What's Going to Happen to Betty?!

So I just found out that Ugly Betty Season 4 premiered on Oct. 16. I hurriedly went to Hulu and SURPRISE! They had all the episodes! I just finished all three and...WOW. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO BETTY?!?!?!

I think I have added suspense b/c I did some research and found out how the telenovela Betty La Fea turned out...and I want it to happen!!!! Sigh. So now I'm going to have to watch it every week and hope it turns out like I want it to!

I love Ugly Betty because Betty isn't really ugly - she's only "ugly" to the fashion industry people b/c they have such a different sense of style than she does. I mean, a girl from Queens who wants to be a fashion editor? Give me a break. But in walks Betty, who's well adjusted, loved by her family, and positive, and they just give her hell. She goes through some rough stuff, but at the end of the day, Betty is the one that I would look up to as a role-model. She's smart, hard-working, and beautiful [even with the braces/glasses!]. Working on the confidence and gracefulness. I love the interplay between her home life and her work life too - so crazy! Some of the other characters I love, some I love to hate. :P Needless to say:

I love Ugly Betty. :)

Kate's T.V. Lineup - Fall '09 to Spring '10

Yes...I adore t.v. shows...and so I was bored this morning and made a list of what I am watching that's currently on t.v. as well as what will be on and what I'm watching that isn't on t.v. but is still a t.v. show.

Here are the shows I'm already watching [through Hulu, Netflix, or actually on t.v.]:

Shows I watch faithfully:

1. Castle - Nathan Fillion as a mystery writer who aids a detective in solving murder cases?! Delicious! There's more going on here than that, though, and I appreciate the several interweaving subplots. It's a great little show, 2nd season.

2. Fringe - The new X-files-esque show...with LEONARD NIMOY!!! What's not to love?! This show has a twisting, mysterious plot as well as suspense and a great cast. Very intriguing. Probably one of the top shows on T.V. right now. Season 2.

3. The Office - even though season 4 wasn't so great, season 5 was awesome, and season 6, so far, is crazy and wonderful. I'm interested to see where this goes.

4. Psych - in it's 4th season. The tension between the main characters is driving me crazy, in a good way. This season is darker and seems to be heading in a certain direction that we've all been hoping for since season 1. This is a fun yet also deep show that deals with relationships as well as solving cases.

5. Leverage - my favorite show this year. Christian Kane [Lindsey from Angel] and the rest of the cast make every episode memorable, amazing, and unique. LOVE LOVE LOVE this show! 2nd season.

Shows I am watching whenever I can catch them:

1. Bones - David Boreanaz as a kind of goofy detective-type. It's pretty funny. But I miss Angel. :(

2. Lie to Me - I love the premise of this show. Also serious, with relationship/character development subplots that are pretty neat. And James Marsters was in a recent episode!!

Shows I can't wait for: [coming later this fall/early next year]

Chuck
Ugly Betty
Caprica

Shows I want to watch and keep up with:

Warehouse 13
Glee

Shows that aren't on anymore that I will be watching at some point:

Pushing Daisies
Firefly
Angel
Arrested Development
X-Files
Battlestar Galactica
Buffy the Vampire Slayer [certain seasons/episodes as I miss them]
Star Trek [various shows...depending on our collection/Netflix queue]

Web Series I am watching:

The Guild - Felicia Day! And gamers!
Ctrl - Tony Hale!

So...am I crazy? Does anyone else watch any of these shows? Which do you love?

And I just realized this means I am watching 20+ shows...I MUST be nuts. :P Maybe I'm just gearing up to turn The Gentleman's Lady into a t.v. series some day...*dreams*

It's A Weird Weird Place in Dream-World

So, sometimes I dream I'm a male. Not because I want to be male [sorry, guys, but - ugh. No thanks.] but...I guess I'm pretty masculine in some ways, being really close to my dad, so sometimes I dream I'm a guy. For whatever reasons my brain hasn't decided to disclose to me. And not to weird everyone out, but this dream made me laugh last night:

