Probably the final set of book reviews for the year. *sigh* More reading next year, for sure!
Louis L'Amour, Dutchman's Flat. This set of stories was a bit more hit-or-miss than usual. The opening story, "Dutchman's Flat", was really good. Some of the others less so. But overall, it's L'Amour, so it's difficult to go too far wrong!
Henry David Thoreau, Walden and Civil Disobedience. Now, I'm no stranger to 19th-century writing, or to nonfiction, but it took me all year to get through this. Walden had to be the most boring, pointless, pretentious piece of literature I've ever read, and Civil Disobedience was arrogant, insulting, and downright self-righteous. Thoreau comes off as a man who wants his readers to be completely aware that he's better than they are and that he doesn't care at all about them, their money, or their interest in his writing.
P.L. Gaus, Clouds without Rain. I think this is the weakest of Gaus's Ohio Amish mysteries. A bit too convoluted, leaves out or relegates to bit parts most of the main cast members of the first two books, and overall isn't nearly as well thought out. Still not an okay book, but not as highly recommended.
Neil Hanson, The Great Fire of London. This was an interesting, well-researched, personal-feeling account of London's Great Fire in 1666. The course of the fire is followed with painstaking detail and there is a lot of discussion of fire in general and the history of the time. The aftermath is summed up rather quickly, but I suspect there's another whole book in discussing the fire's aftermath, and this one was focused on the fire itself. I found it enjoyable and informative.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
disorganized
I actually believe that organization is the key to success. I really, honestly do. Which is why it's endlessly frustrating that I never actually seem to stay organized - neither my time nor my environment. I try lots of different things, but it's like the diet and exercise ... the various plans just don't stick.
Just wanted to say that. Going on about my disorganized day in my disorganized house now.
Just wanted to say that. Going on about my disorganized day in my disorganized house now.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
the home stretch
One disappointing aspect of all the writing I've been doing this year is how little reading (comparatively) I've managed to do. My reading rate is wayyy down this year. So in the last week or so before the new year, I'm trying hard to finish the 7 books I have on my stack. I've given up on the idea that I might finish more than those 7 - that just seems unlikely.
Of course, I'm also trying to spend the holiday week writing madly to get ahead on the stories I'm posting, plus there's Christmas, and relatives, and celebrations, and you think maybe I should spend some time with my kids while they're home? Not to mention games to play and shows to watch and some work to do and that husband person who's around from time to time ... Sometimes I'm amazed that I get any reading done at all!
Of course, I'm also trying to spend the holiday week writing madly to get ahead on the stories I'm posting, plus there's Christmas, and relatives, and celebrations, and you think maybe I should spend some time with my kids while they're home? Not to mention games to play and shows to watch and some work to do and that husband person who's around from time to time ... Sometimes I'm amazed that I get any reading done at all!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
25 Random Things
1.) I love to reorganize my books - I can spend hours arranging and rearranging.
2.) I'm not at all outdoorsy.
3.) If I could, I'd eat out for every meal.
4.) I like my kids (and parenting) a lot better now than when they were babies.
5.) I was a terrible mom of one child - I do a lot better with three.
6.) My favorite all-time TV shows are M*A*S*H, The A-Team, Cold Case, and Sex and the City.
7.) I'm completely unable to randomize, and have to develop elaborate lists and systems in order to choose one thing out of a list or selection.
8.) I wish I could be a little kid again and get to own and play with all my kids' cool toys.
9.) I love doing laundry so much that I don't even consider it a chore.
10.) I'm addicted to General Foods International Coffee.
11.) It frustrates me to no end that my kids always seem to be in between pants sizes and I can never find them enough pants.
12.) I'm far more interested in 19th-century politics than in 21st-century politics.
13.) I love Christmas carols and like to listen to them all year long.
14.) I spend way too much time on the computer.
