...In which our heroine wraps things up.

Yesterday was: red and fuzzy, from a new sweater.
The best batch of biscuits and gravy I've ever made.
My Production II teacher still hating my final film. Me not giving a shit and accepting the B from that class.
Dancing with Heidi to "Lovefool" while we made breakfast for dinner.
Hugging everyone profusely.
Turning from a sophomore to a junior. 
The end of another era.
Brainstorming about Big Art.
Walking home with the object of affection. Talking about Mad Men, specifically Joan.
Talking about high school drinking. Laughing at my roommate, drunk for the first time.
Cheeks flushed red from being cold, standing over a hot stove, and being infatuated, all at different times.
A cryptic message from a boy at 4AM that I gave only a hazy, semi-conscious response to. 
Watching classmates role cigarettes in rainbow papers during class.
Talking about important things, like which Pokemon is the cutest (Dratini).
Finding out your RA also had a Dolly Parton Barbie as a child. 
One of those wonderful days, where you sit back and smile and forget about all the horrible things because you're just happy that there are people in your life you love, and who love you back.

...In which our heroine is no hunter, strictly a gatherer.

Exciting finds from that contraption they call the internet:

Philip Glass and Sesame Street. Oh yes. This is saved for a point and time that I'll appreciate it more.


44 Inch Chest, from the writers of the most excellent Sexy Beast.


If you aren't reading Ugliest Tattoos on a regular basis, you should be.

I'm so not hip enough for the year end lists over at Pitchfork. -50 hipster points!

I am, however, too hip for Rolling Stone's best albums and songs of the decade. Just because Bob Dylan released an album this decade doesn't mean you have to put it on the list.

Quentin Tarantino presents his favorite films of the year: I only agree with #2 and #8.

Lots of wonderful True Blood casting news. Yeah, it's trashy TV, but it's well-done trash.

Five word film reviews: An Education - Beautiful. Lovely. Unconventional. Nostalgic. Accurate.
A Serious Man - Directionless. Dark. Funny. Minor Coens.

A round-up of year-end film lists. I still need to see A Single Man, Up in the Air, Avatar, and Precious, although I'm not so excited about the last one. I really really really would love it if Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director for The Hurt Locker. 

According to the Myers-Briggs personality test, I'm an INFJ, the rarest of all personality types. Tell me this doesn't describe me. 


And finally, if you need a Christmas gift for me, look no further. I'd appreciate delivery of said item by either Seth Rogen, Jim James, or Christina Hendricks, but just if it isn't too much of a hassle. 

Yeah, it was kind of like this when Cassie and I saw them:

...In which our heroine returns to proper form.

Let's ramble, shall we?

I just saw a delightfully adorable photo of a Boston Terrier in a Santa Hat. It never ceases to amaze me how I can draw equal pleasure from both zombies gnawing on human flesh or a cute baby animal. That makes me nostalgic for Odin's Word, and thinking of Cute Overload. I've been adhering to Sylvia Plath's wisdom lately of taking baths so hot you can only edge in one foot at a time. I don't understand - I hate being hot any other time, but I love hot baths. Last night it was hot to the point that I almost made myself pass out. I listened to "Nights in White Satin" in the dark bathroom and thought wintery thoughts. As much as I hate hate hate Christmas music, I'll listen to "Last Christmas," yes that "Last Christmas" by Wham! any day of the year. Heidi read my tarot cards in several variations tonight which never ceases to amuse me. I don't believe in god, but for some reason I listen to some colorful pieces of cardboard. I got the death card in every reading, which is actually not so bad. The words attached are things like "rebirth, new beginnings, desire, moving on."Another book she has talked about how the power card for Scorpios is death is not the end, but only a chance for resurrection. And somehow death is tied to Scorpios because we're the most sexual of the zodiac, to which the only connection I can make one Neil Gaiman short story talks about how the French call an orgasm la petite morte: the little death, and I suppose they're mostly right. I always liked that phrase or the other French phrase Mr. Gaiman taught me, l'espirit d'escaliers, the spirit of the staircase, meaning you remember the exact right thing to say as soon as you leave the party. I've had many of those nights. Tonight I ate an all-time Hall of Fame Chipotle burrito that had the perfect amount of corn salsa, but just a little too much cheese. John, it's a nice thought that you're telling me all I need is love right now, but terribly impractical. BUT, my finals are nearly done. I put finishing touches on my film today, and I'm a mere sound mix away from never having to shoot another film on a Bolex, although they are very cool cameras. Someone told me Columbia got the very last shipment of VHS tapes, in addition to owning the very last Bolexes. That "exes" looks weird in the last sentence. As people talk about Tiger Woods and Brian Kelley, I realize how little I care about sports. This shouldn't be a surprise, but then again, I haven't seen a movie in theaters in two months, which seems insane for a film major. The Cranberries on shuffle, the song takes me to 1995, Q102, Target parking lot, holding my new stamp shoe Barbie. Emily and I have been binging on 90s music this whole fall, crap from our childhoods that isn't any good, like Third Eye Blind, but then again neither is 80s music and I love that. I've been exploring Tumblr accounts lately - they start frequently with "fuck yeah" and end with "Christina Hendricks," or "beards," or my personal favorite, "beards and bacon." It never ceases to amaze me how much time people spend on the internet, because I know how much time I spend, which is too much, and they spend far more. In seven days, I will be a junior in college. I was at Big Art last night, and Joe told me to stay in college forever, and I nodded, smiled, because he is so damn cute and not nineteen. A man, not another silly boy. Motorhead, alright shuffle, I see we're behaving badly tonight. Skip. Now "Material Girl." Yes, Madonna, I'll listen to this garbage because it reminds of MTV clip specials I watched back when they still played music, and I still played Barbies.

Leah in Production II is using this in her final film. Gave me chills when she showed a rough cut.

ED. NOTE - Fixed "Least Christmas" back to the proper "Last Christmas." I think that was a Freudian blogger slip for actually talking about Wham! in a non-ironic context.

...In which our heroine gives a gift.

A confession, dear readers; I've turned into quite a nice little feminist this semester. Through learning that the true definition of feminism is simply "equal treatment for both men and women," my domestic violence writing class, Culture Race and Media, and some very snarky male film majors, I've become much more assured in my abilities as a woman, and the flawed portrayals of women that the media presents.
This is my final paper for said domestic violence writing class, and one I promised to share with Quarternotelife, posted here because it is still her birthday my time. This is a gift you've helped me work on for years -I feel like this is the paper the two of us spent a childhood researching as we shrieked and giggled in her dark basement. We'd make good case studies about the women who love horror films, and the effects that viewing violence from a young age has. Be warned though, it is fairly academic as I try to be all edumacated and stuff...

