Odds and Ends

I haven't written much lately because, quite frankly, I don't have much to say.

But I found out two exciting things today, so I'll quickly share them and get back to work.

Peter Jackson will be doing The Hobbit in two installations. He and New Line finally worked out a deal. They even settled the law suit! From what I hear, the first one is a 2010 release, which will be The Hobbit story, and the second one will come out in 2011 and will be based on Tolkien's appendices, notes, and other things. It should be interesting. I'm too lazy to post a link, but it's pretty easily found online.

The Dark Knight trailer came out, and looks fantastic. Check that out here.

Also, Sweeney Todd comes out Friday. With four Golden Globe nominations, I think it'll be a hit. The only issue is that the snob in me is a little upset that Sweeney Todd will be such a household name. There goes my elitist musical appreciation and love of Sondheim. (Yeah, I know, I'm being ridiculous).

I don't even know if this post makes sense, because I am tired and stressed and over-worked right now. Eh, I'm publishing anyway.

So yay for Jackson, Batman, and Sondheim. Go see Sweeney Todd!!

December Movies

Holiday movie season is full throttle!!!

To recap November, I did pretty well for myself. I purchased Gilmore Girls season 7 and Hairspray (I passed on Waitress, but will buy it eventually). I saw August Rush in the theaters and generally really liked it, although I acknowledge the unbelievability and it's teetering on the edge of cloying sweetness.

I wholeheartedly look forward to this December and all the movie goodies it brings! (quickly searches on various movie data-bases to recheck facts and avoid false premiere dates . . . not that I've ever done that . . . )

December 2 - Tin Man (3-part mini-series on Sci-Fi; wow that's a lot of hyphens!!) - I watched part 1 on Sunday, and while it was interesting and intriguing, I am not 100% hooked. I like the premise and I love the look of it, but some of the "effects" and fight sequences were a little hokey, and the dialogue was less than stellar. I'll watch the next two parts, as all the good TV is going off the air shortly . . . stupid ANTPT!!

December 4 - Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End - I liked this much better than the second one, but I think I am going to wait until the price goes down (I know, all this "waiting" is unlike me, I normally buy DVDs compulsively, but I am trying to be more frugal as I am trying to save to buy a condo in the spring . . . more about that later).

December 5 - Juno - I really hope I get to see this before it leaves the theaters, it looks amazing. I love Ellen Paige's dry delivery style in the previews and Michael Cera can do no wrong (especially 'cause he was on an episode of Veronica Mars!).

December 7 - The Golden Compass - At last!!! I am going on Friday and I can't wait! Even as the lukewarm reviews trickle in, I refuse to let them hinder my excitement. BUT, if I hear one more person try to dissuade me from going because Philip Pullman is an atheist and in the movie two kids kill God, I swear I cannot be held accountable for my actions. To set the record straight, yes, the books may be somewhat atheistic in nature, but who cares? I get emails telling me to boycott the movie, and that makes me angry. God forbid anyone publish a view different than your own. Oh yeah, and nobody kills God. Read the books and find out for yourself instead of passing around small-minded emails. Oh, and as a side-note, how does an atheist kill God anyway? I thought God didn't exist?

Forgive my little rant . . . it's just something that keeps coming up and making me angry. Back to our regularly scheduled program . . .

December 7 - Atonement - It could be good, or spectacularly bad. I would try to see this in the theaters, but realistically I don't think I will be able to make it, since there are SO many good movies coming out.

December 11 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD - Can't wait! This will be a day-of purchase!

December 11 - The Bourne Supremacy DVD - Again, I will probably show great restraint and not purchase this one . . . although seeing it next to Harry Potter will be tough . . . I just have to think of my condo . . .

December 14 - The Kite Runner - It keeps getting pushed back, and now it's only a limited release, with no nationwide release planned yet? That's a little troublesome. But, currently, Marc Forster is on my list (a good list, I really like him as a director). I've recently come to be interested in specific directors, and he is definitely one to pay attention to, I think.

December 18 - The Simpsons Movie DVD - Oh hell yeah, that's a keeper!

December 18 - Stardust DVD - Yup, there will be no restraint on this day, condo be damned!

December 21 - SWEENEY TODD!! - It gets all caps and exclamation points. I'm that excited. Opening night, here I come!! And this made me even more excited.

December 21 - National Secrets: Book of Treasures - My coworker can't wait to see this, I might wait until January, possibly even for DVD. I'm gonna miss me some Sean Bean.

