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.'"

Let's Get Emotional About it!

Have you ever felt that... well.. you need a good cry? You know, even if you're a man, you just want to sit down, while no one else is looking, cept possibly with a girlfriend to, in our own man-like idea of possibly scoring browning points... okay, I'm starting to ramble off, but, every once and awhile... even a guy needs a hug. Or heck, a nice "feel good" movie at the end of the day. Or maybe some nice little emotional movie. So I thought I decided to share with you, some great and what I call my top 20/21 and in no particular order "emotional movies."


1 Almost Famous (I prefer the director's cut "Untitled: The Bootleg Cut)
This movie feels like me. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I really just like to connect to my characters, but while I don't particually write music reviews, why is it I relate to Willam more than I prolly should? The whole dynamic of Penny Lane, Willam and Russel make the film, and of course, who can forget Jason fucking Lee??

2 Good Will Hunting
What can I say. Robin Williams makes this movie the great flick it is. Sure, I am a fan of Damon and Affleck too, but come-on. His relationship with Lambeu makes the movie. He geuiniely cares for the boy and the whole subplot with his wife... Skylar leaving and Will pushing her away... Just a great coming of age flick. And of course, that damned Pudge Fisk card.


3 A.I. - Artificial Intelligence
While I had to watch the DVD's second disc to understand the symbolic importance of what the fuck Jude Law was really doing in the movie, the ending of the movie makes you weep like a little girl. I don't know. I don't have a great super duper all sunshine and roses relationship with my mom. I wish I did though. And in a way, I want what David (the cute robot kid) wants. To love his mother and to have her love in return. And not have any one or anything matter but that love. And... that makes you fucking weep.


Weep.

4 Ocean's Eleven
We're moving to "Feel Good and Cheer Me Up" territory here, everytime I watch this movie, I am still amazed they fucking pull off that heist. And yes, I know what's going to happen. But it still amazes me. And they still look just as cool! I mean... fuck, I need to get George Clooney's trainer. Or agent. Or both.

5 You've Got Mail
I don't know what it is about this movie. First time I watched it in theaters, I was mildy dissapointed with it. Then I saw it on TNT and something about the movie stuck me differently. The actors of Ryan and Hanks, and EVERYONE in their supporting cast ranging from the little boy (F-O-X), Dabney Coleman to Greg Kinnear, it oozes of a romantic let-me-down-pick-me-up film that just gives you hope. And that's refreshing for a change.


6 Disney's Lilo & Stitch
Maybe it's Elvis, maybe I just darker things when I get older. But I LOVE this movie. To quote comic book guy from The Simpsons.. "Favorite. Movie. Ever." Well, in terms as far as Disney is concerned. ;-) But, this tale is quite dark when you get to the heart of it. Nasty possibly bloodthirsty alien bent on destructing worlds, intergalatic police, and a girl soon to be ripped from her sister's custody to her sister's lack of responsibility. Those are the basic roots of the film, but when you watch it, you just feel all... happy in the end. While no sequel or TV show will truly recapture (at least this point in time shows us this) the magic of the ending gives you during the "Burning Love" rendition by Wyonna, you truly feel a sense of Ohana, and that family is what you make it. (And the saddest part? "I'm... I'm lost. I'm lost." )


7 Addicted to Love
While I know Jimmy will shoot this down very quickly, and for reasons I quite reasonably understand, this is one of those "Get revenge" films, that soon turns into a blossoming relationship between Broderick and Ryan. Also, I find it just plain funny, and relatable. When you are obviously facing rejection your heart finds hope as the person you loved is on a pedestal and you can't let them go. Let's just say... "a smile chart" made by Broderick's character (an astrologer and studier of life and stars obviously) relates to ANOTHER chart of her moods within the week, and it leads him to conclude she (his ex played by Kelly Preston) will break up with her new fiance, some french guy. Yes, halarity ensues, and there is even talk of Lassie getting it on with Timmy.

8 Jerry Maguire
"SHOW ME THE MONEY!"
Come one. Despite that nice "catchphrase" which spread like wildfild across America during the Christmas and summer of 1998 to 1999, Jerry Maguire was a film for sportfans and non sportfans alike, about... gee golly gosh. Love. Friendship too. I mean I think the film rests on Gooding Jr. and Cruise's interaction, even tho that blonde chick and cute kid, awe hell, they work too.

9 Rudy
Okay, back to emotional territory-ville, Rudy is a football film for people who, it doesn't matter about what ti is. While it's more biased towards the land of football than previous entry Jerry Maguire, it shows off "Samwise Gamgee" himself, Sean Astin as a great actor, and the music plays a huge part in the finale of the film, which leads that dreams CAN come true if you work hard at it.

10 Kissing A Fool
Not many people know of this film. And while it's not funny, it doesn't make you cry, it's a good emotional film. And Jason Lee. And that Ross guy from Friends. And oh yeah, he's a dickhead in the movie. Actually worth a watch.

11 Awakenings
This is an older movie by Penny Marshall, starring Robin Williams and Bob DeNiro. The movie will have you crying like a girl at the end. Actually this is almost as close with Artifical Intelligence in the "Cry like a woman" film department.

12 Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
The movie is very odd. So odd, most people will either love or hate the movie. But Jim Carrey gives his best performance since... well I hate to say it but he outdoes Truman Show. It's bout a guy who finds out his girl, or EX-girlfriend, erased all her memories of him. So he gets revenge and does the same thing. In the mind, we see the process occur, but the mind of the human is a terrible thing to destroy, as it makes you the person you become. And history can be upt to.... repeat itself. But.. Jim Carrey's most honest and terrific performance.

13 The Truman Show
The first big film that was overlooked. The Truman Show is a film that really makes you weep for Truman and hate Cristof. While his intentions are pure and good, Cristof cripples and destroys Truman actually, depending how you look at it, so yeah. It's another movie about the man bringing us down. Makes you feel good for Truman tho at the end. and actually gets a bit of a tear from me.


14 Saving Private Ryan
Speilberg. Hanks. Tripple X. (xXx) and Damon. (minus Affleck) This war flick pulls your heartstrings when you finally reach the last 20 to 30 minutes of this great war epic from War World 2.

15 The Iron Giant
I never thought a cartoon would make me cry. I mean, as much as this. (Yes, more so than Lilo & Stitch...) If you never seen it, for shame. The movie is so heartfelt and it's from the guy who did The Incredibles. YES. So go watch something that really tugs your heart. For the person you are is not the person others think you are. You are who you want to be. Even if it's Superman. And there is a missle coming for the earth. Go get em, Superma-- err I mean "The Iron Giant."

16 That Thing You Do!
Tom Hanks would win the award for actor most on my list. But it's true. The guy makes kick-ass movies. This goes into the "Feel Good" Category. while Ocean's Eleven is about making you feel about robbing a casino, That Thing You Do! is about the (I believe) creation of the " One Hit 'Wonders' " and Guy, (the drummer) growing up. Also, that song, it's peppy, and catchy. Just like Hanks says in the movie! Well don't that beat all! Or as Guy would say... "I am SPARTACUS..."

