Invincible Summer

Movie Trailers Will Never Be the Same

2008-09-02T12:02:00.006-04:00

Mr. movie-voice himself, Don LaFontaine has passed away at the too-young age of 68. If the name and face doesn't ring a bell, the voice surely will. Nobody else comes close to making me want to see even the lamest of movies. And don't even get me started on how 24 will carry on without him.

LaFontaine is a genuine entertainment and pop culture icon. His voice is easy to identify, but will be impossible to replace. Luckily, as most good entertainers do, he will live on in everything he has done.

Cinematical has posted an article and great video about LaFontaine and his work.

I also found the video below on YouTube. It's a interesting segment on LaFontaine from the show Backstage.

And since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, here's one of my favorite clips from comedian Pablo Fransisco's stand-up act.

Free Tibet? No. Free Jenna!

2008-08-13T18:46:00.003-04:00

Hocker of hilariousness Rainn Wilson is going to scary lengths to promote the August 20th opening of his new movie The Rocker. First he hijacked Office co-star Jenna Fischer's MySpace blog and then he kidnapped her and threw her in his trunk! He will release her on one condition: we all go see The Rocker opening weekend. If it grosses over 18+ million dollars then he will not only free her but make her a peach milkshake. Sounds like a good deal to me!

To keep updated on Jenna's captive status visit www.freejennanow.com. Oh and I guess you should all see The Rocker. I'm personally not so sure about it yet, but I do love Rainn and this grassroots type marketing scheme is hilarious. I love when people have no shame.

Also, it seems that Cafepress already has "Free Jenna" t-shirts for sale. Support your favorite receptionist now!

If I Could Have Written a Song, This Would Be It

2008-07-23T23:03:00.004-04:00

And if you weren't aware, The X-Files: I Want to Believe comes out this Friday, July 25th. I am sacrificing my own viewing of the movie this weekend to job interviews and college friends (who better appreciate it!), but I'll hopefully be able to post my thoughts on it earlier next week.

I Want to Be This Guy's Friend

2008-07-06T16:21:00.002-04:00

Adding this to the list of things that make me happy.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

(Source: Cinematical)

These are My Confessions

2008-07-02T00:31:00.002-04:00

Dear Blog,

I have an admission to make, a confession of sorts. I am cheating on you. I know, I know, I did it once before with my travel blog, but I came back to you! I always do. Yes, sometimes I'm gone for days on end and you turn around and there I am blogging for Xfilesnews.com. I just can't help myself! My latest indiscretion may be my worst though. I have started a new blog. One that I plan on keeping for the long term. I'm not leaving you though, I promise. I just need a little suttin' suttin' on the side. It's a totally different blog than you, there's no comparison really. And you'll always be my first. Plus, where else could I possibly go to be so sarcastic about so much? Only here.

Your new rival blog is very topic-specific. It is only chronicling my current switch to a vegan lifestyle. It's interesting, really. I think you'd like it. There's articles about vegan news I find, books I'm reading, recipes I'm making and waiters I'm pissing off at restaurants. And it's on Live Journal so there's fun things like "what mood I'm in" pictures and "what music I'm listening to". Crazy, I know. What can I say? It's kind of a party over there. And you're invited!

So, if I'm absent for a little while you can always come visit me over there. I promise not to make you eat tofu. Okay?

Think about it.

Love Always,

Me

Happiness is...

2008-06-29T18:40:00.005-04:00

Every now and then I like to do a post where I list some things currently making me happy that I'd like to pass on to other people. Right now I need to keep my eye on these small pleasures so I don't become preoccupied with other things. Some people have Zoloft, I have music and TV and cooking and friends. I know some people need the stronger stuff and there's nothing wrong with it. I am just fortunate and somehow have the ability to cope without them. Here are my happy pills:

1. The song "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay. The strings of this song lift my spirits. They are easily my favorite musical sound. It is amazing how the same instrument family that can be used so effectively in a depressing song like "Me and My Charms" (Kristen Hersh) can also be used to convey a feeling of joy. Pretty powerful.

2. The show Bones. I just got into this show and it is awesome. If you aren't into procedural shows, don't worry because there's so much character interaction and development that the cases aren't the main focus. But if you like procedurals, there is that aspect as well and I think they do a great job in the way they portray the investigations and forensics. Also, it's a lot funnier and lighter than most dramas. I could watch the witty banter between Booth and Brennan all day.

3. The music from Bones. So, the official soundtrack doesn't come out until August, but I've loved so much of the music in the eps that I started searching for them on my own. I've been listening to that playlist almost non-stop. Favorites you should check out are: "Sea Lion" by Sage Francis, "Fountain" by Sara Lov, "Teardrop" by Massive Attack (may also sound familiar if you watch House), "Pride" by Syntax, "Bring on the Wonder" by Susan Enan and "The Other Way Round" by Gabin.

4. Trying new foods and recipes. I think I've gone entirely vegan at this point (as far as food goes, I'll worry about the rest later), so I've been buying new foods and experimenting with recipes. I'm usually not that excited to cook, but I've actually been enjoying it. There's just so much out there that I never knew about before. And it has been easier than I expected to go vegan. I think having both the preoccupation of a lifestyle change as well as the switch to healthier eating has been good for me right now.

5. Sephora! It just opened up in my mall and visiting there makes me happy. I don't even have to buy anything. Actually that whole section of the mall is just awesome now. There's a Borders, Sephora, Apple Store, Starbucks and Target all within eyeshot of each other. It is like the crossroads of consumer heaven and I'm not even going to appologize for absolutely loving it.

6. Watching the lightning bugs in my backyard at night. It doesn't get much better or simpler than the wonders of nature.

7. The video for "Lollipop" by Mika. The song is catchy and the little cartoon girl is adorable and the colors are like a really awesome trip from the 60s. Watch for the kissing dear who toot "Love" and the humping bunnies.

Actually Mika's whole CD makes me happy.

Lastly, none of these things would come close to making me happy if I didn't also have amazing people in my life that make me happier than anything else.

So if you're not happy, check out some of these things or try to look in your own life to find your own simple pleasures. Everyone has the ability to find happiness at their fingertips all the time. Just look.

I'm Only Going to Say This Once

2008-06-08T13:24:00.006-04:00

I. was. wrong.

In a December 2006 blog entitled Hello, Dolly where I voiced my concerns about the FDA's decision not to disclose the sale of cloned meat, I made this statement:

I have never tried to be a vegetarian before. I know those little piggies and moo moos are cute, and I have heard the many horror stories about how they are raised, but I have decided that 1) I am not selfish about much in my life, so I can have a clear conscious about being selfish about my place on the food chain (and anyone with a problem with it can choke on a big fat carrot stick); and 2) those animals are mighty tasty! Mmmm boy!

I would like to formally retract this statement as I no longer feel this way and in fact feel ashamed to have written such a selfish and ignorant paragraph. Yes, I still believe that animals are "mighty tasty" and I am still eating them on occasion. However, I am slowly trying to adapt to a vegetarian and eventually vegan diet. I have come to realize that the price being paid for me to enjoy "tasty" animals is just too high and that health-wise I'm better off without them anyway.

Why such an attitude adjustment? Well, basically I got myself educated on the topic. Selfishly, I began to cut out animal products solely for health reasons. I read the book Skinny Bitch in Fall 2007, wherein they promote veganism as a way to lose and then maintain a healthy weight. I've encountered many readers who are turned off by this (especially since the topic gets sneaked in through the back door), but instead of being indignant about the fact that the book cover never uses the word "vegan" once, I became interested in what they were saying about the benefits of this lifestyle. Although I didn't immediately become a vegan or even a vegetarian, I began to actually think about the foods I was eating and their impact on my body as well as the world.

Since then, I have adopted more vegetarian foods into my diet and successfully had days where I only eat vegan (3 in a row so far this week). The hardest thing for me to cut out is cheese, but the rest is surprisingly easy. In general, I don't crave meat and I've found that going without dairy makes me feel so much better. When I have days where I slip and eat an ice cream cone, I usually pay the price later. It serves as a great reminder that my body doesn't need the trouble. Plus the soy or rice milk alternatives to ice cream taste amazingly good (I suggest Soy Delicious, Toffuti and Sweet Nothings Fudge Bars).

I don't want to try to guilt or sway anyone into a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, so I'm not going to talk about all the reasons why it's a good idea. I'm just trying to put right a bad-attitude I perpetuated by my earlier blog-post. And maybe plant the idea in someone's head that being vegan isn't as extreme as once believed (admittedly, by myself) or make you a dirty-hippie-tree-hugger. In the end though, it has to be each individual who makes the decision for themselves. If you have any interest in learning more about the benefits to yourself, animals and the earth that can be had by adopting vegan practices, there are hundreds of resources available. I just read Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating and highly recommend it as a good starting point. Below I've listed some other resources I've found.

Web:

www.vegan.com (maintained by the author of "Vegan")
www.peta.org (you can send away for a vegetarian starter kit, they'll also probably send you address labels and try to get you to donate.)
www.skinnybitch.net (website that accompanies the book)
www.fatfreevegan.com (good recipe resource)
www.farmsanctuary.org (rescues abused industrial farm animals and fights for animal rights)

Other Reading:

The Complete Idiots Guide to Vegan Living (includes recipes and covers other issues beyond food)
The Vegan Sourcebook

There's also about a bazillion vegan and vegetarian cookbooks available. I'm a big fan of Borders lately, so check out their list.

Lastly, just a couple notes. The idea of veganism was seeded into my mind long before I ever read Skinny Bitch. In college, my friend Meredith was a vegan and although I never thought back then that I would ever try to adopt that lifestyle, she opened me up to the idea and even to the foods. She deserves some of the credit for my current beliefs. Oprah, however, deserves no credit. Yes, she has been doing a cleanse where she is not eating gluten or animal products for 21 days, but it just coincidentally coincides with my own vegan push. Don't get me wrong, I like Oprah, and think that having her embrace something works wonders to help spread the word about a cause or an idea. However, I think in the end changing a lifestyle just because a celebrity endorses something is not realistic for most people. You have to believe in it for it to really become your way of life.

And the next time I'm tipsy and staring down a piece of cheese pizza, I hope that belief will help me through.

Ruined for Life

2008-05-12T23:21:00.009-04:00

TV has ruined my life. Ok, that's an overstatement. Let me rephrase. TV has ruined my relationship expectations in the real world. It wasn't Disney and their happily-ever-after princesses or movies like Dirty Dancing and Titanic (bad example maybe) that created an idealized picture of a relationship in my head that will be hard to replicate. No, it was TV and its character relationships that have more than two hours to build and resolve. They grow and change over time like real couples would, except with perfect dialog and hair. We as the viewers become invested in these will they/won't they, McDreamy/McSteamy, Ross/Rachel relationships and find ourselves longing for something similar. However, in TV "will they?" always leads to "they will, and it's great", McDreamy vs. McSteamy is a non issue since they're both hot, and Ross and Rachel will always end up together. How can the real world compete?

I, myself was first ruined at a young and tender age - 13 to be exact. It was 1994, the year I began to watch The X-Files. Thus, it was also the year I added the word "platonic" to my vocabulary and began cutting pictures of David Duchovny out of magazines (no boy bands on this girl's wall). In The X-Files, Agent Mulder was often times moody, obsessed, self-centered and certifiably insane, but when it came to Scully he was usually at his best. Whether it was the tender touches of support he gave her that never begged to be anything else, the verbal sparring/innuendo between them that was usually more heated than most people's foreplay, or his travels to the literal end of the earth to save her, Mulder was someone to be admired.

And more than Mulder on his own, it was the two of them together that made the relationship admirable and desirable. It started as equals, partners, friends, and it just kept building. Yes, it's unrealistic in the way it portrayed two attractive people who obviously have feelings for each other waiting 7 years to act on them. However, it is playing out a deep emotional bond that we all would like to have with someone. It's what we try to find by going on awkward dates, hanging out in crowded bars, and signing up for Match.com. We are looking for the person that is our better half, respects us and loves us beyond anything else. Is it too much to ask for that person just be assigned to spy on us and debunk our work, showing up one day in our office and changing our lives forever? Yea, that's what I thought.

And don't even get me started on Bones and the Booth/Brennan relationship. They're like a less dysfunctional Mulder and Scully, if Mulder and Scully had fun and didn't avoid talking about emotionally charged subjects. I guess I must have a thing for tall, dark FBI agents too, because David Boreanaz makes my mouth water as Special Agent Booth. Especially when his character has no shirt on or says things like this (explaining why meaningless sex is crappy sex):

"Here we are. All of us are basically alone, separate creatures just circling each other. All searching for that slightest hint of a real connection. Some look in the wrong places. Some, they just give up hope because in their mind they're thinking 'Oh, there's nobody out there for me.' But all of us, we keep trying over, and over again. Why? Because every once in a while, two people meet. And there's that spark. And yes Bones, he's handsome. And she's beautiful. And maybe that's all they see at first...But making love? Making. Love. That's when two people become one."

Seriously, who is this guy and where can I find one?

So, like I said, I'm ruined for life. It's hard for anyone to compare to the relationships I've grown up watching, and, honestly, it's not exactly fair for me to have such expectations. I guess I'll just have to wait to find my own unique life-defining relationship and maybe, just maybe, we can give those TV couples a run for their money.

