Christmas gifts

- for $16.50 (random, I know.)

- my favorite Vera style in a nice big bag so I can carry all my books in it to class.

- pink AE shirt that is comfy and cute.

- new boots since my old ones are sadly disinitegrating.

- pretty blue sweater that I also have in purple.

plus cute pink slippers from JCrew, candy, lip gloss, socks, gloves, and a portable manicure set. All in all, a pretty good Christmas.

mas peliculas

O Brother, Where Art Thou? - 4/5



Mozart and the Whale - 2.5/5

Batman Begins - 5/5

Some more movies

Enchanted - 4/5

So funny. Amy Adams was brilliant - so funny. I was sort of drunk throughout the movie so I might have liked it more than I would have if I were sober. Who knows.

Dan in Real Life - 1/5

Awful. I can't even imagine the depths that Steve Carrell has fallen. From The Daily Show to co-starring with Dane Cook? Come on Steve. Pull yourself together.

Movies at School

So, I have been at school and haven't been able to watch as many movies as I've liked... but here are the few I've watched since August!












Superbad

Not as funny as Knocked Up or The 40 Year Old Virgin, but still pretty funny. Very crude. Maybe you have to be a guy to absolutely love all the penis jokes? I mean, I laughed, but I think they were a little over my head. I do, however, love Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. And Judd Apatow continues to do no wrong.

3.5/5




Moulin Rouge

I normally don't like musicals, but this one was pretty good. Not amazing, but certainly very fun.
3/5

The Royal Tenenbaums: 3.5/5

I've seen a few of Wes Anderson's films, but I had never seen this, which I know most people believe is his crowning accomplishment. I liked it, but it felt like something was missing from the film to make it really good. I feel like I'm getting this a lot with movies today - I find myself going through the weak points of a movie and changing in my mind what I believe needs to be changed. Overall though, it probably is a lot better film than some of the stuff out now.

Edward Scissorhands: 4/5

Can you believe I had never seen this? I finally forced myself into getting it after discussing Frankenstein in my Romantic Lit class. It was beautiful the way Tim Burton could contrast the brightness and fakeness of the world of suburbia with Edward's world - the dark and falling apart castle that seems more real than the plastic of the suburban world he is so close to. Great movie.

Europa, Europa: 3/5

I'm not sure why I didn't like this... it was recommended to me by one of my professors, who had loved it. I guess I just found it hard to sympathize with the boy (I have totally forgotten what his name is and I'm too lazy to go to IMDb to check. Good idea - putting links to the movie's page on IMDb. I'll get on that later.) In this day and age it's hard to sympathize with anyone who runs away to save his or her self - I guess we have war and suffering to thank for that. And also in my mind, Harry Potter (come on, this kid was such a Slytherin!) On the other hand, he was what - 12? 13? It was a hard movie to cope with. I hope that was the point - if not, I think I would really not like the movie.

More Movies

The Indiana Jones trilogy

I had an entire day of the 3 Indy movies last Saturday. It was a very good day. I loved all of them, but I have to admit I liked Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade better than Raiders of the Lost Ark. I'm not really sure why. All I know is, Harrison Ford was a LOOKER. Mrow. It saddens me that he's all grey now. Although I have a sneaking suspiscion he is still ripped. Yumm. Oh geez. Well, they were all awesome and funny and just plain cool. Good stuff.

5/5


Children of Men

I had heard a lot about this movie with all the Oscar buzz around it, and finally rented it. I'm telling you, Alfonso Cuaron could take the Bratz movie and turn it into a moving, beautiful film about teenage anorexic whores. No kidding. If he doesn't do the Deathly Hallows movie, heads will roll. Clive Owen was fantastic, as was pretty much everyone in the movie (although why was Julianna Moore billed as one of the stars? She was in the movie for about 5 minutes.) It was a scary, crazy look into the future that I hope to God never happens. I decided after this movie to have as many children as I possibly can. Just in case. The scene in the picture I have above is one of the most beautiful and moving moments I have ever seen in a film, ever. I love Alfonso Cuaron.

5/5


Mel Brooks' History of the World: Part I

I love all of Mel Brooks' films. I haven't yet seen The Producers, but Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights are all favorites of mine. History of the World definitely followed in the others' footsteps. Very funny. I could not stop laughing to the Spanish Inquisition sequence. I didn't know I could laugh at stuff like that! Does that make me an awful person? I sure hope not. It's a great movie if you're feeling down after having a bad day, week, month - whatever. As are all of Mel Brooks' movies.

