What the Shizzle?

Boy are these getting few and far between! What's up with me? I'm still here...if anyone cares. School has been running be RAGGED! What is all this work about being a teacher anyway? It's been insane, I'm losing my cool, and I almost yelled today. Bad teacher! I hope my kiddies can be better for me tomorrow. (Actually, it was only one bad class, but boy were they nasty!)

Happy belated Turkey Day. I did fall into a Carb Coma. It was delectable. I made Ina's gruyere/white cheddar mac and cheese, Paula's extra chewy, fudgy brownies, and Mimi's spaghetti salad. I had tons of fun eating. :) I started buying a few holiday gifts on the online. And, I made it one more year without setting foot into a single mega-store on Black Friday. (I did go to C-U's downtown scene to a couple of shops, but I don't count that.)

I'll try to be more faithful to my faithfuls (readers, that is). A few things to consider before I go:

1. For Your Consideration was meh (as my brother would say)
2. Daniel Craig is a great Bond, but the story line of Casino Royale can be seen everyday on ESPN or ESPN2, thanks to the World Championship of Poker.
3. Bill Henrickson (right) of Henrickson's Home Plus is my newest Homie. Who ever said all polygamists are bad??? (More on him later. I know you can't wait!)
4. Superman Returns comes out tomorrow. Big :).

Happy Birthday...

...to me!

I've had a great #27. I did no grading all weekend, opened lots of presents, eaten loads of cake and good food, and had wonderful, thoughtful calls and visits from family and friends. Thanks to everyone for making it a wonderful weekend!

I had to include She-Ra in this post, because my parents got me this for my birfday. (I spent today watching the first three episodes, which were edited together for the He-Man/She-Ra movie in which she was introduced.) They also supplied me with a digital camera, so I can finally join my friends in viewing my pictures before purchasing them. Finally, Martin got me a really special gift: a replica first edition of Papa Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Since we met in a Hemingway class, he thought this a perfect gift for me. I love it!

P.S. All the gifts I received were AWESOME, but if I went into detail, or simply listed them, this would be too long and boring. I will make a note, however, to point out the limited edition Pearl Jam photograph book purchased for me by my special cuz, Kendra. It's worth every cent.

Thanks, Brother

Affreck...
Bateman...
Ray Liotter...
Double Fly Ry (Reynolds, that is)...
Pivuhhhhhhhhhhhhhn...&
ALICIA KEYS???

As he said, my brother does the leg work, and I get to sit back and watch.

Smokin' Aces

Oooooohhh, Billy

Today I heard that Scorpions have great memories and can handily hold grudges for years. Well, I don't believe in astromologogy, but this is the truth for my inability to get over Bill Self's selfish abandonment of the University of Illinois' Men's Basketball Team.

This former Illini coach, who stabbed us in the backs and went to Kansas (now ranked #3 in the country), lost last night to ORAL ROBERTS. Oh, so sad. Will the Illini have a great season this year? Probably not. That's okay, though, because Billy's boys lost to ORAL ROBERTS 78-71. Check out the nitty gritty here. (Oh, by the by, ORAL ROBERTS, led the whole time.)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!

What will I do until February 7, 2007, on Wednesday nights???

An Ugly Way to Start the Day

I heard Ugly Kid Joe's "Everything About You" this morning while I was getting ready. AWESOME. I was stoked and had a great day at school. Seriously. I felt like I was in 7th grade again. I think I'll go get it off of iTunes now.

Um...that's all. I'll say it again: AWESOME way to start the day!

Two Mush Funn!

Take two parts Charlie Brown + three parts Spellbound and you've got the "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." Oh, please go see this if you're in Chicago (or Boston or NYC)! Martin got me tickets for my birthday, and they just happened to be in the front row! It was the first time I've seen a show in the front row, and it was visually stimulating to see the actors' spit fly across the stage as they put their whole bodies into the pronunciation of every syllable of each word. (Actually, substitute gross for visually stimulating.)

This is the most joyful musical since "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown." I love it when adults pretend to be kids; there's something so pure and happy about their performances. It was so much fun to see these big kids run around the stage dancing, singing, and spelling their hearts out. Listening to the CD is okay, but this is one of those musicals you really need to see to get. I laughed so hard!!! (Almost as hard as when we saw "Spamalot.") Like "Spamalot," I left the theatre with a huge grin plastered to my face. :)

Anyhoo...go see it if you can and prepare yourself for a lighthearted night of fantastic, kiddiful fun!
SHOW
CHICAGO TICKETS
CD

Are You Kiddin' Me?!?

Well, it's happened again: screwed over by the powers that be of the DVD world. After Christopher Reeve passed, I of course ran out and bought the Superman Collection. I had had my eye on it for quite sometime, but unfortunately, his passing pushed me over the edge to purchase it.

Then along came Routh (actually, along came Bryan Singer)...

9 days after my birthday, November 28, the Ultimate Super Dooper Superman Collection will be released. It includes 14 discs: Christopher Reeve's films (yes, even Quest for Peace), Richard Donner's cut of Superman II, and the new double disc edition of Superman Returns. HOW CAN I PASS THIS UP??? How can I not succumb to the beauty of this collection? Anyone who knows me knows I love the Superman. Was this made especially to milk more money outta me? Cause if so, it's frickin' workin'! UGH! I hate being putty in the hands of already too rich heads of production companies.

