Chocolate Frogs

In the Chamber of Secrets video game, chocolate frogs are the size of house cats. I don't think I would want to eat one of those.

No tax return yet, alas. I must continue to have a parasitical relationship with other people's consoles. But one day... The parasite will become the parasite host--like a dog's ear I will become.

We talked about insect chirpings in class today. It just made me think about the insect room of the museum in AC. I like that room, especially when it has ladybugs and butterflies.

So I've heard some questions about filming Open Water with sharks and things. I read an interview with the large cast once and, apparently, those sharks are real and exactly where they appear to be. I assume they were well-fed beforehand. Or possibly genetically altered, because that is all the rage these days.

PS: My guess for best picture is The Aviator. Just so we're all clear on that.

Catapults!

Ah, Valentine's Day here again. The day of dates and complaints from people without them. Bliss.

After a marathon of reading, I finished The Two Towers yesterday. In celebration of this I played Return of the King and got my trashed kicked at Pelennor. But I also played Diablo and got my sorceress up to 20, a landmark in my long colorful Diablo history. That game is so sweetbees. I want to play it some more, but, alas, it must wait for the weekend.

I saw another movie this weekend that further confirmed my theory that vampire movies suck, pun intended. Dracula 2000. I love it when movies put a new twist on the vampire movie formula of vampire orgies and cat-and-mouse games with moronic humans. Wait. So far, the only vampire movies I can think of that did not include these elements are Dracula: Dead and Loving It and Underworld. (YES, I know Underworld got its costumes from The Matrix. I am talking about the vampire movie genre here.) At least Van Helsing portrayed all the vampire campiness included in the original novel. I think the best part of Dracula 2000 was the commercials they showed for Gladiator (Romans! Romansssss!).

In Harry Potter news, I hope everyone has seen the latest picture with the golden egg. I am currently wiggling in anticipation and horrible dread for the graveyard scene in GOF. XPose magazine listed the top 13 HP moments. Number one was...the first owl post? Huh? What about Lockhart taking the bones out of Harry's arm? Classic!

In other news, I have peanut butter and chocolate creme oreos, and I pity all those without them.

Loverly Spring

Actually, it's not like spring at all, judging by how I was cold today.

I just watched the superbowl spot for Batman Begins and it looks super sweetbees. The only two things I'm not to sure about are Michael Caine and Katie Holmes. I'm willing to go with Katie Holmes, if for no other reason than that I don't think she'll have a great deal of screen time. I don't know what my problem is with Michael Caine--maybe because I see him and picture him "gliding" in Miss Congeniality.

Did you know elephants only digest about 40% of their food? Do you know I ate too much hamburger-less helper?

Here's a treat for all you AVP fans: there's been talk about a new Predator sequel, cleverly disguised by the term "restart." Not a sequel! Not a prequel! A restart. The best part is that it has to do with Schwazzengerah's son from the original. Or something. *sniff sniff* I smell a sequel. And hamburger helper.

I saw one of the funniest things ever today on a show called "My Super Sweet Sixteen" on MTV. This show involves whiney rich kids planning birthday parties that rival most people's weddings ("rivals" here means "beats"). A much put-upon 15 year old went to Paris to pick out her dress--very trying because her mom kept "killing everything." Then she picked out her birthday car (a Range Rover) but found out it was used--"Eww." But the best part? Some pre-birthday partying resulted in (egads!) not getting the car on her birthday. So she started bawling in this upscale restaurant, since her parents "totally killed" her birthday. If you ever get the chance to see this, I highly recommend you do.

Tiger Uppercut!

Let me just state for the record that Collective Soul is one of the best things since evenly sliced bread. (After all, if bread is unevenly cut what good is it? No better than crumbly bread, I tell you!)

I am now reading The Two Towers. It's quite exciting, except I'm only on the second chapter, and I don't I think I'll get to read anymore more until Thursday night at least. *Sigh* Still, it's fantasmic anyway. In other fantasmic news, an assignment I thought was due tomorrow is due a week from tomorrow. I have to measure dinosaurs bones and then figure out the point of doing it.

In movie news, Transporter 3 is already in the works, along with Resident Evil: Hungry Mummies.

