I Got the Lights in My Eyes

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

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Books.

I need to remember whenever I'm feeling a little listless/restless/over everything,

I just need to read a thrilling book.

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Photography workshops.

I'm getting super excited for a workshop I'm attending in late January,

I booked the flight and the hotel this weekend.

Photos.

I finally figured out these photos on here,

they're bigger now.  Did you notice?

Puppies.

I'm spending the weekend with my adorable buddies,

especially now that Oscar's fur is naturally turning a shade of pink.

Heroes.

I heart Peter Petrelli/Milo Ventimiglia.

Remember when the show was the "it" thing?

Title: "Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night)" by Neon Trees

We Only Know What We See

     With the popularity of Hulu, TV shows are no longer truly "TV" shows.   Some shows that aren't so popular on television finish out their season or seasons on Hulu.   There are even some shows that are solely on Hulu.  Saving Hope did well with the Canadian audience, but not so well with the US audience and the last two episodes did not appear on NBC, but can be watched on Hulu.  Hulu has multiple series that are "Hulu originals" and aren't featured anywhere else.  Even now the new fall shows have pilots on Hulu (that can be viewed for while, but will probably be taken down a couple weeks before the pilot airs on TV).  I'm pretty sure this is supposed to increase the anticipation and the buzz around these shows.  Not really complaining here because I always love to check out some of the newer shows (and late September/early October seems so far away).  However, what I've seen of these shows makes me a little sad.  Then again, even from the previews I should have known what to expect.  I shared some of those previews back in May.
     One of the fall shows I was most looking forward to ended up falling a little flat.  Maybe it's just me, but the whole show was really predictable and in my opinion if you're predictable in the beginning what is going to be like after you've written a few shows?  The world is your oyster at the beginning of any creative project--there are so many different twists and turns you could start at the very beginning that get a little overdone after a while.  (If any of you watch Vampire Diaries, you know what I'm talking about... the first few seasons were mostly original and not as predictable (unless you've read the books, of course) but then as the seasons progressed you kind of knew what to expect--I still watch it though so sometimes predictable doesn't make it horrible.)  In the case of Animal Practice, I'm not so sure.  The jokes just aren't that funny and I LOVE Justin Kirk.  LOVE him in everything I've seen him in, just not this.  But I'm still hopeful that it will get better.  I'm at least going to watch the next two to three shows just to make sure I'm not writing it off too soon.
     A show I'm really excited to start watching religiously is Revolution.  The previews looked spectacular and while you really didn't get to see much more than what you could have already figured out from the previews, I'm pretty sure that this show will become the new Lost.  Yeah, that's right I said it.  It's a lot to live up to, Lost is.  But I think Revolution is full of the plot twists and turns that just might have everyone comparing the shows.  The only thing is that I don't think there will be magic involved which is a great deal of what Lost was.  Maybe Revolution is NBC trying to create a Lost type TV show (which was really ABC's show).  I don't know maybe I'm just mixing all my shows.
     The New Normal really wasn't that bad.  It didn't blow me away, but it didn't have me reeling in my seat either.  It's another show where everything that was in the pilot was in the preview.  I guess that's the way most of these shows work though.  We'll see as the season progresses what it's really like.  I'm so ready for all the shows to be shown already.  School has started, New York Fashion Week is almost over, fall is here.  Now it's time for the shows to be on TV already.  (Not that I will actually watch it on my TV, but I can't watch the whole series on my computer until it's already aired.)

Title: "Sleep Alone" by Two Door Cinema Club

Isn't Keeping Out the Doubt and the Disbelief

     I realized today that I haven't even begun to read a single book on the extensive list of "Books To Read" I made a few months back.  I started the list because I wanted to improve my own writing skills, but the older books are so much more dense than I remember.  They take a little while to get through them and I'm used to finishing a book in a day or two (maybe a week).  So I started reading more fun books (starting when I bought this impulse buy on the way home from Hawaii and I loved it).  I think I'm going to go back to my original list.  I want to educate myself and really break down the book like I used to have to do in class.  (I just need to figure out how to do that one again.)
     I've been struggling with my pseudo-novel story in progress.  I'm such a character driven reader and writer.  The dialogue is usually one of the better parts of my story, but I'm struggling to figure out how to change things about my story (very basic things... like where they are in the world, what they do for a living, how old they are).  I want to complete it, but maybe it would be better if I just started over. It definitely would be easier.  But I love my characters.  Not to mention that I've already written roughly over nine chapters and close to 170+ pages.  Then again my college advisor did say that you have a certain amount of bad writing you just have to write out.  So maybe starting over wouldn't be so bad.
     Either way, I'm hoping to read a good bit more than I've been reading (or maybe keep it at the same pace that I've been going).  I've pretty much quit watching TV so that I can read and do my jobs.  I've gotten to the point where I only watch TV when I'm editing and then it's mostly for the background noise.  Oh, wait.  I forgot I watched a couple of shows the other night on my computer.  I forgot, but if the pilots you can watch early are any indication of Fall's new TV lineup I won't be missing much.

