So, what have I been doing since my last update? Enjoying my last days of freedom, for my first year of uni starts Tuesday. And I have to get a job. Gulp.
That said, I'm excited. It's gonna be great.
Other thoughts and news:
The Death of iPod: My iPod is currently dead, and I'll be sending it out to get replaced or fixed soon. For now, though, I'm miserable.
TV Show Pickups: Just as last time around I was happy bout the lovely Toni Collette headlining a TV show, this time there's some more good news. Nathan Fillion will be the lead of Castle this Spring, a dramedy series about a mystery writer who helps out the cops, and Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas (the one not from Matchbox Twenty) will be bringing an old favourite back to TV, Cupid! Though with a new cast, it's still looking good.
In Treatment: Watching S1 with my oldest sister who hasn't seen it yet, starting with what she hadn't seen yet, mid-week 3. I'd complete how utterly irritating Paul was in week 3. This was after the characters had been established and just as they begun to really show their dysfunction, before all that nice character development and resolution later on. I guess it was hard to notice cause usually I burn through the series, beginning to end, quite quickly.
Greek 2x01: Watched the season premiere and enjoyed it very much. Very speecherific, though that seemed to be intentional, and a nice homage to Bring It On and (I believe) Ben Hur. Enjoyed the character development here, and while Cappie/Rebecca seemed like a random idea when it was first conceived, they're quickly becoming the best couple on the show. Also, though Evan has always been an ass, there were times when I didn't hate him. In the latter half of S1, though, his character lost all sympathy, and that trend continues in 2x01. If he continues to be this unredeemable, they may have to write him out before S3 or make him a downright villain.
That's it for now!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Looking Back Into the Nighttable Library (Update 1)
Since this sort of random work is sort of fun and keeps me sane, gonna update my previous reading list.
Finished Since Last Update
1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Primary Books
These are the books that I am currently (actively) reading, as opposed to stalled in the middle for some unknown (probably time-related) reason.
(Ranked in order of interest; that is, I read the high ones more often because they are more interesting.)
1. Che Guevara, a Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson
Progress: 56/754 pages.
2. Reading Lolita in Tehran; A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi.
Progress: 36/347 pages.
3. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Progress: 148/663 pages.
4. Mao: The Untold Story by Jung Chang and Jon Holliday
Progress: 22/617 pages.
5. The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
Progress: 302/332
Secondary Books
These are the books that are technically in progress, but are stalled - either because I'm currently reading five bloody books, or because I've become a bit bored with them. Some of them I started weeks ago; some, years. Hopefully, this summer, I'll work through them all, either reaching the final page or discarding them, as I occasionally do when a book disappoints me fatally.
Despite having 5 active books, I still occasionally make small steps toward completing these.
(In no real order...)
Orson Scott Card's Children of the Mind (61/370)
Victoria Finlay's Colour (289/438)
Leonard Mosley's Hirohito, Emperor of Japan (24/350)
Kathy Reichs' Cross Bones (84/348)
Michael Cox's The Meaning of Night (74/585)
Jared Diamond's Collapse; How Societies Choose to Succeed or Fail (62/525)
Carol Shields' The Stone Diaries (104/361)
Pamela Douglas' Writing the TV Drama Series (158/243)
George Monboit's Bring on the Apocalypse; Essays on Self-Destruction (116/203)
Richard Cohen's By the Sword (414/484)
Dr. Douglas Ubelaker and Henry Scammel's Bones (20/319)
James Hollis' The Eden Project (28/144)
Ken Follet's The Pillars of the Earth (12/973)
Junichiro Tanizaki's The Makioka Sisters (7/530)
Robertson Davies' The Cunning Man (14/514)
Nancy Farmer's The House of Scorpion (14/380)
Gregory Maguire's Lost (12/335)
Ann-Marie MacDonald's The Way the Crow Flies (11/712)
Lian Hearn's Across the Nightengale Floor (14/287)
Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses (17/547)
Ian Rankin's A Question of Blood (88/440)
Philip Kerr's A Philosophical Investigation (161/330)
Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible (88/649)
Sujata Massey's The Flower Master (44/375)
Douglas Coupland's Eleanor Rigby (3/249)
R.A. Salvatore's The Crystal Shard (120/364)
Tertiary Books
If those weren't enough, there's those other books. The ones I've picked up at Goodwill or Costco or Chapters over the years and never actually started. Most of them are very recent acquisitions, while others have just been waiting quite a while. Again, these will slowly work up to the above lists, and either get finished or dropped as I see fit.
(In no real order...)
Victor Hugo's Les Miserables
Iain Banks' Dead Air
C.S. Godshalk's Kalimantaan
Andre Alexis' Childhood
Mineko Iwasaki's Geisha, A Life
Edward Ruthorfurd's Rebels of Ireland
Steven Taylor's Roma
Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes
Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth
Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule
Ian Rankin's The Hanging Garden
Ian Rankin's Black & Blue
Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur
Mitch Albom's Tusdays With Morrie
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds
Donna Jo Napoli's Zel
So, yeah. Took a bit of a look around, found a few left off last list, a few bought since. read a few pages of a couple secondaries, switched around the primaries a bit. I doubt anyone thinks this is very interesting but me. :) Still, what is life but a series of in-progress lists?
Finished Since Last Update
1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Primary Books
These are the books that I am currently (actively) reading, as opposed to stalled in the middle for some unknown (probably time-related) reason.
(Ranked in order of interest; that is, I read the high ones more often because they are more interesting.)
1. Che Guevara, a Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson
Progress: 56/754 pages.
2. Reading Lolita in Tehran; A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi.
Progress: 36/347 pages.
3. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Progress: 148/663 pages.
4. Mao: The Untold Story by Jung Chang and Jon Holliday
Progress: 22/617 pages.
5. The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
Progress: 302/332
Secondary Books
These are the books that are technically in progress, but are stalled - either because I'm currently reading five bloody books, or because I've become a bit bored with them. Some of them I started weeks ago; some, years. Hopefully, this summer, I'll work through them all, either reaching the final page or discarding them, as I occasionally do when a book disappoints me fatally.
Despite having 5 active books, I still occasionally make small steps toward completing these.
(In no real order...)
Orson Scott Card's Children of the Mind (61/370)
Victoria Finlay's Colour (289/438)
Leonard Mosley's Hirohito, Emperor of Japan (24/350)
Kathy Reichs' Cross Bones (84/348)
Michael Cox's The Meaning of Night (74/585)
Jared Diamond's Collapse; How Societies Choose to Succeed or Fail (62/525)
Carol Shields' The Stone Diaries (104/361)
Pamela Douglas' Writing the TV Drama Series (158/243)
George Monboit's Bring on the Apocalypse; Essays on Self-Destruction (116/203)
Richard Cohen's By the Sword (414/484)
Dr. Douglas Ubelaker and Henry Scammel's Bones (20/319)
James Hollis' The Eden Project (28/144)
Ken Follet's The Pillars of the Earth (12/973)
Junichiro Tanizaki's The Makioka Sisters (7/530)
Robertson Davies' The Cunning Man (14/514)
Nancy Farmer's The House of Scorpion (14/380)
Gregory Maguire's Lost (12/335)
Ann-Marie MacDonald's The Way the Crow Flies (11/712)
Lian Hearn's Across the Nightengale Floor (14/287)
Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses (17/547)
Ian Rankin's A Question of Blood (88/440)
Philip Kerr's A Philosophical Investigation (161/330)
Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible (88/649)
Sujata Massey's The Flower Master (44/375)
Douglas Coupland's Eleanor Rigby (3/249)
R.A. Salvatore's The Crystal Shard (120/364)
Tertiary Books
If those weren't enough, there's those other books. The ones I've picked up at Goodwill or Costco or Chapters over the years and never actually started. Most of them are very recent acquisitions, while others have just been waiting quite a while. Again, these will slowly work up to the above lists, and either get finished or dropped as I see fit.
(In no real order...)
Victor Hugo's Les Miserables
Iain Banks' Dead Air
C.S. Godshalk's Kalimantaan
Andre Alexis' Childhood
Mineko Iwasaki's Geisha, A Life
Edward Ruthorfurd's Rebels of Ireland
Steven Taylor's Roma
Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes
Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth
Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule
Ian Rankin's The Hanging Garden
Ian Rankin's Black & Blue
Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur
Mitch Albom's Tusdays With Morrie
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds
Donna Jo Napoli's Zel
So, yeah. Took a bit of a look around, found a few left off last list, a few bought since. read a few pages of a couple secondaries, switched around the primaries a bit. I doubt anyone thinks this is very interesting but me. :) Still, what is life but a series of in-progress lists?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
RANDOM NEWS
So, some random, relevant news that makes me happy...
