I am thankful...
1. for Fridays, which always include new episodes of "The Office" and "30 Rock," and the thought that I don't have to go anywhere or do anything tomorrow, and that I can sleep whenever I want to in the next 48 hours.
2. for paychecks, especially when they include overtime pay that will fund retail therapy to relieve the stress of earning said overtime pay.
3. for things going well at work, which was sweet payoff for the past couple of weeks of things NOT going well at work.
4. for finding out that a coworker you were stressing out about it just stressed out for a lot of the same reasons, and for working together to accomplish a similar goal.
5. for Kelsey, who constantly teaches me lessons in faith, love, and friendship.
6. for Sara, who is hands-down just one of the coolest people I'll ever meet.
7. for Tommy, who geeks out over Dorm Life with me and is always great to talk to.
8. for Curtis who, I am convinced, makes the world a better place every day just by being in it but not of it.
9. for Troy and Caitlin for being a beautiful example of love and friendship to everyone they know.
10. for Joey, for helping me recognize and enjoy the great things that go with growing up!
11. for all of my other blog buddies, who I have never met but who impact my everyday life with their comments, posts, humor, and amazing stories!
12. for pizza and beer, which I'm going to enjoy tonight in the comfort of my little apartment.
13. for my sisters, who brighten my day whether I talk to them for 45 seconds or 45 minutes, and for how close we have been all our lives.
14. for my mom, who is the most supportive, loving, giving person I will probably ever meet. And she's also a great listener, even when I talk and talk and talk...
15. for my dad who, I am finding, understands me better than I ever thought was possible, and who I find myself becoming more like every day.
16. for having a job that I love, even when things are not going well, and especially in a recession.
17. for the fact that I got to see a friend today that used to work with me in the mornings, but now he works during the day and we hardly ever see each other, and for being told that he misses me too!
18. for being healthy.
19. for vacation time that I'll get to spend in Florida with my sister in her new house!
20. for feeling blessed in every way.
Showing posts with label The Office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Office. Show all posts
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
twenty-five
This came from a Facebook game, and I'm not asking anyone to play it here...although it does make for a kind of fun blog post if you want to try it! I just thought I'd post mine on here for that very reason.
(The Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, you choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.)
Here are my 25 REALLY random things:
1. I am a social networking junkie. I have a blog, two YouTube channels, a Twitter feed, and (of course) Facebook! I don't have MySpace, though. Do people still use that?
2. I wouldn't say I hate cooking, but I don't enjoy cooking just for myself. (And I don't mean making burgers in the George Foreman or scrambling up an egg omelette -- in my book it only counts as cooking if you actually measure out ingredients and stuff.)
3. I do enjoy living on my own, even if that does mean cooking (or frying, or microwaving) for one!
4. I love my job. Even on the days when things don't go well. It doesn't matter how much money I make...I just love what I do.
5. I'm left-handed. Did everybody know that?
6. I have so. Many. Shoes. Most of them are heels because...
7. I am 5'2". Just like Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Tisdale, and Amy Poehler!
8. My dream jobs include: Marci Klein's job at SNL, Gellman's job on Regis & Kelly, being a personal assistant to Tina Fey just so I could soak up her awesomeness (did you catch how that's a reference to Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey?!), producing my own TV show, performing on Broadway.
9. I'd really like to write and publish a book someday.
10. I am so proud of my friends; so many people I know from high school, church, college, and after college are incredibly talented and I can't wait to see them make it big so I can cash in on those friendships. Totally kidding. But I truly believe that so many people I know have absolute star quality!
11. I have lived without cable television for 3 and a half years. I still keep up with a lot of TV shows; I just watch them all online or buy them by the season on DVD.
12. I do not, and probably never will, like the taste of coffee. I think it smells good, but tastes gross.
13. I don't remember a moment in my life where I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Most people can tell a story about how they found out, but I have no recollection of that happening...which makes me think I probably still believe in Santa Claus.
14. I also don't remember a point in my life where I started believing in God and in Jesus. Most people have a story to tell about that moment, too. But for me, the belief has just always been there, although that belief has definitely evolved and been challenged and dissected throughout my lifetime.
15. Back to accessories...I also love handbags and hats. I think my love of hats is what gets me through the winter.
16. I think it'd be really cool to live in the South, but I love-love-love the change in seasons that we get here in the Midwest. I would have a hard time giving that up.
17. I want a dog, really really a lot. I think everyone knows that. Hopefully I'll have one by this summer!
18. A lot of people ask me this, so in case you're wondering, here's what my work/sleep schedule is like: I go into work around midnight. I stay until 8 AM (give or take, depending on how much other work I need to do), then I go home and go to bed, usually from 8 or 9 AM until 4 or 5 PM. I don't have black curtains or heavy shades to block out the daylight. I'm just nocturnal, like an owl or a vampire.
19. My all-time, hands-down, no-contest favorite song in the world is "More Than Words" by Extreme for three reasons: (1) it reminds me of being at the lake (I don't know why), (2) the harmonies are beautiful, and (3) I love the lyrics and I think they have an awesome meaning. YouTube it and listen.
20. $20 bills are the worst. It seems like most bank machines and cash-back options always start at $20, which annoys me because usually I just need 5 bucks to put on my laundry card and I don't want to spend money just to break the 20, and I feel like a jerk just walking up to a random cashier and saying, "Hi, I'm not gonna buy anything, but will you just break this for me?" And it's hard for me to actually go to the bank and get cash in the amount that I want because I'm usually asleep during bank hours.
21. There's an episode of "The Office" where everyone was naming the five movies they'd bring with them if they were going to be on a desert island (the game is called "Desert Island" and it's supposed to be books, but I guess everyone was mildly illiterate, so they did movies). So anyway, here are my Desert Island 5: Big Fish, Singin' in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. I think. I'm never completely sure; I like a lot of movies!
22. My favorite color is pink. I feel like everyone knew that one too. My dad actually ordered me a pink phone without me having to ask. Isn't that awesome?!
23. On your 23rd birthday, you go off your parents' insurance. When I turned 23 I was working two part-time jobs, so I didn't have any insurance. It was that way for a few months until I got hired full-time at the TV station. Luckily, nothing bad happened.
24. I have a lot of fake foliage in my apartment. Fake flower vines around my kitchen, fake lilies in a vase on my counter, fake ferns on my window sill, a sconce with a fake bouqet on my wall, a vase of fake flowers in my bathroom, and a big fake flower sitting on my dresser in my bedroom. Low maintenance beauty, folks. That's what it's all about. Although I do enjoy real flowers too.
25. My favorite magazine is "Lucky." (I just bought one today, so that's what made me think of it.) I like it because you don't have to see any stories like "most embarrassing moments" or "101 sex tips." It's just all about clothes, which is my only reason for reading fashion magazines anyway.
And that's it! You might give it a try...just start at one and write about the first 25 things that sort of just pop into your head!
Have a great weekend :) Until later!
(The Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, you choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.)
Here are my 25 REALLY random things:
1. I am a social networking junkie. I have a blog, two YouTube channels, a Twitter feed, and (of course) Facebook! I don't have MySpace, though. Do people still use that?
2. I wouldn't say I hate cooking, but I don't enjoy cooking just for myself. (And I don't mean making burgers in the George Foreman or scrambling up an egg omelette -- in my book it only counts as cooking if you actually measure out ingredients and stuff.)
3. I do enjoy living on my own, even if that does mean cooking (or frying, or microwaving) for one!
4. I love my job. Even on the days when things don't go well. It doesn't matter how much money I make...I just love what I do.
5. I'm left-handed. Did everybody know that?
6. I have so. Many. Shoes. Most of them are heels because...
7. I am 5'2". Just like Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Tisdale, and Amy Poehler!
8. My dream jobs include: Marci Klein's job at SNL, Gellman's job on Regis & Kelly, being a personal assistant to Tina Fey just so I could soak up her awesomeness (did you catch how that's a reference to Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey?!), producing my own TV show, performing on Broadway.
9. I'd really like to write and publish a book someday.
10. I am so proud of my friends; so many people I know from high school, church, college, and after college are incredibly talented and I can't wait to see them make it big so I can cash in on those friendships. Totally kidding. But I truly believe that so many people I know have absolute star quality!
11. I have lived without cable television for 3 and a half years. I still keep up with a lot of TV shows; I just watch them all online or buy them by the season on DVD.
12. I do not, and probably never will, like the taste of coffee. I think it smells good, but tastes gross.
13. I don't remember a moment in my life where I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Most people can tell a story about how they found out, but I have no recollection of that happening...which makes me think I probably still believe in Santa Claus.
14. I also don't remember a point in my life where I started believing in God and in Jesus. Most people have a story to tell about that moment, too. But for me, the belief has just always been there, although that belief has definitely evolved and been challenged and dissected throughout my lifetime.
15. Back to accessories...I also love handbags and hats. I think my love of hats is what gets me through the winter.
16. I think it'd be really cool to live in the South, but I love-love-love the change in seasons that we get here in the Midwest. I would have a hard time giving that up.
17. I want a dog, really really a lot. I think everyone knows that. Hopefully I'll have one by this summer!
18. A lot of people ask me this, so in case you're wondering, here's what my work/sleep schedule is like: I go into work around midnight. I stay until 8 AM (give or take, depending on how much other work I need to do), then I go home and go to bed, usually from 8 or 9 AM until 4 or 5 PM. I don't have black curtains or heavy shades to block out the daylight. I'm just nocturnal, like an owl or a vampire.
19. My all-time, hands-down, no-contest favorite song in the world is "More Than Words" by Extreme for three reasons: (1) it reminds me of being at the lake (I don't know why), (2) the harmonies are beautiful, and (3) I love the lyrics and I think they have an awesome meaning. YouTube it and listen.
20. $20 bills are the worst. It seems like most bank machines and cash-back options always start at $20, which annoys me because usually I just need 5 bucks to put on my laundry card and I don't want to spend money just to break the 20, and I feel like a jerk just walking up to a random cashier and saying, "Hi, I'm not gonna buy anything, but will you just break this for me?" And it's hard for me to actually go to the bank and get cash in the amount that I want because I'm usually asleep during bank hours.
21. There's an episode of "The Office" where everyone was naming the five movies they'd bring with them if they were going to be on a desert island (the game is called "Desert Island" and it's supposed to be books, but I guess everyone was mildly illiterate, so they did movies). So anyway, here are my Desert Island 5: Big Fish, Singin' in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. I think. I'm never completely sure; I like a lot of movies!
22. My favorite color is pink. I feel like everyone knew that one too. My dad actually ordered me a pink phone without me having to ask. Isn't that awesome?!
23. On your 23rd birthday, you go off your parents' insurance. When I turned 23 I was working two part-time jobs, so I didn't have any insurance. It was that way for a few months until I got hired full-time at the TV station. Luckily, nothing bad happened.
24. I have a lot of fake foliage in my apartment. Fake flower vines around my kitchen, fake lilies in a vase on my counter, fake ferns on my window sill, a sconce with a fake bouqet on my wall, a vase of fake flowers in my bathroom, and a big fake flower sitting on my dresser in my bedroom. Low maintenance beauty, folks. That's what it's all about. Although I do enjoy real flowers too.