17 Disney's The Lion King
Scar kills Simba's Dad. ANd it's sad, alright? And it's good. Timon and Pummba. Scar, Simba and the whole Pridelands. What more do you need?

18 Jersey Girl
Kevin Smith's ode to his wife... and in a way, his father, a touching tribute to child-raising. And the ending rocks. I mean come on. Ben Affleck singing? Comedy genius! The burial scene of J-Lo with that touching Aimee Mann song? Sad as hell! If you've not seen this, what are you waiting for? Follow's Jimmy's example, a great one mind you, and see the movie multiple times!!!!! You honestly won't regret it.

19 The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Whoa whoa whoa! There are a lot of reasons I bring this up. First off, The two parts of the film, or the "trilogy" which rings kick-ass for me, are both Sam's, and that is his monolouge in Two Towers in what makes us go on in face of evil and danger surrounding us... and of course, the best fucking line ever... "I know I can't carry the ring for you... but I can carry you." Granted I'm sure I ruined it, but when all hope is lost, it brings the biggest smile on your face as a viewer. We've invested... 7 hours at least into the film (s) and we want to see something good happen. But while we're winning on our fronts, the ring is not yet destroyed. And Frodo is turning evil! I mean COME ON!! But, um, yes. Anyway. :-D

20 Spider-man/Spider-man 2
Now... alot of people may be going.. "what? Emotional? C'mon. It's an action super hero movie." But really... I totally relate to Peter Parker. I do. I mean, I wasn't the popular kid. My "Spider-man" powers were my talents of singing and being the band geek. And I wasn't normal like everyone else. I don't care too much for sports, and I talk about movies constantly or stuff that pop culture fans only would know. And... every guy has "The girl next door" that they fell in love with in High School. I had mind. We never honestly got her, but it's good Spider-man did. and he got to kick ass webslinging in the process too. While I count Spider-man 2 more so than the first film, the first film is not without it's merit. The death of Uncle Ben was horrifying for me, (I saw my grandmother's life slip out of her, and it was haunting very much like the film's actor) and the fact Peter didn't really get MJ at the end, was refreshing. And to see everything pay off in film 2, (more notably, a very touching moment which brings tears to my eyes are the train sequence, the end of the film's "This is heavy." and of course, the "Raindrops Are Falling On My Head" sequence) is what makes it all worth while and not just another comic book movie, but an actual well developed character I care about.

Okay, while these are my top 20, I do want you to know these are mine. These do not reflect Jimmy's opinions in anyway, and while I know Artificial Intelligence is prolly on the list somewhere along with American Wedding, I'm sure..... ;-)

But I digress. Please share (including you Jimmy) your Top 20 Emotional Films, and these can be films that moved you in a good way (made you feel really good after you watched it) or made you just cry. If you can't think of 20 (I'm a movie geek... I understand) just list how ever many you have!

(Sigh) Back to School

So Saturday was awesome. Awesome play, awesome dinner, awesome company. Haven't decided whether the first or third one was better. :) (I'm kidding, the play was, of course! :)) Then back home to host a wild party! It was so much fun! There were tons of people here, tons of alcohol consumed. Kristen filled up my gay chart under my name, but the stickers mysteriously fell off. Darn. Poor Hello Kitty! But there are still some on my computer... I had a ball seeing Scott again, and Nora. Don't hang out with either one of them enough. Of course, plenty of OC-ers and work people were there. Always great to see all of them. I was very pleased with the party, even if I couldn't get drunk, no matter how much liquor and shots I consumed. Damnit. Sunday was cleanup, a quick run to see Phantom of the Opera with Jenn, which was highly enjoyable, then more cleanup, then going to band intoxicated with Kayla (amazing that all that two smirnoffs did was all that liquor failed to do the night before).

But then today hit. I worked 7am-10am as I will every Monday from now on, and then did a bunch of work at home. It was a little stressful, but it's all good. I still have more to do tonight, which is what I should be doing right now instead of typing an entry, but screw it. I'm going to put in some work during pep band. That oughta be fun. I know Jenn and Colonel Morgan are gonna hound me over stuff, but it's cool because I am pretty fond of them both, so I guess I can take it. Besides, I was the one that denied everything and they were right and blah blah blah. They told me so. Whatever. :) Oh, but I have some cool classes. On Monday mornings I have Islam & The Muslim Faith, which is very interesting. We compared Muslims to Christianity and Jews today and it was very cool. Then in the afternoon I have a survey of modern Asia class. It's mostly Korea, China, and Japan, but should still be fascinating. Tomorrow are my two less exciting classes: Civil War & Reconstruction (haven't I learned enough about that on the last two decades!?!) and European History 1919-present. The latter will be decently interesting, but the first is gonna kill me. It's only saving grace is it's with Sarah Fatherly, a fabulous professor. I wish I got her teaching style more, but she's a Buffy fanatic and that counts for a lot. Oh, and I have The Informed Spectator at 8am tomorrow. Learn how to watch sports. I hate sports, but it should be easy.

Ok, I still have 20 minutes until pep band. Hmm, work, or reading The Quotable Slayer & What Would Buffy Do?, my two new books. Go Buffy, Go Buffy!

Should Auld Aquaintance Be Forgot...

I know it's been a very long time since I've updated but I've been swamped. In honor of New Year's, I'm going to list recent disappoinments and pleasant surprises. Not a recap of the whole year, but a brief summary of the last few weeks.

Pleasant Surprises:
Entertainment - DeLovely on DVD - I love that movie, not really a surprise, but glad it's out
Blade Trinity - Ryan Reynolds is hilarious! Still haven't seen the first two.
Modest Mouse - they rock
Ben Folds - finally enough bad memories gone to truly enjoy him
BNL Christmas - wasn't really a suprise!
24 - Amazing! Almost done with Season 3. Season 4 premieres in a week and a half.
Ocean's Twelve - all I can say is awesome!
Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical (see above comment)
*Seeing The Producers tomorrow! Will update on that!
Other stuff - Black Cherry Smirnoff - mmmm!
I can get along with two of my three brothers awesomely!
Fun New Year's especially at Kristen & Amanda's
Actually dating again
Harry Potter 6 - July 16
Lemony Snicket
getting inot better shape

Disappoinments:
Watermelon Smirnoff
Christmas With the Kranks
not doing the New Year's Eve I planned
certain alienations from friends
not getting in shape as fast as I wanted to

And the biggest thing on my mind these past few weeks... Marriage
I am currently 17 months younger than my mom was when she got married, which was the age I always planned to get married. I figured date a couple of years, be engaged a year...obviously that timeline is shot. I thought I had accepted it. Then I found out my cousin, three months my younger, is getting married on June 24, 2006. I am happy for her. Her guy is great. Still disappointing. I should be first. My parents only were together 11 months before marriage, but I don't see myself rushing into anything that fast. Although I guess you never know. Still, with my cousin getting married, it's weighing heavily on me. I'm finally dating again, but I wouldn't say anything is even close to looking at long term, which is a disappointment to me because I really want to be married now. Of course, I could only marry someone I was in love with, so that hurts things. Plus I need to know they are the one, and I honestly don't know if I've met that person yet. I have two ex's, both of whom I was in love with and considered marriage. The first is getting married soon to someone even younger than I am. I'm happy for them, but it still hurts. The second I was really really really serious about, and I still detest her, and yet I can't help but being emotionally happy that she is happy with someone else. That has been my biggest surprise, since I have so many negative feelings towards her. Yet I think those are from the positive feelings I felt and the way it was ended. I'm still in love, even if I don't like. That sucks. Now I need to find the one...don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining so much about my dating situation, since I am dating a wonderful girl. I just want to know right no who is the one for me for the rest of my life and be with them.

