TV-Style Break-Up

 

I haven’t ever been through a bad TV-style break-up. If you’ve ever watched a chick flick or any show that you can find by randomly clicking through channels, you know what I’m referring to.

A guy and girl will be dating and they are perfect together. Then suddenly, one or the other (usually the guy) will arrange a dinner/date/outing and then break the news that they’re no longer interested in their boyfriend/girlfriend. If the dumped person is a guy, then TV states that he will mourn by playing video games, withdrawing from society, clubbing (usually forced to go by a well-intentioned friend) and/or long walks by himself. If the person is a woman, however, she will respond by sobbing, eating unusually high amounts of carbs, watching sappy movies, listening to sad music, or some combination of these.

I’m not claiming that this necessarily represents reality. Although it might. Like I said, I’ve never been through a bad break-up. At most, I might be sad for a while. I think I cried once. But no romantic relationship that I have ever been in has been so

important to me that its termination would lead to a sorrow-and-ice-cream induced state of comatose. There are things that would trigger such a scenario, though. These include (in no particular order):

• Cancellation of a favorite TV show
• Listening to certain songs (An example, much to my everlasting shame, is “Please Don’t Leave Me” by P!nk. I know, I hate me too)
• Watching certain movies (Old Yeller, Toy Story 3, Casablanca, Serenity etc.)
• Any major fight with someone I’m close to.
• Watching certain TV episodes ["The Reichenbach Fall" (Sherlock), "Doomsday" (Doctor Who), "The Lady of the Lake"  (Merlin)etc.]
• Pretty much anything Rose/Doctor or Daniel/Vala related. Yes, I ship fictional couples with an enthusiasm that is quite sad from an objective point of view.
• On a particularly emotional day, certain books have this effect.

And more, I’m sure.

The whole reason I’m writing this is that I feel like I’ve just been through a TV-style break-up. And I have a cold Sigh… oh well. Cue the ice cream, ridiculous movies, and Kleenex.

(I think I may have already posted something similar to this… )

Is this a normal thing? Do you ever have this feeling? I don’t think that I’m alone in this. I’d love it if you’d comment with what triggers TV-style break-up symptoms for you. Maybe we’ll have some in common!

See ya tomorrow!

A Conversation with A Friend

This is what a typical conversation is like in my so-called life. This is not verbatim, but it’s pretty freaking close.

My friend: I think we should pretend you had a horrible breakup so we can have one of those “watch-terrible-chick-flicks-and-eat-tons-of-ice-cream-and-not-feel-guilty” nights.

Me: ….

My friend: what??? we get to have an emotional night, but you get to be the brokenhearted one, ok?

Me: Why I am the heart broken one?

My friend: Because I was the last time.

Me: Ah, we take turns?

My friend: Well I can’t always be brokenhearted, can I? According to some people I don’t even have a heart!

Me: Same here!

My friend: Do you want me to take this round? I can get emoti0nal if I get ice cream for it.

Me: No, I’ll do it. I feel like crying for no reason anyways.

My friend: Maybe it should be both of us this time. Do you want Gregorio or can I have him?

[side note: Gregorio was the imaginary Italian boyfriend we created in middle school. Yeah, I know.]

Me: You can have Gregorio. I’ll sob about Paulo

[side note part deux: there is no story for Paulo. It's just an attractive name]

My friend: Ok good, because I get confused. Yay! I’ll make a playlist and we can come up with a list of movies.

Me: Yay!!! Some new films, not just our stand-bys

My friend: I agree. How about Dirty Dancing?

Me: Yes! I’ve heard Barefoot in the Park is good.

My friend: Let’s add it to the list.

Me: What about Love Story?

My friend: I haven’t heard of it, but let’s give it a try.  After all, we are broken hearted hormonial teen girls

Me: True, true. It’s from the 70s. It may be on Netflix

My friend: I have a whole category of romantic movies on there.

Me: Bam! Good idea!

My friend: We will be spontaneous.

Me: But not about ice cream.

My friend: Of course not! That is sacred.

