Another Thanksgiving Success

Less the three hour drive back to LA, I had a great Thanksgiving. But enough about me, how are you?

Actually I'm not quite finished. I spent my Thanksgiving (Wed through today... Sunday) in Palm Desert with my Dad's side of the family. And I have to say, it was fantastic, especially compared to what I was expecting.

This isn't to say I don't like spending time with my family, or that they're a tough crowd to take, or that Thanksgiving with them is an experience similar to what I would get if I jumped out of a speeding bus onto a bed of spikes inside an exploding house.

No, sir... what I mean is that... since I'm graduating in three weeks, I was expecting a slew of "What's your plan?" questions. Those of you who've graduated or done something similar know the feeling, and I'm sure can empathize. My dad even prepared me for this, and said I could expect an interrogation on the matter.

So, my negative expectations were not unwarranted. Anyway, I had a great time, and my family got to meet my roommate who came out there on Thanksgiving since she would otherwise have spent it alone in our apartment, since her family is in Alabama and she wasn't flying out there. :(

On another note, I'm a bad person. I've been so incredibly busy and stressed out for the past two months, that I missed one of my best friends' birthday. Hector - this is my public apology. I'm sorry I'm a horrible person... I'm pretty bad with birthdays, as you know, but this is no excuse. So, I'm sorry... and I'll make it up to you.

That's all for now. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving... those of you who actually celebrate it, that is. Otherwise, I hope you had a wonderful regular Thursday! Adios!

Current Status:
Mood: Rested and Happy. Wow... it's been a while for that!
Food: Nothing! Nothing at all.
Song: "Middle of the Night" -Smile DK

The Notebook

No, I'm not talking about the movie.

This is the commercial I mentioned a few entries ago that I made for my marketing class. I just wanted to post it before I forgot. That is all. Enjoy!

Goblet of Fire

So I saw the movie Friday, and I enjoyed it. However, there are things I'd like to address.

So I thought it was fun, and enjoyable, and so did my roommate (she's read all the books... I have not... yet), but we did have some problems with it. Obviously, it's a film adaptation of a book - things are going to be left out. As a participant in cinema, and especially when viewing a film you know is from a book, one must accept this willingly or you're just shooting yourself in the foot. And we all know how that feels.

The point is, yes they left things out. The book was huge, they were even thinking about making it into two movies to fit everything in, but didn't. For those of you who haven't seen it yet and think I'm going to ruin it for you, then just stop reading because I will not be held responsible for such things.

One of the things which frustrated Stefanie the most was the fact that, as a viewer, you don't pity the crazy bad person (I don't remember his name... you should know who I'm talking about)... where as in the book the reader apparently feels bad for him, and thinks he's dead. She was arguing that they basically ruin this apparent death in the film by showing his face to you in the very first scene.

I, however, disagreed. While I did concur that you don't feel bad for him at all in the film... I didn't think they ruined it by showing his face. Because of the way they show it, and the brevity of the shots, an outsider doesn't know who it is and can't see him clear enough to realize it's the same person later in the film until opening scene is revisited through flashback and you see a close-up of his face.

Anyway, I'm not going to go into any more detail than that because, if you saw it you know what else I'm probably going to mention and it's just silly to tell you at that point. What I will say, though, is that I have less expectation of films from books as I do of other films. This sounds bad, but what I mean is:

Books carry extensive plots and story lines with them, most of while you cannot possibly fit into a single movie, especially a story like Harry Potter. Therefore, when I see a movie based on literature, I accept the fact that certain things will not be revealed completely. It is assumed that as the audience you have read the book and are familiar with the story enough that they don't need to go into those specific details.

So, when I didn't understand certain things in the film, I didn't get pissed and punch my roommate for pushing me to see it the day it opened. I said, "Stefanie, what's that about?... What does this mean?... Why did this happen? etc..." Really, I have only myself to blame, because I didn't read the books... since that's where the explanation is.

However, in other films I have a much higher expectation of explanations and complete plots. Why? Because if it's not there, then where the fuck is it!?!? There's no book in those cases to refer to. Those films have the specific task of explaining themselves, or at least having complete plots. Because if something's missing there, it's just because of stupidity and lack of purpose, not because of time constraints.

