Friday Five - Like a Love Song, Wii Dance, and Revisions

1. I - I love you like a love song, baby. And I keep hittin' repeatpeatpeatpeatpeat. Oh, Selena Gomez. The first time I heard this song, I didn't get it. At all.

2. But it kept coming up on Just Dance 4 for the Wii (we won the Wii in a raffle at a benefit!), and suddenly I was addicted. I am determined to get a perfect score on this song, as well as Call Me Maybe, and Maneater. But I am a terrible dancer. It's still fun though!

3. My revisions are done and turned in to my editor! The changes weren't TOO major, but they took some time, and I'm pretty happy with the result. So now I wait. I'm getting good at the waiting.

4. Anyone watching The Voice this season? We skipped the last couple seasons, but with the judge switches, we decided to give it a shot and we're hooked! Blake is hilarious as always and there is some serious talent out there! I already bought Savannah Berry's version of Safe & Sound (she's from Houston, y'all!) and I have my eye on a few others.

5. Some of you may remember my 2013 good eating/fitness goal I set in January, and I did really really good! .... until my book deal. And I admittedly have done a little too much celebrating. And once you taste that sugar, it's hard to knock it again. BUT I've joined a DietBet for April and I'm getting back on track! How are your goals going this year?

Friday Five: Fall TV and Shows Past

1. TVD: I am really really really impatient for The Vampire Diaries to start back up. Have you seen the teaser for the new season?!?! I mean, it's a huge spoiler if you aren't caught up, but DANG. #teamdamon

2. Castle: Last season's finale wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, but the preview for the new season looks super exciting and reviews are good! Love me some Castle and Beckett.

3. Once Upon a Time: I almost gave up on this mid-season, but I stuck with it, and now I'm curious what's going to happen next. They already killed off one of my favorite characters and Prince Charming gets on my nerves in the real world, so twil be hard to keep my attention. Better be good!

4. Revenge: Holy moly how this show is like watching a movie every week. It's so exciting and twisty and full of pretty. Can't wait for the new season! #teamjack

5. New Girl: I really miss the funny this show packs in a 30-minute punch. #teamnick

ALSO: Can't wait for Bones! Can't wait for new Big Bang Theory! Can't wait for the new season of Downton Abbey in January! AHHHHH!!

Missing:

1. I miss amazing shows like Lost and Alias. Come on J.J. Give us another winner.

2. SO upset Jane By Design was canceled. The decent shows always get canned in favor of smutty, pointless ones with no good messages. What's wrong with America? GIVE ME A FREAKING NIELSEN BOX! I'LL SHOW THEM WHAT I WATCH.

3. Now that the show Bunheads is a thing, I'm realizing how much I miss the Gilmore Girls. You can tell the shows are similar, but it's not the same. That dynamic between mother and daughter was so special with GG. Then there was Christopher. And Luke. Bunheads needs to throw us older ladies a Christopher or Luke, right?

4. Pushing Daisies. I'm not sure why I'm not over this yet since it was several years ago now. It was so quirky and funny and adorable. And the narrator was the same guy who did the audio books for Harry Potter!

5. Arrested Development. I watched this series for the first time nearly a year ago thanks to Netflix instant, and oh my if it wasn't one of the funniest things I've ever seen. They keep teasing us with talk of a brief season to catch us up before a movie release, but could they be any SLOWER?

What shows are you looking forward to coming back this season, or what new shows are starting you can't wait to try? Any shows you still miss that are long gone?

Dawson and Jane

Oh Netflix, how I love thee. Last week I finished the entire series of Dawson's Creek. Really, it should have been called Joey's Creek because it seemed to be mostly about her. I'm pretty sure there were a couple episodes that didn't even have Dawson IN it. This was my first Dawson experience... even though the show had them graduate in 2001, which is exactly when I graduated, I was "younger" than those kids so I didn't "get" it back when the show was on.

Also thanks to Netflix, I've been watching a new show called Jane by Design. SO CUTE and ADORABLE and PRECIOUS and I CAN'T STOP WATCHING IT. It's about a girl still in high school that tries to get an internship for a fashion designer, but she's mistaken for someone else and lands a real job as the creative director's assistant. So now she's basically leading a double life so obviously, hilarity ensues. The acting's good, the storyline is fun, the characters are lovable.

