Friday Five

1. Even though, I'm still dealing with some terribly awful tech issues - some my fault, others not so much - I've been enjoying scrapbooking my England trip.  I love the way it's turning out.  I'm only half way through the trip, but now it's getting to the Cornwall fun, which is all beachy all the time, so that should be super fun to see come together!

2. I cannot wait to listen to this Podcast.  I love Jonathan Groff and honestly, how could a musical podcast be anything but fabulous?!

3. I love those dreamy Supernatural boys, and I'm always hoping they'll get some recognition from the late night shows.  Of course, it usually doesn't happen.  However, this week is Comic Con and they finally (finally!) appeared on Conan.  They were dreamy, and hilarious.  Jensen's Birthday surprise keg for Jared, with an added Keg Stand on national television will be hard to beat.  

4. Speaking of Comic Con - what about the new casting for the next Doctor.  A woman and a woman as super-talented as Jodie Whitaker?  Fabulous news!  I'm so happy to see the show move forward.  I loved Jodie on Broadchurch, and I think she'll be awesome as the Doctor.  And I'm also so happy to see so many of the fans getting on board - we won't mention the jerks that are actually taking the time to complain to the BBC about it being a woman...

5. Last but not least, I'm going to New York tomorrow to see a show I know NOTHING about.  Apparently it's called Puffs and it's about Harry Potter, other than that, I've got no idea.  One of my friends is a big HP fan, and she's seen it - and loved it.  Now she wants all of us to go see it too.  I was a little taken aback when everyone was planning to wear HP gear, since I have none, but I side-stepped the themed outfit, and now I'm just super ready to see it!

Three of Me

Earlier this week, there was a hashtag going around like wildfire - #ThreeFictionalCharacters.  The goal was to choose 3 fictional characters that are most like you.  It's taken me a while but I think I finally figured it out.  I LOVED this idea when I first heard about it, but it's taken me the entire week to really nail down who I think I'm most like.  Now that I have those 3 characters, I'm fairly shocked I didn't think of them immediately.

1. Miranda, the character played by Miranda Hart in the BBC show Miranda: She's a single girl in her 30s.  She's awkward, sarcastic, unable to tell the cute boy she likes that she likes him and did I mention she's socially awkward?  In pretty much every episode there's at least one scene - usually more than one - that reminds me of myself.  Also, the cutie she's in love with is Tom Ellis whom I also think is adorable so we have the same taste in cute boys as well.  She's basically a 6'1" British me.
              

2. Dory from Finding Nemo - I have to admit I'm a bit forgetful, not to the extent Dory is, but I've been known to forget random things on a daily basis.  But Dory is also eternally optimistic.  She's a positive thinker and just likes to be around the people that love her. She's happy and enjoys life. She's helpful and is up for an adventure just to help Marlin.  She has all sorts of good qualities that I strive for, and sometimes succeed at. I also happen to think that Dory's advice to Just Keep Swimming is the best advice for anyone going through hard times.  
              

3. Donna Noble from Doctor Who - And I promise I'm not just saying Donna because she's my absolute favorite companion.  Donna is always ready for adventure.  She's lived a fairly boring life being a temp in Chiswick, and when given the chance for adventure and travel with the Doctor she's more than ready.  She's the perfect friend for the Doctor. She wants to see everything's she's missed over the years, and the Doctor is ready to show it to her. She's also completely sarcastic which is pretty much how I live my entire life.  And aside from choosing not to hug the Doctor - come on man!  who wouldn't hug David Tennant if given the chance?! - she's yet another me.
               

Friday Five

1. Love, Love, Love Cigna's new ad! So cute!

               

2. Is it too early to start asking for Christmas gifts?  Because if it isn't, this Tardis watch is so totally on my list.  

3. A pet peeve of mine is when people say that a specific breed of dog - like Pit Bulls or Rotweillers - are evil or dangerous.  Like every single one of these dogs are just ticking time bombs waiting to go off.  It's ridiculous.  And these adorable photos prove it!

4. As I write this, I'm sitting here watching Stand Up To Cancer.  What an incredible movement for an umbelievably good cause.  Science has done so much and by raising funds for to let these researchers work, is so very, very needed.  We can be the ones to end this horrible disease if we can just get a little more involved with the movement.

