So That Happened

Things I Need to Start and/or Finish Writing Posts About But Have Not Yet Done So

1. My Budapest/Prague travelogue.  I KNOW.
2. My Hawaii travelogue.
3. My LASIK procedure.   
4. My knitting projects.  Yes, there has been knitting going on. 
5. My recent celebrity sightings.  Hint: I saw this guy.
6. Food I've eaten, including what has to be the greatest ice cream ever - EVER!  

Commercials That Annoy Me

I've been really busy lately and haven't watched as much TV as I normally do (shocking!), but even in my limited TV-watching I've come across some ads that set my teeth on edge.  Here are just a few:

• The Cadillac Escalade "Cupholders" commercial featuring Sofia Vergara.  I've read some reviews in which people complained about her accent; that isn't what bothers me.  What gets under my skin is her fake driving: she's "steering" the vehicle as if she is on the Bumpiest Road Ever and has next to no control over her GIANT SUV.  Yeah, that's the person I want behind the wheel of a massive vehicle.  Way to sell it.  Has she ever driven a car before?  No one drives like that on a regular basis.  I know she's not known for being the greatest thespian, but come ON.  Someone should have told her to make it look like she was driving in a straight line and not on Autopia at Disneyland.
• The Nutrisystem "Pretty" commercial featuring Jillian Reynolds.  I want to shoot the writer who thought of the words "I'm not your average gal - I love sports.  Football!  How many girls can do that?"  SHUT UP.  What?  There are woman who like sports?!  INCONCEIVABLE!  Excuse me while I clutch my pearls.  I have girlfriends who live and breathe sports: it's not a foreign concept.  I'd also like to know how many takes were shot for the one of Jillian actually catching the ball since she is totally not the sporty type.  Also?  I hate Nutrisystem's (and any other weight loss program's) before and after shots: in her "before" she's wearing her maternity dress even though she's already given birth and is in flip-flops and under bad lighting, but in her "after" she's got the bikini and heels on with makeup and good lighting.  Whatever, Big Fat Lying Company.  Finally, I hate that the website promoted in the ad (which you don't see in the Youtube clip) is actually www.nutrisystem.com/pretty.  PRETTY.  Really?  My God.  Shut up, commercial.

Okay, so this isn't a long list.  What about you?  Which commercials make you want to punch someone?

I Turn My Camera On: A List Update

Remember my list of coveted things?  Well, I picked up one of the items yesterday:

The Nikon D80

Okay, okay - so I originally had a Canon on my list.  I changed my mind.  After months of toying around with my sister's camera (also a D80), I concluded that only that camera would soothe the savage photography-loving beast.  After about thirty minutes of internal deliberations (namely, 'Are you really going to pay that much for a camera?!'), the D80 is now mine, all MINE, and I am LOVING it.  Mwahahaha!

I can't wait to see how my various pictures of Mr. Bear and/or food will turn out.

In other list-y news, I missed Sir Ian McKellen in London earlier this year (sniff), but now the gods have smiled upon me and are now bringing King Lear to Los Angeles!  It is imperative that I see this.  I am NOT kidding.

Finally?  I still want world peace and a pony.

Things I Am Currently Coveting

1. A Canon Digital Rebel XT: I really want to upgrade my camera because the one I have now is not performing up to snuff.  Teresa let me inspect her Canon at SnB last week and I left feeling positively envious.  It's so nice. 
2. The Band of Brothers DVD box set: Jen loaned me hers last year and I watched the whole thing in one weekend.  (Hi, Damien Lewis!  Call me!)
3. A T3 Tourmaline Professional Hair Dryer: H let me try her blow dryer out in Las Vegas and I noticed an immediate difference with one use.  I didn't have that slight "halo" of frizz around my head, and my hair looked as if I had flatironed it.  It looked two inches longer, I swear!
4. A Satin Wonders pillowcase: Jessica tipped me off to this gem. 
5. A pink Mason Pearson hairbrush: Because I am somewhat really fixated on improving my hair.  I didn't know it came in pink!  Thanks again, Jessica!
6. Yarn from Scout's Swag: I confess.  I have been a total blog stalker at Scout's site for the past year.  She makes the most gorgeous hand-dyed yarns I've ever seen, plus she takes beautiful pictures of the lovely Albuquerque sky.  One day I will finally stop being a crazy blog stalker and buy some of her sumptuous yarn - custom-dyed in my alma mater's colors!
7. A Tiffany Mesh Ring: Why?  Why not?
8. Tickets to see Patrick Stewart in The Tempest: I have just over a month to go back to London and make this happen.
9. Tickets to see Sir Ian McKellen in King Lear at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Complete Works festival.
10. Okay FINE, tickets to see Daniel Radcliffe in Equus, too.
11. World peace.
12. A pony.

