Dave Barry Continues to be Funny

In his annual round-up of the year's events. A book-related excerpt:

In the arts, July is dominated by the release of the seventh and last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter Spends Half the Book Camping, which enthralls the nation as nothing has enthralled it since the release of the iPhone. The book is generally well-received, although some fans are troubled by the ending, which culminates in the death of Harry's longtime nemesis, Tony Soprano.

Thanks to Lela for the link, and apologies to Doyce for laughing out loud continually while reading it, and not reading the whole thing out loud. It's long!

How is this POSSIBLE?

Went to see "Sweeney Todd" last night with Doyce, and was very amused about ten minutes into the movie to see a couple sitting a few rows in front of us grab their stuff and walk out. How, in the world of the internet and television, is it possible to chose to see a movie at your local multiplex and NOT KNOW it's a musical? I mean, ok, sure, they might have walked out for a different reason, but I'm putting my money on the musical part. It was on about the third song, at which point one might safely assume that the singing heretofore is not just a little quirk of the film, but is to be throughout. I mean, I'm not expecting everyone to be fully aware of the history of the show, dating back to Sondheim's original 1979 production starring a fabulously evil Angela Landsbury as Mrs. Lovett, or the most recent, widely lauded Broadway production with Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris, where the action of the play was staged as if my inmates in an asylum, but to not know it's a musical? Crazy!!

Good movie, though. It is bloody, certainly, but it felt very much like fake blood to me, and I thought there were some really great parts. Mrs. Lovett's song about a holiday at the sea (I don't remember the exact name of the song) was laugh-out-loud funny. Even without knowing the musical, I groked onto the big surprise that is revealed in the final scene, and I had a true moment of fear for one of the characters.

Also, I enjoyed hearing the song "No One's Going to Harm You" in the movie, which I had heard before but out of context. What sounds like a beautiful little love song turns out to be something quite different. But that, I think, is one of the best parts about Sondheim. You can hear a song hundreds of times, but finally seeing it in the context of the show, it can be devastating. Years ago, I had a similar experience with "Into The Woods." I'd gotten a tape (that's how long ago -- not even a CD) of the Broadway soundtrack for Christmas, along with tickets to see the show. I listened to that tape practically every day until I got to see the performance, and I still bawled my eyes out during the show. I'd never picked up on what happened during a certain song, even though the line was quite clear, "It's because of you there's a giant in our midst and my wife is dead." Which I think means there's a special art to MAKING a soundtrack, as well: choosing which songs to include, and what dialogue.

Anyway, Sweeney Todd: good movie. Knowing that it's a musical: nice. Not knowing EXACTLY what's going to happen: even better.

Neil Gaiman Gets Taken to Task

My 12-year old daughter chose Stardust for a school book report. We purchased it in paperback at Barnes and Noble. From the packaging, it looked like an appropriate fantasy story for her age and her 6th grade teacher approved it. We were very offended to find that it had an explicit sex scene and the word "fuck" in it. The marketing of this book was misleading. Were you intending to mislead children into reading it? Why would you do this?

And responds quite appropriately. Read the whole thing, and pay special attention to this brilliant part:

While I'm sure there are many twelve year-olds who would qualify as Young Adults and who can happily read books intended for and marketed for teenagers, just as obviously many of them wouldn't and can't, and if you feel yours doesn't I'm sure you're right.

That right there is always the best response to the "how could you"s and any form of censorship. If you don't want your children to read a book, then that's a choice you make within your family and within your house. You don't go to the school and plot to ban the book, as others might have done.

Another great thing to do? Read your kids' books. Chances are, most of them that they've been recommended, like Stardust, are pretty damn awesome, but if you have an objection to a word they might otherwise not hear in your house, then make an informed decision to pick another book. There's lots of them out there. Loads!

With great power comes great responsibility

Doyce woke me this morning with a stern warning about using my powers for good, or, alternatively, using a little less of them. That White Christmas I was enjoying? Biggest Christmas snowfall on record in the Denver area. Two days later? Another seven or so inches expected.

The best part of all this? Silly Doyce only has one shovel, so I can't help shovel the driveway, even if I wanted to! Which I might -- after a couple of days in the house, I might want to get some fresh air. I'll let you know.

Today we Prime!