25. My favorite magazine is "Lucky." (I just bought one today, so that's what made me think of it.) I like it because you don't have to see any stories like "most embarrassing moments" or "101 sex tips." It's just all about clothes, which is my only reason for reading fashion magazines anyway.
And that's it! You might give it a try...just start at one and write about the first 25 things that sort of just pop into your head!
Have a great weekend :) Until later!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
just another reason to love NBC...
I realize that three blogs in one day is seriously overkill for the two of you who read all of my posts, but I'm just so excited about this that I couldn't wait to talk about it. Kind of like in the movies when the guy gets the girl's number and he's supposed to wait more than 24 hours but he can't because he's so excited to ask her out (is that the rule? 24 hours? I wouldn't know since I'm not a guy).
Anyway, if you know anything about me, you know that I love TV so much, I decided to get a job making TV, and you also know that three of my favorite things about TV are on NBC: 30 Rock, The Office, and Saturday Night Live.
Well, now you can add one more thing to that list: Jimmy Fallon.
I don't know how I missed this until now; starting in March, Jimmy will be back on NBC hosting Late Night! And for people like me who are information junkies, he's doing a daily blog on his show's site to keep everyone updated on the show as it comes to fruition (ha HA! How often do you get to use THAT word?!).
And not only can you use the show website to ask Jimmy questions and make comments on his video, you can also link up with him via several social networking engines like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube (good thinking, NBC!). So, Jimmy is here, there, and everywhere letting us know what's coming in March. Could a girl be any happier?
Yes. If I could get a job working on Jimmy's show, that would probably make me insanely happy. I wonder if his producers could use an assistant? Someone to help time the show? Get the guests ready? Make coffee? Lol. But seriously, working on a show like that, especially at NBC in New York would pretty much be the cherry on top of a career ice cream sundae.
But in the meantime, I am really excited we'll be seeing much more of Jimmy!
Anyway, if you know anything about me, you know that I love TV so much, I decided to get a job making TV, and you also know that three of my favorite things about TV are on NBC: 30 Rock, The Office, and Saturday Night Live.
Well, now you can add one more thing to that list: Jimmy Fallon.
I don't know how I missed this until now; starting in March, Jimmy will be back on NBC hosting Late Night! And for people like me who are information junkies, he's doing a daily blog on his show's site to keep everyone updated on the show as it comes to fruition (ha HA! How often do you get to use THAT word?!).
And not only can you use the show website to ask Jimmy questions and make comments on his video, you can also link up with him via several social networking engines like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube (good thinking, NBC!). So, Jimmy is here, there, and everywhere letting us know what's coming in March. Could a girl be any happier?
Yes. If I could get a job working on Jimmy's show, that would probably make me insanely happy. I wonder if his producers could use an assistant? Someone to help time the show? Get the guests ready? Make coffee? Lol. But seriously, working on a show like that, especially at NBC in New York would pretty much be the cherry on top of a career ice cream sundae.
But in the meantime, I am really excited we'll be seeing much more of Jimmy!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Coming Up...
OK, there are a few fun and exciting things in my life I want to talk about, but some of them are still pending and others of them I still need to go through pictures/video for, so this blog entry will serve as a tease for future blog entries! (Can you tell I work in television or what?!)
So here's what's ahead on "Do You Have to Like Coffee" this fall!
I got to see my favorite comedian ever, Brian Regan, right here in downtown Lafayette tonight! How I got free tickets, who came to the show with me, and why we laughed our butts off, coming up.
Because of going to see Brian Regan, I missed the season premiere of "The Office," so I'm going to have to watch it online tomorrow. Check in soon to get my reaction and see if my predictions about last season's cliffhangers were right!
As I finish my first year of producing here at the station, I've got big plans for Year #2! We're giving the morning news show a makeover! New faces, new features, and new furniture, coming soon!
Alright, that's it. I know, I am a goofball. But that's just who I am. And I'm also wound up because of all this fun stuff going on, and because my friend Issa is coming home this weekend from IU and I'm so excited to see her! Issa was Gabriella in the production of High School Musical I was in this summer. She is such a sweetheart and we got really close this past summer, so I can't wait to give her a hug!
So inappropriate. Love it.
OK, one more random thing...I am sitting at work right now, and I can hear snippets of Austin Powers movies playing from the sports office across the hall. Well I snooped around the corner, and our sports director is sitting there at his computer watching clips of Dr. Evil on YouTube! Ha!
Mmmkay, that's it for now! Stay tuned!
So here's what's ahead on "Do You Have to Like Coffee" this fall!
I got to see my favorite comedian ever, Brian Regan, right here in downtown Lafayette tonight! How I got free tickets, who came to the show with me, and why we laughed our butts off, coming up.
Because of going to see Brian Regan, I missed the season premiere of "The Office," so I'm going to have to watch it online tomorrow. Check in soon to get my reaction and see if my predictions about last season's cliffhangers were right!
As I finish my first year of producing here at the station, I've got big plans for Year #2! We're giving the morning news show a makeover! New faces, new features, and new furniture, coming soon!
Alright, that's it. I know, I am a goofball. But that's just who I am. And I'm also wound up because of all this fun stuff going on, and because my friend Issa is coming home this weekend from IU and I'm so excited to see her! Issa was Gabriella in the production of High School Musical I was in this summer. She is such a sweetheart and we got really close this past summer, so I can't wait to give her a hug!
So inappropriate. Love it.
OK, one more random thing...I am sitting at work right now, and I can hear snippets of Austin Powers movies playing from the sports office across the hall. Well I snooped around the corner, and our sports director is sitting there at his computer watching clips of Dr. Evil on YouTube! Ha!
Mmmkay, that's it for now! Stay tuned!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
a few minutes
I'm a little ahead of schedule at work, so I'm just taking a break for a few minutes...
OK, so I watched the first episode (parts 1 and 2) of the new 90210. I have to say, it's pretty alright. I never watched the original; I was kind of on the edge of that generation. I also watched two episodes of Gossip Girl--the wedding one, and the season 2 premiere. I know I should go back and get allllll the dirt from season one, but let's be honest: 99.99% of the reason I watch that show is for the clothes. Everyone looks like a page out of Harper's Bazaar. I so wish I could dress like that! Although, let's face it, that would look really weird in Lafayette. And all of the boys are like...pretty. And so are their clothes!
Watching those two shows has made me feel like my life is very un-glamorous. That's ok; I mean, I know the drama is pretty fictional. You can put their problems in any Midwestern high school and they suddenly seem pretty normal. The clothes, on the other hand, are kind of non-fictional...I'm pretty sure people on the Upper East Side and in Beverly Hills actually spend ridiculous amounts of money on clothes I would have to save an entire year's salary for.
That's Leighton Meester as Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf. And I love whoever chooses the clothes for her character. Those outfits are seriously the #1 thing that will keep me watching that show. My little sister could totally pull off Blair Waldorf's style. I don't know that I could...but it's fun to look at, like reading fashion magazines.
On a more content-based note of excitement, I'm sooo ready for some new episodes of The Office. Will Jim finally get the chance to propose to Pam? What will happen when she moves to New York? Who will get Ryan's job? (I say Jim should, since he was up for it before it was offered to Ryan...that way Jim and Pam can be together in NY. I would also guess Karen, but Rashida Jones moved on to another show, and as long as that's working out for her, I doubt we'll see much of Karen.) What will happen with the new H.R. lady and Michael? Will he stay involved in Jan's pregnancy? Will Dwight and Angela be outed for secretly hooking up, or will Phyllis keep her trap shut? (She is sort of the office gossip.) Will Angela go through with her engagement to Andy or will she go back to Dwight? How long have they been hooking up in secret? Can you believe I'm talking about a comedy??!!
OK, my few minutes are up and it's time to get back to work!
OK, so I watched the first episode (parts 1 and 2) of the new 90210. I have to say, it's pretty alright. I never watched the original; I was kind of on the edge of that generation. I also watched two episodes of Gossip Girl--the wedding one, and the season 2 premiere. I know I should go back and get allllll the dirt from season one, but let's be honest: 99.99% of the reason I watch that show is for the clothes. Everyone looks like a page out of Harper's Bazaar. I so wish I could dress like that! Although, let's face it, that would look really weird in Lafayette. And all of the boys are like...pretty. And so are their clothes!
Watching those two shows has made me feel like my life is very un-glamorous. That's ok; I mean, I know the drama is pretty fictional. You can put their problems in any Midwestern high school and they suddenly seem pretty normal. The clothes, on the other hand, are kind of non-fictional...I'm pretty sure people on the Upper East Side and in Beverly Hills actually spend ridiculous amounts of money on clothes I would have to save an entire year's salary for.
That's Leighton Meester as Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf. And I love whoever chooses the clothes for her character. Those outfits are seriously the #1 thing that will keep me watching that show. My little sister could totally pull off Blair Waldorf's style. I don't know that I could...but it's fun to look at, like reading fashion magazines.
On a more content-based note of excitement, I'm sooo ready for some new episodes of The Office. Will Jim finally get the chance to propose to Pam? What will happen when she moves to New York? Who will get Ryan's job? (I say Jim should, since he was up for it before it was offered to Ryan...that way Jim and Pam can be together in NY. I would also guess Karen, but Rashida Jones moved on to another show, and as long as that's working out for her, I doubt we'll see much of Karen.) What will happen with the new H.R. lady and Michael? Will he stay involved in Jan's pregnancy? Will Dwight and Angela be outed for secretly hooking up, or will Phyllis keep her trap shut? (She is sort of the office gossip.) Will Angela go through with her engagement to Andy or will she go back to Dwight? How long have they been hooking up in secret? Can you believe I'm talking about a comedy??!!
OK, my few minutes are up and it's time to get back to work!
Friday, June 6, 2008
just like oprah...but without all the free stuff.
It's my favorite things! Disclaimer: I totally copied this idea from Kels (check out her blog for her favorite things--it's a great compilation!) I tried to run the gammot of random interests, but it was hard to narrow things down and I'm sure that as soon as I finish this blog post, I'll think of a few things that I love and think, "How could I leave that out?!!" I even squeezed extra favorites in by highlighting them in bold even though there's not a picture for some of them. Like I said, hard to narrow it down.
Here we go!
First of all, I can't tell you have many times a day I Google things. I am truly a child of the Information Age. I even used Google Images to find most of these pictures!
Since the days of Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire, I haven't ever quite outgrown the DC. I know it's cheesy and over-the-top, but it's also fun and very cute, and who doesn't love Disney Channel Original Movies? Plus, the fact that I check in on the Disney Channel from time to time is very helpful in babysitting situations, because I actually have stuff to talk about with the kids.
My job! I love my job so much that a lot of times I forget that I "go to work" every day...or I guess I should say, every night. And I know I have it better working in the mornings because the people are great and compared to the daytime/evening hours, it's a lot less stressful! The people I work with are all hilarious, sweet, and easy to get along with. I love my job!