Me:  Amen!

My friend: Oh, and I bought some cookies for the party [another party, not the break-up, ice cream one], the closest to jammy dodgers I could find.

Me: Oooooh could we do fish fingers and custard???

[side note trois: both jammy dodgers and fish fingers and custard are foods from the British show Doctor Who, of which we are fans. This might explain the rest of this conversation.]

My friend: Ah! we need to!

Me:I think the custard is a weird British type though…

My friend:  Yeah it is. I don’t know where to get it.

Me: Um, there used to be a British tea shop in the area. Or we could just use American custard

My friend: No, I’m sure it tastes different.

Me: I’ve made custard from scratch before…

My friend: Then we should just do that, and while making it speak in English accents so it’d be British.

Me: Perfect!

Merlin, Christmas, and a bit about chick flicks

Image via Wikipedia

Hello there!

So first things first: I did win NaNoWriMo but I didn’t finish my novel. It has decided that it wants to be more than 50,000 words and who am I to stand in its way?

Now that I have that out of the way, you may be wondering what it is that I do when I’m not blogging, vlogging, tumblring, doing school, or getting injured. The answer to that comes in three parts, placed in the title of this post for your convenience.

My latest TV fascination sustaining me during the hiatus of Doctor Who is Merlin.  Basically, it takes the story of Arthur and Merlin, turns them into teenagers, and places them in a court where magic is outlawed. Is it cheesy? Definitely, but it’s fun. And it’s clean. Plus, it seems like everyone in the show is good looking. Yes, I can be that shallow.

Moving on… a good deal of my time lately has been spent on making Christmas presents, buying Christmas presents, wrapping Christmas presents, worrying that people won’t like their Christmas presents and so on. I have this mindset where I want to get The. Best. Present. EVER. for people. And consequently, I have this fear that after all the time and energy (but not money, because I’m poor) I spend on a present, it is simply destined for the re-gifting pile.

It’s not just Christmas though. Whenever I get a present for someone, I want them to love it. I want it to be personal. This translates into me rarely giving gift cards or money. I don’t want to give a gift just for the sake of saying I gave you something. Ramble over.

The third and final part of this post is the idea of chick flicks. For those of you who are unaware of what this genre is all about, we turn to the ever reliable Wikipedia:

“Chick flick is a slang term for a film mainly dealing with love and romance designed to appeal to a female target audience. Although many types of films may be directed toward the female gender, “chick flick” is typically used only in reference to films that are heavy with emotion or contain themes that are relationship-based …”

That may be one of the broadest definitions I’ve ever heard, but it works for my purposes. Basically, a chick flick is a sappy romantic film that involves exaggerated plots, unrealistic relationships, and happily ever after endings. Right?

So, in that case, I would not consider myself a fan of chick flicks. Sure, there are a few I like (anything with Audrey Hepburn), but many of the “romantic” films I like have sad or even tragic endings (Casa Blanca, Phantom of the Opera). And what about films like Marie Antoinette (2006) which is female-oriented, but not relationship based?

Movies seem more complicated now than when I was a child. Then I could either like a movie or dislike it without having to explain why. Now? Not so much.

That’s all. I have a video project that I’m hoping to create during the Christmas break and I’ll continue editing (read: “finishing”) my NaNoWriMo. Is it ok if I simply bombard you with poetry instead of actual post until after the holidays?

Things I like

Let’s ease back into this, shall we?

1. The fact that I’ll finally have a real computer again in about a week.

2. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

I love this musical! It’s been a little while since I’ve watched, but after getting the behind the scenes book at the library, I’m feeling a need to rewatch it.

3.  Speaking of Dr. Horrible, have you ever imagined what a Dr. Horrible/ Doctor Who crossover would look like? Well, apparently somebody did. Presenting Dr. Whorrible:

Personally, the first thing that comes to mind is the Wizard of Oz…

4. Have you ever wondered how similar the lyrics of Weird Alare to the works of Shakespeare? Well, now there’s a way to find out!

http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/08/how-shakespearean-are-you/

I compared some my work, and I had a poem that was 97% Shakespearean.

