It's the end of the day and I do not in fact have a real entry in me. Oh well. But I do have a meme and some other non-original yet AWESOME content. First, the awesomeness.

I've talked about Defective Yeti before, namely my attempt to ape his AFI 100 challenge (which ended in heartbreak and defeat and technically isn't ended yet, but more on that possibly tomorrow.) He is still the best ever with this, the coolest quiz ever. He's taken the lyrics to 50 great rock songs, and arranged each word in them alphabetically. Can you tell what they are? I only knew 23. I fail at rock music. But this does not mean I will listen to more Springsteen or Marley. This bird you cannot change.

And now, the meme! Stolen from my roommate Liz!

Y'know, this is going to take a lot of searching and saving and converting and saving again and I get off work in 15 minutes and plan to be in my pajamas within 30. That's right. You heard me. Tomorrow, good people. Have patience with me for another night. Besides, the rock quiz should keep y'all occupied for a bit.

PS-- Hey everybody, try to get your first hangover out of your system before you're 28 and it's Thursday and most responsible people are waiting until at least tonight to begin their wasteland weekends and you have to be at work and coherent and such. I do not recommend this. Though I do recommend bingo at Hamburger Mary's. That I am fully in favor of.

Also, I need some new TV icons. Various shows. Stat.

Because of where I live and the friends I've been lucky enough to make I get to go to TV show panels from time to time. Every single time I feel unbelievably lucky. I'm positive that at some point, someone will realize what a little imposter I am. There is no way I get to do something so cool. Some are Paley, some are TV Academy, all of them are a blast. Usually it's just not done to be a fan at these things cause that's not smooth enough for the industry, so I try to lie low, not go all fangirly, and generally play much cooler than I am (all goals that are not always met.) This means keeping the fandom to a minimum, not staring at the actors, and definitely, under no circumstances, taking pictures. I have breached this before for awful, unfocused, as they're getting up from the chairs on the fly shots, but really, no pictures. It just feels unprofessional.

But last night.

It's not even my favorite show. On right now or ever.

But um, I still broke all my rules.

I took pictures.

I woo!ed when he walked onstage.

It was a blast. And it won't happen again at the Academy or any other Paley event, probably ever, but last night, it was fun.

(And if Robert Guillaume had been up there, I'd have taken twice as many pictures.)

( My shame, it is hidden. )

Y'know how I love y'all's 12 of 12 posts and try to join in every month? And every month I completely forget about it on the actual 12th and then fail at joining in, so as a result I've only done it once, I think, last June? Yeah, not working. So instead I'll just do it whenever I remember it, and make it __ of __. So there.

juls_chuls: Here begins your Disneyland present.

( 18 of 18 at Disneyland. )

I am thankful for:

1. Extra steak at lunch today. Thanks Commissary Dude!

2. I GOT THE CAR LOAN!

Oh, I didn't tell you Cesar Jose Lima died? Yes. It was sad. And not a little scary. Three hours of non-fun at a 76 just off the 5. But! I got a loan! For a new car! The one that I want is pretty! With features! I would say 'mit funktionen' but I think the only person who would get it no longer reads this. Still! I got the loan!

3. NEW CAR. I KNOW I ALREADY MENTIONED IT, BUT IT DESERVES ITS OWN LINE.

4. I now like "Chinatown." That makes two Polanski movies that don't bore me to tears. But don't worry, I didn't drink all the kool aid, "Rosemary's Baby" still sucks.

5. The mere fact that this exists:



Seriously, is it not awesome? Also the toothpick holder. I would enjoy looking at him on my table while I eat dinner.



PS-- I really really like Chinatown. It's beautiful. What can I say? Sometimes you just grow up.

A little late on posting altogether. Have we really not talked since the 12th? Goodness.

Happy Christmas!
(Or happy irrelevant day off for those who don't celebrate it :))

1. How much money did gift giving cost you this season? Magical movie moment: think of that bit towards the end of "Bridget Jones' Diary" where she's recounting Christmas Day and under cigarettes smoked (or is it calories consumed?) she sighs "Oh, thousands." That keeps going through my head in response to this question. Probably not a good sign.

2. Was getting ready for the holidays more fun, or more stressful this year? More fun and more stressful. Still haven't mailed anything, spent a bit more than I wanted, and never found what I really wanted to get for a couple awesome people who I just haven't given anything to yet cause I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. But my home looks great, there's tons of yummy Christmas goodies in my kitchen, and my holiday party and big dinner went beautifully, so I'm filled with Christmas love, dammit!

