The Family You Choose...

Without a trace of sarcasm or irony, I say this now - I damn well know how to pick ‘em.

After waiting so impatiently for December to chase November out of my life, only to have it end up yet another source of looming gloom, it ended up being one of the best farewells to a year I’ve ever had.

Though it was sad, at times painfully so, not having any family around over the holidays (particularly considering December is THE month for us), it allowed me the chance to see just how wonderful the family I have chosen really is.

I love every single one of you.

You were the most wonderful gift 2011 could have possibly ever given me.

One of the things I love about Hollywood...

... is observing career path trajectory over the years, most particularly of actors. Over the weekend, I was able to watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes in the cinema (which was incredible. I mean it. I certainly did not expect to like it as much as I did) and then the following day, I watched Never Been Kissed with Ma and my sister.

These two movies respectively marked the last and first time I ever saw James Franco in a movie.

Helluva journey, right? I mean, when I first saw Never Been Kissed back in high school... 12 years ago... I would have never imagined that the dorky looking douche from the 'cool group' who almost said NOTHING aside from 'rufulicious'... would ever become Oscarbait.

Seriously.

The same could also be said about that really odd-looking chick I watched years ago in 'The Next Karate Kid'. Honestly, when I first saw that movie, not only did I think it was a completely stupid addition the the Karate Kid series, but if I'm brutally honest, Hilary Swank looked to me like a dude in a wig and I did not, in any way, expect big things from her in the future. Obviously, I was wrong.

Now I know this is the nature of the business but I can't help but laugh when I think of my first impressions of these, now pretty impressive, people. Sure, there are the obvious ones...

* I never imagined Will Smith going from Fresh Prince and Boom Shake Shake Shake the Room to Bad Boys, ID4 to Ali, Pursuit of Happyness and basically Oscars-ville (true, he did do Six Degrees of Separation very early on but I actually didn't know about it till much later in his career so I couldn't have counted it).

* I really never expected that Johnny Depp guy from 21 Jump Street to become, well, Johnny Fucking Depp.

* I loved Ryan Reynolds' Berg from Two Guys and a Girl. Funny, yep! Cute, yep! Future International Sex Symbol? Uhm... huh?

But the ones I love most are the ones I just REALLY DID NOT SEE COMING (like James Franco)...

*Scarlett Johansson - really, first thing I saw her in was Home Alone 3 and she annoyed me shitless (not that I'm her biggest fan now though...). She was the mean, odd-looking (yes, I really am a bitch), nasal older sister to Alex D. Linz's character and really, again I was hardly expecting to really see her again. Then I started seeing her in more oddball stuff like Manny and Lo and Ghost World and thought, ok, bittie stuff, interesting... then in Lost In Translation, I admit I became more intrigued but much like her ex, at that point I would have still never imagined her soon becoming the object of lust for men the world over and moreover kicking some serious ass in Iron Man 2.

* In Twister, there was this hilariously crazy dude with long blond hair who loved to yell and listen to hardcore metal while he chased the tornadoes along with the others. Yep, first movie I saw Philip Seymour Hoffman in was Twister and I probably would have gaped rather unkindly if anyone had told me then that he would pretty much become a regular attendee at the Oscars and, y'know, win one.

* In terms of unflattering reactions, I would have definitely laughed out loud if anyone had tried to sell the idea that that kid from Even Stevens would ever become an ACTION star. Yeah, that's right Shia LaBoeuf, I'm talking about you. Yes, even after your OCD-ing stint on Project Greenlight, I did not see you getting big at all.

* Michelle Monaghan was, in my opinion, the worst thing about the TV show, Young Americans, when it came out in 2000. She couldn't act for crap (although the crumby writing probably did her no favours) and she was an extremely minor character who I assumed was being played by a bit actress who wouldn't appear much ever again, as was the case for most bit parts in teen shows. MI:3, Gone, Baby, Gone, Eagle Eye et al would beg to differ.

* Speaking of Young Americans, Ian Somerhalder came a close second for crap-ass acting. Now, I didn't really love him on Lost or anything, but I won't lie, what I've seen of him on Vampire Diaries makes me smile. I know it's been 10 years but I still think it's fantastic just how much he's improved.

* I first saw Amy Adams in an episode of Charmed and then in Cruel Intentions 2 (hahahahahahahahahahahaha!). Though she was lovely and adorable in Charmed, CI2 made me want to thwack her senseless with something blunt. It's now 11 years later and I freaking ADORE her and, so it would seem, so do award-givers. Yes, Kathryn Merteuil's crappy understudy version has certainly gone a long way.

Anyway, I know that Hollywood (and admittedly, the world in itself) is pretty much made up of these kinds of stories of surprising meteoric rises and such but these are just some of my personal favourites. I picture myself going back in time to past Me and outlining what was in store for each of those actors and the likely look of sheer skepticism is clear in my mind.