* In Treatment has been renewed for season 2, with Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest confirmed to be staying on.
* Emmys: Dexter, "Damages", "Friday Night Lights", "Grey’s Anatomy", "House", "Lost", "Mad Men" and "The Wire" (which I've come to at least respect through its massive critical backing) are all among the 10 finalist fighting over the 5 nomination spots for Best Drama Series.
* On Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Chris Noth (whose episodes I've skipped on the occasion I do watch it) has departed, and sorely under-appreciated actor Jeff Goldblum has stepped into the role. I'm happy; Goldblum's always been enjoyable in what I've seen him in.
* The United States of Tara, starring Toni Collette (one of my favourite actresses) and written by Diablo Cody (whose Juno is one of the best movies I've seen... ever.) was picked up. Yay! Can't wait.
* The pilot for Pretty Handsome as leaked and I got my hands on it It's fantastic, with an amazing cast all round (especially Joseph Fiennes and Carrie-Ann Moss). Also, Do Not Disturb, which I liked but I'm thinking will be one of those series I enjoy but watch alone while feeling embarrassed.
* A third book in the Wicked Cycle by Gregory Maguire, entitled "A Lion Among Men" is due out later this year.
* Personal writing front: I've completed my second-ever complete pilot! Though it's a rough first draft, it's a feat for me nonetheless.
* Personal blogging: the Bringer of Song has reached 100 posts!
More to come, probably.
* In Treatment has been renewed for season 2, with Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest confirmed to be staying on.
* Emmys: Dexter, "Damages", "Friday Night Lights", "Grey’s Anatomy", "House", "Lost", "Mad Men" and "The Wire" (which I've come to at least respect through its massive critical backing) are all among the 10 finalist fighting over the 5 nomination spots for Best Drama Series.
* On Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Chris Noth (whose episodes I've skipped on the occasion I do watch it) has departed, and sorely under-appreciated actor Jeff Goldblum has stepped into the role. I'm happy; Goldblum's always been enjoyable in what I've seen him in.
* The United States of Tara, starring Toni Collette (one of my favourite actresses) and written by Diablo Cody (whose Juno is one of the best movies I've seen... ever.) was picked up. Yay! Can't wait.
* The pilot for Pretty Handsome as leaked and I got my hands on it It's fantastic, with an amazing cast all round (especially Joseph Fiennes and Carrie-Ann Moss). Also, Do Not Disturb, which I liked but I'm thinking will be one of those series I enjoy but watch alone while feeling embarrassed.
* A third book in the Wicked Cycle by Gregory Maguire, entitled "A Lion Among Men" is due out later this year.
* Personal writing front: I've completed my second-ever complete pilot! Though it's a rough first draft, it's a feat for me nonetheless.
* Personal blogging: the Bringer of Song has reached 100 posts!
More to come, probably.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
New Books!
Yes, like I need new books... However, there's been a sale at Chapters that has been irresistable. So, here goes:
New Books!
Leam Hearn's Across the Nightengale Floor
Douglas Coupland's Eleanor Rigby
Gregory Maguire's Lost
Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary's Beowulf; The Script Book
All (except the last) have been purchases I've been eyeing for a long time, finally prompted into buying now. Should be fun!
New Books!
Leam Hearn's Across the Nightengale Floor
Douglas Coupland's Eleanor Rigby
Gregory Maguire's Lost
Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary's Beowulf; The Script Book
All (except the last) have been purchases I've been eyeing for a long time, finally prompted into buying now. Should be fun!
Friday, June 20, 2008
A Library Upon My Night Table
I have graduated! Woohoo!
So, what does this mean for the summer? Well, the 101 in 1001 is temporarily on hold, until I restructure the list and have a chance to make a second attack, but it will return in July or August. In the mean time, though... books! I've attempted to not spend too much time reading during the semester proper, as I had wokr to do, but now I can dive right in.
So what am I looking at for this summer? Let's see...
Primary Books
These are the books that I am currently (actively) reading, as opposed to stalled in the middle for some unknown (probably time-related) reason.
(Ranked in order of interest; that is, I read the high ones more often because they are more interesting.)
1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl: This book is addictive, in the best way. About a young academic named Blue van Meer caught in the web of a group of students, and their enigmatic ringleader, film studies teacher Hannah Schneider, it is impeccably written - Blue, who narrates it, is the most oddly charming protagonist since Diablo Cody's Juno MacGuff, but in a different way. Whereas Juno was the quirky teenage girl you should've hung out with in high school, Blue is a mature, studied bookaholic who, despite being extremely well-read and socially awkward, is always completely believable as a teenager. It's a fascinating character portrait with a lot of intriguing character mysteries.
Progress: 236/514 pages.
2. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski: This book is brilliant and insane, if not brillantly insane. At once a dense piece of literature, an effective horror story, a poke at academic criticism, and a maze, it follows three stories. The primary one is the text of The Navidson Record, a book about the nonexistent documentary that shares its name. Written by a mysterious old man, it is an academic criticism of a documentary about a family who discover their house is large on the inside than on the outside, and that a closet door leads into a dark, terrifying labyrinth that may have something else inside. The second story is a half-story, not independent of the two but progressed slightly in both, of the book's author, the mysterious blind Zampanò and why he really wrote the book. The last is the story of normal-guy Johnny Truant, whose story takes place in the footnotes; his discovery of the book leads him on a search to piece it together and get it published, haunted by it. An amazing book best-read in the special edition, which includes the mysterious colouring of house among others.
Progress: 148/663 pages.
3. Mao: The Untold Story by Jung Chang and Jon Holliday: After reading Jung Chang's amazing Wild Swans, the biography of three generations of her family (herself, her mother and her grandmother), I kept in mind the note near the end of her intention to biography a driving force in her life: the selfish, manipulative Mao Zedong, whose communist takeover of China is revealing in a stark and unflattering light by a woman who worked and lived under his disastrous rule.
Progress: 22/617 pages.
4. Che Guevara, a Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson: Picked this book up today, having long been curious about the name behind the title. To be honest, despite knowing a miniscule amount of his story, I'm quite fascinated by it. It's interesting that I picked it up without knowing about his connection with the above Mao. In fact, I'm reading about three important figures of this time: Mao Zedong (China), Che Guevara (Latin America) and Emperor 'Shōwa' Hirohito (Japan; see below). Just started by it, but it's drawn me in quickly; I'm intrigued.
Progress: 4/754 pages.
5. The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs: Though I am agnostic/atheistic, I have a great respect for religion (if not the organisations they are 'run' by), especially in the help and comfort they offer many of the faith. Thus, I was intrigued when an author whose previous book (The Know-It-All, about his experiences reading the entire encyclopedia) decided to try living the fundamentalist lifestyle for a while. To be honest, fundamentalists Christians frighten me a little. I'm sure they are lovely people, but some of the beliefs (especially toward homosexuals, some of whom are my close friends) make me uneasy at best, downright vicious at the worst. However, Jacobs' quest is really interesting, as he takes a further look at both nonreligious and religious lifestyles and within, at himself.
Progress: 299/332
Secondary Books
These are the books that are technically in progress, but are stalled - ether because I'm currently reading five bloody books, or because I've become a bit bored with them. Some of them I started weeks ago; some, years. Hopefully, this summer, I'll work through them all, either reaching the final page or discarding them, as I occasionally do when a book disappoints me fatally.
(In no real order...)
Orson Scott Card's Children of the Mind (58/370)
Victoria Finlay's Colour (282/438)
Leonard Mosley's Hirohito, Emperor of Japan (20/350)
Kathy Reichs' Cross Bones (80/348)
Michael Cox's The Meaning of Night (74/585)
Jared Diamond's Collapse; How Societies Choose to Succeed or Fail (62/525)
Carol Shields' The Stone Diaries (104/361)
Pamela Douglas' Writing the TV Drama Series (158/243)
George Monboit's Bring on the Apocalypse; Essays on Self-Destruction (116/203)
Richard Cohen's By the Sword (414/484
Dr. Douglas Ubelaker and Henry Scammel's Bones (20/319)
James Hollis' The Eden Project (28/144)
Tertiary Books
If those weren't enough, there's those other books. The ones I've picked up at Goodwill or Costco or Chapters over the years and never actually started. Most of them are very recent acquisitions, while others have just been waiting quite a while. Again, these will slowly work up to the above lists, and either get finished or dropped as I see fit.
(In no real order...)