And if you need another reason to watch it... watch it for Billy! He's SO SWEET it KILLS me.

So what has Netflix done for you lately? Have you watched either of these shows?

Heightened Reality Trickery

HRT: 
A curious type of deception that presents symptoms when exposed to larger than life scenarios such as written works of fiction, television shows (see also Hallmark, Lifetime, ABC Family, Korean Dramas, Scripted Reality, et al.), movies and stage productions. Symptoms include: brighter colors, selective hearing, rapid pulse. Prolonged exposure may be hazardous.  

In books, we're perfectly okay with the flowery things the hot guy says because, well, he's hot and the whole story has set us up to root for him to say these flowery things so when he finally does we CHEER! We swoon! We melt! But if someone said similar things to us in person, we'd probably roll our eyes and walk swiftly the other direction, mumbling something that sounds like What a pansy.

Then there's TV. Take this season of The Bachelor, for example. Bachelor Ben, very normal looking to the eye, the California-wine-maker-next-door type. He's gone YEARS being a regular guy, grocery shopping and pumping gas in his car just like the rest of us. Suddenly he's on television and thousands of women who now think he's the most beautiful thing that ever walked the planet claw over each other just to get to him. Did that happen to him every time he went to the grocery store before he was on TV? No. The reality has been heightened and the minds of the people have been TRICKED. (I'm not speaking out against him as a person, just demonstrating what HRT does)

These things are all constructed to bring out our emotions, to get us addicted, to make us feel like it's love. The build up of tension and tingly words in the stories we read. The driving music during that scene where the forbidden lovers are shouting at each other in the pouring rain. The guy you wouldn't look at twice out in public that's now on stage with his guitar and suddenly your legs are jelly.

Handy often (lovingly and jokingly) says, "You live your life in the movies, don't you?" or "You live inside your books." *snicker*giggle*snicker* I like to escape to my gushy heightened reality as much as the next person (okay, maybe more). It's not that I'm running from anything, but it's like having the best of a million worlds. In my heightened reality I've survived The Hunger Games! I've gone to school at Hogwarts! I've been a freaking PRINCESS! In my actual reality... I'm the wife to the sweetest guy in the world, I'm a daughter, a dog mom, daughter- and sister-in-law, aunt, friend, a writer who writes her own heightened realities, photographer, crafter, and pizza eater. Who says I can't have it all?  

How about you? Do you let yourself get swept away?

Friday Five (TV Show Edition)

1. I'm a newer fan of The Big Bang Theory. So far I've watched the first few seasons very slowly through Netflix (it hasn't been available instantly), and I've been keeping up with the new season. I haven't yet seen how Amy Farrah Fowler became part of the group but WOW is she funny. Last night's episode when Sheldon gave her the tiara... please someone else tell me they laughed as hard as I did.

2. Arrested Development, where have you been all my life?! I'm well into season two on Netflix instant and it's so golden. Tons of big name guest stars, lots of quirky humor, and Jason Bateman. That is all.

3. What was THAT on The Vampire Diaries last night??? Are they trying to pair Klaus and Caroline now?!?!?! I'm still loving this show. I never know where they're going with anything.

4. BONES came back on last night! I still have to look away when they show the dead bodies (MAN they look GROSS) but I love every single one of the characters on this show. I meant to record the spin off show, The Finder, but I forgot! I guess I'll have to catch up online before next week!

5. Downton Abbey is FINALLY back for a second season (you lucky UK residents have already seen it!!) and it's fabulous! Funny how they start you off disliking Mary and now we're rooting for her and Matthew (at least I am! ;). And Anna and Mr. Bates... sigh. This better work out for them or I'll be SUPER SAD!

Bonus - I'm still completely sucked into Revenge. What a wild ride this show is! Some of Emily's actions seem a little sloppy sometimes, but just when I'm sure she's going to get caught, she doesn't. And having "Amanda" around makes me nervous! I don't like Jack with her!! *bites nails*

Double bonus - Alcatraz starts on Monday!!!

