Final Day of BEdA - Thoughts and stuff.

I MADE IT. Whoa, sorry for yelling. Just so glad that I managed to post every day this April, even if some of the posts were truly dreadful. I don't think I'll ever do something like this again but, in saying that, I often like to subject myself to various forms of torture. You know what I mean - I'm one of those people who will say yes even though I have several projects already on the go. I guess you can say that I am a sucker for punishment.*

So, if you'll excuse me for a moment while I dance around to the following tune: 

Much better. Nothing like a great geek mix of classic cartoon tunes to bop around the room in celebration. I was trying to find another favourite of mine but am feeling decidedly lazy today since I stayed up and watched the Royal Wedding. The ceremony was long and rather to preachy and tedious for my liking but it was interesting to see some of the hats that made an appearance for the day. Seriously. Did you see some of them?

After watching all that it makes me glad that I am not a royal and that I'm not religious. Though the planes at the end were super cool. I can honestly say that I am truly happy for the Prince and Princess.

Anyway, I will leave it at this because I am dead tired. Take care all.

*NaNoWriMo while finishing a graduate diploma anyone? Insanity...

My thoughts on the Royal Wedding...

No list today though I know that there are only two days left of BEdA. Instead, I am going to share my thoughts on the Royal Wedding that is happening today. Now, unless you have been living under the proverbial rock, you know what I am talking about. The Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

Now, being from New Zealand, we still hold the royals in high esteem and I will be one of those avidly watching the broadcast tonight. This is, after all, the wedding of the century, so this is the wedding for our generation. And I freely admit that I am excited about this. I may not have been one of those girls who dreamed about being a princess when they were little, I was more plucky sidekick than leading character, but I have to admit that there is something about this wedding that has even the most cynical of people excited to see it.

Kate and William* seem perfectly matched. I may not be a strong believer in love other than a chemical reaction but I do like to see people happy. So far, that does seem to be the case with the royal couple. My thoughts on the matter, if you were interested, are that if you can find just one person who makes you happy and vice versa then that is great. Especially if you happen to be the second in line to the British throne.

They also give a strong front to the people and, both of them, have that way with people that make them seem real...if that makes sense. William has inherited all the good points from his parents and they both seem to bring out the best in each other. What more could you ask for in the person you are about to marry.

At the end of the day it doesn't matter what I think, say or believe because this is their day and, regardless of the pomp and ceremony, I truly wish them the best for their lives together, however long it may be. It is the same for any couple entering into marriage. It doesn't matter if I feel that it is a silly ceremony because it is their ceremony and they deserve the happiness that, hopefully, goes their way.



In finishing, I wish the Royal Couple the very best. May their future together bring all the joy and happiness that they truly deserve.

Enough of this sappiness - semi-normal broadcasts shall resume tomorrow. Until then...

*I leave out the title because I am feeling lazy not out of disrespect. In case you were wondering.

Five Things that Annoy Me...

Two of my three books arrived today, thus making me very happy in the kind of way that only a bibliophile* can be. This makes this post somewhat odd because I am not really annoyed, though give me a few hours of customer service work and I probably will be.

Anyway, here is my list of bugbears...**

Bad Spelling (As in extremely bad)
First, I make mistakes, everyone does because we read so fast and so on. I find mistakes in novels occasionally and they are honest mistakes. What I don't like is spelling like this - Todae iz Frydae or get owta dis etc. I don't have the time or patience to figure out what you are trying to say. I can't stand it and there is no excuse on Earth for this. In fact I remove people from my friends list who constantly type like that. They are also the kind of people to go on about bad reality TV shows.

Lack of Manners
I was always told that manners were free but around here many people have not heard of them. Or, if they have, they don't use them. I was raised to say please and thank you but, apparently, I was born in the wrong era. I have refused to serve children who don't say please or thank you. You don't need to say both, though it would be nice. I have dealt with adults who come into the shop, basically throw their cash or ATM card at me and point or grunt. I'm sorry, that is plain rude. And, to those adults out there who don't use these basic words, I should not have to prompt you to be polite...

Impatient People
True story - I was working in a book store a few years ago and it was December. (Or Retail Hell Month as I like to call it.) Anyway, there was a line of customers in the store and, with every checkout open, we were trying to get through the customers in an orderly fashion. Just as this elderly woman was about to place her stuff on my counter this middle aged 'business woman' pushed in front and dumped a small pile of stuff on the counter.
Now, the line was quite obvious and we had extra staff on to make things go as smoothly as possible so I turned to this woman and, very politely, informed her that there was a line and the lady behind her was actually next. This woman then gives me a look that, I swear, would have made the devil think twice but I was holding my ground. She storms to the back of the line and I continue to serve this elderly lady, who was very polite and thanked me very much.
Not even two minutes later Rude Customer is at my neighbour's counter and the entire time she is swearing at me, seriously. She demands to speak to my manager because I was being so rude by making her stand in line. I was surprised she didn't pull the whole 'don't you know who I am' routine. Thankfully there were many witnesses and all of them vouched for me, including the elderly customer. Still, that woman ruined my day.

People Who Push their Beliefs on Me
I don't care if you choose to believe in God, the flying spaghetti monster or the freaking muffin man. Really, I couldn't give a rat's... It is entirely your own choice but it is also your choice to not push your beliefs on me. I'm more than happy to have a discussion or even a heated debate about religion or whatever but the minute you tell me I'm going to hell/purgatory or wherever because I don't believe in something is the minute that I rethink our 'friendship'. I know this sounds harsh but how many of you welcome in Jehovah Witnesses etc. Also, if you start telling me that man and dinosaurs walked together I'm going to start questioning what you've been eating/smoking/reading ... just saying.

