SnOMG

This is the first chance I've had to escape the ridiculous amounts of SNOW-MY-GOODNESS-IT'S-PURE-INSANITY.  Just kidding, really.  I've been snowed in for the past couple of days, and this is the first place I've been that wasn't the apartment or the parking lot.  It's kind of weird to be doing something that's not watching bad movies and petting the dog, but still.  Gotta earn my keep :)

I'm usually a big fan of snow (at least for the first day and/or while it's falling), but this snow kind of ruined my awesome weekend plans.  I was (as previously stated) REALLY looking forward to the party on Saturday, and that didn't happen.  I got a cute present for my Secret Santa, and I probably won't be able to give it to her until January.  We also didn't get to celebrate Christmas with my brother and sister-in-law.  They live further out in "the country" as Melissa likes to say, and Tony told me on Sunday that they couldn't even get out of their development.  He did say that their driveway is the most shoveled, so they win the... award?  For most diligent?  Eh, he'd like that.  Either way, they are supposed to go up to Jersey to see her family, and I'll be on a boat (I'm on a boat!) after Christmas, so again, not until January.  Ble-argh.  I mean, I know it's just a day, but still.  I'm a sucker for Christmas, and this year, it's gotten all screwy.

The other screwy thing is that we're going to NC this year, as usual, but it'll be the first one without Grandpa.  That's going to be very, very strange.  I feel like I've been trying to prepare myself for it for a long time, but this is going to be the first test of my will and strength.  No one will take pictures of me on the sofa.  He won't be there to hug me in this precious red cardigan with his brilliant smile and bright eyes.  Oh crap, I just made myself sad.

Okay, sad over.  It's just going to be weird.  BUT, my plan is to stay with my Aunt Kris & Uncle Todd, and we'll eat fudge and MAYBE make ice cream and eat breakfast casserole and celebrate anyway.  It won't be the same, but to be perfectly honest, it will never be the same without him.  This is just something I'm going to have to get used to.

Just to post something TV related (as that IS supposedly my blog theme), NOTA WON THE SING-OFF!  Woot!  I'm pretty sure I was one of the only people actually watching this, but still.  I was so excited to hear that they won, because they really deserved it the most.  They were up against a group from Tufts University called the Beelzebubs.  While I enjoyed the Bubs and their enthusiastic performances, they are just a college a cappella group.  They showed up to the music building, just like I did almost 10 years ago exactly, and auditioned to be in this group.  They have the ability to record an album a year.  They have the funds, the support, the whatever.  The guys in Nota are 6 dudes from Puerto Rico who like to sing.  They may have auditioned, but they also were just random guys with lives and families and jobs that want to sing.  That's so much more inspiring.  Plus, I REALLY want a copy of their version of "Down" so I can listen to it over.  And over.  And over.  Again.  Loves it.

I hunted on iTunes this weekend, and I found piano versions of Paramore's "Brand New Eyes" album.  It's freaking gorgeous.  If I wasn't already married, I would totally walk down the aisle to the version of "All I Wanted."  In fact, I'm going to listen to it now.  Peace out!!

Glee, TB, and Travel-y

I read this quote today in an interview posted on Yahoo about Glee's Golden Globe noms.  It makes me smile a lot and be very anxious for April 13.

"Okay, listen. We had Kristen (Chenoweth, Menzel's "Wicked" costar), now Idina's coming," gushed actor Chris Colfer (Kurt). "I don't . . . I can't even fathom that. I can't even talk about it. I am so, so excited. I just . . ."

"I think you just peed a little bit," joked actor Mark Salling (Puck).

"I did," Colfer replied. "I think I just did."

Hee.

I've been watching "The Sing-Off" to try to stave off the jitters.  It's been kinda fun, though nothing like my own personal brand of heroin.  I think Nick Lachey talks WAY too much and I fast forward through everything Nicole the Pussycat Doll says, but I enjoy the singing.  It makes me miss Low Key, and I'm looking forward to April for Glee AND for the LK reunion.  I can't believe we started it 10 years ago...
 

So the role of Alcide has been cast for this upcoming season of True Blood, and he will be played by Joe Manganiello (see left).  I have seen some pictures that have not impressed me, so I found this one and thought, "Okay, he'll do."  However, no matter what I will see him in, I will always think of him saying that the Eggs Benny is redonk and how he'll go halfsies on a gravy boat. 
 
