Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Resolutions

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

Whatever holiday you do or don't celebrate, I hope you've had a fantastic season! Mine has been filled with love, friends, family, food, gifts, and a lot of laughter (and some relaxation). I have no complaints at all!

I've been sort of too busy running around seeing friends to read much, but I did finish the 6th HP book, and I really enjoyed it! I remember finishing the book before, but I really didn't remember much of the content. I'm excited to read the 7th though, because I know I haven't read that one before. Since I wasn't able to read the 7th in time for the movie, I'm not in a huge rush to get to it, as long as I read it before the 2nd part of the 7th movie. So, before I get to HP7, I'm trying another one of the books lent to me by a woman I just met, called Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I'm 8 pages in, and loving it already!

So, Reading Challenge #2 was to read 8 books by December 31st, and 50% had to be fiction. I've achieved one of the goals as every book I've read in this challenge has been fiction, but I don't think I'll read two books before the deadline. No matter! My plan is to let Reading Challenge #2 seamlessly lead into my next challenge...

Reading Challenge #3 (RC-3): I challenge myself to read a minimum of 20 books in 2011. There are no stipulations about fiction or non-fiction, it's just about reading 20. I was going to make it 24 (2/month), but I want to give myself some wiggle room. I very well may read 30, but 20 is a nice solid number to be proud of, so that's the goal! The final two that I read for RC-2 may be included in RC-3.

Reading Challenge #2 - Update:

  1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  2. Franny and Zooey
  3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  5. By Nightfall
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

ADELE IS BACK!!!

This just (or recently) in. Adele is coming back with a vengeance and it comes in the form of her sophomore album, entitled "21". Her first was called "19". Are these references to her age? I'm feeling rather old and uninteresting all of a sudden. Who cares?! Her first single, which premiered on "Ellen" (live performance below) is called "Rolling in the Deep" and it's stunning! I can't wait for it to come out.

I will say it now. I will see her on her next tour. She is an artist not to miss live. I hope she stops at Massey Hall again -- that was epic. If she goes to the Sound Academy I will cry, but I'll still drag my ass there... just for Adele.

Friday, December 10, 2010

My Shameful Secret

I have an issue with time. I'm very rarely late, so that's not the issue. The issue is that I always over-estimate how long things will take me. Sometimes this results in being extremely early for things. Sometimes it means I have tonnes of time to kill in my own home. My friend is going to be here in the next 1.5-2 hours. I had a whole bunch of stuff to do so I hurried home to get it done. Now I've basically finished the main things I need to do. Therefore, I will blog.

I was thinking about something on the way home from the grocery store, and I need to get it off my chest.

I can't drive.

It's not that I'm a bad driver, or that I don't have a car (I don't, but I could), it's that I don't have my license. I did have a G1 once, but it expired. Why didn't I get my G2? Well, I tried. I tried 3 times in fact, but I failed all 3 times. Sad, I know. I tried 3 times when I was 17 and then I just decided it wasn't worth the heartache and anxiety. Plus, I grew up in Toronto, where having a car is pointless a lot of the time. I lived near the subway, I could get anywhere I needed to go by TTC, and so I forgot about driving.

Then I went to university, where I didn't need a car either. First I lived on campus, then for the next 4 years after that I lived near campus; just a walk or bus ride away. I didn't need a car in university, and I didn't need to drive.

Now I've graduated and moved to a small town for a great job. Guess what? I need a car. Well, I don't need one obviously because I don't have one and I've been managing, but it'd be nice. I'm pretty isolated without one as I don't really go anywhere further than a 20-30 minute walk. In a small town especially, that can get pretty boring. During the summer it was okay, but now it's getting nasty outside and so my shameful secret is becoming all the more hard to bear.

I've decided to confess this so that you, my readers, can hold me accountable for my driving-related goals.
  1. Get my G1 by December 31, 2010 (3 weeks to go!).
  2. Get my G2 by August 31, 2011.
  3. Get a car by December 31, 2011.
I think about how much I wish I could drive pretty much every day. It's time to take action.

To leave this on a positive note, there is something pretty great about depending on your own two feet to take you everywhere!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Rest in Peace, J.L.


He is my hero. He wasn't a perfect person, but that's what I love about him. He was rude and crude and said stupid things and did stupid things... but he was always human. He was always so beautiful in his flaws. Above all things, he just wanted peace. His message hasn't vanished, but the need for it has grown. He is always remembered and his spirit still lingers. 30 years since his death, let's keep trying to make his dreams come true.

Monday, December 6, 2010

EM-TEE-VEE


“MTV doesn’t even play music videos anymore!”

Have you ever said this or heard someone say this? If so, you or they are right! Rarely does MTV play music videos, and these days if it does, it’s not usually the whole video. When it was originally launched in 1981, MTV (Music Television) was intended to be a channel dedicated to music and music videos. In 2010, MTV no longer includes “Music Television” in their logo. They are not a music television channel. Perhaps it would be more fitting to call them an entertainment channel; they play reality shows, a little bit of music news, live talk shows, and sometimes documentaries. They don’t pretend they’re all about music, and they’ve shown that by rebranding themselves (and excluding the Music Television from their logo).

How do I feel about this? Well I love music, and when I was younger I watched the MuchMusic countdown the whole way through most Friday nights. However, I don’t really care about music videos anymore. I listen to music almost exclusively on my iPod, and I’m usually doing a bunch of other stuff while listening. I don’t sit down on the couch to “watch” music.

It’s not about me though. Even if I was a die-hard music video fan, I’d understand why MTV wasn’t catering to me. Most people don’t care about music videos anymore! If they do, they’re going to watch them on YouTube, and not wait for them to come up on a music channel’s rotation. Most people DO care about seeing celebrities on television, and say what you will about that fact, it’s a fact. Why would MTV cater to a small audience when they could meet the needs of the masses? It’s just the way it is.

If people care about celebrities (and by people, I mean people ages 14-28, which has always been the MTV audience), then MTV should work to be the network showing the best celebrity content, or even better – creating celebrities themselves. Did I know who Snooki or The Situation were before Jersey Shore? No. But I certainly know who they are now! If you don’t care about Jersey Shore, then I understand, but you are unfortunately of the minority.

As always, take what I say with a grain of salt. I just think that what MTV puts out meets and exceeds the desires of their majority audience. Music videos or not, they’re a force to be reckoned with.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

To-ist

Latest obsession: this series of videos.



In other news, I'm definitely enjoying Kanye's new album.

Additionally, I find "Black Friday" (L'il Kim's Nicki Minaj diss) highly entertaining. Yes, I really enjoy Nicki Minaj, and yes L'il Kim is getting a bit desperate (haven't heard much from her since "Magic Stick"), but she lays the chirps on thick.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Books & DJs

What's up y'all? Lots to update you on, starting with the Reading Challenge 2.0. Just to remind you, Reading Challenge 2.0 challenges me to read 8 books by December 31, 2010 (the challenge began on September 5th) and 50% of them have to be fiction. So far I've read 5 (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Franny and Zooey, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and By Nightfall). My progress was severely impeded by the purchase of an iPhone, but I seem to be on track again and just need to push through the next month and see how close I can get to my goal. On the bright side, I've achieved 1/2 of my goal already. All 5 books that I've read have been fiction, so it looks like I really have gotten back into fiction, which I'm thrilled about.