Arrested Development is one of my newest TV addictions, and I am so glad msn.com has given me the ability to watch all the episodes online for free! I did buy the first season on DVD though, and I will probably buy the other two as well. This show is hysterically funny and because of it I am so in love with this guy...
...Jason Bateman. Except for in Juno, where he played a guy that was a total loser at life. But seriously, watch his interviews for Juno with Michael Cera...so cute!
Bateman and Cera played father and son in "Arrested Development" and were never actually on screen together in "Juno" but they got to do this press junket/EPK stuff together, which was great! Too bad Jason is already happily married with a kid (becaaaause I would have a better chance of marrying him then? Whoa, dream big!)
While we're talking about guys I love but can't marry because they're already taken (and famous), let's talk about this guy right here. Bill Hader has this quirky quality that I find totally appealing. Oh yeah, plus he's hilarious. You can find him on Saturday Night Live and in movies like Superbad, Hot Rod, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Every time I see one of these camera commercials, I want to marry this guy. Again, not a possibility. But Ashton Kutcher is so lovable not only because yeah, he's hot, but also because he's got his stuff together. A true Midwestern boy, he has a goofy guy-next-door comedic appeal that works for him despite his model looks. And he's successfully gone from TV sitcom acting to producing his own TV shows as well as remaining an in-demand leading man in several different genres of film. Plus, he does these cute commercials!
Now onto something I love and can have whenever I want: Baja chicken chalupas from Taco Bell. They are my absolute vice. I don't eat them often because I know they can't be good for you, but every once in a while, I treat myself to this delicious, spicy, carb-loaded bundle of delight. Yum!
Put this on just about anything and I will eat it. JIF extra-crunchy peanut butter is a staple in my home. That and toilet paper.
CAPAKIMAJU is my grandparents' cabin on Kjostad Lake in Orr, Minnesota. It is my favorite place in the world and I'm so excited to go this summer! I think that when I go to heaven it will be a lot like Kjostad Lake.
Ralph Lauren's Romance perfume is my favorite scent. I got my first (and only) bottle my freshman year of college and I am finally running out, so...I will probably be asking for it this Christmas!
This, to me, is the best TV show ever. And I'm pretty sure I mean that. The Office has figured out how to make me feel happy, uncomfortable, sad, mad, in love, and ready to pee my pants from laughing all at once. It also has the magical ability to cheer me up in emergency situations.
I love Waiting for Guffman and all of the other movies Christopher Guest has created with his hand-picked improv troupe extraordinaire. And another thing I love is that people from this group keep showing up in Arrested Development and The Office as well as in Judd Apatow movies...it's just fun to see where and when and how they will pop up next!
I am just tickeld by Teen Girl Squad and most other things from homestarrunner.com. Even the introduction to the website cracks me up! I always want to quote this stuff in conversation, but it can only be with a few people I know who have watched it enough times to know what I'm talking about. I've been enjoying this website since my senior year of high school in newspaper class.
Another website I enjoy visiting is www.dorm-life.com, the homepage for a web series in mockumentary format (similar to The Office or a Chris Guest movie) about a group of college kids living on the same floor. They recently ended the first season and I am already stoked for more!
And while we're talking about fun shows on the web, I also wanted to highlight Whatever Hollywood, who I've talked about in my blog before. I suggest checking them out because they'll be famous someday!
Any excuse I can find to eat with chopsticks, I will do it. I don't know why, but I love eating with chopsticks! I even have a couple "permanent" pairs that I wash with my silverware and use again!
I love Purdue. So much. I bleed gold and black. Go Boilers!!!
Oh, Reese Witherspoon. If there's any one celebrity I love no matter what, it's Reese. She is beautiful, funny, smart, and so talented. And she's 5'2" like me! And you can make fun of me all you want, but Legally Blonde will always be one of my favorite movies.
I am kind of obsessed with this girl. Which is kinda weird, I know, because she's like my age. But not only do I love Ashley Tisdale for being Sharpay in High School Musical, I also think she is a great role model for the kids in her audience. She doesn't drink, smoke, or go to the clubs, and therefore she stays out of all sorts of trouble that her peers have gotten into. And I just saw the trailer today for her new little made-for-TV movie that premieres on ABC Family July 13th. The same weekend as we open our production of High School Musical in which I play Sharpay! See, obsessed. I even bought her first recording album when it came out last summer.
Also obsessed...with these two. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are awesome not only because they are so funny, but because of all the other cool things they stand for. The first all-female cast of Weekend Update on SNL, they are also very good friends and, from what I can tell, really cool people. I love Tina's series "30 Rock" on NBC, and I love her adaptation of the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes" to its film version, "Mean Girls." Amy Poehler joins Reese and Ashley on my list of favorite blondes. I love and imitate to exhaustion her character "Kaitlin" from SNL, and I think that she and husband Will Arnett (Arrested Development, 30 Rock) have to be the cutest, funniest couple ever. And I loved "Baby Momma."
My parents always say if I went to New York City I would never come back. And they would be correct. I have never been, but when I do you can bet I won't leave before seeing at LEAST one show on Broadway. I love keeping up with what productions come to the Great White Way every season, and I even get excited for the Tony Awards every summer! I know it's dorky because I'm out here in Indiana, but I mean, whatever.
And finally, I love jeans. I think I wear them literally every day. I love them. I know, who doesn't? But really, what would we do without jeans?
OK, so those are some of my favorite things, in no particular order. And now I'm hungry for a chalupa so...I might have to go do something about that.
Until later!
lis
Here we go!
First of all, I can't tell you have many times a day I Google things. I am truly a child of the Information Age. I even used Google Images to find most of these pictures!
Since the days of Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire, I haven't ever quite outgrown the DC. I know it's cheesy and over-the-top, but it's also fun and very cute, and who doesn't love Disney Channel Original Movies? Plus, the fact that I check in on the Disney Channel from time to time is very helpful in babysitting situations, because I actually have stuff to talk about with the kids.
My job! I love my job so much that a lot of times I forget that I "go to work" every day...or I guess I should say, every night. And I know I have it better working in the mornings because the people are great and compared to the daytime/evening hours, it's a lot less stressful! The people I work with are all hilarious, sweet, and easy to get along with. I love my job!
Arrested Development is one of my newest TV addictions, and I am so glad msn.com has given me the ability to watch all the episodes online for free! I did buy the first season on DVD though, and I will probably buy the other two as well. This show is hysterically funny and because of it I am so in love with this guy...
...Jason Bateman. Except for in Juno, where he played a guy that was a total loser at life. But seriously, watch his interviews for Juno with Michael Cera...so cute!
Bateman and Cera played father and son in "Arrested Development" and were never actually on screen together in "Juno" but they got to do this press junket/EPK stuff together, which was great! Too bad Jason is already happily married with a kid (becaaaause I would have a better chance of marrying him then? Whoa, dream big!)
While we're talking about guys I love but can't marry because they're already taken (and famous), let's talk about this guy right here. Bill Hader has this quirky quality that I find totally appealing. Oh yeah, plus he's hilarious. You can find him on Saturday Night Live and in movies like Superbad, Hot Rod, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Every time I see one of these camera commercials, I want to marry this guy. Again, not a possibility. But Ashton Kutcher is so lovable not only because yeah, he's hot, but also because he's got his stuff together. A true Midwestern boy, he has a goofy guy-next-door comedic appeal that works for him despite his model looks. And he's successfully gone from TV sitcom acting to producing his own TV shows as well as remaining an in-demand leading man in several different genres of film. Plus, he does these cute commercials!
Now onto something I love and can have whenever I want: Baja chicken chalupas from Taco Bell. They are my absolute vice. I don't eat them often because I know they can't be good for you, but every once in a while, I treat myself to this delicious, spicy, carb-loaded bundle of delight. Yum!
Put this on just about anything and I will eat it. JIF extra-crunchy peanut butter is a staple in my home. That and toilet paper.
CAPAKIMAJU is my grandparents' cabin on Kjostad Lake in Orr, Minnesota. It is my favorite place in the world and I'm so excited to go this summer! I think that when I go to heaven it will be a lot like Kjostad Lake.
Ralph Lauren's Romance perfume is my favorite scent. I got my first (and only) bottle my freshman year of college and I am finally running out, so...I will probably be asking for it this Christmas!
This, to me, is the best TV show ever. And I'm pretty sure I mean that. The Office has figured out how to make me feel happy, uncomfortable, sad, mad, in love, and ready to pee my pants from laughing all at once. It also has the magical ability to cheer me up in emergency situations.
I love Waiting for Guffman and all of the other movies Christopher Guest has created with his hand-picked improv troupe extraordinaire. And another thing I love is that people from this group keep showing up in Arrested Development and The Office as well as in Judd Apatow movies...it's just fun to see where and when and how they will pop up next!
I am just tickeld by Teen Girl Squad and most other things from homestarrunner.com. Even the introduction to the website cracks me up! I always want to quote this stuff in conversation, but it can only be with a few people I know who have watched it enough times to know what I'm talking about. I've been enjoying this website since my senior year of high school in newspaper class.
Another website I enjoy visiting is www.dorm-life.com, the homepage for a web series in mockumentary format (similar to The Office or a Chris Guest movie) about a group of college kids living on the same floor. They recently ended the first season and I am already stoked for more!
And while we're talking about fun shows on the web, I also wanted to highlight Whatever Hollywood, who I've talked about in my blog before. I suggest checking them out because they'll be famous someday!
Any excuse I can find to eat with chopsticks, I will do it. I don't know why, but I love eating with chopsticks! I even have a couple "permanent" pairs that I wash with my silverware and use again!
I love Purdue. So much. I bleed gold and black. Go Boilers!!!
Oh, Reese Witherspoon. If there's any one celebrity I love no matter what, it's Reese. She is beautiful, funny, smart, and so talented. And she's 5'2" like me! And you can make fun of me all you want, but Legally Blonde will always be one of my favorite movies.
I am kind of obsessed with this girl. Which is kinda weird, I know, because she's like my age. But not only do I love Ashley Tisdale for being Sharpay in High School Musical, I also think she is a great role model for the kids in her audience. She doesn't drink, smoke, or go to the clubs, and therefore she stays out of all sorts of trouble that her peers have gotten into. And I just saw the trailer today for her new little made-for-TV movie that premieres on ABC Family July 13th. The same weekend as we open our production of High School Musical in which I play Sharpay! See, obsessed. I even bought her first recording album when it came out last summer.
Also obsessed...with these two. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are awesome not only because they are so funny, but because of all the other cool things they stand for. The first all-female cast of Weekend Update on SNL, they are also very good friends and, from what I can tell, really cool people. I love Tina's series "30 Rock" on NBC, and I love her adaptation of the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes" to its film version, "Mean Girls." Amy Poehler joins Reese and Ashley on my list of favorite blondes. I love and imitate to exhaustion her character "Kaitlin" from SNL, and I think that she and husband Will Arnett (Arrested Development, 30 Rock) have to be the cutest, funniest couple ever. And I loved "Baby Momma."