5/5

Hee

Movies, Movies Everywhere

Ocean's Thirteen

*Sigh*. I wish I could make it through one of the Ocean's movies and actually pay attention to the plot instead of just gazing upon the pretty, pretty men. Alas, I am far too shallow to actually do so. From what I can gather about each of the movies, they are fun and funny, and manage to not completely flop due to awful writing/acting/directing. I always feel very happy when I walk out of the theater after I watch one - which I'm sure is 75% because I love George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Don Cheadle, Scott Caan, etc., but also because they always seem so gosh darn fun to make. If I could write something that made me giggle in fiendish glee by the end of it, I would be following in Ocean's footsteps.

5/5



Brokeback Mountain

I hate homophobia. The end.
Jake Gyllenhaal = the best actor of his generation.

4.5/5


Annie Hall

I think this movie is a little too hyped for what it is. I just got an overall "meh" from it all.

3/5




Chinatown

Another one of those movies that I have just never seen before, although it is a total classic. I enjoyed this movie a lot - suspenseful, twisty, full of murder and intrigue and all that good stuff. Also, why do I suddenly think Jack Nicholson is one classy bastard? Dude had/has charm.

4.5/5


Dazed and Confused

I LOVED this. I definitely missed out during my high school years - no fun parties in the woods with beer and weed. But it does remind me of college and how I am currently enjoying things of that nature. I don't think this movie had a ton of substance to it - it was just a fun, fun movie. But I still stick to my opinions on Matthew McConaghewqndjdiqw - EW. He is so gross. Ugh.

4.5/5


Before Sunset

I just recently watched Before Sunrise, and I was pretty wary of watching the sequel. Hollywood always manages to screw them up. I was pleasantly surprised by this one though - it didn't feel forced at all, but totally natural. It was only 80 minutes long, and when it was over I was left both feeling completely satisfied but also screaming "That's it?!?!" If it's even possible to feel those two emotions at the same time. I recently read an interview with Julie Delpy about how she and Ethan Hawke want to do another sequel in a couple years - revisit it once every 10 years or so and make a new movie. PLEASE. I will do anything.

5/5



P.S. My review of Deathly Hallows is coming. I still need some time alone with my thoughts on that one.

I know I said I wasn't posting anymore, but...

I think this is probably the biggest breach of secrecy since like, ever. The NY Times leaked Deathly Hallows. They received an advanced copy, illegally, from an unnamed NY bookstore. Someone read it. That person then reviewed and put it online (and in the paper?) for everyone to see.

This completely disgusts me. The book doesn't come out until July 21st. People have been waiting for this book for 10 years. They used their reputation as the most known and probably most read newspaper in the country to manipulate Scholastic, Jo Rowling, and all Harry Potter fans everywhere.

I didn't read the review (luckily.) I can only imagine the disappointment for those who did. I feel especially bad for everyone at Leaky and Mugglenet who figured "Oh, NY Times article, this has to be safe of spoilers." It literally makes me sick.

Leaky has posted a letter they are encouraging all HP fans to send to the paper to express their disappointment. I added a few things on to the end. If you want to send them this letter or your own diatribe, do so at letters@nytimes.com



To whom it may concern:

I am writing to express my disappointment that your publication printed an early review and details of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This goes against the express wishes of the author and anyone that calls themselves a true Harry Potter fan.

It is hard enough for a Harry Potter fan to avoid spoilers on the Internet and news stations now that the book appears to have leaked; now we have to avoid trusted outlets as well. You've not only disappointed millions of children around the world with your actions, you have disappointed the millions of adults who look to the New York Times to be a bastion of good taste and standards. When the New York Times succumbs to such tabloid tactics, who won't?

Many ask why we care - why fans aren't all so rabid to get the book that we'll sop up any illegal download or purchase. There's one simple answer: We respect the author. We thought that a newspaper like yours, where so many of your reporters become authors themselves, would understand and respect that. We're so saddened that we were wrong. We feel let down by you and your editorial board. I hope that in the future you will realize what you are doing before you blatantly go against several people's deepest wishes.

I used to respect your newspaper for being a fair and even representation of our country. I was wrong. You have sunk to the lowest of lows in journalism.

Sincerely,

Your name here - Harry Potter fan and member of Jo's Army


ETA: I just received the automated response from them - it was all I could do not to reply with "FUCK YOU YOU FUCKING ASSHOLES FUCKING SHIT HOBAGS I HATE YOU." No joke. Sigh.