The most recent read, By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham, was quite simply put: stunning. I've never read Cunningham before, but I'm eager to read more of him. He also wrote The Hours, so I think I'll read that in the new year. By Nightfall was a twisted story about love, art, and finding the strength to survive a life that is really good, but not great, or not what you imagined for yourself. It was published this year, which was really interesting because it's been so long since I read a book taking place in the present day. There was a BlackBerry reference and an Obama administration reference, and both were interesting to see because somehow it made the experience the protagonist was having feel even more close to home. Anyway, I'm rambling... it was an amazing book and I'd highly recommend it!

Regarding MSTRKRFT in Sudbury... Well I should start off by saying it was a fantastic night! I had a blast with my sister and we danced and partied = good times. However, it wasn't MSTRKRFT performing; it was Jesse Keeler of MSTRKRFT. That would've been good because JFK is an awesome guy, but he didn't actually play any MSTRKRFT. He was just DJing. I'm not saying it wasn't good, but it just wasn't great. Plus, it wasn't what I expected.

It made me think though - here is a good example of a DJ who spins vs. a DJ who mixes/creates/produces. I may have not used the perfect wording, but I hope you get my gist. There's the standard, run-of-the-mill club DJ (no offense meant by word choice). She/he plays songs by artists (that remain unchanged for the most part) that the patrons of the club dance to. There are definitely good club DJs and bad club DJs, but their mission is the same. Then there is the... what shall we call it... More-than-just-playing-songs-DJ? Not exactly poetic, but sure, why not?

So the MTJPSD makes music out of DJing. Some strictly remix songs, some create their own stuff, and some do both... but the idea is, when you see them in a concert, they are DJing, but it's their own stuff that they're playing.

Anyway, my point is that these involve different skill sets. Knowing exactly when to crossover to a new track is a skill for a club DJ, as is knowing what songs will really get people on the dance floor. For a MTJPSD, it might be matching up two songs perfectly... or creating that perfect climb of sound that builds up to the climax that a good electro song inevitably has (i.e. the siren sound in "Cornelius" by The Bloody Beetroots... one of my fave music moments of all time). The point is, the skill sets for these two types of DJs are so different. Some DJs may possess both sets, but I felt on Friday night that JFK of MSTRKRFT did not.

Well, this update took about 24 hours to write -- broken up by work and sleep -- so I think it is time to move on.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Reading Challenge 2.0 - Update!

A comment from a reader reminded me that I haven't been updating everyone about my Reading Challenge 2.0. So here goes...

I didn't finish the Harry Potter series before seeing the 7th movie, which was a shame, but I have finished the 5th. It was fantastic, as I knew it would be, and I'll soon be ready to take on the final two books in the series. The 6th which I don't recall at all, and the 7th which I've never read. Very exciting stuff! I really need to hop to it!

In the meantime (before I start the 6th), I'm reading something totally different, recommended and lended (I know it's not the correct word, but it works) to me by someone I only just met. She lent (see, I know the correct word) me 3 other books and I'm excited to read those, too... after Harry Potter, Steph, I swear!

Anyway, the current read is By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham. It's beautifully written... very 21st-century-stream-of-consciousness... I love it! I get the sense it's going to get pretty twisted, and I cannot wait!

Then... back to HP!

Masters of the Kraft x2


I saw MSTRKRFT a year ago. It's weird how things can change so much in a year... I graduated, kicked some bad habits, moved to a new (small) town, got a big girl job... weird. However, not everything changes, because I'm seeing MSTRKRFT once again this weekend. This will be my 3rd time seeing them and I'm pumped about it! The 3rd time I saw Aoki, I was not so pumped... but that was 3 times in 1 year, and MSTRKRFT is more spread out. Also, I'm going with my sister and I've never gone to a party like this with her before, so it'll be SICK!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

EM ESS EN


I would guess that the high school experience these days is very often shaped by Facebook. Making plans, spreading gossip, complaining about homework, flirting, etc., etc. I'm so glad my high school experience did not involve Facebook in any way -- it was hard enough surviving the most self-conscious years of my life as it was, never mind what it would've been like trying to find a somewhat decent profile picture.

However, we didn't experience high school in the absence of technology, because there was a mode of communication that, for me at least, did shape my high school years.

MSN

I'm thinking about this because my Gmail chat just cut out for what seemed like 3 minutes, but was probably 1.5. When it happened, I was reminded of what my reaction was when this happened on MSN in grade 11. My anxiety would kick in, I would click click click... restart the computer... the sweat would start pouring... I would think about what the person I was chatting with might think... would they still be online? OMG OMG OMG!!!

Ahhhhh... sweet relief as the little green man spun around and then your friends were displayed once again.

How many serious conversations did you have on MSN? How many transcripts of conversations did you re-read? Did you ever print a conversation out?

I haven't used MSN in ages, but it really did define some pivotal parts of my adolescence.
Food for thought, I guess.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

TDCC

I've talked about this before, but my trend lately is to find new music through Hypem. Every week or so I download all the interesting sounding tracks on the Popular list and see what I like. Sometimes I really like a track and so I download the artist's whole album... but this doesn't happen often. I generally just listen to a few songs until I get sick of them, and then check the Popular list again. It works for me.

However, when I heard "Something Good Can Work" by Two Door Cinema Club, followed by "Kids" by TDCC, I knew that these two tracks were too hot to leave on their own. It was time to have their brother and sister tracks join them, resulting in the entire album, "Tourist History". They're not a new band, and Tourist History isn't a new album (March 2010), but they're new to me and I'm eating them up like they're sugar and gravy.

Here's what I'm talking about!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Newz

I haven't blogged in a bit, so here's a morning quickie before I hop in the shower.

The iPhone has changed my life... I'm more organized, more connected, and all around loving my new gadget. I haven't been reading as much, it's true, but I figure the novelty will wear off soon enough, and until then, I'm forcing myself to read at least twice a day, even if it's for short periods of time. Unfortunately I still won't finish the last 3 Harry Potters before Friday (the opening day of the first part of the 7th movie), but that's no matter... I'll finish them eventually. I'm about 50 pages from being done the 5th book, so I'll just push through and hopefully finish the other 2 this year.

Some of the many perks of the iPhone are the news apps - I have Thomson Reuters, New York Times (thanks to the GF), Globe & Mail, and Huffington Post all at my fingertips. I read the top articles every morning with my coffee. It's not the same as holding the papers in your hand at your breakfast table, but it's a fantastic alternative. Plus, I get MORE news, and if I like an article or want to share it, it couldn't be simpler to link to Facebook, Twitter, etc. I love it. I feel more informed, which is always a good thing! Ok - shower time!