Tomorrow we paint! But the family room is looking nice and bright under a fresh coat of primer, although we had to open up some windows to the cold air to keep from sniffing too many fumes. We also had our new mattress delivered, and I bought a new mattress pad and some bathroom cabinet organizers at Bed Bath & Beyond. Yes, I'm rather domestic. Didn't you hear? I'm going to be a suburban stepmom! It's practically required!

Christmas Wrap-Up

With plans for a trip down to Colorado Springs to spend the day with lots of friends curtailed by a snowstorm that seemed directly centered on our route, we spent a lovely Christmas at home, the little munchkin gleefully enjoying all her Christmas presents, with one of Doyce's friends over to help us enjoy some leftovers, play a newly expanded version of Catan, and watch the snowfall outside.

It was my first Christmas -- not without my family, exactly, but with my NEW family -- and though I missed some of the tradition of the day, it was nice to have the frredom to make our own way. To pick those parts of the traditions I love and find a way to integrate them into our own celebration.

The world is white outside right now, aside from red and green and blue and white lights decorating the houses, and from the next room, I can hear Doyce reading Kaylee one of her favorite bedtime stories. I'm already in my flannel pajama pants, looking forward to snuggling together on the couch with my sweetie to watch a movie.

It was a good day.

Merry Christmas, all.

Holiday Cheer

You can try, but it is impossible to watch this and not be happy.

Merry Christmas!

Love to all my friends and family from snowy Denver!

Take it away, Bing!

Now THIS is funny

Often Gawker's too much about in jokes that even native New Yorkers don't get, or over the top snarkiness. But THIS article on "Six Ways to Avoid Holiday Sobriety" is funny. An excerpt:

Considerate Gifting Don't bring a bottle of wine or Scotch to a party unless you're asked to. It's their job to get you drunk. Grab a sixpack on the way up if you're worried they'll run out of the good stuff. Then hide it!

Things I want to do in the New Year

And links for useful stuff to remember.

• Join the Newcomers Club in my soon-to-be-new-neighborhood. My sister's met a ton of people in her local Newcomers Group, and highly recommends it for meeting people -- something I'm very much looking forward to doing. Also, they play Bunco!
• Take a class in Photoshop or something similar. I have Gimp on my computer at home now, but I haven't used it much at all. I want to really get in there and do some photo manipulating. I'm a little interested in learning how to do Flash animation as well.
  
• Sharpen my ice skates and go skating!
• Go swimming more often. Bike more. Run (at all). You know, train for a triathlon.
• Take dance classes with my bear.
• Remember all the crafty things I liked to do as a kid, and do them with Kaylee.
• Learn how to make short videos with my camera and laptop. Share them.
• Keep in touch with family and friends.
• Redecorate. Use hand tools. Make a desk. Paint (a lot).
  
• Read more.
  

There's probably more, but that's what I can think of right now. They're not exactly New Year's Resolutions, although I suppose you could call them that if you wanted to. What do you want to do in the next few months?

Insight into an agent's life

And work, from Poets & Writers Magazine. A fascinating look at decades past in publishing, some of the big names and personalities, and what it's like today.

Yet another movie I'm looking forward to seeing

Of course, for this one, I have to wait until summer. But it looks like it'll be worth the wait.

Present etiquette

Dear Internets -

An etiquette question. If I've received a present from my company for the holidays that will be difficult to transport on a cross-country move, but is also in a theme of gifts that I expect might be well represented in my upcoming wedding, is it appropriate to bring it back to the store and exchange it for something smaller and easier to transport? Say, for instance, this?

Thanks for your advice!

Cheers,
ktbuffy

So much excitement!

So close to being able to TELL people about it! The anticipation is killing me.

Decorations!

And I want to make these! Purty!

For the next round of revisions on HtDaS

I must remember this article on gaming with your SO. Also, I need to make Doyce decide which duo we're playing tonight in LOTRO -- our dwarf guardian/elf hunter, or human captain/human hunter. Both sets are around 24, trying to hit different quests -- because I get bored doing the same stuff over and over again.

Seriously, Victoria?

It's no secret, really, but Victoria's Secret has made a huge amount of money marketing the possibility to women that they, too, can have large, perky breasts. Hell, they invented the "Miracle Bra."