A Fours To Be Reckoned With

I've been tagged by the very smart Diner Girl.

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Tutor to elementary school-age children, Chinatown
2. An alien in the Area 51 maze, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights (SHUT UP IT WAS A PAYING GIG)
3. Bakery shop girl, the high school years
4. Coffee bar barista, Downtown L.A. (at a place that wasn't a Starbucks or Coffee Bean)

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Galaxy Quest
2. Somewhere In Time
3. The Sound of Music
4. A Christmas Story

Four places I have lived:
1. Somewhere in Los Angeles County
2. Another location in Los Angeles County
3. This space left intentionally blank.
4. This space also left intentionally blank.

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. 24
2. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
3. Survivorman
4. So You Think You Can Dance (WOOOOOO!)

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. London
2. Amsterdam
3. The Philippines
4. Hong Kong

Four websites I visit daily:
1. CNNWithout Pity
2. TypePad in the What Now
3. Los Angeles Times's "The Awful Truth"
4. New York Times

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich (sourdough or whole wheat bread)
2. Sushi
3. Creme Brulee
4. CAKE!

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. In an inner tube floating in the ocean at 100 Islands National Park in the Philippines
2. London
3. Home.  As much as I love traveling, I'm a big homebody.
4. In bed.  I don't mean that in a salacious way; I just love my bed.

Four places I'd love to visit:
1. Fiji
2. Turks & Caicos
3. Tokyo
4. Salzburg, Austria (to go on The Sound of Music tour!)

Four foods I don't like:
1. Cilantro.  It's the devil's weed.
2. Most Thai food, but that's because of the cilantro.  There are only a few dishes that I like.
3. Octopus.  It's too chewy.
4. Balut.  I've never tried it because I'm too chicken, but I already know I don't like it.  Click on the link if you dare.

Four people I am tagging whom I think will respond:
I'm not going to tag anyone.  If you want to fill this out, have at it.

A Music Meme

I have a lot on my mind right now but instead of spilling my guts out here I'll just give you this meme I stole this from alala.

- Choose a band/artist: Britney!

- Answer each question using the title of a song by that band/artist.

=====

1. Are you male or female: Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman

2. Describe yourself: Stronger

3. How do some people feel about you? I'm A Slave 4 U

4. How do you feel about yourself? Brave New Girl

5. Describe your ex-boyfriend / ex-girlfriend: Boys

6. Describe current boyfriend / girlfriend: My Prerogative

7. Describe where you want to be: Everytime

8. Describe how you live: Me Against The Music

9. Describe how you love: ...Baby One More Time

10. What would you ask for if you had just one wish? Lucky

11. Share a few words of wisdom: Do Somethin'

12. Now say goodbye: Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know

iTunes Is A Fickle, Fickle Mistress

I poached this list from Carrie some time ago and never got around to playing along until now.

=====

Here's what you do:

a) Find your iTunes library or iPod.
b) Put it on Shuffle mode.
c) Answer the following questions with the songs in the right order.
d) Be amazed, amused, or left asking yourself "What the F? This makes no sense."
e) Pass it on.

1. What's my mood like right now?
- Some of These Days / Erzsebet Foldi (All That Jazz soundtrack): It's a song a young girl is singing to her father who is near death from a lifetime of heavy drinking, smoking and other egregious habits.  Being that my father really isn't in the picture, I can think of someone else I could direct this to, after having switched out the word "Daddy" for something more appropriate, of course.

2. How's tomorrow going to be for me?
- If Your Girl Only Knew / Aaliyah: Oh MY.  It sounds as if I'm going to have one very exciting day!

3. What kind of person am I?
- If I Can Dream / Elvis Presley: Aw, a song about being hopeful.  That sounds like me, all right.

4. Am I loved?
- Wild Thing / Tone-Loc: Uh, thanks? 

5. How can I achieve my highest potential?
- Imitation of Life / R.E.M.: Great, especially since the song's lyrics sound like they've been pulled out of a hat at random. 

