has a great cast, great concept, and a great villian this year (Brent Spiner) and is moving towards the birth of the UFP, which was set 10 years after the series premiered. Initial estimates were a 7 year show (like the previous three series) and a movie three years later. Now the UFP will form at the end of the season. I HATE BERMAN!!!

Qop!
"Let me get this straight. You think I'm evil because I brought a bunch of teenag girls out into the wilderness...and didn't touch them?" ~ Giles, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy: The Sleep Slayer

So I stopped by Lisa & Michael's after work (9am-11pm Saturday) with pizza and we watched a little Buffy, and then they introduced me to the Bufy board game. There are basically 4 different games depending on what 'season' you are playing, and tons of different characters, and someone has to be the bad guys and at least 1, up to 4, people have to be the good guys. Needless to say itis 6:15am and I am still up. Since I would be getting up for work in less than an hour anyway, I'll just stay up. What a great game and a great night, but boy am I tired! Catch you all on the flip side.

P.S. This is my TENTH POST FOR JANUARY!!! I HIT MY GOAL!!!

Qop!
Buffy to Dawn in the series finale, Chosen. "Ok, you can come, but if you die, I'm telling!"

Hollywood 2005

So the movie title list for 2005 has now been released, and there are once again going to be a lot of movies this year. Here's a quick list of what I think will be the best and worst movies of 2005 in no particular order.

WORST
Son of the Mask ~ Enough said.
The Ring 2 ~ I refused to see the first one.
XXX: State Of the Union ~ Give me a break!
Ace Bigalo: European Gigalo ~ I like the first one, but geez!
Dukes of Hazard
The Honeymooners
The Amityville Horror
Land of the Dead
The Devil Rejects ~ Directed by Rob Zombie. Scary!
Oliver Twist
Herbie: Full Loaded ~ Another Lovebug movie, this one with Lindsay Lohan?
The Bad News Bears ~ Starring Billy Bob Thorton
Fever Pitch ~ The movie was only made in 1997! Why are they remaking it!?!
Sahara
Domino ~ Kiera Knightley as Laurence Harvey's daughter, a bounty hunter
ON THE FENCE
King Kong ~ It has a chance because Peter Jackson made it.
Be Cool (The Get Shorty sequel) ~ Haven't seen the original.
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous ~ It has Sandra Bullock, but what about William Shatner Michael Caine, and Candece Bergen?
The Legend of Zorro ~ The sequel to The Mask of Zorro
The Pink Panther ~ Starring Steve Martin.
Bewitched ~ It's gotten good reviews... Who am I kidding. Kidman is no Montgomery.
The yet untitle first Wallace & Gromit movie
A Sound of Thunder ~ Go back in time to hunt dinos. Hmm.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith ~ Hmm, Bard Pitt & Angelino Jolie, not my favorites...
The Weather Man ~ It looks good...
Rumor Has It ~ It has Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Costner. Interesting.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Crash
The Merchant of Venice
Guess Who? ~ A remake of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? with Bernie Mack.
Hitch ~ Will Smith asa date doctor?
The Interpreter ~ Nicole Kidman
Melinda and Melinda ~ Woody Allen
a 3 part film, each made by a different director. Hmm. Sonderbergh, Antonioni, & Wai
BEST
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (May 19) ~ Good reviews, Chewie returns, is this George Lucas's chance for redepemption?
Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire (Nov. 18) ~ How could it possibly be bad?
Batman Begins ~ Christian Bale and Michael Caine! How could it miss?
War of the Worlds (June 29) ~ Please don't screw up a classic, Speilberg.
Corpse Bride ~ A zany animated movie by Tim Burton
The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy ~ Sam Rockwell and my future wife, Zoey Deschanel
Charlie & The Chocolate Factor ~ The creepy version!!!
Rent ~ directed by Christopher Columbus!
The Producers ~ Mel Brooks, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Will Ferrel, & Uma Thurman!

