Recent Obsessions

For those that still make the trek to this website, despite my obvious negligence in posting, here are some things that have made me happy lately. I pass the knowledge on to you- go, be happy too.

MUSIC:

"The Greatest" - Cat Power

"L.E.S. Artistes" - Santigold

(Neither of these songs was released recently, but I watched 17 Again (of all things) yesterday on HBO (free for 4 days- thanks AT&T U-verse!) and heard these songs and immediately downloaded. And side note- 17 Again is a really good movie.)

"We Are Born" - NEW entire album by Sia. I just love this woman.

MOVIES:

The A Team - I know what you're going to say- "REALLY?". But if you like a good action flick and enjoy the sight of Bradley Cooper's abs, hit up the theater now.

Toy Story 3 - Seriously amazing. Pixar/Disney is genius. It ended perfectly and poignantly and I cried like a baby. It's so good, you forget it is an animated film. Just watch out for the creepy baby doll. You'll know what I mean.

BOOKS:

"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. It's about the circus and it was a great read. The last half is especially riveting.

TECHNOLOGICAL GADGETS:

iPhone 4- No, I haven't technically bought this yet (sorry, I don't camp out overnight or wait in a five hour long line for a phone I can buy a couple days later without a wait) but I already know it is going to change my life. That on top of all the rave reviews from people who already got one: color me SO EXCITED.

My Macbook- Yes, I am still counting the ways I love thee.

Band of Brothers

I had already seen the mini-series Band of Brothers before and I loved it. But let me tell you, seeing it all again doesn't make it any less powerful, any less moving, or any less inspiring. Memorial Day brought an all day marathon of the series on Spike TV, and I was rendered helpless to avoid it. I am so obsessed with the spirit of the WWII days- the heroism, the selflessness, the extreme courage, the love for America, the idea that it is about more than just you. These days, we are much more hard pressed to find such a group of valiant men who are willing to give up life as they know it to protect their nation. Oh believe me, there are men and women like this serving right now for our country here and overseas. And they exemplify this brave and giving spirit. But I venture to say America as a whole does not have that same something- that work together and give of yourself quality- that made the WWII era in America so incredibly inspiring. The sacrifices made by so many veterans throughout all the years of America's existence- well it makes me a bit speechless.

If you have not yet seen this 2001 mini-series, I sincerely suggest you either add it to your netflix queue, run to your nearest Blockbuster (if it is still in business), or just go ahead and buy it. You won't be sorry. I know 10 hours of war drama sounds incredibly taxing, but believe me, it is completely worth the time investment. It follows the true stories of real men in some of the most well-known and deadly battles of WWII. And don't skip the special features- these interviews with surviving veterans that were featured in the mini-series is such a treat. Some of the most incredible men. If you don't come out of it crying, wanting to hug a veteran, or wishing you had asked your grandpas about their service in the war before they passed on, you may not be human. I know I have been gushing and over the top about this, but I really think all Americans should be required to see this in order to fully comprehend the sacrifices that were made to allow them the freedom and luxuries they enjoy today.

Wow. Really only meant for this blog post to be maybe two lines encouraging your viewership of said mini-series. But apparently I was pretty moved by this. Expect a similarly impassioned post, I am sure, after I finish watching the newest HBO WWII mini-series covering the battles in The Pacific.

Sign Me Up!

Today I proved once again that I am unable to turn down any sort of deal or sales pitch if I allow myself to listen longer than 30 seconds to the spiel. In my defense, it is really not fair to be talked into signing a year long massage membership contract immediately after finishing up an awesome hour long massage. So you are looking at the newest member of Massage Envy. I could have been convinced to join something much worse, like say the circus, so I don't really have buyer's remorse. Now I get to look forward to a massage every month for the next year, which in my book sounds like a winning idea.

Also today I saw Julie & Julia. Very good movie- highly recommend. Although the ending left a strange taste in my mouth for certain reasons that probably would only ever be something that would bother silly old me, so I am looking past it. And while I am speaking of movies, here's one I never thought I would love: Hot Tub Time Machine. Assuming you have a high tolerance for the F word and tend to enjoy stupid irreverent humor, you will probably get a kick out of it as well.

April 2010 Post

And you thought I would make it through April without posting once! Well, here is my obligatory April blog to prove you dead wrong.

I decided today to really get motivated in my day to day activities. As it may be clear through reading this blog, I like TV. A lot. Sometimes [most times] it distracts me from doing things my mind and body would most definitely benefit from more. I am going to buy some kind of organizational tool (filofax/calendar) to hold me accountable for things that need to and should be accomplished daily (I must thank my friend JBierman for this inspiration). I have always been a "lists" girl and live my life with sticky notes. EVERYWHERE (you should see my desk at work). Perhaps this will simplify things so I can be more efficient with my personal to do lists. Now I can structure my free time to include things such as reading books, cooking dinner, working out, etc. I know how I am, and if it is written down, so shall it be done. Motivation here I come! Expect more posting from now on too- I plan to structure that in weekly. OH THE POSSIBILITIES. I will report back on any success I have.

Wish me and my nerd self luck. Oh and list below any books you think are a must read. I am making a list of novels to conquer.

Return of the Missing Blogger!

Kind of sort of got caught up with my busy busy life and coincidentally shirked my blogging responsibilities.

That is actually a lie, and not a very good one. My lack of blogging can be summed up in one word: lazy. Sure, I have a life and I do stuff and I get busy. But I also spend countless hours staring at the black box I call a TV, leaving plenty of time and muscle to type words on a screen. And yet I can't quite seem to muster the motivation it takes to flip open my beautiful macbook and put to print the running commentary in my brain. It is too much work apparently.