5. Tumblr. Seriously, though, it’s amazing! It’s taken my Doctor Who fangirling to a whole new level.  If you ever get the urge to check it out, you can find my Tumblr at ifimjuliet.tumblr.com

6.

7. 

8.Blogging again.

Adieu!

In which I monologue primarily about the Doctor but also about other things

Image via Wikipedia

Hi there! So,  here’s the thing about BEDA 2: I’m doing it, but not really. There are at least three days this month where I will have no internet whatsoever. So, with the exception of those three, I plan to blog everyday.

I’m such a Doctor Who fangirl. I liked the show before, but now that I’ve seen almost all of season 4 (I’m so close to being caught up!), I feel like I have more of a right to it. I don’t know if that makes any sense. My goal is to caught up by the time part 2 of season 6 comes out, or August 27.

Another plus about getting caught up is that Chameleon Circuit songs make much more sense.  Chameleon Circuit is a trock (time lord rock) band and they’re good. I mean, they’re so good you really don’t need to know anything about Doctor Who in order to appreciate how good they are. But knowing all the little references , or almost all, is so cool!

And guys, I saw Blink! It was as epic as everyone says. It truly was.  I think it’s probably my favorite so far. The Angels are so scary.  They are tied with the Vashta Nerada as the scariest villain of the series.  Actually, I think that the Weeping Angels are a bit more scary in and of themselves but since they don’t actually kill… I’m torn.

I promise to write a post tomorrow that is not about the Doctor.

Doctor What?

Image via Wikipedia

As anyone who has followed my blog for long can vouch, I’m a pretty big fan of Doctor Who. The remarkable thing about that is this: Until yesterday, I’d only seen season 1, part of 2, part of 3, and a tiny bit of 5. Without Netflix, Who fans in America are a bit hard pressed to find a way to watch the show. But fortunately for me, one of my best friends is also obsessed with the show and was on the EXACT SAME EPISODE as me. Add the fact that she has a Netflix and BAM! Instant awesome. And also, she’s now my best BEST friend.

So, last night, we went on an epic Fred Meyer raid to get ice cream as stage 1 of our Doctor Who-athan. That was tricky. So many flavors… We decided to get cherry vanilla, but were stuck between mint and Oreo, when something miraculous happened- Oreo mint.  Having acquired the necessary supplies, we retuned to base (i.e her living room) and settled in for a looooong night.

 SPOILER ALERT! I want to write my opinion of what I saw, but don’t want to give anything away to the poor souls like me who are epically behind in the series. This spoiler alert covers seasons 2 and 3.

So first off, the chemistry between David Tennant’s Doctor and Rose was nowhere near the chemistry of Christopher Eccleston and Rose. Still though, they had a connection. That made it really hard to deal with the “death” of Rose, even though I knew that she was going to have to leave at some point. I’m grateful that the writers allow the Doctor to show grief about Rose, though. I was a little worried that they’d breeze over that and have him forget her.

On that same train of thought, Donna was annoying. I’m not looking forward to her return in future seasons. Martha is fun, bright, and can be sweet, but it’s annoying how she keeps trying to take Rose’s place in the Doctor’s life. He loved Rose.  He likes Martha, however the two relationships aren’t comparable.

There’s a lot more I could say but I’m right in middle of an epic plot twist involving the Doctor’s “humanity” and I have to go.

Oh wait! One more thing. My friend is a Dalek sympathizer. She gets all giddy every time they appear on the screen. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if she wants the Daleks to win…

Allon-sy!

 

Some Thoughts, Updates, and Bits of Random

I’ve been reading like crazy, converting friends to nerdism, and finally have a decent novel idea. Also, I’ve discovered I’m a snob about musicals.

Soooooo, I was thinking about doing BEDA 2 to make up for my inconsistent blogging as of late. I’ll let you know what I decide soon. I’m just worried about computer access as I have some epic adventures planned. Hmmmm….

It’s funny that you can say what you mean without meaning what you say. It’s like knowing someone (i.e who they are) without truly knowing anything about them.