Long Freakin' Update

I am so sorry that I have not updated in so freakin' long. I guess I had better things to do. :) Let's see, last weekend I went to a couple of Christmas parties and directed the WJHS Alumni Band in a one hour outdoor concert. It was too freakin' cold. Then during this week I worked and finally got into 24. I am almost done with freakin' Season One. I still believe I can finish all 3 seasons before the new one premieres. We'll see. Then this past Friday night I had freakin' fun at a party playing Apples & Apples, then went and saw Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortuante Events. It was really freakin' good. It drew some stuff from the later books that happened during the first three but weren't explained until later (I think there will only be 1 movie :(), but It was good. I saw it again on Saturday. Then I directed the 3 hour WJHS Alumni Band concert at Flyer's, which was pretty freakin' fun. Then I went to Lisa & Michael's party, which was freakin' freakin' awesome!!! I got pretty drunk, but I had so much fun hanging out with all those people, including some I haven't seen in awhile. Then I sat here and added lots of freakin's to my journal entry just for fun. :)

I Hate My Dad

I do hate my dad. I thought about putting a big long rant on here about our conversation today, but what would the point be? It's not going to change anything, and it's just airing personal crap on the net, which I swore I would never let this blog turn into a place to air my personal emotional issues. Just things of public interest that tick people off :), as well as events of my life. So instead I added a subplot to my book (will be done with my editing by Christmas! Who wants to be my next editor?). Is that wrong? I mean, I used exact words and everything. You think if it gets published, and he reads it, he'll be angry? Ah, well. He's a jerk anyway. Ok, I guess that's all I have for today.

P.S. I am having a small gathering on New Year's Day about 9pm. I don't know why I'm doing it after New Year's Eve, but I am, so anyone that reads this is invited. Cool? Old Commons, IIF. BYOB (or A or just plain beverages because I'm poor) and I'll have some snacky food. Ciao.

Why We Should Only Talk Religion and Politics With People We Agree With

I always balked at the big no-no of talking religion and politics. I often talk with like minded people on these subjects, so of course that's fine. We share our information and beliefs, and get all excited about what we're saying. Recently I, as well as other people blogs I read on a regular basis, have disagreed about some things. I have nothing against these people, and even if I don't hang out with them as often as I would like, I like to consider them friends whom I care about. At first I wanted to talk about religion and politics with them, having a vain hope that I could sway them a bit, or at least educate them on why I think the way I do. This was a bad idea. When someone feels very strongly about a topic, and religion and politics evoke strong feelings, it is very unlikely they will change their minds. I try to keep and open mind and listen to opposing viewpoints with interest. I'm not saying any of my friends don't, because everyone has been very civil and unhostile while representing their sides. Yet I still feel hurt when my feelings are dismissed or someone thinks they can prove me wrong with a few quotes or facts for their side. Believe me, I have my own too. And I am not writing this to express my negative feelings. On the contrary, I understand that if I feel this way, it is very likely that people on the opposite side of the coin feel the same way too. So, to promote friendship and unity and love I have decided not to participate in any religious or political debates on blogs. That being said, I reserve the right to post whatever I want on my blog, nor will I get the least bit upset about what anyone else posts on theirs. I can choose not to read it if I wish. I hope this posting does not offend anyone because it's only point was to say I don't want to fight, I don't want to disagree, and I want people to get along. :) So boo on religious and political debate! Until the next time I want to use my blog to promote my own beliefs. :)

Scoring

Hmm. That title best sums up the topics I wanted to cover today, but get your mind out of the gutter. I'm not talking about scoring as in sex. Well not really, anyway. :)

Firstly, we had the annual Flyer's manager meeting / bowling tournament. West Jeff won this year, finally beating Galloway, who I believe has won every year up to this point. So like the last 3 years or so. Anyway, I ended up getting the second highest score for West Jeff in two rounds and third highest in the first game. Scott, my boss and owner, got first in all three. The Ulreys are all great bowlers. Anyway, it was close, but we scored and West Jeff won. Yay! I need to bowl more. I miss the every week trips with Timmy, Julie, Esther, Erin, Ivan, Nora, Scott, and assorted others. Aww.

Second, I watched Citizen Kane and RKO 281 this week. For those of you who don't know, Citizen Kane is widely considered to be the greatest American film ever made. Honestly, it's pretty boring, but that just means I need to watch it again because I didn't understand it enough. Basically it tells the story of William Randolph Hearst, one of the most powerful men in America when the film was made and basiclly owner of the entire national media. RKO 281 is the story behind the movie, and was made recently by HBO and stars a great cast. That movie is much more interesting. It's a good thing Orsen Wells made CK just before Hearst went backrupt, or it could have cost him his life, career, his everything. Yet it still cost him a lot. It's about figuring out the score of one's life. Very intriguing.

Thirdly, and this absurd notion just occured to me, and please don't read too much into it. Love stinks. You know that? I mean, I am just starting to date someone and am happy with the way things are going, but it occured to me what a raw deal love is. I mean, we've gone on two dates, I've spent like...um, I don't even know. Let's say around $75? They were pretty cheap dates, thank goodness because I'm poor right now. :) Then you talk about time, gas, etc. And we haven't even decided if this is just dating or if it'll ever be something more. How many other things do people just throw in tons of time, money, effort, energy, and souls to attain a goal they may or may not get? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for love. It is always totally worth it in the end. Even a bad relationship I had in the past, I wouldn't try to figure out how much I spent or keep score of how it turned out. And I'm not caring about money now. True love in the end, whether it be with the person I'm seeing now or someone I have yet to meet, only time will tell, is always well worth it. It's worth ten times what you end up paying. Yet from a logical standpoint, it seems really stupid and it stinks. Hmms. Well cynicism can kiss my ass because I love love. :)

Rip Van Jimmy

Wow. I have never slept so long in my life! But first maybe I should catch you up on my life. The first couple of days this week were pretty standard - work, dinner out with friends, and tv. Thursday I went out and bought a new car, since mine is dead. A 99 Dodge Intrepid. Whatever. It runs. :) Friday I had another wonderful date and I slept like 3 hours and headed off to alumni band saturday morning, totally exhausted, but it's hard to skip when you're the director. I got my hair cut, and then I came home, very tired. I crawled into my bed about 1pm. I was soon asleep. It is now 8am on Sunday and I just crawled out of my bed. What in the heck caused me to sleep 19 hours! That is insane! Now as soon as my contact resettle on my eyes, I think I'm going to go do something productive!