Ringer, Revenge... and other new shows

Ringer, Sarah Michelle Gellar's newest project, didn't do a whole lot for me at first. It was sort of interesting, but my DVR recorded three or four more episodes before I even watched the second one. I just wasn't excited about it. Then one lazy night, I watched ALL of them, chomping at the bit for more. It's REALLY good. If you need a reason to watch, how about this guy:

Remember him? Sweet, young Officer Lowe, so concerned about all the frozen dead bodies floating in the ocean after the Titanic sunk. I was totally Team Leo back when this movie came out (I was 14, please), but this guy stuck out to me, even then. Maybe it was the prominent nose, the accent, I don't know. But I liked him. And besides the twisted twisted twisted storyline of Ringer, he's a reason to keep watching. 

And yes, that's Nestor Carbonell back there. The creepy, pretty guy from Lost that doesn't actually wear eyeliner even though it looks like it. You know who else has a recurring role on Ringer?? LOGAN ECHOLLS from Veronica Mars! Well, Jason Dohring, anyway.

If they don't go the teacher/student romantic relationship with his storyline, I'd be surprised, because they're certainly setting it up for that. Hopefully they'll surprise us and do something else. Either way, glad he found work!

Revenge!! By far my favorite new show this year. The first episode was good, a total surprise because I really didn't know what to expect. I was a big fan of Everwood, so when I saw Emily VanCamp had her own show, I knew I had to tune in. Best surprise on the show, KYLE VALENTI from Roswell! Nick Wechsler plays Jack, the OTHER love interest.

I'm Team Jack all the way. This is a TWISTY amazing show, and if you haven't seen it, try to catch up online if you can. It's WORTH IT. 

Once Upon a Time started a little hokey for me. I was super disappointed with the first episode, mostly because it wasn't what I expected from the previews. I gave it another chance, and I'm telling you, episode two HOOKED me deep. As soon as Emma cut down that apple tree (which is NOT a Honeycrisp tree... HC apples aren't red like that, HELLO) with a chainsaw and told that evil witch, "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF!" WOOOHOO! And! Sark will be on the next episode!! (Well, David Anders. He'll always be Sark from Alias to me)

Grimm was a surprise as well. Another twist with the fairy tale involvement, but it's, as Sophie Jordan tweeted to me, CREEPY GOOD. I'm interested to see where this show goes.

The Secret Circle had a strong enough start for me to keep watching, but there's still something missing. I'll keep watching, but I'm not entirely sure why.

Soon to go is Hart of Dixie... those accents are atrocious and I'm attached to zero of the characters. I guess I keep waiting for something to actually HAPPEN. If it doesn't soon, I'm deleting from the list.

I've also been watching Tim Allen's new show Last Man Standing. It's no Home Improvement, but I've always been a fan of his humor.

Person of Interest is a tricky fish. I love Jim Caviezel (especially after meeting him--STILL SQUEEING about that), but if they don't attach me to these characters soon, I'll lose interest.

New Girl is pretty funny, I must admit. But it's not for everyone.

Gave up on:
Up All Night after 3 episodes. Don't get me wrong, it's funny! But it's no Samantha Who (SHAME on ABC for canceling that!).
Charlie's Angels after 10 minutes of the first episode.
2 Broke Girls is funny, but I never got hooked enough to look forward to the next episode.
Nikita was great last season, but I couldn't get into it this year.
Terra Nova after the first episode. I actually really liked it (despite the digital effects), but it's one of those that I wasn't anxious to sit down and watch, and it started to clog up my DVR. I think it will be a Netflixer for me later.

Still watching:
The Vampire Diaries How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Whipped Damon. Ripper Stefan. Brainwashed Tyler. Cheater Jeremy. Human Matt. That's five ways right there. ;) Seriously though, I'm sucked into TVD like never before this season. I'm a little sad the whole ghost thing seems to be a done deal--they could have stretched that at least a couple more episodes--but what they did with it was super cool for me anyway. And I was totally Team Anna/Jeremy so getting a bit of that back was fabulous.
Community
Parks and Recreation
Modern Family
Glee, although there's something about it now. I'm not in LOVE like I used to be. And that makes me sad.
The Big Bang Theory
Bones
Castle


Missing:
Outsourced
Mr. Sunshine


Looking forward to:
Smash
Alcatraz


My GOSH there are a lot of shows. Thank God for DVR!!

What about you? Any new shows hook you this year? Any you gave up on?