Qop!
"I believe the name of the report was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Within the United States"." ~ Gotta love Condeleeza Rice (On a report issued to Bush in August 2001)

The Real #8

My title refers to the fact that I miscounted since one of the eight I counted was Nick's. This is my real 8th post this month, and since there are still 11 days left, I think I'll hit my goal of two more. Of course, there are still 11 more months for me to go before I pass my new year's resolution, but that isn't anywhere close to the subject I am thinking about.

Warning! Highly personal journal! I don't usually do this, but tonight I am on my fifth glass of wine and about halfway through the movie The Graduate and so I am choosing to really open up. Not that I care what people think of me, but the internet is not my first choice for these revelations. However having no one else to talk to tonight, you get to read it. This is my first viewing of the movie, but watching it after consuming a bit of alcohol and the current state of my love live (or lack thereof) is leaving me a little emotional. Looking back at my life, I have made a lot of choices, and not all of them do I not regret (does that make sense?). I am fairly glad I waited until college before I was ever in a relationship, although that was not entirely by choice. However I am still a virgin (sorry if you consider that overshare) and that is by choice. I've had many instances where I could have chosen to give that up, but I stuck to my morals. Now that I seem to have less morals (in fact I'm becoming downright apathetic and that scares me) I kind of regret not taking certain chances. Although looking back at my life, there are only 3 women I would seriously consider offers from that gave them. Unfortunately, one of them was older and married and hence the bittersweet state I am now in. I am somewhat proud that I stuck to my guns and stopped anything from happening, although to be honest that may have been more from paralyzing fear of a barely 18 year old who hadn't even kissed a girl than anything else, but at the same time...the woman was amazing. I've never met anyone like here before or since. I'm sure that door is now closed to me and I do feel that that's probably a good thing, but I still think very fondly of this woman. I had (have) a huge crush on her and I still melt when I see her occasionally. I kind of wish I had gone for it, although I'm sure it would have been a big mess and I would have regretted it. But still. Hmm.

Qop! (not really in the mood, but here's one anyway):
"Darkness is always most evident in the hour before dawn." (I am stealing a pun from a Buffy philosophy book. Notice how Dracula showed up and was defeated moments before the first appearance of Dawn. Ironic anyone?)
BONUS Qop!
JOEY: Now it's time for some serious questions. Who would win in a fight. Dracula or the Wolfman?
NEW ASST (Pete from Two Guys, a Girl, & a Pizza Place): Definitely the Wolfman.
JOEY: And you were doing so well! Why do you say that?
NEW ASST: Because they'd be in a lock until dawn, and then Dracula would turn to dust and the Wolfman would just be a guy again.
JOEY: Wow! I've never thought of it that way before. That changes everything!

Post #8 - I Might Make It!

So, I don't have a whole lot to talk about. Just swamped with work and school stuff, working on my book (the second one), and my DVR. It kinda makes me sad. All the way home from work tonight I kept signing show tunes and I really wanted to put on a musical to watch tonight, or even just catch up with my DVR (I recorded a really interesting looking show about the DaVinci Code) but instead I need to read a bunch of the Koran and write about it. It's after midnight! I mean, seriously, can't I have a life? Ok, maybe I do a little, but do these teachers really expect us to be be able to read everything they assign? Especially someone likes me who works full time? It's ridiculous! However, I think my Koran journal is supposed to be graded tomorrow and I haven't started reading it, let alone writing about it. Oh, well.

Also, I am selling girl scout cookies! Sorry I forgot to tell you! Order them through me by Friday! Just let me know what you want. Thanks!

P.S. Never show your friends at work the Alias dance. Seriously. BIG mistake. Now they want me to do it constantly. Oh, and they laugh. Good thing I didn't give them names on anyone else who does it, not that they'd know you anyway. :)

Qop! (My friends agree with me; it does sound Klingon!)
"I've never understood the female capacity to avoid a direct answer to any question."
~Spock, Star Trek, "This Side of Paradise"

And I Was Doing So Well...