I dreamed I was my cousin Stephen [I know, it's weird] and that he was in love with this girl named Emily. She was an ambassador's daughter from France, I believe, and they met at a summer camp where they were both working. [Just go with it] ANYWAY they had fallen in love but the ambassador didn't approve so she was getting shipped off back to France. She followed Stephen home down an old dirt road and they said a tearful goodbye. They hugged and fell in the grass, where they looked at each other and started kissing. Somehow, I guess they got a little carried away [I was outside the body at this point, thank God] and slid down the stairs. Stephen's little brother saw them making out at the bottom of the stairs and ran inside screaming "STEPHEN'S MAKING BABIES!!!!!!!!" and the mom comes running out and sees them kissing and I go up to them and say "Did someone tell him that kissing leads to making babies?!" and she said yes.

So he went around saying Stephen and his girlfriend were making babies.

That's about the weirdest dream I've had in months.

Just thought I would share.

Hope you're not too freaked out. :P

Game Night #2

Just so you know - if you want to read what's going on in our D&D 4.0 campaign, take a look at www.xanga.com/shadowhawke_run. Stu posted a DM preview yesterday, we played last night, and I wrote a synopsis and POV post today. :) Enjoy!

Writer's Meeting Tonight!

So tonight we have a writer's meeting at Starbucks on Gervais. 7 p.m. if you're interested. We get together and bring a few pages of what we're writing [or not] and critique/praise what others are doing. It's fun! :)

I'm having a hard time either a) finding something to bring or b) writing something I can take.

I wrote a piece today called "You Are Autumn" and it's on my Facebook if you want to read it. I found a song and wanted to write a poem but a stream-of-consciousness type thing came out of it. Kind of a love letter to two of my favorites: my hubby and my favorite season. :)

Anyway...that's not really the kind of thing I want critiqued. I'm debating between some poetry, a short story, or starting something new...I'd have to edit if I took a short story, which I don't really want to do [I tend to start from scratch when editing, just saving the basic idea], but I also don't have inspiration to write something new...completely.

I started writing a horror short the other day but I don't really know how I want it to end, or if it ends as a short or if it actually becomes a novella. It's tentatively titled "Massacre" and it's a little weird. Not my norm.

I've thought about taking some of my poetry, but I don't really like to explain it and so much of it is completely personal. Highly, highly personal. So...I just don't know. We'll see.

But I am really super excited about Violet's Monster and fleshing out what's going on in that story so maybe I'll work on that part of the afternoon and then search for something to take to the writer's meeting tonight [I took part of that last time so...don't want repeats!].

Have a lovely day, everyone. Happy Autumn!

The Abhorsen Trilogy

Ok, so, in order to not do what I'm supposed to be doing, I procrastinated by starting The Abhorsen trilogy again. I think it's my 4th or 5th time reading them.

GOOD GRIEF.

I have forgotten how awesome the first book is! The 2nd book is completely my favorite but GOSH Garth Nix is incredible!

Just wanted to say that and also if you haven't read the books - DO SO. IMMEDIATELY.

And then talk to me about them. :)

I'm trembling from all the battle action and being creeped out by all the undead. And, can I say, Touchstone and Sabriel and Mogget are the best road trip companions EVER. So cool.

Anyways...I'm off to work this afternoon but I MAY start reading Lirael [book II of the Abhorsen trilogy, first one is Sabriel, last one's Abhorsen] if things are slow. Hopefully they are slow.

One more thing:

The weather is GORGEOUS today. I just ate lunch and read Sabriel outside for an hour. WOOHOO!!!! I'm a teensy bit drunk with sunlight.

Buffy Season 7

So last night Stu, Laura and I finished Buffy season 7.

I have to say...I didn't quite like how everything wrapped up. Especially since I know what goes on in Angel!

Here is my dream pairing for main characters [sorry, I'm a girl. These things matter!]

1. Angel + Cordelia
2. Spike + Buffy
3. Willow + Oz
4. Dawn + Xander [Remember how Laurie and Amy got married? Same idea here]
5. Principal Wood/Robin + Faith

Angel and Cordelia are already in a relationship by this point...but Angel comes to see Buffy and there's an idea that "someday they'll be together." Stupid Angel. You and Cordy already have a great thing going! Don't ruin it!!

