August 14, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Inconsistently. One day, super. One day, super bad. Two days...

Making: Trouble.

Reading: Same as last week: Volume 1 of "The Man Without Qualities" by Robert Musil.

Watching: La L'Olympics, baby. As should you be.

Listening to: The latest albums from My Morning Jacket and Carla Bruni (swoon). Back to back. And all the shit I bought in June that you might hear about tomorrow, if you're lucky.

Posted by Duff at 12:49 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

August 07, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Goldfish. (Original flavor) They just never get old.

Making: One secret thing. Sometimes. Rarely. When lying on the floor gets too boring.

Reading: Neither Dad nor I have finished last month's challenge book yet (it was too damn big to carry around so I was only reading it at home except when do I read at home? Not often, turns out), but we decided to move on to this month's for now and go back and finish the other after.... so that means I'm reading Volume 1 of "The Man Without Qualities" by Robert Musil. It's not laugh out loud funny but there's sort of a dry sardonic undertone. So I'm enjoying it.

Watching: Firefly, for the zillioneth time (and then Serenity but of course). Since both Carrie and my future husband are watching it right now, I needed a refresher in case they feel like talking about it.

Listening to: Stuff I bought in June like Fleet Foxes and Shearwater and Jakob Dylan and The Fratellis and James Hunter and Lil Wayne and Port O'Brien. Yeah I have this dream that I will review all June & July albums by month's end and be ALL CAUGHT UP in time to start fresh with the "school year" so to speak. But don't hold your breath, I wouldn't want to be the cause of any untimely deaths.

Posted by Duff at 08:40 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 30, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Not much. But drinking buttfuckingloads of caffeine (bad bad (and as a result) red-faced girl!). Caffeine + Rosacea = not so attractive.

Making: A blurb book from a select few of my Japan photos. Woot.

Reading: Still reading Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, when I'm at home. And reading "Finding Battlestar Galactica: the Ultimate Unauthorized Fan's Guide" ed. by Lynette Porter, David Lavery & Hillary Robson on the El. [same as last week except FYI neither me nor Dad is going to finish this month's challenge during this month. Whoops!] whoops, wrong BStarG book, actually reading Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There, ed. by Jason T. Eberl. Although it is true, neither Dad nor I is going to finish our challenge book this month (we'll move on to our August book and hope we have time later in the month to go back and finish the July one).

Watching: Generation Kill. Love. Still carrying around the first disc of Band of Brothers for no reason since I've pretty much decided I won't start it until Generation Kill is over so I don't get confused about which war I'm in. Have been to The Dark Knight twice so far. Swoon.

Listening to: Earlimart "Hymn & Her". a) it is an awesome album and b) they are awesome live, super nice and sweet. Also a lot of random singles.

Posted by Duff at 01:08 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 23, 2008

Song Obsession of the Evening

"Word Up" Willis

Which is what's playing in the background when Hodges is doing his wacky dance in the 2006 "Post Mortem" episode of CSI which I have oddly seen a ton of times in recent weeks. (Greg-centric episodes are the best, don't you agree?)

Posted by Duff at 07:03 PM | Say What? | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', TVTVTV, Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Like there's no tomorrow. Seriously, people. On Friday, I must have been afraid there'd be a run on meat overnight because not only did I have a 900-calorie Chicken Poblano Fresco sandwich for lunch, but then I had BOTH a Brat AND a 2-lb. Hamburger at dinner. Along with 4? 5? Kirs. And as I'm sure you can imagine, I ate even grosser than that at Pitchfork all weekend. What is wrong with me?

Making: Technically nothing, last two days have been complete fucking hell on wheels at the secondary browsing location. But Jenn did rewrite the sleevecaps for me on the pattern I'm stuck on (ravelry link) so soon I will be working on that. Soon. Supposedly.

Reading: Still reading Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, when I'm at home. And reading "Finding Battlestar Galactica: the Ultimate Unauthorized Fan's Guide" ed. by Lynette Porter, David Lavery & Hillary Robson on the El.

Watching: The Cleaner , a show that apparently I am the only person on earth to like. Have you read the reviews? Because they're BAD. But I like it! Also The Closer, which I am enjoying but not as much; Saving Grace, which I am NOT enjoying at all; Burn Notice, which I am enjoying primarily when Tricia Helfer is on screen (she is sooo different than her BStarG character, and yet has some of the same powerful characteristics. It's kinda awesome); and Generation Kill, which I am LOVING but am *ahem* only 15 minutes into the first episode. Slacker! And I've already watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog three times (all 3 eps) with many more repeat viewings to follow, I'm sure. As for the Big Screen, I loved both Wanted and The Dark Knight and frankly I'd like to see them both a second time over the weekend. We shall see.

Listening: to Nana Grizol "Love It Love It" which I bought after reading about them (a bunch of times) on this blog. It is a LOT of fun. And the Sea Wolf song "Neutral Ground" over and over after this morning's El contretemps.

Posted by Duff at 12:19 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 16, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: My weight in brownies from Jamie. Yum.

Making: Secret.Family.Craft.Project.

Reading: Still reading the same two books as last week: 1) at home: Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, and 2) in transit: "Absurdistan" by Gary Shteyngart . Close to finishing #2, which has been a hilarious ride so far, and definitely spending some time gazing at the bookshelves, pondering what's on deck.

Watching: Summer TV kickoffs of Burn Notice, The Cleaner, The Closer, Saving Grace and the wonderful, truly awesome, so enjoyable Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. (I had more to say ova heah.) Also rewatching lots of old favorites. As well as (re)watching BSG season 4 so far. Wanting to see Wanted again...Sooooo good. (So good that I haven't written it up? Slacker!)

Listening: Mostly to SModcasts. About five in the past four days or so? As my Dad says, "those two make great traveling companions." Also (re)listening to the latest albums from Madonna, Gnarls Barkley, Coldplay, Meg Hutchinson and Missy Higgins. All as accompaniment to Secret.Family.Crafting. I have a bunch of new stuff I haven't listened to yet. And there's Pitchfork (with the Nipper! YAY! NIPPER VISIT!) over the weekend. So we'll see.

Posted by Duff at 11:40 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 08, 2008

EW #1001 (Batman/Joker)

A(nother) redesign. WIth lots of bolding in the text.

I really can't wait to see Batman. The previews are intense and Heath looks amazing.

Stephen King agrees with my Dad on The Strangers.

This is a much better review of Wanted than the one in the Chicago Reader.

The new HBO drama Generation Kill sounds much more intriguing to me after reading this article (and Maureen Ryan has a whole host of PDFs to help you keep track of who's who if you feel the need).

Tune: "Hero" Nas feat. Keri Hilson
Mystery: "Swan Peak" by James Lee Burke (Robicheaux series)

Posted by Duff at 03:51 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 07, 2008

Who writes the ads for Spike TV?

A couple weeks ago I was watching a crapload of CSI reruns so I basically had at least three hours of SpikeTV on every day and they were promoting their big week-end showings of Star Wars. The ads really cracked me up.

I can't remember, was this one said in a Yoda voice?: Being a bad guy isn't bad. There is much to be learned.

Han and Leia: If your sister hangs out with your friends, eventually one of them is going to hook up with her.

Too funny!

Posted by Duff at 05:25 PM | Say What? | filed under Mots, TVTVTV

July 02, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: All I want to eat is crap. Particularly the Special Dark Hershey's Chocolate Kisses that I bought to send to Max (and Alison) and then never put in the mail...Whoops. Their loss, my ass's gain.

Making: Almost done with the second thick woolly sleeveless vest (WHATEVER!). Hoping to finish the top of Kysa's Friendship Star quilt (a.k.a. Friendship Star #2) and then sandwich/baste/and quilt BOTH that AND the quick baby quilt top I whipped up over the weekend and get them in the mail to her by the 9th, which is supposedly the date on which the baby boy is going to pop out. I'm hoping he's late (although I'm sure she's not!!).

Reading: Was supposed to start July's challenge book yesterday (!), but picked it up and almost had my arm drop off due to the weight. Guess I won't be reading that one in transit!! So instead I've started "Trespass" by Valerie Martin which is prickly and dark and promises to get moreso.