Virgins Live, Sluts Die, and the Final Girl Always Wins: The Role of Women in Horror Films
We've all seen it – a scantily clad young woman runs through a house, stalked by a masked killer. Her chest and breasts heave under a tight shirt as she flees the killer, often portrayed as hyper-masculine. Often times, as much focus is placed on what the woman is wearing as the amount of danger she is in. Also common is that this woman has been shown as the “slut” throughout the rest of the film, and acts of violence often accompany acts of sexual expression. Look to any of the major money-making horror franchises – Friday the 13^th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween – and you will find that women are objectified, hyper-sexualized, and meet violent, brutally gory ends. A more disturbing thought then is that a large portion of the audience for these films is young males – what messages do they receive about the effect of violence on women, especially women who express their sexuality. Horror films can be cheaply made, and produce healthy profits, making them a great investment for film producers (Clover 18). Thus, horror films are here to stay, but what exactly do they say about violence towards women? Perhaps more interestingly than the culture of violence they promote, what do horror films say about women in positions of power, such as Ellen Ripley in the Alien films (Stephens)? Or, could horror films even promote feminist ideas with the centralization of a “final girl” who triumphs over horrific obstacles to escape victorious, an idea widely explored by Carol J. Clover in her book Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film (Clover). The exploration of these ideas will be the focus of this paper, as will a study of if horror films have an impact on their male viewers.
The role of sexuality of female characters in relation to the violence perpetrated against them is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of horror films. In a few major examples, the horrors that commonly exist in many horror films get a violently sexual twist on them. One of the most notorious horror films of all time, I Spit on Your Grave, was released in 1978, and featured its female protagonist being gang-raped, beaten, and left for dead by several rednecks (she ultimately extracts various forms of revenge on them including cutting off one of their penises) (I Spit On). In 1981, Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead featured one female character gets dragged through the woods before ultimately being stripped, beaten, and raped by possessed tree branches (The Evil Dead). Released several years later, Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator featured a restrained naked woman screaming in terror as a severed head performed oral sex on her (Re-Animator). Unfortunately, this trend has continued into the 1990s and 2000s: 2007's Hostel: Part II prominently featured one female character hung naked from the ceiling, gagged, and throat slit with a scythe as another woman lay below her, drawing orgasmic glee from it (Hostel: Part II). With these examples and countless others, it becomes apparent that the link between a woman's sexuality and her own death or torture is prevalent in many horror films. Earlier examples include 1978's Halloween and 1980's Friday the 13^th in which a sex act is directly followed by the murder of the female participants (Halloween, Friday the 13^th).
Women who do not exhibit their sexuality in horror films fall into the role of what Carol J. Clover calls the “final girl” (Clover 260). The final girl is often portrayed as more innocent than her other female peers, virginal, and far less sexual. Clover describes the final girl as a “double for the adolescent male... a homoerotic stand-in,” meaning that the final girl does not threaten the masculinity of the male characters within, and could easily be substituted for a male character (Clover 261). Her femininity is repressed to the point where she becomes just like the males within the film. However, Clover explains this phenomenon as actually being a feminist issue, stating that the final girl “triumphs over her the perversity of her tormentor, and in the process undergoes a change from passive acceptance to active dominance” (Clover 260). However, Clover makes no mention of the fact that in this change from passive to active, the final girl is still not allowed to be sexualized or get any pride out of the fact that she is a woman – an example of this would be of the character of Kirsty in Hellraiser, who does ultimately triumph over the evil Cenobites, but yet is left to languish in oversized t-shirts and no make-up, further relating her to her male counterparts and squashing her female characteristics (Hellraiser).
However, there are horror films that transcend both sexual violence against women as well as the final girl mythology. One of the most prominent examples would be the Alien films, featuring Ellen Ripley as a protagonist who bests her male counterparts to defeat the alien. Daniel Stephens, a horror blogger, explains how Ripley functions in the film and subverts her male co-horts: “Ripley is the strong female character who makes active judgements and survives what is trying to kill her. The male character's activity is largely passive - most die quickly, others wait for her command. It is Ripley who makes the plan to defeat the alien which works, while the 'powerless' male Captain makes bad judgements as his unsure plan fails” (Stephens 1). While it could be argued that Ripley is in face de-feminized – with her job as a lift operator, the baggy space suits she wears – it is in the second film, Aliens, when her former life as a mother is explained as she is given the chance to care for the orphaned Newt, and she is allowed to maintain a major part of her femininity that other female protagonists in horror films must relinquish (Aliens). However, the treatment of the other female characters in Aliens, two space marines, fall prey to the horror movie trap of being masculinized and even accused of being lesbians (Aliens). Another film, 2006's The Descent features a core of strong female characters who find cannibalistic creatures as they independently explore underground caves. On the surface, it appears that the women subvert the usual horror film trappings, when only two are left and trying to survive, they end up battling against each other over the infidelity surrounding one of their husbands (The Descent). Unfortunately, it is difficult to come up with a fully positive portrayal of women in horror films, and as explained, even Aliens and The Descent, which appear to be feminist horror films on the surface, fall victim to the same trappings as their genre competitors.
It becomes apparent that the horror films certainly show a skewed view of women, but what effect does this have on the viewer? Daniel Goleman explores what exactly horror films to do the viewer in his 1984 essay “Violence Against Women in Films.” For male viewers, the numbers are quite disturbing: one in three men becomes sexually stimulated when viewing acts of extreme violence towards women, while another one out of three is aroused even when the violence is non-sexual (Goleman 1). The statistics come from a 1983 survey from the American Psychological Association that also found after five days of viewing horror films and then presented with a mock rape trial, the males surveyed sided with the rapist over the rape victim (Goleman). The same effects were not drawn from test males in the group who did not watch the horror films, or even watched hardcore pornography such as Debbie Does Dallas (Goleman). Though this survey is twenty-five years old, it does present some terrifying statistics in terms of how horror films and their treatment of women affect male viewers. Feminist author Myriam Miedzian supports this idea in her essay “How Rape is Encouraged in American Boys,” and uses the same study from the American Psychological Association to conclude that of the “ two hundred and thirty five studies done over the last forty years [the idea that] viewing violence helps viewers get violent impulses out of their systems is a mistake. Viewing violence encourages violent behavior”(Miedzian 156). While statistics and facts about the exact number of men that exact violent behavior on women because they've seen violent acts against women in horror films can't be stated definitively, the evidence certainly seems that it viewing such films is not a totally innocuous act.
However, men are not the only viewers or producers of horror films. Pet Sematary, Near Dark, and American Psycho are three tremendously violent films that all feature acts of violence against women, yet were all directed, and in the case of Near Dark and American Psycho, written by women (Pet Sematary, Near Dark, American Psycho). In a New York Times article, “Taking Back the Knife: Girls Gone Gory,” lesbian author Rita Mae Brown, who wrote a satirical horror film in 1982 with The Slumber Party Massacre, states that the reason she believes horror films to be so popular amongst women is that “films in general, not just horror films, are one of the few places left for women to make progress” (Orange). The article also discusses how women can appreciate Clover's “final girl” theory as a means of feminist catharsis - “audiences love a woman who can take back the knife” (Orange). Perhaps it is for this sense of empowerment and a reclaiming of violated rights, both of mind and body, by masked killers, that makes horror films so tremendously appealing to women.