3. Were there any gifts that you were particularly proud to have put together this year? Which was your favourite? Disneyland ears I got personalized with a nickname for someone. They don't do that. Really, it's a big thing, they don't. But I have my ways.

4. What's your favourite holiday food? Roast beast! No, peppermint hot cocoa! No, my mom's cookies! No, yorkshire pudding! No, buche de noel! No, Mrs. B.'s mashed potatoes! No, green beans with shallots and bacon! No, Christmas morning casserole! No, Mrs. Houghton's haystacks! Argh. Why must these questions be so difficult?

5. If you were to be magically morphed into Santa's tenth reindeer, what would you want your reindeer name to be? Would you have any notable or quirky reindeer characteristics? If I were a reindeer I'd be called Sparkly and with just a wiggle of my cute fluffy tail every house I flew over would be magically bedecked and bejewelled with Christmas lights and buntings and decorations galore. Why one of the reindeers doesn't already have this power I do not understand.

Urgent Care Co-Pay - $20.

Parking at the Medical Center - $2.55.

Antibiotics, Pain Medication, and Decongestants - $17.

My doctor drawing pictures of what my eardrums look like with my raging double ear infection (Quote: I'm surprised the right is hurting you more, cause that's just your garden variety infection, but the left one is really cool.) - Priceless.

At least it came out to three hours off in the middle of the day and quick trip to Target where I bought Christmas decorations while the prescription was filled. Also, I am so so thankful that this happened now, when I have a car to get me around town, a boss who doesn't begrudge me the time, and health insurance to make it all affordable. This story could end a lot worse, and I am very aware of that.

Subtitled: Dude, I have been a total bitch all month.

I have. I've been down and blue and irritable and snappish and generally no fun to be around, even for me, for absolutely no reason. Nothing hugely awful has happened, it's actually been an alright time, with games and live Eddie and Tim Curry, and a concert and stuff. And yet. I have been miserable. I think I know what it was.

WITHDRAWAL.

I stopped eating fried foods = I instantly became a lot less fun to know. Nothing else changed this month, and yet everything's clouded over. Don't know why or what chemicals this has affected in my brain, but it sure seems like it has. That's it. If I want that chicken biscuit tomorrow morning, it's on. Queso and chips? I'm not denying myself. The last couple weeks have not been pretty, people. I think this will fix it. If a Chuychanga can't solve the problem, I don't know what can.

Yes, I feel like crap.

I had a migraine this morning so came into work late and they were marching across the employee entrance. I honked as I drove in, but had I seen this beforehand, I might not have come in at all.

Pertinent paragrah:

While our members are contractually bound to continue to work active productions if the WGA does go out on strike, each and every Local 399 Teamster has the right to honor any picket line if it is raised at their place of employment without fear of reprisal from the studios. If there is one thing that can be said about the 1.4 million Teamsters across this country, it is that our union is one that believes in strength through solidarity.

Craaaaaaaaap.

I've been running at half steam since Friday night. Went home early with a headache, woke up sick on Saturday, spent all day in bed (instead of meeting an awesome new baby,) and ended that super-fun day with a migraine, then spent all of Sunday in bed as well. Stayed in Monday night, last night, tonight, tomorrow night. Between general feeling like poo, the dreary weather, and the time change-up that now makes most of my outside hours dark ones it's a bleh week here. And my head hurts and I feel awful and I just want to go home, but if I leave now I'll run into the picketers on Riverside. And I cannot deal with crossing a picket line to leave work right now. I am not able to hang at this time, yo. So I'll stay at my desk like a good little coward and wait for 5pm when they all go home. Bleh.

This week blows.

My guilty pleasure. Mine. It is so embarrassing.

This show. This show I was sure I would hate. This show I did hate last spring when they forced the pilot down our throats. It was cut in that episode of that show that used to be so good. It was cut in really badly, and only served to slow down the already failing show, drag one painful hour into two that felt like three, and make the other show look really really grey because the production values were so different.