15.) I have to have a real tree - if I got an artificial one, I would never have a reason to take it down, and would leave the Christmas decorations up year-round.
16.) I love dessert.
17.) It makes me really happy to see my kids go to school - they come home so much more interesting and unexpected.
18.) I do not like going to the grocery store under any circumstances.
19.) As an only child, I crave time alone, and as the mother of three, rarely get it.
20.) I'm not really a picture person and often forget to take any ... and am easily overwhelmed by what to do with the ones I do take.
21.) I'm not at all visually creative, and can't imagine trying to scrapbook.
22.) I almost never drink anything cold.
23.) I don't drink alcohol at all.
24.) I like running, but never seem to manage to carve out the time required to do it.
25.) I've outgrown my vampire phase.
Most of these are the same ones I posted to Facebook over a year and a half ago. #10 used to be an addiction to Bath & Body Works, but that seems to have passed now. #14 used to be a note on how long it would take to come up with 25 random things - not that interesting, really. Otherwise, everything else seems pretty accurate still. Apparently in your 30s you don't change that fast!
2.) I'm not at all outdoorsy.
3.) If I could, I'd eat out for every meal.
4.) I like my kids (and parenting) a lot better now than when they were babies.
5.) I was a terrible mom of one child - I do a lot better with three.
6.) My favorite all-time TV shows are M*A*S*H, The A-Team, Cold Case, and Sex and the City.
7.) I'm completely unable to randomize, and have to develop elaborate lists and systems in order to choose one thing out of a list or selection.
8.) I wish I could be a little kid again and get to own and play with all my kids' cool toys.
9.) I love doing laundry so much that I don't even consider it a chore.
10.) I'm addicted to General Foods International Coffee.
11.) It frustrates me to no end that my kids always seem to be in between pants sizes and I can never find them enough pants.
12.) I'm far more interested in 19th-century politics than in 21st-century politics.
13.) I love Christmas carols and like to listen to them all year long.
14.) I spend way too much time on the computer.
15.) I have to have a real tree - if I got an artificial one, I would never have a reason to take it down, and would leave the Christmas decorations up year-round.
16.) I love dessert.
17.) It makes me really happy to see my kids go to school - they come home so much more interesting and unexpected.
18.) I do not like going to the grocery store under any circumstances.
19.) As an only child, I crave time alone, and as the mother of three, rarely get it.
20.) I'm not really a picture person and often forget to take any ... and am easily overwhelmed by what to do with the ones I do take.
21.) I'm not at all visually creative, and can't imagine trying to scrapbook.
22.) I almost never drink anything cold.
23.) I don't drink alcohol at all.
24.) I like running, but never seem to manage to carve out the time required to do it.
25.) I've outgrown my vampire phase.
Most of these are the same ones I posted to Facebook over a year and a half ago. #10 used to be an addiction to Bath & Body Works, but that seems to have passed now. #14 used to be a note on how long it would take to come up with 25 random things - not that interesting, really. Otherwise, everything else seems pretty accurate still. Apparently in your 30s you don't change that fast!
Monday, December 20, 2010
first snow
It's the first snowfall of the season - just a light snow, flurrying more than falling - and it feels rather festive. Or at least, it will until I go outside into the biting wind to wait for the bus. Just as the years change, one year milder, the next year colder, my reaction to them seems to change as well. Last year, which was a fairly mild winter, I took hard. I complained my way from one snowfall to the next. This year, which so far has been chilly but dry, I'm not exactly looking forward to, but I'm not being dragged into it kicking and screaming. Maybe my internal temperature's up, or maybe I'm looking forward to being inside a lot. Either way, I'm happy to accept the flurry today, and will be just as happy when it stops!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
5 things I love about the holidays
Yesterday, I had a big rant all ready to go. But today, I can't get it up to rant. The moral outrage steam head has run dry, and I just want to have a nice quiet day at home without getting upset over the state of the world.
So: 5 things I love about the holidays.