Watching: Since my dad started watching BSG, I started watching it ALL OVER AGAIN (I know!) so that when he calls me and says OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS JUST HAPPENED, I know specifically what episode he's talking about (and in what order) and I don't accidentally give away a spoiler like I almost did the other night... Of course I have way more time in my day than he has in his, so I've already gotten past where he is. Maybe I'll wait for him to catch up. I mean, I so would, except for there being fucking nothing else for me to watch right now. And I saw "Wanted" which I loved as much as I thought I would and maybe I'll write a post on that for ya say over the long-ass holiday weekend during which I HAVE TO WORK ON SUNDAY and will not be in Southern Illinois with all my Blonde K-Cousins as I like to call 'em. Waah.

Listening: I listened to Matt Costa (which I mentioned here and here among other places) all weekend long, over and over, after introducing someone to him on Thursday night when we were at my house "playing DJ" since we thought we were going to see Meg Hutchinson at Uncommon Ground but she wasn't there (???) and instead there were these really pretty mediocre singers basically doing karaoke and I'm sorry but Alanis Morrisette "You Oughta Know" done on acoustic guitar with a husky Melissa Etheridge wannabe voice and admonitions to the audience to please "Join in!" ??? I don't think so.

But now I'm listening almost exclusively to the NEW! Earlimart "Hymn and Her" out yesterday that is AWESOME. Oh I love me some Earlimart (for example, this is how much I loved their previous album and here is where they were in my favorite albums of 2007) and Hello! Score! coming to Chicago on the 26th at the teeny tiny Hideout. Woot. Yes, I bought tickets. Yay! (Or, as a former coworker would say "I'm stoked!")

Oh and while the whole "Meg Hutchinson not being playing although that's the only reason we went" issue sucked, I did have some incredible pistachio-encrusted tilapia that pretty much blew my mind and this wacky french Apple-flavored beer that was DELISH. So there's that.

Posted by Duff at 11:57 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 25, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

So I have officially declared Wednesdays to be the "Currently" update date. Completely official until next time I forget and just don't do it, which will most likely be next week! Ha!

Eating: I'm kinda obsessed with the Poblano Fresco (with Chicken) sandwich at Corner Bakery right now. Which is unfortunate being that it's 900 calories (NO JOKE) which is a lot to spend on one sandwich when you are pretending to only eat 1500 calories a day...

Making: A second "vest" type garment made out of super thick, super warm, wool. Because that's totally what you are looking for in clothing right? Something with short sleeves that's super hot?

Reading: Just finished ""Lush Life" by Richard Price (v.v.good) and was reading short stories from Cate Kennedy "Dark Roots" except I didn't realize how close to the end I was and finished it on the El this morning (only 182 pages and BIG print). So crap, I'm not reading ANYTHING right this second and you know I am antsy to get home and dig into the bookshelves and get moving!

Watching: Nothing. I don't think I've turned on the TV this week. (Oh except to put in BSG discs which I've started over again for the third & fourth times (depending on the episode) and am now mid-season 2. I like to be watching around where my dad is watching so when he calls I can remember the stuff he's raving about.) I am waiting for this weekend where I WILL see WANTED, I tell you now.

Listening: Listening to the (still relatively) new Death Cab and also Fleet Foxes and Shearwater and Joseph Arthur and Port O'Brien and Madonna and Missy Higgins and Candy Butchers... I'm all over the place. I am thinking deep thoughts about a mix someone requested so I'll be poking about a bit until I get that done.

Posted by Duff at 10:10 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 23, 2008

EW #s 999/1000 (the new classics)

Ack, I really hate this issue. No reviews, no "here's what's coming out" and endless lists to disagree with.

Example #1: They call "On Beauty" Zadie Smith's "third--and finest" book. I loved her first ("White Teeth") book and liked her second ("The Autograph Man") one a LOT and the third one? Not much at all.

Example #2: BSG is #59. Behind Pee-wee's Playhouse? Melrose Place? 90210? Come on.

The only things I liked (and oddly, liked a lot):

• Brigette Lacombe's photo spread (she shoots still on movie sets. now THAT's a job I could get into)
  
• Danny Clinch's photo spread (rock stars)
  
• Will Arnett's "New Classics That Made Me Cry"
  
• The photo of Rainn Wilson as Xena: Warrior Princess. I might buy that a frame.

Posted by Duff at 06:20 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, TVTVTV

EW #998 (Angelina "Wanted" cover)

If there's one movie I can't wait to see this summer, it is indeed Wanted.

If there's one TV show you could NOT pay me to see, it is Swingtown, the previews for which look so incredibly bad, and that's not even taking into account the lame lame lame subject matter. What the fuck, EW, how did that piece o' crap make your Must list? Seriously.

The review of The Accidental "There Were Wolves" makes it sound like a good album...it also makes it sound a LOT like Fleet Foxes and Shearwater. So do I need it?

As usual, Mark Harris cracks me up (Women can apparently find a local multiplex without help from men!). He's my favorite back-pager.

Posted by Duff at 06:05 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 20, 2008

BSG: The obsession continues.

Here.

Posted by Duff at 12:34 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

June 18, 2008

Best of May

The best movie I saw in May was Iron Man and it was fucking awesome and definitely the best movie I've seen this year (not that I've seen many) and it's so good that even the second time around when you go to a crap ass neighborhood theater and the projector breaks and you have to watch the middle 20 minutes in two-minute increments, it's STILL brilliant. Are you coming to Chicago? I'd be happy to go to it again!

The best books I read in May were the one-two punch of Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs. Magical and mysterious and yet so human and irresistibly attractive. If only I could have jumped into these books and become an auxiliary character (Another "cousin" for Ward? A romantic interest for Oreg?)... She ranks right up there with Elizabeth A. Lynn as my favorite current fantasy writers.

The best gig I went to in May was probably a tie between the Long Blondes (for actual "best") and Crowded House (for playing some of my all-time most beloved songs).

My favorite tunes in May....Honestly, I was soooo busy watching BSG over and over (see below), I really didn't do much listening in May. Which would be why I'm now working on listening to all the many many albums I bought but did not listen to in April, May and (thus far in) June all at once. Doh!

Random personal highlights: MDS&W, not the greatest, but I did get to see my peeps. I watched like* every episode of Battlestar Galactica. Twice. (Or more, depending on how much I loved the episode and how much screen time my current celebrity boyfriend Tahmoh Penikett had ha ha ha ha ha.) I went to visit my nephews. Met my newest cousin! And I got many back/shoulder massages at physical therapy (but see lowlights as well).

Lowlights? Physical therapy: a) the need for it, b) the stretching and lifting and pulling, ow, ow, ow, c) the ice. Hate the ice!! Had to skip a concert (Avett Brothers). Continuing buttloads of stress at the secondary browsing location.

*like used purely for valley girl emphasis, and not to approximate any less than ALL.

Posted by Duff at 10:14 AM | Say What? | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 17, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Bing cherries. Yum! (1 cup = about 85 calories. Not bad!)

Making: Trying to finish the second sock of a pair started...a million months ago. Before I move on to finishing up Kysa's Friendship Star quilt, since I finished Ame's yesterday! Woot!

Reading: Just finished "Life Class" by Pat Barker (very good) and have moved on to "Lush Life" by Richard Price. It's good. But then again, what book of his isn't.

Watching: Just watched season 1 of Burn Notice on Hulu (Dear Hulu, how 'bout you try to get Everwood, seasons 1-4? Thanks!). Eh. I don't like the lead at all, I hate that everything he says in the voiceovers is in his smarmy, self-satisified tone of voice. But I'd love to be skinny, strong and sassy, like Gabrielle Anwar. So there's that. Since the insanely stupid Sci Fi channel is not going to show the rest of BSG season 4 until fucking next fucking year, I have to find something to watch this summer, before I die of fucking boredom. So I figured if I'm going to be stuck watching season 2 of Burn Notice, I might as well have watched season 1 first.

Listening: Listening to lots of Joseph Arthur (man of many recent EPs) and still obsessing over Meg Hutchinson's latest, as well as some singles from Tristan Prettyman and this very theatrical, dramatic album "Songs from the Deep Forest" by Duke Special that I picked up one day after reading Largeheartedboy's blog where he linked to an interview of someone who recommended this (Paul Weller? maybe?) but I can't remember who or where. It has a similar tone/feel to the soundtrack to "Spring Awakening" or the Buffy musical episode "Once More with Feeling".

Posted by Duff at 05:44 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

Quote of the day

Spies hide guns like squirrels hide acorns.
-Burn Notice 1:12

Posted by Duff at 05:42 PM | Say What? | filed under " " of the XXX., Movie/TV Quotes, TVTVTV

June 11, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Mixed Berry Chewy Spree. Which I'm sure are sour only to me, and holy crap they're making my face burn up. Could be allergic to them. Better eat 20 more to make sure.