Hah, fooled you!

A Winner is You!

So, Oscar noms. Not too much unexpected there. I'm happy Lemony Snicket got a good handful, I hope they win at least two. There were definitely some snubs, which vexes me greatly. I'm hoping Johnny Depp wins, just to see the look on Chris Rock's face, and, you know, because he deserves it.

JK Rowling had her baby this weekend--hurray for the perpetuation of the race of Rowling.

I finished Timeline today, a book that is so much better than the movie it spawned. (Though it's still clunky and one of the most textbook sounding of his books) Still, the fact that Marek decides to stay in the 14th century really irritates me. It was a little more plausible in the book, but still...he was so smart the rest of the book and then he made a dunderheaded move like that.

Speaking of good movies, I saw that film classic called Catwoman this weekend. I mean, how often does a movie with a bad script/acting/costumes/music/cinematography/action sequences/CGI all in one package come along? Not since The Musketeer, surely.

There has been a lot of discussion lately about being addicted to one show or the watching many shows and being addicted to none of them. Having experienced both methods, I find that, in the end, it's better to get into 1-2 shows and in general ignore the rest. That way, you have something regular and planned to look forward to each week.

As for me, it's time to eat and watch whatever's on tv.

Slip Slidin' Away

So about Lost. Here is what I think: Walt is a strange kid. Here is what else I think: there is something about that dog and that polar bear. Possibly the dog and the polar bear (polar bear #2) are the same. Also, what ever happened to the first polar bear? Yes, it's dead, but is its carcass still rotting in the jungle? Maybe that's where the dog went...

I have some thoughts on Paul Walker in Timeline. First, how did Paul Walker manage to sneak his shoes from 2 Fast 2 Furious onto the Timeline set? Seriously, they're the same shoes. Does he provide his own wardrobe? Second, why is his hair so greasy and badly highlighted? Third, how many ways does that movie suck? Many, many ways, but I'll forgive Gerard Butler, since he wears good pants. *cough*

So I just read this gossip blurb that Tobey Maguire dropped out of presenting at the Golden Globes because of his weight problem. Seabiscuit 2? I ask myself. No... apparently he was advised to not show his face until he loses weight he put on. This amuses me.

Another thing that amuses me is tigers playing eenie meenie miney moe. And CGI polar bears.

Frodey

Greetings, fellow time travellers. We meet again.

I saw the movie Troy last week. While trailers would have you believe otherwise, this movie is about a group of dunderheads with no clear central character. Positively speaking, Eric Bana is an excellent Hector and has better pecs than Achilles "King Dunderhead" Pitt. Paris is a moron and Orlando's hair is too poofy to be proper eye candy. Alas. On the up side, I was happy Andromache didn't die so that some kind of Hector essence would live on. In conclusion, if you want to see Troy, just read it in 15 Minutes, because that is better.

I saw The Village this weekend, which is somewhat better the second time. The music is fantabulous. Joaquin Phoenix is always good, but Bryce Dallas Howard is defintely the high point in the movie.

In related news, as I am currently infected with Gerard Butler-itis, I put myself through Tomb Raider 2 today also. It's always encouraging to see a movie that takes advantage of every second of film to do an action sequence. It also showcased every mode of transportation known to man, including shark and flying squirrel suits. On the up side, there was a some nice scenery (and here I refer to the on location kind, not just the Gerard Butler kind).

So in some non-movie news... Hmm. I keep seeing the Kingdom of Heaven trailer and it is growing on me. I think I have been sucked in by the dramatic female soloist music. The only thing that trailer is missing is Djimon Honsou (who, somehow, got roped into Tomb Raider)--it's even got the Elysium Wheat going on.

Good news for people who care: Hot Topic is carrying the Oliver Wood t-shirt again. Hurrah for minor characters with endearing accents and Quidditch fever!

More good news for people who care: Monday=holiday! Dancing in the streets!

Intellectual Denial

Ah, the second week of school. Normally, homework would be going by now. I actually do have plenty of reading that I have yet to even start. Why is this? Some strange kind of denial and unwillingness to do homework. While this is causing some minor guilt, it's obviously not changing my behavior. So I'll just continue to take long naps and look at random internet sites. After all, there's always tomorrow.