My title, of course, refers to the fact that I posted 3 days in a row, and then I just took 3 days off I claim 'not my fault' for a number of reasons:
1. My DVR was installed on Wednesday! I mean, come on, what do you think I've been doing with every second of free time.
2. I went out with a friend on Friday night and had a blast, then came home and gotten drunk. I needed it. :)
3. I just got out of a band concert that I had to play for. (OPCICA was at OC this year)
4. I worked a 20 hour shift from 8am Saturday until 4am Sunday (today), came home, slept a bit, then had the concert. I had to work this shift because the concert was during my normal shift hours. Anyone else want to still be up at 1am after everyone else goes home drinking wine and slicing lettuce? I thought not.
5. My life is just plain boring. :)

Things I'm looking forward to this week:
1. Monday and Wednesday nights with some of the coolest people I know, watching some really cool shows.
2. The 2 part premiere of Point Pleasant on Wednesday and Thursday.
3. No classes tomorrow! (but still tons to do, work, projects, etc.)
4. I have next Saturday night off! Of course, I'm going to have to work really hard at home this week to make up the hours, but I have a project I can work on to do it that shouldn't be too un-fun.
5. I can't possibly care any less about my classes than I do now, so maybe care a little more?

Qop! (from Thursday night's The Daily Show With Jon Stewart)
"So how do we blame for not finding the WMD's in Iraq? Bush? No way. Intelligence? Nah. Saddam! He's the one who didn't have the WMD's!"

3 CONSECUTIVR DAYS OF POSTING!!!

Wow, I can't believe I've actually written 3 consecutive days! And I didn't expect to write today. I mean I got my DVR today. It is so totally amazing. I can pause shows I'm watching and rewind if I miss a line! Plus I can set it to record new episodes of my favorite shows without taping reruns. It is the coolest invention ever. Anyway, I just have two things I wanted to post about today, though, real quick.

1.MICHAEL MOORE - Congradulations on Farenheit 9/11 winning the best movie category of People's Choice Awards. I voted for it! I am so happy people picked a movie that meant something instead of Spiderman 2 or Shrek 2 or the Incredibles, all of which were good, but I think Farenheit deserved it more. And this time a member of the Senate did stand up to contest the vote. A member of Congress from Ohio even helped! Yay!

2.HOWARD DEAN - Most of of you know I am a huge Deaniac. I so wanted that man to be in the White House right now. However, he may be giving up his chance to run in 2008, which if Hilary by some miracle doesn't run, he could so win. Instead he's trying to run the Democratic Party. I wish him well. Maybe try for the House in 2016? I mean 2012 hopefully will just be the reelection of a good candidate (I can dream, can't I?). Hey, is there any chance Bill can run again?

Qop! (Michael Dorn & Terry Farrell from the Deep Space 9 episode, "Change of Heart")
WORF: I have a sense of humor. On the Enterprise, I was considered to be quite amusing.
DAX: That must have been one dull ship.
WORF: That is a joke. I get it. It is not funny, but I get it.

Oh, What A Beautiful...SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

So why in the hell do they schedule an 8am class and then it only meet 15 minutes every day? Ok, I understand that it's at 8am to help people's schedules. I mean, I wouldn't have time to take it if it wasn't at 8am, but geez. And to make matters worse, I don't have another class until 11am. I mean, if it wasn't for that dumb class, I could sleep until 10:30! I am totally exhausted and burnt out (Yes, I know it's only week 2 of winter quarter and there are 20 more weeks to go before I'm free). If it was a cool class, I might not mind so much, but The Informed Spectator - it's how to watch sports. The first two weeks of class are get into groups and prepare a report on the assigned sport. The third week is presentations. Does the teacher want to teach? At all? This is a pointless class I care nothing about and if I didn't have so much work to do, I would instantly go back to sleep!