6. What should I do with my life?
- The Nearness of You / The Rolling Stones: Hmm.  Okay.

7. Is everything really going to be alright in the end?
- Go It Alone / Beck: What, are you trying to tell me that I might as well not even bother trying to find someone and just continue on this solo journey for the rest of my life?!  SHUT UP, ITUNES LIST.  (The song is great, though - very pole dance-worthy.)

8. What is my best quality?
- Love & Forgiveness / Julia Fordham: Okay, iTunes List.  You've redeemed yourself with this selection. 

9. How does my sex life look?
- Running / No Doubt: I like this song.  It's about going through life alongside the person you love.  This is a good sign.

10. What is the meaning of life?
- The Song Remains The Same / Led Zeppelin: Well, I could have told you that.

11. What do people think of me?
- The Internet Is For Porn / Avenue Q: Great, just GREAT. 

12. Would I make a good catch?
- Burning Love / Elvis Presley: HELLS YEAH.  That's what I'm talkin' about.

13. How crazy am I?
- Born Again / Badly Drawn Boy: Great song.  Not sure how or if it answers the question.  I guess it will after I give it some thought.

14. Will I have a good life in general?
- Sarve Shaam / Eric Clapton (A Concert for George soundtrack): This is an Indian chant sung at the beginning of A Concert for George.  I don't know what it means, but it is very pretty and soothing, so I'm going to go with it being a positive piece.

15. Can anyone ever really love me?
- Cowboy Take Me Away / Dixie Chicks: I'd like to think that a dashing man will one day come and sweep me off my feet.  It makes for fun imagination playtime.

16. Can a best friend and I ever be more than friends?
- Burning Up / Madonna:  Ha!

17. What's going to happen to me this week?
- Waiting For A Girl Like You / Foreigner: Now this is promising, isn't it?

18. Where will I be a year from now?
- The Payback / James Brown: HOT DAMN.  Will retribution be mine in '07?  The idea is too sweet to even contemplate.

19. What is my greatest wish?
- West Side Story Finale / West Side Story: Soooo, my greatest wish is to see the man I adore get SHOT AND KILLED right before my very eyes?!  By my brother 'Nardo's right-hand man, Chino?!  I HATE YOU, CHINO.

20. What is the love of my life feeling at this very moment?
- Hang On To Your Love / Sade: I'd very much like to think this is true.

21. How will I die?
- The Love You Save / The Jackson Five: This kind of ties into the last question, doesn't it?  Hanging onto your love, saving your love - methinks this is all in reaction to that bastard Chino shooting my true love.  Freaking Chino.

22. What will happen after I die?
- I Shall Not Walk Alone / The Blind Boys of Alabama: Encouraging!

23. How do my friends feel about me?
- My Favorite Mistake / Sheryl Crow: Well, they do think of me and online porn in the same instance.

I Have Done Four of These Things

Jessica is one insanely clever bitch, y'all.

======

Fill in numbers instead of Xs. Cut and paste with "I have done # of these things" in the cut tag.