People Who Choose to Remain Ignorant
I'm not going to apologise. There is no excuse anymore to remain ignorant. I don't know everything, nobody can but that doesn't mean that I can't continue to learn or broaden my horizons, so to say. And I am only talking about those who choose to remain this way.

Gosh, the last couple of posts have just been about me complaining. Tell you one thing though, writing it down has made me feel better. I promise tomorrow that the posts will become a lot more cheerful. Also, I hope I haven't made any serious spelling errors...eek.

So, what are your bugbears?

*I wonder if they will change the spelling of this as well. When I was in high school they changed the spelling of Sulphur to Sulfur but it has never looked right to me.

**Does anyone else get an image of a caterpillar and a bear joined together to make a bugbear? No? Just me? Oh well...

Five reasons why my local library is in (dire) need of an update...

So, I went into my local library today because I need some new reading material and I can't bring myself to spend $30 on a new book when I can order them from the UK for 1/3 of the price. Anyway, I went in and was going to get several books to last me till my books arrive via post but I am sad to say that I left empty handed.

This leads me to my list for today. Five reasons why my local library sucks needs help.

DISCLAIMER - this is intended as slightly tongue in cheek due to the fact that I live in a small town. The librarians actually do quite a good job for what they are given. 

One - Lack of books
I know that no library has every book on earth but there are some staples that all libraries should have - right? Apparently my library is the exception. I could find only one Vonnegut book, no Bradbury, no Upton Sinclair...shall I go on? It was upsetting to find so few classics when they had several stands of Mills and Boons romance books and at least two sets of Twilight.

Two - No Organisation
In my humble opinion I feel that bookstores and libraries should follow the same layout in how they organise their books. My library doesn't believe this. All fiction genres are mixed together so you can''t go to a specific section to find the books of your choice. Don't get me started on how all the graphic novels seem to find their way into the children's section. I'm sure mothers want their youngsters reading From Hell or Arkham Asylum...

Three - Out dated posters
I love to know about new books but when they are still advertising books from three years ago as new - well...

Four - Bad Librarians. 
I am sorry but the librarians at my local library are pretty shocking. The noise level in any library can normally be attributed to young children who don't know any better but in this library it is the librarians and they talk loud. Not just loud but loud loud...

Five - Lack of full sets of a series. 
Nothing annoys me more than reading the first one or two books in a series at a library only to find that they don't have the complete set. Imagine getting halfway through the Dark is Rising sequence only to have to order the rest of the series to finish it...sigh.

Oh my - this list makes me sound rather cantankerous but I swear I'm not...just a little neurotic.

Anyway, until tomorrow...

EDIT: I need to check things more carefully - did you spot any errors? Let me know...

Top Five Fantasy Themed Films from my Childhood.

So, I heard the funniest thing...well I found it funny. I overheard someone referring to Easter Sunday as Happy Zombie Jesus Day and I had a quiet chuckle to myself because; A) It was funny and B) it was kinda true if you happen to believe in that. So, I was wondering, that makes Jesus the original Zombie? I can see the books now. And a feature film.

EDIT: I just did a search on the almighty google and found this website. Chuckles. 

Somehow this should lead me onto my top five of the day which happens to be films from my childhood that are fantasy themed. This, unfortunately, rules out any recent films so no LotR* or Pan's Labyrinth.

The NeverEnding Story
This film was one of my favourites when I was young. I watched it so many times and I even went and saw both sequels at the movies. (Yep, both of them, and they were both terrible.)** But the first one was brilliant. I had a huge crush on Atreyu and I am not ashamed to admit that I cried (and still do) when Artex died. I've known men to cry at that scene. Heck, I have the theme tune on my iPod. Oh memories are grand.

Labyrinth
Hoggle, Sir Didymus, Ludo, Sarah, Toby, Jareth. This is one of the most magical films of all time. I remember being terrified of the Fiery things that yank their heads off; so much so that I would hide behind the sofa in the lounge. (This was something I normally reserved for episodes of Dr Who. Those daleks still have the power to terrify me...but not so much as the weeping angels.) Obviously, this is a staple film for those of us born in the eighties but it still has a hold on many now-a-days.

The Dark Crystal
Jim Hensen was a genius - that is a pure and simple fact. This film was beautifully done and I believe that it is a work of art. The story alone is beautifully woven and then you have the puppets that are beautifully designed. Amazing. The only thing wrong is that it leaves you wanting to know more.

The Princess Bride
"Whatever you wish." Wesley and Buttercup are the ultimate fantasy couple in this great comedy drama. And we cannot forget Inigo Montoya. This film has a cult status for a reason and I remember watching it every time it came on TV and it was one of the first DVD's that I ever bought.

Willow
I remember watching this at a friends house when I was young and the trolls that turn into the moat monster were so terrifying to my young mind that I recall having strange nightmares for a week. More than I'd had with the fiery creatures from Labyrinth. Still, aside from the fact that it was filmed in NZ it is and will always be one of my favourite fantasy films.

Let me know what you think of these films. Enjoy!

*Lord of the Rings in case you were wondering.
**Random tidbit - Jack Black appears in the third film as one of the bad guys.

In which I am actually too busy to do a list...

It's just past eight as I write this and I have been up for what seems like ages. I'm in a mild panic, you see, because I am going with a dear friend to another friend's Hens Day/Night/Party*. Now, I don't know about you but I've never been to a Hens Night and, with my wacky imagination, this is what I see when I hear the words Hens Party. Hen's Party... Though I imagine less pinata carnage and more cake. This isn't how they go down, mind you because I have heard stories. Yep, real stories. And some of these stories involve all sorts of, ah, interesting things. For example: Studs Afloat (I didn't even know something like this really existed until I sat down to write this post. Oh so innocent I must be...) There were worse things but I don't want to shock any of your delicate sensibilities.

