tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79715432024-03-14T05:25:34.568+00:00Alice's Grown Up BlogAlicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-75315947503658585162011-08-03T11:41:00.000+01:002011-08-03T11:41:38.027+01:00Winky Face!I'm just going to come right out and say it. I am not a huge fan of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoticon">emoticons</a>. I do not use a happy face to indicate happiness, or a sad face to indicate sadness. I don't even use LOL when texting or IMing, as I prefer a simple "ha!" to get the idea of laughter accross.<br />
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However, I will acknowledge that I am in the minority. If there was a battle, I lost. Emoticons have won, and I accept their place in the world. I will even admit that they can make the tone of an email or text or whatever clear if the words themselves don't convey the proper meaning. I don't use them myself, but if someone sends me a frowny face or a confused face, I understand their meaning and move on with my life.<br />
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Except!<br />
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The winky face. If there is one emoticon I cannot stand, it is the winky face. You know the one I mean:<br />
<br />
;)<br />
<br />
The intended meaning, as far as I'm aware, is to convey cheekiness or sassiness. And it drives me up the freaking wall. Because here is the thing. In real life, people smile at each other, or frown, or have big smiles, or stick out their tongues (which, ugh), or look surprised. All of which have a corresponding emoticon to convey these expressions.<br />
<br />
Do you know what people don't do? Wink at each other. Constantly wink at each other. And if they do, they should stop, because I'm sure they'll just develop a twitch of some kind.<br />
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There only two contexts I can think of where winking is appropriate in real life. <br />
<br />
One: If you are playing a joke on someone and want to let someone they are with in on the joke subtly. A wink at that person while continuing the joking will get that message across, and then hopefully they'll get in on the joke and you'll all have some fun times.<br />
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Two: A pickup wink, done in jest. Possibly accompanied by finger guns. This works in almost any circumstance in life, and is generally delightful.<br />
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That's it! Those are the only two situations in which you should be winking! Or maybe if you're trying to get a contact back in place. But blinking would also accomplish this, so let's forget that one.<br />
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Two!<br />
<br />
So, when I see people (and god help me, so many people do this) use the winky face after a comment they mean to be funny, all I can think is STOP STOP STOP! If you need to use an emoticon (and I really must stress that no one <i>needs </i>to use an emoticon) in that case, will the smiley face not do? What is wrong with the good old smiley face? Are you too good for the smiley face??<br />
<br />
Your cheekiness comes across as far less cheeky if you have to tell me you're being cheeky! (Also, the work cheeky looks funny when you write it too many times. Cheeky.) Would you really wink in real life after you said whatever you just said? I thought not. It's just dumb. Stop it. <br />
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However, if someone develops an emoticon for the double finger guns, I will have to bow to their genius and gladly allow all winky face/double finger gun emoticon combos, as they will be hilarious.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-5541611287794655322011-08-03T11:17:00.000+01:002011-08-03T11:17:10.742+01:00Mug of the Day - 3 August<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WXwJDazN1WvcGp50TJN_mQneNAOdjNEsc1URjX8JffoPqIynUfCNQ0OFdttZSfcGXH1sEgzHo2q7JCWW-bvh8AlXQh-MTCNsLgfw6ZWoU9otYRogjM8eIbcF4JUElJcFIdyzDw/s1600/P1020138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WXwJDazN1WvcGp50TJN_mQneNAOdjNEsc1URjX8JffoPqIynUfCNQ0OFdttZSfcGXH1sEgzHo2q7JCWW-bvh8AlXQh-MTCNsLgfw6ZWoU9otYRogjM8eIbcF4JUElJcFIdyzDw/s320/P1020138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Cuba!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-72160841188694599742011-08-02T11:10:00.000+01:002011-08-03T11:15:23.739+01:00Mug of the Day - 2 August<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMC8zKdVQTVdlWRtnIx2_Nkk5flaahwiPHC-T9hlNQVf4huye26PIm1B66B-ZhuDTYImcwBXL-Pw3cedMH_SMpO5qmFV2DVOwE1RoplQA50ec-psBYVBAdlSmhFeGi3cWS1fACg/s1600/P1020137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMC8zKdVQTVdlWRtnIx2_Nkk5flaahwiPHC-T9hlNQVf4huye26PIm1B66B-ZhuDTYImcwBXL-Pw3cedMH_SMpO5qmFV2DVOwE1RoplQA50ec-psBYVBAdlSmhFeGi3cWS1fACg/s320/P1020137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Bruges! It's my most multi-lingual mug, as it also says "Bruges" and "Brujas".Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-13877055411572078422011-07-29T10:59:00.000+01:002011-07-29T10:59:05.965+01:00Mug of the Day - 29 July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5v2T00IvfjdoPxmW4X3NRJIhAJRx-2efD-KnSxOux2RVELUkNeBGn62x0j_tdKeZrxlRom0sAs93WxX0LbtFKxdyPIWqpqtNj5zw6zc7Ez0m9-zhFJ5DO90RIPrHSA6VTU6-W6Q/s1600/P1020131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5v2T00IvfjdoPxmW4X3NRJIhAJRx-2efD-KnSxOux2RVELUkNeBGn62x0j_tdKeZrxlRom0sAs93WxX0LbtFKxdyPIWqpqtNj5zw6zc7Ez0m9-zhFJ5DO90RIPrHSA6VTU6-W6Q/s320/P1020131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The kings and queens of Scotland. Educational!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-62700898957864123672011-07-28T09:43:00.000+01:002011-07-28T09:43:39.189+01:00Mug of the Day - 28 July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZRLs3izYsPze9r334BS6viiHjzDGxWJUT8tXPnWm3DNXePEBuRoJPhlydCj24VvdgDAQDhUXogVtUcT1E_a2WjnD7auQ95PN7oQbOct8fDbskhQq9cw_8gtbnVSBUHwB5UmXxg/s1600/P1020126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZRLs3izYsPze9r334BS6viiHjzDGxWJUT8tXPnWm3DNXePEBuRoJPhlydCj24VvdgDAQDhUXogVtUcT1E_a2WjnD7auQ95PN7oQbOct8fDbskhQq9cw_8gtbnVSBUHwB5UmXxg/s320/P1020126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Barcelona is one of my favourite mugs. I think it's so pretty.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-52942118904718787332011-07-26T15:16:00.000+01:002011-07-26T15:16:44.770+01:00Pop Music WarsI'm a fan of <a href="http://www.thecriticalcondition.com/">The Critical Condition</a>, which has insightful and often very funny pop culture commentary. And I'm a fan of pop music. So, imagine my delight when those two things merged together in what I say, without hesitation, is <a href="http://www.thecriticalcondition.com/2011/07/21/tournament-2/">THE GREATEST MUSICAL CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME</a>!<br />
<br />
I mean, really. How can you not love this:<br />