Monday, November 1, 2010

iPhone vs. Books

My life is (nearly) complete: I bought the iPhone 4.
In the 4 or so days since I got it, my life has changed. I feel more organized, more connected, and, needless to say, cooler.

However - I can't lose sight of other goals (even though I was able to cross off buying an iPhone from my goal list), namely the Reading Challenge 2.0. I've still got a ways to go with HP5, and then I still need to read 4 more before December 31st. I can for sure do it, but I've got to maintain my nightly routine of reading and not let playing games or checking Facebook on my iPhone get in the way of that.

Favourite app so far: Sleep Cycle. Just so cool.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

MTV Live

Daryn Jones, Nicole Holness, Paul the Intern, Sheena Snively.
These 4 people are the regulars on MTV Live (MTV Canada).
I wanted to post a picture but couldn't find a good one with all 4 of them.

I like MTV Canada. I think it's got funny programming, interesting original stuff, and manages (despite being an offshoot of an American network) to be distinctly Canadian. No one tries to avoid talking about specific cities or even Canadian-specific news. I love that.

Lately I love MTV Live in particular. I think it is extremely hilarious almost all of the time and they get racier than I thought you could get on TV. Yesterday Daryn just spat out for a good 3 minutes a million different euphemisms for sex while Nicole replied (to each euphemism) "What?" Both of them managed to keep a straight face. I mean, it was pre-filmed, but still... they killed it. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV. Anyway, kudos to them for doing an interesting, live, Canadian show. KUDOS!!!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Sept.


I haven't watched "The September Issue" in like 3+ months. Very strange. I think I'm going to have to watch it tonight so that this redheaded beauty will Grace me with her presence.

**EDIT: Ms. Coddington is almost hilariously glam in this picture.

Monday, October 18, 2010

4 down, 3 to go!!!

Harry Potter… Harry Potter… you may be sick of reading me talking about it but I’m not sick of writing about it, so either hear what I have to type, or step off...

I just finished HP4. I think it was only my second time reading it and my God was it better the second time around! I don’t know how old I was when I first read it… I couldn’t have been that young, but I think it all went over my head. It’s kind of amazing that it’s a children’s book! I mean, I get why, but it is so much more fascinating for me as an adult. All of the stuff about Voldemort rising again? Dumbledore contacting all of his allies to start preparing? My God, it’s incredible! I can’t wait to start the 5th when I get home from work. I have 1 month and 1 day to finish the last 3 books. I’m pretty sure I can do it if I focus.

Reading Challenge #2 - Update:

  1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  2. Franny and Zooey
  3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5 more books to go by the end of 2010! ...and technically only 1 more needs to be fiction!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

SS + TT


"The Age of Adz" is Sufjan Stevens' new album. Like his other albums, this one does not disappoint. In fact, more than that, it's straight up incredible. I'm playing Text Twist right now and working my way through the album (rather than clean my bathroom... later, maybe) and I am in a peaceful reverie as a result. Time to DL the discography. Yes, it's time.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Santana vs. Harrison

When I was in grade 8, I would've scoffed at any cover of a Beatles song. I was into Beatles purity back then. Now though, I am impressed rather than threatened by a cover of a Beatles song that rivals the original.

This one here is a total beauty. This isn't the best recording of it, but I love watching India.Arie dancing and moving her hands. In the album version though, you've got Yo-Yo Ma on cello, so make sure you check that one out!



This makes me want to listen to India's "Acoustic Soul" album. That was such a high school jam of mine.

In other news, still working my way through HP-4, but I've come up with an official 2nd reading challenge. The last one concluded on September 5th, so from Sept. 5th-Dec. 31st my challenge is to read another 8 books with a stipulation: 50% have to be fiction. Loves it.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

RC Continues

I know I said the Reading Challenge was concluded, but the truth is that I hope it's ongoing for the rest of my life. Regardless, I will continue to discuss the books that I'm reading (as I have been), how I like them, and what I'm doing to encourage/allow myself to read more.

Currently Reading:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- I've got about 150 pages to go and I am just eating it up! How does J.K.R. do it? Her stories are so intricate and well thought out, and I love how much more substantial they get once Harry hits 4th year. Incredible! After this, 3 more to go!

Next:

  • Superfreakonomics - I got so into HP that I've neglected this book, but I've got 3 more weeks before it's due back at the library, so I have to read it soon!
  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - I'm obsessed with HP right now, so it's more likely that I crack this open before Superfreakonomics but I'll try to practice self control if I can. The books aren't going anywhere, but it might be hard to finish books 5, 6, and 7 before November 19th (when part 1 of the 7th movie comes out [5 weeks to go]). I'll try my best!!!
  • The Old Man and the Sea - This was on sale at Indigo and I felt the urge to buy it. It looks like a quick read and it's a classic, so I was sold! Plus, I feel embarrassed as an English major that I haven't read Hemingway, so this will be my start! I'm redeeming myself post-grad.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

FB.


I could go on and on about how fascinating Facebook is and how it's changed our world and the way we socialize, communicate, etc., etc., etc., but I won't. We all live it and know it and there won't be anything unique about the way I articulate it, so I'll avoid self-indulgence & pretension for once.

I'll just make a few small comments about the movie "The Social Network":
  • I thought the writing was fabulous. It makes me want to get into "The West Wing" again.
  • I thought the acting was really good, too. Justin Timberlake isn't a great actor, maybe, but they picked a good character for him to play... although as a sidenote, I heard (read in Vanity Fair) that Sean Parker isn't really that much like the character in the movie. That may or may not be true.
  • I had no idea that Sean Parker (one of the guys behind Napster) was involved in the beginnings of Facebook. Was that news to anyone else?
  • My parents really enjoyed the movie, too, but my dad said it took him a while to get into. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that they don't have Facebook.
  • Overall, definitely worth watching!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Incidentally, I loved the book.

I finished Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger last night. I can’t remember if I mentioned that I was reading it, but I started it last weekend when I’d forgotten to bring the 4th Harry Potter home with me. I’m reading that right now as well, but since Franny and Zooey was shorter (and I’d likely never read it if I got too into HP), I made it my priority to finish.

I love the way Salinger writes. Certainly you could call it pretentious, but his use of language, the seemingly irrelevant yet deeply beautiful stories he tells, the characters he introduces the reader to… he can fill you up in a way that only the best authors can. Franny and Zooey was no exception – I loved every page of it. The story he tells within it is so strange and fascinating.

One of my favourite things in the book, and I wonder if this stood out to others who’ve read it, was how many times he used the word “incidentally”. It was in the book at least 10 times, and it was never really necessary. He could’ve used a different word or removed it entirely, but it was there many times, and in a 200 page book, it stood out to me. While reading it, I often thought about why he used the word so many times, and my favourite conclusion is that he likes the sound of it, had been using it often himself at the time the story was written, and so he used it often in the writing. The reason I like this conclusion is because, incidentally, I do the exact same thing. I get attached to a word and use it as often as makes sense, and often more. Lately I’ve been using the word “convoluted” whenever possible. I’d try to use it right now, but it would likely be a convoluted process to get to that point.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Jelly.