Interested parties may apply below.

Vegetarian Propaganda

2008-05-05T22:02:00.009-04:00

While on my previous photo scavenger hunt for the piles of books in my house, I came across a book from my childhood that I hadn't opened for years. It's called A Child's First Book of Poems and I have such good memories of reading it with my parents as a kid. I have, in fact, on numerous recent occasions made reference to the best poem in this book about a puffin who is the shape of a muffin. Usually people look at me strange and go "who writes poetry about puffins?" Florence Page Jaques, that's who. So, for all of you doubters out there, the puffin poem does exist and I'm not just crazy. And it's still my favorite poem. So enjoy.

There Was Once a Puffin
Florence Page Jaques

Oh, there once was a Puffin
Just the shape of a muffin,
And he lived on an island
In the
bright
blue sea!

He ate little fishes,
That were most delicious,
And he had them for supper
And he
had
them
for tea.

But this poor little Puffin,
He couldn't play nothin',
For he hadn't anybody
To
play
with
at all.

So he sat on his island,
And he cried for awhile, and
He felt very lonely,
And he
felt
very small.

Then along came the fishes,
And they said, "If you wishes,
You can have us for playmates,
Instead
of
for
tea!"

So they now play together,
In all sorts of weather,
And the puffin eats pancakes,
Like you
and
like
me.

And for those of you who'd rather watch your poetry, here's a computer animation of the poem I found on YouTube - There Once Was a Puffin.

Think they have a support group for this?

2008-05-05T19:05:00.012-04:00

Hi my name is Allison and I have a problem.

I am a book slut.

There, I said it. I can't go into a bookstore and just leave those books alone. They have to come home with me. Sometimes 3 or 4 at a time even! It's shameful. Especially when I think about how many are already waiting for me at home. Neglectfully unread. Pining away on their dusty shelves. Perfectly good books.

I just can't help myself, you know? And Borders is no help with their book club member discounts and Buy 1 Get 1 sales. Every corner of that store calls to me, "Paperback Favorites!" and "Hardcover Classics!", "Bestsellers!" and "Oprah's Book Club!". How can I resist those shiny covers lined up for my perusal. Offering themselves up to my waiting hands. They're just asking for it. Who am I to say no?

And don't even get me started on those used book stores. Each sad, worn, dog-eared paperback like a puppy in the pound. You know what happens to the ones you don't buy? I don't even want to think about where they end up. Probably on some poor 25 cent table at a church bazaar. Nestled right in between dirty kids toys and crochet Christmas ornaments. Unspeakable. I know I can't save every one of them, but I'll be damned if I don't try.

So call me what you will, but I love all my little guys, from "And Then There Were None" to "Wuthering Heights" and every one in between. And if loving them is wrong, I don't want to be write.

To illustrate the magnitude of my problem, I have photographed every place in my house I have stuffed books. Keep in mind that 1. I have moved home recently so most of them are packed in boxes, and 2. None of these belong to my mom.

The Blog is out There

2008-05-04T21:31:00.004-04:00

I am now a contributing blogger to the site XFilesNews.com. You can check out my first blog here. And if you're a fan of The X-Files or just interested in information about the movie coming out this July, check out the rest of the site. It's a great news source for anything X.

Cause and Effects

2008-04-04T22:40:00.004-04:00

What the commercial voiceover said: "Try Aciphex."

What I heard: "Try ass effects!"

Does anyone else think they should have test-run that name with people under 60 before they put it on the market?

Hot on the Heels of PaleyFest - X-Files 2 Poster and Website Arrive

2008-03-28T00:28:00.004-04:00

I have to say that I'm digging the look of this poster. Very clever. Simple teaser. Readable date. Check, check, and check.
And under the date is the website that is being worked on right now but if you're lucky you can catch an occasional glimpse - www.xfiles.com.

New X-Files 2 Trailer at Paley Fest!!!

2008-03-27T01:04:00.011-04:00

Go watch it at Google Video now before FOX makes it disappear.

Seriously hyperventilating here.

UPDATE on my UPDATE: FOX just pulled all the bootleg versions of the trailer shown at PaleyFest. I guess we'll just have to wait for the official one to show up on the website (or if you're desperate I might be able to connect you with someone who has the bootleg version).

When blog-stalking just isn't enough...

2008-03-26T18:14:00.003-04:00

Now you can follow my incoherent ramblings all day long on my Twitter page. Or on the twitter feed I installed in the right hand column here.

God help you.

Dear Future Self,

2008-03-26T01:19:00.002-04:00

Here is a short list of things you should remember not to do.

1. Do not quit your job without having another one waiting.

2. Do not redo your website, again. Leave it. It's fine.

3. Do not decide to watch just the first 3 minutes of "Law and Order" before you're definitely turning the TV off for good this time. You won't turn it off. No one can resist the L&O. You'll want to know what happens. You'll have to know!! For the love of Chris Meloni, just tell me what happens to the dead hooker!!!

And God forbid it be a marathon, you'll never leave the couch again.

Best of Luck,

Past Self

Blogygamy

2007-12-23T18:15:00.000-05:00

I am sad to say that for the next two months I will be neglecting this blog. Instead, I will be writing in the aforementioned travel blog I have begun in order to keep track of the trip I am taking to Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. So, please join me there to read of my adventures. And don't worry, I have enough love for both blogs.

Six Months

2007-12-04T23:19:00.001-05:00

I realized today that as of Sunday it has been six months since my father passed away.

I don't understand how time can just go away like that and leave people behind; how I can keep moving along with it even while a piece of me will forever cling to the memory of a final smile and blissfully ignorant exchange of "I love you" in a hospital doorway in late May. The only comfort it affords me now is that if I had known at that moment it would be the last time we'd exchange words, I wouldn't have said anything different.

I guess not everyone is even that fortunate and I am thankful for the small things.

Two days after he died, I had a panic about these small things. That because he was gone I would start to forget the things about him that made him the dad I loved and most importantly my dad. Most people would probably find this amusing (if not for the subject matter), as I tend to have a ridiculously good memory. And in hindsight, I think "how could I believe I would forget these things." However, at the time I sat down and began to list all the quirky, funny, wonderful and less than wonderful things that defined who my dad was to me. I look at it now and although it was written at a time of immense pain, it still has the ability to make me smile.

In an effort to share with the world that indefinable thing that makes a person who they are, who they were, I would like to list for you some of what I wrote. My dad wasn't the perfect person, actually far from it, but problems and all, he was the only dad I'd ever want. You should all know how lucky I am.

My Dad:

Loved Coca-Cola, Nascar, 24, steak, WWII, history, online shopping, key lime pie, The Rolling Stones, "In-a-gadda-da-vida", me, my sister, my mom, seeing us happy.
Always told me to drive safely. To a fault.
Took pictures of everything. Twice.
Made great Sheppard's Pie.
Loved my friends.
Went to every. single. one. of my dance shows, piano recitals, band concerts, school functions.
Supported everything I did. The choices I made.
Was the King.
Loved to drive.
Loved Elmira College.
Hated George W. Bush.
Got more liberal-minded with age.
Read the paper and did the crosswords every day.
Owned a million shirts. Most of them plaid.
Always hugged and kissed me and said "I love you".
Told me he was proud of me all. the. time.
Called every week.
Would email me after every episode of 24.
Would do anything, go any distance, jump any hoop, get to the highest person in order to right a wrong for someone he loved. (Just ask the CEO of GM and that ass-hole at Las Vegas Chevrolet.)
Was relentless.
Loved cats and one particular stupid dog.
Hated traffic, long lines and crowds.
Was not patient.
Had a temper that kept diminishing with age.
Drove too fast. Never wore a seatbelt.
Was my biggest ally.
Once drove four hours to EC just to see me get an award and drove four hours back in the same day.
Was at home in or near water.
Mowed the lawn in his bare feet. Even when said stupid dog's crap was all over the place. ("It's easier to hose off your feet than the bottom of your shoe.")
He sometimes had a point.
Would claim to be a "pretty smart guy", when actually, he was really smart.
When his hair went gray and then white he joked that he couldn't grow his beard anymore because he'd get confused with Santa.
Called me punkin and hun.
Spoiled me rotten.
Could do pretty good impressions of the Chef on the Muppets, Fog Horn Leg Horn and the Buzzards from Looney Toons ("Where didde he go George? Where didde go?")
Kicked Super Mario's ass. Then never played again.
Called farts "ducks."
Called all birds "ducks" too.
Had a great sense of humor. Even when he was sick.
Was one of the strongest and one of the weakest people I knew.
Was human.
Was my hero.
Still is.

I miss you.

Love,
Your Punkin

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
-e.e. cummings

X-Files 2 Officially Greenlit by FOX

2007-11-01T00:51:00.000-04:00

Holyfuckingmulder!! I never thought I'd ever see this article come out, unless it had a dateline of April 1. It makes me tingly to think about seeing my favorite show on the big screen again; to watch Mulder and Scully do something different than what's on my overplayed DVDs; and of course to maybe see them make out more (once a Shipper, always a Shipper).

However, the nagging, logical Scully side of me is worried for this project. There are already people predicting and even hoping for its failure, and even die-hard fans like myself have valid concerns about how this movie will fit into the shows' already convoluted storyline. I personally feel that continuation was never paid close enough attention throughout the series and by the end these problems came around to bite the mythology in the ass. What I want to believe about this movies is that the story they've written stays true to and even builds upon the groundwork they already laid within the series (even its imperfections). It's the only way it can work.

That beings said, I am optimistic that CC & Co. can pull it off. They played a major part in changing dramatic, episodic TV as we know it (you really think LOST would be on the air without it?), so they just need to bring that same A-game to this movie. I have kept the faith for this show ever since its early years, and when the show finally went off the air in 2002, I had spent almost half my life looking forward to Friday (and then Sunday) night at 9. If I didn't revoke my Philedom when Duchovny left the show or when they killed off the Lone Gunmen or gave Scully's baby away, I am not about to abandon ship now.

July 25, 2008, bring it on.

Edited to say: David Duchovny back in beautiful Armani suits and haunted Mulder eyes - squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Ok, just had to get that out of my system.

TravelBlog!

2007-09-13T09:27:00.000-04:00

I have officially started a blog for my upcoming Quarter Life Crisis Tour 08. I'm not leaving until late December, but I thought I'd start off my travelblog by doing a few posts on the preparations necessary for such a journey. And maybe also to vent my mounting excitement just a little. =)

For those that don't know, I will be leaving in December to visit my best friend Nicole in Japan for a month, another friend Kevin in S. Korea for a week and then after a quick stop over in Sydney I'll head to New Zealand for a two week guided tour. It's the trip of a lifetime and I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity. I hope you will also journey with me through my posts and pictures.

Where are you going? Create your own travel map!

View Chariot13's TravBuddy Profile

HAPPY HALLO....wait.

2007-08-15T22:55:00.000-04:00

The new Halloween movie comes out on August 31st.

Do the studios even know what movies they're releasing anymore or do they just spin the "Wheel of Craptasticness!" and whatever movie script it happens to land on they make and release next!?

To answer my own question, I researched and found this rare snippet captured from a 2006 Dimension Films Marketing Meeting:

Movie Marketing Genius Guy (MMGG): "So what's the next film on the table for us."

Movie Marketing Genius Guy's Assistant (MMGGA): "Hmm, this one's called 'Halloween'."

MMGG: "Well, let's take a look at our 2007 release schedule.......We've got 'Lepreucaun 8' coming out Easter weekend already, so that won't work."

MMGGA: "Dammit! That would have been perfect."

MMGG: "I know, I know. But it's ok. There's always another way."

MMGGA: "Why does this have to be so hard!?!
What about the 4th of July!?"

MMGG: "No. We've already got 'Santa's Slay' coming out then."

MMGGA: "Oh, duh. I should have remembered that."

MMGG: "It's ok. We all make mistakes. Hmm, think think. When oh when should we release this movie called 'Halloween'?"

(deep, thoughtful silence)

MMGGA: "I've got it!! The perfect date to release the film Halloween!"

MMGG: Well don't keep it to yourself!"

MMGGA: "August 31st."

(stunned silence)

MMGG: "You..........are a genius. It's ideas like this that will take you right to the top in this town."

MMGGA: "Thank you sir. That means a lot coming from you."

MMGG: "Well, don't get too excited we've still got the task of figuring out when to release that 'April Fools Day Movie'."
Siiiiiigh. "It just never ends."

I Hate People

2007-08-08T11:02:00.001-04:00

Especially those that try to ruin their kid's life by attempting to name them something totally ridiculous just to challenge the status quo and see how far they can stretch their rights.

Stop using your kid to prove to the world how much of a douchebag you are. I'm sure you were doing well enough on your own.

America Runs on Corn

2007-08-07T13:26:00.000-04:00

This morning on the T I saw a woman eating corn on the cob.

It doesn't quite compare to the day I saw the unscathed foot-long hot dog (sans bun) and Big Gulp soda sitting together perfectly on one seat of the train. But it's still pretty good.

And it spawned the idea that I should buy stock in corn and then convince McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks that corn is the new convenience superfood. I can see the ads now: "Corn on the Cob: The perfect breakfast for the certifiably insane gal on the go!"