Making: Still the blindstitching to go on Amy's quilt and so close to being done w/ an elongated Cloud bolero (ravelry link) although at this point I'm fairly convinced I'll never wind up wearing the thing. Everyone thinks I should wear it with a tanktop but in what weather conditions do a tank top and a wool lacey vest deal go together?

Reading: "The Farther Shore" by Matthew Eck which is really, really good. Welcome to the new generation of war novelists. Tactile and gritty and completely engrossing.

Watching: Battlestar Galactica (old and new) over and over again. And the one and only season of Standoff on Hulu. DAMN, it still pisses me off they cancelled that show. I love episode 2 possibly the best*, but the end of episode 3 is totally (romantically) awesome (Hello, Band of Horses), and also the ends of episodes 12 and 18, just so you know.

Listening: Listening to lots of Joe Purdy (as I may have mentioned), as well as Sea Wolf after seeing their brilliant show last week, (hmmm, which I thought I had written up but apparently not) and Meg Hutchinson. Have bought tons of new stuff; maybe I'll start listening to that over the weekend. I mean, if I can be unslackerish enough to roll off the couch and press play. I've got big relaxation plans going on over here.

*Am I the only one who loves things the "best" rather than the "most"? Where'd I pick that up? I know one of you is to blame. CCB, was it you?

Posted by Duff at 11:30 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

May 29, 2008

DadReaction: First Impression BSG

If all the cylons are as hot as that smokin' #6, then I'm rooting for the cylons!! (direct quote)

Posted by Duff at 11:04 AM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, TVTVTV

May 28, 2008

Quote of the Night and perhaps THE CENTURY!

Said by my Dad, to my Mom, in the midst of reporting to her about how AWESOME Battlestar Galactica is (he's halfway through season 1, disc 1 (the mini-series), he had to hang up to get back to it but called me midway through to rave), which he just started as I sent him all the discs as an early Birthday present:

Carolyn is the one kid in a million who actually paid off.

Hello, I WIN. ;) And yay, Dad is loving BSG too. Someone else to share the obsession. Yay!

Posted by Duff at 09:00 PM | Say What? | filed under " " of the XXX., DadReaction, Random Quotes, Remember, TVTVTV

May 13, 2008

EW #990 ("Meredith")

They gave Made of Honor a B? Are they kidding? (I'd give it a D-Minus at best.)

And per the cover (I refuse to read the article), they think Grey's "is getting good again." I watched it the last two weeks and it was far from good. The opposite, really.

Me and this magazine = not in sync.

Posted by Duff at 06:25 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV

May 12, 2008

Quote of the Night

"You had me worried there for a moment. I thought maybe the Cylons had beaten the bullshit attitude out of you."

-Commander Adama
BSG, 3.8

Posted by Duff at 06:42 PM | Say What? | filed under " " of the XXX., Movie/TV Quotes, TVTVTV

May 02, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Loads of crap-ass horrible-for-you but oh-so-good-tasting food.

Making: Not a motherfucking thing.

Reading: Finishing up "Slam" by Nick Hornby so I can move on to the May challenge book before Dad gets too far ahead of me!!! (Finished April in the nick of time but haven't written it up yet.)

Watching: This week's episodes of: Bros & Sis (middling); Bones (eh, stupid babies); Gossip Girl (hmm OK); How I Met Your Mother (awesome); CSI NY (lame); CSI (awesome); Lost (motherfucking awesomely awesome!!!!!!!!!!!); The Office (pretty good); 30 Rock (eh); Grey's (sucked ass). Did I watch anything else this week? I just can't remember.

Listening: New albums from The Weepies (yes!); Madonna (some!); Fleet Foxes (LOVE!); and lots of other stuff (check several recent Tunes posts).

Posted by Duff at 10:20 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

April 24, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Ginger ale and saltines and that's about it. I expect that to change over the weekend though. Look out Moody's, here I come.

Making: Nada. Been shootin' some film.

Reading: Dad's and my March challenge book for the month "The Death of Virgil" by Hermann Brach, the first to really be a fucking challenge to read. Abstractly, it is beautiful and elegaic and almost like reading Virgil himself. But the act of reading it...is tough. Not always what I want on the El, my main reading time. Dad was struggling too...until he burst ahead, read the last 40 pages and called me to crow! Dang! Have taken a few breaks for some others, but now I've really got to buckle down. Month's almost over!

Watching: Fresh TV. Ah. As welcome as Spring. Bones, I've missed you. Also obsessively watching both NEW and VERY OLD CSI. I know, right? Catching up on season and rewatching whatever season (2003?) is currently showing from about 4-7 on SPIKE TV. Watching it so much, DNA is all I can think about, everywhere I am, everything I touch, "whoops, just left a little DNA right there, hope no one gets murdered on this corner later..." Oh and season 1 Battlestar Galactica. Fuckin' awesome. Helo is my fave. Season 2 better get here lickety split (if you think I didn't leave the sickbed to go feverishly, deliriously hunting for it in the 'hood the other night, you are way wrong).

Listening: Dang, I've been watching so much BSG and CSI, listenin' has had a tough time staying in the game this week. I haven't even listened to most of the CDs I bought in Japan, as someone just reminded me! That said, I'm loving the new album from Meg Hutchinson I bought at her show the other night. And by loving I mean ouch, my heart just broke into 100 pieces but play it again, would ya? Also loving two recent EPs by Joseph Arthur, one all distorty and dark and the other less dark but as melancholy as always (and love it so). Got a lot of new stuff waitin' in the wings. More to say soon! Seriously!

Posted by Duff at 01:18 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

April 02, 2008

EW #985 (Speed Racer)

Definitely interested in seeing "Stop Loss" after reading this interview with the director.

Pacey's movie "Shutter" gets only a C-. :(

I've never watched Criminal Minds before but tonight's episode has steamy shower sex and Nicholas Brendon (in the same scene I hope!). I'm there, baby!

Album: "Blueberry Pancakes" Fink
Album: "Attack & Release" The Black Keys (gets an A- and it was DangerMouse produced.)
Check out? Los Campesinos (boy/girl harmonies, self produced zine)
Book: "The Finder" Colin Harrison (thriller/sounds awesome!)

Posted by Duff at 11:35 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

March 18, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Enough food to feed a third world country and that's what I'm eating for every meal. Just STARVING lately but presumably due to STRESS.

Making: Absofuckinglutely nothing. Made a little progress on Ame's friendship star beginning of last week. Since then: nuttin', honey.

Reading: Dad's and my March challenge short stories "The Complete Stories" by David Malouf which are breathtakingly good. Best short stories I've EVER read? I'm thinking so.

Watching: LOST which is fucking rocking my world. And other shows that really aren't as good: Jericho (OK, not great); New Amsterdam (really kinda bad but the dude is so watchable, what can a lonely girl do?); How I Met Your Mother (I do not call last night's episode returning with a bang, sorry kids) and some DVDs to help me out during the 2008 CD Reorganization Project, I'll try to pop in and tell you about them before I take off. Have had many plans to go to U2 3D over the past few weeks. All have fallen through. I hope it's still playing when I get home!

Listening: Obsessively to Jesse Malin "Glitter in the Gutter" which is in CONSTANT rotation, I just can't stop playing it. Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago" and Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces" are close seconds. Also getting to know the new Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks. A bit rougher/less produced than Malin but pretty damn good. Have been introducing other slackers to Nada Surf "Get Lucky", The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (self titled) (FUN!), Mike Doughty "Golden Delicious" and Missy Higgins "On a Clear Night". Going to see The Raveonettes tonight although I haven't gotten through the entire new album yet; everytime I start listening something else gets in the fucking way!

and p.s. thanks to Fuel/Friends and the LaBlogotheque Concert à Emporter of Stephen Malkmus, this morning I am listening to Reckoning (yes, that's R.E.M. to you young'uns) which has not been listened to full on...in many years. So many good songs on this album.

Posted by Duff at 10:20 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

March 14, 2008

Thursday Nights.

Sorry, I already have plans.

Posted by Duff at 11:31 AM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

February 25, 2008

EW #980 (Will Ferrell)

Lost: By March 13 / Ep 7, the identies of (all) the "Oceanic 6" will be revealed.