My parents always say if I went to New York City I would never come back. And they would be correct. I have never been, but when I do you can bet I won't leave before seeing at LEAST one show on Broadway. I love keeping up with what productions come to the Great White Way every season, and I even get excited for the Tony Awards every summer! I know it's dorky because I'm out here in Indiana, but I mean, whatever.
And finally, I love jeans. I think I wear them literally every day. I love them. I know, who doesn't? But really, what would we do without jeans?
OK, so those are some of my favorite things, in no particular order. And now I'm hungry for a chalupa so...I might have to go do something about that.
Until later!
lis
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
chick picks
Well, the Office, 30 Rock, and Dorm Life have all wrapped up for the season, leaving a little void in my life for something to watch, predict, and be entertained by from week to week. So I've picked up a couple of very girly watching habits in the meantime!
First, there's the Bachelorette. I've never been a faithful watcher of this show before, but last year I got into the Bachelor (the Brad Womack season) for one reason and one reason only---a couple of the girls I work with watch the show and in order to be included in their conversations about it, I had to actually watch it too. It turned out to be quite a memorable season as the finale ended with not one but TWO big rejections and ZERO proposals. The final two girls, Jenny and DeAnna, seemed to be amazing people; Jenny a sweet, warm, fun-loving gal and DeAnna a time-tested hardship survivor who knew what she wanted in life. Brad told them both goodbye.
I was actually interested in watching this season of the Bachelorette because I knew it'd be one of these two girls, and I was intrigued to see how they'd pick one over the other to star in the show. Well, ironically enough, Jenny eliminated herself because she ended up getting engaged! Leaving DeAnna the chance to have 25 guys from all over the U.S. fight over her on national television.
I am not a huge fan of the idea of going on network TV to find the love of your life, but it's fun to watch other people do it. That being said, DeAnna is the perfect person for this task because she really seems to know exactly what she wants in life and in love, so maybe this won't be as daunting a task for her as it would be for others. It's also WAY fun to see the different dynamic of having guys competing versus girls.
So far we are two episodes in, and though there is one guy I liked who didn't make it past the premiere (the oyster farmer), after watching last night's episode I'm glad to report that all my favorites got a rose and are safe for another week! I especially like Richard the science teacher, Brian the high school football coach, Fred from Chicago, who has a Jason Bateman head of hair and sounds like a Blues Brothers Dan Aykroyd (which in my book equals adorable), Jason the single dad, Graham the hot Southern kid, and Jesse the goofy snowboarder. I also think it was fair of DeAnna to give obnoxious Twilley another chance simply because he made a huge effort to show her a quieter, more serious side of him. I'm glad Eric the presumptuous Greek went home, and though I'm sure Ryan the football player is a great guy, I was getting annoyed by him mentioning that he's still a virgin like...every time he spoke. I think it's tough for Christians because we aren't supposed to be ashamed of our beliefs, but if we act like this guy and rub them in people's faces, we look like toolboxes. So I'm glad he went home. All that being said, I'm loving the show!
The best part of the show so far, though was during the premiere when Jenny came back to help DeAnna weed out the initial batch of guys. The two girls are standing there in the backyard, one with 25 guys falling over her and the other with a HUGE rock on her finger, and Jenny says something to the effect of, "I think we're doing a lot better for ourselves." Pretty cool.
OK, the other thing I'm watching...and this is to fill the void left by the hilarious mockumentary web series Dorm Life...is Whatever Hollywood.com, a site made by three girls (two sisters and one sister-friend) who are all aspiring showbiz folks--a host/producer, a singer/songwriter, and an actress (she's the McCleary sis who gets married via nautical-themed vows at the beginning of Wedding Crashers!!! Watch it!) who all live in L.A. and are trying to make it, but meanwhile have launched this adorable site where they make funny little short videos. It reminds me of me and my two best gals from college OR me and my two sisters, so I am totally diggin' it with new videos every Wednesday.
OK, gotta hit the showers and grab a bite to eat before heading off to song-and-dance land!
Until later!
First, there's the Bachelorette. I've never been a faithful watcher of this show before, but last year I got into the Bachelor (the Brad Womack season) for one reason and one reason only---a couple of the girls I work with watch the show and in order to be included in their conversations about it, I had to actually watch it too. It turned out to be quite a memorable season as the finale ended with not one but TWO big rejections and ZERO proposals. The final two girls, Jenny and DeAnna, seemed to be amazing people; Jenny a sweet, warm, fun-loving gal and DeAnna a time-tested hardship survivor who knew what she wanted in life. Brad told them both goodbye.
I was actually interested in watching this season of the Bachelorette because I knew it'd be one of these two girls, and I was intrigued to see how they'd pick one over the other to star in the show. Well, ironically enough, Jenny eliminated herself because she ended up getting engaged! Leaving DeAnna the chance to have 25 guys from all over the U.S. fight over her on national television.
I am not a huge fan of the idea of going on network TV to find the love of your life, but it's fun to watch other people do it. That being said, DeAnna is the perfect person for this task because she really seems to know exactly what she wants in life and in love, so maybe this won't be as daunting a task for her as it would be for others. It's also WAY fun to see the different dynamic of having guys competing versus girls.
So far we are two episodes in, and though there is one guy I liked who didn't make it past the premiere (the oyster farmer), after watching last night's episode I'm glad to report that all my favorites got a rose and are safe for another week! I especially like Richard the science teacher, Brian the high school football coach, Fred from Chicago, who has a Jason Bateman head of hair and sounds like a Blues Brothers Dan Aykroyd (which in my book equals adorable), Jason the single dad, Graham the hot Southern kid, and Jesse the goofy snowboarder. I also think it was fair of DeAnna to give obnoxious Twilley another chance simply because he made a huge effort to show her a quieter, more serious side of him. I'm glad Eric the presumptuous Greek went home, and though I'm sure Ryan the football player is a great guy, I was getting annoyed by him mentioning that he's still a virgin like...every time he spoke. I think it's tough for Christians because we aren't supposed to be ashamed of our beliefs, but if we act like this guy and rub them in people's faces, we look like toolboxes. So I'm glad he went home. All that being said, I'm loving the show!
The best part of the show so far, though was during the premiere when Jenny came back to help DeAnna weed out the initial batch of guys. The two girls are standing there in the backyard, one with 25 guys falling over her and the other with a HUGE rock on her finger, and Jenny says something to the effect of, "I think we're doing a lot better for ourselves." Pretty cool.
OK, the other thing I'm watching...and this is to fill the void left by the hilarious mockumentary web series Dorm Life...is Whatever Hollywood.com, a site made by three girls (two sisters and one sister-friend) who are all aspiring showbiz folks--a host/producer, a singer/songwriter, and an actress (she's the McCleary sis who gets married via nautical-themed vows at the beginning of Wedding Crashers!!! Watch it!) who all live in L.A. and are trying to make it, but meanwhile have launched this adorable site where they make funny little short videos. It reminds me of me and my two best gals from college OR me and my two sisters, so I am totally diggin' it with new videos every Wednesday.
OK, gotta hit the showers and grab a bite to eat before heading off to song-and-dance land!
Until later!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
pam
"Hey! I wanna say something. I've been trying to be more honest lately, and I just wanna say a few things. I did the coal walk! Just, I did it. Michael, you couldn't even do that. Maybe I should be your boss. Wow I feel really good right now."
~Pam Beesly, "Beach Games," The Office, Season 3.
This is the curse of the graveyard shift---if you follow your normal sleep pattern on a Friday, you end up still awake at 4:30 AM. Which is what I am doing right now. So I thought writing might help me wind down enough to get a few hours of sleep.
It's no secret that I love "The Office." And if you've watched the show enough to be familiar with the characters, you love Jim and Pam. I don't care who you are; you like them. I mean, everyone wants to be Jim and Pam, right? Jim is the cool, caring, cute, funny guy that everyone likes (except Dwight), and Pam is the nice, approachably pretty, creative girl that people take for granted. Wait, what? No one wants to be taken for granted! Who would want that? No one wants to be a doormat. No one wants that part of Pam's character.
Here's the thing about Pam that we girls want: Pam is taken for granted by everyone except...Jim. And he never takes her for granted. Yes, sometimes we've seen him get mad at her, or hurt her feelings, but whether he's trying to show it or not, it's always obvious that Jim cares about Pam. I love the episode in Season 2 when everyone in the office goes on a booze cruise, and the guys are talking about who they would save if the boat were sinking. And Jim tells the camera, "I would save the receptionist."
All of us girls want that; someone who sees us even when we seem invisible to everyone else around us. We all want a Jim.
But just because Jim was always there ready to save Pam didn't mean they got together, easy as that. Pam was in a failing relationship with Roy, a guy she had known for a long time and, I'm sure, really did have a good time with at some point. And you can tell that at one point, Roy really was sweet to Pam; we see that when Pam's mom comes to visit and Roy puts on a sweater and a cute personality for her. But after three years of being engaged and countless episodes in which Roy acts like a jerk, it's clear that Roy has taken Pam for granted. She's nice to him, she takes care of him, and she's loyal. To a fault. She's not going anywhere, so he's not in any rush to actually marry her.
I had a conversation with someone (who I'm sure will read this, so I'm sure you'll laugh when you do)... ;) ... while we were watching an episode of the Office, and I said something like, "Poor Pam!" And he said he didn't feel sorry for Pam, because she was the one choosing to stay with Roy. And of course, I started defending Pam (right, girls?) and saying that she's been committed to this guy for so long that she was just trying to make the best of it and convince herself she was happy because at this point it probably felt like it would be too hard to split up with him. And then I explained that later on in the show, she does break up with Roy and start becoming an independent person who tries things on her own and says what's on her mind, and all this finally leads to her and Jim getting together.
And as I'm sitting there defending Pam, I feel like I'm talking about myself.
I always felt like I could relate to Pam, but I'd never explained it to someone else before. Saying it out loud was kind of funny because although I've never been engaged or walked across hot coals, I feel like in a less dramatic way I've been through a lot of the things the writers put Pam through in the show. The past four months especially. I got out of this "comfortable" but unhealthy relationship, and spent a lot of time by myself. I found some new things to try, like my yoga class (Pam had art class), and started focusing on taking care of myself, rather than someone else. I cut my hair. I started eating better. I strengthened old, reliable friendships and developed new ones. It finally clicked that I had just as much of a right as anyone to voice my opinions and feelings, and I started doing it. I started sticking up for myself more, and it followed that I could stick up for others too. I grew up a little bit, and realized I'm not a kid anymore, so I shouldn't let people treat me like one.
In the show, Pam and Jim have a conversation after Jim has left Scranton and Pam has left Roy. It's the first time they've talked since Jim left, and Pam fills him in on her new apartment and what she's doing with her life. And Jim calls her "Fancy New Beesly." Well, as cheesy as it might sound, I feel like I've been going through a little bit of a "Fancy New Beesly" stage myself, and kind of figured out who I am now that I'm out on my own.
And that phase isn't always fun, but it's the most powerful thing...it really makes you trust yourself. And then you know you can go to the next place in your life, but this time taking with you all of that strength that you know you have, and not letting anyone take any of that away from you.