~Spoilerz~

I have a very big problem with spoilers. Usually, for movies and TV, people normally don't want to ruin everyone's fun, but if they do they are banned from the forum they post in, punched in the face, or disowned. Which is why this week I have already sworn off much of the internet.

For all HP fans out there - don't trust anything. Most sites are alright, but DO NOT read comments. You might get spoiled and seeing as though this is a once in a lifetime event, you probably don't want to be. I refuse to go on ONTD, because I almost saw a spoiler post (post! Who the heck approved that?) and I almost cried. Luckily I just saw the word "Ginny." Phew.

You're probably safe with Cleolinda's LJ, again, just be careful in the comments (but I think everyone who reads her blog will be cool about it.) You are completely safe with Mugglenet and Leaky, for obvious reasons - I'm pretty sure they will ban the heck out of anyone who tries to post spoilers in the comments.

This will be it for me till I have read the book - I work tomorrow and Thursday and I'm taking Friday off to collect myself and sleep before I go to pick it up at midnight.

Happy reading everyone :)

A Day in the Life: Summer Internship

All the work experience I have ever had before this summer is contained in the two "jobs" that I have had - working at a summer day camp and having a work study job at school. The work study is great - I get paid $7.50 an hour to sit at a desk in the Residential Life office, make copies, listen to juicy gossip about who got written up the past weekend, and do my homework. Plus, it takes $1500 off my tuition every year. Rock.

The day camp I worked at for the past 6 years gave me many, many headaches and just as many memorable moments. It's sort of a story for another day, because it is just that complex and crazy.

This summer, I decided I needed a change of pace. I went into the future and saw how my resume would look - 8 years of working at a kid's day camp in my town and 4 years of work study doing nothing? That would get me far. Plus, my dad had been telling me for years now that if I wanted an internship with a department at his work, he would work his magic and get me one. He never really got around to doing it, so this year I told him he either had to buy me a car, or get me this internship. That worked like a charm.

I started my internship 5 days after I came home from school. I was still totally jaded from the end of exams and being home, and I figured if I started early, I could escape early too. Plus, I could effectively work 12+ weeks, which equals more money.

This is the start of my 10th week working here. I'm glad it is going by so quickly, because I do love school and I want to get back and see my friends and party without having to come home to find my mother waiting for me all, "It's 2 AM. WHERE WERE YOU?" The thing about my job is that it is so incredibly BORING. And I don't have anything to do that will make it go by quicker.

Sure, I have my computer. The internet wastes a lot of time. I play a little Sudoku, peruse my favorite blogs, read ONTD like a maniac, and then pretend to have an Excel spreadsheet or Word document open when someone walks by (I'm pretty sure they know what I'm doing, though. But they won't say anything because I make their copies for them and file their 87 stacks of paper and in the process get about 34 papercuts, some of them from MANILA FOLDERS. You haven't had a papercut until you have had one from a manila file folder.)

They give me work to do, sure, but it's rarely work that takes me very long to do and they seem surprised when I finish it that day. "Oh my gosh, you put those papers in the binder in under an hour! Wow, thanks! You're amazing!" I'm starting to wonder if that's really the trick about college - forcibly rape your students for 4 years, during which they have no money and only 24 hours in the day to write 3 10-page papers, put together a 20-minute presentation, study for an "after-midterm" exam, and oh wait, your final exams are also in a week. And you have 5 of them. So you bust your ass for 4 years and have to maintain a certain GPA to stay in the honors program because apparently you're a masochist, and also you have to take 37 required classes and then write a thesis and also take a comprehensive exam your senior year that if you fail either of them, you don't get to graduate. For a long time. Ahem. So it's pretty much all that, then... do a bunch of work that you could just hire an intern to do? I know the people in my office do work, it's just that it doesn't seem all that complicated to me. I'm sure it is, and that I don't know the half of it, because I just do the dirty work, but still.

Anyway. It's almost noon and I've been here since about 8:15 (I come in extra early because my dad drives me since he works in the building next door, and he has to come early because he's the Most Important One in his office, but it's all good because I get to leave at 4:30 instead of 5.) This has been my day so far, and I will speculate on how the afternoon will fare:

8:15-11:00 Arrive in office. Spend the subsequent 3 hours on the internet, looking vaguely at stuff that I could be doing, and decide not to do it. Besides, I need information from this guy who is supposed to email me the stuff I need to make this brochure, and he hasn't emailed me, so what I am supposed to do. Plus, my boss isn't in this whole week.