New TV Shows this Fall

It's hard to give new TV shows chances these days. They hook us in just a couple episodes, then take them away from us (The Ex List, Eastwick). They hook us in a season or two, then take them away from us (October Road, Life on Mars, Joan of Arcadia, Outsourced). Going into this new season of television, I'm nervous about getting my heart broken yet again, but there are still several shows I've got my eye on...

On the CW:

Ringer - Welcome back to TV, Sarah!!

Hart of Dixie - I know, I know, another show about a doctor. But I think this show looks sweet, and I'm giving it a shot. Plus, it has lots of familiar faces!

The Secret Circle - Apparently this is from the creators of The Vampire Diaries (Which I think has been done very well so far), so it's worth a look. 

On NBC

Grimm - looks a little creepy, but something about it intrigues me. 

Smash - this is a mid-season addition, but Katherine McPhee can SING. And I'm a huge fan of Glee, so of course I'm going to watch this one. 

On ABC

Once Upon a Time - I wondered what happened to the girl from House. Now I know! And I hope this show is done right, and that it has the strength to stick on ABC. They always try these types of shows but don't hang on to them. Stop messing with us, ABC!

An Ode to Nathan Fillion

When first our eyes did meet

Your attitude was huffy

You were oh so far from sweet

Working for The First to kill my Buffy

Then oh Captain, my Captain of Serenity

An honest thief with heart of gold

But viewers were fickle-y

Or so the story's told

Now a writer of mystery

Solving murders in a flash

I've never seen such chemistry

You and Beckett were meant to last

I recently finished season one of Castle on DVD. I should have started watching it when it began, but I'm so hesitant to get into new TV shows--the ones I fall for always seem to get cancelled about 8 episodes in and it breaks my heart. I am in LOVE with this show. Fillion is genius. BRILLY I SAY! The banter! The wit! The faces! 

There was a short film in the bonus features of the DVD. Most of it was just silly, but one point stuck with me. When writers are blocked, it could stem from the need for perfection. 

WHAT? Why didn't I think of that before?! That's SO my problem. I'm paranoid of the first draft. But it's not supposed to be perfect, it's a DRAFT for a reason. Get it WRITTEN. Share it with your critique buddies so they can inspire you and sing praises about what a great idea you have. They can point out flaws they see early on so you don't spend too much time writing down the wrong story path. The perfection can come later. 

To my critique gals, Kim and Kristi, and a special shout to newbie Heather, a BIG thank you for the encouragement, suggestions, "what were you thinking here?"s, and for pushing me through my struggles of self-doubt. I can only hope I'm as big of help to y'all as you are to me :)   

One Week To Go...

Well, this is it.  Monday... of the last week at my job.  I'm both excited and terrified.  It's odd to me that after Friday, I will no longer be allowed inside the building.  I won't chat with the people in the cafe as they prepare my lunch.  My daily routine over the past two and almost a half years is changing.

Bright side: I won't have to use the restrooms up there anymore. Not that they were gross.... but who likes bathrooms that a hundred people use a day? This will be an emotional week, full of goodbyes and tears, I'm sure.  

I apologize (again) for being a bit of a flaky blogger lately.  Not only did I get to spend a week in Alaska (a pre-layoff planned trip -- pictures to come!), but I've been playing catch up with my photo session edits.  I'm very thankful that I have quite a few sessions lined up, but it's not quite enough to make a fraction of what I was making.  So I'm in for a long and difficult stretch ahead, and I'm doing my best not to over-stress myself.

For those of you who are Buffy lovers, I am on season 7 now (working from home has it's Netflix viewing perks!--and multiple computer monitors is a must), and it's amazing how much has changed.  (The musical episode... AWESOME)  I used to be 100% team Angel, but that Spike.... 

he. is. hilarious.

Well, not so much anymore in season 7, but season 6 was pretty awesome most of the time.  I often found myself thinking, "Angel who?".  Anyway... I'm curious to see how it will all turn out.  Right now I'm a bit disappointed in this season, but... whatever.  It is what it is!  AND! Buffy has inspired me to be a better me.  (I've lined up some martial arts DVDs on Netflix... first step in superhero training ;)  bwahahahaha.

Next up on the Netflix line up is Angel, followed by Firefly, then Veronica Mars!