Wow, The Connections Are Endless

Hmm, I read a lot of interesting things while browsing through this month's Star Trek Communicator, the Official Fan Club magazine. For instance, Rene Auberjonis (Odo from Deep Space 9) joins William Shatner on Boston Legal in a recurring role. Then I read about Judith & Garfield Reeves-Steevies, the authors who help Shatner write the continuing adventures of Kirk after his death in Generations (he was brought back to life in book form) as well as other fine novels. They've joined the writing staff of Enterprise, hence why William Shatner is in negotiations to start appearing in the show as Kirk. Hmm. Wonder how that will work. Also, while scanning through the numerous awards in that past couple of months that anyone who even guest starred on Star Trek in the last forty years has won, I am reminded of how many famous people were in Star Trek. The magazine includes updates of Jason Alexander (Kurros, Voyager), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan, Next Gen), Kirstie Allie (Saavik, Star Trek II), Christopher Lloyd (Kruge, Star Trek III), Kelsey Grammer (Captain Bateson, Next Gen), John Rhys-Davis (Leonardo DaVinci, Voyager), and others. Then I started to read about the Emmys that Enterprise won this year (Yes, it wins awards!) and I read about the Sci-Fi awards it won too. There is a Gene Roddenberry Lifetime Achievement award, named after the creator of Star Trek who died in 1991, and this year it went to Joss Whedon. Angel also beat Enterprise for best theme song and best episode (A Hole in the World). Then I started reading about William Shatner's new CD. Ben Folds arranged a bunch of his music, and Brad Paisley (there is a big interview with him in the magazine) sung with him. This stuff is cool. Ok, I'm a geek.

Another Great Day

That headline doesn't refer to today, although it certainly ended well with a nearly two hour phone conversation to the girl I was out with Friday night. :) Other than that, I worked 12 hours. Yesterday, however was great. After my awesome late Friday night, I slept in until nearly noon on Saturday. Then Tim and I became Manly Men and went out and cut down a tree from a tree farm. Arrg!, as we kept saying. We cut it down, drug it back to the truck, and headed home where we preceeded to act girly again and decorate all day, including a big construction paper fireplace on our wall. So to feel more manly we made a sign with markers that showed how fierce we were with our saws and the tree cowering in fear. Manly, right? LOL. We had a ton of fun decorating until midnight. Nick even came over and made a lifesize Nick from his comic coming out of a gift wrapped box. It is totally cool. And we put lights outside to scare our neighbors. :) So, come check our place out. Bedtime soon. Got to get up. Maybe a little 24 first. I'm not moving nearly fast enough on that. Gotta get through three seasons by the end of the year.

This Update Has A Happy Ending

So I need to update quite a bit. It's been an eventful week. I finishied my exams on Monday and my last project for the quarter on Tuesday. It was a paper about Music and the Holocaust. Very interesting, but if I start typing about it now, I'd put in half the paper, so never mind. :) It's a relief to be done with classes for awhile, but now it actually is fully sunk in that I will be leaving Otterbein in two quarters. It is extremely sad. I will very much miss it.

So Wednesday I worked 8-8 as it is the busiest night for pizza in the year, plus cooked three turkeys, pies, and all the fixings for about 100 people. How fun is that? Then I picked up my little sister from her basketball practice and went out to my aunt's house fully expecting to have more Thanksgiving prep to do (but not really wanting to as I was tired). Luckily my two littlest brothers had been there and did all the cleaning and table setting and stuff. One was still there. My uncle arrived about the same time I did (not the one that lives there - he was driving his truck and didn't get home until 5am! but the one from Kentucky that I don't get to see that often). Then his wife and their twins came home (sans their little sister) and we all played Euchre and talked and drank until late (I was overserved!). My aunt had bought Smirnoff for me. Devil. I have cut back on drinking but I would have felt guilty when she bought it for me if I didn't. So I got up kinda late (10:30ish) on Thursday and helped her in the kitchen getting ready for the big 35 member family feast. Then of course the feast, all my mom's family showing up (we're all very close), good wine, good food, good conversation. I finally left about 10pm and headed home, where Tim & I arranged our apartment for the tree.

Friday I had to work 8 hours, but the worst part of Friday was when I found out my car repair is going to be $2000! So it's not getting done. I don't have the money, the car is only worth about $3000. Problem is I still owe $1600 on the car. So I don't know how I'm going to afford a new car while staying paying the old one. I tried to tak my dad about it, but he's still a total asshole sometimes, which is a shame because we haven't fought in awhile and it was nice to have a little peace with him. Anyway, I am still driving his pickup and I have no idea what I'm going to do.

Lucikly Friday night is the capper and was very fun. I went to the zoo with someone and then we hung out at Steak and Shake until 3am. I really don't want to say much more because I don't know where anything is going, but I am happy that the one and a half year streak is over, and that I had so much fun with this person. It made me completely forget about my other problems and she is extremely cool. Anyway, talk to you all later!

Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Republican

I am sitting in my room, waiting for a friend to go to lunch, and flipping through my Farenheit 9/11 Reader. I am struck by what a powerful piece of film that movie was and the implications of what it reveals. The film really puts things into perspective and reminds me of 1984, which I guess it was meant to since it ended the movie with a quote from that book by George Orwell. In case you haven't read it, the main point of the book is that 'Big Brother', the leading political figure in the part of the world the story takes place in, is always watching you and controlling you. Big Brother and his two counterparts (the world is only in three main regions at that time) are perpetually in a war to keep people under control. Two are always against one, but the alliances change and all the past media is rewritten so it appears that the sides of the countries never changed. People are so brainwashed that they always buy it. Bush has been compared to Big Brother. Throwing us into an unjustitified war with Iraq allows him to control many people in this country into pushing his views on us all, and of course getting re-elected as he did. I am pleased that almost half of the voters in this country saw through his bull shit and did the smart thing by voting against him, but it wasn't quite enough. Still, those numbers give me hope that we can prevent a 1984 from happening in 2004. Don't let the tyrant Bush control us. Don't let corporations decide our global policy. Some people say get behind the president, the majority has spoken. I've thought about that for several weeks, and that would be the easy thing to do. Put aside my political beliefs for the next three years until the next campaign and then get passionate again, but that's not what life's about. Life is fighting for what you believe in and doing what's right. Bush is not doing what's right. I would be proud to be part of a campaign speaking out against him for the next four years. We need a president, not a dictator. I'm not getting behind him.

NOT MY PRESIDENT - SAY NO TO GEORGE W.

Interesting Concert

So, I feel bad about letting it go 6 days between the last two posts, so I thought I'd rush another one out. The headline does not refer to last night's concert. It went fine. And I also finished Lemony Snicket Book the Third in between warm-ups and the concert. Books 4-9 are in the mail to me. And than afterwards I hung out with a friend I hadn't hung out with in awhile. We seem to get along really great. I wish I saw her more. We hung out a bit last winter and spring but I hadn't seen her since then.