11:05 Bring some appraisal documents to this guy upstairs. He looks at it, says "What is this? Why do I need this?" Sigh, I DO NOT KNOW. I am the messenger, people. They don't tell me what it is for or what it does. I just bring it to you. So then I had to explain that I had no idea and that my boss told me to bring it here and she is on vacation this week so if you don't understand, TOO BAD.

11:05-now More internet. Read old Gilmore Girls recaps on TWOP. Blog.

12:30-1:30 Lunchtime! Pasta salad today. I already have plans to go eat it outside at this cute little plaza place with fountains and trees and little tables. And continue my re-read of Half-Blood Prince.

1:30-4:30 More internet. Maybe call this woman who was supposed to call me about 2 weeks ago. Maybe go over to another office to see if they have some information I need. Maybe put together that brochure... oh wait I can't do that because I still don't have the information. Then go home.

That is literally what I do, with several variations on the work. For example, they made me do this grant proposal writing stuff for several grants they want. I turned everything in 2 weeks ago and haven't heard about it since. I think most of this stuff must not be very important, because I don't think they really care what I do with it. The grant proposals I wrote basically just re-worded a proposal for the same project they gave me as a guideline. I changed some things, but still. Same. Exact. Thing.

I don't think I expected too much from this internship, other than "Oh, well I guess this will look good on my resume." Seeing as though I have no idea what I want to do when I graduate (something that approximately 5 people a day bug me about), I don't know why I bothered? The pay is a lot better than the summer camp, and I work longer hours, but it just isn't contributing anything to my life right now and I'm assuming in the future. I want to write. I want to have adventures. I want to travel. I want to help people. I know I have to pay my dues now, but if this is what the working world is like? DO NOT WANT. I usually pride myself on being able to see human emotions and observe what a person is really thinking when they start a passive-agressive diatribe, but I don't need to do much imagining to get the people in this office. They do not like their jobs. I can't imagine ever living like this - wake up, go to the office, work all day sitting in a cubicle, go home, eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed. I guess that it's just the work that bores me - it's project management that they do for current revitalization projects they do in the city, so it's the boring parts - the funds for the projects, who will manage them, etc. If I worked in an office all day but maybe got to write articles or criticize/edit books or maybe just write, I would be fine with that. As long as I had a life outside of the office.

Anyway. I have 3 weeks left of work, 2 weeks off (filled with fun and many trips to the store to buy stuff for school) and then I go back to school. So at least I don't have too much longer.

P.S. I don't mean to knock everyone who works in an office - I just don't see the particular appeal of sitting in a cubicle all day doing stuff like updating records of information on a particular loan thing. If it's your thing, cool. I also just don't understand Business/Accounting/Math majors, Republicans, serial killers, why all public bathroom soap has to smell like dirt, actually believing in creationism, and eating raw onions. Again, just me.

Why I Will Be On the Internet Very Little This Week

The Summer of Harry Potter Continues

Last night I went to see the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie. I didn't see it in IMAX ($14 for one person!?!?), but I'm assuming the non- 3D one is just as good.

I went into the movie telling myself to not get caught up in the fact that they had basically cut out 3/4 of the book. The book is 870+ pages, the movie is 138 minutes (the shortest movie of the series so far...sigh.) And I have to say, I think they did a pretty good job. But the movies have gotten to the point where it is just impossible for someone to watch them without reading the books first. Sure, they are fun for the action sequences and the whole magic thing, but if you care anything about following a plot, you're out of luck.

Alright, here comes the fun part where there are spoilers. Don't read this if you haven't read the books (I'LL KNOW) or don't want to be spoiled for the movie.













(Also bear in mind I am writing this based off of memory, with no notes.)