Then we could launch a dual campaign for corn using Hybrid cards and Dunkin Donuts:

Picture Pages

2007-08-03T01:03:00.000-04:00

Trying something new. Making the time to take more pictures and post them here for you. Would love some feedback, especially from those with photography experience. Enjoy!

Down by the banks of the river Charles.

Pimping Myself

2007-08-02T10:46:00.000-04:00

Just thought I'd share my excitement that Showtime has quoted my blog review of Californication!

Check it out here, and if you don't trust my judgment, read other people's reviews of the pilot for yourself. Some of them don't even have my DuchovnyBias and they loved the show too.

Warning: Bad Language, Boobies and Spoilers Ensue

2007-07-31T23:39:00.000-04:00

I just watched the youngest girl from The Nanny have full-frontal fake sex with David Duchovny while punching him in the face. Also, her character is supposed to be 16-years old. (Ooopsie statutory!) And guess what?! I freakin loved it! Well, not so much the part(s) with the boobies, but I understand their place in an adult show because, let's be honest, people have sex naked. And if you can't take a boob or two in a show for adults then you just might be one (A boob, I mean. Certainly not an adult).

Based on the pilot, I think Californication is going to be a slam dunk for Showtime. Not only does it have a strong lead-in (Weeds), but the pilot crammed more humor, drama, family conflict, sex and real emotion in one half hour than I've seen a network show fit into a whole season. Duchovny's character is tragically interesting and strangely irresistible; you hate who he is and what he's doing, but you can't help but root for him to pull it together. The new anti-hero. I can't wait to see what he'll fuck up next.

That's right. I just remembered! I don't get Showtime, I get HBO. Grrrr.

And what of HBO? I think they better step it up. No more Sopranos, no SATC and as far as I'm concerned Entourage is an overly popular second-rate show slowly taking an L.A. style digger (Exhibit A: Medellin). I'm sorry to all of those who watch the show to live vicariously through Vince and Drama, but it has to be said: Entourage. is. not. that. great. (ALSO, You. will. never. get. hot. LA. movie star. chicks.)

I will give HBO points for Flight of the Conchords though. That is some funny shiznittle. Especially dream David Bowie. HI-larious!

Anyway, whoever gets Showtime is my new BFF. So, call me because we should totally get together, hmm let's say every Monday from 10:30 to 11:00 starting on August 13th.

More than Skin Deep

2007-07-31T14:58:00.000-04:00

Here's the latest example of why my (fan)love for David Duchovny extends beyond the superficial:

David Duchovny: My Defining Moment

"The realization I had was that we go through our whole lives thinking we want answers. Really all we want is company, the presence of people we love in our lives."

Smart, articulate, moving and timely for my own life. Makes me appreciate even more all the wonderful time I had with my own father playing proverbial catch. I could always rely on him to throw the ball back.

Summer Movie Blockbuster Season is Thankfully Almost Over

2007-07-25T11:57:00.000-04:00

Movies that aren't sequels!?!?! Wow!!! Who knew they still existed? I always held out hope I'd see them again (But of course not again and again and again and again.). Check out my picks for the best upcoming movies that thankfully won't ever become sequels. (click on the poster to watch the trailer):

The Darjeeling Limited (Fall 2007)

This latest film from Wes Anderson looks interesting and I love the actors in it. Plus, it takes place in India, a place I would love to visit.

End point: I really liked The Royal Tenenbaums, I really didn't know what to think about The Life Aquatic, but I'm super psyched for a new vision from this unique director.
("Darjeeling Limited" at Technorati)

December Boys (Fall 2007)

Daniel Radcliffe not portraying Harry Potter AND keeping his clothes on (as far as I know). I also really enjoy coming-of-age movies. The trailer for this conjures memories of Stand by Me and Now and Then.

End point: New Zealand + Harry Potter + the beach = Love.
("December Boys" at Technorati)

Gone Baby Gone (Fall 2007)

Ben Affleck's first crack at directing looks intense. It stars his brother Casey and a lot of other great actors, plus it takes place in Boston. See that skyline? It's the only good thing about riding the Red Line home from work.

End point: Casey Affleck is adorable, Boston is beautiful, this author also wrote "Mystic River". I'm sold.
("Gone Baby Gone" at Technorati)

30 Days of Night (October 2007)

"Which of these things is not like the other? Which of these things just doesn't belong?" Okay, so this movie could possibly spawn a sequel (30 Days of Light. Wait, already been done.) and yes, it stars Josh Hartnett. But what can I say? I am a sucker for horror movies and the undead. The premise for this seems like a fresh take on the genre, although I can't believe it's taken this long for someone to make a vampire movie set in one of those crazy places that has days and days of darkness during the winter. Hello people! No sunlight = no killing vampires! Duh!

End point: It's produced by Sam Raimi, I'm ready to get shit scared out of me, bring it on.("30 days of night" at Technorati)

1-18-08 (Guess when it comes out?)

Oh, J.J. Abrams, you have hooked me in again. No one knows what this movie is called or what it's about or who's in it, and if LOST is any indication, once we see the movie we still probably won't know what the hell's going on. But you know what? I'm still gonna see it. And then I'm going to spend hours on a message board trying to unlock it's secrets. Ok, not really, but a lot of other people already are. After watching a 2 minute preview. Of a movie without a name. Mr. Abrams, that is power.

End point: You know what would be funny? If this movie didn't even exist. J.J. Abrams is just fucking with everyone because he can. You get to the theatre, sit down and then the smoke monster comes on and does a 2 minute tap dance. Cut to J.J. Abrams saying "Watch LOST! I'm J.J. Abrams bitch!" Would that blow your mind or what?
(1-18-08 at Technorati)

Invincible "Access Entertainment Extra! Hollywood Tonight" Summer

2007-07-19T12:42:00.000-04:00

So I know I haven't written in a while. If you know me, you know there has been good reason why I haven't felt like being particularly witty or flippant. Maybe I'll write about it someday, but not right now.

Instead I'd like to share with you what has absolutely made my day today:

The Emmy nominees for "Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics are:

"My Drunken Irish Dad" from Family Guy

"Merry Ex-mas" from MadTV (Clearly the most boring title here.)

"Dick in a Box" from SNL (Read: Emmy. Nominee. Dick. in. a. Box. Could a single phrase get any better?)

"Everything Comes Down to Poo" from Scrubs

"Guy Love" from Scrubs

I really hope it's like the Oscars where each nominee gets to perform their song during the awards show. That would be the only good reason to watch this 5-hour-long bore-fest.

Oh, who am I kidding? I'm an entertainment whore. I'll be watching anyway.

In other Emmy news, two choreographers from "So You Think You Can Dance" (Wade Robson and Mia Michaels) were nominated for dances they choreographed during last season! I think that is so big for the dance world. It is pretty rare when choreographers get celebrated for this type of work. These aren't music video, broadway or Justin Timberlake concert backup dances. They are artistic pieces of contemporary and jazz dance; genres that the general public would never get to see if it weren't for the show and these amazing choreographers. Plus Mia and Wade are my favorites! Congrats to them.

More Deep Thoughts

2007-05-04T15:44:00.000-04:00

This time from Michael "I know the crap out of women!" Scott:

Any man who says he totally understands women is a fool. ‘Cause they are un-understandable. There’s a wishing fountain at the mall. And I threw a coin in for every woman in the world and made a wish. I wished for Jan to get over me, I wished for Phyllis a plasma TV, I wished for Pam to gain courage, I wished for Angela a heart, and for Kelly a brain. “Michael, how can you appreciate women so much, but also dump one of them?” You mean, how can I be so illogical and flighty and unpredictable and emotional? Well maybe I learned something from women after all.

My "Deep Thought" for Today

2007-05-03T14:56:00.000-04:00

I was at The Onion website today poking around in their fake news articles (seriously, who needs real news?) when I happened upon their gift shop. There I found myself the (almost) perfect coffee mug:

However, if I could change one thing about the mug (which would make it actually perfect) it would be that instead of saying "The Onion" on the other side, it would say:

For more "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handey go to The Only Official Deep Thoughts Site.

GOULET!!

2007-04-23T23:22:00.000-04:00

Those brilliant bloggers at BWE.tv point us to the most awesomest viral site yet - www.gouletbars.com.

The best compilation of Robert Goulet songs since the Coconut Banger's Ball: It's a Rap! (Kind of inside, I know.)

Proof that Sexy First Came Back in 2001 and Justin Had Nothing to Do With It

2007-03-22T13:11:00.000-04:00

Justin in 2001:

Not sexy.

Christopher Walken in 2001:

Case closed.

Is it hot in the office or is it just Jim?

2007-03-12T16:19:00.000-04:00

Here's another Office fan video. It doesn't quite hold the same place in my heart as when Michael and Dwight brough SexyBack but its still really funny with incredible editing. My favorite parts - "I think my butt gettin big!" and Pam's "what?...oh".

Good thing there's something to keep me offipied while The Office is on hiatus forEVER.
Also, if you're a fan, you should know NBC is showing "newpeats" this Thursday. They are special extended episodes of "The Merger" and "Traveling Salesmen" that have been re-edited to include material originally cut from the eps' first run.

Other fun Office stuff to get you through the dry spell:

Play NBC's Office Quote Game (harder than you'd think)
Watch Rainn Wilson's Office Themed Monologue on SNL
Read Jenna Fischer (aka Pam)'s MySpace Blog
Write in The Life in the Office Forum

Celebracion "El Labirinto del Fauno"

2007-03-02T10:18:00.000-05:00

Tengo aconseje para usted: Mire Pan's Labyrinth.

It may not be a happy movie; it may be dark, startling brutal at times and intense, but it is worth living through. Just make sure you have the time to process it once it's over. This isn't a movie you leave behind right away. At least I didn't. For me, this movie was like director Guillermo del Toro was giving me a small dose of what it must have felt like for the people of Spain during Franco's rule and the Spanish Civil War. There is never a moment of security for the characters or the audience. Even in the fantasy world of 11-year-old Ofelia, there is a darkness and intensity that never settles or comforts. It is a movie that is both frightening and beautiful in only the way a fairy-tale is able.

For a more thorough review that I couldn't have said better myself see Roger Ebert's page.

I also have to say that young Ivana Baquero who plays Ofelia should have been nominated for an Oscar. I think if this movie were from the U.S. she would have been. I loved Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine and believe she deserved the nom she recieved, but because of the type of movie Pan's was, Baquero's performance needed to be, and was, on a whole other level. For instance, take note of the scene of Ofelia, ear pressed against her mother's pregnant belly, making a heart-wrenching promise to her unborn baby brother. Half the adult actresses who make their living in Hollywood could not find and portray the emotional truth in this scene as well as her.

¡Excelente!

The image of the Pan's Labyrinth poster was taken from Wikipedia where you can find its copywrite information. No infringement intended.

PostSecret - Stamps + Chocolate

2007-02-27T15:18:00.000-05:00

The marketing geniuses behind Altoids (just try to tell me their Curiously Strong campaign isn't effective, I dare you) have come up with a slightly viral, very interactive online campaign to promote their new Chocolate Altoids. Really, the word chocolate sold me right off, but apparently others aren't so easily swayed.

The concept is a la PostSecret. Annonymous people write short notes (up to 50 characters) that, once approved by the moderator, are added to the (chocolate) pool of other people's thoughts, shout-outs, secrets, put-downs, confessions, etc. The gimmick is that each thought becomes a white mint Altoid floating in a chocolate pool and anyone accessing the site can click on your thought and see what you wrote. You also have the option of approving your thought to be used by Altoids in the banner ads they are placing on other sites:

Therefore, anyone can be a copywriter! I bet that feels good to all you other ad students out there who paid $45,000 a year on a degree and countless hours on a portfolio only to be shot down time and again by the big ad agencies. Look! They don't even need you! They can pay joe-schmo $0 to write their ads AND get them to want to eat chocolate Altoids at the same time! Brilliant.

Good thing I want to be an art director.

Here's my special message to all of you:

If that doesn't put you in the mood for something chocolate dipped, I don't know what will.

Addendum to Previous Post

2007-02-22T12:01:00.000-05:00

Last night Janet and I went to see a pre-screening of the new Jim Carrey movie The Number 23, thanks to passes I received for being a Bzz Agent. Mostly the movie was entertaining, suspenseful and creepy, but I don't really buy into the number 23 being very significant. I think you can probably reduce significant dates and names to most any number so that it will meet your expectations (i.e. Magical Thinking).

However, I will confess that on the bus ride home (it's that damn bus again, lulling my dominant reality-based brain hemisphere and freeing up my fantasy-oriented side) I started thinking about the strange date I encountered earlier that day - February 21, 2026. I realized you can reduce February 21 to 2/21 or 2 + 21, which of course equals 23. Ok, so not really that exciting. But, 20 + 26 = 46, which cut in half is...........yup, 23. Kinda spooky. Then take all the numbers in the date - 2, 21, 20, 26 and add them up. It equals 69, which divided by 3 is 23. Then I was weirded out and stopped because I had to get off the bus and walk home in the dark.

Maybe it's a stretch, and like I said it's probable you could do this with any number, but it's still something interesting to think about. Just don't get obsessed. It's not pretty.

