I think it's safe to say that I lead a boring life. In an attempt to unbore myself and maybe others, I am going to make a list here of things I would like to do. Some may be events in the near future, while others are things that could take place at any point in time. My only problem is that I don't like doing things alone. So, if you happen to read this and see something that you would like to join me in doing, please let me know.
And now, the list.
- Eat at Azzeria
- Eat at Franktuary
- Go to Cupids & Canines
- Make jewelery at one of those bead stores
- Get a real massage/go to a spa
- See The Kite Runner
- See Juno, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood
- Read Atonement (anybody own this that wants to let me borrow it? I'm #8 in the hold queue at the library.)
More will be added later. The dinner bell is ringing.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Half-assed Christmas
Hello, my friends. It has been too long. I came to find out that I do not enjoy regular blogging on a chosen subject (Survivor: China) unless I am being paid to do such writing. So, while you are busy forgiving and forgetting my absence, I will take this opportunity to muse on what I call "half-assed Christmas."
Two days before Thanksgiving, I saw the first resident of Old Village Lane beginning his outdoor Christmas decorating. He lined his walkway with lights and plastic candy canes and adorned the nearest leafless tree with light strands of its own. However, whether for lack of bulbs or lack of style I do not know, but he only put the lights around the tree trunk and partway up the branches. I would have thought he would come back later and finish, but he did the same thing last year, so I know he has no plans of continuing. He got a jump on the holiday season by beginning his decorating before everyone else in the neighborhood, but he did a half-assed job. In my opinion, it would have been better to do nothing at all.
My next objection is to specific time-saving Christmas decorations themselves. Now, I'm not one to say you should always go to the woods and chop down your own pine for a Christmas tree. I myself enjoy the benefits of a prelit artificial tree. However, I happen to believe that this prelit, artificial tree manages to convey a realistic appearance and elegance. Nets made out of twinkly lights thrown hapharzardly onto bushes and a yard filled with inflatable Santas do not. I actually drove by a house that had at least 8 of those inflatable monstrosities not only on the grass, but hanging from the trees! An inflatable airplane piloted by Santa Claus! My one question there was how Santa was simultaneously flying the inflatable airplane while also riding the inflatable ferris wheel and driving the inflatable motorcycle.
So, if you have yet to put up your outdoor Christmas displays at your place of residence, please recall what I'm saying here and put a whole-assed effort into it. After all, Christmas is the season for giving, not laziness.
Two days before Thanksgiving, I saw the first resident of Old Village Lane beginning his outdoor Christmas decorating. He lined his walkway with lights and plastic candy canes and adorned the nearest leafless tree with light strands of its own. However, whether for lack of bulbs or lack of style I do not know, but he only put the lights around the tree trunk and partway up the branches. I would have thought he would come back later and finish, but he did the same thing last year, so I know he has no plans of continuing. He got a jump on the holiday season by beginning his decorating before everyone else in the neighborhood, but he did a half-assed job. In my opinion, it would have been better to do nothing at all.
My next objection is to specific time-saving Christmas decorations themselves. Now, I'm not one to say you should always go to the woods and chop down your own pine for a Christmas tree. I myself enjoy the benefits of a prelit artificial tree. However, I happen to believe that this prelit, artificial tree manages to convey a realistic appearance and elegance. Nets made out of twinkly lights thrown hapharzardly onto bushes and a yard filled with inflatable Santas do not. I actually drove by a house that had at least 8 of those inflatable monstrosities not only on the grass, but hanging from the trees! An inflatable airplane piloted by Santa Claus! My one question there was how Santa was simultaneously flying the inflatable airplane while also riding the inflatable ferris wheel and driving the inflatable motorcycle.
So, if you have yet to put up your outdoor Christmas displays at your place of residence, please recall what I'm saying here and put a whole-assed effort into it. After all, Christmas is the season for giving, not laziness.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Jesus Saves, Except on Survivor
This blog is way late because, frankly, I've been way busy. But I haven't read anyone else's Survivor blogs, in order to keep my thoughts pure. And since this is so late and probably no one reads it anyway, I will reduce my comments on episode three to a bulleted list.