5. I'm a huge fan of the fact that in 17 hours I'll FINALLY be seeing Hamilton!  So darn excited!!!!!

Friday Five

1. "The Night Manager": I've been waiting for months to see this hit American television.  Now that this adaptation of the John LeCarre novel started, I'm hooked.  It's fantastic!  I suppose Tom Hiddelston is dreamy enough, but I'm really watching for Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman.  They're both just so, so good.  Can't wait to see where the next 5 episodes go - whatever it is, I'm sure it's going to be a twisty ride. 

2. Honestly, the Hamilton cast can do no wrong.  They even say farewell to a music icon perfectly.  How else to honor Prince than by having a curtain call dance party to "Let's Go Crazy"?

3. Not only was David Tennant the absolute perfect Doctor, but he also has the perfect idea for an American Doctor, should that ever be a possibility.  Bradley Whitford!  I can totally see it and while I'd never thought of it before, I'm now in love with it.  I'm fairly certain we Americans would be under attack by the Whovians if we ever tried to produce a Who here, but if we ever do, this needs to happen!

4. Kickstarters aren't really my thing.  I love the idea in practice, but I prefer to wait until the item's out before I spend my money.  But if this amazing photo creation hadn't been completely funded, I would have spent a little cash to get it there.  Having the chance to more easily take really good photos with my phone is just too good of an opportunity to pass up.  With all the fancy buttons and whistles, this thing is sure to be a knock-out product.  Can't wait until it hits shelves!

5. Could the little Prince be any darn cuter?!

Trivia Nerd

~ I love nerd week at Trivia!  It's so much fun.  And I know way more answers than I usually do!  Any time there's questions on nerdy tv or nerdy movie lines, I'm so totally in!

~ The non-nerds had a lot less fun than the rest of us did.  We're all pretty nerdy in our own way, but there were definitely a few of us that were just a bit nerdier - not that that's a bad thing.

~ For an entire team that's never played Dungeons and Dragons, we managed to sweep the category.  Thanks Felicia Day!  Not sure if she's the reason we got the other 2 questions correct, but she's the only reason I got mine right.  Gotta love Geek and Sundry!

~ What can go wrong when one of the very first questions is about Doctor Who?  To make it even better, it was specifically about David Tennant's doctor.  That never happens during regular trivia!

~ I know nothing of Star Wars, Star Trek or the actual, real life stars.  I was so not feeling that theme! Lucky for me, the other nerds did.

~ For a night full of nerdy trivia, there was no questions on Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.  How is that possible!?

~ For as many times as I've seen the movie Labyrinth, I epically failed on a question of a quote by King Jareth.  However, I did manage to get a Princess Bride quote correct, so I'm not feeling terribly bad about my geek card : )

End of Summer Review

Somehow, today is the unofficial end of summer.  I feel like it was just Memorial Day and yet here we are in September with our Pumpkin Spice everything and leaves already falling from the trees.

While I'm not at all happy to see summer go, I have to admit it was most definitely a good one.  One big across the pond trip.  Numerous trips to Naptown.  A day at the beach.  A Navy Football Game. A hot as heck day in DC and a presidential-ish day in NYC. The Color Run for the Second Time and my very first (and most definitely not my last) Supernatural Con. And two concerts - Darius Rucker (Awesome!) and Mumford & Sons (not so awesome.)  I aso saw Benedict Cumberbatch, Jim Parsons, President Obama and the entire cast of Supernatural live in person - oh and I saw Mickey from Doctor Who at Heathrow. I really can't complain!

So, as we all say hello to Fall tomorrow, I suppose I'd like to say, it was wonderful seeing you Summer, I can't wait see you again next year!

Funny Ha-Ha

Today was one of those cold, dreary, rainy days in Maryland - one of those days when you'd much rather be in bed reading a book than pretty much anything else.  There were 2 things though, that made me laugh out loud and one other thing that made me very happy, on top of a great lunch out, yummy potato soup for dinner and some laughs at work - so I suppose it wasn't all bad.