So. Yesterday was a landmark. I bought beef. Raw beef. This is the first time I have bought any kind of raw meat. Naturally, some confusion on cooking ensued but I successfully made myself some Hamburger Helper, complete with hamburger. This is also a landmark as the second time I've made such "food." Sometimes food from a box is the best kind of food.

I just found out that J.K. Rowling's favorite painter is Caravaggio. Ah, the woman has fine taste.

So today in Medieval art we talked about the cult of saints. To make a long story short, it centers around this obsession of relics. This got me to thinking that even now, eons later, not only does this cult still exist (less feverish though) but there's also a cult of celebrity. How else do you explain someone playing X amount of money for a grilled cheese sandwich that supposedly has Mary's face on it? Or paying (way) too much money for a cup of water Elvis drank out of (shouldn't this water be evaporated by now? Was it cryogenically frozen?)? Anyone seen the show Totally Obsessed? I rest my case.

I think it's time for me to continue not doing homework and read some more Fellowship. Over and out.

Sweet

Napoleon Dyanamite
(Please rate my quiz)


Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Wretched Wretchedness

Not to be negative or anything, but one thing I hate beyond all comprehension is waking up in the morning when I am not ready to wake up. Waking up prematurely is bad enough, but when Monday is part of the mix, as well as early morning winter darkness, it becomes the most hated event of my day. If there is anything worse than this, it is the sound of an alarm clock--such an obnoxious sound I would like to take a sledge hammer to it. Grrrrr.

In other news, I also dislike:

• People chewing with their mouths open (except in the case of stuffed noses, of course)
• People smacking gum with their mouths open
• The people's choices in the People's Choice Awards. Favorite female action star: Angelina Jolie. Please.
• That the movie industry doesn't consult me and, thus, makes some bad decisions about good movies.
• Other things that will come to me as they happen.

Blarg I'm so bored. I don't have class for another 40 minutes, and there's nothing to do online. What is the remedy, I ask you? Some dude next to me is looking at a diagram of an energy well. So I guess it could be worse.

And Then the Orange Said...

So I'm back where I started. At school. Which is where I started. *sigh* I'm bored already and I haven't even been to class yet. And tomorrow it's back to work--arghhhhh. People shouldn't be allowed to make messes, that's what I think.

I finished The Hobbit yesterday and it was pretty good. Nice little story. Makes me dislike dwarves more, which probably wasn't the intention. Bard was pretty cool though. Have I mentioned that Beleg (of Turin's story) is one of the coolest elves ever? Fabulous.

Lost is on tomorrow and it's new! Hurray! Bright spot in the week. So I totally feel like watching some sort of bad movie. I watched Van Helsing yet again over break. Something in that movie mesmerizes me and makes me want to watch it over and over again. I also watched Timeline. See, that movie is also bad in many respects but...not so much with the mesmerizing.

So. In other news. I can't wait to do my taxes. I'm waiting impatiently for my W2, so I can send them in and get some money back. I'm hoping to put it towards the LOTR posters I had planned for the last return. And maybe a Gamecube is in my future. That could be exciting. I played some Mario Kart recently--that is a fun game.

So, here is what I see in my future. A big bowl of Velveeta. Some comic books. Possibly some slipper socks. Time to get to work.

Monkey Sea

Well, it's Wednesday again. Lost is on, airing the two episodes I missed the first time around. That's exciting. Also exciting: I finally finished Unfinished Tales completely for the first time. Great stuff in there. I think Turin's story is my favorite out of all the First Age tales. It's so sad for him though.

I have a few thoughts on Prisoner of Azkaban, after watching it this past week. The director, Alfonso Cuaron or somesuch, said on the DVD that he took the story and the central theme and then stripped off anything that didn't add to that theme (the theme being the one about Harry and death etc.). I think in some ways this was an excellent idea that made the book-to-movie transition much smoother. But I also think it cost some characters some very important developments of their own. For instance, it left out Ron's enthusiasm at being the topic of conversation after Sirius's attack. This was really the first time Ron's occasional envy of Harry showed up, before it shows itself more clearly in GOF. Leaving out Hermione's too-many-classes stress doesn't show that she finds her academic limits. And, of course, the abridged Shrieking Shack scene (I go along with 90% of the changes but I still maintain that that scene should be longer) leaves out all of Lupin's development, as well as some for James (and, by extension, Harry). So, in short, it's a good idea that maybe was taken too far in regards to some characters. (And of course I'm not talking about adding lots of scenes, just a small handful of short moments)

That concludes today's Harry Potter thoughts. Oh, and that I rock at the trivia game.