Time Travel is Way Cooler in a DeLorean

2007-02-21T14:17:00.001-05:00

This morning on the bus, the electric banner that scrolls the time and date for the passengers read February 21, 2026. For a minute I thought I might have woken up on the wrong side of the Twilight Zone. Then I realized my bus wasn't flying and my iPod was still a separate entity from my body, so I figured some drunken MBTA worker must have programed the bus this morning. That made me feel a whole lot better.

To get my mind off of drunken bus operators, I was pondering what the year 2026 might be like. I will be 44, which is the worst thing I've ever heard. And that's about all I can really say about the 2-6er (what I think we should call the years by then). So, I decided that if there's anything out there that I think could look into the future 19 years and bring me back a glimpse of the world it would have to be Google. Surely the omnipotent master of the cyber-universe would find me the answers.

Turns out Google is just the pimp and Wikipedia is its bitch. The first page on my Google search was for the Wiki, which already has a page solely for the year 2026. Talk about being on top of your shit. Here's what it tells us about the future (insert Wayne's World sound effects and motions here).

In the year 2026:

New Year's Day will be on a Thursday. Yesssss! Thursdays rock!
The Aurora Programme will send a mission to Mars. Really? Mars? That's original. Won't we be living on Mars by then? That's not going to be a very exciting mission.
The U.S. will celebrate its 250th anniversary as an independent country. Par-tay!! Maybe by then we can clone the fore-fathers and get our groove on. I call dibbsies on John Adams!
The southern section of the BART will connect the East Bay of California to Silicon Valley. It will make it a much easier commute for the AIs to come kill off the humans every morning. They will be very appreciative and might spare people who look like Will Smith or Tom Cruise.
According to the TV section of 2026, if we were in an episode of SeaQuest DSV this would happen - "An economic summit takes place that places hundreds of thousands of undeveloped basins back on the market." I have no idea what the means, but if I can have a talking dolphin, I don't really care either.
And according to Star Trek: Enterprise, World War III will begin in 2026. A date they must have gotten from Ms. Cleo, since all signs point to that shit storm starting much earlier.

Lastly, my favorite event of 2026 will be the actualization of Heinz von Foerster's "Doomsday Equation". In 1960, Foerster published an article in which he divulged a formula for future population growth. "The formula gave 2.7 billion as the 1960 world population and predicted that population growth would become infinite by Friday, November 13, 2026. " Happy Birthday to me! Awww, the end of the world! You shouldn't have!

So in pre-celebration of the apocalypse and my 45th birthday, which I will be spending on Mars with my talking pet dolphin Darwin, an AI ass-kicking Will Smith and my John Adams clone, here is a video of how I think the world will actually end. Enjoy.

The Most Hate-Filled, Disrespectful, Ignorant Thing I Have Heard in a Long Time

2007-02-15T14:32:00.000-05:00

Below is the rotten shit that poured forth from former Miami Heat point guard Tim Hardaway's mouth during a recent radio show interview. The hosts were discussing the coming-out of former NBA player John Amaechi and the release of his autobiography.

"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people," Hardaway said while a guest on Sports Talk 790 The Ticket in Miami. "I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

The host asked Hardaway how he would interact with a gay teammate.

"First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team. And second of all, if he was on my team, I would, you know, really distance myself from him because, uh, I don't think that is right. I don't think he should be in the locker room while we are in the locker room."

If he did find out that a teammate was gay, Hardaway said he would ask for the player to be removed from the team.

"Something has to give," Hardaway said. "If you have 12 other ballplayers in your locker room that's upset and can't concentrate and always worried about him in the locker room or on the court or whatever, it's going to be hard for your teammates to win and accept him as a teammate." SI.com

And here is his "apology" regarding the incident:

"Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that," he said. "That was my mistake."

The NBA also issued a statement where they duly noted the "disparity between his views and ours."

Way to really put your foot down and take a strong stance on the issue NBA. You don't necessarily condone homophobia, but hell, you're not about to condemn it either! You wouldn't want to alienate your target audience now would you?

Well NBA, here's an exercise for you: read the same quote and every time you see the words "gay" or "homophobic" replace them with "black" and "racist". I'll give you a minute......

Sounds like we're back in the 40s or 50s doesn't it? Can you imagine the public outrage and strong dissenting statement the NBA would have issued if THAT were to come out of someones mouth on a radio show interview today? And rightly so. It is offensive and racist. Well, so is the real version.

It is a disconcerting and horrifying reminder of the lengths this country still needs to go in the "all men created equal" department. You would think that 231 years would be enough to get it right, but we are obviously so far off from that it is ridiculous.

So, in this month to celebrate black history and the strides society has taken in the fight for equal rights, let's not forget how far we still need to go, for the sake of all people.

Like Endless Rain Into a Paper Cup

2007-02-06T14:17:00.000-05:00

I haven't been inspired to post anything in a while, and I've also been busy, but I thought I'd share the trailer to a movie that I'm pretty excited about. It's called Across the Universe and is a fictional romp through the turmoil of the 60s. The plot follows a young couple (Jude and Lucy) and uses visual art and dance numbers cued to new arrangements of Beatles songs in order to capture the frenzy and passion of that era. The only way I can describe what this movie looks like to me is alive. I hope the storyline will live up to the stunning visual glances this preview is giving us:

Credit to bestweekever.tv for posting this.

I couldn't make this up if I tried

2007-01-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

This morning I opened up my email inbox to find an email titled: "Invitation to Join MLB Bloggers." My first thought was, "Hey cool, a blogging group might be fun!" Then I read the email and laughed more than I thought humanly possible at 9am on a cold, snowy work day.

Dear blog author:
We recently came across your site, invinciblesummer13.blogspot.com, while searching for bloggers who blog about Major League Baseball.

That's really all you need to read. If you know me, you are already laughing. If you don't know me, please refer to the ONLY post I've ever written that has to do with baseball: a man in uniform.

Now, if you're not into sports as much as I clearly am, you may not realize that the picture I linked to in that post is not even a real baseball player! True story. It's actually David Duchovny in an episode of The X-Files (*sigh, baseball spooning*). And if you didn't know that, we can't be friends.

So, in conclusion, a note to Craig Cantin at MLB Bloggers:

I wish you all the luck with your blogging group and I am quite flattered by the (obviously) personally tailored invitation I received. However, it is with deep regret that I must decline your offer. I just don't see us as a very good match at this time, unless you want me to blog about hot guys who have worn baseball uniforms but aren't in fact baseball players. If that's the case, sign me up!

Otherwise, thank you in the very least for the good laugh.

Your friend in baseball (sort of),

Allison

Michael Scott and the Paper Factory

2007-01-11T22:26:00.000-05:00

Oompa loompa doopidy dawsome
Tonight's episode of The Office was awesome
If you do not like this show
I cannot be your friend no mo.

(Also, you are not in on this joke. Sad for you.)

Stop, Hey What's That Sound?

2007-01-11T00:44:00.000-05:00

I hope you enjoy the newest feature on my blog. It's no iPhone, but this ain't Apple.com either.

This 'Ship Should Sail.....Far Away.....Don't Ever Come Back.....Seriously.

2007-01-05T23:00:00.001-05:00

Somehow (not really sure how) I just came across a shipper video on YouTube that focuses on the characters of Hermione Granger and Professor Snape from the Harry Potter books/films.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Ew! That is just gross and disturbing to think about. Also, it is illegal. Ick ick ick.

The worst part (yes, it gets worse) is that there are actually more of the same out there! Come on! How many people can there be that think a fictitious (let's also keep that in mind) 13 year old should have a relationship with a (also fictitious) disturbingly dark, spiteful old guy?! Apparently too many.

If you happen to be masochistic, here's a link to the video. And don't forget to check out the similar ones in the side bar. Yippee! I couldn't even watch the whole thing it creeped me out so much.

Let this be a lesson: Just because you know how to use iMovie, doesn't mean you should.

The smartest thing a man has said about women since.......ever.

2007-01-02T21:00:00.000-05:00

"Females are generally not encouraged by society to be super-smart, at least, not overtly. And ESPECIALLY not in the techie/geeky super-smart way.

So as a result, by the time these super-smart young girl geeks have grown up to be women, society will have managed to inject them with all sorts of serious self-esteem issues. Which rarely comes in handy in the mate-choosing department."

Ingenious theory written by hugh macleod on his blog.

The low self-esteem part of me wants to put some sort of disclaimer here that by posting this on my blog I am not implying that I'm one of those super-smart girls. But fuck it, you're damn right I am! And I will now constantly fall back on that explanation for why I can't get a date. You other super-smart women out there, feel free to do so as well.

No no, don't thank me. Thank hugh.

A Giant Step Backward for Woman-Kind

2006-12-29T13:44:00.000-05:00

And her name is Ms. Dewey.

She is the new interactive search engine from Microsoft that is part of their new Windows Live online service that is trying to compete with Google. She looks like Jessica Alba and acts like Dwight Schrute. So basically she is hot and FUCKING ANNOYING!

When you type something into her search box (I'm brewing a really dirty joke about this right now), she makes comments about the thing you're searching about. Honestly, it is pretty interesting and amazing. For like 5 minutes. Then you start to wonder what else this sleek interface is supposed to do. When you stop searching for stuff she starts to get impatient and will either tap on your monitor screen or start acting like a whore trying to entice you into using her (once again, another dirty joke in the making).

She's the hot librarian you'll never, ever have. And if you did get her, you'd only like her for a day because eventually you'd realize how annoying she is.

The only step-forward this program is making is in its technology. The searching is basically the same, but the interface has got bells, whistles and a bitchy chick with a low cut top. Thank you again computer nerds for:

1) making all your dreams come true, and

2) giving Ms. Dewey the feature that men wish every woman came with and one that I'm just happy this one specifically comes with: a Mute button.

Something Old, Something New

2006-12-28T20:21:00.000-05:00

Two wonderful things I just had to share.

1. The hilarious new t-shirt I got from Kelly for Christmas:

2. I have achieved one of my goals for the year just in the nick of time. I can finally fit back into my senior year May Days dress!! It took a little more effort to get the zipper up than before, but it got there. Now I just need somewhere to wear it.

Hello, Dolly

2006-12-28T09:21:00.000-05:00

The FDA recently made the decision that food products which come from cloned animals do not need special labels at the supermarket. They say there is no difference at all between the original cow/sheep/pig than its clone, and there are no health risks associated with eating these animals. You can read the whole CNN article here.

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this. My first reaction is to be creeped out. It has been over 10 years since Dolly the sheep showed up in the news, and that is a lot of time for cloning technologies to evolve and become more widespread. However, to me it still sounds like
something from a sci-fi movie, and a horrible made-for-tv one by the Sci-Fi channel at that. I don't understand the science behind it and therefore I fear it and its possibilities.

I also wonder about the safety of eating so much food that comes from a science lab. And I'm not just talking clones here. Almost all of our meats are genetically altered in some way - to make the cows produce more milk, pigs be meatier and chickens create more and larger eggs. None of this food is labeled either. Your bacon does not have a warning on it that says - "From a genetically enhanced pig." and your milk doesn't say "Now with more bovine growth hormones!". So I guess if that is the standard they've set, why would they start with labeling cloned food?

Cloned. Food. Just let that sink in. If the idea of eating an exact genetic copy of another animal made by scientists in a test tube does not creep you out even a little bit and make you seriously consider being a vegetarian, then you should just sign up for Fear Factor right now, because you would win.

I have never tried to be a vegetarian before. I know those little piggies and moo moos are cute, and I have heard the many horror stories about how they are raised, but I have decided that 1) I am not selfish about much in my life, so I can have a clear conscious about being selfish about my place on the food chain (and anyone with a problem with it can choke on a big fat carrot stick); and 2) those animals are mighty tasty! Mmmm boy!

I am, however, getting increasingly concerned about the safety of many foods (even fruits and vegetables with all their pesticidal goodness), and see that even being a vegetarian may not even be the way to solve this problem. The only hope is that someday soon my financial situation will allow me to buy all organics, and that eventually they will be affordable for everyone.

Until then I guess it's going to be:

Hello, Dolly
Well hello, Dolly
It's so nice to have you back where you belong
You're lookin' swell, Dolly
We can tell, Dolly
You're still glowin', you'rs still crowin'
You're still goin' strong.

Picture of Dolly taken from Wikipedia, click on the image to see full credits.

U2 Makes the Ultimate Fanvid

2006-12-22T00:32:00.000-05:00

Is it just a coincidence that YouTube and U2 are almost the same name?! Go wrap your brain around that over Christmas break conspiracy freaks.

Everyone else, enjoy this video:

"Window in the Skies"

*Addendum: Just thought I should let you know that I found this video (coincidentally) through a Guster post on MySpace. Thought they should get some credit.

I'm Special! (said in my best Ralph Wiggum voice)

2006-12-21T14:35:00.000-05:00

I recently reached into the pocket of a coat I don't wear very often and found this old ticket stub from a concert held during my junior year of college.

It's funny, I don't remember being the Special Guest that night. Although, Guster and I were pretty tight back then and I am special. So I guess it's possible.

Word Around the Water Cooler

2006-12-19T17:30:00.000-05:00

For once the word is around my own office, not Dunder Mifflin's. I know I've said I won't be stupid and blog about work, but this is just too good not to share (and it's not harmful or mean to anyone). Really, it's just funny and amusing.