Ken Follet's The Pillars of the Earth
Victor Hugo's Les Miserables
Iain Banks' Dead Air
C.S. Godshalk's Kalimantaan
Andre Alexis' Childhood
Junichiro Tanizaki's The Makioka Sisters
Mineko Iwasaki's Geisha, A Life
Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran
Robertson Davies' The Cunning Man
Edward Ruthorfurd's Rebels of Ireland
Steven Taylor's Roma
Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes
Nancy Farmer's The House of Scorpion
Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth
Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule
So, yeah. Lots of reading!
So, what does this mean for the summer? Well, the 101 in 1001 is temporarily on hold, until I restructure the list and have a chance to make a second attack, but it will return in July or August. In the mean time, though... books! I've attempted to not spend too much time reading during the semester proper, as I had wokr to do, but now I can dive right in.
So what am I looking at for this summer? Let's see...
Primary Books
These are the books that I am currently (actively) reading, as opposed to stalled in the middle for some unknown (probably time-related) reason.
(Ranked in order of interest; that is, I read the high ones more often because they are more interesting.)
1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl: This book is addictive, in the best way. About a young academic named Blue van Meer caught in the web of a group of students, and their enigmatic ringleader, film studies teacher Hannah Schneider, it is impeccably written - Blue, who narrates it, is the most oddly charming protagonist since Diablo Cody's Juno MacGuff, but in a different way. Whereas Juno was the quirky teenage girl you should've hung out with in high school, Blue is a mature, studied bookaholic who, despite being extremely well-read and socially awkward, is always completely believable as a teenager. It's a fascinating character portrait with a lot of intriguing character mysteries.
Progress: 236/514 pages.
2. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski: This book is brilliant and insane, if not brillantly insane. At once a dense piece of literature, an effective horror story, a poke at academic criticism, and a maze, it follows three stories. The primary one is the text of The Navidson Record, a book about the nonexistent documentary that shares its name. Written by a mysterious old man, it is an academic criticism of a documentary about a family who discover their house is large on the inside than on the outside, and that a closet door leads into a dark, terrifying labyrinth that may have something else inside. The second story is a half-story, not independent of the two but progressed slightly in both, of the book's author, the mysterious blind Zampanò and why he really wrote the book. The last is the story of normal-guy Johnny Truant, whose story takes place in the footnotes; his discovery of the book leads him on a search to piece it together and get it published, haunted by it. An amazing book best-read in the special edition, which includes the mysterious colouring of house among others.
Progress: 148/663 pages.
3. Mao: The Untold Story by Jung Chang and Jon Holliday: After reading Jung Chang's amazing Wild Swans, the biography of three generations of her family (herself, her mother and her grandmother), I kept in mind the note near the end of her intention to biography a driving force in her life: the selfish, manipulative Mao Zedong, whose communist takeover of China is revealing in a stark and unflattering light by a woman who worked and lived under his disastrous rule.
Progress: 22/617 pages.
4. Che Guevara, a Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson: Picked this book up today, having long been curious about the name behind the title. To be honest, despite knowing a miniscule amount of his story, I'm quite fascinated by it. It's interesting that I picked it up without knowing about his connection with the above Mao. In fact, I'm reading about three important figures of this time: Mao Zedong (China), Che Guevara (Latin America) and Emperor 'Shōwa' Hirohito (Japan; see below). Just started by it, but it's drawn me in quickly; I'm intrigued.
Progress: 4/754 pages.
5. The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs: Though I am agnostic/atheistic, I have a great respect for religion (if not the organisations they are 'run' by), especially in the help and comfort they offer many of the faith. Thus, I was intrigued when an author whose previous book (The Know-It-All, about his experiences reading the entire encyclopedia) decided to try living the fundamentalist lifestyle for a while. To be honest, fundamentalists Christians frighten me a little. I'm sure they are lovely people, but some of the beliefs (especially toward homosexuals, some of whom are my close friends) make me uneasy at best, downright vicious at the worst. However, Jacobs' quest is really interesting, as he takes a further look at both nonreligious and religious lifestyles and within, at himself.
Progress: 299/332
Secondary Books
These are the books that are technically in progress, but are stalled - ether because I'm currently reading five bloody books, or because I've become a bit bored with them. Some of them I started weeks ago; some, years. Hopefully, this summer, I'll work through them all, either reaching the final page or discarding them, as I occasionally do when a book disappoints me fatally.
(In no real order...)
Orson Scott Card's Children of the Mind (58/370)
Victoria Finlay's Colour (282/438)
Leonard Mosley's Hirohito, Emperor of Japan (20/350)
Kathy Reichs' Cross Bones (80/348)
Michael Cox's The Meaning of Night (74/585)
Jared Diamond's Collapse; How Societies Choose to Succeed or Fail (62/525)
Carol Shields' The Stone Diaries (104/361)
Pamela Douglas' Writing the TV Drama Series (158/243)
George Monboit's Bring on the Apocalypse; Essays on Self-Destruction (116/203)
Richard Cohen's By the Sword (414/484
Dr. Douglas Ubelaker and Henry Scammel's Bones (20/319)
James Hollis' The Eden Project (28/144)
Tertiary Books
If those weren't enough, there's those other books. The ones I've picked up at Goodwill or Costco or Chapters over the years and never actually started. Most of them are very recent acquisitions, while others have just been waiting quite a while. Again, these will slowly work up to the above lists, and either get finished or dropped as I see fit.
(In no real order...)
Ken Follet's The Pillars of the Earth
Victor Hugo's Les Miserables
Iain Banks' Dead Air
C.S. Godshalk's Kalimantaan
Andre Alexis' Childhood
Junichiro Tanizaki's The Makioka Sisters
Mineko Iwasaki's Geisha, A Life
Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran
Robertson Davies' The Cunning Man
Edward Ruthorfurd's Rebels of Ireland
Steven Taylor's Roma
Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes
Nancy Farmer's The House of Scorpion
Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth
Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule
So, yeah. Lots of reading!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
101 Things Updated...?
... Yeah. Well. Things did not go to plan, and school got in the way.
But, this is MY 101 Things, and I shall make the rules. In August or thereabouts, I will edit and relaunch the list and start again. Wish, me, luck!
But, this is MY 101 Things, and I shall make the rules. In August or thereabouts, I will edit and relaunch the list and start again. Wish, me, luck!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
101 Update
Not much. Still no completions, though I've been keeping up with 1 song a day. I missed my first weekly sketch, so I have one more to do this week. Also, convincing friends to help me complete my '1 new restaurant a month' line.
And I swear I'll complete one soon. Maybe finish off the last chapter of "By the Sword" on the weekend...
And I swear I'll complete one soon. Maybe finish off the last chapter of "By the Sword" on the weekend...
Saturday, April 19, 2008
UPDATE 2
So, nine days into my 101 Things. How am I doing? Well, haven't finished a new one, yet...
IN PROGRESS
IN PROGRESS
57. Listen to at least 1 new song a day (9/1001)
1. Ra Ra Riot – Dying is Alright (April 11, 2008)
2. The New Amsterdams – Heaven Sent (April 12, 2008)
3. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal (April 13, 2008)
4. Andrew Bird – Dr. Stringz (April 14, 2008)
5. Lights – White (April 15, 2008)
6. Razorlight - I Can't Stop This Feeling I've Got (April 17, 2008) (Missed April 16, 2008)
7. The Rumble Strips – Boys and Girls in Love (April 17, 2008)
8. Capsula – Voices Underground (April 18, 2008)
9. Lay Low – I’ll Try (April 19, 2008)
Luckily, this is my only daily goal, and it's easy as long as I don't forget (as I did on the 16th).
I've also been making steady progress on a number of books, though the current big ones are Mao and Hirohito, both (funnily enough, considering my usual stance on these) biographies. I've also been searching out and getting my hands on the Indie Spirit nominees so I can watch them, though I haven't sat down to watch any yet.
I've also begun to make mix CD tracklists for three friends, so provided I finish those and get some CDs to burning them this weekend, I'm well on my way to completing another goal! And, another covers post on tBoS done as well...
By the end of tomorrow, I have to complete all of my weekly goals, as it's Saturday. That just includes sketching something, though, which won't be hard. Also, I have a week and a half to complete all my 'monthly' goals for April, as well. I still have to visit a new restaurant and write 3 new showcases for tBoS, all manageable.
As I should finish one every (approx.) 10 days, watching that episode of Be'tipul means I'm not behind yet, but I think I need to get going on some of these!
Friday, April 11, 2008
101 UPDATE #2 (TODAY)
Now that I've posted the pre-completed partials, I can get into the tasks from the list that I completed today, on the start date...
Completed
47. Watch an episode of Be'Tipul.
As of late, I've been intensely addicted to a new series entitled In Treatment, which I've learned is essentially a translation of Israeli series Be'Tipul. I love IT so much, I figured I'd try my best to grab an episode or two of Be'Tipul and give it a shot. It didn't take long, and by today I have amassed about four.