And then you're ready for Jim.
See, he couldn't just save Pam. She had to figure it out herself; that she was letting everyone take her for granted because she was taking herself for granted. She had to remind herself that people were not allowed to take her for granted; that she was worth the recognition and respect she commanded from everyone afer she walked across the hot coals on Beach Day. And even though everyone made fun of her afterwards, she kept her head up and did not apologize for anything she said. All of that had to happen first, before Season 4.
For anyone who's reading this and hasn't watched much of the show, I'm sorry...this probably doesn't make sense. But you should just watch the show because not only will you get what I'm talking about, but you'll probably come close to peeing your pants at some point. For anyone who has watched, please don't think I'm some kind of psycho who goes around saying, "I'm JUST like Pam...OMG!!!" I'm not like that. I just love analogies, and the character of Pam just fits well with my own experiences in the past few months.
I refuse to be taken for granted. I'm nice, but I'm not a doormat. And now that I know that, I can fully appreciate someone who doesn't, and wouldn't, take me for granted. And the fact that that "someone" is cool, caring, cute, funny, and likeable doesn't hurt. :)
Oh, also, my name was on the board in the lobby of the station under "Anniversaries." I've been working there for a year now! It's crazy to think it was a year ago when I started part-time in production, splitting time between the station and the restaurant. And I know I started writing this blog not long after starting my job, so I guess that means my blog's one-year birthday is coming up! OK, it's almost 5:30 now. I'm going to watch some Drop Dead Gorgeous and try to get a little sleep.
Thanks for listening. Until later...
lis
~Pam Beesly, "Beach Games," The Office, Season 3.
This is the curse of the graveyard shift---if you follow your normal sleep pattern on a Friday, you end up still awake at 4:30 AM. Which is what I am doing right now. So I thought writing might help me wind down enough to get a few hours of sleep.
It's no secret that I love "The Office." And if you've watched the show enough to be familiar with the characters, you love Jim and Pam. I don't care who you are; you like them. I mean, everyone wants to be Jim and Pam, right? Jim is the cool, caring, cute, funny guy that everyone likes (except Dwight), and Pam is the nice, approachably pretty, creative girl that people take for granted. Wait, what? No one wants to be taken for granted! Who would want that? No one wants to be a doormat. No one wants that part of Pam's character.
Here's the thing about Pam that we girls want: Pam is taken for granted by everyone except...Jim. And he never takes her for granted. Yes, sometimes we've seen him get mad at her, or hurt her feelings, but whether he's trying to show it or not, it's always obvious that Jim cares about Pam. I love the episode in Season 2 when everyone in the office goes on a booze cruise, and the guys are talking about who they would save if the boat were sinking. And Jim tells the camera, "I would save the receptionist."
All of us girls want that; someone who sees us even when we seem invisible to everyone else around us. We all want a Jim.
But just because Jim was always there ready to save Pam didn't mean they got together, easy as that. Pam was in a failing relationship with Roy, a guy she had known for a long time and, I'm sure, really did have a good time with at some point. And you can tell that at one point, Roy really was sweet to Pam; we see that when Pam's mom comes to visit and Roy puts on a sweater and a cute personality for her. But after three years of being engaged and countless episodes in which Roy acts like a jerk, it's clear that Roy has taken Pam for granted. She's nice to him, she takes care of him, and she's loyal. To a fault. She's not going anywhere, so he's not in any rush to actually marry her.
I had a conversation with someone (who I'm sure will read this, so I'm sure you'll laugh when you do)... ;) ... while we were watching an episode of the Office, and I said something like, "Poor Pam!" And he said he didn't feel sorry for Pam, because she was the one choosing to stay with Roy. And of course, I started defending Pam (right, girls?) and saying that she's been committed to this guy for so long that she was just trying to make the best of it and convince herself she was happy because at this point it probably felt like it would be too hard to split up with him. And then I explained that later on in the show, she does break up with Roy and start becoming an independent person who tries things on her own and says what's on her mind, and all this finally leads to her and Jim getting together.
And as I'm sitting there defending Pam, I feel like I'm talking about myself.
I always felt like I could relate to Pam, but I'd never explained it to someone else before. Saying it out loud was kind of funny because although I've never been engaged or walked across hot coals, I feel like in a less dramatic way I've been through a lot of the things the writers put Pam through in the show. The past four months especially. I got out of this "comfortable" but unhealthy relationship, and spent a lot of time by myself. I found some new things to try, like my yoga class (Pam had art class), and started focusing on taking care of myself, rather than someone else. I cut my hair. I started eating better. I strengthened old, reliable friendships and developed new ones. It finally clicked that I had just as much of a right as anyone to voice my opinions and feelings, and I started doing it. I started sticking up for myself more, and it followed that I could stick up for others too. I grew up a little bit, and realized I'm not a kid anymore, so I shouldn't let people treat me like one.
In the show, Pam and Jim have a conversation after Jim has left Scranton and Pam has left Roy. It's the first time they've talked since Jim left, and Pam fills him in on her new apartment and what she's doing with her life. And Jim calls her "Fancy New Beesly." Well, as cheesy as it might sound, I feel like I've been going through a little bit of a "Fancy New Beesly" stage myself, and kind of figured out who I am now that I'm out on my own.
And that phase isn't always fun, but it's the most powerful thing...it really makes you trust yourself. And then you know you can go to the next place in your life, but this time taking with you all of that strength that you know you have, and not letting anyone take any of that away from you.
And then you're ready for Jim.
See, he couldn't just save Pam. She had to figure it out herself; that she was letting everyone take her for granted because she was taking herself for granted. She had to remind herself that people were not allowed to take her for granted; that she was worth the recognition and respect she commanded from everyone afer she walked across the hot coals on Beach Day. And even though everyone made fun of her afterwards, she kept her head up and did not apologize for anything she said. All of that had to happen first, before Season 4.
For anyone who's reading this and hasn't watched much of the show, I'm sorry...this probably doesn't make sense. But you should just watch the show because not only will you get what I'm talking about, but you'll probably come close to peeing your pants at some point. For anyone who has watched, please don't think I'm some kind of psycho who goes around saying, "I'm JUST like Pam...OMG!!!" I'm not like that. I just love analogies, and the character of Pam just fits well with my own experiences in the past few months.
I refuse to be taken for granted. I'm nice, but I'm not a doormat. And now that I know that, I can fully appreciate someone who doesn't, and wouldn't, take me for granted. And the fact that that "someone" is cool, caring, cute, funny, and likeable doesn't hurt. :)
Oh, also, my name was on the board in the lobby of the station under "Anniversaries." I've been working there for a year now! It's crazy to think it was a year ago when I started part-time in production, splitting time between the station and the restaurant. And I know I started writing this blog not long after starting my job, so I guess that means my blog's one-year birthday is coming up! OK, it's almost 5:30 now. I'm going to watch some Drop Dead Gorgeous and try to get a little sleep.
Thanks for listening. Until later...
lis
Sunday, February 17, 2008
BB9 Episode 2
"You know what they say...Fool me once, strike one. Fool me twice...strike three."
~Michael Scott, The Office
So unfortunately, my computer died on Wednesday, so until I get a new one, I have to check in from work...which means coming into work early to do it. Which sounds pathetic, but at the same time, not having a computer at home means not having much to do around the house except clean, read, sleep, eat, and play with my hair...and you can only do those things for so long before you go insane, so going to work a little early doesn't sound so bad.
Anyway, I missed my recap of Wednesday night's BB, so I'll hit that up now...
First of all, I was confused about the whole Power Couple thing. I thought they were the first HOH couple, but I was wrong. For some reason the BB producers just made up a one-time position called the "power couple" seemingly for the sole purpose of getting one couple evicted right off the bat. So Jen and Parker were the Power Couple, which meant they had the power to single-handedly evict whichever couple they chose. And they pretty much had the choice made for them thanks to Jacob (you'll remember that he and Sharon were the ex-boyfriend and girlfriend who were "randomly" matched up in the house). Jacob decided to stir up some trouble in the house to "make things fun." (Wha?!!) So Jacob sits down with a few fellow houseguests, Jen being one of them, and says some people in the house were calling Parker a snake. Jen, of course, immediately reports this to her partner Parker, who declares he won't tolerate secrets and wakes up everyone in the house to find out who told Jacob he was a snake. Uh...the title of "power couple" obviously being taken to heart by this guy.
So what we discover is that (naturally) no one is going to own up to the name-calling, making Jacob pretty much look like a total toolbox. Which...he is. He then gets an earful from blind-sided Sharon, who realizes this is a serious misstep in their game and will probably get them evicted. I feel kinda sorry for this girl, and I think it's safe to stay that this couple will never make up and get back together. Because Jacob's short-sightedness, selfishness, and thirst for drama is probably what led him to cheat on Sharon in the first place. What an idiot. I was hoping he'd turn out to be a nice guy, but...he's a jerk. So Sharon makes a last-ditch effort to save her game by going to Parker and shifting the target from herself to Ryan, who she hints is the name-caller. Interesting, since Ryan, unbeknownst to the rest of the house, is dating Parker's partner. We could all guess where that was going!
Naturally, when Sharon indicated to Parker that Ryan didn't like him, Ryan was Parker's first pick for the power-couple eviction. Ryan and Allison had already proved to be strong competitors, so they already were fair targets WITHOUT any help from Sharon and Jacob. But of course when Parker suggested evicting Ryan and Allison, Jen balked at giving her BF the boot. Now here is where Jacob's one stupid move had a domino effect on the rest of the game: Jen could have easily found a way to convice Parker that Ryan was merely being used as a scapegoat by Sharon to keep her and Jacob in the game; after all, no one had spoken up in the meeting, so maybe Jacob had just been trying to cause trouble. But instead Jen decided to tell the paps her secret (always a bad decision)..."We can't evict Ryan because he and I are dating." She doesn't even consult Ryan before she does this, she doesn't think about it, the just DOES it. AGH! So then they pull Ryan in to let him know Parker is wise to their secret. And now, it's only fair that Ryan tells Allison, who is clearly disappointed no only because this seriously compromises her strategy, but also because she was obviously hoping for some sparks to fly between herself and Ryan, and now she's openly jealous of Jen.
Sharon's face-saving attempts aren't enough, and Jen and Parker send the ex-couple packing. I have to say this eviction was kind of disappointing because it wasn't live and there wasn't any follow-up with Julie outside the house afterward. But oh well. I don't really get the point of BB starting the game this way, other than just eliminating couples quickly to save future space for returning regular-season shows.
Now that first blood has been drawn, it's time for the first (real) HOH competition. The game is a silly matching game based on how well the couples could guess each other's personal preferences in a mate's physical attributes, as well as each other's sexual fantasies. But the best part is...the game is hosted by BB8's Jess and Eric!!! (My favorite players from last season!) Didn't I tell you they were the inspiration for this season's theme?! So the showmance-turned-real-life couple host the show, and the close-fought game comes down to Matt and Nat (who get along much better than I'd expected) and Amanda and Alex (who also get along VERY well). A&A win, and are dubbed co-HOH. People seem to be happy; apparently these two are pretty well-liked throughout the house.