So, I am currently getting all the chores out of the way so I can drive with my friend over to Rotorua (or near enough) to attend this 'do'. And I have found out that I am somewhat capable at multi-tasking until I sit down in front of this computer and then it all goes to crap. I believe that I can blame it on all the shiny shiny buttons and interesting links that I keep looking at. (This sounds somewhat more dodgy than I intended but am I going to change it...nah.)

Anyway, this is my way of saying, sorry for the lack of a list today. I promise my lists will come back tomorrow and carry on for the rest of BEdA.

Have fun and look out for hens...

*Hens Night is the female equivalent to a Stag or Bachelor Party for the Bride to Be.

EDIT: Sigh - bad spelling is my downfall. Thanks for the reader who let me know.

Five Things That Have Made my Day...

Seriously busy today so this is going to be super rushed.*So, here goes the five things that have made my day today...

One - Downloading some Harry Potter music or Wizard Rock. (Wrock) And some Hunger Games tunes. I knew about ALL CAPS, The Moaning Myrtles etc but only just found Alex Carpenter, Ministry of Magic and Muggle Relations. So I have been bopping around to some sweet new tunes and indulging in geekery.

Two - Seeing people at the craft market who have known me since I was a baby. They always go out of their way to say hi and ask how my life is going. They're like substitute aunts and uncles.

Three - Wearing my favourite pair of shoes that remind me of my family over in the States. They're my first ever pair of Converse. (I normally never buy labels cause I dont' see the point or don't have the money but these were the best buy, ever. They're my dancing shoes.)

Four - Knowing that I have Star Trek (JJ Abrams movie) waiting for me in the DVD player. I was watching it yesterday but got super busy with the fish and chips and then the writing.

Five - Jeph Jacques' amazing webcomic series Questionable Content It is pure brilliance. It's a great way to procrastinate and the evolution of the drawing is so neat to see. Plus, Faye, Hannalore, Marten and co seem like they'd be really fun in real life, if somewhat crazy.

So, leave me a comment and let me know what has made your day today cause I'd like to know. It may have been trivial but sometimes these little things make or break your day.

*Had the Ohope Craft market this morning so I was there flipping burgers and selling drinks. (Oh the life I lead.) And now I'm back at the shop sitting behind the till pretending to be hard at work.

EDIT: One thing that didn't make my day...moronic customers...sigh. Example:
Phone rings
Me: Good Afternoon, Oasis Takeaways
Phone Person: Is this Oasis Takeaways
Me: Yes. Can I help?
PP: Are you open?
Me: Uh...yeah 
PP: So you're cooking?
Me: Yes, until 7 when we close. 
PP: When do you close?
Me: Seven. 
By this point I want to yell down the phone but I just smile and nod. Now, this happened to me eight times yesterday with only slight variations on the conversation.

Top Five Cartoons from my Childhood...

Because I am feeling dreadfully lazy today as I watch Mortal Kombat and drink tea (I'm aware that this is an odd combination but that's how I roll...) I'm going to do a simple top five. These are all cartoons that I watched when I was a child. The majority of these are in the late eighties and early nineties. Maybe they'll bring back some memories for you.

Ewoks - The Animated Series
First, I loved this series as a kid. I wasn't as highly aware of the intense dislike that seemed to be given to this fluffy, over grown teddy bears so I found this show highly enjoyable. I would spend days pretending I was Princess Kneesaa running off on an adventure with Wicket and co. Heck, I can still remember the theme song and have been known to hum it on random occasions. 

Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
For a long time I would ask people if they remembered this show but no one seemed to have any idea what I was talking about so I almost thought I'd imagined the whole thing though I knew my imagination wasn't that good. To my little kid brain Flora was so lucky and cool and powerful. For a stage I was convinced that if I tried hard enough I would have power over plants. Sadly, this never panned out.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Seriously, if you grew up in the late eighties and early nineties you have to know this series. My favourite was always Donatello. I have a thing about intelligent characters, what can I say. (This is not to say that I had a crush on an anthropomorphic turtle - just in case you were wondering or worrying...) And April O'Neil was my idol. Don't get me started on the plays that we used to perform as kids. I have a terrible memory of my parading around in high heels that were far too big for me calling for help from the turtles. Ah, childhood.

Captain N: The Game Master
This is another one that I remember watching as a young child and then seeing repeats again when I was a bit older. There was something about crossing into a different world that always appealed to me. Hence why I love Labyrinth so much and The NeverEnding Story. Heck, I haven't seen this in so long that I feel like I may have to do some shopping online.

Gargoyles
This show was so many levels of awesome. Admittedly, this was on more when I was just about to start high school so I don't know if it counts but I have to have it here. The mythology of the show alone was brilliant and then there was the whole Shakespeare element. It was a mixture of so many cultures, beliefs and ideas. This is a series that I really want to get on DVD.

Yeah, I thought this was going to be easy but there are so many shows that I want to fit into this list but I have to choose five. Here are some of the runner ups: ThunderCats, The Bots Master, Denver The Last Dinosaur, The Snorks, Teddy Ruxpin, Gummi Bears, The Racoons, Duck Tales and the list goes on.

I hope this brought back some great memories for some of you because it sure did to me.

Let me know what your favourite shows were/are by leaving a comment. Until tomorrow.

