Random thoughts about books, television, things, life, whatnot

Life is not whatnot, and it’s none of your business. That was a John Hughes reference. Sixteen Candles, John Hughes? You know that guy? That guy. I think I may have said this before, but I think that John Hughes needs to be part of youth education. He is timeless.

I recently saw a hilarious book review on YouTube. Then it got me thinking what if there is no such thing as a bad book. Wait, hear me out. What if it’s just a matter of preference? Because someone, even if it’s one person, liked the book. Right? (She asked not to confident.) Maybe what I mean by preferences, is maybe since our brains function differently. It’s like when I read a book that I can’t get into, I can’t say that I don’t like the book because that would not be fair since I have not finished the book. And I will try reading the book later because my mind is not in the right frame of mind in a manner of speaking.

I often joke with my husband that I should put out an ad for a work friend. I used to have one, we talked about movies, funny things we’ve read and seen on the internet. While it is stuff that I already talk to my husband about those things first, during breaks I can continue that conversation during the work day. So then I started thinking about what my work ad would say. Would I just list a bunch of things that I like? You know looking for a work friend, must like some or most of the following. Also should know that this list does not include everything that I like, and I’m happy to be lead to read/watch recommendations as well.

Doctor Who

Firefly (not just the show but the actors as well)

Star Trek

Star Wars (Yes, I like both.)

Babylon 5

The Guild

Parks and Rec

Scott Pilgrim (comic series and film)

Battlestar Galatica and Caprica

Defiance (On that note, I also enjoy the music of Bear McCreary.)
Books (While I know that is a broad subject. It’s good to read, discuss and share.)

Speaking of books is there a certain copy of Mockingjay that everyone else read? With all the teasers and movie trailers that I have come out I have to say, I liked the ending of the book.

Speaking of books I recently read Rat Queens, 1-5. While there is some language in the series, it is not said just to be funny, crud, etc. I like that my husband tells me about the comics and books he reads because then I get introduced to series like Rat Queens. For those of you who have not read this series, it about a questing team of misfits who like to have fun as much as they like to fight. And I have say, Gary is my new hero.

Speaking of my better half aka my best friend, I often wonder if people give us a strange looks because he waits for me to get in the building. That needs some context. Since we first started dating, when he would drop me off he would wait until I was in the house before driving away. My husband and I carpool because his work is nor too far away from mine. Now he does the same thing when he drops me off at work. Call me old fashion but I like that he does that. And I like the fact that I can turn around one last time and see him smile before my work day begins. I just realized old fashion is not the right phrase, I think being in love would be more accurate. Just because you’re married does not mean that you should stop being in love. And just because you are a certain age does not mean you’re heart stops leaping when you hear their voice on the other end of the phone.

Love blossoms at the con. –lovely couple from Comic-con: Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope

Give Me Back My Story

Disclaimer: I am not a prude.

I wanted to write about something that is not necessarily a pet peeve. Perhaps it might be, I am not sure but I will say it is something that I talk about from time to time. (I want to apologize to my husband in advanced for talking about it again.)

I often ask, why does a good movie or television show have to be interrupted with sexual content? Again, I am not a prude. But can I please have my story back? I’ll give an example. A little while ago my husband and I decided to begin watching Game of Thrones, so we placed the series on hold through our local library. (I highly recommend public libraries folks. They have books, magazines, DVDs, Blu-ray, music galore. And they are free!) 

So we begin watching the show, and we are both like hey this story line is pretty good. Then all of a sudden... private regions. I think we spent seasons 1 and 2 fast forwarding through most of the DVDs. I was, I have to admit pleasantly surprised with how we did not fast forward as much through season 3.

My main point of asking for my story back, is I get the idea. I do not need to see two people being fully intimate to understand what is going on. If I were watching a movie and two people are kissing and then fade to black. It does not take a lot of imagination to figure out what happens behind closed doors, or wherever said place is.

Dude seriously, can you imagine how much of the story you can fit into a television show, or how many more action scenes you could have in a movie if you took out sexual content? In my opinion, it would be pretty sweet. I just like it when a movie focusing on the story and character building verses trying to shock people, or gain viewership. 