I hated this show on sight. It was a spin-off with a minor character who had turned around and become one of the few palatable people on this show that used to be good. This character was now leaving the show, taking most of what I liked with it. This did not make me happy. Also, it had that guy who I haaaaaaaaaaaaaated last year. HAAAAAATTTTEEED. Oh, how I hated Piz. I totally joined in the name calling and the mocking and the haaaaaatttteee. Because Piz so totally deserved it.

But this show. This show with Addison. I love it. Against my will, I love it. Cooper and Violet and Pete and Addison and Sam and Dell. Yes, I even like Dell. This show is so good that I no longer hate Chris Lowell. It's only Piz I had the problem with. Lowell is not so bad when he's not being used as a pawn to break the hearts of showlovers everywhere.

I admit it. I have a problem. I love "Private Practice." It's fluffy and silly and too pretty and too cute and um. It's escapism. It makes me smile. I love it. I won't say "please don't judge," cause hey, I'm the one calling it a guilty pleasure. I know I love it maybe more than it deserves. But I do. It's like a Three Musketeers bar in the middle of the day. You know you shouldn't, you know you'll forget it the second you're done with it, but it's really not as bad as some of the stuff you could be indulging in.

Yesterday was a Monday in Tuesday's clothing. Today that sneaky no-good day has dressed up as Wednesday. I am done with this day. Done. And it's barely 11am.

My schedule this week.

Monday-- Employee screening of "Something Wicked This Way Comes" with Ray Bradbury in attendance. He spoke before the screening and it was enough to make me want to read every word the man ever wrote, since I've only ever read 451 for high school. Then I watched the creepy scary movie. I curled up into a ball at the tarantulas in the bedroom scene and didn't uncurl til the lights came up. Remember, I am the girl who slept with her lights on for three nights after seeing "The Ring." Maybe I don't need to read every word Ray Bradbury wrote.

Tuesday-- Sleeeeep. Grocery shoppiiiiiiing. Maybe even cooooooooking.

Wednesday-- Games.

Thursday-- Dexter! Watching Dexter every other week with liebewanze. Every other week means two hours of Dexter. Which is a good thing.

Friday-- Halloween party.

Saturday-- Evel Knievel: The Rock Opera with playmayt. Then bed early because...

Sunday-- MyPC Disneyland event! Technically starts at 10am but might be there earlier if beatnikside wants to take full adavantage of his day with the Mouse. I believe the park opens at 8. We're game if you are, my good man.

Like many awesome things in this crazy world, this comes from stepliana:

Comment on this post. I'll choose seven userpics from your profile and you'll reply here (or you know, your own journal, whichever), explaining what they mean and why you're using them. Post this along with your answers in your own journal so others can play along.

The 7 icons she asked me about:

1. Mary Blair girl:
I <3 Mary Blair. Despite my overwhelming love for Frank & Ollie, Blaine Gibson, Bob Gurr, Eyvind Earle, and hundreds of other animators, artists, and imagineers who have shaped, colored, influenced, and built the Disney look over the years, her round world and use of color has really stuck with me. I believe this little girl comes from concept art she did for Three Caballeros. She's just darling. She usually comes into play on basic posts for which I have no real theme. She's just sorta me.

2. Fincher:
This is a quote from a movie I absolutely hated. It's on Brad Pitt's Tshirt in the photo on the cover of a magazine in Full Frontal, undeniably the worst movie by Steven Soderbergh. This waste of celluloid was made pretty soon after Joe Mechanic lost his job over the whole David Fincher's Fight Club not making a dime debacle, and this T was apparently Soderbergh's/Pitt's take on the deal. Or something. Maybe? At any rate, I have loved the quote ever since, say it all the time, and it's the only good thing in the movie. Seriously, don't watch it. It will make you question humanity. I use this when talking about movies or being kinda ranty.

3. My OTC:
If you've spent any time in any of the many terrifying TV fandoms, OTP means One True Pair to you, or the couple the show should never screw with. Likewise, OTC means One True Crack, as in the single substance I could never live without. This is a picture of a Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuit. I cannot live without these, even if all I can do all too often is dream about them. This is my One True Crack. I have another icon I use for all posts and comments to food comms, and use this when talking about food in my own lj or other people's personal ljs.

4. Cluedo:
I game, therefore I am. Clue is one of the first boardgames I remember playing when I was little. My wonderful and ever-patient babysitter Katrice used to play Clue with me for hours when I was six. I don't know how she did it. But I love boardgames still, and this usually pops up when I post about them.