Anyway, back to my headline. I played a 'concert' at the City Center this morning. Everything that could go wrong did. My clarinet was in my car, which is broken down at my mom's house. Kristen let me borrow hers, though. Then I parked on the top floor of this really scary, steep parking garage that made me to dizzy to go down from. They had told us to be there at 10am, so we were there by 9:40. When we got there they said they didn't need us until 11, although it was almost 11:20 before Santa showed up. Then they were upset because we weren't in uniform, another fact no one knew anything about. So they gave us red City Center t-shirts and little antlers with bells attached. Then they say they wants us to play "Here Comes Santa Claus" and nothing but "Here Comes Santa Claus". Interesting, because we had only brough a medley of Jingle Bells, White Christmas, and Jolly Old St. Nicholas. Luckily we were there an hour and a half early and Nathan managed to write out the melody and even add a slight bit of harmony and a few cool things for "Here Comes Santa Claus". So we wait outside for 'Buckeye Santa', who we then follow all around all 3 floors of the mall. It's a big mall. Playing nothing but about 16 bars of "Here Comes Santa Claus" over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and...you get the picture, right? BORING!!! Then we played out medley twice and left about noon. What a morning. My first day off in a month and a half...ah, well. They did give us free passes to a sneak preview of "Christmas With the Kranks" for Tuesday night. Ok, time for more television because that's what I do when I have an exam Monday morning, have to work 16 hours on Sunday, and have a huge research paper I haven't started due Wednesday (I have to finish Tuesday because I work all day Wednesday). Maybe some daquiri tonight too. I've been off my alcohol. :( Which is another reason I should hang out with my friend I hung out with last night more: She loves alcohol as much as I do! :)

Sorry So Long

Sorry it's been so long since I updated you. I'm sure you were all hanging on edge to find out what's going on this week in my exciting life. :) j/k So it's been hell. Week 10 is over, but I still have an exam Monday morning and a big paper due by Wednesday. Of course, I am working 8-8 next Wednesday and cooking a Thanksgiving buffet dinner for about 100-120 people, so... I have 3 turkeys, pies, and all the trimmings. Yay. Can't wait to switch my job and get out of the kitchen, possibly as soon as the end of this year! Yeah right. It'll prob be like summer, but here's hoping.

So my car died this week. The timing belt or some such thing blew and it's a very expensive repair, so I got the bank to 'refinance my car', which was almost paid off, and I'm going to have to do like an extra 4 car payments at the end. And without a co-signer! Yay! Not too bad because at least it'll get fixed. Plus I get to drive my dad's truck until it's fixed and even though I hate parking it because it's huge, it's a 4 door and a 4 door pickup is pretty cool.

TV wise I finished Boy Meet World Season One and was about to start 24 Season One, but stopped after 1 episode because Friends Season Eight came out. Don't worry, I only have 6 episodes left on it and I will be well into 24 by Thanksgiving. Of course, I need to get Smallville Season 3, and watch Lost which I've been recording since it premiered but never watched it.

Reading wise, I feel bad because I did very little pleasure reading this quarter. I just finished a John Grisham novel (he's really cool) and two Lemony Snicket books in the last couple of days. They are short but great. Read them before the movie hit theaters! My book, I just finished my first edit! I am so excited! I want to work hard and get the second edit done in the next week. It should be much quicker. I want to get the damn thing published! I'm kind of hoping it'll solve all of my money problems, but not really counting on it.

Ok, onto dinner and the Wind Ensemble concert! Adios my amigos!

Last Football Game

After 8 years, a significant portion of my life is at an end. Today I marched my last marching band game. It was pretty sad. As I sit here, band uniform pants still around my ankles because I'm too lazy to kick them off, it has finally sunk in that I will be done with this school in June. Granted, I am not hitting the real world next year. I will be finishing my music education certification at another school. Still, I will have a degree in June and I will be out of this quiet, peaceful village. I don't want to leave. I was drug here kicking and screaming...shit, now I'm slipping into Garth Brooks lyrics. Anyway, I don't want to leave. I didn't want to leave West Jefferson, and I couldn't be happier that I did, 97% of the time. I'm sure it'll be the same next year. And yet, with only a week left in this quarter and only two more quarters after that, I realize that I am going to miss it very much. To the next step.

What A Day

So I finished Alias Season 3 today. It freakin' rocked! I rushed through the season in less than a week, even with school and work. The ending surprise, while I did not predict it, was not so much a surprise. Despite that, I can't wait until January to see Season 4! Now I guess I need to get started on 24. Probably Thursday or Friday. I'm too tired tonight. Well, maybe just one episode....we'll see. Prob not because I want to watch the 3 seasons in 3 24 hour marathons (well, more like 18 hour).

Tonight I got hit in my driver's side door of my car. Again. This is the third time I've been hit in that spot; all 3 times I was parked and not in the car. Only 1 of those 3 times did the person leave me their insurance info so I could actually get the car fixed. It was not this time. This really pisses me off. I mean, have some common human decency! You make a mistake, own up to it! I can't afford to fix my car by the time I pay the deductible. It's going to remain badly dented unless Westerville Police can catch the bastard off of Meijer's surviellence cameras, which is doubtful. I'm too tired to rant anymore. 16 hour shift tomorrow. Night all.

Productive Day

I slept in until 4pm sorry Jenn. I was asleep around 2-3am. I had no idea I would sleep anywhere near that long. I feel really bad. You can join Nate and being mad hat I slept through a recital. I don't know how, but I'd like to make it up to you somehow. I really do feel bad. Then after I got up I watched Alias until bedtime. Very productive day. On the Alias note though, I only have 2 discs left...just 6 episodes.

I'm So Happy :)

I'm so happy. Bet you can't guess why. :)

Not My President

WAIVER: If I offend anyone with this entry, I don't apologize. These are issues I feel strongly about and because of amendment number one in our bill of rights, I have every right to express them. If you don't want to hear them, don't read this entry.

So Kerry gave his concession speech today. I heard it, and I was even more impressed with him than I already was. He did what was best for the American people and didn't drag it out for a month like those idiot Republicans did in 2000. He showed a lot of class. People have called him a flip-flopper, but I think he just wants what's best for our country. He has to do his best to represent the people, and the people often change their minds. He just tried to serve our country the best he can. I do have to admit Bush actually won this election. Granted, he lost the last one and so should have never been up for re-election, but this time he barely pulled it off. But what tactics did he use? A lot of people I know didn't like him, but voted for him because they didn't want to change presidents in the middle of 'a war'. Yeah. A war he created to a. make himself money, b. be like his daddy, and c. get himself re-elected because he wouldn't hav had we not been in this stupid war. What I fear the most is after four more years of syaing 'fuck you' to the rest of the world, as Bush's foreign policy seems to be, are we ever going to recover foreign relations? We're moving towards a global society pretty rapidly. We don't need a president who doesn't see that and won't participate in that in the slightest. Basically what I'm sayng is I will be wearing my "Not My President" button for the next four years. Why don't Americans get some sense and listen to true patriots like Michael Moore who actually care about more than the money in their pocket and riding on their father's coattails?