Heath Ledger's only partially filmed role in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus will be filled by a collaboration of Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell (and it's rumored that original footage of Heath will still be used in the film).

Comics: Brian Vaughn "The Last Man" comes to an end with #60.

Flick: Be Kind Rewind sounds hilarious.

CD: Got It for Cheap: the Mixtape, Vol 3. (The Re-Up Gang)

Spring movies! Yay!
Feb 29: The Other Boleyn Girl
Mar 7: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Mar 21: The Grand (supposed to be a "Best in Show" style comedy about prop poker)
Mar 21: Shutter (Joshua Jackson)
Mar 28: Stop-Loss (Iraq)
Mar 28: 21 (!!)
Apr 4: Shine a Light (Scorsese films the Rolling Stones)
Apr 4: My Blueberry Nights (N. Portman, J. Law, R. Weisz and Norah Jones)
Apr 4: Leatherheads (I'm just going to see Jim)
Apr 11: Smart People (Ellen Page's Juno followup)
Apr 11: Street Kings (Keanu and Forest Whittaker as LA cops)
Apr 25: The Tourist (Michelle Williams)

Posted by Duff at 08:02 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

February 22, 2008

Random TV Items

All from Ask Ausiello.

April 14 begins six more (new) episodes of Bones.
April 21 begins five more (new) episdoes of Gossip Girl.

And "Tim Riggins" will be "Gambit" in the Wolverine X-Men spinoff.

Posted by Duff at 03:10 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

February 20, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Potbelly turkey on skinny wheat, no cheese, just a little mayo. How can a plain turkey sandwich be so stinkin' good? Also chocolates from Moonstruck in Portland (thanks to Melanie) and Charles Chocolates in San Fran (thanks to Silvia). Because it's everyone's goal that I be the fattest girl in the world.

Making: Very very weak attempts at the daisy-stitch handwarmers I told Amanda I'd make her. Ugh, what an annoying pattern, the K3tog, yo, K3tog into the same 3 stitches was way too annoying on wooden needles -- talk about hand cramps! Will try again with addis. Lots of THINKING about the quilting I want to get done in the next few weeks, but given I was just out of town for a few days, nothing done on that front.

Reading: Dad's and my February challenge book "The Good Soldier Svejk" by Jaroslav Hasek (Svejk pronounced Shvayk). It's hilarious. Total farce. Along the lines of Tristam Shandy. With a few random other things thrown in here and there, particularly in airports, but those are all finished now.

Watching: The same movies over and over (hello Juno, I've seen you before. A few times.) with yay! a few fresh episodes of TV (Bros&Sis, Terminator, Jericho, Lost, Eli Stone) thrown in. It's almost like a season in full swing. Almost!

Listening: For several weeks, all I listened to were the new albums from Nada Surf, Missy Higgins and Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set. Now I've got a few others thrown in including the beautiful Bon Iver (oh did you just hear my heart break?) released yesterday, just for me I like to pretend; a new Mike Doughty, because you can never go wrong with Mike Doughty; the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, based in Chicago, not Britain; live sneak peeks of tunes off the upcoming Counting Crows double album... There's a lot going on all of a sudden.

Posted by Duff at 01:58 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

February 13, 2008

EW #978 (Bardem/Day-Lewis)

Funny how they list the offspring of Melrose Place but don't mention that it was itself a spinoff from 90210. Don't they remember that Jake (Grant Show) was originally a 90210 love interest of Kelly?

U2 3D. I saw a preview (in 3D itself) when I went to Beowful. Looked awesome.

CBS reshowing Dexter minus the profanity. Anything "minus the profanity" immediately loses interest for me.

New Death Cab album due in May.

Book(s): first in Paddy Meehan series: "Field of Blood" Denise Mina.

Dear Diablo Cody, I am SO GLAD I was not "between the ages of 4 and 15 in 1989" and "obsessed with Danny, Donnie, Jordan, Joe, or Jon." I was 21, in college and listening to The Smiths, Cocteau Twins, the Cure and U2, and NKOTB never ever even hit my radar. PHEW!

Posted by Duff at 11:29 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

January 29, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Shower gifts. Self portraits (damn you, 365 flickr project, you are killing me).

Reading: After reading the same two books for the first three weeks of the month ("Tree of Smoke" by Denis Johnson and "The Oxford Book of English Short Stories" edited by A.S. Byatt ), I'm now in a flurry of finishing, those plus some others thrown in. I haven't written any January reads up yet, but you can always view the current year's list to know what's going on. Just finished the Johnson on my way to work today so tonight it'll be pick out a new book time. Yay! (Either that, or wait until tomorrow when I have time to go to the bookstore and pick up the new Pat Barker.)

Watching: I finished "catching up" with How I Met Your Mother on my majorly delayed in every direction plane rides this weekend, whipping through the end of season 2 and all that's been shown of season 3 so far (this strike cannot end soon enough!). While Barney cracks me the fuck up (and damn, nice abs, boy), I think Marshall is my favorite character. And I haven't seen ANY new movies because instead I just keep going with people to see Juno (their first times, my second, and third, and fourth) again and again.

Listening: Over and over again to Sea Wolf "Leaves in the River", as I have been since mid-December. Also Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces"; he has a real sense of fun and joy (and quirkiness) in his tunes. Cat Power "Jukebox" although I like the first three-four songs the best and I usually move on after that. Bought some new stuff in San Fran but haven't listened yet...

Posted by Duff at 01:39 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

January 22, 2008

EW #973

Thanks to this issue, I have just realized that at some point in time James Franco and James Marsden had become confused in my mind as the same person! I kept wondering why the dude in the 27 dresses previews didn't look the way I expected him too! Um, duh, because it's not the same dude!!! Too funny!

Pretty intriguing interview with Matthew Fox; more "hinty" than usual about the upcoming season of Lost.

Upcoming TV for Spring: Jan 28 - HBO "Mind Games", shrink show with Gabriel Byrne (a 5-nights-a-week commitment to one show is a bit much even for me); Feb 12 - Jericho returns!; March 7 new show "The Return of Jezebel James", sisters played by Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose (Parker Posey doing a TV sitcom?); April 4 Battlestar Galactica returns (since there's nothing else to watch these days, I may actually be able to catch up to this show in time to watch new episodes!). I'm waiting to watch this season of The Wire until it comes out on DVD...as last season with all the kids & school was just too heavy for me at the time. Saving it for later!

Hilarious comment on Stranger than Fiction in the TV guide: Contemporary American film in which books play a prominent role, so you can sort infer why it didn't do all that well.

And I really enjoyed the back page column by Mark Harris on hello why are we repeating plot lines in sci fi movies these days (I Am Legend; Battlestar Galactica; new Star Wars?; etc.; as well as a million and one Blade Runner retrospectives); where are the new and innovative sci fi pieces. Cut the nostalgia! Come up with something new! Good stuff.

Posted by Duff at 06:40 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV

TV: Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles

I'm not feeling quite as enthusiastic toward this show as I was last week...as the longer you watch, the more it seems they have dumbed down the terminators. As my dad points out, clearly they don't program them to "look both ways before crossing the street" as both Eps 1 and 2 featured a terminator/car collision, virtually identical shots. And as each episode has progressed, all the way through 3, Summer Glau's character becomes more and more mechanical, actually the opposite direction you would expect her to be going given how much time she's spending with the humans. In the first episode, she / her character was credibly passing as a fellow student (as well as the bad dude terminator who appeared credibly human while taking attendance up until calling on John...but since then is complete machine). In Ep 3, every (somehwat bizarre or "non human") thing she does is followed by her staring blankly at the humans around her. Way to blend in, not. Why is her ability to modify her terminatorish behavior to appear more human actually decreasing?

Liked seeing the soft side of Sarah / just burns down Andy's dreams and all the work of his past three (or was it five? can't remember) years instead of killing him. Of course, he has no idea he's getting off easy. But didn't really like the subplot at the school / with the mysterious painting slowly revealing the suicide girl's presumed indiscretions. Also note the new cute girl John keeps bumping into. Should we assume she's actually human? :) Like the leads, like the acting, but it's not really that good. Still...better than Bionic Woman was and that's really the "compare" I've been using in my head for this show.

Posted by Duff at 06:06 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

Quote of the Day

Understanding, compassion, kindness and love are the only true revolutionary ideas. When we compromise these, we become what we despise and lose our humanity.