So why can't they manage to sell any bras or lingerie that actually fit women who DO have larger-sized breasts? Everything's about making small stuff look big, but if you're there already, too bad. Nothing for you.

Grrr.

Travel Tips

I know I'm not the only one who'll be traveling by plane this Christmas. Via Budget Travel, here's a list of 14 helpful hints to make airline travel easier and less stressful. Most of 'em can also be applied the rest of the year as well. Good luck!

Woot!

Well, I knew it was a good word. But word of the year? Ah, "woot!", I'm just too proud.

Via Boing Boing, via BD.

Darkness on the Edge of Town

There are six fluorescent lightbulbs in the ceiling lights at my office right now, and I have slowly enjoyed the dimmer and dimmer overhead light as the bulbs went out one by one. Three lightbulbs was perfect light, especially to stare at a computer all day. Two was a little dim, but bearable. But this afternoon, one of those two bulbs started flickering, and with a final gasp and a sputter, just went out.

And then there was one.

And yes, it is a little too dark for me. My coworker has threatened to start calling me a mole rat. So I'll let them replace them -- except, I'm already dreading trying to explain to the office manage and maintenance people that I don't actually WANT them to replace all the bulbs. They can replace two of the five dark ones. But that's it!

I can't work if it's too bright.

Deserved Decadence

You know how sometimes, when you hate doing something, you put it off and put it off, and suddenly it's like a monstrous thing that you must do RIGHT NOW or else? I found a way out of it!!

A cleaning woman.

Yep. The roomie and I are prepping for a Rock Band party tonight, and the apartment was in a state. Sure, we could have spent an hour every weekend cleaning things up, wiping down the stove, or dusting the corners of the bathroom, but, well... there's too many games to play. Too much of everything else to do, actually.

So, we wait until it's a necessity, and then we hire a cleaning service. And wow -- the sheer joy of someone else doing all the (literally) dirty work, while I sit here typing. And shortly, reading, since I have a pile of manuscripts to look through for work.

I tell you, it's worth every penny.

What's Your Song?

Got a fun-filled weekend queued up, starting with our office holiday party. Organized by some of the younger staff, we're all going to a karaoke bar. Combine that with plans for Saturday's Rock Band-a-palooza, and you might just get a sense of my excitement!

So! Karaoke! What's your song, your tried and true?

Me, I love "Closer to Fine" by The Indigo Girls, Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man," or Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero."

Golden Encompassing

So The Golden Compass opens today, and I'm looking forward to seeing it. What's been a bit maddening is the ridiculous furor over the "anti-Christian" content in the books, and thus, in the movie. Never mind that other critics are enraged because the filmmakers took out most of the anti-Church stuff. They're up in arms that author Phillip Pullman is promoting his atheist agenda to moviegoers, and at the holidays too! The nerve!

I liked this bit from Brandon Sanderson, a fantasy writer and Mormon, about an email he received urging people not to see the movie:

It didn't seem informative–but COUNTER-informative. It didn't try to explain ideas, but instead tried to get people to avoid listening to those ideas. In short, it didn't seek to promote understanding or learning, but instead promoted exclusivist and censorship. There is a difference between 1) acknowledging and arguing against content you might disagree with and 2) attempting to suppress that content.

Read the whole thing, and make up your own mind.

As for me, of course I'm going to go. It has ARMORED BEARS!!

1408

Is a spoooooky movie.

Have I mentioned I don't like scary movies? I don't.

If I have nightmares tonight, I'm blaming Stephen King.

He probably gets that a lot.

Back to work

Or, How I Finally Managed To Leave The Apartment.

Had a fantastic, homey weekend involving lots of delicious lazing about and socializing -- but the best kind of socializing, where you don't even have to leave your own home! Also, the roomie got a brand spanking new shiny TV, about twice the size of our old one, so we used that A LOT. We watched "Wrong Turn 2", "Battlestar Galactica: Razor," "Torchwood", "30 Rock," "12 Monkeys," played a BUNCH of "Roch Band" and "Portal," and I even managed to bake a cake!

Plus, Doyce put up plastic sheeting over our air conditioners, so now there's not a cold breeze coming into the apartment all winter. And I hung curtains in my room (yes, I know, nice timing) which make the room nice and cozy. And dark. Someone has enlightened me (pun intended) to the joys of sleeping in a dark room, so that's nice.