I Have Done __ of These Things

[ ] I have a twin.
[ ] I have moved across the country, to a city both more glamourous and more confusing than the previous one.
[ ] I have an unseemly attachment to my overly long sideburns.
[ ] I drive or have driven a car with a vanity license plate indicating that it has eaten a lesser car.
[ ] I have or had a tendency to wear men's ties, or body suits.
[ ] I decided I was going to wait until marriage to have sex.
[ ] I changed my mind about that.
[ ] I offered my virginity to my crush on a merry-go-round and he turned me down.
[ ] I accidentally dated a bigot.
[ ] I live or have lived alone at the Bel Age Hotel.
[ ] I work or have worked at the local hamburger joint.
[ ] I work or have worked at the local hamburger joint in costume.
[ ] I was held up at the local hamburger joint and then had PTSD for about a week.
[ ] I was the DJ of my high school radio station.
[ ] My high school had a radio station.
[ ] I was addicted to diet pills.
[ ] I was addicted to crystal meth, but only because I was so busy.
[ ] I had a stalker.
[ ] My stalker moved in with me, copied my hair cut, tried to steal my boyfriend and then attempted to murder me, but make it look like suicide.
[ ] I have been in a burning building.
[ ] I have been in a burning building with a lesbian who later developed a crush on me, while I was trying to recover from my very stressful yet not at all visible burns.
[ ] I have been on the cover of a magazine or newspaper.
[ ] My mom decided she was a lesbian, but only after dating my girlfriend's father, the chancellor of my university.
[ ] I dated someone who later, like, totally trashed this awesome float I was making for homecoming.
[ ] I eventually briefly got back together with the person who trashed my float, despite her terrible haircut at the time.
[ ] I have eaten a Mega Burger.
[1] I've been to France.
[ ] I've impersonated a French person in France.
[ ] I've found out that someone I thought was dead in fact faked his death and is just in the Witness Protection Program.
[ ] My little sister turned into a streetwalking prostitute with a pimp named the distinctly non-threatening "Riggs."
[ ] I've been in a cult.
[ ] I have broken up with someone to the tune of "Losing My Religion."
[ ] I have worn the same dress as one of my friends to an important event, like the prom.
[2] Despite my mistakes, I have graduated.
[3] I have told someone I hate them and instructed them never to speak to me again.
[ ] I have had past-life regression indicating that I lived in the Old West.
[ ] I have attempted to purchase an egg.
[ ] I have fooled around or slept with: my RA; my advisor's wife; my high school drama teacher; my best friend's boyfriend; my girlfriend's best friend; someone in my employ (although she was a sex columnist); the doctor I had in rehab; a guy I met at the laundromat, despite being already married; someone named Stuart; the child of the man I thought ordered a hit on my Dad; a skanky chick who works at my record label; and/or Steve Sanders.
[4] I have chosen myself.

Really? Another List?

See?  This is what happens when you're me and you read various knitting blogs and you come across yet another list (this time on The Scattered Gemini) that you simply MUST fill out.

========

Fill in numbers instead of Xs. Cut and paste with "I have done # of these 158 things" in the cut tag.

I Have Done 101 of These 158 Things

[1] I have read a lot of books.
[ ] I have been on some sort of varsity team.
[2] I have run more than two miles without stopping.
[ ] I have been to Canada.
[3] I have been to Europe.
[4] I have watched cartoons for hours.
[5] I have tripped UP the stairs.
[6] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs.
[7] I have been snowboarding/skiing.
[8] I have played ping pong.

[9] I swam in the ocean.
[10] I have been on a whale watch.
[11] I have seen fireworks.
[12] I have seen a shooting star.
[13] I have seen a meteor shower.
[14] I have almost drowned.
[15] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.
[16] I have listened to one CD over and over and over again.
[17] I have had stitches.
[ ] I have had frostbite.

[ ] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there.
[18] I have stayed up til 2 (and beyond) doing homework/projects.
[19] I have been ice skating.
[20] I have been rollerblading.
[21] I have fallen flat on my face.
[22] I have tripped over my own two feet.
[ ] I have been in a fist fight.
[23] I have played videogames for more than three hours straight. (Tetris is my crack, y'all.)
[ ] I have watched the Power Rangers.
[ ] I attend church regularly.

[24] I have played Truth or Dare.
[25] I have already had my 16th birthday.
[26] I have already had my 17th birthday.
[27] I've called someone stupid.
[28] I've been in a verbal argument.
[29] I've cried in school.
[ ] I've played basketball on a team.
[ ] I've played baseball on a team.
[ ] I've played football on a team.
[ ] I've played soccer on a team.

[30] I've done cheerleading on a team.
[ ] I've played softball on a team.
[ ] I've played volleyball on a team.
[ ] I've played tennis on a team.
[ ] I've been on a track or cross country team.
[31] I've been swimming more than 20 times in my life.
[ ] I've bungee jumped.
[ ] I've climbed a rock wall.
[ ] I've lost more than $20 (in possession at one time)
[32] I've called myself an idiot.

[33] I've called someone else an idiot.
[34] I've cried myself to sleep.
[35] I've had (or have) pets.
[36] I've owned a Spice Girls CD/cassette.
[37] I've owned a Britney Spears CD.
[38] I've owned an N*Sync CD.
[ ] I've owned a Backstreet Boys CD. (I do have some standards.)
[ ] I've mooned someone.
[ ] I have sworn/yelled at someone of authority before.
[39] I've been in the newspaper.

[40] I've been on TV.
[41] I've been to Hawaii.
[42] I've eaten sushi.
[43] I've been on the other side of a waterfall.
[44] I've watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies.
[ ] I've watched all the Harry Potter movies.
[ ] I've watched all of the Rocky movies.
[45] I've watched the Three Stooges. (Only once, and never again.  Didn't care for or get it at all.)
[46] I've watched "Newlyweds."
[47] I've watched Looney Tunes.