This post has no real point. But I’m going to keep going. Feel free to stop reading.

Have you ever come across something and though, “Hey! I came up with that idea a long time ago!” ?  It’s extraordinarily frustrating. Or, on the flip side, have you ever come across an idea that you really wish you had thought of but didn’t?

Do you have a time travel theory? I mean, do you believe in the butterfly effect or that time is in flux or…. what? Doctor Who holds that time is in flux, which makes sense, but is a little strange. For every change in the past, the future simply reshapes itself to accommodate it.

And now I’m off to listen to trock and research study hacks.  Someday, I will be less random.

Maybe…

10 Things I Love

I’m far too distracted by all my summer activities to write a SQUIRREL! serious post. I have 5 in the works, but I keep getting distracted. But they are coming. Pinkie promise!

1. I need this bench for my room.I’m running out of book space…again!

“I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.”  ~Anna Quindlen.

“Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.  ~Henry Ward Beecher“

 

 

 

2. I know…more ponies. But it’s Serenity! Come on! That’s just epic.

3.

This was the first episode of Doctor Who that scared me at all. But it also made me laugh like crazy, which is why I love this poster.

4. My summer game plan:

 

5. I’ve been listening to The Alchemist over and over.

It’s a “…5-song concept album in the musical theater style. The Alchemist follows the tale of an aging alchemist desperate to create an elixir which will bring him back in time where he might save his childhood love from an untimely death.”

I really enjoy it! The whole thing can be listened to online using bandcamp but here’s a sampling: The Turn Part 1: The Choice by Mike Lombardo

6. And if you like that, you may like Frankenstein, another musical I’m into at the moment.

7.

8.  For those of you who are Harry Potter fans, this may just be the creepiest thing ever. Well, maybe not ever, but it’s pretty creepy. There’s a Parseltongue translator online that turns any phrase into creepy snake speech. Do with it what you will: parseltongue.php

9.

10.  I’m not a country music fan, but there are few things I enjoy more than dancing around singing country songs with my sister. Some Taylor Swift, a bit of Dixie Chicks, maybe a little Brooks & Dunn or Erin McCarley…oh yeah! We are awesome at lip synching!

The Impossible Astronaut

Image via Wikipedia

This post would be so much more fun to write if I had 12 jammy dodgers and a fez.  Oh well!

“Whirling past through time and space

Trying to save the human race

That special mile upon his face

The Doctor’s back again.”*

Hi there! Since we last spoke, I have read a book that I will probably review later, listened to an incredible amount of music, and started writing (or prewriting) my research paper.

I also watched Dr. Who S6E1: The Impossible Astronaut. It was really, really good.  You open with some of the questions from Season 5. Who is River Song? When will the Doctor contact his friends? Is Amy pregnant?  Then the adventure starts, and you finding yourself facing a possibility you never considered about the Doctor. What about the villains? Are they any good? Yes. The Silence are terrifying. It isn’t their appearance, which is slightly cheesy, it’s…well, just watch the episode!

I am so blessed to live in a community (both virtual and real) made up of people who “get” my quirkiness about Doctor Who. I have friends who have Doctor Who marathons and who understand my random quotes. They are willing to argue companions, or Doctors, or seasons. And since I have limited “Who” access, they let me crash at their homes in order to play catch-up. Heck, they even make me smoothies! I love them so much! Who knew that a British sy-fy show revival from the 1960′s could bring a bunch of American kids together?

*Yes, I wrote that. Not my best work, but it cracks me up! Yes, there’s more, but I’m still working on it.