Happy - If you can't tell already, I got my laptop back.  As my friend Jennifer says - Woop Woop!  It's very exciting and while I didn't have a lot of faith in it actually being fixed (Geek Squad could only tell me there were no viruses.  Apparently there were no notes in the file as to whether the wireless was fixed - which was, you know, the whole reason I took it to get fixed in the first place), it seems like it is. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it keeps on chugging along.  Blogging is way too difficult on an iPad.

Laugh Out Loud 1: I may have been the only person to read this story today but some dude decided to strip down to his birthday suit in an airport because his flight was too full.  I mean, I suppose I've been angry at an airport before, but what exactly does stripping down to your civvies do to help the situation?  I'm assuming it makes it worse because now you're cold AND you're not on an airplane, and I'm sure you now have that whole pesky TSA thing to deal with too.

Laugh Out Loud 2: Has anyone else seen the Hillywood Show?  I discovered it today when everyone was tweeting about their new video.  It's 2 girls that create parody sci-fi and fantasy shows and movies set to music.  It's hard to explain, however, they're super creative and super funny.  These girls have some serious talent!  The Supernatural one came out today, and was scene for scene a perfect match for the entire season - the dancing cameos at the end make for some serious laughs.  After that one, I wanted more so I tried Doctor Who's Time Warp which is also all sorts of perfect.  Love, Love, Love!  

         

          

Bestie Christmas

I have the best bestie ever!  Somehow she managed to make me the coolest present in the history of presents for Christmas.  I love having crafty friends!  I've shared my passion for snowheads before but if you didn't already know, I have a thing for snowman heads.  In fact the whole Christmas tree is all snowheads - I promise you it sounds creepier than it is.  The bestie thinks this fascination is weird and judges me slightly for it, but that doesn't stop her from contributing to it.  Two years ago, she made me Neal Caffrey Snowhead - complete with a fedora and blue eyes:

Last year, it was the Doctor with brainy specs, spiky hair and his own Tardis!:

But this year, on top of an already cool melted snow head, beaded snow head and the unrelated tickets to see Jeff Daniels live, she made me Sherlock the Snowhead - curly haired, scarfed and all.  How cute is he?!  Thanks Bestie!  You rock!

Doctor Who?

Sometime in the last year or so I developed a small addiction to Doctor Who - mostly to David Tennant's 10th doctor, but over time, Matt Smith's 11th doctor grew on me.  The sad part was, as soon as the 11th finally found a way into my heart, it was time for him to go to make room for the 12th.  As a sobby mess as the 11th's farewell left me, I'm usually an optimistic person so I was one of the few that was pretty excited to see Peter Capaldi take over the reigns.  He's a brilliant actor who is a bigger Who nerd than most and seemed utterly delighted to jump into the Who-niverse.

After almost 8 months, it was his turn to shine this past Saturday and all the world (seemingly at least all of Twitter) joined around the telly to watch. I couldn't but DVR'ed to watch today.  I was spoiled by the over-abundance of spoilers on Twitter including one big one that would have been a great surprise which I'm still ticked about so I won't mention it here for fear of spoiling it for someone else.  And the verdict, you may ask?  I'm not sure.

Peter Capaldi is brilliant, as expected.  He didn't seem to be the problem.  It was the show in general.  It was still quick and exciting.  The doctor still got all the best lines.  Clara, Vastra, Jenny and Strax were there to bring the laughs, but the show wasn't as "sparkly" as it usually is.  I understand Moffat's hoping to go a bit darker and I'm actually ok with that.  But in doing so he lost all the optimism the show has had from the start.  Capaldi has that same twinkle in his eye that all the former doctors have had, Moffat just needs to let it loose for a bit.  

After all the build-up of the last few years; of the doctor discovering who he is and what his mission is, it sort of just grinded to a halt during this hour.  Also, the distinct lack of plot, was a bit distracting to say the least.  You can have all the great dialogue you want, but not having a plot seems a bit counter intuitive.  I have faith, it will eventually get back to its roots so I'll continue to watch, if for nothing else than to see Capaldi work his magic on Moffat lines ("attack eyebrows" may be my new favorite!) but I know for a fact, it's already turned off at least a few viewers.  My hope is that they don't blame Capaldi though, he really is quite terrific!