Now onto another issue in the election. Oh, before I get into that, shame on all you heartless bastards who voted to defeat school levys! Kids need that money! Our schools, especially in Ohio, suck! Now, Issue 1. I am so hugely disappointed that we passed it with 61% that I want to leave the state. Except there were 11 states this year with similiar laws, and 61% was one of the low numbers. How can we have regressed this far? We just spent the last century fighting for civil rights. This is a huge step backwards. Not letting gays get married? Why don't we take away women's rights to vote and make black people sit on the back of the bus? I'm not kidding. If we're going to be so narrow-minded and discriminatory, when does it stop? I've heard the argument that it's not natural. It's a disease or caused by molestation as a child. That is total bullshit. Do you know how many gay people are in the world? 10% of our population. That is a huge number. Tell me a disability or disease that affects 10% of people. You know what else 10% of our population is? Left handed. Let's not let left handed people get married because it's unnatural. Actually, only 10% of the world's population is Caucasian. Let's repress ourselves because we're a minority. The other argument I often here is that it's against biblical ideas. Again, I say bullshit. God created gay people just like he created everyone else. Are you saying God screwed up when He did that? That's just stupid. It has been pointed out that once or twice in the bible it mentions something negative about gays. I've got news for you people. The bible is flawed. Yes, it is wonderful and is based on great ideas and values. But it was written by men. Men are flawed. The bible is also sexist and racist. Let's be sexist and racist because the bible is! Everything changes. Something that was relevant 2000 years ago and has not been updated is bound to have some mistakes in it. We are finally living in a world where some gay people feel it's safe to come out. Support gay right and don't make us take a step backwards.

November 2, 2004

Sorry, couldn't think of a more creative title. About Jenn's comment to my last post, I'm sorry if my bringing up politics this fall has offended you, but I only bring issues I feel very, very strongly about. To Jonathan's new headline in his blog about winning my award, thanks for mentioning it! That's cool. I already got back from the voting booth. West Jeff's wait was nothing. I was in and out in 5 minutes. Of course, since I forget to change my registration to Franklin County, I didn't get to vote on Issue 106 or 12 or anything cool like that. Sorry Erin. I did get to put in my vote for John Kerry (Nadar made the ballot. Interesting.), a solid no on Issue 1, and yes on keeping the good ol' WJ post office (why is that even an issue?). Other than that, there were a bunch of minor Madison County office to vote for with only one candidate. Now, tell me if I'm just stupid, but why even be on the ballot if there isn't a choice? Anyway, the best part of last night was watching the SNL Presidential Debate Bash (and it was a bash!). I loved when Clinton let us all know that he felt our pain and sadness that he was not on the ballot this year, Kerry's refusal to quit speaking because he can't, Bush's three step program (Phase 2: lull the terrorists into a false sense of security and confidentthey are winning. Phase 3: Um, work hard. Work Saturdays if we have to. We will beat the terrorists by coming on on Saturdays. We're still working on it.) Then that was followed by Jon Stewart and the Daily Show's coverage. Did you know Florida reinstated slavery last night in a deseparte attempt to be the worst state in this year's election ("From a state worse than Ohio...") Of course, the Ohio reporter did plenty to muck it up themselves. Anyway, now to sit back and watch Kerry win...I hope.

Election Day

So tomorrow is November 2, 2004. Election Day. Only one candidate will win. Latest polls for electoral votes show Kerry in the lead by 67 votes, with 9 (New Mexico & New Hamsphire) left undecided. There were only a few votes listed as barely Bush, but 68 (Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida) are barely Kerry. Hmmm. I'm as anxious for Kerry to win Ohio as the entire presidency. Both candidates of course spent the last campaign day in Ohio. Today's manager meeting for my company decided to talk about the election. My bosses are very strong Bush supporters. They wanted to have a 'non-bias, non-arguing' debate. I think everyone was scared to go against them. It was them and 1-2 other people talking about Bush and every once in awhile them letting me something about Kerry. They also did some Kerry-bashing. Now I like my bosses and I don't believe they intentionally turned the conversation into a one-sided bash-fast. I think that part was accidental. Personally, I think it would be smart not to talk politics at all, but I understand the reason behind it. Oh, well. I just hope they didn't sway anyone.

Re-defeat Bush! Vote John Kerry!

Am I Missing Anything?

After watching several more episodes of Dawson's Creek, and thinking about other similiar shows and movies, I have to wonder, did I miss a major part of my life? For instance, I don't feel I had a "first love" who I will always love. I've fallen in love twice, both in college, and neither lasted, and only one is friendly, although I don't speak to her much. The other isn't even civil, despite efforts at an olive branch. But I gave that up awhile ago. But anyway, back to the point. I missed all the high school romance. I had a couple of crushes, but only one I thought may have been interested back, until I found out she liked girls. I don't have that solid 'group' of friends either. I have friends with varying degrees of closeness, but who do I share everything with? Who do I go to when I'm upset? There isn't one person or a group of persons. It is someone different every time, or more often no one. I crave that 'friend group'. I've drifted in and out of a couple over the years, but never was fully accepted. Am I missing important parts of my life? Or is this normal and I just don't want to believe it is because I want my life to be more like tv? Hmm. Isolation strikes again. Am I antisocial? I don't want to be. I love being social.

BTW, this is much more an introspective entry than a depressed entry, so please don't worry or leave comments telling me not to worry about it. I appreciate the sentiment, but that's not what I'm looking for right now.

Etc.

So after scanning through everyone's blogs and catching up, instead of going to class, I found I had much more to write about it. I did the Presidential Match thing and got a 66% on Kerry and a 16% on Bush. Tell you what, all you Bush fans. I'll save us both some trouble. Since our votes are going to cancel out each other anyway, you tell me that you're voting for Bush and we'll both stay home. Deal? :) Hey, if you're voting for Bush and only have the brain power he had, you'd fall for that. :) Anyway, I attended the Circleville Pumpkin Show on Friday night and forgot to write about it. Otterbein Marching Band was the featured band this year. We did a concert and basically led the parade. Big whoop. They want us back in 2 years for their big 200th anniversary. We'll see.

Now, onto my geeky things. Lisa put hers out there, so I feel it is only fair.

Shows I am obsessed with: all 5 Star Trek's, especially Deep Space 9. Buffy, Angel, Alias, hopefully soon 24, Lost, & Desperate Houswives. I hate reality television, but am strangely drawn to watching it. I love Joey, Friends, Will & Grace, M*A*S*H, Sports Night, the West Wing, Wonder Years, South Park, Saturday Night Live, Futrama, Family Guy, Dawson's Creek, Boy Meets World, Full House, and I'm sure there are more, including some flops like Cybill, Once & Again, and It's Like, You Know...

Counting each TV Season as one DVD, I own about 400 and they are all categorized and then alphabetized, plus I keep a computer list of title, rating, genra, and major actors as well as photos to prove I own them all for insurance purposes. I have two TVs (one flatscreen), two DVD players, one VCR, and one surround sound system. I am technology obsessed.

I actually identify with Dawson, a fact I am often not proud to admit.

I am anal. Just about myself though, not about others.

I think books are sacred and probably own almost a thousand of them. I want to have a library in my house someday.

I own many, many, many Star Trek collectibles and action figures, including a set of 3 worth several thousand dollars and two big cardboard cutouts of Kirk & Spock from Star Trek V. These are almost all at my parent's house, but I want a Star Trek room in my house too.

I have three large Buffy posters on my apartment bedroom wall, an Enterprise poster in the dining room, and the actual posters that hung in Monica's apartment on Friends in my living room.