The topic of the effect of violence against women in horror films, or what exactly makes the “final girl” formula so appealing has not been studied extensively enough to draw major conclusions about the issues. What can be said however, is that the extreme and prevalent acts of violence against women in horror films do have an adverse effect on their male viewers if seen in large quantities. What can also be said is that perhaps a truly realistic portrayal of a woman in a horror film has never occurred, but then again, the media is notorious for stereotyping and making generalizations about all groups, not just women. For the time being, the final girl will continue to triumph over her male counterparts in horror films, and until female screenwriters decide to change the formula, audiences will continue to delight as she takes back the knife.

Isaac Brock is another rock star whose children I'd gladly bear -

...In which our heroine reviews a decade.

I've been reading all sorts of end of the decade lists and thinking a lot about my choices for best films of the decade. This list tries to balance personal opinion with what I consider to be quality filmmaking. I was coming of age in the 2000s and therefore lucky enough to experience most of these films when they first came out, as opposed to hindsight on a lot of other films, so they're much more near and dear to my heart.

 I know you were eagerly anticipating my humble opinion, so without further ado -

20. Knocked Up - 2007, Judd Apatow
Say what you will about Judd Apatow and company, but there are few films I can watch over and over again. Especially comedies, so the fact that I can watch this on repeat and still laugh as well as say "aww" is impressive. I like The 40-Year Old Virgin just as much, but this premise feels more real to me.

19. Adaptation - 2002, Spike Jonze
Here's where my professional opinion outweighs the personal. I can definitely do without Nicholas Cage, but he gives a solid performance here. And from a writer's standpoint, I think this even more so than Charlie Kaufman's other entry on my list is the most clever, best written screenplay maybe ever in terms of plot structures.

18. Inglourious Basterds - 2009, Quentin Tarantino
Too soon? Maybe, but this almost made me forgive Quentin for Kill Bill. Almost. Hans Landa is a villain for the ages, and the last thirty or so minutes of this film made me sit straight up and get all nervous, which is hard to do at this point. I'll be interested to see how well this holds up on subsequent viewings.

17. In the Mood for Love - 2000, Wong Kar-Wai
We had the mood vs. plot argument in class last week, and this film is one of the few examples where I can say the mood surpasses a fairly standard plot in such a way to create a heartbreaking film. One of the most visually stunning films I've ever seen. This is how you do forbidden love, Edward and Bella.

16. Head-On -  2004, Fatih Akin
Please find this film and watch it. On the surface it's a romance about two sets of damaged goods who use each other out of convenience, but on a deeper level it deals with German/Turkish politics, the role of women in society, and what exactly love entails. Beautifully brutal.

15. Punch-Drunk Love - 2002, Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson is my favorite working filmmaker today. Everything about this film works, but   getting Adam Sandler to give a serious performance and the lush, colorful cinematography really stand out. Call it quirk, but any film that can pull off "I'm looking at your face and I just want to smash it" as a romantic line and then make it resonant is just fine with me.

14. Children of Men - 2006, Alfonso Cuaron
Good sci-fi is hard to come by these days, especially good sci-fi with something to say. Alfonso Cuaron is an interesting filmmaker, and here he combines some absolute technical marvels (those long, long tracking shots, the whole birth scene) with a bleak but beautiful scenario. Clive Owen's best role, without a doubt.

13. Wall-E - 2008, Andrew Stanton
There are Pixar films I enjoy more, yes. But in terms of plot resonance and visual storytelling - I'll never know how little ones sat through the first thirty minutes - this takes the cake. Plus Wall-E and EVA are about the cutest robots in love ever. It's the little details - when EVA gets wrapped in Christmas lights, the cricket, the way Wall-E's eyes shift when he's watching Hello Dolly! that make even the coldest hearts melt.

12. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - 2002, Peter Jackson
The LOTR trilogy is a perfect set of films, and an amazing technical achievement. The Two Towers is my favorite for one reason and one reason only: Helm's Deep. If it's on TV and I know it's Helm's Deep time, I'm pretty sure I'd let the house get robbed, lest I be interrupted in my nerdgasm.

11. Amelie - 2001, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Maybe the sweetest film on this list. Wouldn't we all love an Amelie from Montemarte in our lives? My favorite thing about it though is the side characters - like the man with class bones, Nino, the couple Amelie plays matchmaker for - and the magical realism in the production design, from the color palettes to the scrapbooks she makes.

10. Y Tu Mama Tambien - 2001, Alfonso Cuaron
Naughty, naughty, naughty. I watched this far too young, but more than the sex in it, the ahem, relationship between Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna as two young men whose sexuality threatens their lifelong friendship is what stuck most. The erotic factor may be what initially gets you to watch, but this is a gorgeous, tragic film. Alfonso Cuaron, please make another movie.

9. The Dark Knight - 2008, Christopher Nolan
Best comic book film ever, hands down. The most excited I've ever been to see a movie as well. I don't know what to say that hasn't been said already. I've loved Batman since I was a little one, and this is by far the most interesting cinematic rendering of its mythology. When is chapter three coming, Mr. Nolan?

8. Pan's Labyrinth - 2006, Guermillo del Toro
I like to call this "most unexpected outpouring of tears ever to happen in a movie theatre." I knew it would be sad, but this dark, gothic fairy tale is also one of the best films I've seen about what it means to be a child, and be on that brink where fantasy and reality merge just enough. Beautifully shot, beautifully written. That final shot haunts me to this day.

7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 2004, Michel Gondry
The second Kaufman scripted entry on the list, this film would have failed without the touch of Michel Gondry. I love Jim Carrey in serious roles, and Kate Winslet is perfect as always as Clementine. I had to watch this twice to figure it out, which was a rare treat. Every time I watch it, I enjoy it more. The best take on modern romance of the decade? Probably, but at the very least it's the most thought-provoking.

6. Memento - 2000, Christopher Nolan

I'm so glad I've gotten to watch Christopher Nolan grow and develop as a filmmaker. This is his most well-written film, and is absolutely ingenious in its storytelling. It seems so obvious, but yet when you're watching a film play out backwards and you still don't know what's going to happen next...now there's great filmmaking.

5. Lost in Translation - 2003, Sofia Coppola
I really just need to be Sofia Coppola's BFF. Here's another example of when mood overwhelms plot, as does perfect music choice. This is Bill Murray's best role, and I love the unconsummated passion, the "above love" relationship of Charlotte and Bob. I could live inside of this film.

4. No Country for Old Men - 2007, The Coen Brothers
How do I love the Coen Brothers, let me count the ways...the violence that always lies somewhat dormant in their films finally comes to fruition in this Cormac McCarthy adaptation. Chigurh is so terrifying as a villain, and the setting of 1980s Texas shows through every dirty, dusty frame of the film. People complained about the ending, but I thought it was perfect, the way Tommy Lee Jones' sad bulldog face knew his time had finally passed.