My Mom went on a trip and bought me blackcurrant jam. This is my current jam.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

HP

I just finished the 3rd Harry Potter a.k.a. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I can't believe I didn't bring the 4th one with me to Toronto because I'm desperate to start it right now. Oh well... I'll be back home in 36 hours so I can start it then.

If I didn't mention it already, I'm currently re-reading the Harry Potter series in preparation for the first installment of the 7th movie (opening in theatres in mid-November, I believe). In fact, I haven't even read the 7th book yet, which is why I started re-reading in the first place. I don't know why I never got to reading it. I guess it's because I always felt I needed to re-read the other books and was always overwhelmed by the notion. I'm committed this time though. Plus, it's a nice and easy way to get back into the world of fiction. Never mind the fact that the books are just so darn good.

They really are. J.K. Rowling doesn't get nearly enough credit for the incredible world she has created. When you're reading the books, everything seems normal about the world within them, which is a testament to Rowling's imagination and writing. I mean, what even is a dementor? Yet, it makes perfect sense in the world of Harry and Hogwarts.

Anyway... I'm enjoying every word of them and I can't wait to get on to the next. I'm now heading into the more beefy of the Harry Potter series books, too, which is nice. A little more substantial, if you will.

In the meantime, I'm going to get to reading more of Superfreakonomics. I borrowed it from the library and it's due in 2 weeks, so I've gotta focus on that, too! In fact, I think I'm going to get to that now!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Things I Love Right Now

  1. "The Comeback" - Lisa Kudrow stars as Valerie Cherish in this HBO 1-season satire of reality TV. What can I say about it? Well, my friend generously gave me the show as a prezzie recently and so I've been working my way through it. I've got about 3-4 episodes to go and it is without question one of the funniest and best TV shows I've ever watched. It's painful to watch at many points per episode (Kudrow plays a sort of washed up star making her comeback, hence the show's name), but that's a testament to the incredible writing. It is so funny and raw and uncomfortable, and Lisa Kudrow. I think the best way I can describe how good she is is by saying you forget she's Phoebe. She kills the character of Valerie Cherish. She IS Valerie Cherish. It's amazing. I love it and can't wait to finish it, only to watch it all over again.

  2. Nicki Minaj - This girl is so beyond good. I haven't heard such solid, powerful female rapping since Missy, and I love Missy. Nicki has got her own level though. She's funny, raw, an incredibly distinct style, and she is TAL-EN-TED. I love her rap in "Bottoms Up" by Trey Songz (made me fall in love with her), but my latest Minaj jam is her verse in Kanye West's "Monsta". Unfortunately embedding was disabled, but check out tha vid, you'll be glad ya did.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Today I Am Entertained

Let's see if I can go about this in a backwards way...

Ever heard of the MBTI? Well, by taking the Myers-Briggs personality test, you can receive your personality type. I'm an INFJ. When you get your test results, you can find out celebrities that are the same type as you. You can also find out fictional characters who are the same type as you - how they find this out, I don't know. Anyway, a presumed INFJ is Amélie Poulain from the movie "Amélie". (P.S. Not sure how I feel about IMDB's new layout...). I love that Amélie is presumed to be an INFJ, because I love her. I also love the actress Audrey Tautou who plays her. Today I watched "Coco Avant Chanel". It was amazing. More specifically, Audrey Tautou was absolutely amazing in it!!!







How is that for backwards? Seriously though, it was incredible. Coco's story is amazing, she was (and continues to be) revolutionary, and the movie was beautifully done. Audrey stunned me; her ability to show such tension and emotion in her face..... I was floored. I recommend it to every and anyone!

In other entertainment news, there's a marathon of "Hoarders" on A&E today. I am fascinated by this show, so I plan on watching it as much as possible. The new season premiere is on at 9:00. I'll be watching...

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Reading Challenge: Concluded

On May 16, 2010, I declared a Reading Challenge. My impetus was (impeti were?) a few things... I wanted to stop falling asleep to movies/TV shows/Internet use, I wanted to read more books, I wanted to relax more and do something (read) that calmed me down, and I wanted to go in the opposite direction of where people think our generation is going... people think books (the actual, physical things) are going to be obsolete, that no one is going to read anymore, that we're a technological (exclusively) world... all that. I don't want to be part of a generation that's exclusively that. Anyway, so I instated a challenge, and now (September 5th - the end of the challenge was supposed to be August 31st, but no big deal) I will declare my concluding thoughts on it.

First of all, here's what I read and how I felt about each book:
  1. The Outsider by Albert Camus - this story is translated from French, and is known to be a classic. I'm not sure how it ended up on my bookshelf, but I thought it'd be a good starter book because it's quite short. It was in fact a quick read, and I really liked it. I wouldn't call it one of my favourites, but it was an incredibly interesting story and original idea. I'm glad I read it. The main character was fascinating and the concept of someone being stony and non-emotive and how the general public reacts to that... it was a really interesting look at what we see as "good" and "human" and how we're not necessarily right. Anyway, I won't try to get too deep. Great read.
  2. John by Cynthia Lennon - I think this was probably my favourite of the summer!!! It was surprisingly good, super enlightening, and really well written. It shed a new light on the man I've always loved and admired, and although that light was often dark, it did the thing that learning about John Lennon always does - showed him as incredibly and beautifully flawed and human. Nobody's perfect, and I think J.L. would be the first to tell you that. He wasn't a saint; in fact, he was quite brutal at times, but he was John, and I still love him for it. Great book!
  3. Sex Drugs & Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman - pretentious, funny, annoying, aggravating, hilarious, and wonderful! I'd love to read Klosterman again though! I might like to read Downtown Owl or whatever his fictional novel is called; I bet it'd be good! He's a good writer, has a wide market, and had some funny stories to tell. I liked it!
  4. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell - I cannot wait to read The Tipping Point and What the Dog Saw. His ideas are often a bit simplistic, but they're not obvious (like, say, The Secret). He's a great writer, explores interesting concepts, and I would love to gobble up a few more of his. I've read Blink and Outliers, but I definitely want more! I'd also love to know about writers like him... any suggestions out there?
  5. Freakonomics by Levitt & Dubner - I just got Superfreakonomics from the library, so needless to say, I enjoyed the first one. I think I wrote a more detailed entry on this book at some point... oh yeah, here it is... anyway, I really enjoyed it! It's a very simplified way of looking at things (for the sake of a potentially simple audience reading it), but it certainly reveals economics as a varied and complex field. It's not just about numbers - it's about incentives. I'd recommend this book for sure!
  6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling - this shouldn't have really been part of the reading challenge because I've read it before, but the point of the challenge was to start reading again, and I didn't specify that it needed to be new books. Anyway, nothing but good things to say about HP. I'm re-reading the series because I've still never read the 7th book and I really want to read it before the movie(s) comes out. I didn't want to just read the 7th book on its own though - I really wanted to build up the momentum by starting from the beginning. I read this book so fast! It's so good!!!
  7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling - so, so, so good, too! I never liked this book as much, but I appreciated it more this time around. You really can't go wrong with Harry.
  8. The Mother Tongue - English and How it Got that Way by Bill Bryson - if you're a dedicated reader of my blog, you know that I've talked about this book a variety of times (including in an entry in 2008)... and that's because I've attempted to read it a variety of times. It's endlessly fascinating, but for some reason I've never made it through the whole thing. I don't know what it is... in the end I really loved it. The subject matter is great and Bill Bryson is an incredibly funny and talented writer... I guess it was just dense. He tried his best to lighten it, but there was a lot of history and info and all that, and it was really repetitive in parts, too. However, I'm so glad I've finally finished it, and there are numerous pockets of really interesting stuff! Good book!
What I learned from the challenge:

Like I've said a bunch of times, the point of the challenge was to get reading back into my routine. As of now, I read daily. Every night before bed, I read for at least 20 minutes, and usually longer. Sometimes it's the only time I read each day, but at least I'm reading. Some days if there's nothing on TV, I'll read. Sometimes at work I read during lunch. I still usually choose the computer & TV over reading, but it's progress.

I want to read more though. I want to say no to TV & Internet more often and read during breakfast, after dinner, and for longer before bed. Even though my challenge is over, I think reading 5-8 books every 4 months would be an amazing goal on a regular basis. Can you imagine if I was reading 20+ books a year? That'd be amazing! I want to keep it up!

I want to read more fiction!!! Out of my 8 books, 3 were fiction, and 2 of those were HP. That's bad. Fiction is good for the soul and the imagination and the heart, and the mind, of course, too. That's one of my new goals as well. Bring on the fiction!

What's next on my book list:
  • Superfreakonomics by Levitt & Dubner
  • The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank [still haven't finished this]
  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.R.

Overall, I'm super satisfied with the challenge. I'm reading more, I read 8 books in (almost) the time I meant to, and I read at least once a day... I'm proud!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Net Work

The Internet is the most incredible resource for work. This is obviously not some kind of new, genius idea I have; it's been said over and over again, but now that I'm working full-time, I'm amazed at how much it rings true.

The main thing I marvel at is networking among people in your field. I belong to a list-serv where people email each other questions and then people freely and happily share answers. I think I've helped some people out a few times with questions, and people have definitely helped me out. I basically developed a project out of answers I got from others to my questions. It's amazing... and I mean, people have always been doing it, but the Internet makes it so fast and easy and... international.

Oh the things we're able to do.....

Monday, August 30, 2010

Notent Notables

Spaghetti - you were SO delicious just now. Why isn't there more of you?

So, tomorrow marks the end of the reading challenge. The challenge was to read 8 books by August 31st. I believe the challenge will end with 7 books read - 2 of them by J.K. Rowling, which had already been read by me before... Boooo. Not exactly the point of the challenge, but I must say I got a little complacent near the end and was far too interested in re-reading the Harry Potter series than anything else. Ho hum, oh well... Still, 5/8 is not so bad when you're a working gal, and the whole point was to get myself reading, not to be too particular about what exactly it was I read. Plus, Harry Potter is a great gateway back into the Fiction world, which was another thing I needed. Although it's not officially over, I call the Reading Challenge a great success!!! [I'll do an official reading challenge post on September 1st to report a little more specifically on my thoughts, books read, achievements, etc.]

Sporcle - stop being so fun!!!

In other news, I have no other news.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Tweet / Poke

I think Twitter & Facebook are meant for different sentiments. You know what I mean?

Monday, August 23, 2010

Entourage Crush!






Obviously we know I love Entourage. Did you know Turtle was one of my (if not the only) favourite characters? Well he is. I've always liked him. In fact, I've even crushed on him a wee bit - since the beginning.












Now check him out!































Damn Turtle! Your arms are bulging and your face is so intense!


Mmmmm.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Ark Aid Fye Her



My favourite band has always been The Beatles, and it still is. Their talent, influence, consistency, personality, story, and music in general is unparalleled. It's not as if there aren't bands who rival them, because there are, but the impact The Beatles had... you just can't compare.

That said, I don't listen to The Beatles on a daily basis. In fact, I can't remember the last time I put on a Beatles song on purpose. Lately, I don't listen to one artist... I don't listen to albums... I don't obsess over one band... I guess I've started approaching my music with the way I approach a lot of things now - in bite-sized amounts. A move to listen to just one song by one artist, and then another song by another artist, is akin to my move to write things in 140 characters or less.

Anyway, however it's happened, it's sort of a bummer... oh well...

The point of this musing is to mention that because it's been held in such high esteem since its release, I'm listening to the entirety (in order - that's important) of Arcade Fire's new album: "The Suburbs". I was really into "Neon Bible" a couple of summers ago, and I like Arcade Fire, so I'm pumped to be experiencing them in a new way again.

Verdict after 2.5 songs? I've GOT to listen to the rest. This album is effing amazing!!!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Bieber Bottle

I do not have Bieber fever, nor am I a Justin hater. I just think this is funny.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Spring Forward, Autumn's Back!

Let's talk for a quick sec about "Entourage".

More specifically: Autumn Reeser.


Dear Autumn,

You are hot, fierce, and super talented. You are killing it as Lizzie Grant, and I mean that. Keep it up. Your ferociousness turns me on.

Sincerely,
Madam Sugar Gravy

Mournings.

I love listening to my iPod on the way to work. It really gets me pumped and ready in the morning, and it also makes me forget about the massive hills that I have to walk up on the way to the office. However, I've recently moved to a small town and listening to an iPod while you're walking is a bit different. When I walk by people now, they're usually interested in smiling and saying "hello" or "good morning" to me. Having grown up in Toronto, this is a strange and new concept. No one was usually interested in smiling at me or saying hello... and truth be told, I've never been interested in smiling at anyone either... at least not in the morning. So, for now, I'll just watch the mouth of the person walking by. If they smile, I'll smile. If they say good morning (or that's what their mouth looks to be mouthing), I'll say good morning... but I'm keeping my earbuds in.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Hermione Looking Finey Part Deux

OH EM GEE, Emma Watson. Bold move, but I think it'll pay off.

You def don't look like Hermione anymore.

Will Burberry still use you? I hope so. It could be FEE-YASS.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

FUNdraising


As someone involved in fundraising, I must say - Barack's team is on point. I know the graphic is impossible to read from here, but click on it and take a look. Trust me, you'll be impressed.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Reading Challenge Update

Ok... I really need to get focused, because I've got under a month left to read 3 more books. I've got 5 books on the go right now and that needs to stop. However, I once had 3 books on the go, and I finished them all in a short amount of time. It's all about focus and dedication.

