rainycity

Per Sunday morning ritual, I turned on the tv and watched one of my favorite shows- Meet the Press. I basked in the wonder and glory that is Tom Brokaw (after once again remembering that Tim Russert is really gone), and then snapped to my senses. I was enthralled with Al Gore as usual…but the moment I want to discuss today came after that interview.

It was a round table with Tom Brokaw, Chuck Todd and David Gregory- both contenders for the highly coveted position of Meet the Press host. All of a sudden, it seemed like a job interview. Both Todd and Gregory were saying some of the most intelligent things they’ve ever said, bouncing off of each other and both trying to prove how intelligent they are (which does not need to be proven anyway!). As much as I like all of them, I just felt like it was something I shouldn’t be watching- and that they should’ve added more people to the roundtable (as they usually do) to even it all out.

 But, as usual….I loved Meet the Press! Next week I’m slightly confused because Barack Obama will be on- I feel like he was just on not that long ago. Should be very interesting though. It’s too bad they probably couldn’t have both McCain and Obama in the same episode, though. It would be interesting to have a direct(and possibly more equal?) comparison.

Well, as always, this summer is full of choices where movies are concerned! But which seem the most intruiging to you?

-Wall-e: This is one I actually just caught, and thought it was extremely cute. I had been told it was better than Finding Nemo, which I don’t agree with- but it was certainly better than Cars. You instantly fall in love with the sweet and lonely robot, and with the dim witted ship captain. It does have a slightly depressing overarching “lesson learned”, but hopefully little kids will take it to heart and try to change the “fate of the earth”.

-Mamma Mia- This is one I haven’t seen, but seriously want to. I just watched a review where the guy said that Pierce Brosnan singing is as close as a human could get to sounding like a water buffalo! Ha, that’s enough to make me want to watch it. Plus, tons of big names and singing(but not necessarily singing talent) is always a winning combination.  

-The Dark Knight- Now, let me first say that I love superheroes- sometimes (specifically Superman). Batman is not one I can really identify with. It’s so…anarchistic I just don’t understand it. However, I might see this movie- and it has certainly broken records left and right so far. I really want to see it for Heath Ledger’s last performance- everyone says that it’s eerie and “nothing like him” (which is the point of acting, right?).

-Hancock- You couldn’t pay me to see this movie. I love Will Smith, but seriously? This is actually making money?

-Journey to the Center of the Earth- this is really depressing to me because it’s one of my favorite classic books. Of course, this is going to be nothing like it! And it’s extremely obvious they paid a minimal amount of money on actors so they could spend more for 3D.

-The Happening- I definitely admit to a strong dislike of horror. This permiere was SO striking though…so I read the synopsis on wikipedia. What “the happening” is, is not worth seeing so many people kill themselves. That’s just disgusting.

-Space Chimps- I love Andy Samberg, but not sure how I feel about this movie. The 3D animation is never as good as pixar, so that almost takes away from the story of movies like this. Hmm, I’m still deciding how I feel about this.

As always, I have a new list of awesome Ebay deals closing today- including a variety of things from women’s clothing to CD’s, to even more Archie comics. Hurry- you have 8 hours left!

M Collection white dress- beautiful lightweight white strapless dress- perfect for any occasion and any season. Looks good alone or with a cardigan-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265036851&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

The Beauty Bible signed by Paula Begoun herself- a very helpful and handy book when it comes to taking good care of your skin and looking good. This is signed by the author, so a collector’s edition:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265035200&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

A collection of quick reads of books and comics alike(comics are collector’s editions):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265028127&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265028237&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265028401&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265028764&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

Friends the Series Finale DVD- a must-have for Friends addicts. Extended version included:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265035295&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

Colin’s stuart size 6 women’s shoes- small heeled strappy sandals- beautiful for summer (still at $0.99!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265036357&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

Bongo women’s shoes- hounstooth for fall!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265038070&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

Derailed Soundtrack- one of my favorite movies and the soundtrack is phenomenal.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180265057638&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

All will ship tomorrow morning if paid.

I think this is truly the eternal question. I think the best places to shop (that are available in the Seattle area) are Anne Taylor Loft and Nordstrom Petites. Now, Nordstrom Petites is always a gamble if you’re very small, because the smallest size they generally have is a 2p…which can still be pretty big. they always have a great selection of colors, if nothing else.

Ann Taylor Loft is where you’re more likely to find the great deals. In the middle of summer (ie now) you can find awesome deals for long sleeved (or 3/4) blouses. It comes highly recommended by me (and is very affordable).

And last but not least…ebay. Check out this deal for a hot pink foxcroft (one of the best brands from Nordstrom…wrinkle free, does not come cheap)- (hurry though, 6 hours left!) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180261861546&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

They usually come at about $60…so go for it! There are lots of other career steals on ebay as well.

…I can’t resist commenting on The Bachelorette Finale last night. Yikes! Poor Jason, I was so heartbroken for him. He is the sweetest man and it kills me that he had to spend so much time away from his son for pretty much nothing. It’s not very fair!

Not to mention the fact that the entire time she was saying she wanted to have three kids before she was 30, she didn’t want to live anywhere cold, etc…and she picks the younger snowboarder who wasn’t really ready to commit and then all of the sudden he is in the last two episodes? Seriously? I feel like there is a such a huge difference in maturity between a 26 year old and 31 year old…and if she was looking to settle down and become a mom asap, she probably made the wrong choice. And like her dad pointed out- he has no plans for when he can’t snowboard anymore. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s a fantastic guy, too…I just don’t see them working out (but then again, there’s only 1 couple that worked out from that show in how many seasons? it’s in the double digits for sure).