Made for TV Couples

Who doesn't love a good TV show?  My regular followers will know of my long-time obsession with Lost, my recent obsession with Buffy, and I anticipate an obsession with Veronica Mars in the near near future. I get emotionally pulled into shows (especially ones with major teen romantic drama--because everything is WAY more dramatic and it's-the-end-of-the-world-if-this-doesn't-work-out in the eyes of a teen in love), and over the years, I've fallen in love with quite a few television couples.  Here are some of my favs, in no particular order:

 

 

 1) Buffy and Angel - I admit, through my teen years, I never thought Angel was much of anything, but now that I actually WATCH the show... dude's hot (is it creepy that I looked up the actor's info and he's only 5 years younger than my mom?).  I'm not even halfway through the series, and I know he's about to leave Buffy and get his own show (which I'm totally going to watch), and I know that Spike will attempt to win me over, but right now my brain just doesn't understand how that can happen.  I love me some Angel.

 

 

2) Max and Liz - I watched Roswell from the very first episode.  My friend and I watched it every week, and even taped a lot of them to watch over and over again.  Yes, it was silly, but what shows aren't when it comes right down to it? Max and Liz fell for each other hard after Max used his alien powers to save her life.  Sure they broke up, got back together, broke up, and got back together again, but I knew they'd end up together in the long run.  I've slowly been going through these episodes on Netflix.

 

 

3) Clark and Lana - Lois Lane who?  I was a huge Smallville fan back in the day (haven't watched it in years, and I can't believe it's STILL on) so in my eyes, Clark and Lana belonged together.  Just look at them.  So pretty.  (And the actresses name is Kristin, HELLOOOO). 

 

 

4) Ephram and Amy - Ah, Everwood.  Such beautiful scenery in this show.  I wanted to live in that little fictional town.  Ephram liked Amy from the get go but oooo she was a bad girl and used her friendship with him to get his miracle surgeon of a father to fix her vegetable boyfriend.  After several seasons of will they won't they... let's just say I was very pleased with the series finale. 

 

 

5) Sully and Dr. Quinn - Growing up, I LIVED to watch this show.  Sully was THE MAN... gosh I had such a huge crush on him.  I was always rooting for them to get together.  Sigh.  I really miss this show.  :::checking Netflix:::: ;)

 

 

6) Rory and Logan - Oh how I miss the Gilmore Girls.  Their witty banter and boy troubles brought me through my late teens and early twenties.  Rory had her share of boys... Dean, that tension with Tristan, Jess (who I sort of rooted for most of the time), then Logan.... Logan is just ADORABLE.  Sure they might not have been good for each other in the long run, but the episodes he was in were good for me. :)

 

 

7) Lorelei and Luke - From the very beginning I wanted Lor and Luke together.  And I waited, and waited and waited and freaking waited.  But when it happened.... sigh.  So cute.

 

 

8) Damon and Elena - So what if she's with Stefan, he's a WIMP.  I'm still rooting for this pair up at some point. Bwahahahaha. 

 

(If you haven't watched Lost yet in it's entirety but plan to, you MAY want to skip these last two.)

 

 

9) Jack and Kate - I went back and forth with Jack, mostly because of Sawyer.  Sawyer.. well, he's hotter than Jack, and he seemed more in tune with the inner workings of Kate, both being baddies and all.  But ultimately, I am happy with Jack and Kate being linked together for all eternity.  And yes, I might have cried a little.

 

 

10) Sawyer and Juliet - I never saw this match coming, but, well, they made me cry too.  So sweet.

 

A New Obsession with the Old

I was fourteen when Buffy the Vampire Slayer started on TV.  I wasn't really interested, so I didn't watch it.

But now that I'm older and insane, I discovered that Netflix made the whole series available to watch instantly, so guess what I've been doing? (And if you have an iPhone, download the new Netflix app that lets you watch instantly anywhere :) 

I've barreled through 2.5 seasons of Buffy over the past couple of weeks, and it's making me a bit wacky... my mind is filled with monsters and vamps (and Angel... swoon).  Even when I pump gas or walk in a parking lot, I've got my eye out for, well, whatever.  I feel a really strong desire to learn martial arts now, too.  My Netflix queue is lined up with instructional DVDs.  haha.

There's something about getting wrapped up in a show (or a good book) that inspires me to write.  Do you find that happening to you?  I suppose a near constant immersion in a heightened reality would tend to do that to any creative mind.  

Happy Thursday :)