Happy movie watching!

Thankful

I have a lot to be thankful for, so here's a quick list before I jet off to see August Rush (can't wait!):

- my family (more specifically, my siblings, parents, niece, and nephews)
- the fact that I don't have twins - after spending four days with them, I am wiped! Yet somehow, my sister raises them beautifully and without complaint
- my job
- my students
- my two paraprofessionals (assistants), who are amazing people and great paras
- Boston Market (seriously, I go there once a week!)
- Netflix - it seriously rocks

I'm sure I'll add some more later, there is so much to be thankful for in this life. I hope everyone had a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

Fool-Proof Cooking

The following is a recipe for turkey, dictated to me by one of my students. This is exactly how he described how to cook a turkey.

Needless to say, I typed it up and had him give it to several teachers he knows as a Thanksgiving treat. I also sent a copy home with his mother, and asked her to save me a seat at their Thanksgiving table. This was just to good to pass up.

(comments in italics are added by me)

So enjoy Turkey a la Rickie!

How to Make a Turkey:
A Thanksgiving Recipe

1. Bring water to a boil in a pie pot. Not just any pot, a pie pot. So head out to your favorite cookware store, and be sure to specify a pie pot. (Don't mind the confused stares, they just don't know what they're talking about.)

2. Add salt to the water. Now most people add salt before the water boils, but in this recipe, add it after the boil. It may make the difference between a poor turkey and a great turkey!

3. Boil the turkey for 2 minutes. Forget this 4 hours crap, now you can do it in only two minutes!!

4. Poke the turkey at 9:00. Perhaps the most crucial step, this must be done at exactly 9:00. Don't mess this one up!

5. Add the stuffing. Mix the stuffing around with apples. In this special recipe, you can stuff the turkey after it's cooked!

6. When the smoke detector goes off, the turkey is ready! No more thermometers, sticking it with forks, or anything! Just walk away, and the smoke detector will tell you it's ready! It couldn't be easier!

Enjoy this delicious recipe! Happy Thanksgiving!

November Movies

The Hollywood Holiday movie season has officially begun. This is the time of the year when they start to release the big movies for the holiday season. This is also around the time when the summer blockbusters come out on DVD. As a result, Bella becomes just a little bit poorer. Although, now that I do some fact-checking before releasing The List to the public, I see now that many movies have been pushed back, including The Kite Runner (love Marc Forster, can't wait for this one) and Charlie Bartlett (all the way back to February, no less). So perhaps I won't be quite as poor as I originally thought. Although the DVD list is still a little disheartening.

November 13 - Gilmore Girls Season 7 DVD - This is the final DVD in the collection. It makes me sad that the show ended the way they did, with the producers getting screwed over and leaving. Season 7 started a little shaky, but ended on a high note and went out with a bang. I miss this show, even though I think it's time had come. I will relive the glory through all seven season, which I will own soon!

November 13 - Ocean's 13 DVD - I may wait to purchase this until the price goes down, but it is still worth a note. It was much better than the mush of Ocean's 12.

November 20 - Hairspray DVD - I loved this movie! As a huge musical afficianado, I either love or hate the movie versions. This one was almost perfect. I've been waiting for the DVD for months, so I'm pretty psyched.

November 21 - August Rush - This is a movie that kept getting pushed back, and I'm thrilled that it is finally coming. I'm a sucker for movies all about the power of music (Mr. Holland's Opus being the supreme example) and the cast is phenomenal. This is a must-see for me.

November 21 - Enchanted - I may or may not see this in the theaters, depends on if anyone wants to go with me. It's definitely a cool concept.

November 27 - Waitress DVD - I loved this movie. Nathan Fillion is my hero, even if he plays a nerdy doctor here. Keri Russell is beautiful and charming in this. It's not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. It's Keri's big month, with the Waitress DVD and August Rush all coming out. Good for her.

I did pretty well for myself in October. I saw Dan in Real Life and Across the Universe in the theaters, as well as Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D. I also purchased the final season of Veronica Mars and cried as I watched potentially the last new Veronica Mars material ever to be written in the season 4 pitch. I haven't bought Spider-Man 3 yet, but that will come.

Hopefully now I've broken my writing drought and will have time to write more frequently.

I wanted to write

There have been so many things I’ve wanted to write, so many things I’ve wanted to share. I saw a lot of good movies, read a LOT of books, and wanted to share so much.

But there’s never enough time. I plan things in my head, what will I write in my blog? I’ll start it like this, with this sentence. I’ll conclude with this. I’ll add this funny anecdote.