Here's what I've got on the go and what I think so far:
  • Smart Women Finish Rich - this book is AWESOME! I've learned some tips and tricks about my finances that I'm so grateful for already! However, the author suggests that you read and re-read sections of it before moving on, so I'm taking a break from the book while I read some others, and then in a few months I intend to get back to it! Another note about SWFR - it is SO great as a young professional to be figuring out these financial skills so early on, BUT some of them aren't applicable quite yet, so I'm sure it'll act as a reference guide over the next 10 years, too.
  • The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank) - I started this a month or so ago and kinda took a break for a bit. It's an important read though, and I'd like for it to be part of my final 3 books.
  • The Mother Tongue: English and How it Got That Way - this has been on my bookshelf for ages, which is surprising because of how much I've always enjoyed reading it (this is my 3rd time trying). I think I've made it further than I ever have before, and I plan on finishing this first of the 3 I've got left.
  • The School on the Hill - this book is a work in progress. No plans to finish it ASAP.
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Could this one even count? It's like my 10th time reading it, but I wanna re-read the whole series before the movie comes out in November, so I'm starting now. I'll see if I want to include it in the challenge... maybe if I'm desperate after finishing the two others. We'll see!

You make my dreams come true!

I have so many days like this.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Bottoms Up!

Really really into this jam right now. Originally I was just into Nicki Minaj's rap (which is BANGING hot!!!), but now the whole song has grown on me!



Nicki Minaj is HOT, btw. What's her deal? She's got skills that I haven't seen since Missy. I DL'ed her mix tape. I gotsta get on that.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

"What we do with the connections we make online after we close our laptops and turn off our smart phones"

I've talked about these two a bunch of times. I've been following them basically every step of the way - both in the literal and Twitteral sense - and I'm always excited to hear about their adventures, discoveries, and revelations. Here's a particular revelation that really stood out for me.
It is obvious to me now as I collect real-life relationships like souvenirs along the course of my travels, that the potential of social media lies in what we do with the connections we make online after we close our laptops and turn off our smart phones.
Isn't that beautiful? And it is the truth. I'm not a pessimist about social media. I don't think it makes true friendship fall apart. In fact, it keeps us more able to connect, and easier. Rather than moving somewhere leading to losses in friendships, it means I can always see what my friends are up to, and vice versa. It has changed things, sure, but I don't think in a negative way.

Anyway, check out Alex and Luke. They're great!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Chefspiracy

It wasn't really worth mentioning when I only found one case of it... but now that I have two? I have to tell you!

I think Food Network stars are pretending they're chefs when really they're professional actors and actresses.






Chef Michael Smith from Chef at Home? Or John Corbett, a.k.a. Aidan from Sex and the City?









Anna Olson from Fresh? Or Bonnie Hunt from Cheaper by the Dozen?

Monday, July 19, 2010

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Gravy's All Right

**EDIT: Guess what?!?! This is my 200th post on Sugar and Gravy. I love it and I have no intention of stopping. Enjoy!!!**

I am so excited to see this! Talk about the most solid lesbian couple ever - in terms of fantastic actresses. We lucked out! And by "we", I mean the gays all over the world.



In other news, there's a new episode of "Entourage" on tonight. The trailer looks amazing! I don't get HBO, but I'll download the episode tonight or tomorrow morning. I can't wait!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Reading Challenge Update

Did I mention I moved? Yes, I moved towns and (obviously) am in a new apartment. My desk and computer are now in a different room than my bed, which I love. I didn't get wireless Internet (yet) so my computer stays put, which means... I'm not falling asleep with my computer in bed with me anymore. I love that! It helps with my whole mission to read before bed (and not compute).

Anyway
... that is a long-winded way of saying the reading challenge is going well. EXCEPT that once again I've got 3 books on the go.
  1. Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach - I started my first real job so my GF got me this book to get me started right with saving and all that. I'm 50 pages in and loving it!
  2. The School on the Hill: Trinity College School 1865-1965 by A.H. Humble & J.D. Burns
  3. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank - I've always meant to read this, but never have. I'm enjoying it, but I haven't gotten too far in yet. It'll probably be the last of the 3 I finish, but I'm really looking forward to getting into it.
That reminds me - still no fiction. How strange! I need to make myself read some fiction after these 3.

Freakonomics was great, btw. The Stephen/Steven writing team did a great job articulating some really crazy (but reasonable) ideas. It really shows a side of economics that most people don't associate with the field, which is what makes Steven Levitt such a neat, smart guy. That said, it's a tricky art/science. It's really all about incentives and numbers and estimates and assumptions and not a lot about heart or miracles or... well, outliers, actually. What I mean is, some of the assumptions made seem a bit over the top, and even racist. So, you've gotta take what they say with a grain of salt. It's about economics, so you've gotta look at things a little differently.

SO... of the 8 book total I challenged myself to read, I've got:
  1. The Outsider
  2. John
  3. Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs
  4. Outliers
  5. Freakonomics

Sea Sun Say Vun

It's a new season of "Entourage" (there's been 2 episodes so far) and I'm pumped. I've never actually watched the show as it's happening, so it is CRAZY to be waiting a week in between episodes. I need to know what happens next... NOW! But, it's also a lot of fun to get so excited for the next installment.

My thoughts so far?
  • Episode 1 left something to be desired. It was a little flat, but sometimes a well-established show's premiere doesn't necessarily start with a bang... or maybe it was that I saw all the main scenes already in the teasers.
  • Episode 2 was AWESOME! That's the "Entourage" I know and love. There were surprises, there was serious drama, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Tune in for sure, and if you've never seen it - do yourself a favour and give it a try!!!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Friends?

Gary Sinise and Tom Hanks are in at least 3 movies together - "Forrest Gump", "The Green Mile", and "Apollo 13".

Do you think they're friends? I hope so.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Hot or Notmail

After 5+ years (maybe even 9 years... can't remember), I'm ready to put an end to my Hotmail account. Barely anybody contacts me at that address, I GREATLY prefer my Gmail account, and I'm sick of having to log in to multiple email accounts.

However, Hotmail doesn't make it very easy. I figured I have 2 options:
  1. Set up an auto-forward from the Hotmail to the Gmail.
  2. Set up a vacation auto-reply thing saying that people should email me at Gmail.
Neither of these options are possible with Hotmail right now, or maybe ever. The vacation reply option has been disabled for some reason, and you can only forward to emails that end with @live, @hotmail, or @msn. Are you kidding?!?!

Hotmail, I know you suck, but can't you throw me a bone?

Monday, July 5, 2010

L.G.R.

Ok.

So you know how I hate Lady Gaga? Well, I'm not really sure why I do. Part of it stems from me always being wary of things that are really hyped up. Lady Gaga is huge! She's a relatively new phenomenon, and yet she's #4 on the Forbes Celebrity 100?!?!? Why? What's so special about her? She's fresh and genius and creative and artistic. Is she? Is she doing stuff that nobody else is doing or nobody else has done before? I dunno... I think people are a little blinded by her outrageous outfits...