The Good

- Dan Rad. I read a review before I saw the movie saying how Daniel Radcliffe's acting was embarrassing, or something to that effect. I really thought he pulled it off though, like last movie. I wish he had been a little more angry and act the part of the angsty, self-centered teen, but I suppose people would have complained about that too.
- Evanna Lynch, aka Luna. Lord have mercy. I am completely convinced that Jo Rowling went to Platform 9 and 3/4, took the train to Hogwarts, and pulled the actual Luna out and told her to be in the film. Folks, this girl IS Luna. She was great.
- Imelda Staunton as Umbridge. See above. No joke.
- Dumbledore. Michael Gambon finally pulled a movie off. The scene at the end, while WAY TOO SHORT, killed me. He tears up, people. As he should.
- The progression of the Ron/Hermione relationship. Can I get a FINALLY? Loved the little scene where Ron was begging Hermione to do his homework for him, and she was all "NO!" And then she was like "Well, fine, I'll do the introduction." And they had a MOMENT. The shipper part of me I keep suppressed underneath the professionalism and the whole "These books are about good over evil and love and not just teenagers snogging!" schtick squeed a little.
- The thestrals. I heard some complaints, but they ARE supposed to look dragon-ish and not entirely like horses.
- The Patronus scene! Awesome.
- Ginny. I cannot wait for the next movie.
- The fight in the DoM was pretty awesome - what with the flicking of wands and the spells and the Apparating. It was crazy.
- Voldemort/Dumbledore fight. Awesome.

The Bad

- The opening scene with Dudley. Harry should not have been waving his wand about, threatening Dudley with his friends standing all around. That is an even greater misdemeanor than using the Patronus Charm.
- The dementors.
- No Howler to Petunia from Dumbledore. I am convinced this is important in the 7th book!!!
- No explanation about Percy, and he was there!
- They shortened the Snape's Worst Memory scene! I am also convinced this is important!
- Maybe not bad, but I find it funny that in the book, Ginny is always portayed as doing this one spell (the Bat-Bogey Hex), and in the movie all she does is Reducto.

The Ugly

- They screwed up the prophecy. Again.
- On the prophecy line, why didn't they talk about how Neville could have been the Chosen One? Since Harry and Neville did have a talk in this film where it was clear they were a lot alike, it bothered me that they didn't explore that... although I guess we don't know how important it really is.
- Changing the betrayal scene to it being a bewitched Cho. How hard is it to hire a glorified extra to be Marietta Edgecomb, explain that she is Cho's friend, have her show up with SNEAK written on her forehead, and explain that Hermione bewitched the sign-up sheet? NOT HARD AT ALL.
- The shortened Dumbledore/Harry scene that explains everything. It was literally 15 seconds long. In the book, I didn't cry when Sirius died, I cried at that specific scene. It just felt to heart-wrenchingly real. He's throwing things around, yelling at Dumbledore, feeling like his lungs and heart are going to burst. I said after I read the book that that scene would be Dan Rad's Oscar winning material. I'll stand by that, if they left it in. And they didn't. Sorry Radcakes.

The "Meh"

- Sirius' death. I've been hearing this from a lot of other people that it was just... off. Not in any specific "OMG THEY CHANGED THIS" way, but... off. Maybe it was the fact that they made it completely obvious it was an AK that killed him, and not just some ambiguous spell that Stunned him and sent him through the veil. I thought this was important...
- The veil. I still don't know my feelings on it.
- No Quidditch? It would have been fun, but... meh.
- Grawp. He is dangerous and violent in the books, and in the movie he is... cute and likeable? I dunno.
- The possession scene. I think Dan Rad did an awesome job with it, but... it also felt a little off to me. I have to see it again.
- The ending. The part with Luna was absolutely perfect, but the rest was... not very memorable? I would have liked it to be as it was in the book, but I guess you can't have everything (clearly.)


Overall, I thought it was great. The movies are always really fun to see, and it is interesting when you can truly consider them a part of the canon when Jo insists something remain in (Kreacher) or gives little clues (something in the 3rd movie foreshadowed something in the last book!) I definitely recommend it, but it might be best if you have read the books.

5/5

Harry Potter and the Obsessive Fan

For a long time now, I have been stuck in this (inevitable) place between childhood and adulthood. I mean, I'm in college - I go to class, study, write papers, work when I come home, and the rest of the time I wax nostalgic about Disney movies and my old treehouse. It's only fitting I should try and salvage some of these memories when I am reading. For this reason, most of the books on my bookshelf reflect these feelings - The Chronicles of Narnia, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, the Thoroughbred series (alright, that's just my obsession with horses.)

I didn't start reading Harry Potter till I was 17 years old. Shamefully, I watched the first three movies before I bothered to pick up the books. Now, I chalk it up to the whole "I'm a pretentious, emo, self-centered high schooler who has more important things on my mind." Yet somehow, I watched all 3 movies. I don't know.

After seeing Prisoner of Azkaban in theater, I started thinking about how J.K. Rowling could create such a world. As an aspiring writer and someone who views herself as "imaginative," I am still to this day completely astounded by her ability to create so compelling a story. I mean, how does one person dream up a world that detailed? And symbolic? How many creative bones does she have in her body (and more importantly, where can I get some?)