Next in today's business: It's almost 2005. Halfway to 2010! Let us enjoy these single digit years while we can.

I saw the Kingdom of Heaven trailer yesterday. I imagine Ridley Scott had a checklist with him while making this movie. "Let's see...drifting snow, check. Desert scenes, check. Female soloist, check. Battles in said drifting snow, check. Noble speeches by combat leaders, check. Oscar nominations...to be checked."

Ah! Just what the world needed: another Pride and Prejudice remake.

Swinging Like a Star

Well, it's that time again! Christmas time--the time of nogs and nights before. Hurrah!

It's also that other time again--time to get really excited for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince--in stores July 16th! I'm so excited about this I could eat a whole hippo. Seriously, folks, this is going to be so sweetbees.

In other sweetbees news, the first two official pictures from GOF surfaced the same day. In one, Ron sports his increasinly unattractive haircut and very unpleasant "Ron" facial expression. Of course, this was spurred by his dress robes which, if I were wearing them, would probably create the same expression on my face. I submit this theory: teaser in March. Trailer in late summer. I am eagerly anticipating the first look at Mad-Eye Moody. After seeing SOUE, I think Billy Connelly (Uncle Monty himself) would have been a great Moody, but I'm willing to accept What's His Face.

Speaking of SOUE, I saw it this past weekend and it was fabulous. Of course, it rearranged and added and left out a good deal of unfortunate (and fortunate) events. Still, nothing was done that would make me complain. Well, except for not included Brett Helquist in the design of things. Jim Carrey--not overwhelming and a better-than-expected Count Olaf. The kids were great, the supporting cast (featuring several people from A Mighty Wind, incidentally) was good. If I really can't have Lord of the Rings on the 17th, I will take a SOUE movie anytime.

Speaking of LOTR, I finally watched it, and it was fantabulous. It was already but it was good again. I have been absorbing the extra info on the appendices and here is some random information:
1) For the Mouth of Sauron, they digitally increased his mouth size 200%.
2) Billy Boyd wrote the music for the song he sings at Minas Tirith.
3) Liv Tyler sings the song played during the House of Healing scene.
4) The cascading skulls are walnuts and coconuts.
5) WOW a lot of work went into this movie!

Ah, sweet bliss of relaxation. I've been reading--recreational reading!--Unfinished Tales. I'm currently wading through Turin's tale--so sad and so good.

Well, kids, I think it's time to say Happy Christmas and get back to decompressing. Or peeling wallpaper. Whatever you prefer.

Crimanitly Trigger

I'ver received some harsh accusations against my lack of blogging lately. As some justification for my actions (or lack thereof) let me just say I wrote a whole blog last night and blogger failed to produce it. It included insightful information, like the funniness of the Ralph/Bart play date Simpsons episode. "The pointy kitty took it!"

I bought two fantastic Christmas presents today. Guaranteed to impress and amaze. Possibly stupefy.

*drumroll* I bought Extended ROTK last night. Hurrah! I haven't watched it yet, but I should be done packing soon... The excitement is building! Always building! It's such a pretty blue case too. I saw the extra special edition with Minas Tirith. I think more than Minas Tirith I want the Howard Shore DVD. Minas Tirith looked ultra sweetbees, but, just to make myself feel better, I focus on how it's a little dark. Not as white as it should be! I cling to this thought. And the thought that ebay will have them for years to come. *Sigh*

I watched Bourne Supremacy the other day. Such a sweetbees movie.

Well, friends, I think the time has come. Packing must be done. And possibly some eating...and hopefully some RoTK-ing. On the second day, look to my blog.

Get Lost!