-Bones 3:2

Posted by Duff at 03:17 PM | Say What? | filed under " " of the XXX., Movie/TV Quotes, TVTVTV

January 14, 2008

I'm missing TV something fierce.

No I'm not so thrilled with having nothing to watch and therefore spending more time reading/pondering/being a deep person or what have you. I already do plenty of reading even when I am watching TV every night!!! Jackhats.

Anyway, while I am missing it severely I suddenly felt motivated to post to the TV blog. So there you go.

Posted by Duff at 07:35 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Shower gifts. Hats. Dreams.

Reading: "Tree of Smoke" by Denis Johnson (because a) of fridaysixpm's comments about it (scroll down to 11/15, I can't seem to link directly) and b) I did some intensive studying of Vietnam history in several different courses in college. a million years ago and c) oh yeah it just won a big prize) and "The Oxford Book of English Short Stories" edited by A.S. Byatt (because it's our challenge book for January). The first is big and thick and sprawling and very much a boy book in the particular way that I mean that (and here is where I thought I would link to a review of a W.E.B. Griffin book I read in 2006, "Semper Fi" but which apparently I never wrote up. Although I distinctly remember doing so. Let's just say there is a limited female point of view in books about war, or soldiers, or armies, or Vietnam, because historically very few females have gone to war. I'm not being sexist, I'm being realistic.). The second is an odd mix; some really good stories and some bizarre, or boring, or "after school special" "lessons"-type ones.

Watching: The Sarah Connor Chronicles which started last night and continues tonight in a two-night premiere. I love it which means most everyone else probably hated it and thought it was lame and twisted the story and left out important stuff and blah blah blah. Girls kicking ass = Good. Summer Glau = Good. Lena Heady = Good. Also glad to see new episodes of a few things in the past week (Gossip Girl, 30 Rock, FNL, NUMB3RS, Brothers & Sisters) but continuing to mourn the lack of fresh TV. As it goes, so goes my life.

Listening: Really still listening to stuff bought in December. Sea Wolf, Lupe Fiasco, the Avett Brothers. And the soundtrack to Juno. Listening to that a lot. This has not really been a music-buying month for me so far, but I think that's generally the January norm.

Posted by Duff at 05:58 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

January 10, 2008

Recent DadReactions

Big Screen: I Am Legend. Similar to how I felt. Good job by Will Smith but the ending sucked. And Dad also felt it was very derivative. The "ghoulie" types = copied straight from The Descent (one of his faves last year!). The "medicine becomes infection wipes out population and turns them into ghouls" = copied straight from 28 Days Later (and then Weeks also) . [Yes, we know this was a book a long time ago. But given what Carla's told me about the book, it is pretty different than the movie.]

Big Screen: Juno. He LOVED it. Smart and sweet. Really thought the lead actress was excellent. Liked the parents a lot. Thoughtful and moving.

Readin': "The Oxford Book of English Short Stories" ed. by A.S. Byatt (For our challenge. He's ahead of me because he already owned the book and I had to wait for it to be delivered!) Really really strange selection of stories. Some good ones (the Kipling story is GREAT! [man I can't wait to read it. Haven't read Kipling since I wrote my Master's Thesis (on "Kim")]) but some that are just bizarre (and not enjoyable). Thinks we should read the V.S. Pritchett-edited Oxford collection as our last month of the challenge; in comparison, he thought that was a great collection/selection when he read it (which was why he had picked up this one).

TV: The Office. I gave him season 1 for xmas and said I'd pick up the rest if he liked it. Two episodes in, it was obvious it was a go, so we quick picked up the next two. I had watched these either on TV or on iTunes whereas he is watching the DVDs. a) He LOVES it. Says if he had nothing else to do, he would already be done because he just can't get enough. b) He said the DVD extras are AWESOME and some are basically like an extra episode (20 minutes long!). [Crap, now I'm going to have to get the DVDs for myself!] c) General comments: Hilarious. Really enjoying it. Loves the Pam/Jim thing. Loves Dwight! d) Is already halfway through Season 2. Yay!

Posted by Duff at 08:17 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, DadReaction, Flicks, TVTVTV

December 19, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Mix CDs. I had ideas of quilting I would do this week, but so far I haven't done any. So there you go.

Reading: I just finished a book today; I think tomorrow I'm going to start reading "Ludmila's Broken English" by DBC Pierre (who won the Booker for Vernon God Little a few years back, which I did enjoy). Somehow three books in this month, everything I read had a red spine. So I decided to keep the trend going for the rest of the month. Oh the crazy ways the reading list evolves.

Watching: This week's K-Ville I enjoyed. Also loved Juno on the big screen. Maybe Beowulf tomorrow? We'll see.

Listening: I've listened to many many things today as I've been running around in iTunes listening to samples of lots and lots of stuff. Plus the new Lupe Fiasco that came out yesterday ("The Cool"). Yay! Love Lupe: : Love it. Also bought Kid SimpleSimple Kid (sounds like Beck's little brother with some Elliott Smith thrown in) and Nick Light (another melancholy boy, singer, songwriter type), and old Siobhan Donaghy since I can't find the new one yet (Reckless ordered it for me), which is very girly girly pop. Girly pop! Yay! I have to fill the iPod up for the long ride...

Posted by Duff at 06:40 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

December 12, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: About halfway done w/ Curious George #2 (basted / now just quilting & binding to go).

Reading: This hilarious new book by Michael Chabon "Gentlemen of the Road". It's an Arabian Nights-like, fairytale-esque story, and as such the incredible overuse of adjectives, similes and metaphors TOTALLY FITS the mood. But they're so abundant that it sometimes becomes giggle-inducing. "With his skin that was lustrous as the tarnish on a copper kettle, and his eyes womanly as a camel's, and his shining pate with its roof of wool whose silver hue implied a seniority attained only by the most hardened men, and above all with the air of stillness that trumpeted his murderous nature to all but the greenest travelers on this minor spur of the Silk Road..." Come on now, people, are you not totally cracking up now? It's a very enjoyable read.

Watching: K-Ville was the only show with a fresh episode this week (and it was way too over the top) but I also watched the Bones rerun since it's one of my favorites (the Christmas where they all get locked in the lab). Maybe a movie Thursday night? We'll see.

Listening: Very obsessively to two albums: Bat for Lashes "Fur and Gold" and Sea Wolf "Leaves in the River". Completely in love with both of them.

Posted by Duff at 09:00 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

December 03, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: A second Curious George quilt as well as another stripe-y baby quilt. Yadda yadda.

Reading: Short stories by infamous blogger Tod Golberg: "Simplify". They're good. As witty and sarcastic as you would have guessed, but more tender than I expected.

Watching: Catching up on TV I was too lazy to watch last week (you know, the ones I don't HAVE to watch that night when I get home: DS$, Reaper, Gossip Girl), season two of How I Met Your Mother after Michelle got me totally addicted and we whipped through all of Season 1 while she was here, and re(re)watching earlier episodes from the current seasons of Bones and FNL. New (random) episode of The Closer on tonight! Yay! Really want to see both August Rush and Juno (opens tomorrow!) this week.

Listening: To the new Radiohead "In Rainbows". Yes, I broke down and bought it after Paul said it's all he's listened to in two weeks and then it started popping up on everyone's year-end lists. I haven't listened to Radiohead in YEARS but I do find this "listenable" which is more than I could say for their last few albums. Also finally bought Augie March "Moo, You Bloody Choir" (it was out in Australia when we went but I had bought an older album instead at the time) and Brother Ali "The Undisputed Truth" (yay! needed some new rap).

Posted by Duff at 08:27 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

November 14, 2007

EW#964 (Strike)

The writers are totally right to be asking to get paid residuals for stuff being shown online. But man, my life is just going to SUCK as soon as the previously written episodes run out. Me at home every night, no TV, alone WITH MY THOUGHTS?!?! Oh no, that's not good.

Yay, Pushing Daisies getting some EW love.

Single: Ja Rule "Father Forgive Me" (samples "Eleanor Rigby")

The book I'm reading right now gets an A-: "Why the Devil Chose New England for His Work" by Jason Brown. I think it's good. Very subtly strong.

Posted by Duff at 02:22 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

November 09, 2007

Priorities, priorities.

I know, where have I been? I have four books and two movies to tell you about. Soon. If you're desperate, I did post about The Office today.

Posted by Duff at 01:05 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

November 07, 2007

EW #961 (C. Underwood)

Flick: "Girl in the Park" Alessandro Nivola and Keri Russell.