But as much as I'm wary of things that are really hyped up, I'm also wary of intense feelings that I have that I can't exactly explain. I mean, I don't really listen to Lady Gaga, so am I really qualified to hate her or have a strong opinion either way? No, I'm not.

SO... it's time to begin my L.G.R. - Lady Gaga Research. I'm gonna take notes as I work my way through as much of her music as I can. I'm gonna read up on her. I'm gonna stare at dozens of Google images. I'm gonna form a real opinion, and I'm gonna report back to you.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

I love you, Ron.

I want to talk for a minute, if I may, about one Ron Howard.

The truth is - I haven't even seen that much of his stuff. My main love is Apollo 13, but I'm also a huge fan of Arrested Development, Frost/Nixon, and A Beautiful Mind. So I'm not a super-fan by any stretch, but I have this deep-set love for him... and it's existed even before I started dating a ginger.

There's something about the stories he chooses to tell, namely in his directing. He tells stories of complex people or big moments in (mainly American) history. He doesn't shy away from complicated ideas, but he also delivers them in a way that makes you understand.

I just love him, so I need to see more of him. What is your favourite Ron Howard movie?

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Whooopppaaaahhhh!

My thoughts about "Whip It"...
  • There was a really stellar cast. Especially Juliette Lewis. Why isn't she in movies more often?
  • Despite the stellar cast full of comediennes, it wasn't very funny.
  • It could've been called Juno 2. Ellen Page didn't really try something new.
  • It was clearly directed by Drew Barrymore. That is neither a compliment nor an insult.
  • It wasn't bad... it just wasn't very good.
  • It was kinda really corny.
  • There should've been a lesbian storyline.
  • Then again, there didn't really need to be when it was about a roller derby. The lesbian storyline is implied.
**EDIT: I loved that Alia Shawkat (i.e. Maeby Funke from "Arrested Development") played Juno's Ellen Page's best friend in the movie. She deserves more fun roles. Ooh, when I IMDB'd her I noticed she's in "The Runaways". I really need to see that movie. Any good?

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Forbessss

I don't think I know very much about celebrities. I maybe know more than average... or maybe not... Anyway, I just looked at the Forbes Celebrity 100 and I was shocked (in some cases) about who was there.

I always forget about the huge celebrity of athletes. I also forget that athletes who are no longer playing in professional sports still have a huge impact - for example, Michael Jordan. I figured Jordan was set for life, but because I haven't seen him around much, I was surprised to see him on the Forbes 100. Then again - Air Jordans and all that stuff? I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.

There are also a lot of actors/actresses who play a more behind-the-scenes role these days - executive producing, writing, directing, etc. They're still raking in the dough, even if they're not in the limelight.

I also forget that just because I don't like the hype of a particular celebrity doesn't mean the hype isn't HUGE. Lady Gaga is #4. She's huge. I have to admit it. Forbes doesn't lie. I'm just... not into her.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Book Update


Out of the 501 books they tell me I must read, I think I've read about 15. Pathetic, right? Well, maybe not. I have some friends who've probably read none of them. That's not the point though. I've got the rest of my life to read and I want to pick up the pace, and perhaps use this book as a guide...

That said, of the 501, there are a whole bunch I'm totally not interested in, so I need some suggestions. What are your favourites?

I finished Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Did I mention that? I know I said I was reading it... Anyway, I finished it, meaning I've read 4 books so far this summer. 3 of them non-fiction, surprisingly enough. I used to be a die-hard fiction reader. Maybe it has come with age.

Outliers was quite good. Gladwell is a great writer with awesome subject material and some great ideas and theories. If you read it, look out for the part about summer vacation. That portion of the book has really stuck with me. Like all Gladwell books, it's a bit simplistic at times, but that's also his charm. He feeds it to you easy. Kinda like the Michael Moore of literature... or maybe not. Malcolm probably wouldn't like that. Anyway, fabulous book! I want to read The Tipping Point next.

Now I'm on to my 5th summer book: Freakonomics by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner. It's basically a book that applies economics to everyday puzzles, explaining why and how people do the things they do. There's a strong focus on the incentives that drive people. Very cool stuff. I'm on chapter 1 and very much enjoying it. My boss has been telling me to read it for years, so I'm glad I'm finally getting to it.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Now it's Chiddy Bang - Google me the images


Remember when I told y'all to check out Chiddy Bang?

Well I did, and then what do I see today on Twitter (tweeted by Steve Aoki)?
Finishing another track for my album w/ @realchiddy & @xaphoonjones http://twitpic.com/1z4rcuhttp://fb.me/BNy3lUgV

Ok, so maybe you didn't hear it here first, but I was pretty effing on it.


2 Things

  1. If Jay-Z really did forget to pay the whole bill for a private plane, is it really that big of a deal? We all know he's good for it.

  2. Drake's new album Thank Me Later is a goodie, I think! I really like the track "Thank Me Now". It's hot and arrogant and smooth and hard all at once! I love it!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Clones

Currently watching Season 1, Episode 3 of "Weeds". Yep - a new show. I really don't need a new obsession, but I'm really loving this so far.

One concern though: was it intentional to have Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) and Celia (Elizabeth Perkins) look SO much alike?

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Asian Illusion

So... right now I'm working my way through "Gossip Girl" season 1. I know I'm like 3 or 4 years late, but I don't care. Anyway, I always find it blatantly racist that Blair's two friends Isabel and Kati are black and Asian (respectively) and barely ever speak, while the rest of the cast is white and has involved, speaking roles. What's worse is that Kati suddenly disappears and is replaced by "another Asian" named Nelly, who initially plays a dork, but is suddenly part of the group. Kati's disappearance is never referenced, and Nelly is just absorbed into the group. Anyone else notice this? Am I totally wrong, or is this actually what happened?

Sunday, June 13, 2010

T C B

First of all - talk about a thrill! Today I get a direct message from @alexandluke (remember them?) telling me that I've won their most recent draw, meaning I get to choose their next destination. I had to choose between Tennessee, Virginia, or Missouri. I chose Tennessee - purely on the basis that it has 3 sets of double letters in it. Why not?

Update on the Reading Challenge: With 2 bus trips of 1.5 hours each this weekend, I got to work on finishing some books, and I did! I finished Cynthia Lennon's bio of John Lennon, entitled John, AND Sex Drugs & Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman. A short word on each...

John: Beautiful. Captivating. Upsetting. A tribute. The book sent me in a million different directions throughout. I mentioned before that John seemed to be much more loving with Cynthia than I would've first thought, and he was, but once I got to the divorce... Good God! It was hard to see my hero acting in the way that he did. Anyway, I won't get into a lot of details about it, but it was a great read! Cynthia wrote beautifully and honestly. I think for all of us die-hard Lennon fans, it's a necessary read. He's human, after all.

Sex Drugs & Cocoa Puffs: Oh Chuck Klosterman - you are a pretentious dork, but I love you anyway. A lot of his essays went over my head (I think because I was born in '87), but so many of them rung true to me, and often made me laugh hysterically. In many ways, Chuck is the male version of what I would aspire to be if I didn't have more than one passion. Anyway, I certainly plan on reading more of his stuff, that's for sure!