The rest is pretty much history. I was 17, still didn't have my license (ugh), and I found myself stuck at home one long weekend when my mom went away to visit my grandmother and left me in charge of my dad, my dog, and my sisters. I borrowed my sister's five HP books, and read them all, straight, in 3 days. I literally slept about 5 hours during those 3 days. I could not get over how completely engaging they were (and still are.) I thought the movies were creative - now I truly saw right through the thin layers of thrills the movies provide and saw the deeper, and much more emotional and creative, story.

After closing the fifth book, shaking like a leaf and crying slightly, I almost immediately went on the Internet. I found a whole world there - people discussing theories, canon, ships, fan fiction... oh so much. I came at the perfect time too - it was the summer of 2004 and I was reeling in my new-found obsession while the HP world was just getting stronger. The title to the 6th book was announced, Jo started giving the fandom more and more clues... and I got completely and totally hooked.

One thing that I think the Harry Potter series has accomplished to this point (10 days before the final book's release) is the sheer interest it has created. Not just all that smarmy crap about Jo changing literacy and getting a whole new generation of kids to read (which she has done!), but in the whole literary world as a whole. In theorizing and talking about what they think will happen, is Snape good or evil, will Harry live or die, what the prophecy really means, etc., etc., Jo Rowling has given a new name to literacy. The same kids who would have once made fun of Shakespeare for being "Old English" and "too hard to understand" and their English class essays "completely bullshit" are now (hopefully consciously) deconstructing a literary phenomenon.

In addition to giving me an entirely new world to fantasize and dream about, Jo has inspired me in more ways than one. While I refuse to write anything this summer until I have read Deathly Hallows, much of my inspiration is due to her. A large part of my decision to become an English major also lies in the fact that her books made me realize even more that this is what I love doing. I love reading, and deconstructing, and trying to get inside the author's head through the characters and events they create. Harry Potter is a perfect example of this.

Now, only 10 days before Deathly Hallows will be released, it is going to come to an end. I hope (pleaaaasseee Jo!!!) that we will have a Harry Potter Encyclopedia, or a Hogwarts, a History before long, but the fact is that the world will be over. Jo will wrap up Harry's story completely. She isn't a hack writer who comes along and thrills the world for her 15 minutes of fame with some over-blown dreck that seems to be so prevalent of authors these days (coughDanBrowncough.) She has managed to create an effective story about a boy with a scar - focusing on real emotions and typical teenage feelings while making a story about the triumph of good over evil. And oh yeah, they're all witches and wizards.

So thank you, Jo. You have given me something to be obsessed with that I can actually admit proudly to the world. I know I'll be crying when July 21st comes, but the ride has been completely and totally worth it.

Amateur Paparrazo

I was sort of freaking out with this picture, so you can't see much... but it's definitely Shia.

That's better :)

Now I think that Steven Spielberg might be on top of the camera thing... not sure though. But maybe!

Breaking News: Celebrity Bumps Into Eileen, She Freaks Out

Alright, let me preface this to say that if there IS anyone out there reading this, I promise the creepy celebrity sightings posts will stop on Friday. Because then, Connecticut can go back to being its boring old self and nothing will ever happen. Ever.

Anyway.

Today I had to go to a lunch meeting (to which I say, "Fuck you, you people with your stupid vacations coming up who fight about stupid things and generally live to work in a depressing office where you fade into obscurity..."), which sort of made me cry a little, #1 because it's a beautiful day, and #2 because I have been having fantasies of being discovered by Steven Spielberg and getting to star in Indiana Jones 4 as Shia LaBeouf's girlfriend. And wear cute 1950s clothes. But I digress. So I was sort of disappointed, but of course I found a way to sneak out of work at 2:30 (and not get caught!) I walked over to Grove Street, where they were filming inside of Yale. There was really not much to see, just extras and make-up people. Then. I looked up, and saw some people walking towards me. The next time I look around, Shia LaBeouf is about 2 inches away from my face, rushing to the set. He almost bumped into me, but he did say "Excuse me"!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, he didn't really acknowledge me, or stop and make out with me, but it's something. I could see every pore and freckle on his face (!!!!!!) I believe Thursday is the last day of filming, but I could be wrong. I think they're leaving on Friday. So Thursday, even though I have to work, I will pretty much be hanging by the set and the trailers to try and get a autographs and pictures. Luckily nobody is going to be in on Thursday and Friday, so I can get away veerry easily.