CD: "Lady's Bridge" Richard Hawley

My So-Called Life DVDs getting a re-release (with extras). I have them from the first time around but not sure if the extras are new or not.

Posted by Duff at 03:34 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

November 05, 2007

Still watching TV.

Although I seem to have taken a break from posting about it (hmmm, how'd that happen). I did just write up FNL though, so there you go.

Posted by Duff at 10:49 AM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

November 01, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Working on the layouts for the two Friendship Star quilts. Also making a mini quilt out of leftover squares. But doesn't look like there'll be much time this weekend for it so we'll see if I get anything done.

Reading: Just about finished with "A Complicated Kindness" by Miriam Toews, the book that swept Canada. (Pretty sure I bought this in London last January - when Alison posted about it this summer, it bumped itself higher on my TBR list...). I'm less than one El ride from finishing. Uh oh! Better figure out what I'm going to read next!

Watching: Wow, I loved both Bones and Life this week although I haven't posted to the TV blog about either one yet. And I'm definitely seeing at least one movie this weekend although I'm not sure which one yet. Next week I've got tickets to two oldies (Peter Watkins-directed "Punishment Park" and Nicolas Roeg-directed "Walkabout") that are showing as part of the Chicago Arts & Humanities festival.

Listening: I'm listening to Stars because I'm going to see them tomorrow night, along with some other random singles, and the soundtrack to Control which I went to see for a second time the other night.

Posted by Duff at 09:45 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

October 19, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Still nothing. I should probably just delete this stupid category!!

Reading: Not what I expected to pick up next but have gotten sucked into "The Rain Before It Falls" by Jonathan Coe. Big fan of Coe, his writing just invites you in... Right now in the "epistolary" section where Rosamond has dictated onto tape her memories of her cousin Beatrix and herself, focused by photographs from the past...

Watching: Just caught up on Gossip Girl which I hadn't been watching (thank you iTunes). Frivolous but fun. LonelyBoy Dan Humphrey is my new crush! (He was born the year I graduated high school! Wince!) Planning to see Michael Clayton this afternoon...before rushing home for FNL of course.

Listening: To lots of Joy Division and New Order and The Replacements and old, old U2 and the Cocteau Twins and The Smiths, among others, as recent viewing of Control has sent me back in the day. Or, as one of my friends likes to call it, I've been "College-ing It Out".

Posted by Duff at 09:45 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

October 15, 2007

Real Life, Job, Sleep Needs: All Interfering with TV-Watching Schedule.

Have you figured out what you're watching (and what you're kiboshing) this season? Here's where I came down on Fall 2007.

Posted by Duff at 08:07 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

EW #958 (Gollum)

NBC is going to revive KITT and Knight Rider. Has everyone at that network lost their minds? First, there's the plot destruction they're currently performing on Friday Night Lights, then the fact that they have barely promoted Life at all, probably my favorite new show this year, and now this??? COME ON.

p.s. I love you, Craig Ferguson. If only your show was on earlier. Sure, I could tape/TIVO/whatever it. Then I'd have a zillion hours of it to watch and I'd never catch up. No thanks.

Posted by Duff at 04:55 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, TVTVTV

October 14, 2007

Did you watch any TV this weekend?

Michelle and I both really LOVE Pushing Daisies. And I'm conflicted about both Dirty Sexy Money and my beloved Friday Night Lights.

Posted by Duff at 07:39 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

October 12, 2007

RS #1037 (Kid Rock)

CD: Emily Jane White "Dark Undercoat"

TV factoid: Did you know that "Kelly" "Ryan" and "Toby" on The Office are all writers for the show?!? How bizarre! I only knew about Ryan...

Quote: "Kelly Kapoor" (Mindy Kaling) jokes: The first thing I think is, "How much Kelly can I put into this episode without appearing like it's disgusting self-favoritism?"

Posted by Duff at 01:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

More TV pour Nous.

Michelle and I both loved this week's Reaper, we talk Heroes, and I watched TV last night too since Steph's flight was cancelled. Yay TV, waah stupid airlines. "Weather in Chicago," my ass.

Posted by Duff at 10:22 AM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

October 10, 2007

All TV, All the time.

Michelle says "See ya" to Chuck, and I say "I love you" to both Bones and Brothers&Sisters.

Posted by Duff at 11:01 AM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

October 09, 2007

I love you, FNL, but am I going to have to break up with you?

I finally wrote up my incredibly long, seemingly never ending, totally ridiculous ramblings on the Friday Night Lights season premiere. It's the size of a novella, so good luck to you if you choose to read it.

Posted by Duff at 07:06 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

October 04, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Fucking nothing. That's right, NOTHING.

Reading: So my dad and I had this conversation about how we both just lovelovelove Slightly Foxed but we were both falling behind in reading it because every time you read it, you spend half the time you're reading it running around looking for books in your "library" you've forgotten about and figuring out if you have that book by that author or some other book and going and buying more books because now it's reminded you of a book.... Yeah and our ultimate conclusion to this long conversation was that sometimes you just have to read them to enjoy reading what they're saying about things and NOT let yourself get into a frenzy of adding more and more things to your to-be-read pile. So last week I read the last four issues. And then I was at loose ends. OH NO. What to do. Then the Miracle Man came to visit from Hong Kong yesterday and we wandered by a bookstore and Holy Shit, Haven Kimmel has a new book out! Why didn't anyone tell me??? So yeah. Now I'm reading "The Used World" by Haven Kimmel.

Watching: Fucking boatloads of fresh fall TV. Boatfuckingloads, I tell you. (Check ELSN for a zillion recent posts by me, and an occasional post from someone else [dang, ladies], with MORE TO COME....)

Listening: New albums from bands I have loved awhile now: Athlete, The Thrills, Rogue Wave. The awesomely atmospheric Eddie Vedder soundtrack. New albums from James Blunt and Kanye (I like this one more and more the more I listen to, although I still agree with my initial thoughts that it's not as joyful)... Of course, Ben Harper hasn't left the rotation. New boys like Jeremy Fisher. New (to me) girls like Meiko, and Maria Taylor, and Sara Bareille...

Posted by Duff at 08:40 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

October 02, 2007

Fresh Fall TV Onslaught Continues.

The Office, House, Aliens in America, Moonlight, Grey's. Oh, I've got opinions, that's for sure.

Posted by Duff at 11:37 AM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

September 27, 2007

It's a good thing I don't have a real life.

Because the new fall shows are really sucking me in. Wednesday night quickies over here.

Posted by Duff at 08:49 AM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

September 26, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Same as last week, although I do have something on the blocking board I may get to sometime this week. Maybe...Quilting friendship star blocks. Knitting socks.

Reading: "Love Walked In" by Marisa de los Santos. I'm just about done though. I would be done if I hadn't had to stand on the train this morning, and then things got all herky jerky and I fell into someone's lap (no joke!) and was too embarrassed to pull out a book after that because what if it happened again and my book went flying and hit someone in the head or something....

Watching: Premieres! Yay! So far this week watched Heroes, Bones, Reaper (LOVED!), Chuck, 1/2 of Journeyman (hopefully I'll finish that tonight), and the second episode of K-Ville. Still have House premiere and current episode of Damages on the DVR menu. More premieres to come tonight. Yay!

Listening: Nothing I haven't mentioned here already.... my 1, 2, 3 albums so far this year The National, Okkervil River, Earlimart, new stuff from Kanye and Josh Ritter and James Blunt, and lots of French rap.... and Hard Fi "Once Upon a Time in the World" which I bought on a total whim the other night and really like! Rock/punk/FUN!

Posted by Duff at 10:17 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

September 25, 2007

Takes one to know one??

You gotta love writers, they're the opposite of actors. Actors are openhearted and sweet and writers are bitter and twisted, and very very funny.

-Hart Hanson, creator/executive producer on Bones (from the DVD extras)

Posted by Duff at 05:41 PM | Say What? | filed under Movie/TV Quotes, TVTVTV

September 16, 2007

EW #951

"Veronica Mars" to do multi-episode arc on Heroes. Crap, does that mean I'm going to have to a) quick cruise through the season 1 DVDs in order to b) give that show another chance this fall. ugh.

James Marsters five-episode arc on Without a Trace. Considering how AWESOME he was on Saving Grace, looks like I'll be watching this show again as well!