Title: "Young Glass" by Hey Rosetta!

Taste All Your Hearts Desires

     Today has been extremely relaxing and enjoying.  I feel ready for anything.  Well, I feel pretty much ready for anything.  We saw The Dark Knight Rises, it was amazing.  I cried and everything, which definitely means it was everything everyone has said and more.
     I'm currently making mix CDs for party favors for tomorrow night (something that I love to do).  And I'm watching Lipstick Jungle.  I love this TV show, I'm so sad it's been cancelled for years.  But even though I have seen it before I'm watching it again because it is just such an awesome show because of the girl power and friendship it promotes.  Plus I love the positive, radiant spirit of Victory Ford (whose fix for bad news is a cupcake and champagne).
     Oh, and speaking of tasting all your hearts desires, I'm hoping and planning on making some Snickerdoodle muffins that I've been talking about for weeks.

Title: "The Bomb" by Bittersweet

Surely Then it Multiplies

Five things I'm thankful for this week:

It's Sunday!! 

(Which means there are only 5 days until the rest of my family comes home)

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Which also means only 5-6ish days until Will and I can start catching up on Teen Wolf 

(Even though it has terrible writing and even worse acting, it's still kind of fun to watch)

And it also means that I still have a work week to get my butt into gear and finish everything I have to before my parents get home

 (And stop finding ways to procrastinate)

Me no longer jumping at every sound/assuming it's a burglar coming to burgle me 

(Now that I only have less than a week left, of course)
(I stole the burglar phrase from Grey's Anatomy... and since I don't have a picture of how creepy it is here alone at the house at night I thought some humor might be in order)

That my salvation is not up to me

(because I am far from perfect and sinless and would never make it anywhere it were on my shoulders alone)
(I don't have a picture for that one either sorry.)

Title: "The Great Awakening" by Leeland

A Domesticated Girl That's All You Ask of Me

     While I should probably be going to sleep right about now, I'm bonding with my little brother and having a Teen Wolf marathon of season one.  Well more like we're making fun of it and it's oh so much fun.  A few reoccurring themes:  way overdramatic drama, worse than B horror flick actions scenes, invisible parents, yelling over nothing, not actually having to going to class at school, and lycanthropy is a commonly known word--and being a werewolf isn't a big deal.

Title: "She Wolf"by Shakira

Living for the Fame

     If you're like me, you get a little excited when the TV networks start releasing their new lineups.  I don't count the days but as soon as I see that they have released the names, I start looking for trailers for each of the shows.  So far, I haven't been disappointed.
     It's no secret that I'm addicted to a few TV shows.  I'm super excited that most of the shows that I love are not being cancelled.  According to the Glamour blog, Obsessed, here is a list of my favorites that are returning in the Fall.  (If you want to see a complete list broken down by network click here.

Favorite Shows Returning for Another Season:

Smash

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About the production a Marilyn Monroe musical (from an idea to Broadway) complete with musical numbers and dancing. 

Grey's Anatomy

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A high-stakes show about the process of becoming a surgeon, very dramatic and very consuming.  Follows Meredith Grey and her class as she progresses through her training starting from her first day as an intern.  (Makes me cry almost every episode and just wrapped up it's 9th season tonight.)

Private Practice

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Spin-off from Grey's Anatomy, just as high-stakes and just as dramatic only in a different setting (L.A.).  This show is more driven by the idea of family (both at work and at home).   (It also makes me cry almost every episode, but this show just wrapped it's 5th season and according to Glamour's blog, this next season is rumored to be it's last.)

Once Upon a Time

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Fairytale characters are cursed to our world without magic, happy endings, or memories of their past lives.  Stuck in Storybrooke time stands still until Emma (the one that can break the curse and the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming) comes to town for good.  Constantly changing between present day and back in their own time, the stories are captivating and always have a special twist.  (Not to mention that Snow White, played by Ginnifer Goodwin, is a fellow native Memphian.)  

Revenge

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Revenge is a show so complicated I doubt I could even explain it to you.  I guess an important thing to know is a rich family framed an innocent man for their crimes (had him imprisoned as a terrorist and then eventually killed) and his daughter is taking them all down one by one.

Scandal

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Can't forget this new baby from the writer of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice about a practice of "fixers" led by one woman who has a sordid past with the nation's current president.  Oh yeah, there is plenty of scandal to go around.