Overall, kind of a disappointing episode; how can all of this be happening already?! I was hoping we'd get to see some sneaky gameplay from Jen and Ryan for at least a couple weeks before the secret got out! The best part of the whole thing was seeing Jess and Eric.
Dumb Move of the Day goes to Jacob for starting ALL the trouble AND getting his ex-girlfriend evicted. But a close, CLOSE second goes to Jen for just being a loud-mouth idiot.
That's all for Episode 2...Episode 3 coming up!
~Michael Scott, The Office
So unfortunately, my computer died on Wednesday, so until I get a new one, I have to check in from work...which means coming into work early to do it. Which sounds pathetic, but at the same time, not having a computer at home means not having much to do around the house except clean, read, sleep, eat, and play with my hair...and you can only do those things for so long before you go insane, so going to work a little early doesn't sound so bad.
Anyway, I missed my recap of Wednesday night's BB, so I'll hit that up now...
First of all, I was confused about the whole Power Couple thing. I thought they were the first HOH couple, but I was wrong. For some reason the BB producers just made up a one-time position called the "power couple" seemingly for the sole purpose of getting one couple evicted right off the bat. So Jen and Parker were the Power Couple, which meant they had the power to single-handedly evict whichever couple they chose. And they pretty much had the choice made for them thanks to Jacob (you'll remember that he and Sharon were the ex-boyfriend and girlfriend who were "randomly" matched up in the house). Jacob decided to stir up some trouble in the house to "make things fun." (Wha?!!) So Jacob sits down with a few fellow houseguests, Jen being one of them, and says some people in the house were calling Parker a snake. Jen, of course, immediately reports this to her partner Parker, who declares he won't tolerate secrets and wakes up everyone in the house to find out who told Jacob he was a snake. Uh...the title of "power couple" obviously being taken to heart by this guy.
So what we discover is that (naturally) no one is going to own up to the name-calling, making Jacob pretty much look like a total toolbox. Which...he is. He then gets an earful from blind-sided Sharon, who realizes this is a serious misstep in their game and will probably get them evicted. I feel kinda sorry for this girl, and I think it's safe to stay that this couple will never make up and get back together. Because Jacob's short-sightedness, selfishness, and thirst for drama is probably what led him to cheat on Sharon in the first place. What an idiot. I was hoping he'd turn out to be a nice guy, but...he's a jerk. So Sharon makes a last-ditch effort to save her game by going to Parker and shifting the target from herself to Ryan, who she hints is the name-caller. Interesting, since Ryan, unbeknownst to the rest of the house, is dating Parker's partner. We could all guess where that was going!
Naturally, when Sharon indicated to Parker that Ryan didn't like him, Ryan was Parker's first pick for the power-couple eviction. Ryan and Allison had already proved to be strong competitors, so they already were fair targets WITHOUT any help from Sharon and Jacob. But of course when Parker suggested evicting Ryan and Allison, Jen balked at giving her BF the boot. Now here is where Jacob's one stupid move had a domino effect on the rest of the game: Jen could have easily found a way to convice Parker that Ryan was merely being used as a scapegoat by Sharon to keep her and Jacob in the game; after all, no one had spoken up in the meeting, so maybe Jacob had just been trying to cause trouble. But instead Jen decided to tell the paps her secret (always a bad decision)..."We can't evict Ryan because he and I are dating." She doesn't even consult Ryan before she does this, she doesn't think about it, the just DOES it. AGH! So then they pull Ryan in to let him know Parker is wise to their secret. And now, it's only fair that Ryan tells Allison, who is clearly disappointed no only because this seriously compromises her strategy, but also because she was obviously hoping for some sparks to fly between herself and Ryan, and now she's openly jealous of Jen.
Sharon's face-saving attempts aren't enough, and Jen and Parker send the ex-couple packing. I have to say this eviction was kind of disappointing because it wasn't live and there wasn't any follow-up with Julie outside the house afterward. But oh well. I don't really get the point of BB starting the game this way, other than just eliminating couples quickly to save future space for returning regular-season shows.
Now that first blood has been drawn, it's time for the first (real) HOH competition. The game is a silly matching game based on how well the couples could guess each other's personal preferences in a mate's physical attributes, as well as each other's sexual fantasies. But the best part is...the game is hosted by BB8's Jess and Eric!!! (My favorite players from last season!) Didn't I tell you they were the inspiration for this season's theme?! So the showmance-turned-real-life couple host the show, and the close-fought game comes down to Matt and Nat (who get along much better than I'd expected) and Amanda and Alex (who also get along VERY well). A&A win, and are dubbed co-HOH. People seem to be happy; apparently these two are pretty well-liked throughout the house.
Overall, kind of a disappointing episode; how can all of this be happening already?! I was hoping we'd get to see some sneaky gameplay from Jen and Ryan for at least a couple weeks before the secret got out! The best part of the whole thing was seeing Jess and Eric.
Dumb Move of the Day goes to Jacob for starting ALL the trouble AND getting his ex-girlfriend evicted. But a close, CLOSE second goes to Jen for just being a loud-mouth idiot.
That's all for Episode 2...Episode 3 coming up!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Being a Grown-Up is Boring.
It's just as I suspected. Being a grown-up is boring.
Here's what's happening in my life: I go to work. I come home. I eat something. I go to sleep. I wake up. I work out (sometimes). I take a shower. I go to work. And that's my week. And even though I'm used to the schedule, my work week still feels more like one really long day during which I just take lots of long naps. Honestly, the best part of my day is from 5 to 7 a.m. Now who else in the world can say that? I have the most fun of my day when we're doing the morning show.
I talked to Ryan yesterday and literally had nothing new to tell him. Because there's nothing new in my life right now. I have a few things to look forward to, but other than that, I'm just doing the same thing every day.
I feel like things will pick up this summer, and here's why. As you may know from reading my last post, I have two major goals for this summer: to get a puppy and to be in at least one summer civic theatre show. I really hope I can be in a play for this summer because once I started rehearsing, I'd have something to do other than work, which would be great! Also, once I have a puppy I will have a lot more to do, like clean up after it, take it outside all the time, and train it. Even the hard parts of owning a dog sound fun! That's how boring my life is right now.
Don't get me wrong; I love my job. It's just the rest of my day when I'm not at my job that's so boring.
And lately I haven't been motivated to do much of anything, like clean my apartment or go work out. I'm just tired of doing this stuff every day! But, welcome to the rest of adult life, right?
Oh! Here's one thing I'm excited about: For the first time since living on my own, this month will be the first that I've actually been able to save a significant amount of money! Tomorrow is a pay day, and I'll be able to pay all my living expenses and still have money left over to speak of! It seems like a small accomplishment, but it's actually a big deal to me, especially since I'm budgeting for a dog in the future.
OK, quick media picks.
Movies: I went to see Katherine Heigl's "27 Dresses." It was great, and I am now completely in love with James Marsden. The movie was one part "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," one part "Runaway Bride," and one part "My Best Friend's Wedding," add James Marsden, shake, strain, and pour into a martini glass. Yum...everything a chick flick should be! My favorite part involves a slightly drunken duet between Heigl and Marsden singing "Benny and the Jets" in a packed roadhouse...it was very adorable (especially Marsden...did I mention I'm completely in love with him?)
TV: Thanks, WGA for not letting anyone get back to work. This is getting really old. I did see that NBC.com posted episodes 1, 3, and 5 of season 4. I still need to watch season 3 on DVD, but now I'm caught up for the most part on the current season, so I really hope the strike ends soon since I'm almost ready to be a weekly Office watcher! Plus I'm waiting for more "Pushing Daisies" on NBC. On the other hand, Big Brother is just around the corner and I can't wait! CBS has been promo'ing its new show line-up for February sweeps, and so far the only thing I'm interested in is Big Brother. Although for Survivor fans they're doing a "Fans vs. Faves" season, which I think is a great idea. They need to do that for BB as well...that would be hilarious.
Music: I don't listen to music anymore. Just kidding. But I haven't listened to anything new lately. I need to dig through my CDs and find some old stuff that I haven't heard in awhile.
Ok, that's it for now. Hopefully next time I write, I'll have something new to say!
Here's what's happening in my life: I go to work. I come home. I eat something. I go to sleep. I wake up. I work out (sometimes). I take a shower. I go to work. And that's my week. And even though I'm used to the schedule, my work week still feels more like one really long day during which I just take lots of long naps. Honestly, the best part of my day is from 5 to 7 a.m. Now who else in the world can say that? I have the most fun of my day when we're doing the morning show.
I talked to Ryan yesterday and literally had nothing new to tell him. Because there's nothing new in my life right now. I have a few things to look forward to, but other than that, I'm just doing the same thing every day.
I feel like things will pick up this summer, and here's why. As you may know from reading my last post, I have two major goals for this summer: to get a puppy and to be in at least one summer civic theatre show. I really hope I can be in a play for this summer because once I started rehearsing, I'd have something to do other than work, which would be great! Also, once I have a puppy I will have a lot more to do, like clean up after it, take it outside all the time, and train it. Even the hard parts of owning a dog sound fun! That's how boring my life is right now.
Don't get me wrong; I love my job. It's just the rest of my day when I'm not at my job that's so boring.
And lately I haven't been motivated to do much of anything, like clean my apartment or go work out. I'm just tired of doing this stuff every day! But, welcome to the rest of adult life, right?
Oh! Here's one thing I'm excited about: For the first time since living on my own, this month will be the first that I've actually been able to save a significant amount of money! Tomorrow is a pay day, and I'll be able to pay all my living expenses and still have money left over to speak of! It seems like a small accomplishment, but it's actually a big deal to me, especially since I'm budgeting for a dog in the future.
OK, quick media picks.
Movies: I went to see Katherine Heigl's "27 Dresses." It was great, and I am now completely in love with James Marsden. The movie was one part "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," one part "Runaway Bride," and one part "My Best Friend's Wedding," add James Marsden, shake, strain, and pour into a martini glass. Yum...everything a chick flick should be! My favorite part involves a slightly drunken duet between Heigl and Marsden singing "Benny and the Jets" in a packed roadhouse...it was very adorable (especially Marsden...did I mention I'm completely in love with him?)
TV: Thanks, WGA for not letting anyone get back to work. This is getting really old. I did see that NBC.com posted episodes 1, 3, and 5 of season 4. I still need to watch season 3 on DVD, but now I'm caught up for the most part on the current season, so I really hope the strike ends soon since I'm almost ready to be a weekly Office watcher! Plus I'm waiting for more "Pushing Daisies" on NBC. On the other hand, Big Brother is just around the corner and I can't wait! CBS has been promo'ing its new show line-up for February sweeps, and so far the only thing I'm interested in is Big Brother. Although for Survivor fans they're doing a "Fans vs. Faves" season, which I think is a great idea. They need to do that for BB as well...that would be hilarious.