I have an almost photographic memory for details, numbers, etc. but I don't remember what I did an hour ago.

I hate drugs. I don't even take Tylenol unless I desperately desperately need it.

I am afraid of becoming an alcoholic because I love it so much. The only other thing I am afraid of is the supernatural. I can handle murders, but keep the ghosts away.

I would never go to war, even if I had to go to Canada.

I have a strange urge to live in the UK for awhile.

When I am in a relationship, I never look at any other girl. This includes celebrities, few of which I find attractive anyway. Plastic is disgusting. Go for the real thing.

A lot of times, I like to isolate myself and feel upset. I do this willingly from time to time because I want to.

Money scares me too. I am getting better about saving, but paying rent and college loans and still buying stuff is scary.

I don't see myself with a bright future. I'm beginning to think my only hope is if people will actually buy the books I am writing.

I am twisted and take great fascination with killing my characters because I know they're fictional. I have drowned people in Roller Coaster Tycoon for fun. Life isn't so meaningless in reality to me. I love people and death makes me very sad.

I am afraid of becoming numb. Sometimes I don't think I feel enough. Perhaps this explain why I willingly isolate myself and make myself upset.

And The End because I am too embarassed to continue.

JESUS!!!

I'm sorry I did not post on this last night, but last night was pretty emotional for me and I needed stress relief with friends, not writing. Last night was the second anniversary of Timmy J's death. I actually forgot until Nathan called me to tell me the Kingsmen were heading out to the dam. I got there about 45 minutes or so before the rest and just stood staring out over the water. I miss Timmy greatly. Everytime I think about him, I still get emotional. Yes, the vast majority of my memories of Timmy were good. I will share some in a moment. But the last two years, when concerning Timmy, have not been easy. And I'm not even in that circle of family or lifelong friends. I knew him just over a year. Yet I thought I had a great connection with him in that year and valued him a lot. These are the things I thought about as I looked over the water. Where was he now? Is he looking down on us? I thought I saw his face in a cloud, but I'm sure it was just my imagination. One of the Kingsmen joked that the lunar eclipse last night was because Timmy got in the way of the moon. :) Maybe he was right.

I met Timmy at bandcamp my freshman year. He was so enthusiastic. Listening to him wail away on his trombone to "Do What You Wanna" was a highlight. That fall I went out to dinner with Timmy, Evan, Erin, Esther, and Scott for Evan's birthday. Since everyone mentioned is graduated, I don't think I can get them in trouble. At that dinner Timmy 'made' me sign a contract on a napkin that said I would not pledge any other fraternity besides Kings. I had spent many nights bowling with those guys. Imagine the college's shock had they found out that an illegal contract was drawn up to a freshman signed by King's Treasure, Consistution Chairman, and the President of EKT as well as a couple of witnesses.

When I lived in the King house, Timmy used to open my mail. One day I was expecting a box of DVDs and Columbia House mailed the wrong one. Timmy opened it up and found Barbie's Nutcracker. I don't think he ever let me live that one down. I swear I did not order it, nor did I keep it! :) Many nights were spent hanging with him on that porch. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

I went bowling a lot, and a lot of times Timmy was there. Wednesday, just a few days before the Saturday that he died, Timmy rode with me to the bowling alley. We got a chance to talk, and I really connected with the guy. Saturday, the afternoon before he died, I was trying to help him get a date with Amber, Whore Bitch's (Whom I was dating at the time) roommate. It wasn't exactly a success, but I am so greatful for getting to talk to him about important things the day he died.

The day we all found out will always vividly live in my memory. I had gone to work Sunday morning to work one of my 16 hours shifts. By noon Nathan was in tears on the phone with me. I know I didn't leave that office at work, despite the orders popping up on the screen. I called every manager and owner until one of them would come in for me, and then I sped back to Westerville. I tried to make sense of everything. I called my dad. I called Dr. Boehm. No one had any information, but I just wanted to get back. I stopped at the WB's room, then headed over to the police-taped-off King house. Andy & Andie were sitting in front of it. The sight chilled me. I walked down to the police station where the entire fraternity was gathering. People got off work and rushed home. We came together that night like no other. We cried, we hugged, we went to a small service the campus put on, we went to the dam, and most of all we joked and shared our memories through our tears. Last year we did a similiar ritual, and this year was a sort of like that too, except most of the old guys are gone now. It was my pledge class talking to the young guys who didn't know him. Jason asked them to keep the tradition alive. I plan to be sitting out on the dam next October 27. Please honor his memory if you knew him and do the same.

Britney who?

OK, before I write about my various shows and things, I just have to say please, please, please if you have any sense of decency vote 'no' on Issue One. I mean seriously, who are we kidding? Protecting marriage? Go after Britney Spears-Federline-Whateverthefuckhernameisthisweek. The gays don't threaten marriage! Also, vote for Kerry and vote yes on Issue 106 (the zoo levy).

Ok, so it has been a busy week. I did watch a couple of movies - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the Tao of Steve. The first one was all right, not as good as I had hoped. The second one rocked and I got a new quote. "Slackers are great. Doing stuff is highly overrated. Look at Hitler. He did lots of stuff, but don't we all wish he would have just sat home and gotten high?" Granted, I don't get high but it was still funny. I just finished my re-watch of Buffy Season 2 with my friends. Yeah, I had forgotten how many times Jonathan was around early on, and how sad the finale of Season 2 really is. On my own time, I am steamrolling through Dawson's Creek Season 4 and with the death of Mr. Brooks and everything, it is getting harder to get through. Also, go Dawson on dating a 21 year old! I dated a 22 year old at 18 and I sometimes get a bit nostalgic for those days. I need to find another older woman to date. :) Anyway, almost done with that and then onto Alias 3! Also, has anyone been taping Desperate Housewives? I really want to watch it.

Miscellaneous

I am tired of mostly writing about movies and television shows, but that is a lot more exciting than my life. In fact, it has almost become my life in the past 16 months. I guess I used television as a replacement for a love life, which is good and bad. It also a medium I have fallen in love with and am not willing to give up. I could possibly cut back a little, but not too much because I often feel behind now. And honestly, I get more out of tv than just sitting and watching. I used to be very into movies, and thought tv was a step below but the more shows I watch, the more I am fascinated by the writing and acting choices, the directing, and a million other things I won't go into right now because it will get boring. And a thought just occured to me. I guess I'm a bit like Dawson Leery. I now definitely think about what it would be like to be a Joss Whedon or a JJ Abrahms or someone who makes wonderful tv shows, and I can't stop myself from thinking about how I could make my Actor's Nightmare book series into a tv show. I don't think a movie would do the book justice, and with more coming as I'm editing the first book and beginning the second, I would just love to do a tv show and make each chapter an episode (22 in a season). Do a book a season. Anyway, a pipe dream that may or may not ever happen.

Thank goodness. The fire alarm finally stopped. Yes, I know I should exit my apartment when the fire alarm goes off. I know I could get in trouble by staying inside. Honestly I went out when it went off, but after checking with the people that set it off and knowing everything was ok, I came back. I only have five more minutes until band and I wanted to get a journal entry in. I am doing pretty good on this two-a-week thing recently and I want to keep up at least that often, more if I can. But it is really hard to write and be introspective with a piercing alarm going off in my ears.