I just really love the character, especially in the 3rd book.  As the series rolls on, I find that I kind of want to smack him royally about the face and neck, but I love him and Sookie together at the beginning.  He reminds me of one of my friends from the way back days, which is funny to ME because Jacob Black ALSO reminds me of this friend, and I feel like Alcide is the Jacob of the Sookie-verse.
 
In other non-tv related news, I'm feeling the urge to travel, and what sucks is that I don't have the funds to back up said urge.  We're going to Florida after Christmas with the in-laws (which is never as bad as it sounds when you have my in-laws!), which will be nice... BUT... that's not the travelling I'm looking for.  I've been emailing back and forth with a recently reacquainted friend, and I'm certain this is what has caused my travel fever.  She lives in Missouri (a state I've never seen outside of its airport), and I'm really looking forward to it.  HOWever, it's not until June.  I think what I really miss is having close girl friends to hang out with.
 
DOWNER! 
 
At least I'll be able to get in some good girly times this weekend.  It's the annual girls party, and it should be food, drink, and silly-filled.  Also, Sherry already figured out who all the Secret Santas are, so there won't be any surprises.  Just like last year... 

Thank you, Popwatch.

I read this in Popwatch this morning (one of the EW.com blogs that I frequent), and it captured my favorite line from last night's Community while also suggesting something brilliante.

"Shirley can't believe Jeff is agnostic. 'You think religion is stupid?' she asked Jeff, who responded with this extended metaphor: 'To me, religion is like Paul Rudd. I see the appeal, and I would never take it away from anyone. But I would also never stand in line for it.' All right, let's start the campaign for Paul Rudd guest starring as a religion professor now."

I l-o-v-e the Rudd. I think he has the best career ever, with the perfect amount of indie cred and mass mainstream appeal. I mean, even my PARENTS love the Rudd. But still, that's an amazing comparison, and that would be amazing to see him on Community, one of my new favorite shows. It didn't make me laugh until I cried last night like Bones ("where's your chest hair?") or Sunny (the infamous poisoned relish-mayonnaise-shampoo convo), but still, solid.

On the knitting front, which I haven't actually talked about lately, I've been trying to do some small projects to pass out as Christmas gifts this year. I had the great idea of knitting a washcloth for my cousin who loves NC State. I had what I thought was enough red yarn in my stash. Turns out, washcloths take a CRAP-TON of yarn for their size. So instead I'm using this other, bulkier yarn to do it, and now it's like the NC State placemat. Eh, whatever, it'll do. Hopefully, I'll be able to complete a few more smaller projects (more washcloths, perhaps a hat and earwarmer or two), and everyone I know will appreciate them.

Reunion tomorrow. I'll try to update soon after with a play-by-play of its randomness.

An Open Letter to My Favorite Show

Dear Glee,
First off, I have to tell you that you are my crack. It's true. From the very beginning. I remember when I first saw you in May, and you were the bright shiny light in my dark, BHLPC-filled world. Then, you magically reappeared in my life in September, reminding me why I love TV and why I love singing. You made me forget my old bitter feelings toward people I used to sing with and showed me that I truly missed performing. You sang songs that I loved for years, and you made me laugh out loud. Television doesn't surprise me or make me laugh unless it's truly something to behold. You have been that something.

Now, I see you're leaving me until April? What's that about? How will I be able to go on? And AMERICAN IDOL is taking your place? I am officially TOO OLD to be the next American Idol, and that means it needs to be done. What have these Idol contestants even done lately? (Hey, Adam Lambert, sit down.) This is just plain mean, leading me on like this only to leave me in the cold. I do not appreciate it.

However, like a jilted lover, I will come back to you with full forgiveness. You know I could never leave you.

Also, stop making me cry. I don't know how you do it, but just quit.

Sincerely,
Jessica Sheehan

P.S. Seriously. Lea Michele and Amber Riley need to quit making me cry with their amazing powerhouse performances.

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

I got up and went to work?

I've talked about this before, but I love The Biggest Loser. Personally, I think it's a good mix of drama, competition, and inspiration. Every season, I tell myself I'm not going to get sucked in, and every season, I'm back on the couch on Tuesday night. Jack has just given up, and he hangs out with me while it's on (he CLAIMS he doesn't watch it, but I know he does!). We even have a LAST CHANCE WORKOUT game in which we... count how many times they say Last Chance Workout. This will probably become a drinking game next season...

To me, though, TBL has been a good motivator. Last season, I would purposefully plop in front of the TV to watch it while eating junk food. I would think about what junk I would eat while these people worked themselves to almost death. Chips, ice cream, snacky snacks, anything. It seemed kind of funny.