Today, I watched season 2, episode 4. I don't know the actress' name, but she would be in every Thursday episode, I believe. She was extremely compelling, and though I could not understand a word she said, I was drawn into her story and remain very curious about the untranslated dialogue. Meanwhile, Assi Dayan does an excellent job of playing Reuven Dagan, the original Paul Weston. I was pulled into the episode, as I said, despite having no translation, and I hereby begin searching for copies with English subtitles...
In-Progress
57. Listen to at least 1 new song a day (1/1001)
Ra-Ra-Riot - Dying is Fine
Completed
47. Watch an episode of Be'Tipul.
As of late, I've been intensely addicted to a new series entitled In Treatment, which I've learned is essentially a translation of Israeli series Be'Tipul. I love IT so much, I figured I'd try my best to grab an episode or two of Be'Tipul and give it a shot. It didn't take long, and by today I have amassed about four.
Today, I watched season 2, episode 4. I don't know the actress' name, but she would be in every Thursday episode, I believe. She was extremely compelling, and though I could not understand a word she said, I was drawn into her story and remain very curious about the untranslated dialogue. Meanwhile, Assi Dayan does an excellent job of playing Reuven Dagan, the original Paul Weston. I was pulled into the episode, as I said, despite having no translation, and I hereby begin searching for copies with English subtitles...
In-Progress
57. Listen to at least 1 new song a day (1/1001)
Ra-Ra-Riot - Dying is Fine
101 UPDATE #1 (IN PROGRESS)
For my first update, I'll post those tasks which, over the course of my pre-101 life, have partially completed...
In Progress Tasks
11. Learn Japanese
I begun studying Japanese years ago, and while I amassed various dictionaries and phrasebooks, I can only say a couple of phrases.
35. Continue 'TV Journal' at least until the end of 2008.
I've been compiling a listing of every TV episode I watch since March 2007, and I've just recently broken the one-year mark. I want to keep this up, definitely, as it makes me accountable for every episode I watch and helps me organise it, as well.
36. Watch all of Blind Justice (1/13), Eyes (1/12), My So-Called Life (4/20), and Haunted (1/13)
I searched long and hard, for years in fact, for my copies of all of these one-season TV shows, and since I've gotten them I've been lacklustre at best in actually watching them. So, in this 1001 days, I'm going to finally complete each season. Now, Haunted may be difficult, as I have not yet acquired the series finale, but I plan to keep searching in order to find it.
38. Read all volumes of Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' series (1/10)
39. Finish 'Colour' by Victoria Finlay
40. Finish 'By the Sword' by Richard Cohen
41. Read entire Ender series by Orson Scott Card (3/4-5), Shadow saga (1/4-5)
All of these have had bookmarks in them for years now (in most cases), so I want to suck it up and finish them off, once and for all.
45. Read at least 3 biographies (/3).
The first of these is in progress, as I'm just digging into Mao by Jung Chang and Jon Holiday. An excellent read, much like Chung's 'Wild Swans'.
46. Finish reading 2 Jared Diamond books (/2)
I have been stuck in the middle of both 'Collapse' and 'Guns, Germs and Steel' for a long time now, and I want to go back and complete both.
49. Watch all seasons of The Wire (/5)
This show, lauded as the best ever created by many, is also on here. I've watched the pilot, and I plan on continuing to watch.
52. Watch Independent Spirit Nominees (Best Film) for 2000-2010 (6/50)
I love indie films, even though I rarely watch movies. Following Triplux's movie lists, I realised this was the only one I had a real interest in trying. With 5 nominees a year, the list is long, but luckily I've seen some of the nominees.
2001: Memento, Waking Life
2005: Brokeback Mountain
2006: Little Miss Sunshine, Pan's Labyrinth
2007: Juno
66. Reach 200 posts on The Bringer of Song (54/200)
I've already posted 54 times on my music blog, The Bringer of Song, so I plan on continuing the trend.
81. Finish 'Okami'
Again, an unfinished project, this time my favourite game of all time. I'll either complete my PS2 version, or wait and whip through it on the Wii port.
In Progress Tasks
11. Learn Japanese
I begun studying Japanese years ago, and while I amassed various dictionaries and phrasebooks, I can only say a couple of phrases.
35. Continue 'TV Journal' at least until the end of 2008.
I've been compiling a listing of every TV episode I watch since March 2007, and I've just recently broken the one-year mark. I want to keep this up, definitely, as it makes me accountable for every episode I watch and helps me organise it, as well.
36. Watch all of Blind Justice (1/13), Eyes (1/12), My So-Called Life (4/20), and Haunted (1/13)
I searched long and hard, for years in fact, for my copies of all of these one-season TV shows, and since I've gotten them I've been lacklustre at best in actually watching them. So, in this 1001 days, I'm going to finally complete each season. Now, Haunted may be difficult, as I have not yet acquired the series finale, but I plan to keep searching in order to find it.
38. Read all volumes of Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' series (1/10)
39. Finish 'Colour' by Victoria Finlay
40. Finish 'By the Sword' by Richard Cohen
41. Read entire Ender series by Orson Scott Card (3/4-5), Shadow saga (1/4-5)
All of these have had bookmarks in them for years now (in most cases), so I want to suck it up and finish them off, once and for all.
45. Read at least 3 biographies (/3).
The first of these is in progress, as I'm just digging into Mao by Jung Chang and Jon Holiday. An excellent read, much like Chung's 'Wild Swans'.
46. Finish reading 2 Jared Diamond books (/2)
I have been stuck in the middle of both 'Collapse' and 'Guns, Germs and Steel' for a long time now, and I want to go back and complete both.
49. Watch all seasons of The Wire (/5)
This show, lauded as the best ever created by many, is also on here. I've watched the pilot, and I plan on continuing to watch.
52. Watch Independent Spirit Nominees (Best Film) for 2000-2010 (6/50)
I love indie films, even though I rarely watch movies. Following Triplux's movie lists, I realised this was the only one I had a real interest in trying. With 5 nominees a year, the list is long, but luckily I've seen some of the nominees.
2001: Memento, Waking Life
2005: Brokeback Mountain
2006: Little Miss Sunshine, Pan's Labyrinth
2007: Juno
66. Reach 200 posts on The Bringer of Song (54/200)
I've already posted 54 times on my music blog, The Bringer of Song, so I plan on continuing the trend.
81. Finish 'Okami'
Again, an unfinished project, this time my favourite game of all time. I'll either complete my PS2 version, or wait and whip through it on the Wii port.
101 THINGS IN 1001 DAYS
For a while now, I've been taking a look at my life and realising I've been a tad unadventurous. This comes mostly because I've built a bubble around myself, which I don't like the idea of. So, I've decided to take on a challenge. Check out Day Zero to find out the specifics of the project. I've tried to keep mine a mix of bigger and smaller things, but all things I've wanted to get myself to do. As I complete tasks (or complete a step in them, I'll post here and strike it off the sidebar. There are 33 months in the interim, so monthly posts are, for example, marked (0/33) at the moment.
Here's the list in its entirety, based off ones by friend Xandmatt and an excellent one by Triplux, who is on his second. In my second post, I will go through both the items partially already completed (allowed) and those I have completed today, the start date. Following Triplux's example, I've provided 11 alternates - less probable to occur, they will nonetheless work as substitutes if they are completed.