<blockquote><b>You will decide the winner</b> in an epic match-up among the 64 best pop songs released since 1981.</blockquote>I've very much enjoyed the first round of voting, although some of the choices have been tougher than I anticipated. So, go and <a href="http://www.thecriticalcondition.com/category/music/open-games/">vote</a>, and then come back and I'll tell you who I voted for and why.<br />
<br />
Seriously, go and vote.<br />
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Right. So, the first votes have been in the<i> Joy Bomb</i> category. And the choices have been excellent. Almost every song has made me want to get up and dance.<br />
<br />
<b>Game 1:</b> Madonna's <i>Like A Prayer </i>vs Steve Winwood's <i>Higher Love</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Now, I won't lie to you. <i>Higher Love</i> is a very good song. It's happy. It's very very catchy. But, come on. <i>Like A Prayer</i> is one of my all time favourite songs, ever. And, I would say, one of the best pop songs ever. It's also a great karaoke song. This one was a total no brainer. <i>Like A Prayer</i> all the way.<br />
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<b>Game 2: </b>Chumbawumba's <i>Tubthumping</i> vs Human League's <i>Don't You Want Me</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
This is the first round in which a pattern started to emerge with my voting. (I'll let you see if you can figure it out.) I like <i>Don't You Want Me</i> a lot. I love story songs, especially duets. I love 80s music, especially at its most synthesiser-tastic. But there's just something about <i>Tubthumping</i> that makes me want to jump up out of my chair, start dancing and shouting along with the chorus. I have such specific memories attached to this song, and it makes me smile every time I hear it. Plus, both the band and the song are silly words, which is always pleasing. <i>Tubthumping </i>for the win.<br />
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<b>Game 3: </b>Eurythmics' <i>Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) </i>vs George Michael's <i>Freedom 90</i><br />
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This one actually surprised me. I'd have thought for sure it would be the Eurythmics all the way. That song is a classic! But then I listened to them both, and remembered just how much I like <i>Freedom 90</i>. It's so catchy! And that <i>video</i>! (Which, I am aware, shouldn't factor into the decision, but it's iconic!) And, comparing them back to back, I realised that, of the two songs, I think I prefer <i>Freedom</i>. And so it won. (And so the pattern continues.)<br />
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<b>Game 4: </b> The Backstreet Boys' <i>I Want It That Way</i> vs Belinda Carlisle's <i>Heaven Is A Place On Earth</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Okay, this is where it gets a bit embarrassing. I may as well just come right out and admit it. I love boy bands. I do, I can't help it. The harmonies, the ballads, the dramatic key changes. It all just hits me right in the cheesy music enjoyment target zone. And <i>I Want It That Way</i> does all of those things so well! It's like they took a "perfect boy band ballad" template and crafted this song. And so, while I do like Belinda C, there was just no way that I could let her win. Sorry Belinda. Backstreet Boys it is. (And, again with the pattern.)<br />
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<b>Game 5: </b> Lady Gaga's <i>Bad Romance</i> vs Dolly Parton's <i>9 to 5</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Well, this one wasn't even a contest. I have no real strong feelings one way or the other for Lady Gaga, but I fucking love Dolly Parton. Love. Her. To. Bits. Even though she would probably be mad at me right now for cursing. Remember how I said I love story songs? <i>9 to 5</i> is the story song of every single person in the world who has ever had a job. The lyrics are amazing, the music is amazing, it all just works. I love love love it. Not even a question. Dolly all the way. (This one is pattern free, for the record.)<br />
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<b>Game 6:</b> Irene Cara's <i>Flashdance (What A Feeling) </i>vs Deee-Lite's <i>Groove Is In The Heart</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
I think this was my toughest call. I instinctively was thinking <i>Flashdance</i>. I love that song. It's on my iPod, and I smile every time it comes on. But then I listened to <i>Groove Is In The Heart</i> again. And, as a pop song? It's amazing. And ridiculous! Which makes it even more amazing, because it <i>shouldn't work</i>. It uses a slide whistle! That is not an instrument that you generally find in your average pop song. Yes, <i>Flashdance </i>is ridiculous in its own way, what with it's silly, silly lyrics. But <i>Groove Is In The Heart </i>is just so fucking catchy. Playing them back to back, I still had Deee-Lite in my head hours later. And if that's not the sign of a great pop song, I don't know what is. Deee-Lite it is. (And there's that pattern again!)<br />
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<b>Game 7: </b>Culture Club's <i>Karma Chameleon</i> vs Paula Abdul's <i>Straight Up</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Okay, I lied. <i> This</i> was my toughest call. Because I love both these songs. <i> Karma Chameleon</i> is such a perfect encapsulation of its time and place. It's just a wonderful song. So catchy, and memorable. But <i>Straight Up</i>? Holy crap, 12 year old me loved that song so much that even considering voting against it is like a slap in the face to my early teen years. I actually thought this song came out later than it did (1988, in case you were wondering, although it was on the Billboard charts in early 1989). I associate it much more with the 90s than the 80s, for some reason. Maybe because it feels more like the cheesy pop I was listening to in the early 90s? I'm not sure. But anyway, I love it, so it had to be Paula. <br />
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(Bonus Abdul fun: listen to <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xweiQukBM_k">Opposites Attract</a> </i>again sometime. The lyrics are so delightfully dated! Plus: animated cat duet!)<br />
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<b>Game 8: </b>Kelly Clarkson's <i>Since U Been Gone </i>vs Tina Turner's <i>What's Love Got To Do With It</i><br />
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This was was the only match-up where I liked, but did not love, both of the songs. I went with Tina Turner, because you know, she's <i>Tina Turner</i>. She's a classic. But I like these songs pretty equally, so it was a bit of a coin toss.<br />
