A Fantasy Weekend

Or perhaps, as none of my fantasies involve being ill (which I was this weekend), I ought to say A Weekend of Fantasy.

On Wednesday our copy of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition DVD arrived. We watched the first disc Wednesday evening, with a brief interruption to watch Angel; Thursday during the day I watched the first disc again, with Director/Writer commentary (discovering in the process what a wicked sense of humor Fran has - not that I'd expect any less); Thursday evening we watched disc 2 and began watching the special features (I was fast asleep well before the first segment ended); Friday I watched disc 2 with the same commentary, and we spent the weekend with special features and cast commentary.

What I may not have mentioned is that about a week ago I began re-reading the Prydain chronicles by Lloyd Alexander. I love these books, and a conversation with our friend Geoff about how to adapt them to the screen prompted me to refresh my memory of the story. I've read the first three - and would have read the fourth if not for the fact that it was one of the books that got doused in shampoo when I moved, and I never got around to cleaning it. I really must do that, but probably won't before leaving for Thanksgiving.

This afternoon, while debating whether to watch TTT with Design Team or Post-Production commentary, I remembered that Netflix had sent us the BBC Neverwhere, and suggested that we watch that, which we did. It was not bad, though the production quality made me cringe. Most of the performances were better than I expected, and the only one that really disappointed me was Hunter. If they couldn't get someone who could act, they might have gotten someone who could fight, or, barring both qualities, someone who looked like a girl. (Yes, now I am just being mean.)

What this all comes down to is that I was lying. I LOVE fantasy. It's just that I am picky about it.

The (other) Precious has arrived!

Yeah, we may be skipping Angel tonight.

As promised...

The Precious.

I am so excited that I may pee myself.

On the other hand, maybe I just have to pee.

Alias wasn't so funny this week. Except for the parts that were hilarious.

As you all probably know, Will and I have been watching Alias rather sporadically this season, after having hated it with a firey passion for the 2 prior seasons. (By sporadically, I mean every episode but last week's.) We have been amused, both by the show itself and by each other as we correct the glaring mistakes made every five seconds. It's fun to yell at the TV, especially during a show which you are not emotionally invested in.

[spoilers]
Sydney didn't wear a wig! And it's not looking good for next week (er, two weeks from now) either! I am totally going to stop watching this show.

ALSO. Either Sloane and SpyMommy are in cahoots, and she translated the code for him and he told on Sydney, or SpyDaddy is evil.

I prefer the latter, because I am so irritated with the whole "We can't tell anyone that Sydney did something she can't even remember because they might actually use their resources to help her and thereby make the season only last three episodes" thing.

Also-also, what is up with the Actors Who Look Like Other Actors? I thought Sloane was played by Joel Grey and Lauren by Olivia D'Abo. I was wrong on both counts, clearly, so either I am an idiot or the casting is weird.

And finally, where was Spy That I Love? (The...guy. Who I think is cute.)
[/spoilers]

In conclusion, I am REALLY FUCKING TIRED.

CHUD - Revisionist Oscars - 2001

CHUD - Cinematic Happenings Under Development: "Revisionist Oscars - 2001"

Everybody knows that I love Nick Nunziata almost as much as I love mashed potatoes. At least, I did. Now he is asking me to choose between Peter Jackson (for Fellowship of the Ring), Wes Anderson (for The Royal Tenenbaums) and Ridley Scott (for Black Hawk Down) as Best Director of 2001.

As choosing between my three favorite films ever is clearly impossible, I will now have to cause someone physical harm in order to make myself feel better.

Or maybe I just need a drink.

Money, money, money, money...MONEY!

Will did a little money dance this morning. It was so cute, but completely hindered by the little dance I did to a totally different song.

I was woken up this morning by the telephone, but that's all right because it was my boss asking me to work all of next week. Which is actually a horrifying prospect, but the money will really come in handy, especially when you consider that we pre-ordered The Two Towers yesterday.

TINY HOBBITS!

...Sorry.

(Actually, my little outburst is quite amusing when you consider that I am most excited by the Battle of Helm's Deep and the extended footage of Faramir and Boromir-my-one-true-love.)

I am either going to use the extra money (what's left after the DVDs and some booze) to pay off some of the credit card debt or to buy some storage-y bedroom furniture, which we are currently sorely lacking. Maybe both.

What amazes me is that despite the financial setbacks of the last few months and the engagement ring, we're actually doing better than we have in a while. Still not good, but better. I suppose my dad is to thank for that, since he stepped in with some emergency assistance. I'd like to think that my frugal ways have also played a part. I must say, though, that I really miss sushi.

If the house is going to creak, can't it sound like a creaky house?

I grew up in a creaky old house. The wind blows, the house creaks. Hell, you sneeze, the house creaks. I love that creaking, spooky sound.

The noises that our apartment has been making today are nothing like the sounds I grew up with.

It's only happening when the heat's on, but it isn't the furnace, because it's an apartment, and it's unlikely that it's the pipes, because I know what creaky pipes sound like and this ain't it.

And it isn't even a scary noise. Shouldn't mysterious noises in the house when you're home alone be scary?

This morning I had a cappuccino and two really strong cups of coffee...NOTHING CAN DEFEAT ME!

Now I'm listening to the Cure and bouncing off the walls. Luckily, early Cure tempos are quite conducive to bouncing in time to the music.

My NaNoWriMo novel is dead in the water (whatever that means). I've written 1015 words and it's already the 4th of the month. I SUCK.

This morning I dropped off a check for my engagement ring. Due to financial constraints, we'll be picking it up on the 15th, rather than the 8th. Still - Yay! I picked up about 25 hours of catering work this past week, so things shouldn't get too bad. On the other hand, ignoring the car trouble hasn't made it go away. Damn car. It's so uncooperative.

In other news, Stacey sent us the season 1 Buffy DVDs. She rocks SO HARD.

Hee. I love the 80s - only 80s pop music can make a full kit sound like a drum machine. Unfortunately, non-metal 80s albums are ridiculously short, so I've moved on to pre-fame Green Day. My tastes in music are so random. (I would say ecclectic, but that would imply that I like a wide variety of good music, which is just not true.)

WHEN WILL THIS CAFFEINE HIGH END?

...I have to go.

Pfft! What's another $800 when you're already piss-poor?

Will and I went out to run errands today after I got off work. First we went to his office because he couldn't find his paycheck at home (it was next to his desk, and is now deposited). Then we went to the first of three jewelry stores on the list I had made. From the phone book.

I love you, phone book! The first store was the only store we went to, because it was awesome. The saleslady was very nice, and the jeweler himself was a hoot, and they had stunningly gorgeous vintage rings that we can't afford. They also do beautiful custom work, and they had a ring that was very similar to what I wanted, and when I told Karen (the saleslady) how I wanted it changed, she understood exactly and described my perfect ring to Sam the Jeweler, who said he will have it ready by next Saturday. They wanted a deposit but we hadn't brought the checkbook (it never occured to me that we'd find something), and Karen was completely wonderful about it and said to just call or stop by on Tuesday with the money.

The diamond is actually a little bit larger than I'd been thinking of, but it was beautiful and I'm sure that between the rock and the custom work it's worth way more than $800 (at least to me), so yay.