If anything, it's always pretty cool having your expectations blown away and it's even cooler just getting to see where these people's persistence and hard work have been able to get them over the years. Hurrah the 'Dream Factory', eh?

Now that I think about it, while I was in New York, I am not kidding, I encountered actors almost everywhere. On the Subway, in Washington Square Park, walking down the street... and of course, during my incredibly brief visit to the Tisch School of the Arts... and a few faces come to mind. While I wandered around the city, it became pretty common for me to overhear conversations about 'rehearsals' and 'scenes' and 'auditions' and 'so-and-so's directing capabilities' and I actually really loved it...

Here's to whatever they've got in store for my future entertainment!

It's August already! Craaaazy...

Random thoughts/updates/non-tweets...

* I love my piano. Really, really, really.

* I'm liking work at the moment. Nice role with people worthy of both respect and admiration (moreso emphasised by almost 7 years of past experience with people of very different stock). Go the DCRC!

* I kind of miss working at Market. Such a completely unpretentious work environment will never be found again (not even at DCRC although they come a wonderful second)... not to mention the incredibly alive atmosphere whenever markets were open. I miss my Friday $1.50 chips and drink run! Oh, 2007, you were so long ago now...

* Thanks to the Aroma Festival, I have now eaten Chocolate Fudge. As it was also sugar free, the taste needed to grow on me but it did and I whoohoo that. Yummm... my world continues to expand with possibility. Thank you, vegans. If I weren't such a meatlover, I would... still probably not be vegan, but I thank you for giving me one word to summarise my encyclopaedic menu requirements.

* Head's been in the 80s lately (blame 21 Jump Street [I'm kind of in love] and Inspector Gadget [Penny is my childhood hero] and my proclivity for excessive nostalgia) and one funny thing I can't get over was that people used to have to WRITE their bowling scores down. Hee. Oh, that and 'Oh Mr Hart! What a mess!' - yep, there was something unattainably cool about 80s Australian media. I really mean that. Watch the old ads and you will see. Oh and 80s TV Themes were the bomb. Especially the sitcom ones. Ref. Growing Pains, Family Ties, Who's The Boss, Valerie, Perfect Strangers... my mp3 player is graced by your existence.

* Loved the last Harry Potter movie, even the ending I was dreading which I think was better handled in movie rather than book. Admittedly mostly liked what didn't happen in terms of potential cliches in dialogue and scenes and excessive exposition and it was certainly a veritable eyefeast (I almost regret not seeing it in 3D. I said, almost). Worthy fare thee well to an awesome series.

Now I must re-read the series as part of mourning.

* Speaking of movies, I blame my sister for a hopefully temporary loss of sense after staying up to watch WTF?! Movie of the Year - The Accidental Husband. Stupid, pointless, nonsensical, infuriating. It will be some time before I trust Uma Thurman, Colin Firth and Jeffrey Dean Morgan again. I don't care if it was 2008. How could they? How??

* Babycakes NYC's tweets make me desperately miss NYC and it's array of fantastically Jel-friendly food. Oh, Whole Foods... how did I ever leave you? And it's not just the food... oh, TKTS with your excellently cheap and surprisingly close seats on Broadway!

* 2011, although you still currently hold the position of 'oddest. year. ever', I can't I say I hate you. I believe it's called 'tough love'. Much as I often want to beat you to death screaming 'merciless bitch', I have seen the moments of unbridled kindness and I know it's all for my own good so... hugs?

Despite horses and buggies, Amish aren't necessarily 'low-tech'

Click the title...

I actually found this really interesting... especially now as everyone constantly lauds the awesome that new technology has been able to bring into our lives while also maintaining the unavoidable wariness of its potential downfalls.

A point on the whole idea of 'friends' VS 'contacts' - from the article:

CNN: What about cars?

Brende: To the extent that you are mobile in an automated or motorized way with something like a car or motorcycle or fast moving tractor, you've increased your radius of contact with other human beings, but at the same time you dilute the quality of contact within that radius.

Like any notion, it's true when it's true and not when it's not (simply put, you're either real friends or you're not) but in a world where networking, 'add as friend' and 'follow' are such highly promoted focal points of communication it's hard not to imagine that human relationships have definitely taken some hits as the years have gone by.

That said, this is all coming from someone writing on an online blog and who has certainly enjoyed the expanded horizons in acquaintance provided by good ol' technological advance. Heh, you'd think my ass would hurt after sitting on this damn fence this whole time...

Oh well, bonus? A little less stereotyping in the mass media about any particular group is always welcome so cheers, Mr Sutter. Thanks for teaching me a little more about the Amish and backing up my belief that being 'behind' doesn't necessarily mean staring people in the ass and missing out on the good stuff.