New Shows to Look Out For:

I am not about to give a bunch of shows thumbs up just yet.  I have no idea what kind of shows they will actually turn out to be like, but I've tried to watch most of the trailers that I could find via youtube and the networks' websites.  This way I can give you a sample of a few without you having to wade through a bunch of garbage.  Hey, I value your time too.

From ABC:

Nashville

I think I'm going to watch at least the first show maybe just to see Hayden Panettiere's diva character, but the rest just seems a little over done.  Minus the fact that it is in a city that is like 4 hours away from me and I actually did go to one of the places seen in the trailer.

Mistresses

I can't seem to figure this one out either.  I think it's supposed to take the place of Desperate Housewives, but I'm not sure it has the spice. I'll probably watch an episode just to test the waters.  (Plus I'm a huge Alyssa Milano fan.)

666 Park Avenue

The only reason I'm giving this a chance is because of the bald actor (he's from Lost and kind of awesome).  We'll see if this gets too scary for my taste.

Last Resort

This one looks like a Lost-ish show and I'm excited about it.  Plus its about our government and conspiracies and who doesn't love a good bout of paranoia every now and then?

From NBC:

Revolution

Electricity just turns off and won't turn back on?  Doesn't that sound like your worst nightmare.  Now this actually has J.J. Abrams executively producing it.  (In case you don't know who that is he has also produced Lost and a million and one other movies/TV shows.  He also writes, directs, and does anything and everything in between it seems.)  This show should be jam packed with twists and turns, you won't know what to do with yourself.  (I'm looking forward it, in case you can't tell.)

Animal Practice

Justin Kirk.  The end.  Animal Practice needs no other review from me.  (Except maybe an explanation.)  The actor who plays Dr. Coleman is one of the most talented, most underrated actors out there.  He's been in Weeds since the very beginning as the comic relief when things get to serious.  AND I seriously adore the little doctor monkey.  I want one!

The New Normal

I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to like this but I think I do.  The Grandmother is just too funny as well as whats-her-name off of the Real Housewives of Atlanta.  I'm pretty sure it's NeNe.  We'll see if the actual show is as funny as the trailer.

Chicago Fire

So I wasn't going to add this, but I had to.  I'm not much for shows about fires.  I have watched about maybe 5 episodes of Rescue Me.  The firefighters always seem to be putting themselves into really awful situations so I stopped watching.  BUT these guys are H-O-T. One used to be a werewolf on The Vampire Diaries, and they don't just pick anyone to be on their show.  The other guy used to be on House.  Wonder why he isn't anymore.  But anyway, my point is that if the show really is all about these two guys, I might watch more than one episode.  However, they could just be trying to hook us ladies with a fine looking fellow.   I guess we'll have to see.

From CBS:

Made in Jersey

Okay, so I'm rather excited about this show.  It's an inspirational tale of a first-generation college girl from Jersey trying to make it in the Big City as a lawyer at a big firm.  She stands out, but she's passionate and that makes her great.  Basically it's the American Dream all rolled up.  It might be cheesy but I think we as a nation could stand for a cheesy reminder of why we love this country so much and why we need to fight to protect what we have.

Elementary

Sherlock Holmes put into today's world.  How would he fair?  Well I guess we'll find out how well the writers can logically change almost everything fundamental about him and still call him Sherlock Holmes.
Let's count the changed things shall we:  in New York, Watson is now a woman named Joan whom he just met, pretty sure there was a mention of being addicted to drugs, but he's still solving crimes in his odd manner and that's all that matters right?

Partners

While I am slightly disappointed that the Sophia Bush project I'd been hearing about included her in a smaller role than the one she had been playing on One Tree Hill, I can't wait to watch her in a show again.  (As a fellow Kappa alum, her triumphs are my triumphs.) Okay enough with the bragging and everything else.  This genuinely looks like a great TV show.  Funny and witty without being over the top.  I'm ready for it.

From the CW:

The Beauty and the Beast


Like always the CW never really gives you enough to go off of to see if this is going to be good.   It could potentially be great, but it could also potentially be disastrous.  I'm hoping for the former and not the latter, but we'll eventually see when it comes time.

From Fox:

The Mob Doctor

So this looks interesting, not to mention I'm a fan of main actresses (if you're trying to place her she's from TBS's My Boys).  I hope this is going to be good.  It looks like there is a little bit of everything and I'm ready for it.

The Goodwin Games

The family you have now is the only family you're going to get.  I love the premise of this show.  And I love the blonde actress (she's from Ugly Betty).  Plus I love the idea of a treasure hunt type deal which this basically is.

One trailer that did make me completely nervous:
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
(not that I really watch it, but WOW!)