Music: I don't listen to music anymore. Just kidding. But I haven't listened to anything new lately. I need to dig through my CDs and find some old stuff that I haven't heard in awhile.
Ok, that's it for now. Hopefully next time I write, I'll have something new to say!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Winter Break
Here's some irony for ya...I don't get a winter break this year for the first time since I was 5, because I'm not in school anymore...
But the term "Winter Break" applies to this time in my life better than I can possibly describe.
I'll describe it anyway :)
First of all, the break-up. This is the perfect time for a break-up, because everyone is gone, so none of these parties/get-togethers where people are telling you what they think about your break-up, and none of those uncomfortable moments where you both end up in the same place and everyone starts watching like you're suddenly the newest episode of "Grey's Anatomy." That actually happened once and I ended up crying...and not really because I was upset, but just because I felt all this pressure leaning in on me from around the room, and I literally cracked. So...none of those moments for awhile!
Also, some pretty big things happened...well, ONE pretty big thing happened just a few days ago. Our music director at Purdue announced that he was retiring, effective December 31. Which was a huge shock to people, since there are a lot of big things happening next semester that he won't be there for anymore. And it just makes everyone wonder...what's going to happen? This will change so many things for those kids. I am glad that a) I have already graduated and b) that it is winter break, so all the kids are at home where they can digest this with their families instead of rehash it at school...I mean, they'll do that anyway, but at least they'll have done it with their families first.
Finally, I got sick. It's just a cold, not the flu, but I honestly cannot remember the last time I've felt this gross. And since no one is in town and I don't have a boyfriend anymore, I can spend all day in bed, looking gross, and not having to go anywhere. I haven't been sleeping well because of being sick, so by yesterday I was exhausted when I got home from work. I went to bed about 9 a.m., and from then until about 6 this morning I have been in bed, with only small breaks for answering the phone (sometimes), going to the bathroom, taking medicine, and occasionally getting online for AIM, email, or facebook. And that's it! It's been a real break! All around! And it's not even Christmas yet!
I set up my first very own Christmas tree and did my shopping, and all my presents are wrapped and under my tree...and I'm so proud everytime I look at it! It's weird, for some reason I am the least excited for Christmas that I've ever been, and I don't know why. I am excited to go home, but I don't really feel like it's only a few days till Christmas, and I think it might be because every day at work just makes me feel like...every day is just another day. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, it's just that difference of not having a build-up. No Christmas show rehearsals, no finals, no packing and going home. I think that must be it. I have one day off to look forward to; Christmas Eve night/Christmas morning, and then on Christmas night I go back to the newsroom. Holidays come and go so fast because I don't get to relish them for days, just for hours. The only thing that gets me excited is Christmas shopping and wrapping presents. And looking forward to seeing the Christmas Show on TV!
Speaking of TV, here are my media picks of the moment:
TV...well, nothing is on TV right now thanks to the writers' strike, but here are some shows I started watching and hope to be caught up on by the time WGA lets Hollywood get back to business:
1. The Office -- I love Christopher Guest movies, and this is like if a Chris Guest movie were made into a TV show. I bought the first season on DVD, which to my disappointment only had six episodes...they must have really been counting on this one to fail! Which is understandable, considering the fact that it was based off of a British show of the same title. It's subte, dry, every-day humor and I love it. I am very much in love with the character Jim Halpert (who isn't?) as well as the Jim-Pam love story, or "JAM" as some fans call it. "The Office" never fails to cheer me up and give me stomach cramps.
2. Pushing Daisies -- I had seen the promos for this when the new TV season started, and it looked interesting, but I was busy enough watching "The Bachelor" on abc.com, so I didn't look into it. But I kept hearing my director obsess over it, so now that I've run out of other stuff to watch, I thought I'd give the show a look. I also found out that one of my favorite Broadway people, Kristen Chenoweth, is in it, so that was what really made me decide to check it out. I love it. It's like Tim Burton, Gilmore Girls, and CSI all rolled into one show! Every episode is like a little movie. It's whimsical, colorful, dark, and old-fashioned, with that rapid-fire wit of Gilmore Girls but finally in an atmosphere fitting of that writing style. And it's a murder mystery, so you just can't stop watching as every twist leads you to the next commercial break. Luckily, I was watching online and didn't have to sit through much of a commercial break! And Kristen Chenoweth even sings! The best part, too, is that when characters sing in this show, they just sort of naturally burst forth without needing an excuse to, and for this show, that works and makes sense. That's hard to do in a movie, let alone a tv show! More about that in the movie section...
Movies...
1. I rented "The Wendell Baker Story" from a redbox and it was really good. One of those movies that got totally missed by everyone, even though it was written and directed by the Wilson brothers (Luke, Andrew, and Owen -- actually Owen just acted in it). It was a quirky little story about a con man who decides to clean up his act after his shinannigans cost him his girl, his best friend, and some prison time. He goes to work in a retirement home where he finds out about the shady dealings of the owner and decides to help out, and make friends with, the hilarious senior citizen residents. The movie isn't flashy or over-the-top in any way, which is probably why it flew under the radar for the public, but to say it's worth the dollar it costs to rent it at a redbox vending machine for the night is an understatement.
2. High School Musical 2. Yes, I bought it. I am a sucker for this stuff. It's campy, cheesy, and not made for people my age...but I totally don't care. This is the part of me that never got past the age of 12: I love any show where singing and dancing is involved, and I love Ashley Tisdale. This movie was even better than the first one because there were much more songs, especially big group numbers, and the dancing was a lot more complicated. Also, this had more of a musical feel to it because more of the songs came out of the storyline and happened "spontaneously," whereas in the first movie most of the music was explained by an audition or even kareaoke. I am one of those people who wish life was a musical, and in that musical, the singing and dancing tells the story, everyone already knows the words, and uniform dance moves happen not because someone taught it that way, but because everyone was feeling the same emotion, which led them to move as one. Of course! So I respond better to a show where the songs seem to kind of just happen, rather than be rationalized. Because it's less realistic! Makes perfect sense, right?
Ok, that's all I have for now. Time to find something to eat and start cleaning up my "sick person" mess around the house!
But the term "Winter Break" applies to this time in my life better than I can possibly describe.
I'll describe it anyway :)
First of all, the break-up. This is the perfect time for a break-up, because everyone is gone, so none of these parties/get-togethers where people are telling you what they think about your break-up, and none of those uncomfortable moments where you both end up in the same place and everyone starts watching like you're suddenly the newest episode of "Grey's Anatomy." That actually happened once and I ended up crying...and not really because I was upset, but just because I felt all this pressure leaning in on me from around the room, and I literally cracked. So...none of those moments for awhile!
Also, some pretty big things happened...well, ONE pretty big thing happened just a few days ago. Our music director at Purdue announced that he was retiring, effective December 31. Which was a huge shock to people, since there are a lot of big things happening next semester that he won't be there for anymore. And it just makes everyone wonder...what's going to happen? This will change so many things for those kids. I am glad that a) I have already graduated and b) that it is winter break, so all the kids are at home where they can digest this with their families instead of rehash it at school...I mean, they'll do that anyway, but at least they'll have done it with their families first.
Finally, I got sick. It's just a cold, not the flu, but I honestly cannot remember the last time I've felt this gross. And since no one is in town and I don't have a boyfriend anymore, I can spend all day in bed, looking gross, and not having to go anywhere. I haven't been sleeping well because of being sick, so by yesterday I was exhausted when I got home from work. I went to bed about 9 a.m., and from then until about 6 this morning I have been in bed, with only small breaks for answering the phone (sometimes), going to the bathroom, taking medicine, and occasionally getting online for AIM, email, or facebook. And that's it! It's been a real break! All around! And it's not even Christmas yet!
I set up my first very own Christmas tree and did my shopping, and all my presents are wrapped and under my tree...and I'm so proud everytime I look at it! It's weird, for some reason I am the least excited for Christmas that I've ever been, and I don't know why. I am excited to go home, but I don't really feel like it's only a few days till Christmas, and I think it might be because every day at work just makes me feel like...every day is just another day. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, it's just that difference of not having a build-up. No Christmas show rehearsals, no finals, no packing and going home. I think that must be it. I have one day off to look forward to; Christmas Eve night/Christmas morning, and then on Christmas night I go back to the newsroom. Holidays come and go so fast because I don't get to relish them for days, just for hours. The only thing that gets me excited is Christmas shopping and wrapping presents. And looking forward to seeing the Christmas Show on TV!
Speaking of TV, here are my media picks of the moment:
TV...well, nothing is on TV right now thanks to the writers' strike, but here are some shows I started watching and hope to be caught up on by the time WGA lets Hollywood get back to business:
1. The Office -- I love Christopher Guest movies, and this is like if a Chris Guest movie were made into a TV show. I bought the first season on DVD, which to my disappointment only had six episodes...they must have really been counting on this one to fail! Which is understandable, considering the fact that it was based off of a British show of the same title. It's subte, dry, every-day humor and I love it. I am very much in love with the character Jim Halpert (who isn't?) as well as the Jim-Pam love story, or "JAM" as some fans call it. "The Office" never fails to cheer me up and give me stomach cramps.
2. Pushing Daisies -- I had seen the promos for this when the new TV season started, and it looked interesting, but I was busy enough watching "The Bachelor" on abc.com, so I didn't look into it. But I kept hearing my director obsess over it, so now that I've run out of other stuff to watch, I thought I'd give the show a look. I also found out that one of my favorite Broadway people, Kristen Chenoweth, is in it, so that was what really made me decide to check it out. I love it. It's like Tim Burton, Gilmore Girls, and CSI all rolled into one show! Every episode is like a little movie. It's whimsical, colorful, dark, and old-fashioned, with that rapid-fire wit of Gilmore Girls but finally in an atmosphere fitting of that writing style. And it's a murder mystery, so you just can't stop watching as every twist leads you to the next commercial break. Luckily, I was watching online and didn't have to sit through much of a commercial break! And Kristen Chenoweth even sings! The best part, too, is that when characters sing in this show, they just sort of naturally burst forth without needing an excuse to, and for this show, that works and makes sense. That's hard to do in a movie, let alone a tv show! More about that in the movie section...
Movies...
1. I rented "The Wendell Baker Story" from a redbox and it was really good. One of those movies that got totally missed by everyone, even though it was written and directed by the Wilson brothers (Luke, Andrew, and Owen -- actually Owen just acted in it). It was a quirky little story about a con man who decides to clean up his act after his shinannigans cost him his girl, his best friend, and some prison time. He goes to work in a retirement home where he finds out about the shady dealings of the owner and decides to help out, and make friends with, the hilarious senior citizen residents. The movie isn't flashy or over-the-top in any way, which is probably why it flew under the radar for the public, but to say it's worth the dollar it costs to rent it at a redbox vending machine for the night is an understatement.