Top Five TV Characters I Admire

The 20 Thing I Like list went down quite well. It was a fun one to write about as well though it took longer than I expected, in part because I really had to think about things that I do like rather than just passing 'flavour of the month' things. So, in keeping up with things that I like I am going for TV characters that I admire.

Kara Thrace/Starbuck - Battlestar Galactica (re-imaging)
I never really saw the original though I can understand the outcry about changing Starbuck from a man into a woman but I think it was a fraking brilliant move. Starbuck, especially in the first two seasons, was extremely kick-ass and awesome on so many levels. It is great to see a woman who can drink, swear and fight with the best of them. She was real and, as you know, I love my flawed heroes because I find I can relate to them more easily. Katee Sackhoff made Starbuck an icon of science fiction.

Angela Montenegro - Bones
I love all the characters on Bones. To me, the show is more about the characters and what drives them than the actual crime aspect of the show. In my mind, each of the characters are uniquely interesting but no more so than Angela. From her fashion sense to her intelligence, which is in no way overshadowed by the rest of the characters, she is a great role model and someone who I admire in terms of characterisation. I love the fact that, although she is technically a squint, she also has an open mind to the world - though not in the same way as Hodgins.

Dr. Spencer Reid/Penelope Garcia - Criminal Minds
From the first episode I was intrigued by all the characters but these two, above all, were really interesting to me. (I know I'm cheating by choosing two but I couldn't decide). Both are completely different in personality and, well everything, but they are both amazing. Reid dealing with his mother and the possible threat of schizophrenia and, not to mention his astounding intelligence, is an interesting character and somewhat complex. Whereas Garcia brings the heart to the team. Her quirks and quick thinking mind make for many of the laughs of the show. Plus, she is another of those characters with great fashion sense. (In my ever so humble opinion.)

Dean Winchester - Supernatural
I am neither a Sam-girl nor a Dean-girl but I think, out of the two of them, Dean is actually the more complex. ::*::hides as fans go all crazy like::*:: But I admire him more than Sam. I guess you could say that it is, in part, to my being the older sibling and constantly worrying about my younger sibling. Yet there is also the way that he can act serious in a moment's notice but is just at ease with being the goof ball. He is fine at playing dumb and doesn't really care what others think about him.

Buffy Summers - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy had to be on this list somewhere. She is strong, kooky, witty and just brilliant. She was a typical teenager, aside from the obvious...But, she actually grows and matures as the seasons go on. Plus, she is resourceful in a way that not many other characters are. She doesn't fit in with the norm and, as Joss Whedon has stated many times, she was his response to the horror stories of old where it was the blond girl running upstairs instead of out the front door. She is another kick-ass heroine who has her own challenges and problems.

So there we go. Just a quick list again. Leave me a comment if there are any characters that you admire.

20 Things I Like...

I'm doing things a little different today because I'm feeling a little 'bluesy'* and a little tired. So, in an attempt to perk myself up I thought I'd write a list of 20, count that, 20 things that I like. Feel free to tell me what things you like or what things make you feel better when you're feeling a little down.

1. Finding a new singer/band or song that I really like. For example, the other day I downloaded the free tune from iTunes - Lady Luck - by Jamie Woon and I'm loving it.  
2. My dad's attempts to make the perfect jalapeno bread. We had some when we were last in California and dad had been experimenting every weekend. I don't mind being a taste tester for that. 
3. Playing my guitar. I've come to the conclusion that I'm never going to be anything other than a mediocre player but that doesn't stop me from trying. 
4. Walking around barefoot. I hate shoes and, if I don't have to, I won't wear them. This is something that is easier to do in New Zealand than it is in many other places since we don't have snakes etc.
5. Ordering books online. I love www.bookdepository.co.uk and use it regularly. I have been thinking about getting a kindle but the verdict is still out on that. In case you wanted to know I have just ordered A Game of Thrones, Sister's Red and The Knife of Never Letting Go.
6. Daydreaming. This normally has me staring out a window thinking about nothing or everything.
7. Paint my toenails. I just like doing this with either a really good movie on in the background or some great music playing. Sometimes I like to imagine I'm in one of those silly movie montages...
8. Piling the books that I am currently reading/about to read just to see how high it goes. Sometimes I make little book towers - no idea why...I just do. 
9. The way the trees in autumn become multi-coloured before the leaves fall. 
10. The first fire of the winter season. I often feel the urge to find marshmallows and roast them over the fire. (I have be known to do this over candles...)
11. Browsing www.etsy.com. Especially the geekery section and the witty badges. I collect them and some of the ones on there truly amuse me. 
12. Quirky coffee cups or mugs. I have been trying to get ones from every place I visit just as a keepsake. I know this is a bit silly because, honestly, how many cups does one need? But I keep doing it. 
13. Root Beer floats...I've only had one when I was in Las Vegas last year and it was so yummy. I don't care about the calories etc (mainly because there isn't anywhere I know that does them here.)
14. The sound of rain on the roof on a day when I know I don't have to go outside or be anywhere but at home. I love it when it rains in the middle of the night - the sound is so relaxing to me. 
15. Loving a book series so much that when I talk about it I refer to the characters as if I know them personally. 
16. Imagining what I would do if there was a zombie apocalypse. (I have a rather bit imagination...what can I say!)
17. Burger Rings or Rashuns sandwiches. Burger Rings and Rashuns are staples of the New Zealand chip (crisp or potato chip) range. Yummy. 
18. Second Hand bookstores. I have been known to spend hours wandering around looking for books that I feel deserve a new home with me. 
19. Chocolate - specifically Cadbury's dairy milk or Whittaker's dark chocolate. It is one of my true weaknesses but I have got some control...well...maybe...
20. Hanging with family and friends discussing how we can solve the world's problems over a glass of wine. 