101 THINGS IN 1001 DAYS - THE LIST
START DATE: Friday, April 11, 2008
END DATE: Friday, January 7, 2011
Personal (24)
1. Get a job
2. Go one week without watching television, using the computer or playing video games. (Excluding school/work)
3. Go one month without eating chips or chocolate
4. Go one month without drinking any pop at all.
5. Have one month where no takeout food is eaten at all.
6. Eat vegetarian for a week
7. Treadmill every day, for no less than twenty minutes, for a week.
8. Dye hair
9. Learn to cook at least 5 dishes (/5)
10. Try 160 new foods (/160)
11. Learn Japanese
12. Try some Thai food.
13. Try a new fruit
14. Try 3 new vegetables (/3)
15. Drink alcohol (seriously) for the first time
16. Attend a party
17. Learn to drive
18. Move away from home
19. Learn to do my laundry and the dishes
20. Get new health card
21. Graduate high school
22. Keep a personal journal for 2 months
23. Try a new restaurant every month (/33)
24. Donate $200 to charity (/200)
Writing/Career (10)
25. Write 5 TV pilots (/5)
26. Write 5 spec scripts (/5)
27. Write at least 1 scripted adaptation (pilot or screenplay), of a book, a comic or some other story.
28. Research therapy
29. Research music management
30. Write a play
31. Write a screenplay
32. Actively watch and study 20 TV episodes (/20)
33. Attend university
34. Listen to at least 10 DVD commentaries (/10).
Arts (25)
35. Continue 'TV Journal' at least until the end of 2008.
36. Watch all of Blind Justice (/13), Eyes (/12), My So-Called Life (/20), and Haunted (/13)
37. Go to ten concerts (/10)
38. Read all volumes of Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' series (/10)
39. Finish 'Colour' by Victoria Finlay
40. Finish 'By the Sword' by Richard Cohen
41. Read entire Ender series by Orson Scott Card (/4-5), Shadow saga (/4-5)
42. Read 'Les Miserables' by Victor Hugo
43. Read 20 non-fiction books (/20)
44. Read at least 40 fiction books (/40).
45. Read at least 3 biographies (/3).
46. Finish reading 2 Jared Diamond books (/2)
47. Watch an episode of Be'Tipul.
48. Watch an episode from 2 different Japanese TV series, non-anime. (/2)
49. Watch all seasons of The Wire (/5)
50. Watch 40 movies (/40)
51. Watch an Akira Kurosawa film.
52. Watch Independent Spirit Nominees (Best Film) for 2000-2010 (/50)
53. Read 'The Way of the Samurai'.
54. Watch 'Paprika'
55. Read 'Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain'
56. Watch at least one movie from each of 8 different languages (/8)
57. Listen to at least 1 new song a day (/1001)
58. Make 5 friends mix CDs (/10)
59. Listen to 20 songs recommended by friends (/20).
60. Attend either SXSW or NXNE
Blog ['The Bringer of Song' / 'Alden is Dead?'] (8)
61. Update The Bringer of Song (or other blog) every day for a month, 3 times (/3)
62. Make a 'Top 10 Albums of the Year' post every year (/3)
63. Write at least 3 showcases a month for tBoS (/99)
64. Write at least one covers post a month (/33)
65. Interview at least one musical artist
66. Reach 200 posts on The Bringer of Song (/200)
67. Update 'Alden is Dead?' at least once a month (/33)
68. Rewatch and review every episode of 'In Treatment' Season one (/43)
Hobbies (15)
69. Read and review one virtual series episode a day for a fortnight (/14)
70. Review four VS scripts in one day.
71. Write at least 20 VS scripts (/20)
72. Co-write at least 6 VS scripts (/6)
73. Try 100Words (www.100words.com)
74. Complete NaNoWriMo (NaNoWriMo.org)
75. Complete a three-chapter fanfiction (/3)
76. Learn basics of playing guitar
77. Sketch something once a week (/33)
78. Write 3 songs (/3)
79. Try voice training and learning to sing
80. Learn genuine tea ceremony and perform it with someone
81. Finish 'Okami'
82. Take a night course in something.
83. Play a game of Risk to the end
Possessions (3)
84. Buy a digital camera
85. Buy a book about 'untranslateable' words, ones with no English clone
86. Buy 10 physical CDs [albums, EPs or singles] (/10).
Travel (4)
87. Visit Ireland
88. Revisit New York
89. Visit a new Canadian province (not Ontario/Quebec)
90. Travel by plane
Random (12)
91. Attend a wedding
92. Vote in a national election
93. Learn to ride a bike
94. Design a board game
95. Take some form of martial arts lessons
96. Learn to meditate
97. Read a dictionary, cover-to-cover
98. Learn self-defense
99. Pray
100. Go rock climbing
101. For every incomplete task after 1001 days, donate $10 to charity
101 DOWN
ALTERNATE 11
1. Visit Australia
2. Walk 3 miles in one go
3. Start an annual arts-based charity event
4. See a Waterhouse painting in person
5. See 'Wicked' in stage
6. Write a manuscript for a novel
7. Visit Los Angeles, California
8. Write and illustrate a comic
9. Go to Asia
10. Attend a film festival
11. Acquire and care for a (new) pet
Now, I shall embark on this journey, with whoever reads this following my progress. If not, this is a great organization tool at least.
Here's the list in its entirety, based off ones by friend Xandmatt and an excellent one by Triplux, who is on his second. In my second post, I will go through both the items partially already completed (allowed) and those I have completed today, the start date. Following Triplux's example, I've provided 11 alternates - less probable to occur, they will nonetheless work as substitutes if they are completed.
101 THINGS IN 1001 DAYS - THE LIST
START DATE: Friday, April 11, 2008
END DATE: Friday, January 7, 2011
Personal (24)
1. Get a job
2. Go one week without watching television, using the computer or playing video games. (Excluding school/work)
3. Go one month without eating chips or chocolate
4. Go one month without drinking any pop at all.
5. Have one month where no takeout food is eaten at all.
6. Eat vegetarian for a week
7. Treadmill every day, for no less than twenty minutes, for a week.
8. Dye hair
9. Learn to cook at least 5 dishes (/5)
10. Try 160 new foods (/160)
11. Learn Japanese
12. Try some Thai food.
13. Try a new fruit
14. Try 3 new vegetables (/3)
15. Drink alcohol (seriously) for the first time
16. Attend a party
17. Learn to drive
18. Move away from home
19. Learn to do my laundry and the dishes
20. Get new health card
21. Graduate high school
22. Keep a personal journal for 2 months
23. Try a new restaurant every month (/33)
24. Donate $200 to charity (/200)
Writing/Career (10)
25. Write 5 TV pilots (/5)
26. Write 5 spec scripts (/5)
27. Write at least 1 scripted adaptation (pilot or screenplay), of a book, a comic or some other story.
28. Research therapy
29. Research music management
30. Write a play
31. Write a screenplay
32. Actively watch and study 20 TV episodes (/20)
33. Attend university
34. Listen to at least 10 DVD commentaries (/10).
Arts (25)
35. Continue 'TV Journal' at least until the end of 2008.
36. Watch all of Blind Justice (/13), Eyes (/12), My So-Called Life (/20), and Haunted (/13)
37. Go to ten concerts (/10)
38. Read all volumes of Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' series (/10)
39. Finish 'Colour' by Victoria Finlay
40. Finish 'By the Sword' by Richard Cohen
41. Read entire Ender series by Orson Scott Card (/4-5), Shadow saga (/4-5)
42. Read 'Les Miserables' by Victor Hugo
43. Read 20 non-fiction books (/20)
44. Read at least 40 fiction books (/40).
45. Read at least 3 biographies (/3).
46. Finish reading 2 Jared Diamond books (/2)
47. Watch an episode of Be'Tipul.
48. Watch an episode from 2 different Japanese TV series, non-anime. (/2)
49. Watch all seasons of The Wire (/5)
50. Watch 40 movies (/40)
51. Watch an Akira Kurosawa film.
52. Watch Independent Spirit Nominees (Best Film) for 2000-2010 (/50)
53. Read 'The Way of the Samurai'.
54. Watch 'Paprika'
55. Read 'Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain'
56. Watch at least one movie from each of 8 different languages (/8)
57. Listen to at least 1 new song a day (/1001)
58. Make 5 friends mix CDs (/10)
59. Listen to 20 songs recommended by friends (/20).
60. Attend either SXSW or NXNE
Blog ['The Bringer of Song' / 'Alden is Dead?'] (8)
61. Update The Bringer of Song (or other blog) every day for a month, 3 times (/3)
62. Make a 'Top 10 Albums of the Year' post every year (/3)
63. Write at least 3 showcases a month for tBoS (/99)
64. Write at least one covers post a month (/33)
65. Interview at least one musical artist
66. Reach 200 posts on The Bringer of Song (/200)
67. Update 'Alden is Dead?' at least once a month (/33)
68. Rewatch and review every episode of 'In Treatment' Season one (/43)
Hobbies (15)
69. Read and review one virtual series episode a day for a fortnight (/14)
70. Review four VS scripts in one day.
71. Write at least 20 VS scripts (/20)
72. Co-write at least 6 VS scripts (/6)
73. Try 100Words (www.100words.com)
74. Complete NaNoWriMo (NaNoWriMo.org)
75. Complete a three-chapter fanfiction (/3)
76. Learn basics of playing guitar
77. Sketch something once a week (/33)
78. Write 3 songs (/3)
79. Try voice training and learning to sing
80. Learn genuine tea ceremony and perform it with someone
81. Finish 'Okami'
82. Take a night course in something.
83. Play a game of Risk to the end
Possessions (3)
84. Buy a digital camera
85. Buy a book about 'untranslateable' words, ones with no English clone
86. Buy 10 physical CDs [albums, EPs or singles] (/10).
Travel (4)
87. Visit Ireland
88. Revisit New York
89. Visit a new Canadian province (not Ontario/Quebec)
90. Travel by plane
Random (12)
91. Attend a wedding
92. Vote in a national election
93. Learn to ride a bike
94. Design a board game
95. Take some form of martial arts lessons
96. Learn to meditate
97. Read a dictionary, cover-to-cover
98. Learn self-defense
99. Pray
100. Go rock climbing
101. For every incomplete task after 1001 days, donate $10 to charity
101 DOWN
ALTERNATE 11
1. Visit Australia
2. Walk 3 miles in one go
3. Start an annual arts-based charity event
4. See a Waterhouse painting in person
5. See 'Wicked' in stage
6. Write a manuscript for a novel
7. Visit Los Angeles, California
8. Write and illustrate a comic
9. Go to Asia
10. Attend a film festival
11. Acquire and care for a (new) pet
Now, I shall embark on this journey, with whoever reads this following my progress. If not, this is a great organization tool at least.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
IN TREATMENT: PLAYING CATCH UP
So, I've become utterly and hopelessly addicted to this HBO show, and rumours of a potential season 2 pickup haunt me. Last time I posted I was elbow deep in week 3, and now I'm just embarking on week 8. A lot has happened!