2. High School Musical 2. Yes, I bought it. I am a sucker for this stuff. It's campy, cheesy, and not made for people my age...but I totally don't care. This is the part of me that never got past the age of 12: I love any show where singing and dancing is involved, and I love Ashley Tisdale. This movie was even better than the first one because there were much more songs, especially big group numbers, and the dancing was a lot more complicated. Also, this had more of a musical feel to it because more of the songs came out of the storyline and happened "spontaneously," whereas in the first movie most of the music was explained by an audition or even kareaoke. I am one of those people who wish life was a musical, and in that musical, the singing and dancing tells the story, everyone already knows the words, and uniform dance moves happen not because someone taught it that way, but because everyone was feeling the same emotion, which led them to move as one. Of course! So I respond better to a show where the songs seem to kind of just happen, rather than be rationalized. Because it's less realistic! Makes perfect sense, right?
Ok, that's all I have for now. Time to find something to eat and start cleaning up my "sick person" mess around the house!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
My First Snow Day!
(File this under things I never want to forget.)
So, today was my first "snow day," as they call it at the station.
All week the weather team was forecasting snow for late last night and this morning. And they were absolutely right! It snowed last night when I was on my way in to the station, and kept snowing all night long.
We already had a plan--someone was going to do a live shot from the outside deck so everyone could see the snow. And I was counting on some breaking news; a crash or something like that, or at least police reports of bad road conditions.
But it wasn't until about 3:15 this morning that I heard anything. The scanner had been mostly quiet, and then I heard it; the big story.
A Greyhound bus had slid off the road on the interstate. At least eleven injuries, broken bones, head and neck injuries. I called our video guy to go shoot it. Not long after that, it sounded like almost every emergency vehicle on duty was being sent to this crash.
Then the anchors came in, excited about the show. Then the tape guy came in, not excited about the live shot. In fact he was, I think, 65 percent sure that it wasn't going to work.
And he and our anchorman got in an argument about it.
So now the tape guy is in a pissy mood.
And then the calls started to roll in. Schools with 2-hour delays.
Wait, wait. Before the calls came, the anchors gave me this rapid-fire crash course in how to answer the phone, and they choose to do this as I'm trying to edit videos for the show:
"If you have time, ask them why they're closing school--"
"But no matter what---"
"That way we can get the information just in case--"
"And Lisa--"
"--we need it. But if you're getting tons of calls, don't worry about. And--"
"Can I finish please? Lisa, whatever you do, make SURE you repeat back to them what they told you. Because you don't want to get it wrong. You may think you understood them, but then you'll hang up and think, 'I'm not sure what they said, alternate kindergarten or NO kindergarten?'--"
"Yes, and make sure you understand the difference because you might hang up and then think, 'Did they say alternate kindergarten or NO kindergarten?'--"
"--And you'll get mixed up, like, 'Was it Clinton Central or Clinton Prairie, or Prairie Central'--"
"Yeah, so write it down because you won't be able to post it that fast and other calls will be coming in--"
And that's how that went. And THEN the calls started coming in. And then the show started. And then the live shot didn't work. And then we were two minutes heavy. And then the live shot worked. And then we were four minutes heavy. And then the phone was ringing off the hook in the newsroom, but not in the control room. So I was sprinting back and forth to answer the phone to get the school delays, meanwhile trying to figure out how to get rid of four minutes of content.
Finally the engineer found out what was wrong with the phone in the control room: someone had disconnected it. So he plugged it in, and immediately it started ringing. From then on, I was juggling a show that was four minutes too long, a frustrated anchorman and tape guy, and a phone that was ringing non-stop. Literally every time I went to post a school delay, I got interrupted because another school was calling. And then a school called because they had called ten minutes ago and didn't see their names on the crawl, and I had to explain to them that I couldn't get the schools' names up because people kept CALLING. But finally the calls died down, and I got them posted on the live crawl. And finally I found four minutes to cut out of the show.
And then it was like a train slowing into a station; we hit a rhythm, got everything under control, and we finished the show. I felt like I had just waded through crap, or mud, or something thick and nasty, but I was proud of myself for getting to the other side. And everyone felt pretty good about it, once the anchorman and the tape guy calmed down.
Then I stayed for two extra hours to do live cut-ins with updates, and then the video guy came outside and helped me get the snow off my car while he did hilarious impressions of all the people who work at the station. Then I got in my car and came home! What a day!
And now I'm sitting here at my computer, with a beautiful scene to my right through the open blinds of a wintery wood out my window. And I'm inside, cozy and warm, and hungry! I think I'll make cheese dogs and maybe some chips and salsa.
Oh! Also some quick updates.
I put up a Christmas tree. My first one. It's artificial, but it's 6 feet tall and the perfect size for my apartment. It has white lights, gold glass bulbs, and a gold tree skirt. Nothing under it yet because I don't have enough money to go Christmas shopping until my next paycheck. The only thing under it is a bag full of clothes that I need to take to Goodwill. I can't wait to wrap my gifts and put them under the tree to wait for Christmas!
OK, media favorites of the moment:
-Music: The "Enchanted" soundtrack. It's written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, who basically turn to gold eveyrthing they touch. It was really fun driving through the snowy town with this whimsical music as a background!
-TV: The Office is my new addiction. It's so funny that I laugh just thinking about it. I've watched all the episodes available on NBC.com. I'm going to have to buy Season One on DVD and start from the beginning. I hope the writer's strike ends so I can see more episodes from this season! Also, I'm very excited because CBS is going to do a winter edition (first ever) of Big Brother! As you know, I was totally addicted to this show over the summer, and I think it's a brilliant way to deal with the writer's strike. And it comes just in time; Kid Nation is two episodes away from being over, and The Bachelor is long finished, so I'm going to need another reality vice to sink my teeth into.
-Movies: I've been revisiting the Austin Powers franchise...with the commentary. And it's really great! Mike Myers seems like a really sweet guy in real life; it's so funny that he can come up with such raunchy characters. Those movies are funnier every time I watch them.
Ok, that's it for me. I've been away from this for so long, and I can't do that anymore because I end up writing too much when I do come back. So hopefully it'll be sooner than later when I write again and I won't have to worry about that!
I'm starved. Cheese dog time! Happy snow day!
So, today was my first "snow day," as they call it at the station.
All week the weather team was forecasting snow for late last night and this morning. And they were absolutely right! It snowed last night when I was on my way in to the station, and kept snowing all night long.
We already had a plan--someone was going to do a live shot from the outside deck so everyone could see the snow. And I was counting on some breaking news; a crash or something like that, or at least police reports of bad road conditions.
But it wasn't until about 3:15 this morning that I heard anything. The scanner had been mostly quiet, and then I heard it; the big story.
A Greyhound bus had slid off the road on the interstate. At least eleven injuries, broken bones, head and neck injuries. I called our video guy to go shoot it. Not long after that, it sounded like almost every emergency vehicle on duty was being sent to this crash.
Then the anchors came in, excited about the show. Then the tape guy came in, not excited about the live shot. In fact he was, I think, 65 percent sure that it wasn't going to work.
And he and our anchorman got in an argument about it.
So now the tape guy is in a pissy mood.
And then the calls started to roll in. Schools with 2-hour delays.
Wait, wait. Before the calls came, the anchors gave me this rapid-fire crash course in how to answer the phone, and they choose to do this as I'm trying to edit videos for the show:
"If you have time, ask them why they're closing school--"
"But no matter what---"
"That way we can get the information just in case--"
"And Lisa--"
"--we need it. But if you're getting tons of calls, don't worry about. And--"
"Can I finish please? Lisa, whatever you do, make SURE you repeat back to them what they told you. Because you don't want to get it wrong. You may think you understood them, but then you'll hang up and think, 'I'm not sure what they said, alternate kindergarten or NO kindergarten?'--"
"Yes, and make sure you understand the difference because you might hang up and then think, 'Did they say alternate kindergarten or NO kindergarten?'--"
"--And you'll get mixed up, like, 'Was it Clinton Central or Clinton Prairie, or Prairie Central'--"
"Yeah, so write it down because you won't be able to post it that fast and other calls will be coming in--"
And that's how that went. And THEN the calls started coming in. And then the show started. And then the live shot didn't work. And then we were two minutes heavy. And then the live shot worked. And then we were four minutes heavy. And then the phone was ringing off the hook in the newsroom, but not in the control room. So I was sprinting back and forth to answer the phone to get the school delays, meanwhile trying to figure out how to get rid of four minutes of content.
Finally the engineer found out what was wrong with the phone in the control room: someone had disconnected it. So he plugged it in, and immediately it started ringing. From then on, I was juggling a show that was four minutes too long, a frustrated anchorman and tape guy, and a phone that was ringing non-stop. Literally every time I went to post a school delay, I got interrupted because another school was calling. And then a school called because they had called ten minutes ago and didn't see their names on the crawl, and I had to explain to them that I couldn't get the schools' names up because people kept CALLING. But finally the calls died down, and I got them posted on the live crawl. And finally I found four minutes to cut out of the show.
And then it was like a train slowing into a station; we hit a rhythm, got everything under control, and we finished the show. I felt like I had just waded through crap, or mud, or something thick and nasty, but I was proud of myself for getting to the other side. And everyone felt pretty good about it, once the anchorman and the tape guy calmed down.
Then I stayed for two extra hours to do live cut-ins with updates, and then the video guy came outside and helped me get the snow off my car while he did hilarious impressions of all the people who work at the station. Then I got in my car and came home! What a day!
And now I'm sitting here at my computer, with a beautiful scene to my right through the open blinds of a wintery wood out my window. And I'm inside, cozy and warm, and hungry! I think I'll make cheese dogs and maybe some chips and salsa.
Oh! Also some quick updates.
I put up a Christmas tree. My first one. It's artificial, but it's 6 feet tall and the perfect size for my apartment. It has white lights, gold glass bulbs, and a gold tree skirt. Nothing under it yet because I don't have enough money to go Christmas shopping until my next paycheck. The only thing under it is a bag full of clothes that I need to take to Goodwill. I can't wait to wrap my gifts and put them under the tree to wait for Christmas!
OK, media favorites of the moment:
-Music: The "Enchanted" soundtrack. It's written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, who basically turn to gold eveyrthing they touch. It was really fun driving through the snowy town with this whimsical music as a background!
-TV: The Office is my new addiction. It's so funny that I laugh just thinking about it. I've watched all the episodes available on NBC.com. I'm going to have to buy Season One on DVD and start from the beginning. I hope the writer's strike ends so I can see more episodes from this season! Also, I'm very excited because CBS is going to do a winter edition (first ever) of Big Brother! As you know, I was totally addicted to this show over the summer, and I think it's a brilliant way to deal with the writer's strike. And it comes just in time; Kid Nation is two episodes away from being over, and The Bachelor is long finished, so I'm going to need another reality vice to sink my teeth into.
-Movies: I've been revisiting the Austin Powers franchise...with the commentary. And it's really great! Mike Myers seems like a really sweet guy in real life; it's so funny that he can come up with such raunchy characters. Those movies are funnier every time I watch them.
Ok, that's it for me. I've been away from this for so long, and I can't do that anymore because I end up writing too much when I do come back. So hopefully it'll be sooner than later when I write again and I won't have to worry about that!
I'm starved. Cheese dog time! Happy snow day!
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