3. A History of Violence - 2005, David Cronenberg
This is David Cronenberg's most accessible film, and one that explores the notions of family, trust, and small-town life. The bursts of extreme violence are beautifully done, as the performances by Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello. The whole William Hurt segment is some of my favorite character interplay ever put to film. It raises the eternal question of how well we really know those closest to us, and if we did, what would we do with it. I love the ending, the subversion of the American family dinner for good.

2. There Will Be Blood - 2007, Paul Thomas Anderson
This is what an epic should be. I had visions of old Hollywood when I saw this the day it opened. Daniel-Day Lewis as Daniel Plainview gives one of the best performances I've ever seen. There is so much that is perfect about this film - Johnny Greenwood's score, Robert Elswit's cinematography, Paul Dano as Planview's foil, the oil derrick scene. Some people I know (*cough* ChemGuy) thought the ending was anti-climatic, but I didn't move for the entire last twenty minutes out of fear. Yes Daniel Plainview, you do drink my milkshake.

1. Almost Famous - 2000, Cameron Crowe
I can say with certainty there are better films on this list, but I've never seen anything I enjoy as much as this film. I just want to crawl inside of it and live there forever - it makes me nostalgic for a time I never lived through. I aspire to be Penny Lane, or at least be half as cool as she is. I remember the cold chills I got the first time watching this and "Tiny Dancer"came on, and I still get them. There's so many perfect moments of music and laughter and love in this film. Crowe really gets what it is, as band-aid Sapphire states "to truly love some silly little piece of music or band so much that it hurts."  One list I saw named this as the rom-com of the decade, but it's that and a road movie, and a rock movie, and a coming of age film.  I know the dialogue verbatim at this point. There is no doubt when watching the love for this life that Cameron Crowe has for this era - he was William after all. And if you haven't seen the vastly superior but out of print bootleg cut, please find it. The additional scenes add so, so much. It's my favorite film ever, and that's all there really is to say.

While every frame is perfect to me, I especially enjoy watching William's reactions, and how "River" comes in as Penny starts to cry when she sees Russell. I want a tackle box like hers.

...In which our heroine has a case of the Tuesdays.

Some thoughts for a Wednesday morning...it might be noon, but it's morning to me:

-I woke up with a headache because I dreamt something about my parents getting divorced, or slept incorrectly on my pillow. It's a grey, yucky day so I slept longer than I probably should have.
-American Dad is so terribly unfunny, but I had to watch a full episode to see cartoon versions of My Morning Jacket and Zach Galifianakis and their wonderful (albeit animated) beards.
-My shoot for my final film is tomorrow. I am doing my best not to freak the fuck out. A delightful classmate named Pam is lending me her gear tomorrow and thus I am saved another day by the filmmaking gods. Wish me luck.
-Speaking of tomorrow, the schedule is - 8AM-5PM: make a movie, 6PM-9PM: go to class, 10PM-5AM: take the bus home. Caffeine, don't fail me now.
-I CAN'T WAIT TO BE HOME.
-I'll be home until Sunday afternoon. I hope I get to see everyone, but there's always someone that gets neglected and I feel bad. There never seems to be enough time when I'm home, but I'll try!
-Who wants to go Black Friday shopping with me? I'm a pro - my dad and I go most years. I want Zack and Miri and Pineapple Express for cheap from Best Buy so there is more Seth Rogen in my life.
-I want to make pies for Thanksgiving, but won't be home in time :( My mom has proclaimed it's high time for bacon to make it's way onto the table.
-WAFFLE HOUSE. We'll meet again this weekend, hopefully post midnight, with those silly boys I spent so much time with in high school.

Spurned by a conversation this weekend, my ten favorite albums of the decade not in order:
The White Stripes - Elephant
Radiohead - In Rainbows, although Kid A is a better album
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
The Arcade Fire - Funeral
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
My Morning Jacket - Z
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes


And my ten favorite albums of all-time, in order:
The Cure - Disintegration
Pixies - Doolittle
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Nirvana - Unplugged
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
Roxy Music - Avalon
The Replacements - Tim
Radiohead - In Rainbows
My Morning Jacket - Live at Bonnaroo 2008 - maybe shouldn't count since it's a bootleg, but oh well.

Best of's for Neil Young and The Allman Brothers Band also rank, but I thought they should be disqualified for being greatest hits.

I'm going back to Ohio, but my city is gone.

...In which our heroine provides an update.

I've been trying to come up with things to write about my birthday, but it all seems silly. I wanted to talk about how fantastic it was to reunite with the delightful boys of 813, how delicious my pumpkin cream cheese frosted cake was, how PBR is really rising in likability in the beer index. How much my lungs hated me the next day, how my friends know me well enough that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and a dream encyclopedia were received, how there are few things more enjoyable then smoking on a deck on a chilly fall night. But those are most of the details I remember - it wasn't quite as bad as the Alice B. Toklas brownies strip club visit from last year, or the unfortunate night of shots done off a certain high school textbook that was 18 - but it's a little foggy. It was a wonderful night and I am officially two decades old.

A brief product endorsement: I never shop at Victoria's Secret. Their bras have never fit before, but I had a really good coupon and decided to try the new Miraculous bra. I have seen the light. Ladies, in case you're curious, it is not only miraculous but divine. Worth every penny for the compliments you'll receive.

It's the school week from hell, and I just want to be home for Thanksgiving and reunite with everybody. Being home does kind of put me in a weird head space though - I miss it once I'm there, but the whole time I can't wait to get back here. I went through a bunch of old stuff when I was home last week, and it's just strange. I feel so removed from that life, and home doesn't really feel the same anymore. I do miss the people though, and that's reason enough.

I love Twitter more than Facebook right now. I enjoy it not even so much for my writing on it, but reading other people's accounts. Stan Lee and Roger Ebert are particular favorites. Give it a try... www.twitter.com/katydidnt_

BIG ART! had it's first meeting this week. Briefly, they are the organization I worked for this summer, part of Columbia's Center for Community Arts Partnerships and we're trying to get a student organization off the ground. This week I get to enlighten 20 or so Chicago public high school seniors about Columbia, the film program, and the summer intensive I worked in. I really enjoy the time I spend working with them, and we'll just ignore that one of my bosses happens to be an adorable, flannel-wearing, bearded lumberjack. I'm really good at being attracted to people I shouldn't.

And these look fun -

Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges trying to bait the Academy

Kick-Ass from Matthew Vaughn, director of Layer Cake


Leaves of Grass with the "I don't know why I think you're cute but I do" Edward Norton.

...In which our heroine looks ahead.

I have survived dear readers. As of today, I'm no longer deemed contagious by Columbia College and back in my dorm. Which was a total fucking mess when I returned thanks to my ever-delightful roommate. Alas, I am feeling better by the day, and honestly just want to get back to all of my classes at this point and start playing catch-up.