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What I realised in my voting is that, although I love 80s music, it's not the music I listened to when I started listening to music. It's the music I listened to ironically (but really did love) in the late 90s when I was at university. But the music that I first listened to? I'm the oldest in my family, so I didn't grow up with an older sibling's music in the background. The music I first listened to on my own was the music of the early 90s. And a pattern definitely started to emerge as I pretty much picked 90s songs over 80s songs every time. <br />
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And, I have to say, that surprised me a little. <br />
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Next: the Deep Feelings division. I can't talk about that just yet. <i>Time After Time</i> against <i>Total Eclipse of the Heart</i>? I think that <i>Sophie's Choice</i> was actually about this decision. So difficult!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-40966310940467674232011-07-26T08:39:00.000+01:002011-07-26T08:39:28.302+01:00Mug of the Day - 26 July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwckclq5YUF6hJbCLEvj5JjPWbcmskdoAVFLtzSssBttxcDp_SlC3nlEKcMk8JTGtjZgcuCmlou8BqBzoC7NITaWwk4D17jzbvVDtGoq_Zfh94uYGqFqEEgGByZ66z6pCGQXipA/s1600/P1020117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwckclq5YUF6hJbCLEvj5JjPWbcmskdoAVFLtzSssBttxcDp_SlC3nlEKcMk8JTGtjZgcuCmlou8BqBzoC7NITaWwk4D17jzbvVDtGoq_Zfh94uYGqFqEEgGByZ66z6pCGQXipA/s320/P1020117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In honour of my upcoming Skype chat this evening with my California based friend, I give you San Francisco.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-66318540209994223542011-07-25T09:28:00.000+01:002011-07-25T09:28:04.958+01:00Mug of the Day - 25 July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf5ZN14MdIvem6TAjRqq4ADQCytbzfv7vlHWxwTsnwxTsyR8JNiRKhF9SWWoQHMKAdq6y27BScxXyKPYV-CzCmwo9_YC3SFcDnPa67bUvPOdAe9TTsDOAfN6OFGopbzq514slMw/s1600/P1020116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf5ZN14MdIvem6TAjRqq4ADQCytbzfv7vlHWxwTsnwxTsyR8JNiRKhF9SWWoQHMKAdq6y27BScxXyKPYV-CzCmwo9_YC3SFcDnPa67bUvPOdAe9TTsDOAfN6OFGopbzq514slMw/s320/P1020116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It was surprisingly hard to find an attractive mug in Istanbul.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-36723468700932774482011-07-24T10:07:00.000+01:002011-07-24T10:07:06.967+01:00Okay, Not Such A Great StartWell, that didn't go so well, did it?<br />
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Only one day in to my big plan, and I forgot to post anything yesterday. Well, that's not entirely true. I remembered, but at such a time that I couldn't really do anything about it. And then when I got home from my friend's leaving do, I was a bit drunk and tired, and completely forgot.<br />
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So, take two!<br />
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I'm currently debating whether or not to be productive today. There are lots of things I could be doing. Or, I could finish re-reading the fifth Harry Potter book. I'm re-reading them all after seeing the final movie, to remind myself how much better the books are compared to the movies. But that's always the case, isn't it? I can't think of any film version I've seen that's actually been <i>better </i>than the movie version.<br />
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I actually try to avoid seeing films if I've read the book. I saw that Will Smith movie, <i>I Am Legend</i>, and I spent the entire last third on pins and needles wondering when the big reveal was going to come that the woman and kid staying with him were actually zombies, in disguise and infiltrating his home to lure him out to be captured. Because that's what happens in the book! (Oh, sorry. Spoiler alert for a 57 year old book!)<br />
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Only it never happened. And the movie has a happy(ish) ending! The book ending is way better. Much, much, much darker. Probably too dark for audiences of a Will Smith movie. But way better. <br />
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I probably won't be productive today. I have the whole week for that kind of nonsense. And it's sunny. So, today's version of productiveness will be to lie out in my sunny garden, and read the most whiny and annoying of all the Harry Potter books. <br />
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Seriously, could he be more of a whiny baby? Or a more accurate representation of a fifteen year old? Or could practically any given teenager be more of a whiny baby?<br />
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Man, I do not miss being fifteen.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-2549252688566369022011-07-22T10:52:00.000+01:002011-07-22T10:52:49.731+01:00Mid-Year ResolutionI've set myself a mid-year resolution. <br />
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I know a lot of people go in for those new-fangled "New Years Resolutions", but I say those are for suckers. It's right after Christmas, you're all exhausted from spending time with your family, fat from eating chocoalate for weeks on end, and hungover from weeks of binge holiday drinking. Are you really in the right frame of mind to make any decisions about your life? I think not.<br />
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But mid-July! Now, that's a different story. It's sunny (theoretically), it's warm (theoretically), you're full of the joys of summertime (theoretically). Never mind that it's been raining for the last six weeks basically non-stop, and you're thinking about building an ark in your garden. It's summer! And <i>that </i>is the time when you should be making resolutions.<br />
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So, my resolution is this: I am going to remember that I have a blog, and that I like writing on it. And, every day for the next 30 days, I am going to write something and post it. <br />
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That's it. Nothing fancy or earth shattering. But I think it will be really good for me. And good for you! Because you'll get to read it! Don't you feel lucky??<br />