That is all I have to say on the matter. And this picture is our underground exchange of the new music video we've made. OOhh bet you can't wait for that!! :-D Have a nice day!

Current Status:
Mood: Movie-mania!! (watched Butterfly Effect after GoF)
Food: Apple Juice
Song: "American Life" -Madonna... I don't know why

New Widget Version!!

This isn't a big change, but it's important.

The new version (1.2.1) contains a fixed link to the widget update page. Since Apple changed my web address on there site, the widget was pointing to the wrong url, which obviously keeps you wonderful people from getting the latest widget.

SO, I fixed it... those of you who have the widget can use the link on the right side of this page to get it, or just click here. Have a good night!

Hello Madonna!

So I don't really love the video... but the song is amazing, and I'm in love. With the song.

When someone first told me about Madonna's new single "Hung Up"... I was disinterested, to say the least. I don't know why, I guess her most recent songs haven't really done it for me. BUT, when I heard this song... not only did I instantly recognize the sample of ABBA that she used... but I fucking loved the song. It's so great, it's the perfect dance song for me. I can't get enough... this song ranks up there with "The Weekend" and "Can't Get You Outta My Head".

If you haven't heard it yet, you should really get on that, because you're missing out. I'm definitely checking out her album - apparently it's all dance songs, which are right up my alley. On a different note, it's 5am and I'm still up. WHY?! What am I doing? I finished my court report that is due tomorrow, er, today... so I don't have anything else to do. I was working on my new site (yes that's right, there are some big changes on the way), and made some serious headway today, so that's good news.

In other areas of discussion, I think we should talk about my newfound obsession with vanilla creme soda. Um, I love it, basically... I'm not sure really what else to say or how to describe the feeling it gives me, but it's fantastic. I drank 5 bottles of it today. It's sick. I'm sick. I'm a sick person. You're sick. We're all sick. Have you heard about the deadly flu? I was watching something about it on the Discovery Channel this weekend... and it looks as if some new flu virus is about to destroy the world.

Did you know that all flu viruses come from birds? Another bit of trivia straight from me to you, courtesy of the Discovery Channel. My yawns are starting to hurt me, so I think that's a sign that I should head to bed. I think my problem is I just hate the actual act of going to bed... like, having to get naked and shower then brush my teeth and blah blah blah get in bed. It's all so tedious!

OH, since the new version of my site is in progress, and will be coming soon, this is your last chance to request/suggest things, or forever hold your peace. Well, maybe it's not your last chance... but I urge you to give me your suggestions or comments now before I launch the new site. The picture on the left is a preview of the new entrance page. That is all... I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.

Current Status:
Mood: TIRED
Food: Cup Noodles and Vanilla Creme Soda
Song: "Hung Up" -Madonna

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Yes that's right, the Christmas cheer is coming 'round the bend... and by 'round the bend I mean it's already here.

Stores are already packed with holiday decorations and holiday signs. "Makes a perfect Christmas gift!" they say, and... "Excellent stocking stuffer!". Yes that's right everyone... Christmas is here! But wait! What's that you say? Oh my God you're right... it's not even Thanksgiving yet! This is probably the most frustrating time of the year for me because, I don't know why... but I can't stand seeing Christmas shit before december. Am I totally nuts? Does this not bother anyone else?

I just feel like... let's take this thing one holiday at a time. I mean, if you want to throw Christmas things everywhere even the DAY AFTER Thanksgiving I wouldn't mind (well not as much anyway, even though that's still ridiculous)... but there was stuff up before Halloween!!! This happens every year and I'm so sick of it. Vomit! I think I even wrote something about it last year. And, with that note, that's all I'm going to say about the matter... because I've already ranted about that one.

This week is going to be filled to capacity, it seems. There's only two and a half days left, and I have so much to do it's unreal. Tonight I have to edit a commercial and design a mock webpage for a marketing group project, which we're presenting tomorrow. I have to say I'm not a fan of group projects. In college, it's so hard to get people that aren't all in the same classes and aren't same years and aren't the same majors to find time where everyone can meet consistently (week after week) to work on a project. In addition, not everyone is going to give the same amount of effort and it's always fun finding out who those people are the hard way.