And somehow I'm surprised that I've gained some weight in the past year...

This time around, I find that their stories are inspiring me to get off my lazy patoot and do something. With the mentality I have, I could be on the path to something terrible. I don't want to reach the rock bottom of life before I make a change for the better.

The other thing is, my grandfather was one healthy dude (pretty much right until the very end). His doctors were always amazed at the way his body reacted to medicines, how someone at his age could beat a fairly aggressive cancer for so long. His main doctor would always push for him, telling specialists to treat him as though he were a much younger man, because that's how his body reacted. He was able to live as well and as long as he did because he took good care of himself. I want that kind of life- a happy, healthy life. The only person that can give me that is me. The only person I can blame is me. It's all up to me.

So, who's excited for Christmas? I'm looking forward to the next few weeks. This Saturday, I have the underground VHS Class of 1999 reunion. I'm hoping to tell someone that I invented post-its. Next weekend, it's the (fourth? fifth?) annual Girls Christmas in Richmond. It's a good time of drinks and food and cookies and presents and hysterical laughter. Then, it's Christmas week! THEN, for the week after, I'll be on a boat off the coast of Florida somewhere with the boat people that are my in-laws.

This is getting rambly.

Shout Out!

In my previous blog, I made one GIANT error. I did not credit someone who has been very important to my Buffy watching, and that is Elizabeth. Without her generous lending of Seasons 3 through 7, I would not have been able to finish the series last night (which I did! Sad!) because I would have had to wait on Netflix to send me the discs or wait until Christmas when I received them as presents.

So, here's to you, Elizabeth! You're my enabler! Or my dealer! Either way, thank you :)

Also, it's snowing in Charlottesville today. It's been coming down pretty fast, but like all Virginia snow, it's slushy and watery. This puts a damper on my plans for the day, which was Christmas shopping. I may get a second wind later and go out to face the day, but for now, I'm going to hit up the Instant Queue (though Jack doesn't want to watch "The Way We Were" for some reason...) and pretend like we're snowed in a la JMU days. Happy December 5th, everyone!

Who's the Big Bad?

If you're reading this blog, then you should already know that I'm definitely a TV addict. I don't like to use the "a" word like that, but it's the truth. I love it. I love watching it, analyzing it, talking about it, seeing the same silly plot tangles over and over, being (rarely) surprised by a bit of awesomely acted/shot/produced show, and I'm a sucker for a marathon. Because of this... addiction, there are certain shows that I have steered away from over the years. I know who I am, and I know what will happen if I watch something that the general population calls "addictive." Certain shows, well, I just couldn't stop myself (Lost comes to mind...). Usually, after a shows goes off the air, I don't bother. The advent of DVD has changed that for me.

Hence, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I didn't watch this when it first came on in 1997. I was probably watching something ridiculous like Dawson's Creek or the original 90210 or Daria (WHICH IS COMING OUT ON DVD IN 2010!!!) or I was like practicing the clarinet or some other nerd-bomber-y activity. However, I do remember hearing about it, and as a fan of the campy movie, I thought it sounded kind of stupid (yes, I'm aware of how stupid the movie is, so shut it). Thus, it went by completely off my radar.

Then, in 2008, I decided to rekindle a love affair with vampires that had remained dormant since my teen years and repeated viewings of "Interview with a Vampire." Me + Twilight series = BFF! Then True Blood! And the Sookie Stackhouse novels! It started to feel strange that people in my life WEREN'T vampires... After I had read the books (*COUGH*four times*COUGH*), and season 2 of True Blood ended, and New Moon the movie was far on the horizon, I suffered withdrawl of the vamp. What now? There's nothing new.

Also in 2008, I decided to develop a wee little crush on David Boreanaz, started by TNT airing reruns of Bones. (I friggin' love Bones.) I had never been one of those fan girls that found Angel attractive (or Spike either, for that matter), and I didn't understand it. Then, Special Agent Seeley Booth happened, and I said, "OH, I get it now!" Jack and I had been watching the entire series of Bones via Netflix, and that was quickly coming to an end. What now, indeed??

And so, I watched the entire first season of Buffy on Hulu in virtually one evening.

Now, I'm on season seven (the last season!!), and I definitely get what all the hubbub was about. It's really great television. Interesting story lines that actually take me by surprise, unexpected deaths, awesome Big Bad villains, cheesy effects, even cheesier demons, ridiculously brilliant dialogue, and generally all the things that I love about TV. Plus, musical episode? Hello? Love it. I'm hooked, for reals.

After this is over, though... what now?? It never ends...