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So, feel free to check back in. I plan to be here.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-77192838358005854312011-07-22T10:41:00.000+01:002011-07-22T10:41:18.734+01:00Mug of the Day - 22 July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhlbVKEYdSagwf9aHexdlyp9eDEWSFksU9r-K5qoJfNoVkl87-p4BrubNaVNSc2RTSUyLCHjTlRlntcKdStZPr_xmKA8qjselsIzOpwCgND_BeLz3sHxgpDhkT3znV_G-y8x3Xw/s1600/P1020115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhlbVKEYdSagwf9aHexdlyp9eDEWSFksU9r-K5qoJfNoVkl87-p4BrubNaVNSc2RTSUyLCHjTlRlntcKdStZPr_xmKA8qjselsIzOpwCgND_BeLz3sHxgpDhkT3znV_G-y8x3Xw/s320/P1020115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I heart New York.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-73143694184794666162011-05-15T17:09:00.001+01:002011-05-15T17:13:39.777+01:00Thor, and Where Ebert Went Wrong: A Response to Roger Ebert<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Roger Ebert just wrote two <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/05/_i_didnt_attend_the.html">blog</a> <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/05/my_mighty_hammering_over_thor.html">posts</a> on his site (not official reviews, although I don't know if that makes any kind of difference), thoroughly trashing <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800369/"><i>Thor</i></a>, which was released in the States last week. He really, really hated this film:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The story might perhaps be adequate for an animated film for children, with Thor, Odin and the others played by piglets. In the arena of movies about comic book superheroes, it is a desolate vastation. Nothing exciting happens, little of interest is said, and the special effects evoke not a place or a time but simply...special effects.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For some odd reason, Thor was released in the UK earlier than it was in the US, and I saw it a few weeks ago. I wasn't particularly looking forward to seeing it. I'd wanted to see <i>Source Code,</i> which wasn't playing. It was a choice between <i>Thor </i>and <i>Arthur</i>, and my friend and I essentially flipped a coin and picked <i>Thor</i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now, I have to confess that I do have a (not-so) secret soft spot for huge blockbuster films. But I'm not a comic film fan-girl, and I don't automatically drool over every Marvel movie. In fact, I slept through the middle bits of both <i>Iron Man</i> films (saw them on planes), despite wanting to like them. That being said, I really enjoyed <i>Thor</i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's a big, fun, ridiculous film. It walks the line very well between being cheesy and taking itself seriously. And why can't a film be both of those things? Now, Ebert had some very spefic complaints, most of which seem to be based on the fact that he wasn't giving the film his full attention. That's a pretty damning comment about a film critic - surely critics should give every film they review their full and utmost attention? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I'm not sure if Ebert saw this film intending to review it - that's not clear in his posts. And, more relevantly, he's human. He has genres of films he loves and respects, and those he does not. I suspect that the category of "comic book films" falls somewhere close to "films based on video games" in his </span>film<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> preferences list. He doesn't like this type of movie, and when he does (<i><a href="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/reviews/55996637">The Dark Knight</a> </i>or <i><a href="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040629/REVIEWS/406300301">Spiderman</a></i>), he seems to like these films <i>despite </i>the fact they're based on comic books. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
In fact, from his review of The Da<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">rk Knight, he says this:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">“Batman” isn’t a comic book anymore. Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” is a haunted film that leaps beyond its origins and becomes an engrossing tragedy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> </span></span></blockquote>That may be true. But it implies that being a comic book is a BAD thing. And I'd argue that it isn't. There is a place for serious, dark, tragic films based on comics. And there is a place for bright, shiny, fun, camp films based on comics. Why does one have to negate the other?<br />
<br />
The biggest problems that Ebert seemed to have with Thor seemed to stem from a lack of comprehension of the film. I'd argue that the reason he did not<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> pick up on these details is because he had already dismissed the film as not worth his time. In his defence of his initial post, he says this:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It is impossible for most critics to be familiar with the source material of most movies, and that doesn't bother me. A movie must contain whatever the audience requires in order to enjoy it. It's not required to be "faithful" to its source, as if adaptation were adultery.</span></span></blockquote>I agree with this. A film should stand on its own. A viewer should not have to do research on Wikipedia (as one commenter suggests) to understand the plot points of a film.<br />
<br />
However.<br />
<br />
The plot points that Ebert claims not to have understood? They're in the film. They don't require knowledge of the comics. I can guarantee this, because I understood them, and I have never read the comics. Very briefly, and in no particular order, here are some of the problems he had with the film:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><b><i>It was unclear if Asgard was another planet or where it was.</i> </b> Almost the first lines of the film describe how the Norse people saw the alien visitors from Asgard, thought they were gods and worshipped them. Thor and his buddies fly through space to get to earth. Thor points out where his planet is to Jane. It is mentioned many, many times that there are portals to other worlds, including Earth. I really belie<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ve that to not have grasped this point means that you just weren't paying attention.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>"</i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><b>I wondered, for example, why a giant metal robot chose to attack a small New Mexico town when it could have been attacking the Golden Gate Bridge."</b> </i> Because he was sent to kill Thor. He went to where Thor was. There's perhaps an argument for wondering why the portal leads to New Mexico at all, but that's beside the point.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><i>Not knowing if Darcy was a scientist. </i></b>Now, this is a minor point, and not essential to understanding or enjoying the film. But there is a bit of the film where Darcy asks a very basic scientific question, and upon being asked "I thought you were a science major?", she responds that she majors in <i>political </i>science. She's an intern working for course credit. They cover that.</span></span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><i>Thor's hammer is "stuck".