Ok, well my mandatory tv/movie update. I watched Van Hesling: London Adventure. Pretty good, but not nearly as good as Van Helsing the movie. The London Adventure is a cartoon prequel with all the original voices that was released on dvd the week the movie hit theatres. I also finished watching Alias Season Two. Can I say blown away? AWESOME! It keeps getting better and better. I also watch the first four episodes of Dawson's Creek Season 4. That show is great. I watched the best episode to date. It was called "Two Gentlemen of Capeside". Dawson and Pacey haven't been friend since last season when Pacey and Dawson hooked up, but when Pacey and Jenn get caught in a storm on Pacey's boat, he goes into a cove knowing Dawson will know where he is and come save him. Despite Dawson's hatred for Pacey right now, he does save him! And that's only the first half of the episode! Tear-jerker!

Shit. I have to leave for band in 1 minute and I haven't checked my e-mail. Bye all!

How to Get a Guy in 10 Days

I love chick flicks. I admit this. I am a sucker for romantic comedies and my heart has been tugged by many of them. I just saw one of the best in awhile. It could have been the mood I was in, but it really got to me. "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" was sweet, frustrating, romantic, and it tore me up. I need a romance like in the movies. Maybe minus all the crap they go through, but it would be worth it for true love. To be perfectly honest, some of the stuff Kate Hudson pulled in that movie, I found cute, not annoying. Of course after a week or so it was probably way too early for that type of thing to come up. Still... I am so lonely and so happy because of the warm ending, but I... I don't know. I would really like a relationship. I have been single for 16 months, not even a date. I'm picky and I'm not willing to settle, but it would be nice for someone great to come my way... If anyone sees someone, send them my way. :)

Now, to continue the heartache, Season 4 of Dawson's Creek!

Alias

I never gave Alias it's due and I'm sorry. After sleeping from about 3:30pm Tuesday until about 3am Wednesday, then getting a ton of crap done on Wednesday because I had the day off, I finally got back into Alias, where I had left off 5 episodes into Season 2. I always considered it a good show, but it kicks ass! I am one episode away from "Phase One" now and I can't stop. Of course, I have seen that all important episode, but I am getting so excited about it. Can't wait to finish Seasons 2 & 3 and 4 premieres in January! Then I still have yet to watch Lost (although I've recorded every episode) and am weeks behind on Smallville and Enterprise (again, I have them on tape), and Season 4 of Dawson's Creek just arrived in the mail...ahh! Gotta go!

What's The Opposite of Christopher Reeves?

Ok, ok, I know. I'm going to have to retire that joke now. (The answer was of course, Christopher WALKen). I was deeply saddened by his passing, and I feel very selfish for wondering, what will they do on "Smallville" about his character? Still, he was a great man and I hope that much good comes from his encouragement into research and healing. I was checking out Erin's web site and she's right. A lot of celebrities have died in the past few years. Incredibly sad.

Because I am in a rush, I am not going to take any more time to dwell on death. I haven't posted because of how incredibly busy I've been. I just worked double shifts two days in a row, and now I have a paper due this morning (I woke up at 6:30 am to write it) and an exam in and hour and a half on two books I haven't read (I love the internet for synopsizing books!) Anyway, I wanted to post because I like to keep my readers informed of my life, whether they want to be or not. :) TV wise, I finished Futrama Volume 4 (how sad!) and am getting ready to hit all my recorded shows from the past two weeks and Alias Season 2 some more. BTW, did anyone record Bored Housewives or whatever it's called? I'm hearing about it and now I wanted to see it. Anyway, love life, nothing to report there, but hopefully I'm building up the courage to make a move someday soon towards somebody (could I be more vague? :))

Oh, and now my shameless plug of a new book. It's a textbook called AMERICA: The Book. I read a bit of it and bought it. I LOVE it! Everyone should read this important tome on American history. It's put out by The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. From sarcastic "quotes" of the presidents, to the hilarious forward "by" Thomas Jefferson, to the description of various government offices. It's a must read. It even has that big stamp in the front to write your name and condition of the book and all that in that was in every textbook I had K-12. The only differences is #3 in the fine print, which you'll have to read. Go to page 99 and match the robes with very naked (old, wrinkly, flabby, shiveled up) Justices. Full frontal nudity. In closing, I leave you with a small quote. It's from a small article called "Warren G. Harding: Our Worst President":
"The reasons why he sucked are many, and to be truthful, have been widely cateloged in the annals of presidential history. So, with your indulgence, I'd like to focus instead on the intensity of his sucking.
Warren G. Harding was a worthless piece of shit. Fuck him. His presidency was a taint, not just in the sense of a "stain on the office", but literally a taint - the anatomical area between the anus and the testicles.
I hate Warren G. Harding."

Did I mention that article was by Stephen Colbert, "the Arthur Schlesinger Professor of American Studies at Harvard"?

It's Been Awhile

It's been awhile since I posted on this blog, and for that I am truly sorry. I will not to let it happen again. It's just... I have life! Ok, I'm kidding. Not about having a life, because I do, and anyway this is just becoming a run on rant and I do that to much so it's time to stop it and move onto a real topic.

So updates? School still sucks. Skipped my first classes today because I went to Meijer's last night at midnight (when it came out) and bought Farenheit 9/11 than attempted to watch it. I fell asleep, but I still overslept. Oh, well. It's not like I usually skip classes (this quarter), and I checked the syllabus. I don't think I missed anything important. I had to go buy the movie because I was watching the debate last night (Last Thursday's. I recorded it and just found time watch it) and really enjoying it, at least as much as you can enjoy it while hating with a passion our current president, and then some people came over. One in particular who was very pro-Bush, anti-Kerry. And the comments couldn't stop being made. I eventually got into yelling matches, and then had to go cool off over at Lisa's. So I needed some more Bush-bashing and that movie is great at it.

TV wise, I am very behind. I finally watched last week's Joey and Will & Grace but I still have the premiere of Lost to watch, and the end of the presidential debate, and tonight is the Vice Presidential debate, and Wednesday is Lost and Smallville, and Thursday is Joey and Will & Grace and Friday is the Enterprise season premiere and another Presedential debate. Plus I have barely gotten to the second disc of Season 2 of Alias and I bought Futurama Volume 4. And the thing is, I have so many more important things to do than watch television. I have work for Flyer's to do, a huge event to plan, homework, two weeks worth of newspapers in my living room (I at least have to read the comics), and stacks of books to read. Anyone in favor of declaring next week 'catch up week' and cancelling reality so I can get a grasp on things?

On top of that, and going with the theme of today, I am having trouble not thinking about a certain girl. It's been awhile since that happened. It's a girl I've had a crush on for years, but it was recently reawakened in full force. I don't even know if she's interested. I'm kind of waiting to see if there's a sign. If not, that's fine too. I could just be her friend and that would make me happy, but it's also kind of exciting to have these feelings. I don't want to talk about it too much because I wouldn't want to jinx what may or may not be. And I'm certainly not mentioning her name on here.

Ok, time to start on that pile of things that needs done. See you all soon!