CDs: Aesop Rock "None Shall Pass" is an EW pick with A-. I bought it earlier but I haven't listened to it yet. Also an A- for Terence Blanchard's "A Tale of God's Will" (a requiem for Katrina).

Photo book: "Uncovered" by Thomas Allen. Old pulp paperbacks made into pop up photos. Looks v. cool!

Posted by Duff at 02:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

September 14, 2007

Fall!

I'm wearing fall clothes, eating fall foods (pumpkin!), and all I can think about is Fall TV. So there you go.

Posted by Duff at 11:31 AM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV

September 13, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Focusing on Friendship Star blocks this week. With the hope of maybe possibly finishing those before I die...

Reading: I'm sorta lazily reading a magical mystery "Storm Front" by Jim Butcher while I am also devouring the trade paperbacks of the Runaways comics (just in time to read the new ones being written by Joss Whedon!)... I've read a lot of great books recently, I wanted a little breather while I am still running over them in my mind...

Watching: Summer season finales (The Closer, yay; Rescue Me, starting to bore me; Saving Grace, so much better than people realize; Damages, I don't love it that much) and obsessing over Season 1 of Friday Night Lights (yeah NOW I'm obsessing. Before? That was nothing!) before the season 2 premiere on October 5. Now I actually have a happy reason to be home on Friday nights. Yay!

Listening: Lots of new stuff on my plate, but also really on a "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter" kick today. He's bringing all sorts of other folk to mind (first song Bob Dylan, "Right Moves" makes me think of Bob Seger [especially the chorus!], some songs Bruce Springsteen, some Leonard Cohen)... Rollicking, good humored, meandering... I'm enjoying it.

Posted by Duff at 09:10 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

August 31, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: I haven't made a damn thing since before I went on vacation. Hoping to change that this weekend. But considering the state of other non-crafty items on the to-do list, we'll have to see what happens...

Reading: Thanks to one of the current-day publishing world mores* of NOT publishing most books on the same day everywhere, and a fortuitous trip to FNAC in Brussels, I just started reading "Day" by A.L. Kennedy, one of my favorite writers of the past few years, and not due out in the states until January. Woot! I win!

*(um, as far as I can tell in the dictionary there is no singular form of the word meaning "customs" 'habits" etc...bizarre)

Watching: Still watching The Closer and Saving Grace and not much else. But planning a big movie theater trip this weekend with The Bourne Ultimatum for sure and perhaps Transformers and/or the Fantastic Four sequel (showing at Brew and View !!) as well...

Listening: Lots and lots (and LOTS) of rap in french (MC Solaar, Joeystarr, Mokoboe du 113, IAM, Fonky Family, Nèg' Marrons), as well as Matt Nathanson's AWESOME new album, the new Earlimart, the new Okkervil River, and, you know, other stuff I bought last month or the month before and never listened to...

Posted by Duff at 03:44 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

August 09, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

I mean to do a "currently" post every week. Every week. And then...I just don't. Ah well.

Making: Working on two Friendship Star quilts, and just started a strippy pinwheel for a little five year old girl who refers to me as Aunt Carolyn although there's no blood tie there.

Reading: Uh oh. I just finished my book on the way home. I am not reading ANYTHING right this second, can you believe it. But I'm figuring out what to take on vacation with me on Saturday. Right now "Seven Types of Ambiguity" by Elliot Perlman is at the top of the list. Ginger's been recommending it to me and finally she just up and sent it to me for my last birthday. So I guess I'd better get to it. It's nice and thick, I figured that way I only have to pack the ONE book!

Watching: The Closer is the only summer series I've been able to consistently watch (have just LOVED the last few eps!). The TIVO keeps filling up with the others (Rescue Me, Damages, Saving Grace), and I just keep not watching them, although I think I'm almost caught up with Psych. I'm also watching Miracles, some weird show that starred my current celebrity boyfriend that I got totally obsessed with recently. It's got a LOT of religious wishy washy psychobabble crap in it though so I don't know if my crush will be enough to get me through all four discs. I really want to see Transformers (yes, I KNOW but I DO) and maybe the new Die Hard, but I can't seem to get to the theater...

Listening: Hilarious live album from Matt Nathanson, new tunes from Common (mellower than I expected), Carla Bruni (it's weird, poems by Wordsworth, Dickinson, etc. put to music), Okkervil River (LOVE it! v. fun!), and the old but only so far album by Rhymefest, who I really liked at Lollapalooza. Also listening to Paste samplers #32 and #33, both of which I like almost all the way through...

Posted by Duff at 07:00 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 13, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: About to blindstitch the binding to the back of Mariko's quilt. Halfway through the second sleeve on Maddox.

Reading: "Landor's Tower" by Iain Sinclair. Actually tried to read this once about two years ago and never got past the first chapter. Picked it up again and am zipping right through. Very Joycean in its language and rhythms.

Watching: Season one (and perhaps the only) of Jericho. After reading Meg's recent post, I decided to try it out. Even though Skeet Ulrich has always given me the skeeves in the past, I am totally diggin' him on this show!

Listening: Jason Isbell, which finally hit iTunes. Like it a lot!

Posted by Duff at 06:14 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 11, 2007

Ouch.

JC: I know you feel betrayed...

RG: Well, yes, that's one of the unpleasant side effects of betrayal.

-BtVS, 2:17 "Passion"

Posted by Duff at 10:57 AM | Say What? | filed under Movie/TV Quotes, TVTVTV

June 22, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: I'm doing the quilting on Mariko's quilt. And pretty much nothing else.

Reading: Finally breaking into my Mark Helprin stash with "Freddy and Fredericka." It's got a good dose of irreverence and I am quite enjoying it.

Watching: I finished Buffy and Angel...and then I started all over again, but much slower this time (only one a day!). Also just rewatched season 1 of Bones: the Emily Deschanel/David Boreanaz commentary on disc 3 is a LOT of fun. I don't usually listen to those on movies, but I got into them on Buffy (although on Buffy, they give away MAJOR MAJOR plot points from future seasons. You've been warned. My dad, sadly, was caught unawares by a couple of doozies).

Listening: I bought a shitload of new music in the past couple of days and am just slowly making my way through it. So far the White Stripes "Icky Thump" is really rockin' out.

Posted by Duff at 10:43 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 14, 2007

EW #938 (Katherine Heigl cover)

Sandra Bullock upcoming flick: "The Proposal" a rom-com about a book editor who marries her assistant to avoid being deported back to Canada. Right, because going "back" to Canada is sooooooo far away, is honestly the first thought in my mind.

Summer TV: "The Closer" (I love Fritz and Sanchez) and "Rescue Me" (gross and icky most of the time but can't tear my eyes away) are the only shows I can really commit to. I mean, I'll be watching Friday Night Lights DVDs as soon as they're out and even though I've just watched all of Buffy & Angel, I might feel like starting over and rewatching them all again right away.

Ian McEwan's latest "On Chesil Beach" seems to be mostly about a wedding night between two virgins. Seriously? Hmmm. I'm very up and down on him. Up: "Atonement". DOWN!: "Saturday"

I know everyone's reading the book about Sassy magazine changing their lives, but "Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume" sounds more like my memories.

Posted by Duff at 10:22 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV

EW #935 (Kelly Clarkson cover)

"Once" gets an A. My cousin recommends it also. A blogger whose opinions I dig liked it, but felt the "musical" ness of it was too much for her (scroll down).

DVD: Melville's Army of Shadows out! Good bday present for my Dad.

Potential Purchase Summer Tunes:
6/19: White Stripes "Icky Thump"*
6/26: Ryan Adams "Tiger"
7/31: Common "Finding Forever"
8/21: The New Pornographers "Challengers"

*EW calls it a blend of "country, Scottish folk and spacey F/X...one terrific pile of crash-and-holler that may be the duo's best album yet."

30 episodes of "The Office" next year instead of the standard 22. Woot!

Posted by Duff at 10:16 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

EW #934 (Depp/Pirates cover)

Dalton Ross picks One Tree Hill as the best TV show ever, in a contest based on the "previously on..." montages. Really hilarious column.

Posted by Duff at 10:14 AM | Say What? | filed under Rags, TVTVTV

June 13, 2007

Angel 5:14 "Smile Time" & 5:15 "A Hole in the World"

Angel turns into a Muppet!

Angel and Spike (and then everyone else, and not just on the show): Cavemen vs. Astronauts, who would win?

Wesley: "You've been arguing about this for 40 minutes? .... Do the astronauts have tools?"