*One of my dear friends coined this word for when she was feeling a little down and I loved it.

Top Five TV Shows...that I currently watch...

Time for another BEdA blog. I have to say that I am rather impressed that I have made it this far so, if you will indulge me for one moment I will do a happy little dance. ::*::scoots to one side and proceeds to dance somewhat badly to imagined music::*:: Ah, thanks, I needed that.

Anyway, after watching three rather bad films last night I think I need to blog about something that is actually rather good so here goes my top five TV shows that I currently watch. Most will be shows currently airing on the three main channels in New Zealand at this time, if not they are shows that I have ordered from the UK or the US because Amazon is awesome.

Supernatural 
I love this show. I cannot describe how much I love this show but I really, really do. I'm annoyed with TVNZ for screening it at a stupid time and being almost a season behind but thankfully for amazon I am able to get my fix. I have blogged about this show many times before and will probably continue to blog about it. I can't help it. Sam, Dean, Castiel...they are all great characters and, seriously, who wouldn't want a brother that would die for you or help you avert the apocalypse. Not to mention the great soundtrack and the hunting of various nasties.

Criminal Minds
I don't know when I first started watching this but I know that I came to it late. That doesn't really matter because I love the intelligence of this show though there have been many negative comments made about it. I love the fact that the effort has been made not to dumb down any of the characters and that they are all different. How often do you see a show where you can actually feel sorry or empathise with an unsub?*

Bones
This was another show that I came to relatively late. I had kind of watched the first season ages ago but it was when I was in California last year that I managed to purchase the first two seasons and, since then, I have been hooked. It is another intelligent show and the cast seem perfect. I truly felt sorry for Zack and I love the fact that Hodges and Angela are together. And Temperance is hilarious and very intelligent.

The Big Bang Theory
I am not a big fan of comedy to be quite honest. I don't laugh out loud at a lot of stuff but I really enjoy TBBT. It's witty and it is geeky. (Yay for geekiness!) And there are many little jokes there for everyone, not just physicists.

House
I love Hugh Laurie and the snarky doctor that he plays. Unfortunately, I haven't been following the latest season as much as I would, usually, but the first seasons were amazing. It was something a little but different and, even though it is somewhat formulaic, it is an entertaining watch.

Honorable mentions: Doctor Who, Cougar Town, NCIS, NCIS:LA, Eureka, Warehouse 13, The Walking Dead (A lot of these are shows I don't get on my 3 channels so I have to wait to order them online.)

It's another short list today because I've had one of those mornings. I slept in, cut my ankle shaving, forgot to leave one of the vats off to get changed and had a blood nose to top that all off. I think I might need to indulge in some chocolate...or a good book. And a nice cup of tea.

 

*Unsub = unknown subject - look at me with all the terminology.

Top Five Zombie Movies...

I am currently watching the latest installment of the Resident Evil films and I was thinking about what I think are the top five zombie films of all time, which led me to make that my topic for today. Plus, it is a rather easy entry as I have another one of those lovely headaches that seem intent on making my life rather interesting.
So, for the sake of my laziness, I'm going to dive right in.

Shaun of the Dead
But wait, I hear you say. Didn't you use this in you post yesterday. Why, yes I did but it is a classic and it fits into the the world of zombies because there are zombies in it. Plus it is a homage to Dawn of the Dead etc and it is a freaking good film.

Dawn of the Dead (The Remake)
This made zombies scary again. Instead of the slow, comical zombies demanding brains we have fast, vicious and damn scary zombies that are hungry for your flesh. Also, the ambiguous ending makes for good entertainment.

Zombieland
This is also a comedy but it is brilliantly done. It lightly pokes fun at itself as a film and at many other things, which I love. I also love the fact that the male lead is nearly as neurotic as myself with all his rules. The way in which this was filmed also adds to the enjoyment. 

Braindead
Peter Jackson is one of my idols and this earlier film of his is one of the first 'horror' films that I saw. This film explains how the people became zombies, though it comes about in a rather funny way. It is great to see Peter Jackson's work pre- LotR just to see where he came from .

28 Days Later
This is a stark and gritty film which I find absolutely brilliant. The scenes that Danny Boyle managed to get of a nearly deserted London are amazing and Cillian Murphy was perfect in this film. I know that they're technically not zombies and that the humans are infected by a rage virus but it's a damn good film and it's my list so it made the cut.

There are many other great zombie related mediums out there: The Walking Dead, The Crazies and Dead Space to name a few but as this was just films there you have it.

Now, I'm going to get back to my movie viewing. Until tomorrow my dear readers.

Top Five Things Customers Need to Know...

Warning, this could be considered a bit of a rant. Now, I know that many of us have worked retail and I am more than a little confident in saying that everyone has bought something before - I mean, we are in the age of consumerism. Yet, we are still awful at being nice to each other or being understanding in the ways of the retail service person.

First disclaimer - not everyone is a bad customer. In fact, 9/10 customers are genuinely lovely but that single evil customer is the one you are more likely to remember. I'm sure there is a psychological reason for that but I have no idea what it might be.

Second disclaimer - this list is made for fun and as a form of stress relief for the writer.

One - Do not assume that the person serving you is either deaf or stupid. In fact, don't treat them as if they are that way. Be aware that they are probably trying to do their best and they might, just, know what they are doing.
On the flip side, if they have proven that they are stupid or have been particularly rude, don't cause a fuss but do take down their name and contact their manager.