-There has to be something wrong with Courtney. Sure, I felt slight sympathy for her when she spoke about being treated like a little chihuahua and always being stuck "where she'll do the least damage," but for goodness' sake, did you see the girl struggling to cut those ropes? Peih-Gee isn't a muscular woman, but she didn't stand their wielding a machete like it had a bowling ball attached to one end. I really wonder how she even made it past the show's medical team. There should be a minimum weight limit to play.
-Poker player or not, Jean-Robert is not the brightest crayon in the box. Has he ever seen Survivor before? You don't want to be known as the lazy one, or the obnoxious one who talks about his tribemates when they're obviously within hearing distance. Master Todd may have spared him this time, but with the way he's going, I don't see him making it to the merge.
-I totally called it on the pillow/blanket reward.
-My first impression of James was a sort of John Coffee from The Green Mile type -- large, quiet, and maybe even a bit magical. After listening to him talk with Jean-Robert in the water, he seems more like a big meathead with way more braun than brains. I can only hope he was trying out some of Andy Bernard's famous personality mirroring.
-And finally, the departure of dear, sweet Leslie. She didn't stand much of a chance from day one, being so trusting, naive, and openly Christian. Maybe if she would have been a member of Zhan Hu, her luck would have been different, but it seems her desire to form relationships and make friends came back to bite her in her God-fearing behind.
-And finally
-There has to be something wrong with Courtney. Sure, I felt slight sympathy for her when she spoke about being treated like a little chihuahua and always being stuck "where she'll do the least damage," but for goodness' sake, did you see the girl struggling to cut those ropes? Peih-Gee isn't a muscular woman, but she didn't stand their wielding a machete like it had a bowling ball attached to one end. I really wonder how she even made it past the show's medical team. There should be a minimum weight limit to play.
-Poker player or not, Jean-Robert is not the brightest crayon in the box. Has he ever seen Survivor before? You don't want to be known as the lazy one, or the obnoxious one who talks about his tribemates when they're obviously within hearing distance. Master Todd may have spared him this time, but with the way he's going, I don't see him making it to the merge.
-I totally called it on the pillow/blanket reward.
-My first impression of James was a sort of John Coffee from The Green Mile type -- large, quiet, and maybe even a bit magical. After listening to him talk with Jean-Robert in the water, he seems more like a big meathead with way more braun than brains. I can only hope he was trying out some of Andy Bernard's famous personality mirroring.
-And finally, the departure of dear, sweet Leslie. She didn't stand much of a chance from day one, being so trusting, naive, and openly Christian. Maybe if she would have been a member of Zhan Hu, her luck would have been different, but it seems her desire to form relationships and make friends came back to bite her in her God-fearing behind.
-And finally
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Episode 2: Ashley Gets the Smackdown
I didn't get a chance to watch this week's episode until today, due to the Cloverleaf/Hanson concert on Thursday night and a murder-mystery dinner with coworkers last night, but I was finally able to sit down this morning to watch episode two of Survivor: China.
My immediate thought during the opening sequence this week was, "There's someone named Amanda on this show?" I don't remember even catching a glimpse of this girl last week. They more than made up for her lack of air time in the first episode, though, by showing her forming an alliance with Todd and then giving ample coverage to her un-amply covered breasts during the reward challenge. At least she bared it all in the heat of competition rather than for some peanut butter and oreo cookies.
Speaking of the reward challenge, what a challenge it must have been for the editors to blur out all of the naked body parts in this one! It has to be expected in such a hands-on game taking place in a pool of mud, but still. Guy commented that he wouldn't be surprised if a few of the girls accidentally got pregnant after that debacle. All nudity aside, Fei Long won the battle, 2 goals to zip, but Zhan Hu did put up a good fight. You have to wonder, though, what the producers were thinking when they arranged these tribes. They seem so mismatched as far as physical strength goes that I'm beginning to wonder if Frosti and the gang will ever be able to pull it together and win something. Fei Long got their fishing gear* and another morale booster, while Zhan Hu was sent back to a flooded campsite. Things don't seem like they'll be looking up anytime soon.