About a month ago, all the department heads were called to a meeting by our Chief of Staff. After the meeting was over, there was that buzz that happens when one group gets some new information and must spread it to anyone they come into contact with, right. now. Sometimes that energy can be positive, like "yay Christmas bonus!" and sometimes the energy feels more like "no Christmas for you!" Around here, that day was like Christmas had been canceled (you knew I couldn't go the whole post without referencing it at least once).

However, since the Chief of Staff doesn't have the authority to cancel Christmas, the news (I later heard from my boss) was that they are bringing in "staffing consultants" to assess the office and see who is necessary and who is not. Or as my boss put it "They are bringing in the Bobs".

Ummmmm, yeaaaaa. I think I better get working on all those backed up TPS reports I have to put covers on.

Or maybe, I'll just do this:

Lyrics for My Life

2006-12-18T12:59:00.000-05:00

Just for the record
The weather today
is slightly sarcastic with a good chance of:

A. Indifference or

B. Disinterest in what the critics say.

Is Xenu for You? Find Out With a Free Stress Test!

2006-12-14T18:24:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Tom Cruise, almost everyone not living under a rock has heard of the Church of Scientology. I've heard it ridiculed, I've seen the "Free Stress Test" people, and I know a small amount about it (basically that it is based around the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard - a former sci-fi author, there are some strange ideas and practices surrounding it, they don't condone psychological practices, and celebrities like to hop on the Scientology-wagon and then jump on couches).

Really, it all seems a little crazy and cult-like. However, before I totally made up my mind about the group, I decided I had to at least become more informed about what they are really all about. That's when I realized that it is almost impossible to find something written on Scientology that is impartial. There are either sites sponsored by the Church of Scientology that are obviously not going to bring up any problems with the religion, and there are sites extremely opposed to the religion and only talk about the negatives.

The site that comes closest to impartiality is definitely Wikipedia. Whoever wrote the article, at least brought up the church's denial of their stranger practices. But just for the sake of showing you something really interesting, here is a segment from the Wikipedia article that talks about advanced teachings that have supposedly leaked out of the church (although the church claims they have been taken out of context and distorted by the media and dissenters in order to make the group look bad). However, I'm not aware of a way that this could ever be in context and not still sound crazy:

"Xenu (sometimes Xemu) is introduced as an alien ruler of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of people to Earth in spacecraft resembling Douglas DC-8 airliners, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. Their souls then clustered together and stuck to the bodies of the living."

Say what?!

I'm not exactly a true-believer of everything in the Bible either, but Xenu and Friends goes FAR beyond the realms of belief suspension I can accomplish. If I have trouble believing that two of every animal on the earth sat on a giant boat for 40 days and didn't tear each other apart, the step in Scientology where I have to accept the teachings of the Galactic Confederacy might be a little tough for me too.

My other strike against Scientology is that the list of celebrities who have left the church includes one Charles Manson. You've got to be a little weary of a religion that is even too much for that guy to handle.

I still recommend you research it on your own though, and come to your own conclusions. You never know, maybe Xenu is for you.

I'm the F to the U, R, K the E, Y

2006-12-13T00:12:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again!

No, I'm not talking about the crap with the big fat man and the mistletoe, although it is obviously that time too. What I'm talking about is list time. This is when EVERYONE and their mother comes out with a list of "The Best __________ of 2006!" Comedy Central already had their Last Laugh, MTV's probably gearing up for their TRL special of "The Top 50 Videos of 2006 You Would Have Seen on MTV if We Ever Played Videos" and I'm sure E! will be having a craptacular blow-out of "The Top 100 List of List Shows We Filled Our Dead Air With in 2006 Because We Can't Create Any Quality Programming Other than The Soup!!!" (note the extra punctuation to show just how excited they are about their jobs).

Joking aside, we all know that I love lists. So, apart from having to bear the ones that make me want to stick sharp objects in my eye (thank you E!), I am a fan of this time of year in all its listy-ness.

Today's list is brought to us by Rolling Stone (they like lists too, but not as much as those people at Billboard). It is "The 100 Best Songs of 2006" list. And I am sad to say that I must have sucked at life when it came to finding good music this year, because I missed a lot of these. I guess its time to catch up!

I also don't buy some of these tracks as being the best the music world had to offer this year. You can read more of my opinions below about some of the selections, but I just have to say -

Some observations I have after perusing the list are:

1. Is "Ridin" really the #3 best song of the whole entire 365 days of 2006? It must have been a slow year in music.

2. The song that I claimed as mine earlier in the year, The Dixie Chicks' "The Long Way Around" is in the top 20 yall! Holla!
Oh, god. I did not just say holla. Kill me.

3. "When the Sun Goes Down" by The Arctic Monkeys was a killer song that I listened to a lot this year. Yay for Monkeys!

4. If there's no possible way to avoid it entirely, the only way I can handle listening to the song "Promiscuous" is to stick sharp objects in my ears and then just dance to the bassline. Definitely not in my top 100.

5. On snap! "London (Fucking) Bridge"!! Are you kidding me?!?!!! (extra punctuation to show how much that song should NOT be on this list). I could handle "Fergalicious", maybe. But probably only because its easy to make into Furkalicious and my friends like to sing it to me at the bar.

6. Anyone who likes pop-punk/emo music and hasn't heard the whole Panic! at the Disco album, go get it right now. It's like a storming infectious-beat soap opera from beginning to end. I'm happy to see my favorite track "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage" at #84.

Lastly, where is "Cable Car", "Crooked Teeth", "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"? And what about stuff from Weezer? They were all over the radio this year.

Just my 2 cents.

I'm sure they missed some of your favorites too.

Big Ideas

2006-12-08T23:48:00.000-05:00

If you're interested in marketing, viral messages, or just some random bits of information, then you should definitely check out this blog I found recently called Gaping Void. It's written by a guy named Hugh from the UK who does marketing for a South African Vineyard and also creates interesting drawings on the backs of business cards. Many have to do with working in the advertising/marketing/creative world, but there is something there for everyone. Check out his gallery.

I'm particularly fond of this new one:

Think I'll have it put on the back of my business cards.

I have also added the Gaping Void widget to my sidebar, so you can check out a bunch of them.

Which one would be yours?

Strange Phenomenon

2006-11-29T16:22:00.000-05:00

Can anyone tell me why I had a huge influx of traffic on my blog yesterday? There were people coming in from all over the place and I'm wondering how they were getting here. Maybe you're one of those people and you came back. If so, how did you find me?

I'm interested in knowing what I might have done so maybe I can do it again. =)

Look What My Boss is Getting for Christmas!

2006-11-28T14:51:00.000-05:00

Click on the picture to buy your boss one.

I did warn you about my Office obsession, yes?

My boss loves the show too and I'm sure he'll display this proudly on his desk.

I Think I'm Getting Addicted

2006-11-26T16:37:00.000-05:00

If you haven't noticed, The Office is quickly becoming my favorite show, and while I start catching up on the episodes I've missed there may be a high concentration of Office themed posts.

This one is just a picture. The funniest picture I've seen in a while. Have I mentioned my love for Steve Carell? Maybe that will be the topic of my next post. For now, here is the picture (and just imagine your boss at work giving an anti-drug presentation named this):

THE OFFICE:
Better
than
drugs.

I Swear if I Had Work to Do Right Now I Would Be Doing It

2006-11-24T15:48:00.000-05:00

Things I want to do before I die.
1. Go back to Australia
2. Live in a foreign country
3. Be in love
4. Get certified in scuba and dive all over the world
5. Change someone's life

Things I can do.
1. Dance/choreograph
2. Sing the words to almost every song
3. Take fairly decent pictures
4. Survive on my own
5. Talk intelligently and convincingly about almost every subject (even if I really have no idea what I'm talking about.)

Things I cannot do.
1. Wear a bikini
2. Make that popping noise that Donkey makes in Shrek 2 (just ask Kelly, it's not pretty)
3. Eat mushrooms
4. Flirt
5. Talk intelligently and convincingly about politics.

Things that attract me to the opposite sex.
1. Eyes - especially blue or green
2. Sense of humor - especially sarcasm
3. Scruffy hair
4. Cute dorkiness
5. Manners (I know that sounds old-fashioned, but who doesn't melt when a guy opens a door for you?)

Celebrity crushes.
1. David Duchovny (obviously)
2. John Krasinski (who, btw, is from Newton and I would die if I saw him out at a bar in Boston)
3. Zach Braff
4. Gavin DeGraw
5. Jimmy Fallon

(Think this list upholds what I said in the previous list?)

People I want to do this next.
1. Even if I say it, no one will do it anyway.

Link Update

2006-11-24T12:17:00.000-05:00

I just updated the link to the free TV site below. I think between the day I did my post and yesterday, they moved the site. So it should be working now.

Here it is again if you don't want to look for it in the post: http://allfg.alluc.org/cms/cms/

The Best Things in Life Are Free, Part Deux

2006-11-19T21:33:00.000-05:00

Just in case you missed the memo....THE INTERNET IS AWESOME!
(If you were hoping for better commentary from a Boston University College of Communication alum on the state of media and communication in 2006, please remember that I have two jobs and no desire to think any more than necessary apart from them.)

So, my latest, greatest find in the arena of fabulous internet content is this site - http://allfg.alluc.org/cms/cms/. On here you can watch FREE episodes of your favorite TV shows - LOST, Grey's, Seinfeld, The Office, etc. Of course, my own personal favorite is The X-Files! Only seasons 1, 2 and some of 5 are up, which is random, but I'm not complaining.

A few down-sides to the site are - you will need Quicktime installed on your computer (easily acquired) and a fast internet connection (we have cable and an hour long episode uploads quickly and runs fine). The video quality also isn't exactly HD TV, but how much does it really matter when you're probably watching the episode for at least the 6th time (or is that just me)?

Lastly, I do not promote piracy or illegal downloading (especially of moves and television). This site provides strictly streaming video content (non-downloadable) and I did look into the legality of the content posted on the site. Apparently, like the free music download site I had recommended in an earlier post, the site manager is just acquiring the links to the content and listing them in one handy place for people to browse. Most of the videos link to external sites where the people who have uploaded them have had to (hopefully) prove their legal right to share the content.

So my advice: get while the gettins good. This may be like Napster (circa 2000) where the content is given free reign until someone realizes the money they are potentially losing and finds a better way to cash in.

If you need to find me, I will be retracing the beginnings of Mulder and Scully. Please leave your jokes about my giant dork status below.

P.S. Speaking of....congratulations go out to Gillian Anderson (aka Scully) on the birth of her son.

P.P.S. Congratulations also go out to David Duchovny for being hot.

Photographic Scavenger Hunt

2006-11-09T00:02:00.000-05:00

The fun people at Sh1ft have a really cool photography exercise to check out. Once every couple of months they post a list of 26 Things for people to try to capture and express through the pictures they take. Once you take the pictures, you can upload the best ones onto the 26 Things Flickr Group to share with everyone else. It's interesting to see what images people come up with to represent the word or phrase on the list.

I have yet to participate in this, so I have decided to work through November's 26 Things. The goal is to try to shoot at least one thing a day. On the right column of this blog I have posted the list of things I will be looking to shoot. Once I get a good shot of one I'll upload it here and also link it to my Flickr account.

SexyOffice

2006-11-08T11:54:00.000-05:00

I am in love with this video someone did that merges "SexyBack" with clips from The Office. HI-arious, and way better than the Justin version. In fact, people should petition MTV to show this instead of the real one. Oh, wait. MTV doesn't play videos.

Thank you YouTube and person with lots of extra time on their hands for making this possible.

My Plans for the Future are Ruined!

2006-11-06T15:50:00.000-05:00

All because of this.

Doogie Howser, I'll never love another child genius doctor like you again. And you'll always be every best answer to the questions in Girl Talk.

Blog Tag Topic #1 (To find out more about Blog Tag see previous entry)

2006-10-20T11:27:00.000-04:00

Tag Topic #1: Take your favorite book and turn it into a movie - tell us who you would cast as the actors, director, etc. and why. (If your favorite book is already a movie, tell us how you would have done it differently.)

My favoritest book is The Odyssey, (yes please stamp "BIG DORK" on my forehead now), but there are far too many characters in that book to cast. So instead I will do my second favorite book, The Lovely Bones (I am also kind of cheating since I did a paper on this for my Careers in Hollywood class).

For those that haven't read it, The Lovely Bones is a novel by Alice Sebold about Susie Salmon, a 14-year-old girl from the suburbs who is attacked on her way home from school by a neighbor who then proceeds to rape and murder her. She narrates the whole story from heaven where she is able to look down upon the family, friends, and even the murderer she left behind. Through her eyes we see how each of them struggles through life as they carry the burden of her death with them.

Actors:
Susie Salmon - Jenna Boyd (The Missing, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)
Why: She's not as overly exposed as someone like Dakota Fanning and she's proven herself in dramatic roles.

Detective Fisherman (investigates Susie's case) - Billy Crudup (Big Fish, Trust the Man)
Why: There's just something about him I really like. And I enjoy his work. I think he has the ability to play many different types of characters - from a cocky rock star in Almost Famous, to a clean cut, no nonsense son in Big Fish and a slacker boyfriend in Trust the Man.

Susie's Dad - Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rogue, The Island)
Why: I'd like to see him take on the role of a distraught father with a family coming apart and see his physical change as the years go on.