Spike DESERVES some happiness, after all the hell he went through for the entire series!!!! I believe, at the end, Buffy does love Spike, but he pretends she doesn't so he won't mind so much when sacrificing himself...anyway, that's what I tell myself. I think they're perfect for each other. And Spike > Angel. 'Nuff said.

So...Kennedy should just DIE already. Gosh. And Willow and Oz know they still love each other...and Oz has been in Nepal...so he'll figure out a way to keep from going crazy. Willow and Oz were wonderful/will be wonderful. I promise!

Dawn and Xander isn't such a crazy pairing - again, I refer to Little Women. Besides, they're the two w/out powers so...they kind of go together.

Faith and Principal Wood...for obvious reasons. He takes her down a notch and they're one-of-a-kind individuals, in their own ways. I don't like them much but they deserve some happy after the horribleness that was season 7!!

Anyway...

Besides the obvious relationship stupidness, I like how it ended. The last shot is great. And the last battle is pretty epic. Now if only what Stu wanted to happen would have happened - Buffy and gang show up to help Angel at the end of season 5. That would have ROCKED.

I just...can't count the comics as canon. They are TOO ridiculous.

The thing that gets me is Spike. The way his character evolves throughout the show is so powerful. It's incredible to see him going from one end of the spectrum to the other, and at the end you're just like "WTF, SPIKE IS THE COOLEST CAT ON THE PLANET, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING, BUFFY?!?!?!?!" Sheesh. Angel may have been Buffy's first love, but Spike was always there for her. And really went to the ends of the earth to become the man she deserved! Poor Spike. :( He's the Snape of the Buffy series.

Anyway...I feel a little lost and sad that it's now over, but thankfully I have all seven seasons so if I REALLY miss them a whole lot...I can start back at the beginning. :)

Fall Break...or not

So while everyone else is out having fun [including my boss], I'm sitting here in the office contemplating what I WOULD do with a day off.

:P

Just kidding, I'm not bitter - more moniez are coming my way! I am blessed to get more hours at work when we need them rather badly.

I think if I could spend today the way I wanted I would have Stu get off work too - spend the morning on the couch, sipping hot chocolate and eating something delicious while watching Buffy & Angel...and then we would take a nap [I'm very tired] and then wake up to cook beef stew for lunch and then spend the afternoon writing, crafting, and practicing music. Then playing D&D!

I do get some of Thanksgiving break off...so I'm looking forward to that.

Have fun you guys, whatever you're doing today. :)

NaNoWriMo, here I come!!

So...I met a new friend at church who is a part of NaNoWriMo. For those of you who aren't aware of this weirdness, it's "National Novel Writing Month" in November. 50,000 words is the typical goal, and apparently it's a worldwide thing. So anyway, I have 2 friends who are trying it out this year [one's been doing it for a few years now] and I have decided to become insane and embrace the crazy. I'm going for 50,000 words next month! I think it will be a great way to work on "Violet's Monster" so that I can start editing it next semester.

Anyway...for those of you whose interest was just piqued, check out nanowrimo.org and perhaps you will want to join in the fun!

There are several events throughout this month and next in an effort to keep us all focused on our goal.

I'm pretty excited.

Hidden Away

Here I am, a free Monday afternoon, and where am I?

Holed up in a practice room, watching T.V. and movies on Hulu/Netflix. And eating the remains of chicken spaghetti. Also procrastinating by not working on the two short stories I've been working on this weekend.

I wish I was at home. :(

"The day you DO Suss out what you want, there'll probably be a parade..."

So...season 7 of Buffy is crazy. Just thought you should know. We ended our episode spree last night on a CLIFFHANGER and I definitely dreamed I was in the Buffy 'verse last night.

Anyway, Buffy always gets me thinking - I want to create a t.v. show like that, where my beliefs show through and it's a wonderful story with amazing characters that live and die and are happy and angry and sad...and people think about things after the show is over. Whether Joss feels/thinks this way or not, I've picked up on some things...some things I would point out to Christians especially, if they were skittish about watching a Vampire show [which is infinitely cooler than all the other stuff out right now, trust me].