Oh, because you were so kind to read this, how about a brief preview of my book, that is just about finished with my editing process? This is a brief scene from the prologue:

3000 Year Ago, The Mountains of Tibet:

Then he saw a black figure moving towards him in a blur. Geisha didn’t run. There was no way to go except off the cliff and that had to be at least as painful as what was coming. He considered the positives of jumping and ending things on his own terms, but that didn’t strike him as right. He would die possessing the dignity he had tried to live every day of his life with.
As the pursuer stopped, Geisha was startled. The man was totally unlike anything he had ever seen or imagined. He was wearing all black and covered from head to toe. But the material was shiny and hard. Strange. The feet were very large and sprawled. The face had no features except for an extension ending in a point in the center. The black thing raised a strange object. He pulled some sort of level attached to it, and Geisha suddenly felt great pain. He had no clue why.
Geisha spun with the impact of the cause of the pain, still not knowing what had hit him, only that it hurt worse than he had ever imagined anything possibly could. The blow staggered him back towards the edge of the cliff. For a moment he teetered, but he had no control of his body while dealing with so much pain. He pitched over the side and began to fall. That didn’t last more than a few seconds before Geisha’s head hit the ground with a sickening crack as it impacted with a stone, the rest of his body tumbling behind it. The angle of the impact had instantly snapped his neck and the pain was gone. The world went blissfully dark.

Qop! (sounds Klingon, doesn't it?):
"I like money better than people. People can so rarely be exchanged for goods and/or services." ~ Willow imitating Anya, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, "Triangle"

Season Premieres

Ok, I vow to you all to post at least 10 times a month all year (kudos to me if I post 15). So far it is the 10th and this is my 3rd post so I'm not doing too bad, even though it's been a week since my last one. I need to step it up and post every 3rd day. Just to clarify the rules it's 10 posts on 10 different days. No fair of quick posts on same day, although you never know if I might cheat with a little before midnight / after midnight thing. :) Ok, onto this post.

Nick, thank you for your somewhat long but interesting post. I could reciprocate in kind, but I am exhausted and have a hard time narrowing it down. Jersey Girl, Steel Magnolias, AI, Jerry Maguire, and American Wedding certainly all top the list. Addicted to Love and Eternal Sunshine suck though dude! :)

The real point of my post today: Season premieres! They're all in and let's take a quick look at shows just starting or coming back from hiatus:
Joey - Back to it's season with hilarious Lucy Liu. I like this show, but it does lack something. However, it won a People's Choice Award so I think it'll be ok. Most sitcoms start out slow...
Will & Grace - I love this show, but I do hope that next season is it's last. This season so could have been. Getting a little old.
The West Wing - Can I tell you how excited I am about this election? I needed a little pick-me-up after black Tuesday (REMINDER: Wear all black on inaugeration day!) With Leo's heart attack and Donna and Josh quitting, this show just keeps getting better and better. I kind of want the republican Alan Alda to win, but I think Jimmy Smits has it in the bag. Of course, dealing with gay marriage this week, all I have to say is, it's about time. And why can't we elect Jed Bartlett as our real life president?
Lost - just keeps getting better. I love Daniel Dae Kim. I want to see more of his character, and Locke. I swear they're in purgatory!
Desperate Housewives - Oh yeah! Mike is gonna go to jail! :( But can't Terry sing? Oh baby! And she's very hot! :)
Point Pleasant - Premieres next Wednesday, January 19th. Can't wait. The Antichrist. Yikes!
Alias - Great opening! My jaw lie on the floor when Sydney got fired, and I loved Marshall's arrest and "Sloane's here." They so need to bring Weiss in on it. It's gonna kick ass this season. And no matter what anyone says, Irena cannot be dead!
24 - The best opener this season. 4 brand new episodes! How crazy is that? Jack robbing the gas station was great, and I so called the tea as soon as the mother offered to make it. I miss everyone (except Chloe who I hate and wish was gone), but they'd better all come back later this season! How cool would a strike force of Jack, Palmer, Chase, Tony, Michelle, and D.B. Woodside be? I mean seriously.

Also, thanks to all my homies who I watch most of these shows with. They wouldn't be the same without conversations of ice cubes, gasoline, the 24 monarchy, and lyme disease. You all rock!

NEW FEATURE: QUOTE OF THE POST (Or Qop, because it sounds funny):
(From the Bob & Tom Show today: "Budda was too fat to hang on the cross, so they said 'Well, just let him sit quietly.'"