Comment to be added, and tell me a bit about yourself. A little about me:
( living is easy with eyes closed )

I was going to do a picspam of Natasha Richardson as a final farewell, but I can't find it in me to do that, it just makes me too sad. I never followed her work religiously, but she was one of those actresses who was always on my periphery, as one to be aware of, one who was genuinely good at what she did. Not only that, she was just a classy, classy lady with a "luminous spirit" (to quote Dame Judi Dench). She will be greatly missed by me, and many fans the world over, and I know that is merely a whisper of the heartbreak and world-shattering grief her husband, sons, mother, sister, and other family members and friends must be experiencing right now.

As happens when all people pass away from this world: the sun has lost a little warmth, and a great star has dimmed in the sky.

I can summon up the motivation to link to this YouTube video, however. Thanks to soaked_in_stars for originally posting it. This is Natasha's performance of "Maybe This Time" in Cabaret. Have tissues handy. Be at peace, dear lady.

Has anyone read The Book Thief? I bought it on Friday and have been engrossed. I'm about 250 pages in so far and it's got me thoroughly hooked. If anyone else has read it, I was hoping for some thoughts about whether Death is a corporeal being in the book or a spirit that just has a shape of some sort? He refers to himself as a 'he' so if he has a gender, does that come with a body? Or is he just a spirit? Thoughts?

I am so in love with California. I love finally being somewhere that you truly feel is home. Currently still job-hunting. I'll admit that I get frustrated at times, but you know, job searching is never a quick thing, even when the economy is great. Well, unless you're my mother. Sometimes I question whether or not I should have become a nurse like I once thought about doing, but then I think...no, I'm too much of a History geek to have majored in anything else. I know the job I get soon more than likely won't be in my field. And I think all of dealing with job search woes are entitled to be frustrated, but I refuse to give in to the ridiculous fear-mongering going on in this country in regards to the economy, because all that does is make everyone more depressed. And so, I refuse. The economy is not great right now, we are in a recession, things are gloomy. Why must we be reminded of this every single day, multiple times a day? This too shall pass, and in the meantime, let's all try to balance optimism with a bit of healthy cynicism and pragmatism. I'll get a job; I won't get one tomorrow, maybe not even this week or the next, but eventually. If I started thinking otherwise, then I would truly doom myself. And to those of you also job searching, really don't get down. Don't. That's the worst thing you can do. Keep going and keep breathing, and just remember not to stop.

I am wishing all the best for you, poppets, we're all going to be all right. Trust me. :D

Quick question: for those of you that enjoy chai tea, which way do you like it best? Hot or cold? If you like it cold, do you like it over ice, or do you like it in slush form?

Onto some pictures! Yesterday, Sarah pulled out a plush Manta Ray she'd gotten from the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. The plush Manta Ray's name? Monty! :D So anyway, we were playing with Sarah's Chihuahua, Bailey, and noticed that Bailey was being even more amusing than usual. So I documented the "Manta Ray attack" and subsequent defeat, in pictures. Enjoy!

( The Adventures of Bailey and Monty )

That dog is so freakin' cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute. :D

So I love doing picspams for things that I have a great deal of interest in, and also love getting people hooked on shows. It's been two and a half years since I did a picspam for Freaks and Geeks so I think it's about time for another one. This is one of my all-time favorite shows, I rewatch episodes a lot. In a nutshell, the show is a drama-comedy (most of the quotes I picked were humorous, but it's not a sitcom or anything, it's definitely more of a 'dramedy') it centers around Lindsay Weir and her brother Sam (they have a subtle, but close sibling bond that at times reminds me of the bond between my brother and I, only I would be Sam and my brother would be Lindsay) and their respective friends, the freaks and the geeks.

If you watch the show, then enjoy the nostalgia. If you don't watch, hopefully this piques your interest. And really, if you don't watch, you need to. 'Nuff said.

( Hey Bill, get up. That's how the drummer from Led Zeppelin died. )

FUNNY CAKE

So what makes it 'funny'? Well, the fact that first of all, no one can decide whether it's pie or cake. It's...cake in a pie crust. Secondly, you put the batter into the pie crust first, pour the chocolate syrup over it, and then the syrup drizzles down while it bakes (creating a marbled effect with the cake) and when it's done, there's a layer of fudge on the bottom. Everyone has their own preference, but most people seem to prefer this when it's been chilled for a few hours, or overnight, to allow the fudge layer time to harden and thicken.


( Recipe and pictures )

Another post today, because I have to honor the occasion: LJ tells me that today, in 1993, The X-Files first aired. I have such unadulterated, unwavering love for that show. It was the first show I ever got "hooked" on, and I remember very vividly the summer that I got hooked. It was 1997...I was just about to enter seventh grade, and little did I know how much that show would come to help me and be some sort of odd touchstone in that particular school year.

So to celebrate, I have pics and quotes below the cut.

My favorite episode? I cannot choose, I refuse to. When you have a show you love and are unashamedly obsessed with, it's rather hard to pick just one episode, especially when there were so many good ones. Off the top of my head?

Bad Blood
Pusher
Home
Memento Mori
Small Potatoes
Detour
Post-Modern Prometheus
Triangle
Dreamland I & II
Rain King
Tithonus
The Unnatural
Orison
All Souls
Ice
Beyond the Sea

...lots more.

Which leads me to my current quandary; I received a $50 giftcard for Barnes & Noble from my aunt and uncle (the sweetest people, and I miss them terribly; they live in Ohio, so I rarely get to see them) for my college graduation. I really, really want to buy A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and spend the difference purchasing a DVD I've been lusting after. The problem is that I'm lusting after lots of DVDs. I thought about getting a season of The X-Files; I only have Season 3, and logically, I really need Season 1, but Seasons 4-6 are my favorites. I hate making decisions like this. There are also some other shows and movies I want, so I might decide to just put The X-Files on the backburner for now. But I can't...damnit!

Anyway, enjoy my tribute to one of the best shows ever made.

( Picspam! And quotes! )

So, for those interested, I set-up a drabblefest for Seven & Ace (Doctor Who), and it can be found at the new writing journal I just set up for myself: Seven/Ace Drabblefest!

And speaking of that, I figured I'd set up a writing journal for things like that, pertaining to fic from different fandoms, so I don't clutter up my personal LJ quite so much. If you care to add me, le writing journal is thedunesea. Why yes, I do aspire to be a reclusive, old, semi-crazy, retired Jedi Knight.

I was thinking there should be a Seven/Ace Drabblefest. I've been seeing lots of drabblefest/drabble-athons (and various other monikers) lately, and thought there should be one specifically for this pairing. Trouble is, I'm not sure how many people would participate, or even how to advertise it. And it wouldn't be limited solely to 'shippy drabbles, either. But I thought, perhaps, it could be fun. Any of you know people who would possibly be interested, and where would be a good place to advertise? I figure I could just host it in my journal, or possibly on a community, if one allowed it.