1. Christmas cards. I love to see the pictures of friends' kids I don't see that often, to get the letters and notes. Even with Facebook keeping me in better touch, I like that once-a-year personal connection.
2. Presents. I don't know which I like better, buying presents for my kids or getting them myself. Either way, presents are good!
3. Christmas music. I keep my Christmas music on my iPod year-round, but it's nice to hear it while out and about, especially at this point in the year when people aren't whining about it so much.
4. Ornaments. All my ornaments have sentimental value, and it's the time of year when I feel closest to the family I grew up in, even though it's gone now. I'm even mostly past the sad part of that - all that's left is the nostalgia.
5. Family time. There is nothing I like more than a day (or a few days) off with my husband and kids. The holidays' best gift: time to spend with my favorite people.
So: 5 things I love about the holidays.
1. Christmas cards. I love to see the pictures of friends' kids I don't see that often, to get the letters and notes. Even with Facebook keeping me in better touch, I like that once-a-year personal connection.
2. Presents. I don't know which I like better, buying presents for my kids or getting them myself. Either way, presents are good!
3. Christmas music. I keep my Christmas music on my iPod year-round, but it's nice to hear it while out and about, especially at this point in the year when people aren't whining about it so much.
4. Ornaments. All my ornaments have sentimental value, and it's the time of year when I feel closest to the family I grew up in, even though it's gone now. I'm even mostly past the sad part of that - all that's left is the nostalgia.
5. Family time. There is nothing I like more than a day (or a few days) off with my husband and kids. The holidays' best gift: time to spend with my favorite people.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
book reviews
Going slowly these days - too much writing keeps the reading rate down - but I've managed to finish a few!
Gregory Maguire, Wicked. I read this (many times) when it first came out and was blown away by the richly detailed universe and the characterizations. It was a bit dense this time around, but I still love the characterization of the witch and her friends.
Janette Oke, Love Comes Softly. It's an old, old romance, but I enjoy the love story, no matter how many times I've read it before. Familiar books are no replacement for good friends, but they're a great complement.
P. L. Gaus, Broken English. This is a nice little series - the characters are well-drawn and vivid, the Amish community is treated with affection and respect, and the plots are detailed. The writing is a bit ... flat? but overall, the books are enjoyable.
Daniel Stashower, The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder. This was a really interesting exploration of an early nineteenth-century New York murder and Edgar Allan Poe's interpretation of it as "The Mystery of Marie Roget." These themes are placed on top of a portrait of New York of the times and Edgar Allan Poe's truly tragic life. It was a very fascinating and informative read.
Gregory Maguire, Wicked. I read this (many times) when it first came out and was blown away by the richly detailed universe and the characterizations. It was a bit dense this time around, but I still love the characterization of the witch and her friends.
Janette Oke, Love Comes Softly. It's an old, old romance, but I enjoy the love story, no matter how many times I've read it before. Familiar books are no replacement for good friends, but they're a great complement.
P. L. Gaus, Broken English. This is a nice little series - the characters are well-drawn and vivid, the Amish community is treated with affection and respect, and the plots are detailed. The writing is a bit ... flat? but overall, the books are enjoyable.
Daniel Stashower, The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder. This was a really interesting exploration of an early nineteenth-century New York murder and Edgar Allan Poe's interpretation of it as "The Mystery of Marie Roget." These themes are placed on top of a portrait of New York of the times and Edgar Allan Poe's truly tragic life. It was a very fascinating and informative read.
Friday, December 10, 2010
commentaries
I believe I've mentioned before how much I enjoy watching the Michael Patrick King commentaries on the DVDs of Sex and the City. It's so very thoughtful and detailed and every episode feels like a labor of love. It's particularly interesting having been doing so much writing this year because it's fascinating to see how other people think about storytelling and the choices and decisions they make.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
50 Questions
More meme thievery from Facebook. Still, I find these amusing.