</i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i> </i> Odin has a whole speech </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">when</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> he takes away Thor's hammer, about only a person worthy of its use will be able to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">wield</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> it. Maybe that was too subtle? Thor has to earn the right to use it, by becoming a better person/god/whatever</span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I'm not saying that disliking Thor is wrong, although Ebert certainly thinks that liking it is. I'm saying that he didn't want to like it. And so he didn't pay attention. I have watched many a film in my time, expecting to hate it and finding millions of little points to snark about. I don't think that everyone has to like what I like. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">But, surely, if you're getting an outpouring of comments on your initial post saying they enjoyed it from regular film viewers (not just crazy comic fans), and if it does indeed have a 79% positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes, surely then you must at least consider the possibility that you are, if not wrong, then at least in the minority.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Writing a second post, to defend your first <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">trashing of the film and to hurl a bit of abuse those who disagreed with you, feels a little bit childish. In his second post, Ebert says this:</span></span></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">One of my weaknesses is to play with the logic of preposterous movies like this. I consider that an amusing exercise, to be read as entertainment and not taken so damned seriously.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I agree, I do the same thing. However, Thor has an internal logic. Ebe</span>rt just chose not to see it.<br />
<blockquote></blockquote>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-53817476790082552602010-12-27T10:49:00.002+00:002010-12-27T10:49:49.796+00:00I remembered I have a blog!So, it took 3 years, but I finally updated the <a href="http://steveguttenbergproject.blogspot.com/">Steve Guttenberg blog</a>.<br />
<br />
Next on the list: this one.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-28565458143023740802009-11-14T20:46:00.003+00:002009-11-14T20:58:59.810+00:00Change Time!So, last week I turned 32. And that really makes me think I should be at least somewhat of a grown up. I also got to thinking about my blog, and what I want from it. I like it, and don't want to let it die out entirely, but I also realized that I wasn't updating in its current form (which you probably realized as well, if you're still actually checking this. Thanks for that, if you are, by the way). I decided it was time for a change.<br /><br />The name of this blog has been "Alice's Dark Place" since I started writing it in 2004. The name was based on an inside joke between a friend and I, and was probably never funny to anyone else, at any point ever. Since I am now a grown up, and firmly in my early thirties, I decided I needed to update not only the look but the name. And so we come to "Alice's Grown Up Blog". <br /><br />And yes, that is the best name I could come up with. And yes, I actually did give it quite a bit of thought.<br /><br />My life hasn't changed that much since I've last written, but it's definitely gotten busier. I'm doing much more at work, which is great and I love it. My flat is on the market, and I'm thinking of moving to a nice converted Victorian flat and getting out of the purpose built 1970s flat market. The cats are adorable, although Lucy is twice the size of Beez, and I have no idea how that happened.<br /><br />On the personal side, things have probably changed more. I've been really busy with work, which means I'm not seeing as much of my friends as I would like to. I've done a lot of evaluating of my friendships, and realized that I have some really amazing friends, but that you can't stay friends with everyone forever. Such is life. I'm going to do more to keep in touch with my friends, who I love, and not let work take over my entire life.<br /><br />I'm also going to buy a flatscreen TV. Life is exciting, people. Exciting!<br /><br />I want to devote more time to my blog, to Londonist, to Steve Guttenberg and to writing in general. Turns out I like it. And I miss having people read my writing. I've missed y'all! <br /><br />Anyway, I'm back. It's all very fabulous.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-49157283095789019812008-12-21T13:00:00.004+00:002008-12-21T13:25:17.448+00:00Found in an old notebook while tidying my flat...<strong>Books I Read: Summer '96</strong><br /><br />(started beginning of June, 1996)<br /><br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grapes-Wrath-Centennial-John-Steinbeck/dp/0142000663/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865813&sr=1-1">Grapes of Wrath</a></em> - John Steinbeck<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Gatsby-F-Scott-Fitzgerald/dp/B0018SWBQ4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865839&sr=1-3">The Great Gatsby</a></em> - F. Scott Fitzgerald<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Famous-Last-Words-Timothy-Findley/dp/0140109617/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865714&sr=1-2">Famous Last Words</a></em> - Timothy Findley<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Another-Roadside-Attraction-Tom-Robbins/dp/0553349481/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865691&sr=1-1">Another Roadside Attraction</a></em> - Tom Robbins<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nathaniel-Hawthornes-Scarlet-Letter-Hawthorne/dp/1557832439/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865668&sr=1-1">The Scarlet Letter</a></em> - Nathaniel Hawthorne<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prizes-Erich-Segal/dp/B001KEPY4W/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865583&sr=1-9">Prizes</a></em> - Erich Segal<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Drummer-Girl-Novel/dp/0743464656/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229864527&sr=8-1">The Little Drummer Girl</a></em> - John Le Carre<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Desire-Anton-Myrer/dp/0060934638/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229864572&sr=1-1">A Green Desire</a></em> - Anton Myer<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tess-Calloway-Corners-Harlequin-Superromance/dp/037383280X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229864603&sr=1-1">Tess</a></em> - Katherine Burton<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heiress-Janet-Dailey/dp/0316170925/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1229864652&sr=1-2">Heiress</a></em> - Janet Dailey<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Watership-Down-Novel-Richard-Adams/dp/0743277708/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229864699&sr=1-1">Watership Down</a></em> - Richard Adams<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Strangers-Helen-Van-Slyke/dp/B000KVV0XU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229864744&sr=1-2">Sisters and Strangers</a></em> - Helen Van