It's Full of Stars

Ok. This requires some delicate maneuvering. Someone who shall remain nameless unless he or she chooses to respond here became a Netflix friend and thus learned all the secrets of my ratings. Now comes the ridicule.



I gave Catwoman 3 stars.

Don't start the intervention yet! See, I give three stars to movies that entertained me, even if they're god-awful pieces of crap, which, I do agree, Catwoman was (other 3 star examples - The Beastmaster, Billy Madison, Earth Girls are Easy and The Fantastic Four). I think the problem is that I rarely watch movies that I don't enjoy on some level. I can generally tell when I'm not going to like 'em. I don't think I have many one or two stars at all. A quick check reveals Anchorman, Lord of War, and Red Corner in the 2 star category, and I'll stand by those. I couldn't even really laugh at those, much less, with them. I'm sure I'll get angry huffs of indignation about Anchorman lovers though. I just couldn't take it.

Ya gotta admit, if you watched Catwoman, I bet you laughed. Maybe not where the filmmakers wanted you to, but I bet you did :)

4.35mi 31'37"

Rock Quizster

Well, here we go. I was going to wait until the new year to start this, but hey, I was folding laundry while the tunes raged and I was inspired. First off, I'd like to thank those readers who have held on and kept visiting. I'm such a needy person. I love it when you respond.

So, without further ado, back by popular demand, I bring to you, the rebirth of luke warm:

THE LYRICS QUIZ: REBORN

Ok, you remember the drill. We need the title of the song and the artist (or "artist" in some cases). Arguing over who did the best cover of an original is encouraged, but Janis kicks Kris' ass at Bobby McGee, and that can be changed by neither men nor gods.

I'm going to mix those standard questions up with some short answers - no True/False or multiple choices (so far :) ) Also, I've made no attempt whatsoever to reconcile these with the earlier billions or quizicles, so expect review questions of songs we've already covered. You have been reviewing all semester long, haven't you?

1.

She helped me with my suitcase,
She stands before my eyes
Driving me to the airport,
And to the friendly skies.

2.

Sometimes, tell me
While she's touching you
Just by mistake
Accidentally do you say my name?

3.

Old friends meet on the edge of town
Sharing conversation, hoping things will soon get better
While the children meet, got the world at their feet
Not knowing whats around the corner
Are we living for an uncertain future?

4.

Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it, why can't
Someone else?

5.

Out on the wiley, windy moors
We'd roll and fall in green.
You had a temper like my jealousy:
Too hot, too greedy.
How could you leave me,
When I needed to possess you?
I hated you. I loved you, too.

6.

I was living for a dream, loving for a moment
Taking on the world, that was just my style
Then I touched your hand, I could hear you whisper...

7.

I could leave but I won't go
Though my heart might tell me so
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes

Short Answer (Bonus points for title and artist)

8. Who might declare us "the nicest of the damned?"

9. What is it that brings out the man in me?

10. Where might you find a one-man band who'll toot his flute for you?

11. What did you swear the time before?

Digital Decadance

Well, there was a whole lot less work going on today and a whole lot more retail therapy. Oh, online shopping, how you seduce me with your reaching out to my laziness with your free shipping and random things I never knew I needed.

There were gift cards received this holiday, and I'm giddily shopping from the comfort of my home wearing much less than would be socially acceptable were I to be wandering around the brick and mortar stores, and that's a beautiful thing.

One thing that I did get out to shop for was a decent beginner's cookbook. Pretty much all I've got in my cooking toolbox are the bachelor specials, you know - omelets, chili, tacos, pasta, etc... So I did get out and hit the bookstore to find something that I hope will help. I'll blog it if anything I cook is notable in success or failure.

Also discovered while out today - Pear Cider. Oh, yum. Why is it so hard to find ciders here?

4.4mi 31'46"

Brain Dead Meme!

A Meme? Easy? A window on my dark dark soul? Sign me up!

Via the Janus-like Pilgrim/Heretic

I present to you the first line(s) for each month of the past year-o-blogging (minus run reports)!

January:

More rain - no run

February:

Bloody Vikings...

March:

I loved Choose You Own Adventure books - Something Awful has more of these right here - warning that some things there are, um... a bit tasteless.

April:

"Making Eye Babies" Not Allowed

May:

80 random people + blue polo shirts and khakis + plans to politely hang out at the local Best Buy = Hilarious

June:

First off, an apology to what few loyal readers I've got left for the lack of posts lately. I've been doing the thesis tango with my advisors and a whole lotta caffeine.

July:

Very bizarre surfing gets done late late at night when you're doing laundry (cause it's too bloomin' hot to do laundry during the day).

August:

子曰知之为知之不知为不知是知也。

The Master said, "to see knowledge as knowledge and ignorance as ignorance - this is knowledge."

I shoulda listened to Confucius.

September:

Hot:

Andre Agassi: Regardless of whether or not you've never actually seen him play or care to, that was a great match.

Not:

US Basketball Team: Further evidence that NBA players are just overpaid egomaniacal ball hogs who can't play as a team or the natural result of trying to throw together a team in too short a time? I vote both.

October:

Yesterday was mostly very cool. There was that incident - with the photocopier (I guess we're not supposed to say Xerox machine anymore, are we?). There was also the other incident with the photocopier. All I have to say is that I didn't do it. It was like that when I got there.

November:

I think part of the reason for my lack of posts lately is more than simply the fact that I don’t sit in front of the computer 7 hours out of every day like I did at Old U.

December:

There's a minor ick at USU (Urban Sprawl University - You like?).



So, the lessons learned here are as follows:

• Pretty much all I do is link - no real content to be found here
• I also whine.
• I need to learn to blog better :)

4.33mi - 31'21"

Funny thing is that I haven't run for awhile. (again. I know, I know.) I started out and it felt soooo good. I started running a little faster and my entire body felt like it was just made to glide over the sidewalk. My breathing was coming easily and my legs flitted back and forth snicker-snack.

That lasted about 100 meters.

Holy poop I got tired. Muscles tightened, breath wheezed, legs pulled forward through mobile tubs of molasses. It got a little better as I ran through the shock of it all, but still. Yeesh.

On the plus side I took a hint from Jayfish and listened to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, which now comes in handy, easy to swallow podcast form (it's on iTunes too, if you like it that way), while I ran. I'm sure the other folks on the sidewalks were wondering why I was laughing out loud as I ran by them. They probably just thought I was a cruel punk mocking their slowness. I'm sure they'll trip me next time.

Happy Holidays To All

After a wild dash across and back across the nation, I've come back from the land of wind and dry skin. Fortunately for me, it's also the land of family, lots of food, and some kick-ass presents. Old stories were told. Old songs were sung, and I was reminded how much I really like my family. I know so many people who really dislike their family, so I guess I got off lucky. Throughout multiple flight delays (I had the least troubles - one delay and one missed flight, but a first class upgrade and a free ticket on an airline that I'm not sure I would want to fly with again, so it was pretty much a wash for me), holiday cheer was retained.

The obvious stars of the entire production were naturally the nieces. To get all the cliches out of the way, They're HUGE! The youngest is walking around and talking (the best thing you can hear is a toddler squealing out "Again! Again!" after seeing a trick or funny face), and the eldest is the cleverest thing on the planet.

I'm using today as a recovery day and then I'll go back into the research and work stuff tomorrow. I really needed that break. I feel recharged. That could also be because I actually did get out and run this morning. That'll be int he next post. Err... you've probably already seen it though. It's up there above this one, I'll bet.