Worth a no-effort post

Prone to Obsession

I am the kind of person who gets ridiculously excited sometimes, like a little kid, freaking out for some reason or another. Apparently not everyone is like this, but I don’t care, its what I’m like, and I’m the one who can see my nose from the other side that YOU will never get to see it from. I feel particularly obsessed with several things at the moment, so I’m going to list these, with a little embellished commentary.

Numba 1: Coldplay
Today I bought tickets to the Coldplay concert in Ottawa on October 20th. I’ve seen them twice in concert before – Toronto 2003 and Montreal 2005. They’re amazing, they’re so freaking good. Even if Coldplay isn’t exactly your favourite band, you’d still like them in concert b/c they put on a good show. The lights, the energy, and let’s be honest, the music can’t hurt. I really love their new album “Viva la Vida or Death and all his friends”, it’s a very happy album, which is unique for Coldplay. Many have pegged their songs as melancholy and depressing, which, let’s face it, is a sure fire way to make good music. And no, I’m not actually being sarcastic with that remark, I LOOOVE depressing music. But now, when I’m walking down the street and “Life in Technicolour” is playing on my iPod, I just feel so happy, so good. Its AMAZING.


Munber 2: Radiohead
Still in the realm of British bands, I love Ropiohead. Like blogged previously, I saw their concert here in Montreal back in August. Incredible, really incredible. There’s something almost indescribable about big live concerts (with good bands, of course), it makes you feel part of something, and you experience the music, you don’t just hear the music. Wow. I am so deep. I hope they never stop making albums, as long as Thom Yorke is avoidant and anti-social, the quality of music will never decline.


Nummer 3: Stephen Colbert

One of the early posts of this blog was dedicated to my love for Stephen Colbert. That love remains, never ending like the motion of the tide. He recently won the Emmy for comedy writing. You’d think that a man who shamelessly plugs not only his own show, but really just himself would become unbearably annoying. But for some reason, we eat up his narcissism. I still think he’s pretty attractive for a forty-something. Love.

If you need a movie suggestion, go get Strangers with Candy. Very R-rated, very strange, very very funny.


Number 4: Brad Pitt

Another forty-year-old. Come on people! He is hott! Hott with two t’s! HE’S HOTT!!! I love Snatch. This is Brad Pitt’s hottest movie ever, where he plays this Irish Gypsy bare knuckled boxer guy, and he’s got his shirt off with the tattoos. If there’s one thing he’s got, its abs. If he was completely stupid and couldn’t act at all (which perhaps is the opinion held by some) he’s still got the best abs ever. Drool. (TIFF pic.)


Bummer 5: Adrien Brody

There’s a new movie coming out next month “The Brother’s Bloom”. Its another Wes Anderson flick, but the real reason I want to see it is Mr. Brody. This man is gorgeous. Yes yes, many have been surprised by my assessment of this lanky man, but look at his face. The dark brown eyes, the crooked nose – gorgeous. And there is no arguing that he can act. I mean he won the Oscar for Best Actor when he was 29, the youngest person to win this. Every time I see a movie that he’s in, my obsession is refreshed and I search imdb again seeing what new projects are coming out. I just can’t get enough (there’s something about you….. Name that lyric!).



Noomber 6: Arrested Development & 30 Rock
In a way, 30 Rock has been the replacement for AD since its been canceled. They share certain features, but remain unique. I think AD will never be equaled, but 30 Rock is its whole own thing too. I can’t wait for the new episodes to come out. I’ve seen every episode of AD at least 5 times, and every released episode of 30 Rock probably 3 times. I’ve mentioned before that it takes a bit for me to get into a new show, thus the tendency to rewatch things I know I like.


Numma 7: David Tennant

I know I’m a lot of things. You’ve probably tagged me as a nerd, as many of my so-called friends have tagged me. They pull out some logic about me be a grad student, and only nerds would do that, but whatever. Anyway, in 2nd year, which was my first year at U of T, my friend Mich got me to watching Doctor Who – the new season started by the BBC in 2005. I actually really like the show, especially that first new season with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. If you think its just a low budget sci fi show then I cannot help to see past your snobbishness to the core entertainment of the show. Anyway, on to the obsession part, the 2nd through 4th seasons feature David Tennant as the Doctor. Although these seasons don’t really match up with the one that directly preceded them, DT is sexy. Also, even though he fakes the British accent on the show, his natural Scottish accent (I am partial to Scots, for obvious reasons) is really hot.