Friday Five

1. I said it last week, and it still rings true this week - I'm in love with these Ice Bucket Challenge videos.  Each one is more creative than the last and no 2 reactions are the same. Of course the celebrities are the best, but every day people come up with some pretty epic ideas as well.  Though, I've found a few more favorites that may have beaten Matt Bomer's from last week: Misha Collins (naked in a tub of ice save for a strategically placed blow up horse), Benedict Cumberbatch (dunked not once but 6 times) and Joss Whedon (who called out the entire British Royal family - except for the baby of course because that's just "mean").  Such a totally unexpected phenomenon but such  a crafty way to raise awareness and funds!

2. I found this on BuzzFeed this week but it's originally from Three Panel Soul.  You can totally see these thoughts going through a dog's head, especially the big dopey dogs that are just so happy to be alive and be with you.  Too cute!

3. The only show in this video I've ever seen is True Detective.  However, if their leading men and ladies were always this cute, I'd watch every single one of them.  Little Matthew McConaughey is too adorable for words!

         
4. Three day weekends that include a trip to the beach are always high up on the list of favorite summer activities.  I really believe that if every weekend was 3 days, life would be a bit happier all around!

5. Doctor Who is back tomorrow!  It's been about 8 months since the eleventh Doctor left and left me sobbing on the sofa in the dark on Christmas night.  He wasn't even "my" doctor for goodness sake - it should be illegal to make people cry that much on Christmas!  But anyway, tomorrow's a brand new chapter in the 50+ year show and I'm quite looking forward to seeing what Peter Capaldi brings to the role.  He's no David Tennant, but I'm certain he'll pull it off!  Allons-y!

Spoiled

I received my first presents of the Christmas season this evening from the bestie and she as usual spoiled me. Below you will see about the coolest gift ever!  It might be hard to tell what it is in the picture, but was I little too excited to worry about fancy photography.  This ornament is a TARDIS complete with its own brainy bespectacled, spiky haired snowhead!  How perfect for a Doctor Who and Snowhead fan like me?! Thanks bestie!  I love it!

Bigger, Better and in 3D

I was hoping to see TARDIS-es in Fezzes wearing converse pointing Sonic Screwdrivers, possibly eating jelly babies.  What I got wasn't Comic Con level of geekdom but it was still pretty cool nonetheless.  There were a few TARDIS-es, a great deal of bow ties and brainy specs, even some super long scarves.  It was, in a word, awesome!  

Going into the 3D screening of The Day of the Doctor, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I've seen all sorts of crazy fandom celebrating in all sorts of ways over the weekend, but Columbia MD, isn't really the sort of place that happens.  So I was cautiously optimistic that we wouldn't be the only ones in the theatre.  Turns out I needn't have worried.  The production was completely Sold Out and there were lines everywhere full of costumes and people cracking geeky jokes just waiting to see the film.

During the movie was even better.  Everyone gasped at the same time, and laughed at the same things and even hooted and hollered for the same reasons.  It was unlike any movie experience I've ever had before. Everyone in that theatre really wanted to be there and were filled with the exact same excitement as everyone else.  It was fun to be a part of that community for a short time.  It's much different than watching it on my own, on my couch.  It was brilliant and fantastic on Saturday but everything surrounding it this go around made it 10 times better.

This time around there were extras as well.  Strax doing the rules and regulations for the film watching experience was genius.  The joke in the Doctor's (or should I say Doctors'?) introduction was brilliant and pure Steven Moffat.  And the behind the scenes featurette narrated by yet another doctor was fun and the perfect ending to a perfect evening.  

All I have to say is they really need to make this birthday thing a yearly event.  We all celebrate ours yearly, the doctor should too, if only for our enjoyment!  

Wibbly-Wobbly Wonderful & Timey-Wimey Terrific!

If you've seen Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or pretty much any media this week, you've noticed that today is the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who.  As such the entire world got the chance to watch the special episode together.  You could say I was pretty excited about seeing it.  I've been waiting for months since they announced who would be coming back.  After all the previews that were released this week, I was sure it would be a bit of a letdown seeing as most of the episode had been released already.  