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? yes and no - it's complicated
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? it's been a few weeks, I think
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? sure
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? yes
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? frequently
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? no
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? oatmeal squares
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Heath bar
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? hair
15. RED OR PINK? red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I talk too much and don't listen enough
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Matthew
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? no
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? blue jeans, black ankle-boots
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Johnny Test
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? cadet blue
23. FAVORITE SMELL? lemon, Veronica's neck, coffee
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Lou
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Of course (technically, it's me!)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? football
27. HAIR COLOR? dark brown
28. EYE COLOR? blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Midwestern comfort food
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? White Christmas
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? red
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? both, please!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? ice cream
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? no one
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? see #37
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Odyssey, Vergil; Walden, Henry David Thoreau; Clouds without Rain, P. L. Gaus; Food in Colonial and Federal America, Sandra L. Oliver; Manhunt, James L. Swanson
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one - what is this, 2008?
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Hawaii 5-0, Top Chef All-Stars
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)? Greyson's laugh, good music, washer/dryer running, cars and trains going by
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? neither
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Rome
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I'm a very good proofreader
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Nashville
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? not expecting any
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFIGANT OTHER? at a wedding
49. IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? depends on the day (and the time of day!)
50. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Thomas Jefferson, Laura Ingalls Wilder, my great-aunt Jennie, Agatha Christie, and Nathan Hale
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? yes and no - it's complicated
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? it's been a few weeks, I think
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? sure
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? yes
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? frequently
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? no
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? oatmeal squares
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Heath bar
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? hair
15. RED OR PINK? red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I talk too much and don't listen enough
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Matthew
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? no
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? blue jeans, black ankle-boots
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Johnny Test
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? cadet blue
23. FAVORITE SMELL? lemon, Veronica's neck, coffee
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Lou
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Of course (technically, it's me!)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? football
27. HAIR COLOR? dark brown
28. EYE COLOR? blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Midwestern comfort food
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? White Christmas
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? red
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? both, please!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? ice cream
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? no one
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? see #37
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Odyssey, Vergil; Walden, Henry David Thoreau; Clouds without Rain, P. L. Gaus; Food in Colonial and Federal America, Sandra L. Oliver; Manhunt, James L. Swanson
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one - what is this, 2008?
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Hawaii 5-0, Top Chef All-Stars
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)? Greyson's laugh, good music, washer/dryer running, cars and trains going by
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? neither
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Rome
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I'm a very good proofreader
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Nashville
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? not expecting any
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFIGANT OTHER? at a wedding
49. IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? depends on the day (and the time of day!)
50. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Thomas Jefferson, Laura Ingalls Wilder, my great-aunt Jennie, Agatha Christie, and Nathan Hale
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
unblogworthy
The sheer volume of words I expect myself to put on the page daily is pretty staggering, especially when compared to this time last year. With three stories actively being posted, two original stories being worked on, two stories on hiatus, Twitter and Facebook updates (which I like to make more substantive than "just took a shower"), and two blogs, sometimes I wonder just how many words I have in me. Unfortunately this blog tends to take the biggest hit, since I'm never sure how much wit and wisdom I really have to share.
Just thought I'd mention that, since it explains all the days that I can't think of anything to post - those tend to be the days that I have very little left to say!
Just thought I'd mention that, since it explains all the days that I can't think of anything to post - those tend to be the days that I have very little left to say!
Monday, December 06, 2010
winter precipitation
We saw our first dancing little white motes flying about in the air this morning. (I insisted it was fairies, while Miss Veronica kept trying to tell me it was snow. I wasn't listening to her!)
Funny how once upon a time snow used to mean no school, fun playing outside, beautiful views, and generally winter goodness and now it comes down and all I see are roads and driveways difficult to navigate because of piles of it all over, school going nearly to July because of the snow days, and the need to deal with the snowblower (not at all my favorite piece of machinery).