Two - Never, and I mean NEVER, anger someone who works in the food industry...especially if they go out back to prepare food. I have seen what has happened to people who do not abide by this rule and I'm just going to say that it isn't pretty.
On the flip side - if your server or food is bad be polite about it and try not to make a fuss. From my own experience I'm more likely to help if you have been pleasant and you don't act like it is your right to be a jerk to customer service people.

Three - No matter how good of an idea it may seem at the time, never use a book store as a babysitting venue. Staff there are in no way responsible for looking after your children (brats depending on the situation). If they break something you are going to be fitting the bill - and we don't want to even think about them getting hurt.
There is no flip side for this. Book stores are not a childcare. 

Four - This is very important: never swear at someone, especially if they are trying to help. Seriously, swearing doesn't help anyone as far as I"m concerned. The minute you swear at me I'm not going to help you...or if I do I'm not going to be polite about it. I work on a warning system. You get one warning (especially if I am on the phone with you) and after that I will terminate the call without hesitating. Those of you who know me know I speak the truth. There is no place for swearing and the majority of the time it isn't the fault of the person you are talking to.
There isn't really a flip side to this one either. Once again, if you are upset with someone on the phone, take their name, be as polite as possible and then try to get in contact with a manager. 

Five - Finally, if you are looking for something please try to be as specific as possible - I find it hard to help if what you are looking for is 'the book with the writing on it' or 'the DVD with that actor, you know, that actor who acts...'
No flip side for this one either. Unless you are wanting help at finding something rather vague...

Sorry for this rather tedious top five...I'm still dealing with a kidney stone and my sleep pattern, which usually sucks, has gotten worse so my brain currently resembles something mangled by a zombie.

Until tomorrow...

Top Five Fictional Werewolves - and technology is still hating me...

I'm at work as I write this but it has been a slow morning so I feel that it is okay that I am doing this. I've been up for quite some time and I can tell you that I have learned a couple of things in the last couple of days; Most importantly, I have learned that leaving a Yoda backpack sitting up in my room is bad. I don't know who got the worse scare, myself or the Yoda backpack.

Another thing that I have learned is that I quite enjoy doing this top five thing. If I had the time or patience I would try and figure out how to do polls on my blog just to see what happens. I might look into that after BEdA has finished.

In technology related news I somehow managed to kill my printer. I had 25 pages left of my manuscript to print when it just stopped. So far the score stands at technology three - JJ zero. It's a good thing I have a sense of humour otherwise I would be a sad little mess on the ground. Anyway, enough of my babbling let's get down to business.*

I was going to do a post about fictional bad guys but I thought I would leave that for later on so here are my top five fictional werewolves.**

Ginger - Ginger Snaps
Aside from the fact that this is one of the best films I have seen the character of Ginger going through the stages of the change (both as a werewolf and that awkward change from 'little girl' to 'young woman') is brilliant. With her sister watching on in confusion, worry and fright as Ginger sprouts hair in funny places, starts growing a tail and then fully turns into a serious lycanthrope. This is one film that I would recommend to anyone above the age of 16. (Hey I've got to pretend to be sensible.)

Elena - Bitten (Also various other titles from Kelley Armstrong's brilliant Women of the Otherworld series)
First, she's the world's only female werewolf. Second, she was bitten by her own fiancee.*** Third, she is constantly hunted by mutts because she is considered a trophy prize. Actually, this series is brilliant in the way it portrays werewolves. They aren't cursed in this series and many of them enjoy the transformation where they actually resemble wolves not walking nightmares.

George - Being Human (UK version as I haven't seen the US version)
I love this series and I love all the characters but since this is about werewolves I'm going to stick with George. He's sweet, confused, angry and all those emotions you expect with learning that you are no longer the same person you were and that you change into a howling monster at every full moon. Then there is the fact that he has no control over it. Just look at the intro to episode 2 in season one when Mitchell is doing the voice over. Brilliant.

Oz - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Seth Green is a favourite actor of mine and his turn as the 'so-laid-back-he's-nearly-falling-over' werewolf Oz is hilarious and sweet. The fact that he was turned by by his own cousin gives it an extra comedic twist. What is really sweet is his courtship of Willow and their little dance that they play around each other. 

David - An American Werewolf in London
This is a more tragic portrayal of a werewolf and also another favourite film of mine. The idea of being haunted by your own victims is interesting as well. What stands out to me is the image of David as the wolf running through the streets of London and through the London underground. (All places I am familiar with.) And the ending is almost heartbreaking in a way. Plus the music in this film is pretty wicked with every song referring to the moon in someway.

Well there goes my list of fictional werewolves. I still don't know why I put fictional in the title but I quite like it so I am going to leave it there. I best be getting back to work as well.

Let me know who your favourite werewolves are.


*For reasons unknown Flight of the Conchords' Business Time is now playing through my head...
** Compared to real werewolves...sigh...I know how that reads.
***Does that term work for males and females? I'm confused.

Top Five Movie Villains...

I thought I'd go to the dark side for today* and delve into the world of bad guys and movies. There are so many different kinds of bad guys so this list may seem a bit scattered but they will be bad guys from movies. So, although the Joker (especially when portrayed by Heath Ledger) is a great villain he had origins in a graphic novel so I am going to attempt to focus purely on characters that came from movies first. I hope that makes sense and please let me know if I have made an error as sometimes my brain gets lost int he wealth of information on the interwebs.

The requirements for my views of a bad guy is someone who manages to do horrible things but do them in a memorable way. I promise I'm not as morbid as this list may make me seem. So, are you ready?

The Terminator - Terminator
This one is a given. Seriously. Sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor and he does it methodically, going through the phone book and eliminating anyone called Sarah Connor. That's pretty intense but it makes sense. And then to find out about the whole machine aspect. This perfectly blends our fears of machines and death.