5. I will cut you:
This kid is pissy. This kid is in no mood. This kid is not playing around. This kid will cut you. When I feel like that, he comes out to scowl. Think of him as an early warning detection system for when not to screw with me.

6. My Steve w/chopsticks:
My Steve! With chopsticks! One of the coolest men in the world, using the best eating utensils ever devised. Really, they are so useful, I am not even kidding. All the noodle problems presented by pasta, soup, all that? Dangers of being rude in not eating everything on your fork when attempting to enjoy dumplings and such? Solved by chopsticks. Also, he's cute in this and I really liked the colors and the whole look. That green by his arm is great. I use this when talking about food (I have lots of food icons cause I talk about it a lot, duh) or the overall awesomeness of My Steve.

7. Woo Woo for Lloyd:
Another Woot! icon, so we don't all get sick of OMFG YAY or Oh the thrills! Except I don't use this very often. Actually, I forgot I even had it. Thanks for reminding me. I'll have to use this more often.

That's it. Let me know if you want in on this kooky action.

Anyone else instantly think Pippi Longstocking whenever they see the sticking out red braids in those new Wendy's ads? I always wonder what she's doing all over American TV, and then people start talking about burgers.

Graham Norton and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen are not available to wishlist.

Hmph. Stupid TiVo.

The Fountain has been on top of my TV since August 15th. That is not good. I have to watch it tonight. Or send it on. Something. Almost two months. Not cool, self. Not cool.

But I did enjoy my TiVo's latest offering, Please Believe Me, last night. Yummy semi-early Deborah Kerr mistaken identity farce-ish love fluff. With an extremely young and tall and skinny Peter Lawford, who for some reason does not have much of an accent in his first couple scenes, but definitely grows into it later in the film. She looks barely 20 in this instead of almost 30. B&W really is more flattering. (MOM: Just go to OnDemand, it'll be there under free movies cause it was on TCM and they're cool like that.)

Meme first. From mondaysabitch, as usual:

Random Joy

1.When I dance I look like ________? I'm having fun. Peanut gallery, shush it!

2.Who's your favourite famous alien? playmayt, yeah, I almost said that, but I gotta go with Spock. Oldie but a goodie.

3.If you're a fan of __________ don't talk to me? Matchbox 20. Present company excluded, but only just. *shudder*

4.When is the last time someone yelled at you and why? Hmm. Last Saturday night. It sucked. I screwed up and everyone was tired.

5.What is your favourite Justin Timberlake song? I don't know that I have one... wait. Homelesstown? That SNL skit where he schooled the Salvation Army Santa. That was pretty good.

And THIS JUST IN:

Disneyland's raising the prices on character meals again, and now Ariel's Grotto is more than Goofy's Kitchen! It used to be something of a deal, cause it was about half the price (just over $15 to Goofy's $30 per adult) and they brought you a dish of warm fresh cotton candy between courses. Now that's my idea of a palate cleanser. But with the new prices as of September 12th:

Minnie & Friends - Breakfast in the Park at Plaza Inn (Disneyland) - Adults $25.99, Kids (3-9) $13.99
Ariel's Disney Princess Celebration at Ariel's Grotto (Disney's California Adventure) Adults $27.99, Kids (3-9) $15.99
Lilo & Stitch Aloha Breakfast at Disney's PCH Grill (Paradise Pier Hotel) - Adults $25.99, Kids (3-9) $13.99
Chip 'n Dale Critter Breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe (Grand Californian Hotel) - Adults $25.99, Kids (3-9) $13.99
Goofy's Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel) Brunch - Adults $25.99, Kids (3-9) $13.99
Goofy's Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel) Dinner - Adults $31.99, Kids (3-9) $13.99

It's now about comparable with Goofy's for dinner and more than brunch, while the food is still nowhere near as good, and the cotton candy is no more. Pfft. I see no reason to ever go back to Ariel's.

Excellent ham at the commissary today. Yes, Kids in the Hall fans, it was that good. And as I thought that, I suddenly remembered that there is in fact a chance that I might see Bruce McCulloch on the lot someday. And that effin' good ham and McCulloch combined to make me smile, right there, by myself, eating lunch. But, oof. Am full.

I'm going to Houston in September. Four days after kittenispuppy comes out here to visit me. Does this make sense? Is it the best use of our respective moneys? Is it efficient? No. But who cares. It will be awesome.