After the reward challenge, we see the first twist of this season of Survivor. The winning tribe gets to kidnap a member of the losing tribe to stay at their camp until the immunity challenge. They unanimously choose Jaime, and so our braless blonde goes off to spend a few days on the winning side of life. Todd immediately warns his tribemates to keep an eye on their valuable items, like flint, because he suspects that Jaime might try to steal something. This guy is sharper than I thought he'd be. I definitely underestimated him. Then, in another mini-twist, Jaime gets a note saying to give a bamboo tube containing a clue to the location of the hidden immunity idol to a Fei Long member of her choice. She chooses Leslie because she considers her to be the weakest. I guess Jean-Robert's lazy "act" didn't fool her. Leslie proceeds to run and tell Todd about the clue, thinking it will help her gain his trust. In reality, all it does is give Todd reason to make her the next one on the chopping block so that he'll be the only one left who knows about the hidden idol. Maybe if the resident poker expert wasn't busy sleeping all the time, he could have given Leslie some tips on keeping her cards close to her chest.
Jaime's taste of the high life was soon over as the tribes met up for another brute-strength-geared challenge. Dave faltered at the head of the battering ram and took the blame for Zhan Hu's loss, though I don't think they ever stood much of a chance against James' muscles to begin with. And so, back at camp before tribal council, the Ashley v. Dave debate begins. It seems as if the whole tribe knows that one of the two has to go, including Dave and Ashley themselves. Ashley chooses not to voice her opinions at camp, but rather at tribal council, and it may have been too little, too late. Even though seemingly everyone agreed that Dave is an overbearing, patronizing leader, Ashley was the one whose torch was snuffed out. Apparently her personality isn't as fake as her boobs, so Ashley's inability to keep her opinions to herself puts the nails in her coffin.
Another week in the Chinese wilderness is behind us. Last week, we lost a guy because he wouldn't voice his opinions. This week, we lost the girl that spoke up too much. There's just no telling what's in store for us on episode three of Survivor: China.
*I know that the reward challenges at the beginning of the game usually include camp-life necessities, but I'm tired of the same old, same old. How about giving out something helpful but more interesting than pillows and blankets next week, like the survivors' luggage, for instance?
My immediate thought during the opening sequence this week was, "There's someone named Amanda on this show?" I don't remember even catching a glimpse of this girl last week. They more than made up for her lack of air time in the first episode, though, by showing her forming an alliance with Todd and then giving ample coverage to her un-amply covered breasts during the reward challenge. At least she bared it all in the heat of competition rather than for some peanut butter and oreo cookies.
Speaking of the reward challenge, what a challenge it must have been for the editors to blur out all of the naked body parts in this one! It has to be expected in such a hands-on game taking place in a pool of mud, but still. Guy commented that he wouldn't be surprised if a few of the girls accidentally got pregnant after that debacle. All nudity aside, Fei Long won the battle, 2 goals to zip, but Zhan Hu did put up a good fight. You have to wonder, though, what the producers were thinking when they arranged these tribes. They seem so mismatched as far as physical strength goes that I'm beginning to wonder if Frosti and the gang will ever be able to pull it together and win something. Fei Long got their fishing gear* and another morale booster, while Zhan Hu was sent back to a flooded campsite. Things don't seem like they'll be looking up anytime soon.
After the reward challenge, we see the first twist of this season of Survivor. The winning tribe gets to kidnap a member of the losing tribe to stay at their camp until the immunity challenge. They unanimously choose Jaime, and so our braless blonde goes off to spend a few days on the winning side of life. Todd immediately warns his tribemates to keep an eye on their valuable items, like flint, because he suspects that Jaime might try to steal something. This guy is sharper than I thought he'd be. I definitely underestimated him. Then, in another mini-twist, Jaime gets a note saying to give a bamboo tube containing a clue to the location of the hidden immunity idol to a Fei Long member of her choice. She chooses Leslie because she considers her to be the weakest. I guess Jean-Robert's lazy "act" didn't fool her. Leslie proceeds to run and tell Todd about the clue, thinking it will help her gain his trust. In reality, all it does is give Todd reason to make her the next one on the chopping block so that he'll be the only one left who knows about the hidden idol. Maybe if the resident poker expert wasn't busy sleeping all the time, he could have given Leslie some tips on keeping her cards close to her chest.