Leatherface - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original and Remake)
What makes him terrifying is that he is human and he wears a mask made out of a human face. The fact that you never really see what is behind that mask makes him all the more creepy. Then there is the whole cannibalism thing that makes for creepy watching.

Verbal Kint - The Usual Suspects
Who is Keyser Soze? I can't elaborate more on this without giving anything else away. Trust me on this.

Freddy Kruger - A Nightmare on Elm Street (The Original)
"One two Freddy's coming for you..." In the first film he is pure evil. They played him up for comedic effect int he sequels but in this first one he is at his most terrifying.

Darth Vader - Star Wars A New Hope
Before we learn any of his back story Darth Vader is pretty terrifying. Force choking people left, right and centre. He even kills the man he once called friend and mentor. That is pretty cold and calculating don't you think?

This list was a lot harder than I originally thought because I eliminated some of the great villains by restricting my list to those who weren't from novels first. I am pretty sure that none of the above were from a novel first but if I am wrong please let me know. Tomorrow I'll have to write about the best literature villains cause that is a list that will be fun and challenging.

Until tomorrow my good readers...


*Pun totally intended.

Oh the headache...

I was going to do a really good entry today about something amazing but I have been fighting this headache for the last couple of days so I thought I would do a brief entry if that was okay with you all. My original aim was to do a blog entry 'top five' for every day of April but my computer died and now that I finally have one back I get a headache that seems intent on disabling me for the weekend. So, this goes to show that not everything goes to plan...if anything actually does.

That is why I am posting this now in case I forget or fall asleep and miss the deadline for today.

But, because I feel somewhat guilty but not doing a top five so I will do a mini one...top five reasons headaches suck:

1. They make listening to anything almost unbearable - children's laughter becomes nails on a chalkboard or beautiful music sound like a flock of seagulls strangling cats. 
2. Your head feels as if it has doubled in size or just one section of it though when you look in the mirror it still looks normal size. 
3. You never know how long they are going to last so you think you can manage through but every so often these little bastards turn on you then you turn into a blithering idiot because you can't think straight. 
4. When they do finally go away you've lost half a day or a whole day. Nothings been accomplished and you didn't even enjoy the time off from doing nothing cause your head was in all kinds of evil places. 
5. And finally, a headache is not an excuse for everything...;o)

Until tomorrow my dear readers...

Technology hates me and my top five sci fi films...

We interrupt this broadcast with an important announcement - I finally have my computer back. This is the good news. The bad news is the fact that they had to wipe everything because the hard drive was corrupted. For those keeping score at home this is twice in the last two months that computers have deleted my life from them. Before you say anything about an external hard drive I'll have you know that I have one but it was too late in both cases.*

I can only assume that this means technology hates me. Though I have to admit, my first computer was brilliant. It was a Dell Inspiron and worked beautifully until it died. **

Anyway, let's get down to business. Today's top five is going to be my favourite Science Fiction films. I happen to love sci fi with a great passion. I'm a passable Trekkie, love Star Wars and am somewhat obsessed with Firefly. So, let's dive straight in: ***

Oh, before you ask, Star Wars won't be appearing on this list because it is more than just a science fiction. Just in case you were wondering.

Event Horizon
This film was one that really scared me the first time I watched it. There is no alien per se as everything tends to come from the mind of the crew but the whole idea of going into a hell dimension just creeps me out. Plus, Sam Neil as Weir...I still get shivers every time I watch it.

Pandorum
I finally managed to get a hand on this film a few weeks ago and, for the same reason that I enjoyed Event Horizon I enjoyed this film. The enemy isn't clear and it goes to show the power of your own mind. And the atmosphere of space being empty and unknown makes for a great story.

Serenity
Okay. This is a firm favourite mainly because I loved Firefly. It is the crew and the sense of family that actually make this film brilliant. Plus Whedon's witty script. All I have to say is I 'aim to misbehave'.

Alien
The ultimate sci fi. With a tag line like "In space, no one can hear you scream," you know you're in for a great ride. It is chilly, atmospheric and scary. Not to mention the fact that it brought our attention to the fact that women could be heroes. Ripley is the ultimate heroine and she kicks arse!

Aliens
I had to add this one as well because it is very different to the first film. This one ups the ante and introduces some great characters. Hudson anyone? Plus the fact that the colonial marines are no real match for the Aliens...

There are so many other films that I could add to this list so here are some of the runner ups:

Blade Runner, The Matrix, Back to the Future, The Fifth Element, 12 Monkeys, Terminator, T2 ... damn it, this list is far too long. I've mentioned it before but narrowing a list down to five is flipping difficult.

Hope you are enjoying this as much as I am. Also, if you have any requests please let me know.


*Insert sigh or swear word here.
**Add a wry chuckle here.
*** I could have made a science fiction related joke here but I held back. Are you proud?

Top Five Vampires...BEdA Day 8

Okay - quick post today because, as I type, the headache gnomes in my head have begun their evil clog dance on my brain.

Nice and easy one today with my top five vampires and there will not be a Cullen or Hale in sight.

Dracula
We start with the most revered and classic vampire to have ever graced our screens and pages. The old count himself. Played throughout the years by Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Leslie Nielsen and Gary Oldman and many other great actors. He has been played as a victim and as a hero, as a serious character or a buffoon. You cannot have a list of top vampires without mentioning this great 'father' of vampires.

Thomas Raith (Dresden Files)
Not your typical vampire but Thomas Raith has a certain something. It could be the fact that he is part of the White Court or it could be the fact that he is Harry Dresden's half brother. Maybe it is cause he is described as incredibly good looking and was more than a little devoted to a girl who was driven insane. Oh so tragic but incredibly interesting. Closely tied with Susan from the same series but she was never turned into a full vamp...well not really...