Well, I'm delighted to report that it was most definitely not a let down and will stand as the best hour and a half of television I've ever seen. I've been smiling from ear to ear since it went off and I'm not quite sure I breathed through the whole darn thing ; ) It was magical and fantastic and brilliant and perfect in every way!  And even with all the buzz surrounding it, they managed to jam pack it with surprises and easter eggs a plenty.  I'm amazed that these stayed hidden until today.  Here in America, if we ever would have attempted something so huge, these details would have been leaked weeks ago.  

The writing of the episode was spot on; weaving all sorts of funny little side comments with allusions to the past doctors.  The story was straight forward for a change and I therefore understood everything that was happening.  The acting as always was superb.  Seeing Matt Smith (who I've admittedly never been a big fan of as the doctor - He seems perfectly lovely in real life), interact with the Tenth Doctor was a dream come true. Adding John Hurt into the mix, which I thought would bring it down a bit, only added more spark and fun to Doctor-iness of it.  And the fact that they were able to bring so many of the old faces and some new (I almost fell off the sofa when Peter Capaldi's eyes showed up) was such a tribute to what started 50 years ago and the people that made it happen.  I'm sure the die hard fans surely appreciated the care that went into quite a fitting tribute to an utterly brilliant, unique and un-matchable character.

Bravo Doctor Who!  Everyone involved should be very proud of what they've accomplished!


 

Friday Five

1. Etsy: Oh my goodness!  I've always known Etsy was the best idea in the history of ideas and I've never been shy about expressing my undying love for the site.  But today I realized just how much it affects my gift buying habits.  In a matter of a few hours, I managed to knock about 3/4 of my Christmas shopping out with creative and unique gifts for almost everyone on my list.  You can buy EVERYthing on Etsy and in fact, I believe I did...

2. All of the genuine fun that's surrounding the Doctor's 50th Anniversary.  It's just a television program, and I really don't think we'd be having this many events here for one of ours, but in the UK this is big business.  There are fan outings, live broadcasts, a movie premiere with real celebrities, and even a Google Doodle (which in case you were wondering is the coolest Google doodle ever!)  I know Geek is chic all of a sudden but it's fun to see the geeks and nerds and everyone else having a blast and thoroughly enjoying the milestone (I'm counting myself in that category just so you know).

3. Being warm and cozy in flannel pjs and flannel sheets and 3 blankets on a Friday night.  It's not even that cold outside (60s still even at midnight) but I've been at a friend's house all evening and have frozen my tail off so finally being cozy is a pretty darn good feeling.  I think I may actually be getting the feeling back in my toes and nose...

4. Finally feeling crafty and creative with the camera.  I haven't gone off manual yet but I'm still having some fun.

5. "The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris" I don't usually go for tear jerkers but I loved this book!  It wasn't too terrible; my eyes only went misty a few times but it was fantastic anyway!  

Cute and Cuter

You know it's a good entertainment week when the new Muppets trailer comes out during the 50th Anniversary celebrations for Doctor Who.  Yes, I have to say that I've been spending a bit too much on the Pinterest Geek boards and YouTube this week.  Enjoy!

Friday Five

1. Paragon China on Etsy: I've been craving this pattern ever since my dad brought the tea set back from England in this beautiful pattern.  It's always been my dream to have it as my wedding china.  Unfortunately, Paragon china went out of business years ago so the only way to find the set is in pieces on Ebay, and apparently now Etsy; which makes me very, very happy!  

2. Children in Need special sneak peak:  You're just going to have to get used to seeing the 50th anniversary be mentioned every few days at least until November 23rd.  



3. These gorgeous minimalist posters that show the differences between Paris and New York.  They are absolutely perfect!  Now if she'd just create some London ones I'd be pretty darn happy!

4. Smitten by Britain: My new favorite website.  I spent hours on it the other day.  Who knew there were others out there as crazy as I am about all things England and Britain?

5. Usually I'm grumpy about the whole Christmas time coming before Thanksgiving but this year, I'm totally up for it.  I already have my Christmas tree up at work and I've made some pretty good head way on the shopping.  And you all might think it crazy, but I was actually listening to Christmas music last weekend.  Bring it on Santa!  I'm ready this year!

Currently...

~I am quite curious about this helicopter flying around outside my window...

~I am much (much!) too excited about this happening.  Yes it's geeky.  Yes it may sound ridiculous.  Yes it's probably why I'm single but I don't care.  50 years is a big deal and it looks pretty darn amazing!