Jaime's taste of the high life was soon over as the tribes met up for another brute-strength-geared challenge. Dave faltered at the head of the battering ram and took the blame for Zhan Hu's loss, though I don't think they ever stood much of a chance against James' muscles to begin with. And so, back at camp before tribal council, the Ashley v. Dave debate begins. It seems as if the whole tribe knows that one of the two has to go, including Dave and Ashley themselves. Ashley chooses not to voice her opinions at camp, but rather at tribal council, and it may have been too little, too late. Even though seemingly everyone agreed that Dave is an overbearing, patronizing leader, Ashley was the one whose torch was snuffed out. Apparently her personality isn't as fake as her boobs, so Ashley's inability to keep her opinions to herself puts the nails in her coffin.
Another week in the Chinese wilderness is behind us. Last week, we lost a guy because he wouldn't voice his opinions. This week, we lost the girl that spoke up too much. There's just no telling what's in store for us on episode three of Survivor: China.
*I know that the reward challenges at the beginning of the game usually include camp-life necessities, but I'm tired of the same old, same old. How about giving out something helpful but more interesting than pillows and blankets next week, like the survivors' luggage, for instance?
Friday, September 21, 2007
Survivor: China: Chicken Gets His Head Cut Off
Needless to say, my first prediction of the Survivor: China voting order was dead wrong. Todd wasn't nearly as flamboyant as I thought he'd be right off the bat, though he did have a few, "Oh, no, you di'nt" moments in there. His tribe ended up with the immunity idol, so from there on out, my chances of a perfect record were shot. Chicken was the first to have his head on the chopping block, and although he didn't run around wildly for 15 minutes after he was voted off, he did manage to shock his fellow tribemates by exclaiming, "DAMN!" after the final vote was read. And when Jeff gave him the usual "the tribe has spoken" line, his response was one of the best I've heard yet -- a downtrodden, yet arrogantly toned, "Yeah, I heard 'em." Oh, Chicken, I'm sad to see you go. Let's hope Frosti can stick it out and represent for the oddly named folks on the Zhan Hu tribe.
As far as the rest of the episode goes, it was a typical start of a Survivor season with a slightly more intriguing backdrop. Thank God for the b-roll clips of Pandas climbing through trees rather than the snakes and insects that usually get featured in the tropical settings. We got glimpses into a few of the Survivors' personalities, but nothing so deep yet as to have us attached to anyone. For instance, we've got Courtney, the New York City Bitch, who glared at the Buddhist monk when he repeatedly fixed her stance during the "welcome" ceremony. And then there's Leslie, the Christian radio talk show host who managed to contradict herself in the same sentence after she refused to participate in what she considered to be idol worship and stated, "I'm not religious, but I am a follower of Jesus Christ." Huh? And finally, there's Jaime. I was convinced she hadn't said a word the entire episode until Guy reminded me that she was the one who proudly told Jeff, "I don't have a bra." When will these people learn to wear functional clothing every second of the day until they're given a map to their tribe's island? With season after season of contestants being forced to jump off boats and swim for their lives, you'd think people would start using their heads.
There is so much more I can say about last night's show, but I'll leave you to ponder the rest. Till next week...
As far as the rest of the episode goes, it was a typical start of a Survivor season with a slightly more intriguing backdrop. Thank God for the b-roll clips of Pandas climbing through trees rather than the snakes and insects that usually get featured in the tropical settings. We got glimpses into a few of the Survivors' personalities, but nothing so deep yet as to have us attached to anyone. For instance, we've got Courtney, the New York City Bitch, who glared at the Buddhist monk when he repeatedly fixed her stance during the "welcome" ceremony. And then there's Leslie, the Christian radio talk show host who managed to contradict herself in the same sentence after she refused to participate in what she considered to be idol worship and stated, "I'm not religious, but I am a follower of Jesus Christ." Huh? And finally, there's Jaime. I was convinced she hadn't said a word the entire episode until Guy reminded me that she was the one who proudly told Jeff, "I don't have a bra." When will these people learn to wear functional clothing every second of the day until they're given a map to their tribe's island? With season after season of contestants being forced to jump off boats and swim for their lives, you'd think people would start using their heads.
There is so much more I can say about last night's show, but I'll leave you to ponder the rest. Till next week...