I know at least one person besides myself watched Lost tonight. And ahhhhhh that was so stressful. Watching that scene (you know what scene!) was like watching Merry die or something. It was horrible. I wasn't sure if Jack was completely out of it for a while, but I'm glad he came through in the end. It was definitely a good episode tonight. And Sawyer didn't even stick Sayid with toothpicks or anything--what a dandy fellow he is. As to Charlie not seeing or hearing or remembering anything... well. That reminds me of an earlier episode when Locke went out to hunt boars. You know he saw something, and yet he professed not to. I think in Charlie's case it's either 1) he's quiet for the same reason Locke is (whatever that is) or 2) he really doesn't remember and he's feeling bad about that b/c he wants to help find Claire. This brings me back to last week. Did that psychic see anything past the plane crash? If so, I'm sure he wouldn't send her there only to have her killed by Crazy Ethan. (Just for the record, I think Ethan's name is Lance) Anyway, I'm kind of upset that it's not new next week. What am I going to do with my Wednesday night? Oh yes. Study like mad.

So, in other news. Last day of classes tomorrow. Wasn't it the first day only yesterday? Where did the time go? I hope next semester goes just as quickly, and I hope it's just as good. I have discovered interests I never thought possible-- physical science and the Maya. Of all things.

I'm supposed to be studying for a non-final test tomorrow. So what am I doing here? Putting it off. Oh yes. And wishing someone would come online and download a song for me. Grrs.
Return of the King is out next Tuesday! It's exciting, but it's also the end, which is depressing. And I have no LOTR to see this Christmas. At least Series of Unfortunate Events will be out. I think the Wide Window hurricane will be pretty good, and I like the look of Billy Connelly's Uncle Monty.

I had a dream the other night that there was a new show out with Deperate Housewives, starring Stacy London. (The Stacy London of What Not to Wear fame) In my dream, I decided it was the best new show, second to Lost. She played a newly released prison inmate who accidentally killed two of her adopted children and their dog (it was supposed to be a prank on her husband). That was after she got out of jail--I don't know what she was in for. In a word: quality.

I'll be true...enough.

The Battle is Won

I'm getting a severe hankering for Return of the King. I'm going to hold off until the extended edition, if I possibly can. Which I can. Because I rock.

So, much happiness today! My defunct-since-August CD Player is miraculously working tonight! I'm very excited, as this means that now computer games and music can coincide. Speaking of computer games, I want to play some Diablo. Hmmm.

More happiness: because my professor has "no life", he graded all our Behemoths in one day. Yes, friends, I have conquered--95%! Victory is mine. My mental comments to him since Bad Test Day--"You suuuuuuuuck."--have been instantly changed "You are most favorite person." So it worked out good for him too.

The Batman Begins teaser poster is out. It's cool--not too flashy. No neon colors. No overemphasis on anatomy. Actually, I'm not sure about that last part because it's just a silhouette. Anyway, it's a nice poster.

Let's see. What else. Oh yes. So I could have watched Hellboy tonight. But I didn't. In doing so I avoided many comments like "He's going to dieeeee." and "What's going on?" Normally I love comments like that but there can be too much of a good thing.

Nox.

Itchy Ears

My ear itches. Inside. Where I cannot follow.

Who watched Lost? Dude, that whole "He wasn't on the plane!" thing freaked me out for a minute because I thought they weren't going to give the culprit away until next week. Phew. Seriously though, who is this dude? And freaky freakiness with Locke's eyes in that dream. Eesh. I can't wait for next week. Oh, question of the day-- did the psychic get Claire on the plane so that she would have to raise the baby or did he see her dying on the island and he wanted them both to die? My guess is that he wanted her to raise the baby, but I don't really see how this kid could be significant until it's like a teenager. And, I'm sorry, I don't think Lost is going to be on in 13 years. I mean, they could pull a soap switch and replace the baby with an older kid in about a year... cause, you know...that happens. Obviously Abrams has something in mind here.

Gary Oldman (as Sirius Black) was nominated for a People's Choice award for "Best Villain." I guess the people didn't realize that he's not a villain. I always thought that was the real qualifying trait for that category. My bad.

I think my phlegm-filled head is beginning to empty. That's the good news of the day. My ear still itches though.