There are definitely some ways in which being a parent is not better than being a child!
Funny how once upon a time snow used to mean no school, fun playing outside, beautiful views, and generally winter goodness and now it comes down and all I see are roads and driveways difficult to navigate because of piles of it all over, school going nearly to July because of the snow days, and the need to deal with the snowblower (not at all my favorite piece of machinery).
There are definitely some ways in which being a parent is not better than being a child!
Friday, December 03, 2010
movie meme
(Yes, it's true, I'm cross-posting from Facebook. But who knows, maybe my answers have changed. Besides, it's an interesting thing to post on a low-motivation low-creativity kind of day!)
(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
() Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
() Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total: 6
(x) The Princess Bride
() Anchorman
() Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
() The Princess Diaries
() The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 8
(x) Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
() Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(x) American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 12
(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
() Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 15
(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
() Signs
() The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
() 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 17
() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
() Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
() Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
() KING KONG
Total so far: 17
() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
() Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
() Flubber
Total so far: 17
() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
() Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 18
() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
() The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 19
() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
(x) Lone Star
() Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 26
(x) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
(x) Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
() War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 29
() Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
() Forrest Gump
(x) Big Trouble in Little China
() The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
() The Terminator 3
Total so far: 33
() X-Men
() X-2
() X-3
() Spider-Man
() Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
() Shrek
() Shrek 2
Total so far: 36
() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
(x) Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 39
(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 45
() Baseketball
() Hostel
(x) Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
() Elf
(x) Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
(x) American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 48
() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
() Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 50
() High Tension
() Club Dread
() Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 52
() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
(x) Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() the Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
(x) Army of Darkness
Total so far:54
() Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
() Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 57
() The Matrix
() The Matrix Reloaded
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total: 58
58. (Four more than two years ago. Woo.) It almost sounds like I must have a life. Except, of course, that I really don't and I watch a ton of movies ... just not recent releases, horror movies, and comedies, with which this list is heavily frontloaded.
(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
() Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
() Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total: 6
(x) The Princess Bride
() Anchorman
() Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
() The Princess Diaries
() The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 8
(x) Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
() Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(x) American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 12
(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
() Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 15
(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
() Signs
() The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
() 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 17
() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
() Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
() Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
() KING KONG
Total so far: 17
() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
() Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
() Flubber
Total so far: 17
() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
() Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 18
() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
() The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 19
() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
(x) Lone Star
() Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 26
(x) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
(x) Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
() War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 29
() Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
() Forrest Gump
(x) Big Trouble in Little China
() The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
() The Terminator 3
Total so far: 33
() X-Men
() X-2
() X-3
() Spider-Man
() Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
() Shrek
() Shrek 2
Total so far: 36
() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
(x) Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 39
(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 45
() Baseketball
() Hostel
(x) Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
() Elf
(x) Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
(x) American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 48
() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
() Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 50
() High Tension
() Club Dread
() Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 52
() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
(x) Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() the Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
(x) Army of Darkness
Total so far:54
() Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
() Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 57
() The Matrix
() The Matrix Reloaded
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total: 58
58. (Four more than two years ago. Woo.) It almost sounds like I must have a life. Except, of course, that I really don't and I watch a ton of movies ... just not recent releases, horror movies, and comedies, with which this list is heavily frontloaded.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Top Chef All-Stars
Apparently this is reality TV week over here. Tonight, a very highly anticipated season of Top Chef: the All-Stars season. And unlike other shows (TAR, for example) that have chosen people who were completely unmemorable for an all-star season, Top Chef's lineup is pretty good. There's no one who seems likely to bomb out immediately, there's no one who's there just for the drama of it. Everyone is a reasonable contender.
So my official calls for the season:
Angelo as eventual winner (Carla as my secondary pick), and Spike as the first cheftestant to be eliminated. We shall see how far those get me!
So my official calls for the season:
Angelo as eventual winner (Carla as my secondary pick), and Spike as the first cheftestant to be eliminated. We shall see how far those get me!
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