Slyke<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Shadow-Harlequin-Superromance-No/dp/0373704771/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229864794&sr=1-2"><em>Moon Shadow</em></a> - Dawn Stewardson<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-1923-Kathleen-Norris/dp/B000KIP54S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229864876&sr=1-2"><em>Butterfly</em></a> - Kathleen Norris<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Right-Moves-Harlequin-Superromance/dp/0373704747/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1229864931&sr=1-1"><em>All The Right Moves</em></a> - Brenna Tod<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Privileged-Lives-Edward-Stewart/dp/0440202302/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229864976&sr=1-1">Privileged Lives</a></em> - Edward Stewart<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ruling-Passion-Judith-Michael/dp/0671701258/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865363&sr=1-2">A Ruling Passion</a></em> - Judith Michael<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/two-towers-second-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/B0007IURGW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865424&sr=1-1"><em>The Two Towers</em></a> - J.R.R. Tolkien<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0807209104/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865465&sr=1-6">The Return of The King</a></em> - J.R.R. Tolkien<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destination-Agatha-Christie-Collection/dp/0002310899/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229865518&sr=1-1"><em>Destination Unknown</em></a> - Agatha Christie<br /><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sand-Wind-Kathleen-ONeal-Gear/dp/0765357267/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1229865546&sr=1-1">Sand In The Wind</a></em> - Kathleen O'Neal Gear<br /><br />(also listed: Books to Read - "John Irving - Prayer for some guy")Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-82744810040420548282008-09-10T13:43:00.004+01:002008-09-10T14:00:18.308+01:00Films I Plan To Never Ever See<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrt1rgiVjl9YzISAja7OowUO9ZubpITsA6vIwznu0_yNmzhoINYZkTSQLH7WD3oOI4JtFzKgWo97jH1Zq8WflrGGlKosaejFLhpTT72NSHfjoCw6OcvW5XhbXYhLQxMtbDgEEvA/s1600-h/strangers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244373067595153362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrt1rgiVjl9YzISAja7OowUO9ZubpITsA6vIwznu0_yNmzhoINYZkTSQLH7WD3oOI4JtFzKgWo97jH1Zq8WflrGGlKosaejFLhpTT72NSHfjoCw6OcvW5XhbXYhLQxMtbDgEEvA/s200/strangers.jpg" border="0" /></a>Can I just say that the premise of <em>The Strangers</em> scares the crap out of me? It's terrifying. The scariest thing I can think of.<br /><br />People come to your house and torture you and then kill you <em>just because you were home</em>? So. Freaking. Scary.<br /><br />It stars Liv Tyler, who I like, and Scott Speedman, who is dreamy. Normally, the two of them cast as the leads in a movie would get me interested. A rom com with the two of them? Please, as if you could keep me away on opening day. <br /><br />But, the two of them in a film with a terrifying premise that is giving me anxiety attacks even though I haven't even seen it? Not for me.<br /><br />I pass the poster every day on my way to work - it's on a phone booth on Balham High Road, just before the tube station. And every single day, I think "God, that's so scary." The poster I pass has the three masked figures on it, and that freaks me out too. They're wearing creepy masks! And two of them are girls!<br /><br />What is <em>up</em> with these people?<br /><br />I get easily freaked out when I'm home alone - not in my own house, but in other people's houses. Even my parents' house. I always have to do a full check of the house. You know, to make sure there aren't killers lurking, waiting to kill me. The room that scares me most is bathrooms, but only if the shower curtain is closed. I always have to check behind it, y'know, to make sure the killer isn't standing behind the curtain in the bathtub, and it's always a highly tense moment.<br /><br />I don't really know where this worry comes from - I didn't watch my first horror movie until I was at university (and I still haven't seen most of the classic 80s ones), and I think that's when I started getting freaked out. <br /><br />So, what with my worry about killers lurking in wait when I'm home alone, you can see why it's very unlikely that I'll see <em>The Strangers</em>. It's not my <em>specific</em> fear covered in the film, but it's one that's just as scary.<br /><br />I may, however, watch the copy of <em>A Nightmare on Elm Street</em> that I have on DVD at home. <br /><br />Maybe. <br /><br />Someday.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-20582373361730162972008-08-23T12:18:00.000+01:002008-08-23T12:18:28.672+01:00"The internet doesn't even know who you are anymore."So, apparently I haven't posted since April 26. And by "apparently", I mean "in cold hard fact".<br /><br /><br />In all fairness, since April 26, all I've done is work. That's it. I've come reasonably close to a nervous breakdown. I've gone out, like, twice. Maybe three times. I can barely remember what my friends look like. I've hardly written for Londonist. It's been very exhausting.<br /><br /><br />But, I've just had a week of holiday and I'm feeling much better now. I'm even making plans to see people! It's crazy, I know.<br /><br />I've had a super veg-out holiday, which has been fab. I've basically read, watched episodes of <em>Felicity</em> and slept. I've also seen a few people, but it's mainly been about the chillaxing.<br /><br />Have I ever mentioned how much I love <em>Felicity</em>? Because, I really, really do. I've watched the whole first season over the last week, and it's been delighftul. I'd forgotten how much I liked that show. And I had this super clear memory of sitting with Mandy in a movie theatre in Mississauga after the season one finale, telling her all about it and telling her that she should watch it. And, I was totally right. Because it's such a good show.<br /><br />It's also made me very nostalgic for my first year of university, which was TWELVE YEARS AGO. Holy crap, I'm old. In September 1996, I went to York and met all these amazing (and not so amazing) people. Some of them I'm still friends with, some of them I'm not. A few of them, I look back at photos and I can't even remember their names. Good times, I tell you!<br /><br />Holy crap. Twelve years. Shouldn't I feel like more of a grown up by now?Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-5657626751535673142008-04-26T19:57:00.003+01:002008-04-26T20:19:09.655+01:00Sometimes, I am dumbSo, yesterday morning, I was doing a bit of tidying before my friend Alexcia came to stay, and had two bags of rubbish to get rid of. I carried one in each hand, and held my keys in my left hand, and took them to the communal bins.