Whoa... how did I eat that many cookies?

I literally asked myself that question not 5 seconds ago... oh, Country Kooka...

There are few things greater than long weekends and I say this despite the fact that I am currently not working (though hurrah for the fact that that's not for long now!). No this last weekend wasn't a non-stop party per se, rather the perfect balance between good times with good friends, last minute random trips to random destinations and blissfully sheer r&r.

I breathe a long, happy sigh.

The mind continues to whirr but I think I might give it a rest for now.

Congratulations I.aM.mE! - ABDC 6 Finale review

I couldn't be happier that they won despite the travesty that was this entire season. Honestly, the looks on the faces of the Iconic Boyz only emphasises how wrong it was for them to be on the show. The whole time they were led to believe that they were more than they were and talented though they are, they were nowhere within the vicinity of talent as any of the other crews. Hopefully the loss doesn't hit them too hard and they only continue to learn and grow from here.

Thoughts while watching the old champions perform:

Though they never really wowed me that much on the show, Poreotics are pretty damn talented and they've only improved since they won, good stuff...



We Are Heroes were underwhelming...



Quest Crew! Haha, though they're my personal favourites I couldn't hold in the WTF when I saw their outfits and upon first watch I was hmmmm-ing much to my chagrin... not my favourite routine of theirs (who came up with the PJ party idea?? I giggle) but it grew on me upon rewatch... furthermore, they went for humour and it definitely gave that...



Super Crew rocked the ninja theme...



JABBAWOCKEEZ... fucking beautiful - loved that they shared the stage with the competing West Coast crews, loved the always innovative fluidity that never fails to seamlessly meld with their sharp clean moves and ADORED Lil BabyWockee. Sorry Iconic Boyz but Lil Bit (as apparently the crew refer to her) straight up outdanced y'all. AWESOME PERFORMANCE.



And thus the most bizarre season of ABDC comes to a nice close. Thankfully the best crew won!

Recommendations

There aren't many. Due to the rather odd year 2011 has become, I've read a lot less lately so in the last 5 months, I've only really been able to finish one book and am currently in the process of reading book numero dos, which has been pretty good thus far. Films-wise, Saturday night's was the first this year that compelled me to actually recommend it so here goes:

Rec #1 It's Not News, It's FARK by Drew Curtis

                                    

Sure, we all know just how much crap is fed to us by the media as 'news' but give this book a read and you'll see just how farked up the industry really is. Case in point: a random comment on a news piece in a forum went on to become the source for literally hundreds of 'legitimate' news articles. Seriously. Oh, and while informing me just how masterfully the mass media screws itself and us over in the process, this book also cracked me up something fierce. Drew Curtis' wit speaks to my TWOP-bred love of snarky commentary and I can now thank him for some of the odder looks I received on the train while reading his words and proceeding to stifle guffaws. Thanks, man.

Rec #2 X-Men First Class

                                  

I had no real expectations for this movie as I'd grown tired of the X-Men movie franchise, especially considering what they had done to some of my favourite characters from the cartoons (I just cannot accept Anna Paquin as Rogue. And waiting three films before finally showing Gambit?) but I tagged along with my friends last Saturday and LOVED it. Bravo, Matthew Vaughn. James McAvoy was an excellent Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender did an amazing job as Magneto. I also loved the story - inevitable cheesy moments aside - most notably the relationship between Charles and Erik, the alignment of events with those of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the incorporation of Kevin Bacon's Shaw into Magneto's raison d'etre. I'm no comic book purist so I don't know exactly how much that messed with comic book canon but from my vantage point, it was all really well executed and I enjoyed every minute.

Ok, recs done, what I'm currently reading:

                                  

Loved the movie when I saw it not that long ago and so far, the book hasn't disappointed me. I'm loving how Walter Kirn writes about Ryan and his life in Airworld.

And because I can't be bothered including yet another picture, I'm simply going to say I can't wait for the final Harry Potter to come out next month! I'm especially curious what the movie will do with the epilogue. I thought it was nice and it certainly took nothing away from my enjoyment of the book or the series but as someone who has read more than her share of fic over the years, that ending was very fic-ish and I would wonder how the movie would approach it. I guess I'll see next month!

Ten years late, I still have to watch Manic...

This is Me...

Ok, so for the purposes of trying to collectively round up my blogging 'history', I'm linking this place with my other online ranting grounds. Consolidation is nice, no?

My old LJ - where I ranted on and off in my last year at uni and more increasingly off once I began working. Basically the 5 year gap on this blog was mostly filled in there.

My new Tumblr - Still experimental, but admittedly a fun tool.

Meanwhile, here's to the hope that blogging becomes a steadier endeavour in the year ahead... or what's left of it, anyway. Almost halfway through 2011? Trippy.