Louis de Pointe du Lac
Most people seem to like Lestat from the Vampire Chronicles but I have always had a soft spot for those tortured souls so I have to have Louis in this list. He often did not understand his own true nature and fought against it constantly. I like him as a character and a vampire as he tried to retain some of his humanity.

Angel
The classic tortured vampire with a soul. As Angelus, however, he is one badass vampire. He tortured Drusilla, making her into the insane mess that she was in the show. Plus there was that whole in love with the Slayer business.

Spike
And you can't have Angel in the list without having Spike. Both in love the slayer in their own ways. Spike with his bleached blonder hair and two slayers under his belt he brought just enough comedy to his persona to make him truly memorable. And, well, it's Spike. What more do I need to say.

As per usual there are several other vampires who could have made it to this list but, as I am doing this off the cuff and on the day this is the list you get.

So, do you have a favourite vampire?

Comic book heroes...my top five...

 I love my comic books and graphic novels. There is something about the visuals that make for a great read and I have realised that I am a rather visual person so the graphic novel is a great medium for me though I still read a great amount of novels. Anyway, today's list will be my top five comic book heroes. Feel free to disagree or let me know who your favourites are as well.

Kitty Pryde/ Shadowcat/Sprite etc
I've always loved Kitty as a character. She may start off as the annoying kid sister but she has gone through various changes throughout the incarnations of the world of the X Men. She is also one of the bases for the character of Buffy Summers so that is a plus. I've loved her powers as well even though there are more powerful characters in the world of the X Men. Similar to my favourite literary characters Kitty is quite intelligent but she is also very adventurous and more.

Bigby Wolf
Fables is one of those series that manages to give a new life to those classic faery tales that we grew up with and giving the big bad wolf a real personality and human side. I just found the whole series brilliant Bigby was one of the main reasons for this. He carries himself much like a film noir detective which adds to his charm.

Dick Grayson
Yes, he started as the boy wonder but he is so much more than that. He grows from strength to strength and has even managed to carry a series (Teen Titans) even though he has no actual supernatural abilities or mutations. Gotta give him props for that. If you look at a lot of the great comic heroes most of them have special powers but Dick has to rely on training and intellect. Plus, when he becomes Nightwing...well...he is a brilliant character and his relationship with Oracle is also beautifully portrayed.

Constantine
Forget Keanu Reeves as Constantine (although he wasn't that bad but he just wasn't John). He is almost an anti-hero. He smokes, he can be a jerk but he gets the job done. Some of the story lines that he has appeared in have been very dark and very well done. He is definitely a guy you'd want as a friend rather than an enemy.

Remy Le Beau/ Gambit & Wade Wilson/ Deadpool
I couldn't choose between these two. In fact, this list was very diffcult as there are so many great characters out there and the term hero is often hard to stick to as all of these characters are capable of bad deeds. But Gambit has to be on the list somewhere, seriously. That Cajun thief ... (is it wrong to have a small crush on a fictional character...) And Deadpool is a new love of mine. Insane and witty...great combination.

Compared to some of the other lists that I have done this has been a little more difficult. Having to choose just five is hard. There are so many that I had to leave out. Death and co from Sandman, Black Canary, Oracle, Dust, and the list goes on. Once my computer comes back I may have to do a revised list instead of these short ones for BEdA.

Let me know which characters are your favourites.

Peace and pancakes

P.S. Still no word on the computer front...last time I ever buy a Compaq - I'm sure they work fine for everyone else but so far I've had nothing but nightmares with mine.

Top Five Scary films...maybe...

Okay, because I only have a short amount of time on the computer this will have to be a quick entry. From a young age I loved horror films. Controlled scares, people doing stupid things while you yell at them, dark rooms, cemeteries etc. There are all sorts of horror films out there and some are scary while others are pure entertainment/shock value.

So, I will dive right into the list today. Five horror films that truly scared me...

Poltergeist
Now, I don't know if it was because I was young or whether it was all the rumours of the cursed set that made this film stand out in my mind but there is that scene with the clown that has always scared me. The film has subtle scares and then moves into those full on scares which encouraged my fascination with the paranormal along with my wariness of curses.

Demons
This is a film I've only seen once or twice and it was an Italian film if I remember correctly. The thought of being stuck in a cinema with an increasing number of possessed people terrified me when I was younger and it was the ending that really cemented it for me. There was something about the almost hopeless ending that made me feel more than a little nervous about going to bed that night.

The Exorcist
Now, I watched this film by myself and, being the 'brave' teenage girl that I was I thought that it would be awesome to watch it in the dark while my parents were out for the night. This may have been a bad idea on my part because when it got to the part where Regan spider walks down the stairs...let's just say that I ran around and turned on every light in my house. I also think it was the back story to this film that incited my overactive imagination.

The Last House On the Left (Original)
This is one of those films that you have to be in a certain mood to watch because there is no paranormal evil in this film, it is an all too human evil. I think the fear of something that could actually happen is far more terrifying because it is more 'real' than haunted houses etc. It is a good film though.

The Hills Have Eyes (Remake)
I haven't seen the original so please don't shoot me but the remake is still very scary. Like The Last House... it is a little more real aside from the crazed mutants but still this film was actually really well done. I loved the fact that no one was safe...not even the dogs.

Now, there are thousands of other films that are probably more scary but these ones all stand out in my mind from my childhood till recently as well.

Let me know if there are any films that have scared you or still resonate in your mind.

Peace and pancakes