Hi-fucking-larious.

Posted by Duff at 10:19 AM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV, Watchin'

June 05, 2007

On Reuniting.

You know, it takes time. You can't just have coffee and expect... There's just so much to work through. Trust has to be built again on both sides. You have to learn if we're even the same people we were, if you can fit in each other's lives. It's a long important process...

Can we just skip it? Can you just be kissing me now?

-Tara, BtVS, 6:18 "Entropy"

Posted by Duff at 12:25 PM | Say What? | filed under Movie/TV Quotes, TVTVTV

May 22, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Not much. Very occasionally knitting on a sock, or on Maddox. (Both are up on Ravelry if you feel like finding me on it.) THINKING lots about quilting, and basting, and piecing, and planning, but not actually doing any of that.

Reading: Uh oh, I finished a book yesterday and I forgot to put a new one in my bag before I left this morning! It's going to be Michael Chabon's new one but looks like I won't be starting it until tomorrow!

Watching: Still watching Buffy (season 6) and Angel (season 3). I was writing about them as I watched them for a while, but then I got bored with that as it just slowed me down and all I really wanted to do was watch more and more and more and more. Soon I will be done. Then what will I do with my time? I'll have to go back to real life and it won't be pretty! I am REALLY hoping to see both "Waitress" and "Hot Fuzz" (Dad review: BRILLIANT!) this week but not sure how that's going to work out given that I am shopping tonight, concerting Thursday night and probably hemming a dress or two on Friday night (don't ask).

Listening: Lots of musicals, thanks to Buffy ("Once More, With Feeling") and a new Duncan Sheik ("Spring Awakening") that How says is lots of fun. New albums by Travis, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Elvis Perkins and still Arcade Fire, as well as old albums by Liam Frost & the Slowdown Family (really like) and Josh Pyke (like), and now that Paste comes out monthly, I've got at least two samplers I've barely put a dent in, and I've got a pile of TO BE LISTENED TO that I haven't even broken into that includes Manu Chao and the Noisettes. Someday I will quit my job and then my stereo will really go up in flames. Someday.

Posted by Duff at 10:29 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

April 19, 2007

EW #930 (American Idol cover)

Alanis Morrisette's "My Humps" youtube takeoff is, in EW's words, "lovely". Lovely? I thought it was hilariously uproariously side-splittingly funny. But not "lovely."

Year of the Dog may be getting an A- here and rave reviews, but I CANNOT go to a movie about someone's dog dying of toxic poisoning. Cannot. Will not. Is my life not depressing enough?!?! A full box of kleenex would probably be used up 10 minutes in.

Crap, I forgot to watch Nathan Fillion in the new show Drive that started last week. Ah well. I'm busy with Buffy anyway. (And I also forgot to tape the premier of Hustle on AMC last night despite writing myself a post-it reminder. Doh!)

Hilarious Tori Spelling quote: "Without the tabloids, how will I know what I'm really up to?"

New Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts only gets a B but I generally LOVE his music so I've got to remember to chk iTunes...

And the back piece is on Battlestar Galactica which so many of my friends are enjoying. Perhaps when I finish all of Buffy & Angel. Perhaps.

Posted by Duff at 10:17 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

EW #929 (Sopranos cover)

Grindhouse gets an A. Yet another reason to find three hours. And Friday Night Lights finale got an A as well. Doh! Bien sur. Here's what I thought of it.

Also note hilarious "Master Shake" 's review of Counting Crows' song "Mr Jones": Take the worst open-mic poetry you've ever heard, then let an ugly frat boy with dreadlocks bounce around and sing it to you. There! You just saved 10 bucks!" Hifuckinglarious. Not that I don't still love that song, though.

Review of A.M. Homes' "The Mistress's Daughter". I have no desire to read this but it does remind me I do want to read some of her fiction.

Posted by Duff at 09:50 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

April 17, 2007

I have no time for you.

I have a whole stack of books and concerts to write up. But I'm too busy watching TV: Buffy and Friday Night Lights. I've also watched EVERY episode of the US version of The Office over the past four days. No, I'm not joking. I'm overdosing, perhaps, but not joking. How a show can be so fucking hilarious and yet so sweet and sometimes (desperately) sad is really an accomplishment. More, please.

Supposedly Grey's is a new one this week. Do I care? Not at this moment. I'm just halfway through Lost from two weeks ago, and obviously would still have last week's to watch too. Another show I am not caring very much about. The last six episodes of Standoff were supposed to start showing April 6, but apparently they decided to show reruns of House instead. It might be returning June 8 if this site is right. We'll see.

Posted by Duff at 01:11 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV, Watchin'

April 16, 2007

Buffy Season 2: Eps 17-22

Ep 17: "Passion." Really really loved this episode. Loved Angel's voiceover. "Without passion, we'd be truly dead." Loved the way he was floating around in the background, stalking Buffy in various scenes. On the other hand, of course, some really really awful things happen in this episode. Awful and creepy and scary and sad. And, man, no one can hurt you the way people you love can, can they. Only of course, he's not the man she loves, he just used to be.

Ep 18: Uck, the "death" demon in the hospital and the little kids. Uck!!! Loved the Xander/Angel confrontation tho. Loved Cordelia bringing Xander donuts on his vigil. Xander "My whole life just flashed before my eyes...I've got to get me a life!"

Ep 19: Wow, another really powerful one. Makes a great companion piece to #17. Love the twist / giving Buffy the guy's role in the past and Angel the woman's. Poor Giles.

Ep 20: Oh there's the dude from Prison Break. Weird. The "fish" in this one really grossed me out. Or what about Willow describing the eviscerated swimmer as being "like [the way one eats] an oreo cookie. Except for, you know, without the oreo cookie goodness." Ew!! Loved the scene when Cordelia thinks Xander is the fish: "I'll do everything I can to make your quality of life better, whether it means little bath toys or whatever..."

Ep 21 & 22: We gets lots and lots of interesting backstory on Angel here. This season has really been a full circle for him. Loved Willow's insistence on trying to get his soul back. Then there's Buffy's revelation to her mom (which honestly at this point, weren't you thinking for ages that it would make things so much easier if she knew? only of course she doesn't take it as well as Buffy's friends did)...and the hilarious part Spike plays in that. "We're in a band." "She plays the triangle." Love the humanity in Spike that Angelus just doesn't have. His love for Drusilla, where Angel(us) is only using her to torture Spike. And on the other hand... Completely torturous. Giles in all kinds of agony, both mental & physical. Buffy watching her love ripping her world apart. The exquisite torment of having Angel get his soul back in the same instant where she has no choice but to send him into hell.

What a way to end a season: complete and utter heartbreak. Ow. [Geez, I haven't listened to Sarah McLachlan in ages, this song really takes me back...]

And the little zombie dude going across the screen at the very end of the credits? This time he says, "Oh, I need a hug." Me too!

Posted by Duff at 08:54 PM | Say What? | filed under TVTVTV, Watchin'

April 15, 2007

Buffy Season 2: Eps 13-16

Oh shit, Miss Calendar is a gypsy! Uh oh!

Ep 13: So so so bittersweet and hard to watch. First they think Angel's leaving, then he doesn't leave, then they have sex, and then his soul is ripped out. Ouch! Ouch! I knew it was going to happen, but I still wasn't really ready for it.

Ep 14: Wow, when Angel loses his soul, he really goes all the way doesn't he. He's much more vicious than, say, Spike or Drusilla. As "The Judge" points out (re: Spike & Drusilla) "These two reek of humanity." Really interesting to see the contrast between the silent moody Angel and the complete swagger of Angelus; it again makes me think of Face Off and the difference in (either) Travola/Cage as they play each other. As Joss Whedon says of Boreanaz in one of the commentaries "Considering he's about as nice a guy as you could ever work with, he plays a bastard with aplomb." Thankfully they did give us some moments of humor to lighten the horror: such as Willow asking Oz to make out!!

Or Cordelia and Xander with some great byplay (as until this episode no one knows about the secret lovers):

C: This is great. There's an unkillable demon in town, Angel's joined his team, the slayer is a basketcase. I'd say we've hit bottom.
X: I have a plan!
C: Oh no, here's a lower place!!

C: Does looking at gun make YOU want to have sex?
X: I'm 17. Looking at linoleum makes me want to have sex.

Ep 15: Loving the little inside moments that I might not have caught if I wasn't powering through these in order. Like Oz lookin