Top Ten (or ten off the top of my head) Fictional Characters

I invest a lot of myself when I read a book or watch a show.  I tend to find myself in the characters, or at least, find examples of who I want to be! So here is a list of some of my favorites. It isn’t in any kind of order.*

1. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games- I’m not saying that I am as freaking awesome as Katniss, but I do relate to her. I have the same tenacity, passion, and drive. I’m also clueless about relationships, especially when they are right in front of me- staring me in the face.  She is a very real character and we see her when she’s vulnerable, weak, and confused, as well as strong. She’s someone I admire, despite her faults.
2. Echo from Dollhouse- I haven’t seen all of Dollhouse, so I may change my mind about this, but I really love Echo. Even though we see her with some many different faces, with some many different personas, she remains human.  She makes you wonder what life would be like if you had no memory. I don’t know if I would hold up as well as she does, but I hope I would.
3. Rose Tyler from Doctor Who- I’m in the middle of season 1 and so far, I love Rose. She kicks butt when necessary, but also has a soft, understanding side that others can relate to. I like that fact that her reactions to the supernatural are so human.  She acts the same way I would if I were in her place. Plus, her chemistry with the Doctor is incredible and… sweet!
4. The Doctor from Doctor Who- Duh! I’ve seen the first Doctor from the 1960′s, a bit of Tennant, a bit of Smith, and a ton of Eccleston. I don’t have a favorite. I just love the Doctor! He’s a genius time-traveling hero who continuously saves the universe. But he is also someone that you have to pity.  No one can ever stay in his life forever. He is destined to be alone. This is especially terrible because I’m loving the 9/Rose romance, and I don’t want it to end! (credit due to owlssayhoot for pointing out the Doctor’s losses)
5. Sherlock Holmes from…Sherlock Holmes (Shocking, isn’t it?) – I know that there is a lot of Sherlock Holmes-related media, so I’ll be a bit more specific. I was going to talk about the Sherlock found in the books, but decided the BBC version was my favorite. Not only is he extremely good looking, but he is almost overwhelmingly clever. I love the show because it gives you a glimpse of how his mind works.  He puts together little clues that other people overlook entirely to solve virtually impossible crimes. I would love to be Sherlock Holmes.
6.  Ziva David from NCIS- While we’re on the topic of crime solvers, let’s talk about my favorite. Sure, Bones is brilliant, but for some reason, I have trouble relating to her. My favorite is Ziva. A former Mossad operative, she is a girl that can totally hold her own. She’s bright too, with a photographic memory, knowledge of at least 8 languages, and information that governments would kill for. And she works as a (naturalized) civilian investigator for the U.S Navy.  One of the things I like best about her is the little slips she makes with the English language. I do the same thing, and English is MY first language!
7. Inara from Firefly- Actually, I admire all the chicks from Firefly. I admire the guys too (except Jayne). Firefly is just made of some incredible characters. Enough said.
8. Frodo from Lord of the Rings- No, this has nothing to do with Elijah Wood (although that dude has the bluest eyes on the planet. What is with that?). I’m referring specifically to the books. I admire Frodo. He never had to be the Ring Bearer in the first place, but he accepted the responsibility. If it wasn’t for him, the Fellowship would have failed after the “death” of Gandalf (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, at least watch the movies!). And despite everything, and with a ton of help from Sam, Frodo is finally able to finish the quest and free the world from Sauron.
9. Han Solo from Star Wars- Han is like the ultimate bad boy/rebel/hero ever. He’s a smuggler and a pirate, but has a good heart. Girls love bad boys, I guess!  He is my favorite Star Wars guy, even beating out my childhood crush on Anakin. Because, let’s face it, Han is just cooler. And he didn’t have to lose his arms or his soul. So there!
10. Spock from Star Trek- You can argue about Star Wars vs. tar Trek, Kirk vs. Picard, and I don’t care. Let’s face it, Star Trek was a cheesy TV show with bad acting, over the top “effects”, and a crew that always falls back on some entirely impossible last minute escape (except for the guys in the red shirts. Sorry about that, fellers). The thing that made the show great was Leonard Nimoy as Spock. He was able to cover all of Shanter’s overacting and the ship’s crazy responses or the fact that every women in the freaking universe has to fall in love with a member of the Enterprise (Spock not exempted)!!! No, Spock is the glue that made it all stick. I love Spock.

Live long and prosper guys! I’m out!

*Thanks to owlssayhoot for the idea, and some of the character info.