Oh, well…I know a ton of young women in the Seattle area who would jump at the chance to date Jason, so I’m sure he won’t be lonely for long!

Well, I probably watch enough TV for 10 people, but it was my major, so…I really can’t help it! Plus it’s part of my job. Anyway, I thought I would blog about this summer’s television lineup. So far, I’m pretty disappointed with it. I’ve been watching mostly reruns, but here are my thoughts on what everyone should watch:

-The Mole: I loved the first season of this show- Anderson Cooper at his finest (okay, well, his finest when he’s not an awesome journalist). This season isn’t as wonderful, but it’s still fun to try to guess who the mole is. It’s pretty difficult with this group of people. It’s great because it’s really the only reality show where the viewer doesn’t know everything that’s going on. I’m glad they brought it back. ABC, Monday nights at 10.

-The Bachelorette: I felt so bad for Deanna when Brad totally messed with her. The way he handled it was as a classic guy- not fun. I was glad she got her own chance…but I think she may not pick the right guy now. Of course, if you catch it now, you’ll just see the final episode (though you can watch them all on abc.com). I loved Fred, who she kind of pulled a Brad on (and Ellen DeGeneres loved him, too!). And she just said goodbye to Jeremy….another favorite of mine. I love Jason, Jesse’s okay…but I guess we’ll see who she picks tomorrow night! ABC, Monday nights at 9.

-Gossip Girl: If you didn’t watch this the first time around (like me), this is pretty good. Better than most Summer shows, since it isn’t really a summer show, it’s just reruns. Very interesting, though. Of course, it’s as sleazy as you would expect, but the acting a little better. I highly recommend it for some light tv watching. CW, Mondays at 8 p.m.

-Big Brother: This hasn’t started yet, but I am more than excited for it! I think this is one of the best reality shows…it shows what happens when people are stuck in a house together…with nothing else. A lot of strategy is also involved and tension and emotions are always high. Usually three nights a week, CBS.

-Greatest American Dog: This hasn’t aired yet (to my knowledge) but this has the potential to be my favorite summer tv show. It looks a lot like Bravo’s Showdog Moms and Dads…otherwise known as Christopher Guest’s “Best in Show” in real life! Great stuff. CBS, Thursdays at 8.

That’s as much as I recommend so far…like I said it’s not the best crop- probably due to the writer’s strike. I’m just thankful the actor’s strike hasn’t happened…yet?

I wanted to give a review to one of my favorite books right now- a cook book! I recieved this book from one of my mom’s coworkers when I graduated from college, and nearly every week I’ve made something new using it’s awesome recipes.

This book is easy enough for the ultra beginner- it details everything from how to find the ripest fruits and vegetables, how to prepare meat, how to make things last, etc. I’ve made a cheese souffle in no time, amazing waffles, delicious hummus for a bridal shower, etc. It also has a huge section in the back of menu plans for different events, a glossary in case you don’t know a specific term that is used, and a very comprehensive index.

I’ve been able to find every recipe I’ve even dreamed of in here. It’s definitely a worthwhile investment for anyone…and makes a fantastic gift! Definitely recommend any of these recipes for impressing guests as well. Yum!

So I’m sitting here watching Meet the Press as my Sunday ritual (missing Tim Russert…sigh), and they are covering how important the West will be in this election. While talking to Governors of Wyoming and Colorado, I winced as the pronunciation of Nuclear was frequently turned into “Nuke-u-lar”. Ouch. As a grammar and spelling freak, this simply kills me every time. How is it that a President who frequently has a difficult time pronouncing words (or remembering them) has changed the landscape of our language? But really, to be fair…it’s only with Nuclear. Nobody is going around (that I know of) saying “strategeries” or other silly words. Thankfully! If that happened, I would probably have a melt down!

But why do you all think this is happening? I mean, is it just easier to say that way? Or has it been pronounced so badly ad nauseum that it’s become part of our language? Yikes…say it isn’t so.

The city’s new police chief in Flint, MI has announced that he will soon arrest people for wearing baggy pants. Interesting…I’m sure that won’t last long (especially because clothing is tied to the first amendment according to a few well known Supreme Court cases).  But the most interesting aspect of this (in my opinion) is that people are claiming this is racist. Now, I find it very difficult to believe that there aren’t people of all races wearing baggy pants. Just because it’s associated with hip hop or rap culture doesn’t mean other races don’t gladly show their boxers or thongs to the public. Although I don’t know the entire demographic of the city, which I’m sure would play a part in it.

 Either way…I really can’t see this lasting very long. All they need is a lawyer ready to bust it wide open after one arrest is made. Hmm.  What do you think?

Unfortunately I have major writer’s block right now. As an aspiring scriptwriter and someone who has to write as part of my job…this is very very bad! How do you pull through writer’s block? For me, it’s one of the following:

• Exercise- treadmill or ballet are the best to clear my mind.
• Food- Okay, so eating for this reason is probably really bad (along the lines of eating out of boredom) but sometimes it helps! Especially sugar….really gets my creative juices flowing.
• Sleep- Nothing like good old fashioned sleep…unless you just don’t have the time.

So I’m going to try a few of these and hopefully I’ll be able to get it back on track!