1. Magic ALWAYS has consequences - mostly bad ones.
2. Don't sleep around - it leads to heartache every time.
3. Be careful of how you treat others - it can come back to bite you later [...].
4. love is the important thing.

I think Christians should watch things like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. It's a look at what good and evil look like, and how some things are more complicated than we think. There's redemption for people that seem to have 0% chance. Also...mixing w/ dark things has the potential to really mess with you. It's not recommended.

Whether Joss meant to say these things or not, it's what happens, and I'm just glad that I learned my lesson from a t.v. show and not from real experience, which would be even scarier.

I'm so sad I'm almost done watching the show. There isn't much resolution b/c their story [somewhat canon] is still going on in the comic books. But no one's happy. I would have made sure they learned their lessons and had some degree of happiness...but apparently, living in the Hellmouth is not conducive to joy. Big surprise. So I shall have to make up my own ending for the series and then start watching Angel.

Although...I kind of feel like going back to season 4 and starting again from there...maybe season 3. Seasons 4-7 especially are deep, thought-provoking, emotional, and challenging.

I <3 Joss Whedon.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

So...I had a pretty weird dream last night...I think watching so much of Buffy [Seasons 6 and 7] might have had something to do with it. :)

In my dream, I was in a house with a bunch of people including my mother and sister. WE were going through the closet looking at gowns because we had to go to some sort of school event - homecoming or some such nonsense. Anyway, I tried on a few dresses I really liked [and my choice was limited b/c we didn't have many in my size] but someone always said it didn't look right. So I got aggravated and then noticed my arm was turning black.

Holding out my left arm, I hurried to find Willow. She quickly healed it and it appeared again. After a few healings, we realized that something was coming and my body was alerting us to the fact. We started battening down the hatches, so to speak, when some evil flying angel looking things landed and walked right in the door. My arm had scratches and bruises all over it and was beginning to turn black and flaky. They were looking for someone.

We fought them off and then started packing so we could leave, but I had to stay near Willow because we were watching my arm, which had little black lines all over it...

...Just kind of creepy, you know? Not pleasant to wake up from...especially if it's dark outside and raining.

Anyway. That was my dream. Weird.

Playing Andromeda

Last night we started a new D&D game. I absolutely LOVE role-playing. I dressed up as my character, practiced wand movements, and carefully crafted a mini. I started forming a back-story and tried to figure out how to work the dice. Everything about D&D excites me.

I'm playing a half-elf named Andromeda. Andromeda Constantia Della-Roma. Her backstory, in a few short sentences, is as follows:

Andromeda was raised by her human father after her elf mother left. Andromeda identifies with her elvish heritage and runs away to join a tribe - only to find that they don't accept her either. She joins a traveling troupe of performers and learns music, and is later trained by a bard. She joins a group [the people she's with now] to earn some money on the side while looking for her parents and trying to find a place where she fits in.

I love this character already. Although she's a grifter, known for her powerful, sparkling personality, she's not happy. She feels alone, unaccepted, and it shows when she feels abandoned [like last night's game - long story]. I just started writing her backstory for our xanga [xanga.com/Shadowhawke_Run]and I am ecstatic that I get to play her.

It is such a wonderful thing to get to work on improvisation and acting and witty banter, along with a group of people interested in the adventure we're on - it's a great way to get closer to people and learn more about them while imagining a grand adventure. I think we've lost a lot of that as "grown-ups" and humans in general, and I intend to keep playing because it's a deep source of creativity and and entertainment that is so much more compelling than sitting down to watch a sports game or read the newspaper. To those who enjoy those things - wonderful! I'm glad you enjoy them. I just...find D&D so much more enthralling.

Anyway, a half-elf bard is not what I would have chosen myself [I prefer halflings], but I am thrilled that Andromeda is shaping up to be a character with depth and feeling. Something I can really work with. And I'm totally dressing up for every game. :)