Susie's Mom - Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine)
Why: I guess I like her as the mother of bizarre families. She's done so well in the past.

Mr. Harvey (Susie's next door neighbor and killer) - John C. Reilly (Chicago, Talladega Nights)
Why: I think he is an amazing actor who could bring humanity to such a hated character.

Susie's Grandma - Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for Dream, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood)
Why: Like Reilly, I think she's a very talented actor and I'd love to see her take on this emotional role.

Director: Sam Mendes (American Beauty)
Why: I think he could capture the same creepy underbelly of white-bread, suburban America that he did for Beauty to put to use in this very different time and story.

So, there's my movie. If you haven't read the book, don't wait for the real movie to come out. No matter who is involved, most movies just don't measure up to their books. It'll be interesting to watch for the cast list to come out though and see if any of my picks make it (I had to do this exercise in another class for The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and when the movie came out at least one of my character picks matched up to the real one!).

Let me know what you think of my list and (if you've read the book) let me know what you might do different.

Then check out Sara's entry on the same topic. Tag Sara, you're it!

You're It!!

2006-10-20T10:57:00.000-04:00

I am officially starting a game of blog tag. How to play:
1. I am going to write about a subject.
2. Then I am going to tag someone in the comments section on their blog - including a link back to my post for them to see.
3. They have to write about the same subject, then tag someone they know and on and on it goes.

When you tag someone you should:
- make sure you put a link to their blog on the bottom of your blog entry so that people can follow the links and see the chain of entries.
- remember to put a link back to your entry when you tag them in the comment section. The links should be carried over into every tag so that as the game progresses there is a longer and longer list of links of posts on the same subject by different people.

For example: I am going to write a post on a topic. Then I am going to tag Sara by commenting on her blog and posting a link to my post. When she goes to tag someone new in their comments section, she will copy and paste the link to my post and then add the link to her post above it:

Like a Poem Poorly Written
Invincible Summer

The next person who tags someone will copy both our links and then add the link to their post to the top.

Get it?
Got it?
Good.

Some Pre-Halloween Creepiness

2006-10-15T15:27:00.000-04:00

Every Sunday, I like to go to the Post Secret blog to take a look at the new postcards that have been put up on the page. They are artistically and emotionally interesting, as well as shocking, sad and funny. If you've never been to the site it is worth a look.

Anyway, I went there today and at the end of this week's new card listings there is a postcard that I remembered from the week before that was just a brown piece of wrinkled paper with coordinates on it. Below it, the Post Secret webmaster has now posted an image he got through an email that seems to be a picture of what is at those coordinates (they must have been in the email as well). Posted above it are the coordinates and when you click on the link, it brings you to a Google Maps look up of that coordinate. It shows it to be somewhere near Germantown, Maryland. The closest things to it are farms and parkland. Frank from Post Secret said that he would post more as soon as he knew anything about the pictures.

So I don't know if he's thinking what my twisted brain is thinking, but my initial reaction was "Oh my god, someone buried a body there and sent in the coordinates as their secret!". Maybe being a criminal justice major and watching too much X-Files, CSI and Forensic Files has warped my mind and made me immediately jump to the worst possible conclusions, but did this cross anyone else's mind?

If what I'm thinking is right, we could have the new generation in creepy murderers on our hands. It would also be the most scandelous secret on that site to date. And maybe the worst part about my theory is that it wouldn't surprise me a bit if it were true. People are crazy and people do crazy things. If I've learned anything about life so far, it is not to underestimate the possible loonacy capable of the human race. I know. I've taken abnormal psychology and I ride public transportation every day, plus I've spent time in the south.

Happy (Belated) Blog-Day to Me!

2006-10-13T10:07:00.000-04:00

That's right, on Monday, October 9, 2006, Invincible Summer officially turned one year old! Who actually thought I'd still be writing in here a whole year later? Certainly not me. In leiu of the extremely long and very witty post I was writing the other day that got lost when my web browser decided to freeze up (grrrrr!), I have made a list of some of my favorite posts from the past year for you to check out.

If you are a loyal reader (aka blog stalker) I invite you to tell me what your favorites have been or, if you rather, you can tell me that mostly this blog sucks. Either type of comments will be appreciated. =) This would also be a great time for those of you who just blindly stumbled here for the first time and those who read and never comment to say "hi!". Think of it as my blog-day present.

And if you are thinking to yourself - "Hey, I read this crappy blog all the time, what do I get?", here is a gift just for you.

And on to the favorites...

Procrastinating
October 9, 2005
The post that started it all and an explanation for the name.

The Happiest Town on Earth?
October 11, 2005
Post numero dos. A rant on how 5 major media outlets own everything we see and hear, and a little town named "Celebration". Plus there's a picture of the Hamburglar.

Here's an Equation for You
October 21, 2005
Short and (not so) sweet.

I'm a Fucking Genius
November 17, 2005
I still think this is a great idea.

Evil Allison
November 23, 2005
The holidays always bring out the best in me. I like this one mostly because I am a sarcastic bitch in it and also because it's the one post I have where Jess leaves a comment. Big ups to the Bear.

Who's a Ho?
December 6, 2005
Another sarcastic gem. I feel I have gotten soft in the past year and I'm going to have to step up the sarcasm again. Time to have a Lewis Blackathon.

CLR Tribute
January 3, 2006
Love to my girls.

Things I (Still) Miss
February 9, 2006
Life is sad when you don't have a job.

Why I (Still) Love Heather Gould
March 30, 2006
This just has to be reposted for anyone else who graduated in 2004.

The FCC Can Derelicte My Balls
April 1, 2006
I just realized I did this post on April Fool's day. Maybe that was Comedy Central's joke to us - bleeping out "balls". Hehe, yea Bevis, you said balls.

Summer
July 16, 2006
I chose this one because it goes with the blog theme and I actually still like what I wrote. Usually with poems, I go back a month later and hate it. Also, I realized I had 10 favorites listed and decided that a top 10 list is SO overdone. So that was my top 11 list.

Take that David Letterman!

Thanks for reading folks (all 5 of you).

I Need Your Help

2006-10-04T20:45:00.000-04:00

For my second job (the old one) I have to make contests for this video/audio contest site called Bix.com and I get paid per the amount of people who view and/or enter the contests I make. I have two new contests up that have $50 first prize awards. So, if you could just click on these links to view the contests even that would be a big help to me. If you want to enter them go right ahead! That would be an even bigger help.

One is a stupid human tricks contest - I already entered myself. Check it out here: http://www.bix.com/contest/801.

The other is a rock star karaoke contest that I am not going to enter (no one wants that). But if you want to enter please do so here: http://www.bix.com/contest/800.

Thank you thank you thank you!

And Just When We Thought Global Warming Was Our Biggest Problem

2006-10-04T09:15:00.000-04:00

Then this happens.

The George W. Bush Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good
(And Want to Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too)

I love the smell of irony in the morning.

I Love Lists (said in my best Brick impression)

2006-10-01T17:12:00.000-04:00

There is nothing I like to do more than go down a list of somethings and check off the somethings on that list that I have accomplished in my life. I guess it makes me feel like I am not totally wasting my life away. I especially like my 2001 Things to do Before You Die book and I take great pride in putting check marks besides the tasks I've completed.

So, when I came across this pointless list task, I just had to bite. Basically, there is a list of 100 movies that someone makes or steals (the one I found uses AFI's 100 Top Movies). You go down the list and bold the movies you've seen, italisize the one's you want to see (I added this part), and add 3 more movies to the bottom that you think should be on the list. Then you post your list to your blog so others can see it, complete it and add it to their site too (linking back to your post, of course).

If you don't have a blog (or even if you do), I also invite you to post your 3 movie add-ons in the comment area of this post, or refute the ones already on the list if you think they suck.

Enjoy!

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975) <---- I have this on Netflicks &still need to watch it
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962) <--- I saw the new one 68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971) <----- I worked in the office of the producer of this movie in L.A.
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)
101. THE CAINE MUTINY (1954)
102. METROPOLIS (1927)
103. PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (1959)

My total: 28. That's kind of sad.

My 3:
104. MARY POPPINS (1964)
105. THE MATRIX (1999)
106. THE EXORCIST (1973)

Your turn!

What the World Has Been Waiting For.....

2006-09-30T10:05:00.000-04:00

It feels like only yesterday I was sitting at the bus stop around the corner from my house, rocking my leggings and She-ra backpack, and talking about important 2nd-grader things like Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers. There were quite a few boys in my neighborhood, and many a pre-grammar school morning was spent listening to them talk about their Mortal Kombat scores and sing lyrics from Weird Al Yankovich songs like Eat It and Like a Surgeon. Mostly, I thought the lyrics were pretty funny, but to uphold my position in the girl world, I had to come to the consensus with the other girls that the boys were sooooo stupid. But what I really wanted to do after school was hang out with the boys and listen to their Weird Al tapes too.

Maybe that just makes me White and Nerdy, but if being that way is wrong, I don't want to be right.

White and Nerdy

"They see me roll on my segue."
Priceless.

But I do have to say my favorite part is Donnie Osmond dancing in the background.

Welcome back Weird Al, it's been far too long.

The Best Things in Life are Free

2006-09-27T22:56:00.000-04:00

Especially if one of those things is music.

Today a stumbled across a site called It's Free Downloads that is making a directory of ONLY the free downloads from iTunes. That way us cheapies don't have to search through the whole iTunes website to find those little treasures. It's not just for music either - there are links to free TV show episodes (special eps of LOST and Grey's Anatomy anyone?), video clips and audiobooks. Plus, there's this free song list for Facebook members. Check that out here.

So, it's not exactly Napster circa the year 2000 (sweet, sweet times), but it also won't land your ass in the middle of a ridiculous lawsuit where the plaintiff is an artist worth 100 times more money than you'll ever see in your life. Don't EVEN get me started.

At Least I'm Not Crying in the Bathroom this Time

2006-09-26T23:29:00.000-04:00

New Job Post #1:

I've decided that starting a new job is a little like starting a new high school - with less teen angst and better clothing choices. There is meeting your new peers and your superiors, learning where everything is located, what your schedule is like and what your options are for lunch.

Today, my second day of work, I ventured down to the cafeteria at lunch time. It made me think about twelve(!) years ago when I started the 7th grade in a new school district with no friends. Back then, I dreaded lunch time because it always meant severe anxiety. Who was I going to sit with?! What if my lunch isn't cool?! Why doesn't anyone want to be my friend?! Honestly, this terror led me to spend more than a couple lunch hours hiding in the bathroom being miserable with life and wanting the security of my old school and friends back.

Even in college, most of us spent all of freshman year in large groups flocking to the dining hall at meal times. No one wanted to get left behind. If you somehow missed the big group trip, you would frantically IM everyone else on your buddy list to find out if they had already gone too. Then if they had - the horror! The only choice then was to go get something to go and bring it back to your room and your friends (those traitorous group meal thwarters).

It is on days like today when I look back at those memories and really see how (blessedly) far I have come. I still have a tendency to be shy and somewhat awkward around strangers, but I now have the ability to walk confidently into the cafeteria where I know absolutely no one, find myself a seat and eat my lunch with no anxiety whatsoever. Did I really ever care so much? It's hard to believe.

I still don't have any friends though.

I guess my next life lesson should be "Strangers and You: How to Approach Someone Else in the Cafeteria Without Friends and Make them Yours."

Question for My PC Using Friends

2006-09-23T12:01:00.000-04:00

Is the right side bar actually situated next to the blog post box or does it not start until after the end of the blog blox? The sidebar should be next to it (hence "side" bar), but when I brought it up on a PC today in Internet Explorer, the side bar was all the way at the bottom of the page. It looks fine on my Mac so I just want to check and see if it is just this computer or all PCs.

Thanks for your help!

Confessions of a Grey's Anatomy Virgin

2006-09-21T22:30:00.000-04:00

In the past 3 weeks, I have had a total of 5 people almost go into coronary arrest over my utterance of the simple statement: "I have never watched Grey's Anatomy." So, to ensure that I am not to blame for anyone's premature death, I have succumbed to the peer-pressure and watched last night's episode. It was the re-airing of last year's season finale and thus I was a little confused. However, TV is not rocket-science and this show isn't exactly 24 or LOST (no offense Grey-lovers, it just isn't as complicated as those), so I think I'll be able to pick it up.

Fast forward to tonight. I just watched what I am assuming was a show to catch up people like me on the last season, and I think it did the trick. And I'll admit, I'm intrigued. I do keep having to stomp down the little voice in me that says "But what is the NEED for another hospital-based drama?!", but if it's as good as you all say, I'm sure I'll get over it.

So, here I am. It is 9:00pm on Thursday, October 21, 2006, I am in my PJs, have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and I am about to watch my first episode of Grey's Anatomy (ok, technically not the first, but the first that I'm going to understand). Come along and I'll tell you how it goes.

9:01
Well, we are off to a good start, they are using the Lullaby song I love from the Dixie Chicks' latest album. +1 (even though Medium used it last year)

9:08
The bubonic plague? Ok, ok, I'll give it a chance.

9:20
Realize I haven't been writing in here about the show. That's probably worth a +5.

9:22
Knocked-up catholic school girls throwing their baby into a dumpster and cheaters getting cheated on. +2 for piqued interest, -1 for soap-opera quality

9:25
There is a skunk outside my apartment. -10 for the skunk and another glass of wine for me.