(MAJOR SPOILERS for up to Monday, March 17's episode.)
Laura/Paul - Way back in week one, Laura confessed to being in love with Paul, a plot that sort of dragged in the first few weeks. Since we left off in week three, though,, Laura has quit therapy, which actually looks pretty good on her; since she quit, she's seemed a lot more mature and relateable. She quit therapy back in week five, and she came back for a one-shot in week six after her father began having health problems. Paul then confessed he "has very deep feelings" toward her, but refused to initiate a sexual relationship like Laura wanted - she has some deep sexual and relationship issues that she needs to get over before she can have a real relationship with any man. there have been some intense revelations regarding the loss of her virginity at 16 and how it left wounds that never really healed. Week six was a turning point in the character, as she's been much more sympathetic since then. She didn't appear in week seven, but she reappeared in week eight for Alex's funeral. For once, stripped of the office and their weighty patient-doctor relationship, we got a chance to see how Paul and Laura would be as friends and potential lovers, and I have to say for the first time in eight weeks, I really felt some chemistry between them. I must confess to feeling complicated about this.
Alex - Since we left off in week 3, some big things happened with Alex. First in week 5 he dug into Paul's life and threw Kate's affair and other tidbits of his life in his face, and Paul lost it. He returned the next week and begun to open up about his past, and about how an incident in his youth with a tougher boy mugging him led to his obsession with becoming 'perfect'. Just as he begun to make some real progress into his issues with his life and his father, he turned his back on Paul and therapy to go back to flying, and it killed him. Paul and Laura attended his funeral in week eight.
Now, this is the penultimate week, and next week we're losing both Monday and Tuesday episodes (as I'm assuming the Laura and Alex stories will be completely closed by then). So, sadly, season one is drawing to a close. Luckily we still have the rest of this week and most of next!
Sophie: Since my last post, Sophie keeps breaking my heart. She confessed that her accident was indeed a suicide attempt, and she tried it again right in Paul's office. (This ties in with the Kate storyline - he's been sleeping in the office, and some of his pills were in the office bathroom.) Paul (and we) got a chance to witness the vicious relationship between Sophie and her mother first hand, as she joined Sophie in therapy and Sophie refused to hold back. Sophie's mother tried to make peace, but she's vulnerable as well after Sophie's suicide attempt, and the two fought in Paul's presence. Paul tried to make Sophie see that her hatred of her mother and her idealism of her father might not be genuine feelings but reactions to her father's affairs and their divorce. Two weeks left, in which Paul has to sort out the complicated emotions Sophie still has.
Jake/Amy: Probably my least favourite thread initially, these two have really drawn me into their story in recent weeks. A few weeks ago, Paul finally forced them to communicate: Amy said she wanted a divorce, and Jake begged her to not leave him. Since, his gentle turn (yes, gentle and polite Jake is a possibility, despite his constant anger and frustration in earlier weeks) has gotten under Amy's skin, and she came to Paul in week seven with a worry that she was on the usp of adultery. The 'old Jake' was revealed to be potentially the product of Amy purposely angering him in order to get him angry at her. Paul got her to see herself in a new light by digging into her relationships with her mother, sister and father, but it wasn't enough to stop her from cheating on Jake - and hating every moment of it. Last week, she came clean, and Jake's relief was a surprise. He pitied her, and the sadness at the core of last week's session was palpable. It ended on a cliffhanger, with Amy mentioning that her mother 'never forgave' her for her father's death, and realising that she still needed to be forgiven or else she would continue to punish herself - and asked Jake if he would forgive her. He didn't answer before that final fade out.
Paul/Kate/Gina: A lot on this front since week three, where we left off. Kate ended her affair, Rosie (their daughter) revealed she knew about it and demanded Paul 'fix it', while revelations about Rosie's lifestyle and her closeness with her mother from Kate left her father feeling stung. These revelations were made in couple's therapy, in fact, which occurred when Kate began joining Paul on Fridays. After the Paul/Gina sessions just left be perturbed, this was a great turn, as it's really dug into the core of these characters and their relationship. Kate learned about Laura, and there's been a lot of back-and-forth as to whether Paul's long-term emotional affair or Kate's short-term physical one was more damaging, and Gina has finally got them to see that both are just symptoms of a bigger cause in their marriage. They've uncovered the dependence Kate had on Paul for much of their relationship in terms of the attention he provided her, and how both have grown out of that phase and pulled apart instead of adapting to their new needs from one another. Both want to save their marriage, but I'm starting to feel they've both given up. It's sad, because recently we've begun to see how good they can be with one another. After rooting for neither in recent weeks and hoping Laura/Paul/Kate could all go their separate ways after season one, I've begun to think that despite the deep, deep issues in both relationships, each would also have some great positives. It's difficult.
So, loving this show to death and afraid of a potential lack of season 2. Anyone who can, try and catch up via the net. C'est excellente.
(MAJOR SPOILERS for up to Monday, March 17's episode.)
Laura/Paul - Way back in week one, Laura confessed to being in love with Paul, a plot that sort of dragged in the first few weeks. Since we left off in week three, though,, Laura has quit therapy, which actually looks pretty good on her; since she quit, she's seemed a lot more mature and relateable. She quit therapy back in week five, and she came back for a one-shot in week six after her father began having health problems. Paul then confessed he "has very deep feelings" toward her, but refused to initiate a sexual relationship like Laura wanted - she has some deep sexual and relationship issues that she needs to get over before she can have a real relationship with any man. there have been some intense revelations regarding the loss of her virginity at 16 and how it left wounds that never really healed. Week six was a turning point in the character, as she's been much more sympathetic since then. She didn't appear in week seven, but she reappeared in week eight for Alex's funeral. For once, stripped of the office and their weighty patient-doctor relationship, we got a chance to see how Paul and Laura would be as friends and potential lovers, and I have to say for the first time in eight weeks, I really felt some chemistry between them. I must confess to feeling complicated about this.
Alex - Since we left off in week 3, some big things happened with Alex. First in week 5 he dug into Paul's life and threw Kate's affair and other tidbits of his life in his face, and Paul lost it. He returned the next week and begun to open up about his past, and about how an incident in his youth with a tougher boy mugging him led to his obsession with becoming 'perfect'. Just as he begun to make some real progress into his issues with his life and his father, he turned his back on Paul and therapy to go back to flying, and it killed him. Paul and Laura attended his funeral in week eight.
Now, this is the penultimate week, and next week we're losing both Monday and Tuesday episodes (as I'm assuming the Laura and Alex stories will be completely closed by then). So, sadly, season one is drawing to a close. Luckily we still have the rest of this week and most of next!
Sophie: Since my last post, Sophie keeps breaking my heart. She confessed that her accident was indeed a suicide attempt, and she tried it again right in Paul's office. (This ties in with the Kate storyline - he's been sleeping in the office, and some of his pills were in the office bathroom.) Paul (and we) got a chance to witness the vicious relationship between Sophie and her mother first hand, as she joined Sophie in therapy and Sophie refused to hold back. Sophie's mother tried to make peace, but she's vulnerable as well after Sophie's suicide attempt, and the two fought in Paul's presence. Paul tried to make Sophie see that her hatred of her mother and her idealism of her father might not be genuine feelings but reactions to her father's affairs and their divorce. Two weeks left, in which Paul has to sort out the complicated emotions Sophie still has.