I register for the classes tomorrow that will make me a junior, which seems terribly odd. In a 5AM fever delirium I figured out a loose plan for the next couple of years: Continue majoring in Screenwriting, minor in Women and Gender Studies. Second semester senior year, go to LA and see if I can sell a script or get an internship before graduating. If I can't, I'm going to join Americorps and go to either Seattle or California, spend a year doing that and living, maybe applying to grad schools. It all sounds easy laid out as such, but I'm sure there will be a bunch of delightful speed bumps along the way.

Speaking of growing up, I am being pretty lame considering in three days I won't be a teenager anymore and won't have as much leniency for bad behavior. Stupid flu. I bitched a lot about 19 being a boring age, but it has by far been the most amazing, beautiful, creative, heartbreaking, stressful, and sad year of my life. I've grown in ways I can't explain, and some I can. I fell in and out of love, was wildly creative, adjusted to living in a big city and away from home, expanded my consciousness through methods legal and otherwise, and most of all decided what it is I'm meant to do in this life - at least I hope so. 20 sounds so old! Where does the time ago - I saw a commerical for the tenth anniversary of "...Baby One More Time" and nearly puked.

I am deeply embedded with the citizens of Twin Peaks. The first season is as perfect as television gets, and oh so wonderfully weird. I can't believe it was broadcast on network back in the day. The whole idea that a single mystery can bind twenty plus hours of a story is brilliant. And all this praise comes knowing even what the outcome of the show would be. Speaking of perfect television, Mad Men's season finale was fabulous. After a slooow season, Matthew Weiner amped up the stakes. I've come to realize that I hate Betty Draper with a fiery passion. It was nice to see subtle moments of character development for Don, Peggy, Pete, Harry, and Roger. Oh, and JOAN IS BACK, BITCHES. I was so glad to see her in her mod 'lil black pants and sweater-set, looking fierce as always. I also realized there are at least four people on Mad Men I'd make out with, now that's good TV! Something about television has appealed much more than film to me lately, maybe it's the Production II blues, but I really like the short-form and how well the nuances of character can be explored.

On a final note, I thank my grandfather and all the veterans for their service today. I can't imagine how much worse the horrors he saw in WWII were than what he actually told us about. Though I may not always agree with the cause, I'll always support the men and women who are willing to sacrifice and dedicate their lives to support it. Thanks, veterans, for doing something I never would or could.

I couldn't find an acceptable video of Neil Young's "War of Man" so this'll have to do.

...In which our heroine is in the trenches

Swine flu, Day 5. I am feeling somewhat better, but still pretty woozy. I can't do much of anything without feeling like I'm gonna pass out, but my fever is gone. I'm pretty sure I have a double ear infection now, which is unfortunate but not surprising. I do like having an excuse to sleep for 12 hours at a stretch.

I have no idea when I'm going back to Chicago - I have a bus ticket for Monday, but I'm guessing I'll need a doctor's clearance before I do so. I hate missing so much class, but I can't really do anything about it. I'm trying to remember the last time I had the flu, which was Christmas when I was eight, but as far as I can tell, this isn't that much worse. It came on quicker, but feeling shitty is still feeling shitty.

Watched Antichrist yesterday, and believe the hype, it's terrible. I can see why Cannes was all in a twist about it, I just don't know how anyone actually enjoyed it. A large part of the plot is poorly done sex scenes between Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. The shock moments weren't even that shocking - maybe I'm just callous to violence but I was like yeah, she just severed his testicles and then performed self-circumcision, but it's so fake looking. Nevermind that the overall message is the inherent evil in women. Not worth anyone's time.

I started watching Twin Peaks too. I like it so far, weird as it is, and it'll help fill that Mad Men gap after Sunday. David Lynch gives me mixed feelings - he's either brilliant or bat shit crazy, but probably some of both. I really enjoyed Blue Velvet, but Wild at Heart and Mullholland Drive left me cold. My parents both loved Dale Cooper and company, so I'll probably like it as well.

Tonight's thrilling activity includes watching The Godfather Part II, which I have sadly never seen. I'm definitely in the higher tier of Columbia film students in terms of what I've seen, but there are still areas where I lack. A girl in Production II has never seen Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, ET, Forrest Gump...the list goes on and on. This is sadly the case with a lot of film students, and I wonder what it is that made them want to go to film school then. The Dark Knight is often the answer, seriously. I love it too, but c'mon kids...

It's probably nap time again. I am just too much fun!

...In which our heroine is ill.

You know what sucks? Is when the antibiotic you're taking for your sinus infection works well for that, but makes you so sick you can't eat without puking. Or drink anything beyond green tea. But I can breath. Tough call there.

I officially broke up with Glee tonight. So much potential - too much in fact. Something I read today mentioned how they liked slow-burning story-lines more. I agree. Only three episodes of Mad Men left. Le sigh.

In all probability, I'll be going to the third, just announced Pixies show simply because: why not. How many more chances will I have to see them (few), and the opening band for that show is Bad Lieutenant, which features Bernard Sumner of New Order/Joy Division fame, which is as close as I'll ever get to seeing them. I digress.

Pre-production, and my first editing project are due tomorrow. I cannot believe it is midterms already, despite the fact that I only have one, and it's a project. I'm still not excited about my group for the film, but I can't do anything about it. I did make a couple of friends in that class - Leah, who has the most proficient liquid eyeliner skills I've ever seen, and Daniel, who ironically enough I met last year through you-know-who. They were roommates. Small world. We created the whiskey commercial scene from Lost in Translation Tuesday in class which was pretty fantastic. Set design and hair/make-up done by yours truly.

This is a ramble-y sort of post, just less artful. I ran into the boys tonight - smoking outside of Harold's Chicken, unsurprisingly - and I think Ben was actually glad to see me. I thank him for not being an asshole. Take note, men.

What is with the number of pregnant girls/moms I know on Facebook? There is not a more terrifying thought than being a mommy. You are girls indeed, not women, and birth control is $9 a month at your local Walmart. Being adult enough to have sex means you're adult enough to have a baby too, not get your bellybutton pierced afterwards. Kids today...

...In which our heroine is a copycat.

Stealing a page from the delightful Miss Cassandra (that sounds like a groupie name and makes me think of Almost Famous. Can we be Miss Cassandra and Miss Kate from now on?)...

Currently -

Drinking apple juice and a enjoying Halloween-sized Twix, thanks momma.

Watching Castle, which is a sub-par show at best but it has Nathan Fillion. Thus, I accept its mediocrity.

Finishing Production II homework, avoiding Culture Race and Media like the plague.

Talking to Emily, despite the fact that she left my apartment no less than an hour ago.

Breathing like Tony Soprano thanks to my diagnosed, and now antibiotic treated sinus infection.

Last movie watched - Honestly, I was disappointed. The first hour or so was fabulous, and I loved the wild things, but I thought the story didn't go anywhere or carry any emotional weight.

Last song listened to - I don't know a damn thing about this guy, other than I love the upbeat sadness in this song.

Last book read - Borrowed from Heidi. Not that interesting, and didn't tell me much I didn't already know. I was proud of myself for knowing all the things discussed in the Chicago chapter.