~I'm quite chilly which may have something to do with these unseasonably cold temperatures we're having OR might just be the fact I'm always cold!

~I'm trying to figure out which book to read after I finish "Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams" tomorrow.  I have 2 Christmas books that I'd like to read near Christmas but I can't decide if they'll take me the next 6 weeks or if I can fit another in first.  (Yes, this may also be a reason for me being single...)

~I'm feeling ahead of the game in terms of Christmas shopping but far too behind in the Christmas card making department.

~I'm seriously contemplating joining eHarmony due to the whims of friends at work.  Quite honestly a 400 question questionnaire is not my cup of tea but maybe, just maybe...

Geek Out!

Doing my happy little geeky dance today now that this has become available.  It's pretty amazing for about a million reasons, most of which include seeing the Tenth back in his pinstripes, brainy specs and Tardis.  Can't wait for November 23!

An Announcement Heard Around the World...if You're a Geek

It was announced yesterday that this man, Peter Capaldi, would be the 12th doctor to take the keys to the Tardis from Matt Smith.  It's been a firestorm of guessing and betting since Matt Smith announced he'd be leaving.  After weeks of suspicions and discussions it was announced in a quickly produced shiny one-off special simultaneously telecast all over the world.  Now, as a bit of a geek, I was pretty invested in who'd be the next Doctor, but that's not why I'm writing about it.

The most fascinating part of this whole ordeal, was seeing how many people got involved and just how amazing the technology we use today really is.  Somehow, a giant corporation, was able to keep a secret this big from the entire world for weeks without a single leak.  The second someone is cast here in the states, it hits Entertainment Tonight immediately.  But in the UK, they've got this down to a science.  Then there was the one-off show produced in about 48 hours and simulcast around the world.  How in the world were they able to pull this off? Most Hollywood productions take weeks if not months to produce.  The BBC was able to pull this spectacle off in 2 days.  Pretty impressive!

The best part of all this is the fans.  The same fans that have been debating for weeks on end on Pinterest and Tumblr and any other sites, all seemingly united to watch the special then praise the new casting with fan art or graphics or GIFs on Pinterest and Tumblr and any other sites they frequent.  The fans of this show really are fascinating and really invest in the whole spectacle, not just the show, which I think is pretty cool.  In an age when some shows don't often make it past the first season, this show has been around for 50 years and has remained pretty much unchanged.  It really is a testament to the whole shabang the BBC has invested in.  

As for me, I'm skeptical of #12.  On one hand I like the guy.  Everything I've seen him in, he's been marvelous in.  But his characters are mostly shifty or just plain mean, not to mention a bit blue.  Not really qualities you want in the tenant of the Tardis.  But I'm willing to give him a chance.  I hated Matt Smith there for a while and he's grown on me, so I suppose I'll give him a shot; if for no other reason than to listen to that beautiful Glaswegian accent he has : )

Friday Five: Geeky Edition

In honor of the Geek National Holiday that is occurring in San Diego as we speak (aka ComicCon), this week's Friday Five is dedicated to all things nerdy.  Geek out!

1.  I'm slightly fond of UK's Sherlock and can't seem to get enough of this video.  Even if you have no idea what a Cumberbatch is, there is no way you won't at least giggle at his shenanigans.  Adorable!
  

2. This fairly amazing poster apparently inspired by Wil Wheaton and designed by the folks at Don't Forget to be Awesome.  I'm only certain of a few of the references (some geek I am!) but I love the design and the sentiment.

3. I'm not sure how or when I decided that Matt Smith was all kinds of adorable in a non-lovey dovey more bumbling 5 year old kind of way, but it was most definitely in the last few months.  Of course it's now that he decides to leave.  Let's hope that means we get at least a few more interviews at least half as adorable as this one.

4. As a one-time attendee, I agree with every point on this list.  In reference to point 21, I believe that's the exact spot I sat in for 3 hours waiting for the USA panels to start.  Best vantage point for costume watching if I do say so myself.

5. Also as someone who knows exactly what she's missing - the crazy, enchanting, celebratory, geek-love nerd fest - this list is pretty accurate as well. 

 Happy ComicCon Week!