<br /><br />I left my front door a bit open, but as I was walking away, I heard the wind slam it shut. "<em>Whew</em>", I thought, "<em>good thing I have my keys.</em>" <br /><br />I got to the garbage area, opened the big metal door and swung the bag in my left hand into the bin. As it was going in, however, the handle of the bag looped around my front door key and pulled it into the bin.<br /><br />That's right. My keys. In the garbage. My front door. Locked.<br /><br />Now, just to give you the right mental image of my stupidity, the bins made of metal, about five feet high, around four feet in diameter and on wheels. They're really big. <br /><br />My keys were sitting on a black bin bag, and were about half way down. Obviously, I couldn't get them. <br /><br />Someone had left a washing machine sitting in the garbage area, which is where we all leave big stuff to be picked up by the garbage men. (Actually, it was sitting pretty much right where the tree on the left is in <a href="http://aliceworld.blogspot.com/2007/01/b-christmas.html">this entry</a>.) And I had a genius idea.<br /><br />I would wheel the giant bin to beside the washing machine, climb up on it, and reach into the bin, and grab the keys. And then, ta da! I'd be all set.<br /><br />I opened both the huge doors and wheeled the bin out. Due to the kind of wheels on it, I had to kind of turn at as I pulled it, creating a nice spinning out motion. I finally got it to the washing machine, climbed on, and reached in. And was still about ten inches away from the stupid keys.<br /><br />So, I spun the stupid bin back into it's storage room.<br /><br />I decided to knock on the door of the one neighbour I kind of know. She's nice, in a "lecture me about life in general" kind of way. But, of course, she wasn't home.<br /><br />I was really stumped. Julia wasn't going to be home for ages, Alexcia was arriving in a few hours and I was totally stuck.<br /><br />Then, like a beacon of hopeful light, a door on the building opposite opened. An young-ish woman walked out and I immediately ran up to her, all "excusemeI'msostupidbutIdroppedmykeysinthebinandneedhelpdoyouhaveacoathangeroranything". After she figured out my crazed speech, she told me that she didn't live there, but was just the carer. A teensy tiny little old woman walked out behind her, and I went into the whole speech again. The teensy tiny little old woman (or TTLOW) went and got me a Marks & Spencer hanger.<br /><br />I raced over to the bin, and reached in. I was still about 8 inches away from those damn freaking keys. Dammit!<br /><br />TTLOW called out to see if I was having any luck, and when she heard I wasn't, mentioned she had a stepladder. She walked back into her house, and I followed her in, because she was teensy and tiny and shouldn't be carrying ladders for me.<br /><br />I grabbed the ladder, hauled it over to the bin, climbed up, reached in with the hanger, and ..... SUCCESS!!<br /><br />I snagged the key ring on the end of the hanger, and was back in business. I carried the hanger and stepladder back to TTLOW and thanked her profusely. She really was very nice.<br /><br />So, half an hour of idiocy later, I was back in my flat.<br /><br />Needless to say, I will be carrying my keys in my pocket every time I go to the bins now. The lesson, she is learned.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-52152768585537405442008-03-28T16:37:00.002+00:002008-04-26T20:26:26.006+01:00Meme-a-rama<p><strong>A) Four jobs I have had in my life:</strong></p><p>Camp counsellor, bowling alley attendant, background talent agent and TV production manager</p><p><strong>B) Four films I would watch over and over:</strong></p><p><em><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0127723/">Can't Hardly Wait</a></em>, <em><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0094006/">Some Kind of Wonderful</a></em>, <em><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0196229/">Zoolander</a> </em>and <em><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0093693/">Overboard</a></em>. </p><p><strong>C) Four places I have lived:</strong></p><p>Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (1977-1987), Goderich, Ontario (1987-1996), Toronto, Ontario (1996-2001), London, England (2001-now)</p><p><strong>D) Four TV shows that I watch:</strong></p><p>Currently, I am Sky Plussing <em>Dirty Sexy Money</em>, <em>Brothers & Sisters</em>, <em>Reaper</em> and <em>Skins.</em></p><p><strong>F) Four people who e-mail me (regularly):</strong></p><p>I am a bad e-mailer and thus do not get many in return. I probably get the most from Heather, Leanne, Lindsay and Robin.</p><p><strong>G) Four of my favourite foods:</strong></p><p>Kraft dinner, pasta of almost any kind, Thai food, Indian food. Mmmmmm.</p><p><strong>H) Four places I would rather be right now:</strong></p><p>Rather than here in my office, procrastinating? On holiday somewhere sunny, at home sleeping, in the pub getting drunk and in my garden.</p><p><strong>J) Four favourite authors:</strong></p>Let's call this four of my favourite authors. Jane Austen, Nora Roberts, Kazuo Ishiguro and Marian Keyes. That's just off the top of my head.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-68442624569309899162008-02-13T14:40:00.001+00:002008-02-13T14:41:29.937+00:00Oh, and also?If you're in the UK, please watch <em>Football Hurts</em> tomorrow, Thursday 14th Feb on Nuts TV at 9pm.<br /><br />Thanks!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-57236439398763588982008-02-13T14:31:00.000+00:002008-04-26T20:26:48.101+01:00"You realize you haven't blogged since December, right?"Uh, yeah. I do know that. I'm sorry. But seriously? It's February? February <em>2008</em>? How did that even happen?<br /><br />Doesn't it seem like it was just the beginning of 2007 mere minutes ago? 2007, which was terrifyingly known as <em>the year in which I will turn 30</em> and which will now be remembered as <em>the year in which I turned 30</em>, was pretty good, on the whole. It was a mix of the really good and the horribly awful, which is pretty much par for the course for any year. I did let the blog lag a bit on 2007, and for those of you still reading this, I'm sorry for that. I'll try and do better this year.<br /><br />I haven't been doing much <a href="http://londonist.com/">Londonist</a>-ing either, which I hope to remedy. I'm in LA this weekend for a shoot, then I'm on holiday for a week, and then it'll be March.<br /><br />March!! Seriously, this year is just disappearing on my at a frightening rate.<br /><br />Here's an anecdote to keep you amused while I scurry to a corner, curl up in the fetal position and rock back and forth, bemoaning the year slipping away on me.<br /><br />So, every morning, I get to work about the same time. I usually get off the Tube at 9:30 or so, and as I walk from the station to the office, I generally see the same guy. He's very tall, with glasses and blonde hair. He's walking to the station as I walk away. We don't say hi or anything, because that would be insane, but he's one of the people that I see every day, and if I saw somewhere out of context would spend about an hour thinking "how do I know that guy?".