Last item cooked - I wish I could make pot roast like my mom's. It just isn't the same...

Current desktop background - This is perfect Seth Rogen from Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Do you know boys like this? Send them to Chicago and give them my number.

Article read - Justice Says It Won't Go After Medical Marijuana Users from Time magazine. It's about time. I can has legalization?

Phrase said - "Really?" In response to WGN's use of "Werewolves of London" in their cheesy ass Halloween story.

...In which our heroine is tired of clever titles.

I'm watching Knocked Up for least the 20th time. I've seen The 40-Year Old Virgin at least that many times. There are some films I can watch repeatedly, and others that a one-time, or every once in a while viewing is plenty:

If it's on, I'm watching:

Pulp Fiction - I've seen Vincent and Mia dance over a hundred times, I'd guess.

Boogie Nights

Almost Famous

Blade Runner

Fight Club

True Romance

Pretty in Pink

Love Actually

The Shawshank Redemption

From Dusk 'til Dawn

Things to do in Denver When You're Dead

The Big Lebowski

Casablanca

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

When I Was Little:

Hook

Addams Family Values

The Halloween Tree

Scooby Doo and Ghoul School

Matilda

Beetlejuice

The Little Mermaid

Super Mario Brothers: The Movie

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

The Mask

Twister

Mars Attacks!

Films that I cannot watch often:

Salo: 120 Days of Sodom - there will never be anything to top the horrors in this

Requiem for a Dream

The Acid House

28 Weeks Later

Dead Alive

Audition

American History X

Chinatown

The Descent

Lots of lists lately. Don't blame me, I'm sick again with this goddamn cold. Mono has depleted my immune system to a sad level. And right in time for midterms! Lucky me. I did finish my editing project today, and learned about the sound mixing process. I saw the Gossip last night and it was fabulous. They covered "What's Love Got to do with It," "Psycho Killer," "Smells Like Teen Spirit," and "We Are the Champions" to an electro-punk beat. Beth Ditto is fucking fierce and I ran into her right before the show. Her voice was better live then recorded, and she was sick. It also marked my first solo concert, but I was too busy dancing to care.

Also, I'll be back in the Queen City November 6-9th. Plan accordingly.

...In which our heroine suggests.

A quick list of the best movies you've never seen. Well, you might have seen them, but more often then not I get a blank look when these are mentioned. I own the first three on the list, and they rank high on my list of favorites.

The Sweet Hereafter - I recommend this film to everyone. It's beautiful and tragic and perfect. Saying too much spoils it.

Things to do in Denver When You're Dead - If you think Walken is good in Pulp Fiction, give this a whirl.

Head-On (Gegen die Wand) - The AV Club just added this to their new cult canon. This is one of, if not the best films I've ever seen about love.

Imitation of Life - It seems dated now, but I still love it. Race and familial relations, all in glorious Technicolor.

The Brotherhood of the Wolf - Graphically violent and beautiful. A great guy movie. Oh, and Monica Bellucci as a courtesan.

Ratcatcher - Sorry for the lack of trailer. This punches you right in the guts, but perfectly captures 1970s Scotland.

In The Mood for Love - Every aspect of this film is beautiful, but color symbolism and mood are perfect. Another great love story.

The Proposition - BRUTAL. But awesome, especially if you like westerns. Nick Cave scores it, which gets major bonus points.

Foxes - Probably the best film I've ever seen detailing the emergence of sexuality for teenage girls. And bitchin' 80s Jodie Foster AND Cherrie Currie of the Runaways.

Trust - My beloved Trust. Stars Adrienne Shelley of Waitress fame, who died too soon. It still isn't on DVD, but it is on Youtube...

Mysterious Skin - Like (500) Days of Summer? Yeah well Joseph Gordon-Levitt is phenomenal in this as a young gay hustler with a traumatic past.

Near Dark - Vampires. Road movie. Western. Kathryn Bigelow. Total badassery.

Exotica - No trailer again, and this is the only scene I can find, sorry it's a striptease. This is a good explanation though of what you think Exotica will be like, and it totally subverts those expectations.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - The saddest film I've ever seen. Period. I cried for the entire second hour. My dad cried, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen that happen. Don't read anything more about it, watch it. The less you know the better.

What did I miss?

...In which our heroine has seconds.

There are sites and blogs I check everyday - things like / Film, The A.V. Club, Time Magazine, and all of my delightful gossip sites. But there are unsung heroes, things I still enjoy but don't read everyday. In case you're curious:

Cake Wrecks: Sometimes cakes don't turn out so well. Here, they get their time to shine.

Food Porn Daily: I'm trying to be a better cook. The dishes on here make me want to work harder. Click, and something else awesome appears.

This is Why You're Fat: Most of the stuff on here is inedible, but when it works, like bacon ice cream, it really works.

That Obscure Object: Just a bunch of photos of wonderful celebrity things, like Christina Hendricks, the Goonies, and old photos. Lots of pretty ladies.

JBlyth: I don't even know what to call this one. It's just a lot of cool photos that change from black and white to color and generally fit a theme - tattoos, nudes, animals, whatever.

The Frisky: A fun and varied sex blog, written mostly by women who talk about more things than 101 Ways to Spice Up Your Love Life! which I'm pretty sure is in every issue of Cosmo ever.

Savage Love: Ah, Dan Savage. I remember when I felt like quite the scandal for reading this. Now I mostly just think it's made up, but it's still a weekly read. I have to settle since Tristan Taormino quit doing Pucker Up.

I Did it for Science: Nerve can be pretentious, but these are lots of fun.

Sci-Fi Squad: An offshoot of / Film, it covers all things sci-fi.

Horror Squad: See above. Yes, I am indeed female.

Box Office Mojo: Gotta read about the weekend box office and this is the best place to do it.

Metacritic: I much prefer this to Rotten Tomatoes in terms of rating movies and other media.

Fuck Yeah Animals with Casts: I think the name says it all.

Mental Floss: Random crap that is terribly interesting. It has replaced my semi-obsessive reading of Wikipedia.

I hate this building on the weekends. Somebody puked in an elevator, which is still parked on this floor. Stupid drunk freshmen.

It's a rainy night, perfect for The Smiths:

...In which our heroine is a heartbreaker.

I did something new and liberating last night: I broke a boy's heart. This sounds cruel, but I'll explain. For the first time ever, I didn't get mine stomped on and said goodbye on my terms without being heartbroken. Bachelor No. 3 and I had one date Thursday which went well...then he showed up drunk, on my doorstep, at 4 AM. The phrase "I love you" was mentioned as that I was his favorite thing over beer and whiskey. Tempting, I know. We had another date Monday and it was apparent things were not going to work out. He likes George Lopez, and "hates zombie movies because they're stupid and the same thing over and over." (!) He still tried to tell me a week wasn't enough time to know if I was into him, but I gave him the boot.