Why am I going to Houston in September? 10 year high school reunion. I'm a little scared and fully expect to hate it and bail early, fleeing to the House of Guys for cottage fries and pie. With possible late night movie watching. Which really sounds much more high school anyway than actually attending and enjoying the reunion. But I will take my camera along and I really hope that at least a few of the people I want to see show up.

In related news, troupe 3689, the organization which claimed me body and soul for all four years of high school, is on facebook. Everyone is on facebook. Why aren't you on facebook?

I have done nothing all day but throw bombs (HI RON,) sail the open seas, upgrade my ship and crew, and buy the services of wenches back in town so I can wring every bit of possible energy from my dastardly shipmates.

I kind of love facebook.

Why must they have it in Orange County? These are the questions that nagged my tired mind last night.

Hit the Orange County Fair yesterday with playmayt to see Chris Cornell and enjoy decadent fair food. The structure of that last sentence should in no way be interpreted as representing my priorities, cause the fair food was way more important to me than Cornell's show. Sorry music lovers, I've never been much of a Cornell fan. "Black Hole Sun" makes me want to carve my own eyes out and stuff them in my ears so that I neither have to see the awful nightmare inducing video nor hear the annoying whiny song. But playmayt's beloved Yogi is in Cornell's band (and a fricking amazing rock star of a musician) so we went. We ate. We conquered. ( Disgustingly in depth food reporting back here. )

We really only indulged in one non-food paying fair activity: we visited the petting zoo and ponied up $2 each for pellets and oats so the animals would love us. Boy, did they love us. Goats and deer like to eat skirts. No, I'm not being risque, I'm serious. They will try to eat the skirt off your ass. Make sure you keep a hold of it if you don't care to flash everyone else in the pen. The llamas were a bit standoffish, but I decided that was because they were pissed that they had to mix with the hoi polloi after the Echolls sold the estate. Wouldn't you be? The ducks hid under a net full of alfafa the whole time. The baby roos (or were they wallabees?) tried to stay out of reach, but were eventually petted. The pigs all either slept or ignored us. The chickens didn't care that anyone was there. The sheep were just after food. But the baby goats. The really tiny baby goats. When I knelt down to pet the littlest ones, the tiny white goat jumped right into my lap for snuggles and pets. Such a dear. I had to pick her up and put her back on the ground. Such little loves. If I had space I would keep a goat. And make lots of cheese and cajeta.

Then Cornell. Opening act Puddle of Mudd was meh to ok, mainly because music where the lead singer sounds constipated is not generally my cup of tea. We giggled and snarked through most of their set until the last song, when suddenly lyrics from "Summer Lovin'" were worked in. We loved it. All the girls in the audience sang along, especially at the "Tell me more, tell me more, did you get very far/ Tell me more, tell more, like did he have a car?" bit. The guys just kinda sat there in confused silence. Was a nice table to have turned.

I enjoyed Chris Cornell more than I thought I would. Like I said, I've never been a fan, and pretty much just went along for fair, food, and to see Yogi. I was not disappointed. I had more fun than I thought I would. I knew more songs than I thought I would. And I really liked the newer solo stuff. High points:

The James Bond song. Great song from a great Bond movie. This was probably the thin edge of the wedge in changing my anti-Cornell stance.

"Doesn't Remind Me of Anything." I love this song and totally did not realize it was him. playmayt, I lied. This is Audioslave, not Temple of the Dog. My bad.

Acoustic "Billie Jean." While I have heard it described as 'horrible, like "I dare you to actually listen to the whole thing" terrible.' (and that just this morning,) playmayt and I decided early on that the earnestness was a joke and giggled the whole time. At least, I hope it's a joke. If he's actually serious, then I see the horrible and raise you a burn it burn it get it away from me.

After the show we were hungry again (what? we hadn't eaten in over two hours. that's how it works at county fairs.) so we hit the food stands once again. I gave into my craving for a second Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich, which was also delicious despite the replacement of fried chicken breast with breaded tenders and playmayt had bacon and seasoning salt soaked roasted corn on the cob. Happy times for all. On to sleep. After the hour in the car to get back to civilization, of course. And thus another county fair ended in gluttony, exhaustion, and dazed stumbling to the car. Personal triumph: I managed to not fall asleep in the car on the way home. Yay.