There is a full breakdown of everything worrisome over on the Glamour blog.
Some of the things actually made me laugh because they were so ridiculous.
I guess after a while it gets harder and harder to top yourself.

I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with all of these trailers.  There are definitely a good many I didn't show, but I feel like I could have been a little choosier with what I picked.  Or drawn it out a little more.  Oh well, here's the fall previews.  But there are many other shows that I am not particularly a fan of already.  I hope you're looking as forward to fall as I am.  Summer is always so slow TV wise and all my favorite shows are wrapping up with their season finales this week.  Which makes me just a little sad.
     I think I captured some fun and wonderful pictures of Oscar today, but this post is already way overloaded so I'll post them tomorrow.  Hope you've had fun watching the trailers for Fall 2012's TV season.  I'm ready for it to be here already.

Title: "Video Games" originally by Lana Del Ray sung here by Ben Howard

There is No Mystic With the Answers From Above

     I don't have much to say tonight except the parents are gone, so it's just me and the pups for the night (and mostly all today).  And I'm pretty sure I've finished only like 2 things today but I've bounced between so many things.  Hopefully my attention span will be better tomorrow.  But for now, here are some adorable pictures of Oscar and Jack (I found them really playing today, but sadly wasn't able to get any pictures).

 This is what happens when I try to take pictures of the puppies.

Jack spots me and gets excited.

 What Jack does a lot these days...

Barks and barks at random noises (trying to protect Oscar)

 How Oscar plays... he lays there and lets Jack bite at him

 How my buddy normally sits... adorably.

Title: "A Thousand and One Nights" from the TV show Smash
(Because the scene from the TV show is so awesome I'm sharing the first video
but the whole song is the the second video)

It's Hard to Keep a Straight Face When I Just Want to Smile

       I love watching CSI and all of it's spin-offs.  Mostly because of the terrible one-liners they make right before the intro.  (Especially CSI: Miami) There is a marathon on AMC at this very moment, which reminds me of one of my college classes (hardboiled fiction).  In it we read hardboiled fiction, including some detective fiction (and the books that inspired detective fiction).  These books were the original place where jokes were cracked over dead bodies.  However, those (original) jokes were definitely not too corny or cliche.
      If you are looking for a good hardboiled book (that used to be your grandfather's dollar paperback), I do have some suggestions.  If you like a book where the "villains" always get what's coming to them (i.e. no happy ending for anyone), The Postman Always Rings Twice is the book for you.  Laura is a wonderful book if you are looking for a change, also there is a movie too.  I always love the older books that are translated into movies.  The movies always come out so much better (than they do now).  (Plus hardboiled books are equal to the film noir movies... and that's what Laura the movie is.)  Cotton Comes to Harlem was another of my favorites, it brings a bit of the south to New York (well Harlem).  Plus I love all of the women characters (I feel like they are the most fleshed out in this novel as compared to the other hardboiled novels we read).  Of course there are many other hardboiled novels and tons of contemporary takes on the hardboiled/detective fiction.
         Below is a video of the horrid one liners I was talking about.  I hope you enjoy.  (But you don't have to watch all of it cause it's pretty long.)

        The botox has got to be working.  Currently I feel better, but my head still hurts on a constant basis.  But earlier today I had the worse migraine.  Not good.  So maybe my headaches will get better (as in go away on a daily basis) but my migraines will be worse when I actually do get them?  I don't know the suspense on if it is going to be a viable treatment is definitely wearing me out.  I just want to know either way so I might can move on to something else if possible and maybe that will work.  
       I'm not giving up hope.  But I'm just ready to know.


  Title:  "It Gets Better" by Fun.

Mad Men Makes Me Swoon

MAD MEN!

Photo credit: The Art of Manliness Blog

        It doesn't take too much to get me addicted to a TV show, especially since Netflix came along and now has oodles of TV shows streaming.  This means I can multitask and watch TV on my computer and actually be productive.  It also allows me to become addicted to way more TV shows than I ever should.  Too much access.  I'm not even sure I could name all of the TV shows that I follow on a regular basis.  
        But Mad Men is a head above the rest.  I love the portrayal of the '60's and as one of my college professors remarked, it actually is a commentary on the '60's while still being about the '60's.  Something that other TV shows trying to mimic it don't quite understand.  
        That and I'm 100% IN LOVE with the fashion!  I almost wish that I lived in the '60's so I could wear some of these awesome clothes.  I guess I will just have to be a fan of the vintage-fashion that is present in today's society.  (And maybe find a way to dress up as one of these fabulous ladies for Halloween!)

(Or dye my hair this awesome red color!!)

Photo credit: Art is Not Dead Blog.

(Or Fashion like this! Where women took a whole day to get their hair done for a night out)
Photo credit: Season 3