It feels awesome to have not lingered with a guy because he wasn't exactly what I wanted. I didn't try to fix him. I didn't obsess. I didn't force something out of nothing. I said goodbye and moved on. I know it sounds like a crazy concept, but for me it was a major step forward. I was in the power position for once. Unless someone truly fantastic crosses my path, I'm saying no thanks to dating. I swear I'm toxic - somedays I think there's a flashing neon sign on my chest that says "Are you damaged and/or a substance abuser? THEN COME ON DOWN!" I love men, but they make me crazy.

Otherwise, I'm boring. School is kicking my ass - when I leave for class at noon it'll be non-stop until 10 PM. YAY! Oh, I got Pixies tickets for both nights with no trouble! I'm so very excited. My poor, weak immune system is doing its best to fight off a fall cold. I simply do not have time to get sick. My roommate still sucks. A lot. She doesn't sleep here, and I wish she would gethefuckout.

I just realized Zombieland and A Serious Man open on the same day - how's that for some disparate awesomeness. What a weak year it has been in film - I'm hard pressed to think of anything I've seen that'll get a Best Picture nod. The Hurt Locker? Too political, and too indie. Up? Not even Pixar's best. Most of the prestige pictures are coming - The Lovely Bones, The Road, Amelia, Nine, Up in the Air - but even then, that's still pretty weak. What am I most excited for? The Road, Where the Wild Things Are, Avatar (I don't care what you say, James Cameron makes awesome action films), Nine, The Lovely Bones, Up in the Air, A Serious Man, Sherlock Holmes, Precious, Antichrist, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Pirate Radio, An Education. So much for film school ruining films.

In honor of my ticket acquisition, this is exactly how I hope to hear "Cactus" in November:

...In which our heroine is cautiously optimistic.

As expected, it's been nearly a week without a post. Busy, busy Katydid. But it's a good busy, a productive and optimistic busy. I'm liking it.

Classes have been really good so far. Wednesdays are my favorite and I had two wonderful discussions today - one about gender roles and the objectification of women in advertising, and the other about the language of domestic violence. Heavy, but interesting stuff. Math is a joke. Production II isn't going quite as wonderfully as I'd hoped, but it's still early.

And now I provide a warning: please, don't go see Jennifer's Body. It was even worse than anticipated, even though it was free. I really do appreciate the fact that Megan Fox is smokin' hot (and she is in the film) but she just cannot act. Everything is wrong with the movie - a bad script by Diablo Cody that attempts to deconstruct high school stereotypes but instead just enforces them, cheesy effects, poor editing/cinematography choice, and no real plot. I could get really film snob on the ideas presented on gender and the female notion of beauty and friendship, but I'll spare you. Everything that happens in the movie you can figure out from the trailer. EVERYTHING. Stay far, far away.

The season finale of True Blood proved that it is one of the best shows on television. Yes, it's campy and over the top and the central romance of Bill and Sookie is boring as shit, but damnit, it's fun. More Eric was certainly needed, and I'll miss Maryann, but season three will be promising. The Emmys are this weekend and Mad Men better win big.

And in this edition of Katydid in the City, I break my own rules, again. I made it a whole ten days into the semester before meeting a boy. Heidi fixed us up and we've hung out the past couple nights. There is a pseudo-date tomorrow. Details to follow about said boy as they become pertinent. He is a sweetheart though. Cautious optimism, that's the idea.

I would very much like some of those boneless wings from Wendy's at this present moment. And a Frosty. And like three middle bites of a double cheeseburger. And an iPhone. And a baby anteater. It's the Darlene wedding episode of Roseanne, which luckily I'm tired enough not to cry at. I will forever have a crush on David.

This is probably my favorite song off of the Fleet Foxes debut record. Lovely:

...In which our heroine gets all educated and stuff.

A real, honest to goodness blog entry. No more strings of random thoughts for a while, and probably not as many post simply because I, like most of my friends are having that "oh shit" moment. I will be much, much busier this semester than previously. I just found out I'm president for BIG ART, which is still in the formation stages, but going well.  Classes galore!

Production II: A continuation of last semester's Production I, with the addition of color film, more advanced camera, post-sync (after shooting) sound, and digital editing. We got a chance to work with the Avid software today which is intimidating but doable. My professor has lots of real world experience (The Sopranos!) so he's stressing things like professionalism and resumes. And they're are SIX GIRLS in my class. Whoa.

Writing and Rhetoric II - Writing Women Safe: I was in a mood of utter awe after this class, which is a requirement, but I chose to do one where domestic violence is the focus. It was incredibly intense - my professor, who is super nice, is a survivor, and I'll be volunteering at a battered women and family shelter over the course of the semester. Heavy, heavy stuff, but something that will be beneficial.

Culture, Race and Media: My first paperless class. This fills all kind of requirements and explores topics like gender, race, status, etc. It was fine, not terribly interesting so far, but I think it'll get better. The instructor is very nice and seems to be accommodating.

College Math: Let's be honest. I'm not trying to double my money and this is the lowest math class I can take to meet the requirement. My professor is hilarious and knows that's why most of us are there as well. We'll see how my brain remembers...

Overall, I'm really pleased with my classes, though I'm going to be really busy, especially with Production II. On the domestic front, things are not going well with my roommate. She comes home at all hours and turns all the lights in the apartment on, and won't talk to me. She isn't very nice either, and OCD about cleaning the bathroom. It's kind of hard to sleep when someone is eating and on the phone in your bedroom, at 6:30 AM. I try to make things work,  but I really don't think this is going to last. I'm about to bring over the Homo Squad (a name of their choosing) to maybe...nudge her towards moving out. Not that I'd be trying to offend or anything, no, of course not.

I bought my Dan Deacon ticket for the day before Halloween. I think, unfortunately, I'm skipping Kevin Smith because that $50 could be put to good use for the Chicago Film Festival. Cross your fingers for my Pixies tickets attempt Saturday. Jennifer's Body with the director, Karyn Kusama, Monday night on campus. I wish it was Diablo Cody.

That will make a grand total of two movies I paid for all summer having seen Drag Me to Hell, Up, The Hangover, Moon, District 9, Funny People, The Hurt Locker, (500) Days of Summer, Paper Heart, Inglourious Basterds, Public Enemies, Away We Go, Taking Woodstock, and Extract. Ain't It Cool News has saved me a ton of money and allowed me to see Charlyne Yi, Michael Mann, Christian Bale, Mike Judge, and of course, Johnny Depp. My top five are most certainly Inglourious Basterds, Drag Me to Hell, Up, District 9, and The Hurt Locker. The worst is, despite the presence of Seth Rogen holding a french bulldog, Funny People. 

The delightful Cassandra Gallagher will be here in about twelve hours, which will be so very welcome. Three months is too long a time to be without your best friend. I have seen the boys twice this week, and while I miss them, I also don't miss the lifestyle I developed with them. Regina Spektor Saturday night, and the finale of True Blood Sunday. I have a lot to be happy about.

In honor of Beatles Rock Band, which I want in addition to a Playstation 3, however trite this may be, it's my favorite:

...In which our heroine rambles on.

