Other Stuff:

1) Shannon came home with a copy of Radiata Stories (by Square-Enix) for me last night. It's the next video game I've been wanting to play. So far, I like it--it's made me laugh in several parts, which not many games can do. I love that the main character is a cocky, pouty, snotty teenage brat. And the graphics are really nice. I think I'll enjoy it quite a bit, once I get to the game itself (it always takes for EVER to get going in the Square-Enix games--many, many cut scenes).

2) Last night I met Sara for coffee at the Starbucks next to Barnes & Noble. It was so great to see her and get to hang out and chat for awhile. Once we finished our coffee, we went into the bookstore because she wanted to get the new book in the Dexter series, only we stumbled across several tables of half price clearence books instead. I picked out three silly manhwa books (Vol. 1 & 2 of Hissing by Eun-Young Kang and Vol. 4 of Chocolat by Ji-Sang Shin) and a Donald Westlake Dortmunder book for Shannon. Then we got a cute little enthusistic, shaggy-haired indie-rocker boy to find the Dexter book for us. When I got to the register, the girl checking me out asked if I had Vol. 1 of Chocolat, and when I told her no, I didn't see it over there, she said, "Oh! Here! I set this aside for myself, but I don't want it after all." So nice!!! A very sucessful trip!

3) Nathan sent me a link to a Swedish mp3 blog yesterday called swedesplease, so I have been engrossed. Totally engrossed!!!

4) On Wednesday, I am going underwear shopping with Marya. I told her that she HAS to come with me, because she will make me do it. If I go by myself, I will take a quick glance around and say, "bleh, I don't like anything." And then I'll go to Half Price Books. And well, things are getting desperate and I can't really afford to put it off much longer. Stupid underwear!

5) I had a Diet Coke yesterday afternoon because I could barely keep awake and because Sweden said it was okay (just this once). We'll see what Sweden has to say about pop today!

South Pathetic

Last night I started watching the remake of South Pacific, with Glenn Close and Harry Connick, Jr. I wasn't optimistic, but I figured I'd at least give it a try, since South Pacific is like my second or third favorite musical of all time. And well, it wasn't TERRIBLE. But it was disappointing.

So, I have a big pet peeve about cover songs (this is related, I swear!). I HATE it when bands cover songs and pretty much record the song the exact same way it was originally done, only with different people making the music. I think that's dumb. If you're going to cover a song, shouldn't you make it different? Do something creative? Change things up a little? Otherwise it just seems pointless to me.

This movie was like that. They didn't modernize it at all, really, just filmed it in the same style the 1958 version was filmed in with new (inferior) actors. I didn't get several of the casting choices. Glenn Close is WAY too old, and she looks reeeally unattractive in this, and the woman that played Bloody Mary was terrifying. And I don't think anyone will ever be able to top Ray Walston's portrayal of Luther Billis--Robert Pastorelli? Please. The whole thing felt forced and flat, and well, like it was done a million times better way back in 1958. In other words, pointless.

You probably could have told me that before I ever started watching it. Ah well. It only made me appreciate the original that much more.

Happy Holiday Weekend (and Jonathan's Birthday)!

This weekend was fantastic! Lots of time spent with Shannon, Laura, Jonathan, Cassie, Tim, Erin, Nathan and Scott, fireworks, swimming in the lake, drinking, Rock Band, board games, good food...the kind of weekend that almost makes you wish you could spend EVERY weekend like that.

Last night I got home and was so tired. But I managed to stay up long enough to do one load of laundry, watch some Arrested Development with Shannon and download stuff I didn't already have by Sambassadeur and Suburban Kids with Biblical Names. Why am I such a Swedophile? Even I find it a little ridiculous...

Also, I realized that, sadly, not everyone will appreciate The Linguini Incident quite as much as I do. However, I am still convinced that Jess will. Next time we have a mac & cheese and movie night, I guess we will find out if I'm right!

This Morning's Mix

1) Twang Twang Shock-a-Boom - "Always Give Your Love Away"
2) Hilary Duff - "Happy"
3) Scissor Sisters - "I Don't Feel Like Dancing"
4) Scissor Sisters - "Return To OZ"
5) Solex - "Some Solex"
6) Depeche Mode - "My Secret Garden"
7) Morrissey - "The Lazy Sunbathers"
8) Semisonic - "I Wish"
9) Morrissey - "Ouija Board, Ouija Board"
10) The Perishers - "My Heart"
11) David Bowie - "Jump They Say"