[ ] I've been stuffed into a locker/I have stuffed others into lockers.
[48] I've been called a geek. 
[49] I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade.
[50] I've not studied at all for a test and aced it.
[51] I've hugged my mom within the past 24 hours.
[ ] I've hugged my dad within the past 24 hours.
[52] I've met a celebrity/music artist.
[53] I've written poetry.
[ ] I've been arrested.
[54] I've been attracted to someone much older than me.

[ ] I've been tickled till I've cried.
[ ] I've tickled someone else until they cried.
[55] I've had/have siblings.
[56] I've been to a rock concert.
[57] I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it.
[58] I've been in a play.
[ ] I've been picked last in gym class.
[ ] I've been picked first in gym class.
[59] I've been picked in that middle-range in gym class.
[60] I've cried in front of my friends.

[61] I've read a book longer than 1,000 pages.
[ ] I've played Halo 2.
[62] I've freaked out over a sports game.
[ ] I've been to Alaska.
[ ] I've been to China.
[ ] I've been to Spain.
[ ] I've been to Japan.
[ ] I've had a fight with someone on AIM/MSN.
[63] I've had a fight with someone face-to-face.
[64] I've had serious conversations on any IM. (Because I take discussing such things as the bloated-from-pregnancy Melissa Joan Hart with Jen very seriously.)

[65] I've forgiven someone who has done something wrong to me.
[66] I've been forgiven.
[67] I've screamed at a scary movie.
[68] I've cried at a chick flick.
[69] I've watched a lot of action movies.
[70] I've screamed at the top of my lungs.
[71] I've been to a rap concert.
[72] I've been to a hip hop concert.
[73] I've lived in more than 2 houses.
[74] I've driven on the highway/been on the highway.

[75] I've driven more than 40 miles in a day/been in a car that went more than 40 miles in a day.
[76] I've been in a car accident.
[77] I've done drugs.
[78] I've been homesick.
[79] I've thrown up.
[80] I've thrown up on someone. (I'm sure I did when I was a baby.)
[81] I've been horseback riding.
[ ] I've filled out more than 10 MySpace/LJ surveys.
[82] I've spoken my mind in public.
[83] I've proven someone wrong.

[84] I've been proven wrong by someone.
[ ] I've broken a leg.
[ ] I've broken an arm.
[ ] I've fallen off a swing.
[ ] I've swung on a swing for more than 30 minutes straight.
[85] I've watched Winnie the Pooh movies.
[ ] I've forgotten my backpack when I've gone to school.
[ ] I've lost my backpack.
[86] I've come close to dying.
[ ] I've seen someone die.

[87] I've known someone who has died.
[88] I've wanted to be an actor/actress at some point.
[89] I've done modeling. (It was ONE fashion show, people.  I was young.)
[ ] I've forgotten to brush my teeth some mornings.
[90] I've taken something/someone for granted.
[91] I've realized how good my life is.
[92] I've counted my blessings.
[93] I've made fun of a classmate.
[94] I've been asked out by someone and I said no.
[ ] I've slapped someone in the face.

[ ] I've been skateboarding.
[95] I've been backstabbed by someone I thought was a friend.
[96] I've lied to someone to their face.
[97] I've told a little white lie.
[98] I've taken a day off from school just so I don't go insane.
[99] I've fainted.
[100] I've had an argument with someone about whether cheerleading is a sport or not.
[ ] I've pushed someone into a pool.
[ ] I've been pushed into a pool.
[101] I've been/am in love.

X Marks The Spot

I came across this list on Lisa's blog while perusing knitting sites.  I added the italicized parts.

=======

Place an X by all the things you've done. This is for your entire life.

(X) Smoked a cigarette (I was young and stupid)
(X) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend's car
( ) Stolen a car
(X) Been in love
(X) Been dumped
( ) Shoplifted
(X) Been laid off/fired
(X) Quit your job
( ) Been in a fist fight
( ) Snuck out of your parent's house
(X) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back (aka The Story of My Life)
( ) Been arrested
(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Lied to a friend
(X) Skipped school (Does skipping class count?)
( ) Seen someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country.
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Felt like dying
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
( ) Recently colored
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Made a bonfire on the beach
(X) Crashed a party
(X) Gone roller-skating
(X) Gone ice-skating