9:32
There is a woman larger than a size 2 on the show and she seems like she actually has a part beyond the comic relief or the wise friend who can't get a date. +5!

9:36
Dr. McDreamy (that is his name right?) is going to die of the plague in the resident locker room after he eats every piece of food in there. +2, I want to see that

9:39
Someone save the plague guy who used to be on Boston Public!!! +1 for emotional involvement

9:48
Realizing this show is different than ER because no actual medical procedures are performed. No points won or lost because I haven't decided whether it's a good thing or not.

9:49
How long do you think Chris O'Donnell will be "Guest Star"ing on the show?

9:59
Finally! She put those damn panties on the bulletin board. I was waiting for that the whole time. Good move Mrs. McDreamy, even though you were the one that cheated first.
Ok, I'm obviously getting into this. +1

10:01
Told us what music was used in the episode. Good job ABC. +2
But why are your shows ending at 10:01?
At least it's not like LOST where you tell us it's an "extended episode" and it lasts until 10:02. -10 for ABC and their idiotic-ness when it comes to that show.

But, I digress.

I made it successfully through my first Grey's Anatomy episode and I enjoyed it! I hear the first two seasons are even better and Jen has decided that I'm going to watch those too. So I will admit I am excited for that.

But, back to tonight. The tally is......drumroooooooooooll........16! (for Grey's, but -8 for ABC and -10 for the skunk.)

That's a pretty good score. Of course, my points are like those on Whose Line is it Anyway?, they don't matter. However, they do mean that I will probably watch again next week.

Well, I may tape it while I watch CSI.
What can I say? Dr. McDreamy is pretty dreamy, but Nick Stokes is the hottest CSI around.

A New Look for a New Beginning

2006-09-20T11:44:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my newly rennovated blog! It's barely shy of it's 1st birthday and I've decided it needs a facelift. I've heard cosmetic surgery is addicting, so maybe I'll be changing it all the time! Now that I use Blogger Beta (thanks to Sara), it is much easier to make changes than before. Not as much messy HTML code to fumble with.

So that is the new look. The new beginning is MY NEW JOB!!! Yes, I got a job! Actually, I got two, but who's counting? The one I accepted is working for the graphic communications department in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth (that means it's a state job). Pretty good pay, great benefits and an amazing view of downtown Boston from my office! It is all very exciting and I start Monday!

I owe a huge thank you to my friend Emily who is actually leaving the job and helped me slide into her place. She gave her boss my resume and kept promoting me to him. It really is who you know. I am greatful that this opportunity came up because it ends 8 months of job searching, something I don't wish on anyone. I am also thankful to those of you who kept my spirits up during those months. Your sympathy and words of encouragement were so helpful and greatly appreciated.

It may be hard at first to leave such a great schedule behind, and the comfort of working in my PJs, but I can't wait to get into the real work force, meet new people and learn more about graphic design. I think this is just the first step on my career path.

Definitely the start of something good.

something i took from someone who took it from someone else

2006-09-13T20:37:00.000-04:00

since i have been harassed on MySpace by Sara for my infrequent blog postings, i have decided to top off a couple days worth of new posts with something i stole from a post on her blog. so there sara! (you better watch it, or i won't wear the horse skirt.)

she stole this from someone else's blog. you can only give one word answers. here goes:

Yourself: low-key
Your partner: nonexistent
Your hair: pretty
Your mother: strong
Your father: supportive
Your favorite item: powerbook
Your dream last night: bizarre
Your favorite drink: colada
Your dream home: comfortable
The room you are in: haphazard
Your fear: failure
Where you want to be in ten years: happy
Who you hung out with last night: StandUp
What you're not: skinny
Your best friend: thoughtful
One of your wish list items: job
Your gender: female
The last thing you did: read
What you are wearing: GAP
Your favorite weather: sunshine
Your favorite book?: Odyssey
Last thing you ate?: PBJ
Your life: stagnant
Your mood: indifferent
The last person you talked to on the phone: Chip
Who are you thinking about right now: Lucas

Did I Say That Reality Shows Are Stupid? Because What I Really Meant Was "Reality Shows Are Stupid Until a Family Member Wins Money On One"

2006-09-12T22:55:00.000-04:00

Apparently, my second cousin (or something) just won 1/2 million dollars on Big Brother All Stars.

They say distant family members come out of the woodwork when you get rich.

Watch out Mike, cause i'm a-comin!

Just look at that family resemblance!

another reason to love Spain

2006-09-12T16:49:00.000-04:00

Skinny models wearing thin in fashion shocker

gracias espana.

Bix.com

2006-09-08T15:48:00.000-04:00

One of my newest assignments for my job is to promote this new contest site called Bix.com. It is basically like You Tube, MySpace and America's Got Talent combined. People make contests using video, audio or writing and anyone can enter. A lot of them are Karaoke, Lip-Syncing, Comedy, etc. Some even have cash prizes and eventually most of them will. My job is to make contests and get people to enter into them. My goal is to get as many people to sign up and participate in the site as possible. So I will keep you all updated on the latests contests and everyone can go to the site and register and start entering contests! Plus you can tell all your friends and your friends friends! =) Then I would love you forever. Also, if you want to start making your own contests, give me your username and the contests you make and the people who enter them will be added into my numbers and help me out even more.

The first contest I made is a song parody contest (except I made a typo and it's a Song Parady contest, and it's really bothering me). But anyway, I got inspired by Brad Akin's parody of "Sexyback", "Sweatyback". So if you want to enter, go here.

To inspire you, I wrote this little ditty and I'm going to have my roommate enter it:

Turn it Brown (aka, The Miseducation of Al Gore)
(sung to The Rolling Stones' Paint it Black)

I see some green grass and I want it to turn brown
No ice caps anymore, I want them melted down.
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I love that it's December and it never snows.

I see a line of cars all waiting for some gas,
A Hummer, Escalade and Ford Escape S-Class.
I see a Hybrid car and quickly look away,
Tree-hugging hippie cars will ruin my whole day.

I look inside my lungs and see they are all black.
Like using corn power will help them to turn back.
Maybe then I'll understand why we should find a cleaner way,
It's not easy facin' up when I've got big oil to pay.

No more will our green sea go turn a deeper blue,
How could I forsee the damage oil spills would do?

If I lay on the beach out in the shining sun,
I'll burn my skin all off before the night time comes.

I see some green grass and I want it to turn brown
No ice caps anymore, I want them melted down.
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I love that it's December and it never snows.

Hmmmm, hmmmmm.....

I wanna see the world turn, world turn brown,
Brown as dirt, brown as poo.
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky.
I wanna see it turning, turning, turning, turning brown.

2006-09-07T17:23:00.000-04:00

someone IMed me this link today:

http://www.paulsadowski.com/birthday.asp

it is one of those sites where you put in your birthdate and they give you a whole sheet about you and things that happened on your birthdate and birth year.

it also told me this about myself:

"Of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritable and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self-confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood, loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner."

crap that's accurate, except the first part (Oh, wait, there's my "lack of self-confidence"). actually, come to think of it, it does say "unusual" and not "immense" or "breathtaking," so i guess that could be right too.

i also found out that Rachel Bilson (The OC) and i have the exact same birthdate, same year and everything. guess that's really not that interesting to anyone but me. but i guess none of this is. haha. oh, well.

i know i should just get over it, but...

2006-08-29T23:30:00.000-04:00

i am going to ask one request of everyone i know who reads this blog (most of who are just friends and family): if you call me up or see me somewhere, please refrain from asking me if i have a job yet. i don't and i am tired of discussing my lack of job. it's no one's fault that it is a hot topic of conversation, it's such a central point of life. believe me, i know.

also believe me when i say that when i get a job, EVERYONE will know. i will probably get a megaphone and drive through boston yelling it to the world. maybe i'll even call up delilah and dedicate some cheesy song to myself in congratulations.

so keep sending the job fairy vibes my way or whatever, and listen out for the song, the megaphone, a phone call, etc. i absolutely appreciate your interest in my life and of course your well wishes, but understand why i just don't want to talk about it.

thank you.

the (2nd) greatest idea EVER

2006-08-12T23:37:00.000-04:00

if deciding to have alicia's bachelorette party be 80's themed was the BEST idea i've ever had, this has to be the second best*:

Adult Ding Dong Cart!

ok, for those of you who aren't from western mass. that probably just looks dirty, but it's not. the ding dong cart is the ice cream truck that drives around your neighborhood in the summer giving teenage mutant ninja turtle pops to kiddies. but why should they have all the fun?

the answer: they shouldn't.

so, the plan. if i don't get a real job that i like by next spring i'm going to buy one of those ding dong carts. instead of selling ice cream treats by playing "Turkey in the Straw," i'm going to sell jello shots, frozen margaritas, pina coladas and keg beer by tricking my truck out and playing "Sexyback." every friday from 8pm-3am would be a flippin goldmine! i can see the BU students running already.

then during mardi gras i could drive my sweet ride to new orleans. spring break time i'd go down to daytona beach and, of course, mexico for cinco de mayo! i'd be more popular than the Girls Gone Wild bus!

ok. no i wouldn't. BUT i'd still be pretty damn popular.

*i had help in developing this idea while talking with my roommate jen, so she should also get some of the credit.

sometimes 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 0

2006-08-03T01:40:00.000-04:00

Because I have so much that I could possibly talk about, I don't feel like talking about anything.

Summer

2006-07-16T23:59:00.000-04:00

In summer things seem different
They shimmer in the heat from a scorched road
And glow in the glare of the sun
An illumination of life,
Of aliveness.

Listen and you can hear the life expanding
Like my heart when i think of summer's past
An ache to feel as alive as the day again
To shimmer and glow,
And burn.

Summer is alive
And I want to be too.

because i'm not this witty on my own

2006-07-11T23:46:00.000-04:00

who remembers the Advertising Slogan Generator from like junior year of college?!?! I do! I do! For some reason the memory of it just came to me today and of the countless (and let's be honest, pointless) hours I spent inserting my name, other people's names and, let's be honest again, dirty/bad words into the text box and hitting "Sloganize!". I think I even had a list on my computer of the more funny and innapropriate ones. then becky made magnets out of the ones with our names on them for our fridge at the cottage. she didn't use the dirty ones though (unfortunately).

so, let us all flash back to the days when we had countless hours to waste laughing at pointless but highly entertaining web pages. here are some examples of ones I did today, but if you haven't experience the Slogan Generator for yourself you have to check it out.

"A day without shitballs is like a day without sunshine."

"Pure Allison."

"Allison tested, mother approved."

"You like Allison, Allison likes you."

(uh oh, parental units, look away now) "Top breeders recommend Allison."

then there's this one that almost made me choke on my pineapple slice and die - "You're in good hands with George W. Bush."

And lastly, one that will bring dignity and maturity back to this blog.........

"I can't believe I ate the whole poop!"

yes, i have two degrees. and my parents are so proud.

a message to my favorite blog-stalker, aka Janet

2006-06-28T23:27:00.000-04:00

i am still here, i swear. i have not formed a secret blog away from your stalker-eyes but have instead been busy packing up my apartment to move this friday. plus there hasn't been anything ridiculous enough going on for me to make fun of. it's quite unfortunate actually.

instead i will tell you about a dream i had last night that i found really amusing upon waking. i don't really remember most of the specifics, but what i do remember is sitting on an old rug with my roommate erin when it suddenly became a magic carpet and started to fly us into the sky. so we decided what better thing to do on a magic carpet than to sing ALL of "A Whole New World" from Aladdin in our best (aka worst) singing voices. i sang aladdin's part and she jasmine's. we even did cheesy arm motions. it surprises me that we make fun of ourselves even in my dream.

all around it was like a normal night at the apartment.

well, except erin usually sing's aladdin's part.

i hope you enjoyed janet. this post was all for you. sorry i didn't talk about Hanson. oh, there, i just did.

Taking the Long Way

2006-05-31T15:01:00.000-04:00

i haven't really had time to post lately, but there's been lots of fun stuff going on, like wedding showers, Boston visits, gym time, realtor meetings, volunteering, secret projects and job searching. if you don't know, kelly is moving out to chicago for the summer to perform in the newest tap show, Imagine Tap, and erin and i are moving with our friend jen. hopefully we are going to end up somwhere close to where we are now, but we have to be out by July 1, so the rush is on. add to that the fact that i am gone away the next two weekends, so trying to schedule job interviews and apartment viewings has become pretty crazy.

however, i did want to take the time to share my new song and promote the new Dixie Chicks album that it is from (the CD is great. and that's coming from a non-country music girl). the CD is called "Taking the Long Way," and the title track (actually called "The Long Way Around") is my new theme song. you can listen to a clip here ( and while you're there, check out "Lullaby", i am in LOVE with that song too). i'm also going to type the lyrics out. those of you who also graduated in '04 will appreciate verse four. i think we're all finally getting there in our lives, or at least one stage of whatever "there" is. whether it's marriage, jobs, degrees, moving to a better place, etc, none of us are taking the easy way. where would be the fun in that?

good luck to those of you who are going to be settling down soon and godspeed to those of you, who, like me, need (or will have) some more years of wandering.

don't worry loves. we will all make it.