But there’s never enough time.

And now here I am, staring at a blank screen, with nothing to say.

I wanted to write about books, how I have been a reading spree. I can’t even keep them updated in my side list. I read all His Dark Materials (yay Golden Compass!) again, a whole bunch of Lemony Snicket (I’m at The End), and a bunch of other good things.

I wanted to write about friends, how I feel like I have made a few new ones this year, and I feel like I’m in a good place right now.

I wanted to write about movies, and how Dan in Real Life is my new Little Miss Sunshine.

I wanted to write about T.V., and how much I love Chuck and miss Veronica. And how Joss Whedon has a NEW SHOW coming out (whoo hoo!). And about this crazy strike that's happening.

But most especially, I wanted to write about my family. It's been on my mind a lot lately. I even started several drafts.

I started to write about what my family means to me. I started to write about my brother’s gig, and how proud I am of him. I started to write about my niece and nephews and how they are getting so big and old and getting to be real people. I started to write about my siblings, and how they doing all these amazing things; running marathons, raising kids. But it all sounded so fake and phony, and didn’t express the wonderfulness of my family, and how proud I am to be one of them.

I wanted to write so much.

So this is what I came up with.

Maybe next time I won't wait so long to write.

Golden Promises

It's very late here, but IGN has a three minute trailer for the Golden Compass that just came out.

Let me just say, thank goodness that some fantasy books made into movies actually look decent!

I'm in the midst of rereading The Golden Compass- what a great book.

Anyway, check out the trailer, it looks fantastic!!

Techno Junkie (Part Deaux)

Yeah, my technology obsession continues today . . .

In the last two weeks I have purchased a new cell phone and a new iPod.

But it's not just any iPod, it's an iPod touch! It is so amazingly cool, it's sick. If you've seen the iPhone, it's pretty much the same thing. And before anyone says, "well why didn't you just get the phone instead?" let me say that I didn't want to switch services or pay for the internet and all that extra stuff. Plus, who wants to consolidate electronic gadgets when you can have more?? I like my extensive collection of chargers, so complex that I have to label them just to keep them straight, thank you very much!

So my new iPod has wireless internet. I don't pay for internet, it just picks it up when it can! It's so hot. I was at class last week (grad school) and while waiting the teacher to come, I was browsing on Television Without Pity (best. site. ever.) and listening to a relaxing playlist. Yeah, it's that cool. I have three complaints, two of which will probably be resolved in a few weeks.
1. There's no hard case for it yet. I had to buy these weird colored socks to protect it. But I want something hard, and something I can clip to my belt for when I walk around.
2. There are no games. I loved the solitare on the old iPod, even the ghetto black and white version I had.
3. The battery life seems frighteningly short. I guess I've been mostly playing on the internet (cause I can!) and watching movies (cause I can!), and that wastes more battery power. I'm a little nervous about traveling with it though. (this is the one that I just have to deal with. Oh well.)

Anyway, I am ridiculously excited about my new gadget.

But even more recently, I got a new phone. I did not intend for this to happen. I knew I was due for a new phone soon (in November, I figured). But I was at the mall (ugh) recently to go out to dinner with a friend (ugh to mall, cause I hate malls, not to my friend) and the Verizon store happens to be right by the mall exit. Now, the store also just so happened to be completely empty. How often does that happen? And being the courteous gal that I am, I would never want to bother any of those nice Verizon sales people with such a dumb question when they were busy. But a store that's totally empty?

Well, not exactly empty. There were four (yes, four) sales people, looking extremely bored. And because I am such a nice gal, I thought I should give them something to do. To relieve their boredom, of course.*

So I mosied on in, and noted the expressions of relief of the salespeople to see someone to actually wait upon* and asked them, oh so nicely, when my contract was up. You see, this way I could know the exact day I could purchase a new cell phone. I was told the date (early January) and then clarified (since he was sitting there, so bored and all*) that I could get a new phone on that date in November.

The sales person, so eager for a customer*, then said NO, in fact I could get a phone that very day if I cared to.

What?!? But I thought Verizon allowed you to upgrade your phone two months before the end of your two-year contract. "This policy has changed," the oh-so-eager* salesman told me. "We now allow it up to four months ahead of time. You were eligible for an upgrade in September."

Well, I was just appalled. One month late? I am usually right on top of this stuff! I got my iPod touch on the very day it came out!