Enough with the numbering. I get excited about and obsessed with things all the time. One such instance is Tolkien. I read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings when I was a teenager, before the movies came out. When you read a good book, you want to get to the end to find out what happens, but its so sad when it actually ends. The movies are fine, but it’s the books that really do it for me. I had a similar experience before then when reading the Chronicles of Narnia, which is also superb.

I think my excitement and obsession comes from the high you get from feeling a part of something big or exceptional. Although past my formative years, my imagination is still quite impressive and so I can imagine myself in association to these people and things that make one feel a part of something big and famous and exciting. My life is way more exciting than it actually is.

On that note, Samurai Jack:

I'm a little tired right now. I've started TAing an intro linguistics class this semester, and it makes me get up earlier on Thursdays than I do on most of the other days of the week. I'm not convinced that I'm a good teacher as of yet, I don't have the intuition for it. I go over the problem sets thoroughly, try to make sure everyone understands, but I don't get a ton of questions or dissent. That might be more interesting. I'm trying to keep in mind what it was like for me as a student back in the day (i.e. 2 years ago) and the things you always sit there thinking about the TA, like, "why do they always do this?", "Do they realize that they got a chalk line across their butt when they leaned against the board?" and "could she have any worse of a lisp?" Now I don't have a lisp, and have been able to use my fluent English in the class, but I have been talking ridiculously fast. I guess it must be because I'm nervous, and I try to slow myself down, but that only takes me from really fast to slightly less really fast. I'm hoping as time goes on I'll get the hang of this teaching thing. Its not terrible now, the kids aren't mean or rude or anything like that, some of them are kind of sweet at always say "bye" at the end of the conference. But most of them are so little, as little as my little brother. I shouldn't say to much about this, b/c this was me, 6 years ago. I was also 17 when I started university, so they're no younger than I was. But they were born in 1990. Shiver.

Other things, interesting things, some-things..... hmm.

So, things happen, sometimes I witness them. Sometimes I even participate in them. Often I walk to school. After about 25 minutes of this type of walking, I usually arrive at the Linguistics building, get out my keys and enter my office. I check my email fanatically. Seriously, send me something, its like a beautiful, wonderful, otherworldly drug. Other times I read. Articles, computer screen, emails. My eyes, they are dying in the reading. The tiny letters, the big letters, the 100 time photocopied letters, the symbols among the letters, the diagrams and useless ramble within the letters. My eyes, oh gosh my eyes. They are dissolving down into little pools of bluish gray pixie dust. Out over my lids, onto my cheeks, like tears, but not tears. More like pollutant sludge, leaving a vacant, colourless hole where my eyes used to be.
Too much?

Continuation of the Gilmore Girls discussion. I actually like Jess. I know, he doesn't always do right by Rory or Luke, but he's one of those rough exterior-heart of gold types, who is secretly a genius. My major qualm with Jess is that he appears very short on the show. I looked up Milo on imdb and he's listed as 5 foot 9, so I am taller than he is, but only by a little bit. And yes, Paris deserves her recognition. She's crazy insane and intense, but sometimes you feel sorry for her. Her parents don't seem to care about her, so we can't blame her for too much of her lack of socialization. Also I feel the need to defend her since my lovely friends (sarcastic tone inserted) decided that if I were any GG's character, I would be Paris. I'll try to construe it in my mind somehow to make it a compliment, but my hair is curly, and I am waaaay taller than Paris is. Just so you know that we're no so similar.

I've been watching Project Runway, and I'm a little confused. The whole goal of PR is to get to Bryant Park at the end of show and do the whole official runway show. It was my understanding that the fashion week shenanigans occur in February, or some such wintry month, but this season started in July, and the final show has already happened (although not aired). Maybe its a different, summer/fall fashion week. At first I thought Kenley was cute, but now she's just crazy psycho attitude teenager type. I think Leanne will win.

As a guilty pleasure I've also been watching the new "cycle" of ANTM. I hate this show more and more every second I watch it. Tyra is so ridiculous and retarded. I can't even tell you how much she annoys me. Acts like the freaking guru of all things fashion and worthwhile in life.