Bonus, some story lines would not feel as rushed either. Plus there are plenty of shows where there story line can be super awesome without the story having 98% sexual content in each episode. The Walking Dead, BSG, Star Trek, The Guild, Firefly, Doctor Who, just to name a few.

 

Not to mention how it depicts women. I am not trying to get all soap box here. But why does a strong female lead character have to display that strength through sex. (Side note… Yes, I know, Starbuck in Battlestar (side note to side note. Reimagined BSG, not original.) had… What do the kids call it? Oh yeah sex.) But that was a flaw in her character and we didn’t see skin for minutes on end.) Back to my point. Why can’t smart and funny be displayed as strengths? While we are on the subject, when did society be the ones to determine what beautiful is. Whoever is in said “society.” Societal based beauty is the reason why some little girls think they have to dress a certain way, and sadly pretend they are not smart in school by not raising their hand in class.

To say that I just don’t understand it would be an understatement, but it’s all I can ask because sadly it won’t change. All we can do is hit fast forward, or simply turn off the power button.

How to tell if you are drift compatible.

After my husband and I first saw Guillermo del Torro’s Pacific Rim, we have found ourselves saying “drift compatible!” whenever we say or think the same things. For example, whenever my husband and I say the words “do you” we say it a la Anthony Michael Hall in The Breakfast Club. 

I thought it might be fun to list items, in my humble opinion, that make two people drift compatible. Some are from my personal life, others are things I have thought about recently. So here they are in no particular order.

• When you say, “check you later” they automatically think “alright, alright, alright.”
• Whenever you discuss or mention Doug Jones, the other person knows exactly who you are talking about. You even share the same favorite funny seen in Hellboy when, Abe and Hellboy are sharing a beer and discussing their women troubles. “You’re in love. Have a beer.”
• While watching the premier of J.J. Abrams, Star Trek, both of you geeked out when you saw Noel Clarke. And at the same time said Mickey! While looking around to see if anyone was excited as you were to see a companion.
• When you hear that someone has not seen Doctor Who, you or your significant other say “you’ve never seen Doctor Who?” in your best British accent. Saying it in that accent is a result of seeing Revision 3’s “Welcome Back, Doctor Who” one too many times on YouTube.
• Speaking of YouTube, one of the other videos you’ve both seen together a billion times is Portlandia’s Battlestar Galactica - One More Episode. Edward James Olmos and James Callis make a guest appearance. Ron Moore also makes a cameo, however not in the way you would think.
• You both said Whaaat! When you realized it would be the last time you would see Scott Wilson play Hershel in Too Far Gone. Yes admittedly one of you did have to comfort the other because while Beth and Maggie began crying that started the water works.
• You both feel like Rob Gordon in High Fidelity when everyone starts talking about The Walking Dead, Sherlock, and Doctor Who because you liked these shows first. Which makes you feel like a hipster for saying don’t infect my beautiful shows with your main stream. However, secretly you both need others to watch so the TV networks can keep the show going for as long as it can. The only reason you know the term “infect it with your main stream” because you’ve both seen Soundly Awake’s Hipsters On Valentine’s  Day a bunch of times. Okay let’s face it you both go on YouTube one day binges, but there is no judgment.
• Your significant other can recognize a Bear McCreary musical compositions before knowing it is him. Like when you watched season 1, episode 1 of Defiance, and heard the theme music the other person says that sounds like Bear.
• While watching the entire Star Trek series (yes all of them) you both say at the same time hey it’s Kate Vernon (aka Ellen Tigh)! Or, hey it’s Rick Worthy (aka Number Four)! But when watching Battlestar Galactica, you both say hey it’s Sam Witwer! Or, when Roslin was getting chemo you both say, isn’t that Kira (Deep Space Nine)?
• Whenever the computer messes up, acts strange, or you see a news article about another advancement in robotics or technology - your significant nods in agreement when you say “Skynet.”

I smile when I hear the word Toronto because I know my husband will say “in Toronto” a la Brandon Routh in Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Because its moments like these when we make a reference the other one gets, we simply look at each other and know we are thinking the same thing … drift compatible.