Something good that comes out of this (other than the adrenaline rush I get when I see celebrities) is that it is really inspiring me. This is what I want to be a part of someday. I want to be a part of the magic. Even if it's just for a few movies. I want to be involved, make a lot of money, and then spend the rest of my life in the Peace Corps and donate all (or most of) my money to charities. How awesome would that be? Dreams, I know. But I'm not the type of person to let go of my dreams just because they might be a tad far-fetched. I have just got to work my ass off to get to them.

I've got some good ideas for stuff that I've been working on for a few months. After Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out, my brain is going to be solely focused on my work until I have to go back to school. (I'll explain my obsession with HP soon...)

Rock.

Fangirl

I'm not going to deny this one crucial fact about myself - I am a complete and total fangirl. Get me into something, and I am completely and totally OBSESSED (in most cases, till the next obsession comes around.)

So it comes as no surprise to me that when I found out that Indiana Jones 4 was going to be shooting in New Haven, CT - my current work place for the summer - well, I totally freaked out. I mean, come on. Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Steven Spielberg... a movie set!!! All within 500 feet of my building!

Ever since they started shooting last week, I have been spending my lunch hour (hours...) hanging around the set, trying to catch a glimpse of something, anything. And today I did! Shia LaBeouf walked past me!!! Picture the scene:


A group of fans are standing on the sidewalk, surrounded by PAs, firetrucks, extras, and 50s cars. Our young protagonist, EILEEN, sees something from a distance.

EILEEN: Oh. My. God. You guys. That's Shia LaBeouf. I saw pictures of him in costume and that is totally him.

EVERYONE ELSE: Oh wow, so cool, let's try and get a picture, etc.

EILEEN: CAMERA!!! WORK!!! TAKE THE PICTURE!!! SQUEE!!! *waves frantically while squeeing*

SHIA LABEOUF: *realizes some crazy girl is squealing and waving, turns around, smiles and up-nods*

EILEEN: *commences complete and total freakout, including telling everyone around her what just happened (when they saw it themselves) and calling up everyone she knows to tell them*


So yeah. Clearly this is my first celebrity encounter ever. And I would have gotten a picture with him but there was a bodyguard with him and they were walking pretty fast. Soo... yeah. I'll post my pictures of his back/side later.

Let me just say... having a celebrity that you have watched since you were 12 acknowledge your presence puts you in a REALLY good mood.

Movies, Cont.

Knocked Up: 4.5/5

I really love Judd Apatow's stuff, and The 40-Year Old Virgin is probably one of my favorite movies ever. So I was excited for Knocked Up, and it didn't disappoint. It will probably be the best comedy of 2007. Plus, Paul Rudd was in it. And he can do no wrong.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - 4/5

I know it's the popular and cool thing among critics to hate on the Pirates franchise, but I just can't. I think it's perfectly fine to create a big action movie that twists and turns and leaves everyone in suspense. If you can't follow the plot, I really don't know how to help you. Maybe you could try picking up a book that's not by Nicholas Sparks or Dan Brown and try following some good plot development. And get away from the Paul Haggis movies. I don't think Pirates is the greatest movie ever, but I think it makes a great action movie with some comedy and drama thrown in. This one is a bit too long, but it makes up for it in awesomeness.

Strangers With Candy (The Movie) - 2/5

I really loved Strangers With Candy, the TV show on Comedy Central. I mean, Stephen Colbert was in it. Come on. When I heard they were making a movie of it, I was excited, but didn't get to watch it until recently. I was very disappointed. For a movie with Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert, it should have been amazing. I guess that's what happens when you make a movie based off a TV show.

Half Nelson - 5/5

It is such a shame Ryan Gosling didn't get the Oscar for Best Actor for this movie - he really deserved it. It could easily be a very cliched movie that is cloyed and hackneyed... but it isn't. Gosling and Shareeka Epps are brilliant. This movie totally owns me.

This is Spinal Tap - 4/5

I've been meaning to watch this movie for a loong time, and I finally did. It was really funny and such a great concept.

West Side Story - 4/5

Obviously a classic, but I had never seen it before. I usually don't like musicals, but since this one is so... classic... it needs to be seen. Very before it's time, etc. etc. Depressing though.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - 5/5

Another classic, something that needs to be seen. Very funny, sort of... scary?

Gigi - 2/5

I know this movie won Best Picture and everything, and maybe I would have liked it back in 1958, but it totally creeped me out. My feminist side flared up at the end of the movie when Gigi turned from this awesome girl into some creepy, alien woman. Not believable, and it just squicks me out with the whole "Thank Heaven for Little Girls." Ick.