Then the four salespeople were eagerly attempting to show me all of the new phones, to stave off their boredom* but I just browsed a little and went home to do some research. Everyone was all psyched on the RAZR when it came out, and it turned out to be a piece of crap after a couple of months. I don't want that to happen to me!

So the very next day (not an exaggeration!) I went back to the (slightly more busy) Verizon store and purchased a bright orange enV. So far, I love it!

I love the keypad, and how it flips open. The actual phone part (the front) has an automatic key lock that kicks in after 7 seconds (but you can change that) so it won't press buttons in your pocket. The keyboard is awesome, and great for people who love to text (me) or email (not me, too expensive for a phone!) The camera has 2.0 megapixels, much better than the 1.4 on my old phone. Perfect for taking pictures of my adorable niece and nephews and showing them to everyone, as I tend to do. You can even open and close the camera lens, so it doesn't get scratched! Oh, and did I mention that it's orange? How cool is that?

But best of all, the reception is 10x better than my last three phones. I used to have the old-school Star-Tac (my first one!) and had no problem with reception in my apartment. The last three phones have had awful reception in my place. I had to stand by the window for every conversation. I hate standing still when I talk on the phone. I like to be doing something, like driving or pacing or doing random things.

But today I was talking to my mom, and I could wander around the apartment! It was great! I watered the plants, washed some dishes, and paced to my heart's content!

Yay for technology!



*parts of this story may be slightly exaggerated

October Movies

I didn't really get around to any of my September movies, but I decided to save Jane Austen's Book Club for Netflix. Lust, Caution isn't playing anywhere near me at this time. I don't know if it ever will, considering its NC-17 rating. I'll keep holding out though! I plan to see Across the Universe today. I love the Beatles (even went to Liverpool to see where they got their start!) so that should be fun.

But here is my list of movies for October. It's slightly more promising than September was. But of course, the real thrills start in November for the holiday rush.

October 5 - The Seeker: The Dark is Rising - I keep going back and forth on this one. On the one hand, it's Susan Cooper, how could I skip it? On the other hand, it in no way resembles Susan Cooper, so why should I bother? The dilemma rages. I'll let you know when I decide.

October 13 - Legally Blond the Musical - This is not really a movie, per se, but I'm placing it in here anyway. MTV is showing the musical Legally Blond on TV. Such a thing is rarely done! But since I am a Broadway whore, sign me up! My DVR is all ready to go! I have not seen this on Broadway and probably won't . . . UNLESS the rumors are true and the lovely Kristen Bell will take the place of Laura Bell Bundy as Elle Woods. In which case, I will be there!

October 19 - August Rush - I am fairly excited for this. I am a sucker for emotional family dramas, and a sucker for movies about the power of music and people who are passionate about it. I'll be there in the theater, without a doubt.

October 19 - Reservation Road - This is one of those that I look at and go, huh? I must have put it on there for a reason, but I definitely have to go back and check it out . . . (surreptitiously clicks over to apple movie trailers). Hmm . . . without even watching the trailer I see that it's Focus Features (my fave), and stars Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo. Good enough for me! But this does look like an interesting movie. Oh yeah, and the trailer includes a Damien Rice song. Yeah, that's a keeper!

October 23 - VERONICA MARS SEASON 3 DVD! - If you've read any of this blog, then you'll know my obsession with this show, and all things Veronica Mars. Especially Kristen Bell. Just watch it.

October 30 - Spider-Man 3 DVD - I didn't love this movie, not gonna lie, but my OCD compels me to buy it to complete the trilogy. Yeah, I know, I have issues. You don't even wanna know . . .

Anyway, I have more to say, so this will probably be a multi-post day. But I'll leave you with these fun pictures from Liverpool, home of The Beatles. I was really there. That's Strawberry Field at the bottom, in case you can't read the writing.

No Place Like London

The Sweeney Todd trailer is out!!

When I say I have been obsessively checking for this trailer, I don't think you can really know to what extent I have been checking. I looked . . . oh, about twice a day, every day, for the last three weeks. Before that it was a couple times a week.

Anyway, I am very excited about this movie because it combines some of my absolute favorite things into one film. It has Stephen Sondheim, Tim Burton, Alan Rickman, and Johnny Depp. Throw some Kristen Bell into the mix, and we'd have ourselves a REAL winner.

I'm still withholding judgment on the singing. Rumor has it they cut Green Finch and Linnet Bird and Ah, Miss (my two faves), so we'll have to see about that.

Anyway, check it out!