Saturday, September 01, 2007
My T-Shirt Design
I designed this t-shirt on Zazzle.com. If you buy it, I can earn some money, and you'll have a cool shirt! It's a win-win situation.
create & buy custom products at Zazzle
create & buy custom products at Zazzle
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Survivor: China
So, season 3,598 of Survivor begins on September 20th, coming from the mysterious country of China. I'm really debating whether or not to continue my loyalty to Survivor this season. Though last season was salvaged by the antics of Yao Man, the whole format (no matter how hard they try to change it) is getting kind of boring to me, especially because the winner usually ends up being someone that I don't like. However, for some unknown reason, I feel guilty giving up on a show I've watched for so long, so in order to give myself some incentive to watch, or at least keep up with blogs on the show, I'm going to do something I've never done before -- make predictions on the order of the ousted. I don't normally like making predictions like this because, well, I'm just not a good guesser, but I'm bored, so I'll give it a shot. Here goes, in order from first person voted off to winner:
1. Todd, the gay Mormon
He thinks the Spice Girls are the most significant historical event of the past 100 years. He should be voted off the planet for that one.
2. Courtney, the New York waitress
I think she thinks she's tougher than she really is.
3. Denise, the mullet-sporting karate woman
She may be strong, but I just can't see her fitting in with the crowd
4. Jaime, the cute blonde
I just don't like cute blondes.
5. Jean-Robert, the professional poker player
He may have a good poker face, but Vegas is nothing like being stranded in China.
6. Peih-Gee, the jeweler
She probably only lasts this long because no one could figure out how to spell her name to put down on the parchment.
7. Sherea, the elementary school teacher
She just looks like a good choice for number seven -- good enough to fly under the radar up until this point.
8. Erik, the...I don't know...I can't see anything past his curly hair.
I think this guy's ego might get in the way.
9. Leslie, the token Christian
She auditioned 11 times to finally make it on the show, but I think her time will be up at number 9.
10. Chicken -- yes, that's only a nickname.
People will start to see him as a shoe-in for the win and get him out of there before he can say cock-a-doodle-doo.
11. James, the gravedigger
He might be the outsider at this point, so it's just his time to go.
12. Amanda, the hiking guide
She may not be the first choice, but the first choice might get immunity, forcing votes for her.
13. Dave, the former model -- that's the best title he could give himself?
I have nothing to say to you, Dave.
14. Aaron, the surfer dude.
I think Frosti will win the final immunity and choose to go against Ashley.
15. Ashley, the WWE diva
and that makes the winner of Survivor:China, according to my illogical methods none other than Frosti the Snowman. I think he'll finally be able to to afford a new silk hat with the million-dollar prize.
So there you have it. Let's follow along and see how wrong I am!
1. Todd, the gay Mormon
He thinks the Spice Girls are the most significant historical event of the past 100 years. He should be voted off the planet for that one.
2. Courtney, the New York waitress
I think she thinks she's tougher than she really is.
3. Denise, the mullet-sporting karate woman
She may be strong, but I just can't see her fitting in with the crowd
4. Jaime, the cute blonde
I just don't like cute blondes.
5. Jean-Robert, the professional poker player
He may have a good poker face, but Vegas is nothing like being stranded in China.
6. Peih-Gee, the jeweler
She probably only lasts this long because no one could figure out how to spell her name to put down on the parchment.
7. Sherea, the elementary school teacher
She just looks like a good choice for number seven -- good enough to fly under the radar up until this point.
8. Erik, the...I don't know...I can't see anything past his curly hair.
I think this guy's ego might get in the way.
9. Leslie, the token Christian
She auditioned 11 times to finally make it on the show, but I think her time will be up at number 9.
10. Chicken -- yes, that's only a nickname.
People will start to see him as a shoe-in for the win and get him out of there before he can say cock-a-doodle-doo.
11. James, the gravedigger
He might be the outsider at this point, so it's just his time to go.
12. Amanda, the hiking guide
She may not be the first choice, but the first choice might get immunity, forcing votes for her.
13. Dave, the former model -- that's the best title he could give himself?
I have nothing to say to you, Dave.
14. Aaron, the surfer dude.
I think Frosti will win the final immunity and choose to go against Ashley.
15. Ashley, the WWE diva
and that makes the winner of Survivor:China, according to my illogical methods none other than Frosti the Snowman. I think he'll finally be able to to afford a new silk hat with the million-dollar prize.
So there you have it. Let's follow along and see how wrong I am!
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