Jake/Amy: Probably my least favourite thread initially, these two have really drawn me into their story in recent weeks. A few weeks ago, Paul finally forced them to communicate: Amy said she wanted a divorce, and Jake begged her to not leave him. Since, his gentle turn (yes, gentle and polite Jake is a possibility, despite his constant anger and frustration in earlier weeks) has gotten under Amy's skin, and she came to Paul in week seven with a worry that she was on the usp of adultery. The 'old Jake' was revealed to be potentially the product of Amy purposely angering him in order to get him angry at her. Paul got her to see herself in a new light by digging into her relationships with her mother, sister and father, but it wasn't enough to stop her from cheating on Jake - and hating every moment of it. Last week, she came clean, and Jake's relief was a surprise. He pitied her, and the sadness at the core of last week's session was palpable. It ended on a cliffhanger, with Amy mentioning that her mother 'never forgave' her for her father's death, and realising that she still needed to be forgiven or else she would continue to punish herself - and asked Jake if he would forgive her. He didn't answer before that final fade out.
Paul/Kate/Gina: A lot on this front since week three, where we left off. Kate ended her affair, Rosie (their daughter) revealed she knew about it and demanded Paul 'fix it', while revelations about Rosie's lifestyle and her closeness with her mother from Kate left her father feeling stung. These revelations were made in couple's therapy, in fact, which occurred when Kate began joining Paul on Fridays. After the Paul/Gina sessions just left be perturbed, this was a great turn, as it's really dug into the core of these characters and their relationship. Kate learned about Laura, and there's been a lot of back-and-forth as to whether Paul's long-term emotional affair or Kate's short-term physical one was more damaging, and Gina has finally got them to see that both are just symptoms of a bigger cause in their marriage. They've uncovered the dependence Kate had on Paul for much of their relationship in terms of the attention he provided her, and how both have grown out of that phase and pulled apart instead of adapting to their new needs from one another. Both want to save their marriage, but I'm starting to feel they've both given up. It's sad, because recently we've begun to see how good they can be with one another. After rooting for neither in recent weeks and hoping Laura/Paul/Kate could all go their separate ways after season one, I've begun to think that despite the deep, deep issues in both relationships, each would also have some great positives. It's difficult.
So, loving this show to death and afraid of a potential lack of season 2. Anyone who can, try and catch up via the net. C'est excellente.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Ugly Betty 2x13: A Thousand Words By Friday
(Spoilers for Ugly Betty 2x13, A Thousand Words By Friday)
An interesting episode, though I doubt I'd have been satisfied at all if it had been the strike-forced finale. Loved the idea of Henry out-Tapping Gio, and it was really a great wake-up call to the idea that Henry is perfect and could never be a cad. I like Henry when he shows a bit of a dark side; it makes him much more interesting than the nice but ultimately boring guy we've gotten for over a season now, I'm still rooting for Gio, but Henry showed potential here.
As for the other threads, pretty good. Amanda singing, meh. I like Wilhelmina's sis, so I'm hoping 'the truth' isn't anything huge and disturbing. I do like how, even if they didn't overtly mention it, you could see Sofia's effect on Daniel here really well. Good episode all round, though they've had better.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
In Treatment: Sophie, Week Three
"I don't have a heart."
(Spoilers for Wednesday, February 13's episode.)
Welcome back, Sophie!
So, a very interesting episode this week, with Sophie revealing she did indeed had a too-intimate relationship with her coach that involved their having sex once. A lot of interesting details shade her story - she doesn't remember ever not knowing Cy, he discovered her, his wife 'didn't trust' him when she left but trusted Sophie, he initiated it with his looks and holding his breath... This Cy guy seems like quite a character, and not in a good way.
Also wondering what mother-related issues Sophie has, considering her disgust with her mother. Her mother's lack of support for gymnastics seems to make sense now that we know about the bulimia, anorexia and now inappropriate Coach-Sophie interaction. The way she spoke about Darlene and how guilty she felt, along with her 'shades-of-transference' hugging Kate last week all seem connected to me. Last week's comment about gossip was also followed through on here, as Sophie reveals everyone thought they were "doing it" long before it actually occurred.
Also of note is how Sophie made steps toward therapy - asking to use the chair for a bit, asking him to pretend they were in therapy, before delving into her relationship with Cy. Interesting that this occurs just after Alex begins official 'therapy'.
I feel very much for Sophie and her ill-taken belief that she 'breaks everything'. Since a big problem with divorces is the children blaming themselves, this rings true with what I've heard, and I'm wondering whether her parents even addressed the issue at all. Sophie did skip from their scary grins to her father moving out, after all. In relation to this, when Paul tells her it isn't her fault, I could almost imagine he was feeling a little connected to it, as he may have to say the same to his children if he and Kate divorce.
I'm starting to want to meet these peripheral characters - Andrew, Michaela, Cy. They really do have an influence on the patients' lives. I doubt we will, but its still an idea that intrigues me.
(Spoilers for Wednesday, February 13's episode.)
Welcome back, Sophie!
So, a very interesting episode this week, with Sophie revealing she did indeed had a too-intimate relationship with her coach that involved their having sex once. A lot of interesting details shade her story - she doesn't remember ever not knowing Cy, he discovered her, his wife 'didn't trust' him when she left but trusted Sophie, he initiated it with his looks and holding his breath... This Cy guy seems like quite a character, and not in a good way.
Also wondering what mother-related issues Sophie has, considering her disgust with her mother. Her mother's lack of support for gymnastics seems to make sense now that we know about the bulimia, anorexia and now inappropriate Coach-Sophie interaction. The way she spoke about Darlene and how guilty she felt, along with her 'shades-of-transference' hugging Kate last week all seem connected to me. Last week's comment about gossip was also followed through on here, as Sophie reveals everyone thought they were "doing it" long before it actually occurred.
Also of note is how Sophie made steps toward therapy - asking to use the chair for a bit, asking him to pretend they were in therapy, before delving into her relationship with Cy. Interesting that this occurs just after Alex begins official 'therapy'.
I feel very much for Sophie and her ill-taken belief that she 'breaks everything'. Since a big problem with divorces is the children blaming themselves, this rings true with what I've heard, and I'm wondering whether her parents even addressed the issue at all. Sophie did skip from their scary grins to her father moving out, after all. In relation to this, when Paul tells her it isn't her fault, I could almost imagine he was feeling a little connected to it, as he may have to say the same to his children if he and Kate divorce.
I'm starting to want to meet these peripheral characters - Andrew, Michaela, Cy. They really do have an influence on the patients' lives. I doubt we will, but its still an idea that intrigues me.
In Treatment
"The customer is always wrong."
What is In Treatment?
It's a half-hour drama that airs each weekday on American network HBO, following a therapist, Paul (Gabriel Byrne, pictured above) and his Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday patients, while on Friday he himself goes to see another therapist. It's extremely well done, with the psychological analysis and the complex characters making each episode a treat. I'm a few days behind - currently downloading 1x13 and the show's up to 1x15 - but I've loved every episode so far.
And the cast is excellent. I never saw Melissa George on Alias, but here she works well as Laura on Mondays, whose big secret revealed in the pilot sets off pretty much all the arcs for Paul that make his reactions to the sessions interesting to see in his own Friday sessions. Tuesdays bring Blair Underwood as Alex (my favourite patient by far), a navy pilot who quickly builds up an antagonism with Paul and has a lot bubbling underneath. Wednesdays bring Mia Wasikowska as Sophie, whose teenage angst is player perfectly as we peer into the life of a talented and damaged young gymnast. Thursdays bring Embeth Davidtz and Josh Charles as couple Amy and Jake, whose couples therapy sessions are my least favourite but still hold a lot of drama.
However, the series is about Paul, and Fridays are where it all culminates - his struggles with his patients and his family all move towards a climax as we, after interpreting a week of hints and expressions, finally get to see what's going on in his head. His sessions with Gina, played by the excellent Dianne Wiest, are revelatory both in their (non-romanitic) backstory and their dynamic. We see that, despite being a therapist Paul will never be able to properly analyse himself, and routinely falls into the same holes his patients do while when facing a therapist.
Another favourite is Michelle Forbes as his wife, Kate. She appears with less regularity, but her character is full of fire and Forbes brings it full force every time we see her. She gets a great showcase in 1x09, one that made me fall in love with the character and hope she comes back with much more regularity.
The writing, acting, directing of this series all get top marks from me. There's something about this series, and how it's avoided more buzz and notice I don't understand. It's challenging to keep up with, but wholly rewarding. I have half a mind to track down Betipul, the Isreali series it's based on, just because waiting 1-2 days in between episodes is agony.
What is In Treatment?
It's a half-hour drama that airs each weekday on American network HBO, following a therapist, Paul (Gabriel Byrne, pictured above) and his Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday patients, while on Friday he himself goes to see another therapist. It's extremely well done, with the psychological analysis and the complex characters making each episode a treat. I'm a few days behind - currently downloading 1x13 and the show's up to 1x15 - but I've loved every episode so far.