The Long Way Around by the Dixie Chicks

My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses in the same ZIP codes
Where their parents live

But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow

I hit the highway in a pink RV with stars on the ceiling
Lived like a gypsy
Six strong hands on the steering wheel

I've been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
But I've always found my way somehow

By taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around

I met the queen of whatever
Drank with the Irish and smoked with the hippies
Moved with the shakers
Wouldn't kiss all the asses that they told me to

No I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow

It's been two long years now
Since the top of the world came crashing down
And I'm getting it back on the road now

But I'm taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I'm taking the long way
Taking the long way around
The long
The long way around

Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself

But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow

Well, I never seem to do it like anybody else
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
If you ever want to find me I can still be found

Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around

call me stupid

2006-05-16T11:42:00.000-04:00

it has been raining in boston for almost a week straight now. towns in the area are flooded about a foot higher than the "flood line," schools, businesses and roads are closed, people are losing everything in their houses. luckily, brighton has not been one of these areas and the most we have had to worry about is a little water in the basement and getting from the apartment to the car without looking like you just took a long shower with all your clothes on. yesterday the rain subsided by a lot and the only concern of anyone here was avoiding the puddles; something that i apparently did not do successfully enough.

my dumb-ass instead procedes to drop my cell phone in a giant puddle. yes, the same cell phone that has almost reached the 2 year point where I can get a new one. the operative word here is ALMOST. after dropping the phone in the puddle and drying it off, nothing was working. i tried to turn it on and all it was doing was turning on the red light and staying on, but no screen action. so i left it off for a little while and a few hours later i was happy to find that the whole phone turned on and looked like it was going to be okay! and then i tried to use the keypad. currently i can dial the numbers 1,4,7 and *. also the End button and the upper selection pad is working. so, for the next 2 months, if you happen to have the number 1-444-7747 you are my new friend. however, i still won't be able to actually call you because the Send button isn't working. sorry.

luckily my phone has voice activation and i can say things like "Call Caryn!" and the computer lady says:
"Did you say....Call Erin!'?"
"No"
"Did you say 'Call Carrie!'?"
"NO!"
"Did you say 'Call Becky!'?"
"NOOOOOOO!!!! 'Becky' doesn't even sound like 'Caryn'!!"
"Thank you. Calling 'Home'"
"AHHHHHHHH!"

so, if you don't hear from me in a while it's because the lady in my cell phone hates me.

oh, and don't even try to text me unless you want to get back words that only have ghi and pqrs in them. like "rig his ships high" or "rip high sprigs", or my favorite, "his pigs sip piss".

if you're reading this and it's friday, may 12th, it's already too late

2006-05-09T16:26:00.000-04:00

kelly, jen and i went to the gym this morning as (somewhat) usual. we did the treadmill and then the bike before some crunches and pilates work. a pretty normal workout. then at some point we took a wrong turn and things went down hill. i won't get into specifics, but in the end we walked out of Bally's an hour and a half later with appointments for personal training sessions with a marine.

so this is my announcement to you all that i will be dead on friday may 12, 2006 at 11am due to complications of being out of shape. my epitaph will read: "here lies allison, all she wanted to do was lose 40 pounds, but instead she died."

if ya can't beat 'em...........eat 'em?

2006-04-21T01:25:00.000-04:00

nothing better than an obscure holiday. especially one that Hallmark can capitalize on so easily.

April 21st, Alfred G. Packer Day - recognizes one of the few men to be convicted of cannibalism in the U.S. He ate his other prospector companions after they got lost in the Colorado Rockies. Packer claimed they died of natural causes before he ate them, but modern forensics has proved that at least some of them had been murdered.

In the Colorado Rockies
Where the snow is deep and cold
And a man afoot can starve to death
Unless he's brave and bold.

Oh, Alfred Packer
You'll surely go to hell
While all the others starved to death
You dined a bit too well.

---from The Ballad of Alfred Packer

gotta love the stuff i dig up in the Crime Library.

lent update #3: i suck at doing lent updates

2006-04-13T16:17:00.000-04:00

so, lent is almost over and i've only posted twice about my goal of giving up junk food. some of you may think this is because i failed. you would be wrong. i think instead it's just become part of my life so i haven't really had anything interesting to say about it. now that easter is upon me, i have started thinking about eating junk food more. i just know that if i want to have it in a couple of days, i can. this thought also scares me. i am worried that once i start eating it again, things will get bad. it's hard, because i really haven't lost as much weight from doing it as i though i should have, and things like that fuck with my brain. the true test, however, will be getting on my mom's official electric weight watchers scale, because i bought a cheap manual one that i don't trust. i was home a few weekends ago and weighed myself then, so i will have something to compare it to when i go home again tomorrow.

also, i haven't worked out in a long time because the past two weeks i was too busy getting down with the sickness. i'm pretty sure Bally's doesn't really appreciate their members coughing and snotting all over their eliptical machines. when i get back from easter weekend, though, i've got to get my ass back in gear because there are weddings and graduations and shows and beach weather to think about. if that doesn't motivate me, nothing will. so i may have succeeded at my short term goal, but i now have to use it to help me achieve what i want for the long term.

"just take a breath, jump over the side"

a little Coldplay and a lotta cold

2006-04-08T16:57:00.000-04:00

blaaaa. i have been sick all week and it sucks. BUT, luckily it didn't hit fully until AFTER Coldplay. not like it would have detered me from going. i would have gotten there with a wheelchair and an IV in my arm if i had to, and it would have been absolutely worth it. just an amazing concert. everything worked out perfect too. alicia and i met each other in the parking garage and had a great dinner and then got to the arena in time to watch some of Richard Ashcroft and actually hear "Bittersweet Symphony" in person, so cool.

before we got there i was so worried about the seats because they were "side view" which could have meant we were looking at speakers or something, but instead it just meant we were on the side but still really close. i definitely made the right choice between those and the other available seats - straight on view but in the nose-bleed section. i'll let you decide for yourself though, because here are some of my pics. enjoy! =)

opening song: Square One

encore songs: Swallowed in the Sea, In My Place, Fix You

best songs: Fix You, The Scientist and Yellow (they dropped huge yellow balloons from the ceiling that sprayed sparkly gold confetti when they popped and Chris Martin popped the last one on the stage by doing a belly flop on it, then he finished the song)

special song: Ring of Fire (played right after Kingdom Come)

best non-music parts: Chris Martin's interpretive dances, getting waved at by Chris Martin, and the whole band coming to the edge of the stage to take pictures of the audience.

alicia and i were so taken with how fan-friendly this band is. they didn't talk much in between the songs, which meant more music time, and when they did talk it was to thank us for being amazing, tell us how much they love New England and ask how everyone was doing (like that was even a question!).

beautiful music made by nice boys, what else could a girl want?

a man in uniform

2006-04-02T21:12:00.000-04:00

in honor of the opening day of baseball, i've posting a link to my favorite player ("not a bad piece of ash, huh? the bat. talking about the bat").

one thing (of many) my mom taught me was that there's just something about a man in uniform.

play b**l!!
(oh, crap. the fcc caught up with me.)

the fcc can derelicte my BALLS

2006-04-01T23:02:00.000-05:00

comedy central just bleeped out the word "balls" from Zoolander, but in the past week i've been the unwilling witness to the slow-motion loogie hawk from "Flavor of Love" about a zillion times on every entertainment clip show. and don't even get me started on the 50 ads i just had to sit through for girls and guys gone wild (a topic that needs a post all its own). i think we have bigger problems here than hearing about someone's cohones.

bottom line: i am confused by the fcc.

bottom, bottom line: there's more to life than being really really really good looking.

what the dooce?!

2006-03-31T16:07:00.000-05:00

i admit it, i am a daily blog reader. besides the few friend blogs i read (shameless plug here for becky, sara and steph), , i also read industry blogs (like this one for movie marketing), celebrity blogs (hello zach braff) and blogs of people i do not know at all. however, the blog that actually started it all, and the one i check almost every day is dooce. you can see that i first talk about this blog here (are you getting sick of the links yet?).

for most of you who won't follow that link and see what i already wrote about dooce, basically it is written by a woman named heather from utah who is a suburban-living stay at home mom (SAHM) or, as she says, a slutty ass ho motherfucker. just from that you can tell she's a housemom with an edge, and that's the reason why even as a young, non-married, non-mother i have still managed to get sucked into her life. it also helps that her husband is geeky-cute, her daughter is precious and her dog is adorable. but that's where the sweetness ends. the rest of the blog is real life. it's about being depressed, or constipated, it's about disappointing parents with your religious and political affiliations, and it's sometimes about being sick of your family and even your own kid. what it almost always is, is funny. it's the humor found in everyday life and crises that keeps me coming back and what, most likely, has made dooce an extremely popular and profitable blog.

i find myself looking up to this woman and thinking i'd kinda want to be her someday. she might be considered a strange role-model to have because she did get fired for writing inappropriate stuff about co-workers on her blog. but since you need to have a job to be fired from one, i think i'll be okay. plus, i'm not much for writing insulting remarks about people; i much rather bitch to a live audience (it's more interactive and there's no paper trail). anyway, what does make me admire her is that she has made her mistakes and not only learned but profited from them. she is a full time blogger who is able to support her family by writing about and taking pictures of her everyday life. that is amazing.

i've always said i want to do freelance work from home once i have kids (i don't imagine my income will come from blogging), but some people look down on this and think that it means giving up a part of your life and who you are, and rolling back years of women's lib. work. however, what i think the best thing that women's lib. has given us is the right to choose what's best for us. if that means climbing the corporate ladder for some, great. if it also means i get to someday work in my pajamas, watch sesame street and smell like peanut butter and jelly every day, that's perfect too, because i know there are people like heather out there who have proven that you can be a stay at home mom (or a slutty ass ho motherfucker), and still be funny, sarcastic, potty-mouthed, a kick-ass graphic designer, and lead an interesting, crazy, fun, fulfilling life.

and speaking of crazy, check out her latest post . HIlarious. behold, the power of photoshop to corrupt even the most innocent of things. =)

why i love heather gould

2006-03-30T12:24:00.000-05:00

because she IMs me things that make me cry, like what i got today:

Heather0735: This is for you, I cut the original out of the paper on the day it was printed 5.29.04
Heather0735: I've been meaning to send it to you ever since
Heather0735: but I suck
Heather0735: so here it is

Heather0735: hugs and love to you always!

hugs and love to you too, and all my north stars.

*

it's a beautiful day

2006-03-28T18:41:00.000-05:00

today i would like to mark an accomplishment for myself. spring is just around the corner and i am proud to announce that i made it through winter with hardly ANY problems (if you are unsure about what problems i'm referencing and why this is a big deal you should see my first post on this blog). i think this is an even bigger deal because i did it while being mainly unemployed and practically confined to my apartment AND i went to the gym. what's up now bitches?! haha.

i don't think weather-wise this winter was as bad as last year's in the fact that it didn't snow that much and it wasn't quite as bitter cold. however, it was still fucking gray and that is usually what does me in. not anymore. everything is mind over matter and what i've realized is that some situations can become better just by looking at them differently. and although she doesn't realize it, one of those attitude changes came about after a visit with my friend jess. she put something into perspective for me that helped me to get over the emotional roadblock i was stuck at regarding a part of my life and the people in it. i am grateful to her and to everyone else whose caring actions or words have inadvertently made me step back, take a look around and remember how lucky i am.

the sun is shining today and the temperature is getting warmer and the change of seasons has me so excited for all the things happening in the upcoming months. some things i am looking forward to that will most likely end up on this blog in some form or another are:

Coldplay concert
Wicked
Becky's wedding shower
Alicia's wedding shower
EC graduation
Becky's wedding
Imagine Tap (Kelly's tap show in Chicago)
Alicia's wedding

Also in the works, a new job, a new apartment and trips to Portland to see various peeps.

I may not be in L.A. this summer or out looking for America, but things will be great nonetheless.

lent update #2: minimize me

2006-03-14T16:41:00.000-05:00

the other day i watched the anti-mcdonalds, pro-health documentary Supersize Me. i had added it to my netflicks list far before i decided to give up junk food for lent, but it couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. it's not that i really eat mcdonald's or any similar fast food that much. however, watching the film has definitely reinforced the idea that i should NEVER be eating mcdonalds, and that processed foods in general are unhealthy. it has me thinking that the extra expense to shop for food at whole foods markets may be worth it. kelly bought some stuff from there recently and when i looked at the ingredients on the cereal i could read and spell everything. no artificial flavors, preservatives or multi-syllabic chemical additives to be found. there is no contesting the idea that this must be better for us to eat.

it is the 19th day of lent and i have not eaten junk food. i have twice turned down "taco bell sunday" (erin's favorite day), ordered steamed chicken and broccoli and white rice for chinese and refused kelly's offers of fruitsnacks. i constantly drink water and have tried to up my exercise regimen, which can be the most difficult for me. unfortunately, i have not lost any weight. none. i have also not gained any, which i suppose is good, but i hope that my body has just been readjusting and i will soon see the results in the drop of the needle. if anything, i can say for sure that i FEEL better, and that, of course, is the most important thing and what will hopefully keep me going.

p.s. if you rent Super Size Me you have to watch one of the bonus features called "The Smoking Fry", you will never want to put McDonald's french fries in your body again.