All About Eve - 5/5

What an awesome movie. My new favorite. Bette Davis OWNS me. You have to see it for yourself.

Movies

Before Sunrise - 4.5/5

Absolutely amazing. I loved it. It wasn't too sad or happy or any of those things... just good. There was something about Ethan Hawke and Judy Delpy's chemistry and dialogue that just seemed so real and appealing. Definitely makes my favorites movies list.



Life is Beautiful - 3/5

I know everyone and their grandmother loves this movie but... I don't know. It was alright. Cute... maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a nice Holocaust flick. Also, I have no heart and I'm generally lacking in the emotions department.




Empire of the Sun - 4/5

Great movie. One of Spielberg's least remembered films, but definitely one of his greatest. Christian Bale did a great job in the role of Jim. What a great movie. A little too long, though.




The Virgin Suicides - 3.5/5

I don't care what anyone else says, Sofia Coppola can make a darn good movie. I loved Lost in Translation (haven't seen Marie Antoinette...) and I loved this. I just liked the film a bit more than the actual plotline and script. Which is perfectly acceptable in my book.




Lucas - 3.5/5

What a sweet movie. If I was a teenager in the 80s other than a young child, I would totally have a crush on Corey Haim. He was such a cute little thing! Ahem. The movie was a bit too saccharine for my taste, but it worked. I miss 80s movies.




The Science of Sleep - 3.5/5

I knew this movie was by Michel Gondry, who did Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, so I knew it had to be at least pretty good. I liked it... not as much as Eternal Sunshine (which is one of the most gorgeous, if not the most gorgeous, films I've ever seen) but still a lot.

American Graffiti - 2.5/5

I... was sort of underwhelmed by this. I've been hearing about it for years, and I really didn't get that into it. The best storyline, in my opinion, was the one with Mackenzie Phillips. Funny stuff.

Reviews

In my struggles with finding inspiration to write, I do a lot of reading and even more watching movies. I hate to watch movies a lot of the time - I love film, don't get me wrong, but I always am afraid that my writing and own creative impulses will be shaped by the films I watch. But I am somewhat obsessed with movies. And some TV. And celebrities.

This summer I have a huge list of books and movies I want to watch before I am sucked back into the black hole that is known as college... where the only movies I watch are mindless comedies or romances. Which is fine... but it doesn't do much for my brain. Here is a list of everything I have watched/read so far this summer (complete with pictures!)

BOOKS (my slightly shorter list... alright my very ridiculously short list):

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

I'm pretty sure this book is my worst nightmare. The story that is, not the actual writing. Flaubert's style is gorgeous and it's very compelling and so depressing. In a good way? I guess? I loved it.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

It was good, but sort of predictable. I've heard a lot of hype of Gaiman, and I think I might have to read some of his other work to get a true feel for his abilities.

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

I'm a huge fan of Donnie Darko, and sort of a nerd when it comes to the whole time travel/other dimensions/space-time continuum stuff. Yet I suck at the whole "science" thing. Hawking did a great job changing everything from crazy mumbo-jumbo to easy analogies that even I could understand. It did get a bit tedious at points, but overall I really liked it.

Emma by Jane Austen

It was sort of surprising I hadn't read this book yet, seeing as though I am an English major and typically dork out over Jane Austen, any of the Brontes, etc. type of novels. I really enjoyed Emma. The main character's growth over the novel was captured perfectly in Austen's prose. Good stuff.

Movies will come later!

Confessions of a Bored Intern

I have to confess, I've never really had a "real" blog before. I've had the LJ when I first went of to college and my friends and I decided it would be great to post about our lives... that ended after the first year (thankfully, my relationships with my friends did not.) I also had some weird free trial blog over at Vox.com, which turned into a "post my favorite poems I get in my daily e-mail blog."

Lately, perusing the Internet during my ridiculously boring and entirely not stimulating internship (in a government department!), I have read some great blogs that have become part of my daily intake of "reading" material. As I would like to consider myself a serious (er... becoming serious) writer, I decided to start my own blog, tackling my issues with inspiration on both my writing and my reading. The two come hand in hand with me - I love doing both, but sometimes it is hard for me to get up off the couch and pry the remote control from my hand long enough to do either.

Hopefully this will become a daily thing. And hopefully someone out there notices this blog and helps with my inspiration. Happy reading!