Well put your worries to rest, I'm back. At least for today. While I am at work. And we are slow. And I don't have the promise of something fun on my DVR to distract me. SO LAZY. (And I know you missed me so much, one person who accidentally ended up on this website while googling something about food. [Hey, I like food too!])

And now,

back by popular demand: LIST OF RANDOMNESS!

* Lindsay Lohan sues E-Trade for $100 million. Honestly, I hardly have words for how dumb this is. Wait... yes I do: Like I am supposed to believe that Lindsay Lohan is emotionally scarred and deserving of $100 million in damages for a stupid commercial that uses her FIRST name only in jest? "Lindsays" of the world unite: there is a class action lawsuit in here somewhere: if you look real real hard and, oh yeah, bastardize the American legal system. Another example of bratty celebrities with inflated egos and unrealistic senses of entitlement grasping at straws in an attempt to cling to their (most likely) undeserving fame and fortune. I hate celebutards.

* The Rodeo is fun. I dressed up like a Cowgirl to go today. Boots and all (boots, I might add, that I got for $30; originally $130. BOO-YAH. AND I got to cross something off my list of 101 in 1001, so double score.)

* Anyone been watching American Idol? I am kind of disappointed coming off of last year's trifecta of brilliance that was Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta (Danny Gokey who?). But I think I am being a little harsh and judgy. Currently I favor: Crystal Bowersocks, Didi Benami, Katelyn Epperly, Siobahn Magnus, Lilly Scott, Andrew Garcia, Lee Dawyze, and stage-fright plagued mullet boy whose name escapes me. The rest I can kind of do without.

* I really want to try going a week without my cell phone. Sometimes I feel like it distracts me from life. What with the facebook updates, twitter temptations, emails, texts, phone calls, GAH. I wonder what that week would be like. It seems.... freeing. But also, very hard to stay in touch. Dilemma.

* I just love my mom. She is hilarious. A continued source of humor whether she means to be or not. Actual phone conversation last night after she insisted on installing her dvr box herself (I just convinced my parents that they needed dvr in their life so they could STOP RECORDING ON VHS TAPES. It may have been too much technology too fast. Remains to be seen.):
-Mom: I can't find the guide now! The dvr deleted my guide!
-Me: You should still have a guide. You need to call comcast again if it isn't coming up.
...(brief interim as she calls comcast)
-Mom: OK, I got the guide back. Now how do I record things?
-Me: Easy. Find what show you want to record on the guide, hilight it, press the record button on the remote and then follow the instructions that pop up- you can either record the series every time it comes on, only at certain times, or only this one time. You can also tell it how long to keep it on the dvr.
-Mom: Wait, what??
-Me: (explains again, slower)
-Mom: OK, it says it is recording. Now how do I watch it?
-Me: Go to "my dvr" and find it and press play. Try it now.
-Mom: But it isn't done recording yet!
-Me: Doesn't matter. You can still start watching from your recording. It will start at the beginning when you hit play. Then you can fast forward thru commercials until you hit live TV.
-Mom: WHAT??? You can fast forward? (she tests it and sure enough...) This is so cool!
-Me: Yes! Isn't it?
-Mom: OK, well I have to go. Dad and I are going to dinner and we want to get back in time so we don't miss the start of his show at 7.
-Me: MOM! That is the whole point of dvr!! RECORD the show and then no matter when you get home you can watch from the beginning!
-Mom: What if I get home at 7:05? Won't I miss the first 5 minutes?
-Me: NO. It records the entire episode and saves it forever until you delete it! You can watch it whenever! AND BONUS: you can fast forward thru the commercials if you come in on it late!
-Mom: What about if I come home at 7:45?
-Me: O. M. G.

Best phone conversation to date.

Those Were the Days...

Hello. I just watched another episode of "Lost" and am so confused, I thought I would write a blog post about something completely opposite so my head doesn't explode.

I went to my college town this past weekend for the first time since October and walked around campus for probably the first time since I graduated in 2006. Every time I go back, it's like a flashback to all those amazing college experiences I accumulated over 4 years. As dumb as it sounds, every street reminds me of something, and stupid things like a sign for the "Pie R Squared" cafe triggers memories I haven't thought about in forever. I am making it sound like I have been out of college for 50 years, I know. But hey, time flies when you go to the same job day in and day out. I am creeping up on 4 years of post-graduate status and I already look back on college as this distant and perfect arrangement that I totally took for granted. I mean, I went to class MAYBE for 3 to 5 hours a day tops, and I slept in when I wanted, took naps when I wanted, ate when I wanted, studied when I wanted, went out when I wanted, talked to who I wanted, acted like an idiot when I wanted... Yes, yes, I am an adult and can do all of those things now, but can I do them without the responsibility of maintaining a 40 hour a week job? Or without the pressure of having to make rent or save money for my future? Or without worrying that I am never going to have a real career? No. College is important. You're getting an education that dictates the path you will take. But it is also the last simple, irresponsible 4 years of your life. Wow, that sentence sounded so final and depressing. Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly happy with my life and have a great time. But college. You were over in a flash. Before I even realized how awesome and easy you were.

Aaaaaand.....

Time to go to bed at 10 PM so I am not a walking zombie for my full-time job in the morning.

To end on a high note, I have joined the crazies. Follow me on twitter if you like: @sheridanrenee.

LOSTLOSTLOST. LOST.

LOST. I love it. Am obsessed. The final season just began on Tuesday night and the inner nerd in me has sprung to the occassion. It's fun to get caught up in the craziness. If you are a fan, you might find these youtube finds interesting. If not, you should go netflix seasons 1-5 now, watch, and get back to me.

This one is cool for putting together the events of the day of the plane crash, as they unfolded over 5 seasons of flashbacks, etc.

If you watched the Season 6 premiere, you will appreciate this one.

Sorry. Done with that. For now.