Sometimes it can be great, but sometimes it can be a disaster. This marketing group is a little of both. We're got a great group and we're fun and get along and we know what we're doing... but we're like procrastination city. We meet for like 30 minutes, discuss what we're going to do, then adjourn. And so the actual presentation outline, powerpoint, COMMERCIAL, etc. all get pushed to the next meeting, until it's two days until you have to present and you don't have any of that shit, even though it should've been done a long time ago because you had ample time and opportunity to do it. Damn it all!

So we're doing two commercials, and I told them I'd be damned if I was going to put together and edit both of them in two days, but I decided to do one of them because it would be easier not to rely on someone else to actually produce something that I would be proud or at least not embarrassed to show in a presentation. Does that make me sound pretentious? Well I don't care, because you really can't always trust people in your college group project to do shit right. You hardly know them, you don't know what they're capable of, and I don't think I'm out of line in making that assumption. That being said, work's over and I'm gonna head home and edit! Maybe I'll post the commercial on here when I'm finished (if it's good).

Oh and these are a couple pictures of my and Stefanie's photo shoot last night. God, we're really awful students...

Current Status:
Mood: Stressed, and slightly depressed
Food: Turkey and muenster cheese on a toasted bagel... mmmm :)
Song: None...

International Best-Seller

I'm not internationally known... oh wait, I AM! Whoa!

So maybe the term "best-seller" is a little overkill. BUT the international part is true. After posting my lastest widget update on Apple's website, I've had a slew of international visitors to my site. Of course let's not forget the US visitors from around the country that have visited and don't know me from Adam... they're just as important! So I'd like to take this moment to say HI to everyone that's visited, because you're all great. Here's some places in particular I'd like to say "HEY!" to:

US:
Connecticut, North Dakota, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Texas (I'm from here! Don't mess with Texas!!), Utah, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts

International:
France, Japan, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom, Colombia, Russia, Sweden, New Zealand, Finland

So those of you who happen upon my site and don't know me at all... I would really like to hear from you. I think it's amazing that people across the country and the world, no less, can just hop on over to my site and read things that I've typed into this contraption called my computer in my little apartment and I can share my joyous times with them... tra la la sunshine and butterflies. So yes, if you're reading this and you don't know me, please tell me who you are and how the hell you got to this site!

Furthermore, I found out how I did on one of my tests the other day... and I was not pleased. In fact, I was really really upset. I don't like how professor's post answer keys to their tests a few hours afterward because it's just another chance for me to metaphorically stab myself in the stomach. So I just keep checking online to see when he's posted them, then when he does I instantly check my answers and then go cry myself to sleep.

Not really, but... I would rather either get the test back the next week or two and realize it was shit... OR have instant feedback so that I don't go home and think about it all night. I want it to be like ripping off a band-aid... quick and... well, not painless in this case... but at least it would be over after the quick pull.

I saw my friend Aneesa from HS yesterday. Yas, her and I hung out and it was good times all around. We thought about going out and doing something, but we just ended up talking for hours and catching up... I guess it makes since considering I haven't seen her in almost FOUR YEARS. Insane! I can't believe how long it's been. I can't imagine how it is for those people that haven't seen their friends in 10 or 20 years and finally meet up. I suppose that's what my HS reunion will be like, eh? Anyway... that is all for now, I have to go to laundry and homework. Woot. Everyone have a fantastic day.

Current Status:
Mood: Basking in international stardom... ha!
Food: Oh's! Yum, cereal!
Song: "Corrupt" -Becky Baeling

New Widget Version

For those of you who don't know... there's a new widget!

Version 1.2 of my widget is out for those of you with OS X 10.4... you can get it on Apple's website or download it from the link on the right side of the page. What's so different about this version, you say?

Well, for one it looks a whole hell of a lot better. Second, there's changeable skins... that's right! With matching reverse skins, no less. And there's a link to get a newer version... which I have already realized does not go to the right page on apple.com because they changed the address of the page it was listed on. SO, expect a slight update very soon. That's all for now!



Current Status:
Mood: Tired
Food: Cheesecake for Stefanie's birthday!! Everyone tell her happy bday! (It was on Nov. 1st by the way, so you may want to add "belated" in there, you slacker)
Song: "Like A Fool" -Nylon Beat