And the cast is excellent. I never saw Melissa George on Alias, but here she works well as Laura on Mondays, whose big secret revealed in the pilot sets off pretty much all the arcs for Paul that make his reactions to the sessions interesting to see in his own Friday sessions. Tuesdays bring Blair Underwood as Alex (my favourite patient by far), a navy pilot who quickly builds up an antagonism with Paul and has a lot bubbling underneath. Wednesdays bring Mia Wasikowska as Sophie, whose teenage angst is player perfectly as we peer into the life of a talented and damaged young gymnast. Thursdays bring Embeth Davidtz and Josh Charles as couple Amy and Jake, whose couples therapy sessions are my least favourite but still hold a lot of drama.
However, the series is about Paul, and Fridays are where it all culminates - his struggles with his patients and his family all move towards a climax as we, after interpreting a week of hints and expressions, finally get to see what's going on in his head. His sessions with Gina, played by the excellent Dianne Wiest, are revelatory both in their (non-romanitic) backstory and their dynamic. We see that, despite being a therapist Paul will never be able to properly analyse himself, and routinely falls into the same holes his patients do while when facing a therapist.
Another favourite is Michelle Forbes as his wife, Kate. She appears with less regularity, but her character is full of fire and Forbes brings it full force every time we see her. She gets a great showcase in 1x09, one that made me fall in love with the character and hope she comes back with much more regularity.
The writing, acting, directing of this series all get top marks from me. There's something about this series, and how it's avoided more buzz and notice I don't understand. It's challenging to keep up with, but wholly rewarding. I have half a mind to track down Betipul, the Isreali series it's based on, just because waiting 1-2 days in between episodes is agony.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Some Thoughts About Movies
I'm not a huge movie watcher. I like them occasionally, but despite my love for TV, I prefer the good old book to a movie. Movies are often far too squished, the story too rushed. Think about it - they tell a whole story in roughly the time of a two-hour pilot. It's sad.
However, I do have some favourite movies...
Princess Mononoke: An animated masterpiece from Japan, it tells a beautiful story of the clash between nature and technology while working as a fantasy in its own right. The characters are well-drawn, especially the 'villain', Lady Iboshi, who is very believable as a woman looking out for her people and hardy an evil person. Also, gorgeous.
Juno: Brilliantly written, performed and directed, this is a masterpiece. Ellen Page as teenage mother Juno is better than most actresses twice, three times her age, and I cannot wait to see what comes next from her. The cast altogether is brilliant: Michael Cera as her child's awkward father, J.K. Simmons and Alison Janney as her strict-but-loving father and stepmother, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the hopeful adoptive parents and even Olivia Thirlby as her best friend, cheerleader Leah. Diabo Cody wrote a great script here, as well, and they nailed every relationship with the perfect amount of chemistry - even the supposed-to-be-creepy chemistry that develops between Juno and Mark (Jason Bateman's character).
Pan's Labyrinth: A dark, heartbreaking Spanish fairytale about a young girl in the turbulent period after the Spanish civil War, being tempted with stories by a mysterious creature who tells her she is really a fairy princess and must complete three tasks to regain her princesship. This is set against stories of her step-father viciously hunting down rebels. Just an amazing movie all-round, with the ambiguity of the fairy-tale never wavering, and an ending you will never forget. Ivana Baquero as Ofelia and Meribel Verdu as Mercedes especially shine.
Little Miss Sunshine: The movie where I truly fell for little Abigail Breslin, who was the cutest thing since puppies here. It's a quirky family-oriented tale that offers the moral to follow your heart and be yourself, and does it so well that I refuse to be annoyed at this common message. The entire cast is brilliant, with Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear as her parents, stressed Cheryl and self-help-book writer Richard, Alan Arkin as her heroin- and sex-addicted grandfather Edwin, Paul Dano as her silent brother Dwayne, and Steve Carell as her suicidal uncle Frank.
There's plenty more where that came from. :) Later, though.
However, I do have some favourite movies...
Princess Mononoke: An animated masterpiece from Japan, it tells a beautiful story of the clash between nature and technology while working as a fantasy in its own right. The characters are well-drawn, especially the 'villain', Lady Iboshi, who is very believable as a woman looking out for her people and hardy an evil person. Also, gorgeous.
Juno: Brilliantly written, performed and directed, this is a masterpiece. Ellen Page as teenage mother Juno is better than most actresses twice, three times her age, and I cannot wait to see what comes next from her. The cast altogether is brilliant: Michael Cera as her child's awkward father, J.K. Simmons and Alison Janney as her strict-but-loving father and stepmother, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the hopeful adoptive parents and even Olivia Thirlby as her best friend, cheerleader Leah. Diabo Cody wrote a great script here, as well, and they nailed every relationship with the perfect amount of chemistry - even the supposed-to-be-creepy chemistry that develops between Juno and Mark (Jason Bateman's character).
Pan's Labyrinth: A dark, heartbreaking Spanish fairytale about a young girl in the turbulent period after the Spanish civil War, being tempted with stories by a mysterious creature who tells her she is really a fairy princess and must complete three tasks to regain her princesship. This is set against stories of her step-father viciously hunting down rebels. Just an amazing movie all-round, with the ambiguity of the fairy-tale never wavering, and an ending you will never forget. Ivana Baquero as Ofelia and Meribel Verdu as Mercedes especially shine.
Little Miss Sunshine: The movie where I truly fell for little Abigail Breslin, who was the cutest thing since puppies here. It's a quirky family-oriented tale that offers the moral to follow your heart and be yourself, and does it so well that I refuse to be annoyed at this common message. The entire cast is brilliant, with Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear as her parents, stressed Cheryl and self-help-book writer Richard, Alan Arkin as her heroin- and sex-addicted grandfather Edwin, Paul Dano as her silent brother Dwayne, and Steve Carell as her suicidal uncle Frank.
There's plenty more where that came from. :) Later, though.
Who is this Alden guy, and why's he dead?
The first thing you need to know is that Alden isn't quite as dead as he says he is.
The second thing is that I'm Alden, and I sometimes have a sad tendency to write/speak in the third person. Moving on from that, however, why should you read my blog? Why should I write it? Why bother? Well, that's a question I'm hoping to uncover while working on this blog, posting as it comes to me, but here's what I'm thinking...
1) Virtual series. If you've come here, you undoubtedly know what they are, but for any newbies who somehow stumble in here, I'll sum it up: A virtual series is a series of written 'episodes' posted on the internet, emulating the style of a television show only without the cameras and actors and whatnot. Many are written in the style of professional TV scripts, the style I myself prescribe to. I spend most of my time at this rocking VS site, MZP-TV, and its respective forum (aka my homeworld). I've been writing for VS coming on three years now, mostly in preparation for the big leagues (actual TV) someday. Which leads to...
2) Actual TV-related stuff, like my journey toward that destined showrunner gig either in Toronto or in down in Hell-A, California. Presumably, this will be a good outlet for my random progresses in this field, just as my music blog, The Bringer of Song, is an outlet for my musical ramblings.
3) Random other thoughts. Movies, TV shows, less-formal album reviews, other stuff. I'm not too 'personal' on the net, but I do like to share my opinion, even with an audience of 0.
So, there it is. Alden's dead, but at least he's still around.
The second thing is that I'm Alden, and I sometimes have a sad tendency to write/speak in the third person. Moving on from that, however, why should you read my blog? Why should I write it? Why bother? Well, that's a question I'm hoping to uncover while working on this blog, posting as it comes to me, but here's what I'm thinking...
1) Virtual series. If you've come here, you undoubtedly know what they are, but for any newbies who somehow stumble in here, I'll sum it up: A virtual series is a series of written 'episodes' posted on the internet, emulating the style of a television show only without the cameras and actors and whatnot. Many are written in the style of professional TV scripts, the style I myself prescribe to. I spend most of my time at this rocking VS site, MZP-TV, and its respective forum (aka my homeworld). I've been writing for VS coming on three years now, mostly in preparation for the big leagues (actual TV) someday. Which leads to...
2) Actual TV-related stuff, like my journey toward that destined showrunner gig either in Toronto or in down in Hell-A, California. Presumably, this will be a good outlet for my random progresses in this field, just as my music blog, The Bringer of Song, is an outlet for my musical ramblings.
3) Random other thoughts. Movies, TV shows, less-formal album reviews, other stuff. I'm not too 'personal' on the net, but I do like to share my opinion, even with an audience of 0.
So, there it is. Alden's dead, but at least he's still around.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)