Whatever. It'll be $69.99 on Amazon. I guess I know what my birthday money will go to.

So Many Favorites...

...so little time. Who will win out? Who will YOU see this weekend?

How about The Return? Sarah Michelle Gellar, your favorite vampire slayer and mine, is back in a horror flick. This is her fifth one, and I think she's vying for the Jamie Lee Curtis of our generation award. She's so cute, but lets move on to something new. She was so pleasant and charming in Simply Irresistable! (Shut up! It was a cute flick!)

What about Stranger Than Fiction? God of my country, Will Ferrell, stars in this quirky, "gimicky" (according to my brother) flick. C'mon, he's playing Normal Joe IRS Guy! I'm excited (except for the Queen Latifah; she needs a break...for real).

Then there's Harsh Times, with one of my ultimate faves, Christian Bale. He's an LA gangsta wannabe, in this film from the writer/director of Training Day. It also has Freddy Rodriguez, who really enjoys mirrors on ceilings (two points if you get that reference). I'm just stoked to see the Bale act like Patrick Bateman with a jagged gangsta edge. Sweet.

Finally, the art pick of the week, Babel. I wanted to ignore it, but it just looks too good. It's international all-star cast looks pretty solid (Pitt and Gael Garcia Bernal), and it's just too appropriate for our times to pass up. (If you're in the C-U area, go see it at the Art instead of Savoy/Carmike, PLEASE!)

Well, the choice is too hard for me. SMG vs. Ferrell vs. the Bale vs. Bernal??? Are you kiddin' me? I'll just go to Chicago and see a show with my wonderful husband instead.

ARE YOU READY!?!

In this corner, Italy's favorite daughter, Giada de Laurentiis. The stylish Italian goddess is ready to conquer Kitchen Stadium. BUT, she'll need more than her daddy's Hollywood name to get her out of this battle on top.



Aaaaaaand, in this corner, America's favorite new sweetheart, Rachael Ray. She'll be drowning her dishes in garlic, onions, and EVOO. Oprah's not here to help out, so she better chop and drop as fast as she can!








Whose cuisine will reign supreme!?! Tune in this Sunday, or any other day in November and December, to find out!!!

AIR TIMES: November 12, 2006 9:00 PM ET/PT November 13, 2006 12:00 AM ET/PT November 18, 2006 9:00 PM ET/PT November 19, 2006 12:00 AM ET/PT November 19, 2006 4:00 PM ET/PT November 22, 2006 10:30 PM ET/PT November 23, 2006 1:30 AM ET/PT December 17, 2006 9:00 PM ET/PT December 18, 2006 12:00 AM ET/PT December 21, 2006 9:00 PM ET/PT December 22, 2006 12:00 AM ET/PT December 23, 2006 10:30 PM ET/PT December 24, 2006 1:30 AM ET/PT (Do you think they went overboard with the showtimes? Nah, not with these dueling FN staples!)

TheTrailer's Finally Here

It doesn't look completely stellar, but I'm still stoked. I WILL pay the price of admission for Guest's wig alone. I'm glad Ricky Gervais made the poster.

See it at apple.com.

Gosh, I Love Him...

...but are you telling me you didn't know?

Click here.

(The Doogmeister's the BEST!)

This Will Drive You Crazy

Have fun, my LOST comrades!

Today...

Go see

BORAT:

Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

It even came to the heartland! Savoy 16 is showing it every hour on the hour. Prepare to be dazzled with the new levels of insult Borat will take you to. He'll make slurs to anyone (he's an equal opportunity slurist). Enjoy, and try not to cringe too much.

What Would We Do Baby...?

Well, Mr. Eko was bad news. Now it's time for GOOD NEWS!!! Scratch good; make it FABULOUS!!!

It's about time, and I'm pleased, excited, thrilled to tell you that "Family Ties" is FINALLY coming to DVD! This welcome news comes from my wonderful husband, who has lots of time during his 60 minute lunch to surf the Internets. ;)

This 80's family classic will be hitting your Best Buy shelves on February 20, 2007. This would be the perfect late Valentine gift for all your loved ones, so make sure to pick up a copy. The first season includes the classic Tom Hanks episodes (he played Elyse's brother). This season also includes a mustasche-less Michael Gross (creepy for some reason is all I can say).

Info, if you need it, can be found at these links:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6559
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6567

Well S*@%

We should have known. (Actually, I think I did but just wouldn't let myself believe it.) His fellow rear plane buddies, Ana Lucia and Libby, also bought it after drunk driving in Hawaii. He was my second favorite (behind Locke and my homeboy, Hurley). His religious struggles made for some great episodes and even better dialogue. The relationship between Locke and him was intriguing. Their scenes together were always my favorite. He better come back Boone-style in someone's dream/sweat lodge vision.

I actually had a thought this morning that we will never see Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in another show/movie ever. He'll always just be Mr. Eko. Now, I'm depressed.