Now I've gotta finish Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. It's a great book, but seems a bit more sophisticated after what I just got through with. I'll get back there though. And, what happened to my love for fiction? I've gotta get back to that, too!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Book Worms & Other Musings

Things I'm trying to do more of (and starting to succeed):
  • Eat meals at my kitchen table (versus sitting on the couch or at my desk).
  • Falling asleep without a TV show or a movie playing AND with my computer actually off.
  • Reading before bed (and in general).
  • Floss (you know this already).
That reminds me - I guess in a sense The Great Flossing Challenge is over. I used to have a chart on my bathroom wall with how many times I'd done it, but I took it down because now I don't have to see the chart in order to floss. I guess that means the Challenge was a success. YAY! I'll let you know how the next dentist visit goes. No more lying!

The reading challenge is going well, although I have to make myself finish one book before starting the next. I've got 3 books on the go right now:
  • Sex Drugs & Cocoa Puffs - Chuck Klosterman (nearly done)
  • Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell (about 1/3 to finish)
  • John - Cynthia Lennon (about 1/3 to go as well)
So I'm nearly done all of them, but I haven't finished any yet. Time to really get to it! Last night I got into my bed (so, SO comfy) and read for an hour and a half before falling asleep... AT 10:00 pm!!! WTF?! It felt so good though. I should try it more often.

By the way - John is such a good book. I don't know if it's ghost-written or not (I like to assume it's not and that Cynthia is a brilliant and glamorous woman), but whoever wrote it did an amazing job. The stories are fantastic and new and fresh - it's like she's filling in the gaps in between the stuff that those of us who are Lennon-obsessed already know.

Thoughts so far... John is much less cruel and disinterested as I might've thought. I figured he would've neglected Cynthia more than it appears he did. He's much more loving and tender and reassuring than I imagined. Then again, I haven't gotten to their separation...

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

My Media

15-30 minutes and I'm already in withdrawal.

In TV: I finished season 2 of Sex and the City, which means since the summer's beginning I've watched season 6, 1, and 2 (in that order... I don't know why). I'm LOVING IT!!! but season 3 isn't done downloading yet, so what do I do? People always say, "Why do you download? Just stream it!" I'll be honest - that's not my style. I don't like searching through Megavideo and Yidio links trying to find something of quality. I like to wait it out and then have on-demand television (and not have to worry that pausing an episode will result in some buffering issue or something).

In movies: Speaking of SATC... I saw the movie. If I hadn't been on a SATC-watching marathon over the past 2 months, I wonder if I would've reacted differently to the movie. As it is, well... I actually don't know what to say. Overall? It was pretty bad, and I'm not saying that because of the "racism and stereotypes", because I haven't exactly wrapped my head around all that yet. It was because of the writing - it was BAD! I mean, the television show has many, many, MANY moments of bad writing, but those moments are offset by a lot of good quality stuff. The movie just didn't have that. The story was tired, the puns and quips were embarrassing, and even the acting was pretty bad. Never mind the fact that those women (except for Charlotte) are looking like hot messes these days. Glad I saw it, nonetheless.

In music: Die Antwoord. I'm all about them. They're sick. Check it!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Sunday, June 6, 2010

B.S.C.

Dear Drake,

I've loved you for a while now. I was obsessed with your mix tape last summer, and I can't wait for the full album - it'll no doubt be epic.

That being said, your most recent video makes me wonder if you're not a little bat-shit crazy. I'd really like to be able to understand your artistic endeavors. What is going on in this video???

Sincerely,
Sugar&Gravy

Monday, May 31, 2010

Sugar & Ellie

I first heard of Ellie Goulding when I heard a Kids at the Bar remix of her song "Under the Sheets". It was a great remix, and remixes are usually best when they're working off of material that is already pretty great. Then I heard a Russ Chimes remix of Ellie Goulding's "Starry Eyed". That mix was unreal as well. Needless to say I started to figure that Ellie's got something going on, so I've been listening to her stuff (unremixed) lately, and it is indeed awesome. Check it!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

The Days of Yore

I nearly forgot about this ol' webpage. I remember it was going around in email FWDs back in the day. Remember that? When information travelled in email FWDs?!?! Damn, those was some slow days. You had to wait to log in to your Hotmail before you knew what was hot and fresh and current. Hilarious.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Pee Bee

I love peanut butter. There was a point a couple months ago where I was eating it at least once a day (sometimes twice!). Also - I don't spread it thinly. I want it stuck to the roof of my mouth, so I just pile it on. However, [I couldn't help but wonder...] like all great loves, my love for peanut butter had to be questioned: couldn't I try natural peanut butter for a while? If I love PB so much, wouldn't that be the right choice?

Well, I tried it. I had 2 jars of natural peanut butter (different brands) and gave it a shot.

I bought a MASSIVE jar of Skippy yesterday... of the crunchy variety. Sometimes you're allowed to take the unnatural option.

[Note: If my blog sounds suspiciously like a Carrie Bradshaw column, forgive me. I've been watching Sex and the City constantly, and it's infiltrating my speech.]

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

@MalcGladwell

In Outliers, the book I'm reading by Malcolm Gladwell, he names the elements that make work meaningful:
  1. Autonomy
  2. Complexity
  3. The connection between effort and reward
Very straightforward and concise, and extremely true.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

YES!

I'm working my way through sixth season of Sex and the City. It's not my first time seeing it, but it's always a pleasure to watch!

I just watched this scene with Charlotte emerging from a short depression and channeling Elizabeth Taylor. I think this may be her best fashion moment on the series. Work it!







*EDIT*
The only issue is that a few episodes later, the Russian buys Carrie a gorgeous (Oscar De la Renta, I believe) dress to wear to the opera and it's extremely similar. Carrie - get over it for 2 minutes and give Charlotte some time to shine, wouldja?

DIY

Before discussing today's topic, I shall update you on the Reading Challenge.
  • Currently reading: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Sex Drugs & Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman
  • Completed: The Outsiders
  • Next on the list?: The Time Traveler's Wife? Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas? What do you think???
Anyway... on to today's topic, which is DIY, a.k.a. Do It Yourself. This term is associated with books or TV shows on how to make your own bird houses or book shelves. You know what I'm talking about. However, there's a new kind of DIY, and that's what I want to discuss. It's the kind of DIY that happened to me yesterday. I wanted/needed a webcam and so my Mom gave me this old Logitech one she has. Old model, but it should still work. Here's the thing - she didn't have the installation CD. I decided to wing it! And so began my search. I googled, I figured out the webcam's model name, I looked around for torrents, I read through forums, and before I knew it, my webcam was working!!!

My point is - the Internet is empowering. You don't need to know lingo or understand the inside of your computer to make magic happen - you just need to commit yourself to the task at hand. With each thing that you google, you start to get an idea of what it is you need to do, download, or search further. I love it! I feel like a genius.

Who's visiting?