Tired still. Peanut butter? No, that was yesterday. I wish I had some smartfood. It think I will forgo these and just get some fruit juice. I do have microwave popcorn. Not the same. Lacks the white cheddar powder. I miss the pesto from Cinque Terre, it was unbelieveably good, no exaggeration, seriousness.

Why I Love/Hate the Gilmore Girls

I started watching the Gilmore Girls (henceforth GG) during the good old days at U of T. Actually, I don’t even think I touched the show until 4^th year when I needed new shows to watch since DC++ allowed all students in the know to watch entire series, in sequence. I had seen all the Smallville episodes, and various other shows I watched (it actually takes a lot for me to get into a show), so next came GG. I had previously trashed talked the brown-haired, blue-eyes, since it is one of those girl shows, but now I’m fairly sure I have seen every episode, possibly only missing a couple from the terrible 7^th and final season.

I thought I’d chronicle some of my feelings about the GG’s. Yes, sometimes I do love them, and enjoy the distraction they provide from my own non-Connecticut life, but so so often I hate hate hate them.

Love – I love how hot and tall Dean is.

Hate – I hate Logan the jag and his half open eyes.

Love – I love that Lorelai and Luke are meant to be together.

Hate – I hate that the show clearly complicates their relationship in ridiculous ways just to let the series continue. I mean, long lost 12 year old love child? I know April is supposed to be a genius, but could she talk through her nose any more forcibly?

(Note: It may be the case that you will only follow this post if you too Love/Hate the Gilmore Girls)

Love – Kirk. What more could you ask for in outlandish comic relief? Naked running night terrors, driving through buildings, plummeting to earth from a plane, recording himself in a practice date, leaving rotting eggs in the town square, and on and on it goes. I wonder what the actor is like as a real guy. There’s no way he’s normal, no one acts that well.

Hate – Taylor. I know he’s some kind of plot-moving-forward character, but he never does anything new. It’s the same annoying crap every time. NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU THINK, TAYLOR. GET A FREAKING LIFE.

Love – Lorelai more than Rory.

Hate – Rory more than Lorelai.

Love – Lane’s blue rainbow shoulder sweater.

Hate – That Lorelai expects everyone to do everything she asks. She torments people until they give in. Its like that “pretty girl” syndrome, where no one ever says no to them, so they think they can do whatever the hell they want.

Love – Rory’s short hair in season….. 3? 4?

Hate – The stupid puffy shoulder, short sleeved jackets that Rory wears in EVERY episode of season 7.

Hate – How bad an actress Emily (grandma G) is. Also those weird, rectangular jackets she wears. She allegedly has impeccable taste, but all I can see is shoulder pads, floral print curtains and poufy hair.

Hate – Pretty much all the rich people portrayed on the show. Even the endearing ones.

I think the thing I hate most about the show is how nothing bad ever happens to Rory, and how everyone around her can’t stop telling her how perfect she is. The worst thing that ever happens is that she steals a yacht and decides to drop out of Yale. This doesn’t even count as “something bad happening to her”, since she does it completely to herself. I’m not going to feel sorry for her because she’s not sure what her identity is anymore. Everything always falls into place – she gets into Chilton, she’s class vice president, valedictorian, gets into Harvard, Princeton and Yale, becomes editor of the Yale Daily News and has various other achievements. The second “worst” thing that happens to her is that she doesn't get the job at the New York Times, oh no! BUT, this misfortune lasts for like an episode until she gets a killer job as a journalist for a magazine following the presidential race. She’s so whiny and selfish, and tramples on many a boy, including Dean who’s nothing but hot. Everyone tells her how pretty she is, how crazy intelligent she is, how nice she is (although its very clear that she’s the worst kind of nice, the nice that isn’t really nice at all but mean and spiteful without realizing it). There’s so many other things I hate about Rory, especially post 4^rd season Rory (when she becomes a homewrecker), but its making me angry just thinking about it so I think I should cut myself off here.

Lorelai in comparison to her daughter is a saint. But she needs to get it together. Once you’re 40 you should be able to solve your problems without throwing temper tantrums and blaming it all on your parents.

What are your thoughts on GG? Maybe you Love/HATE it more than I do.