Another late evening ramble, yes?

I think I finally may be tiring of Girl Talk, which is not surprising since I've listened to Feed the Animals hundreds of times by now. I am so ready for school to start, to find another album to define the year and shed all the baggage that the past year has brought. I'm still wondering about what'll be like to see him. I don't think I'm properly utilizing Twitter yet, and still kind it kind of ridiculous. Diablo Cody is my girl though, I'll even forgive her for making me sit through Megan Fox for two hours in Jennifer's Body. Speaking of, what the fuck is up with movie lengths? I'm tired of two and a half hour movies that do not need to be. I started writing again, something I think that'll be a TV pilot, or at least in my own head it will. Somedays I still worry if I'm going to be able to summon the muse to pay the bills. I kind of want to go to grad school, then come back and teach at Columbia. I'd get to live in Chicago, enrich the lives of young people, and write on the side. I've met a grand total of one cool new person. All the freshman are bro assholes who cannot work a key card or an elevator and are trying oh so very hard to work their game on the opposite sex. It's kind of pathetic. My roommate, Alexandria, is back. Let's talk some opposite lifestyles now. I haven't even heard her curse yet. I have no idea how to broach the subject of substances or boys, and limits on either. Speaking of that, I'm thinking of detoxing for a month or so. Telly is very into all sorts of natural remedies and teas and such and I'm getting really tired of my lifestyle. Granted, I've cut way back, but still every time I've smoked lately I just feel like a mass of wasted brain cells. The charm has worn off, maybe. I dunno. And I think it'd be good to start the new school year with a clear head. Yes, I am tiring of this Girl Talk finally. I keep getting the smell of ammonia wafting off of my hair, which is freshly cut and dyed. Too dark again, but not as bad as before senior year. It definitely looks somewhat brown. I can't ever get my bangs cut the way I want even when I bring pictures. My Morning Jacket is covering "Get Down on It," which would be intolerable any other time. Inglourious Basterds is probably the best thing of the summer, and the best thing Tarantino's done since From Dusk 'til Dawn. I loved Hans Landa. I tried to read the script in the bookstore today and it made my stomach hurt. I guess it's a stylistic thing I'll develop too, but my god, so much descriptive text and camera movements and such. Summer is pretty much over and I'm not even sad about it, I'm just glad school will give me something to do. I still need a job but have quit looking. Extract wasn't very good at all, and neither was Mike Judge a very thrilling Q&A. Kevin Smith is at the Chicago Theatre in a few weeks and its taking every fiber of my being to not purchase a ticket although I'll probably cave. I feel like as soon as I have any money to spend it's gone, feast or famine. It's weird having someone else's food in the refrigerator and towels on the rack. I was quite liking being on my own. She doesn't curse - how do ask someone like that if you can have the room for the night, should it occur. Jeff Mangum is the King of Carrot Flowers, parts one through three. "Communist Daughter" certainly has the oddest lyrics on the album. Nancy Botwin finally learned that she can love men but not depend on them in last night's finale, good advice Not Francie. The ladies had a particularly good week on Mad Men and I still envy Christina Hendricks something awful. I would very much like Santa to bring me a PS3 now that they cost $299 so I can begin to move towards Blu-Ray and all that jazz. "Two-Headed Boy Part 2" makes me want to cry every time I hear it. Mangum's voice is just raw. Pangs of nostalgia hit hard this week, the chill in the air, the old rituals. How I've changed in this year. My dreams and deja-vus have been particularly intense. My scalp is stained with pigment and I want another huge, colorful tattoo of a feminine origin. I like how it challenges a conventional notion of beauty. But I don't want anything that'll show in a wedding dress, ha ha ha. I think Mia Wallace, hypodermic needle and all, will happen for Halloween, especially with this new hair. Say it Jeff, "Two-headed boy, she is all you could need. She will feed you tomatoes and radio wires and retire to sheets safe and clean, but don't hate her when she gets up to leave." I did leave him, whose birthday I didn't even acknowledge this week,  and I'm tired of safe and clean sheets, but it was the best choice. Second chances, are they worth it, or better yet, am I just imagining them. Who knows. I always project grandoise situations of reality before they even begin to germinate. It's how I go to sleep at night, imagining an alternate reality for myself. I always have, since I was little. Frank Black is screaming about some wild honey pie and I'm sleepy.

The "Cat People" scene in Basterds gave me chills like only a good movie can, but I prefer my Bowie like this:

...In which our heroine takes a look back.

An ode in several movements: Katydid's favorite childhood movies. Watching these crappy 90s trailers for them makes my heart happy. I remember my first trip to Blockbuster, but am hard pressed to think of the first movie I saw in theaters. My dad and I were talking about how he let me watch anything as a kid, and it made me think of all this garbage.

Addams Family Values - I worshipped this movie. I wore out two Morticia action figures, from the cartoon version and had the book on tape, which I also worshipped. The goth in me started young.

Hook - To this day, if I'm freaking out, my dad will look at me and say "think happy thoughts." I will say this is one of the few on this list I enjoy as much now as I did then, despite how terrible it is. RUFIO!

Bingo! - Man, this movie fucking sucks, but it was right up there with Hook and Addams Family Values for most watched childhood movies. A dog with sunglasses, hilarity ensues.

Straight Talk - I'll make a post someday about my obsession with Dolly Parton from ages three to five, and while this isn't a trailer, it played on the VHS copy of the movie that was rented endlessly for me. 9 to 5 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (which is a GREAT children's movie) were also in heavy rotation.

Straight Talk @ Yahoo! Video

Ferngully: The Last Rainforest - This was pretty rad, going green 1993 style, pandering to four year olds. I didn't get it, but I sure loved it.

Beauty and the Beast - Although The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Pocohontas also rate, this was the coolest. Pizza Hut at one point gave out oversized action figures from the movie that made awesome toys. For this movie alone, Angela Lansbury will always be "Angeberry" to me.

Beetlejuice - I could still watch this often. I loves me some Tim Burton, and this along with Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and Frankenweenie were favorites. (Braveheart with my dad was fine, but The Nightmare Before Christmas was deemed too scary by my mom.)

The 'Burbs - Why I was allowed to watch this, I'll never know. But it had something to with my love for Princess Leia, since Carrie Fisher is in this. Also by Joe Dante - Gremlins, which used to make me cry.

Beethoven 2 - I never liked the first one as much, and my stuffed Missy dog from the movie is testament to that. Poor thing is totally threadbare.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - If anyone ever needs a gift idea for me, the collected seasons of the Batman cartoon from the 90s would be great - although ChemGuy already started the collection. I liked both of Burton's Batman movies as well, especially Batman Returns, but the cartoon sticks out more vividly in my mind.

Nostalgia for childhood makes me so happy. Even if I was a weird, capricious little thing who liked Batman and Barbie with equal fervor and started reading Stephen King at nine. Thus, this is my favorite Barbie I've ever owned. I mean, green fishnets and green boots, c'mon!