And just a treat for y'all, I've got some good links here. Very educational.
The earth is what?
Fuel to the Movie Cynic Fire

I Do Believe in Fairies

I do! I do!

In related news, I am back at school after a blink-and-you-miss-it trip to Seattle that was buckets of fun. Submit an application if you would like more details. Pictures will be forthcoming.

The best news of the day: the Behemoth is vanquished. It is complete, including illustrations, bibliography, a cover sheet, and one more page than was required. Ahhh. I was just thinking a few minutes ago about how fast the semesters finish. You spend the first 2 1/2 months dragging your feet through the week, waiting for the weekend. Then, out of nowhere, the final two weeks are at your doorstep. I like school, but it's always exciting to finish a semester and cross a few classes off the list.

Now for the bad news. I have a cold. ("Oh no." "Oh yes.") Bleh.

So, just as experts like myself predicted, Alexander, did not do so "great" at the box office. Over the past five days it only gathered 21 mill. ($160 mill. to make). HAH on you, Colin Farrell, and your attempts at a legitimate acting career.

I did skim part of a review today that said Alexander was one of the best things since...ever. But then they went on to describe Gladiator as a popcorn movie. Did you hear that whooshing sound? That was his credibility going out the window.

Rumors are persisting that HP #6 will be out next June or July. A bookstore chain employee said they had been notified about a release date coming in January. *rubs hands eagerly*

Please excuse me. I must go and relieve my nose of snot.

Expecto Patronum!

Friday is here at last. As a change of pace, I did homework tonight. Yes, friends, I have begun work on the behemoth that is my Maya paper. I got three full pages done tonight--only 7 more! It's going faster than I thought it would so that's not too bad. I always get nervous about having enough to say...that usually turns out to be a groundless fear though.

I have been listening to the POA soundtrack for many hours since Wednesday. I now proclaim, with the full authority that is Me, that it is the best full soundtrack that John Williams has ever done. Why is this? Basically because it's interesting, even when it's separated from the movie. He does good themes, but, come on, his "filler music" is kind of boring to listen to on its own. These are my current John Williams-related thoughts.

In a related story, much Harry Potter news today. First off, a director has been hired for Order of the Phoenix, and I believe it is set for Summer 2007. That sounds so far away but... isn't really. I'm excited anyway though. So those kids are going to be twenty something by the time they finish. That's fine with me though since they'll just get better at this whole "acting" thing. By the time Harry Potter and the Canonical Prophecy rolls out, they'll be Oscar worthy! (And Dan will have learned how to cry)

Rumor has started about the Half-Blood Prince being released next summer. This sounds pretty logical to me, and I very much hope it is true.

While working on a paper last night I drop a glob of nacho cheese on a paper. Fortunately it was a paper from two years ago. I licked it off anyway. Tasty.

Today I had to staple about 25 pages together and my stapler couldn't handle it. So I did it manually. That is my level of dedication.

Speaking of tasty, I am hungry. Hungry for werewolf.

Commencing Countdown

My head is going to explodeeeeeeee. POA is out next Tuesday! So close, yet so so so far away. I sat in the shadow of three POA posters for nearly two hours tonight. I heard a commercial for it. I am listening to the soundtrack right now. A meltdown is imminent.

*Sigh*

As consolation I saw my sister and my rapidly growing nephew (all memory of me was long gone). And I got new socks. Soft, soft socks. And a bagel, which is much more exciting than it sounds.

Oh, on that Christmas-related list, I forgot to put Unleashed Boba Fett.

Back to Harry Potter. This may be a first: a John Williams score I genuinely like. This is not helping to prevent a meltdown though.

Moving on...man, this is so good. I feel like I'm flying Buckbeak. You know, Buckbeak was a really good part of that movie. Such a great improvement (technically) over Fluffy. And the Cave Troll. And Firenze. *flies*

Who watched Lost tonight? I SO figured out last week that it was the French lady that caught Sayid. So, about this "sickness." I mean, clearly she's kind of nuts, but were the other people really sick or was she just really sick out of her gourd? Just another mystery. I bet she knows what the Invisible Dinosaur really is.

This movie is so good. OK, time to be quiet now. Sleep sleep.