<br /><br />There are a lot of people I see fairly regularly, but this is the only guy I see virtually every day, no matter whether I'm a bit early or a bit late. And today, I realized why.<br /><br />I got off the tube at 9:30, and who was walking towards me? TWO of this guy! He's actually identical twins!<br /><br />I've seen him (or, possibly, one of them) every day for like two years. And I never noticed. I just thought it was weird that this guy had the same schedule I had. But now I don't know if I've actually been seeing one of them, or they've been alternating.<br /><br />This has really shaken my whole world view.<br /><br /><br />Twins. That's just so sneaky.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-24369428805737385012007-12-12T17:08:00.000+00:002007-12-12T17:18:00.102+00:00Huh. How 'bout that.I just realized that I've been writing this blog since August 2004, and this November was the first month that I haven't posted anything. <br /><br />That was a pretty good streak I had going there, and I didn't even realize. For shame, Alice. For shame.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-2966929744025174242007-12-12T16:38:00.000+00:002007-12-12T17:03:10.401+00:00What?!?!?!?The Internet: <em> "What? You haven't posted anything in MONTHS, and you're posting a freaking meme?"</em><br /><br />Alice: <em>"Suck it, Internet. You're not the boss of me!"</em><br /><br />From <a href="http://audrawilliams.livejournal.com/601921.html">Your Dirty Answer</a>:<br /><br />1. Go to the Wikipedia home page and click Random Article (on the side menu). That is your band's name.<br />2. Click random article again; that is your album name.<br />3. Click random article 15 more times; those are the tracks on your album.<br /><br />BAND NAME: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravensthorpe%2C_Dewsbury">Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury</a> (That is actually an awesome band name)<br /><br />ALBUM NAME: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadow_Well_Metro_station">Meadow Well Metro Station</a> (And an AWESOME album name! My band rocks)<br /><br />TRACK LISTING:<br /><ol><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_spider">Wolf Spider</a> (it's so dark where we are right now)</li><li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/In%20These%20Veins">In These Veins</a> (this is our tribute to the 4th album by Swedish extreme metal band Hearse)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_of_the_Night_%28album%29">Lady Of The Night</a> (and this is our tribute to the Donna Summer album. We are a band of contrasts.)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ji%C5%99%C3%AD_Malec">Jiří Malec</a> (this is a lyrical song that tells the story of the famed Czechoslovak ski jumper who won a bronze medal in the 1980 Olympics)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dge%2C_Fukuoka">Kōge, Fukuoka</a> (this is a peppy number about getting lost in the Japanese town of Kōge)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sander_Westerveld">Sander Westerveld</a> (this is the song our bass player wrote about her crush on the Dutch footballer.)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Regional_Road_25">York Regional Road 25</a> (also known as Major Mackenzie Drive, this is a loving tribute to the much maligned York Region, north of Toronto)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Malm%C3%B6">History of Malmö</a> (this is an instrumental number, featuring a 7 minute keyboard solo)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Star_%28Amtrak%29">Silver Star</a> (this is a song about travelling from New York to Miami on train, with guest vocals by Gloria Estefan)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Ovittore">Jay Ovittore</a> (this is a scathing look at American politics)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_high_throughput_screening">Virtual High Throughput Screening</a> (we're pretty sure we were drunk when we wrote this. We barely can understand it ourselves)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_and_water">Earth and Water</a> (this one's pretty sanctimonious - it's about saving the environment and we can get pretty preachy when we set our minds to it)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_Aerospace_Industries_KFX">Korea Aerospace Industries KFX</a> (the radio stations won't play this - it's too shocking)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrobike">Nitrobike</a> (this was our first single. It was huge in Germany)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alive_in_an_Ultra_World">Alive in an Ultra World</a> (this is an extended cover of all the songs on Steve Vai's album in one, uninterrupted stream. It's 70 minutes long.)</li></ol>We're doing a world tour in 2008. Tickets go on sale in January. Hope to see you then!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-76002645252297343412007-10-09T10:46:00.000+01:002007-12-12T17:03:17.833+00:00Ooooh!Guttenberg news! <a href="http://steveguttenbergproject.blogspot.com/2007/10/oh-my-god.html">Guttenberg news</a>!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971543.post-24376053139630081682007-10-03T17:01:00.000+01:002007-12-12T17:03:57.042+00:00Stalked By CelebritiesFact. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000667/">David Thewlis</a> is stalking me.<br /><br />I know what you're thinking: <br /><br /><em>"Alice, he's a celebrity. He's in the Harry Potter movies, for God's sake. You're just a television production manager who writes a blog. Why would he possibly be stalking you??"</em><br /><em></em><br />Well, I don't know the answer to WHY, do I? I'm not the one doing the stalking. But I can tell you that it's happening.<br /><br />SHOCKING AND TRUE FACT #1:<br /><br />On Tuesday 4th September 2007, I flew from Dublin to London on an Aer Lingus flight. Who did I notice walking onto the plane in front of me? One David Thewlis. I thought little of it, except that I recognized him but couldn't remember his name at the time and it was driving me crazy. I remembered it a few days later. <br /><br />SHOCKING AND TRUE FACT #2:<br /><br />On Sunday 30th September 2007, I flew from Los Angeles to London on a British Airways flight. Who did I notice at gate 120, waiting for the flight? Oh, that's right. <br /><br />David Thewlis.<br /><br />And, to make matters even more disturbing, he arrived at the gate <em>before</em> me.<br /><br />He's clearly not following me - he knows where I'll be before I'm even there.<br /><br />Spooky, no?<br /><br />I'm flying to LA again at the end of the month - if he's on my return flight again, I'm calling the cops. <br /><br />It is kind of flattering though. Hmmm, do you think he reads the blog?Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349066685963927931noreply@blogger.com1