Stuff

I have fallen completely in love with Regina Spektor. Vocally, she's brilliant - amazing control in that effortless sounding sort of way. And her songs are just so sweet. I love Machine.

I have got to stop saying "and they have a plan" during the intro to every TV show. But it just always seems appropriate...

The first episode of season 2 of Torchwood sent me completely over the edge of fangirl glee. I tried to not like this show, but I have failed. I adore Gwen quite a lot.

I loved the last few episodes of Dollhouse. I'm very sad now.
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What I love about Buffy #6:

Fanfiction! Who knew? I never knew such a thing existed. I don't read anywhere near as much as I should/want to, but I so adore and admire the people who have the ability to write the characters and create more buffyverse. Currently, I'm on a Buffy/Giles kick. There's a couple that never would have even occurred to me without LJ and fanfiction. I'm working my way through the Buffy/Giles Fanfiction archive.
 

I wonder if my obsession with the alphabet and letters is from being a preschool teacher for so long. But I seem to recall always wanting to make alphabet books and lists and such long before I was teaching, so maybe not. Anyway, I was given the letter G by musicbitch .

Comment and I'll give you a letter, then you have to list ten people/places/things you love that begin with that letter, afterwards post it on your journal and fill out letters of your own.

1. Giles
2. German Requiem, Brahms
3. grapes
4. glitter
5. Gift, The (BtVS episode)
6. Grave (BtVS episode)
7. graveyards
8. grapefruit anything
9. Griffindor
10. Galactica, Battlestar

We've really gotta start unverbing nouns.

Had a really awesome little dinner party tonight. Somehow I ended the holiday season with a turkey still in the freezer, ergo party. It was, did I mention, awesome. Invented a new drink: clementine vodka + rumplemintz = the tic tac. If that's already a drink with another name, just don't tell me, OK? Did not in any way drink a lot - probably only about a shot and a half all told, but oh so tasty. How can you go wrong with orange and mint? Is there something wrong with me that I love 100-proof mouthwash? Hmmm. Does anyone else love Rumplemintz? Mmmm. Also played a new game (well, old, actually, but new to me) called Imagineiff. Very fun, and rather telling about what people think of each other. Once most people had left, there were three of us left and we played one more game using Buffy characters as subjects instead of the names of the people playing, which is the regular way to play. Oh, the geekery. I feel like I shrugged off some of my grouchy, which was definitely needed.

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About TV:

I'm very excited for Chuck tomorrow night. Love me some Chuck. 

Why did no one tell me about Charmed? I loved the first season rather a lot. Am chomping at the bit to watch more.

Torchwood. Have watched 2 episodes so far. Fairly non-plussed, but I guess I should give it a few more, right?

I'm so sad about Dollhouse. This season is really cool, and I would have loved a few more seasons to tell the story.

Almost done watching The 4400. Got all religious and strange. Meh. I'm hoping the last few episodes resolve things in some way that is not where it looks to be heading now.

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What I love about Buffy #3:

The Giles and Tara duet Under Your Spell/Standing-Reprise. Those two voices together are just so perfect. It's my absolute favorite moment in an episode I love every minute of. This scene has been known to make me cry. I think Amber Benson's singing voice is heavenly in a very unpretentious sort of way. I like how the complete suck of that bit of story is couched in that gorgeous little melody.

Willow and Tara float up off the floor. Sigh.

I keep popping in here to write and then what comes out is just a complain-a-thon, so I delete it. So I'm going to start some what I love about Buffy posts, I think. Could become serial, or could be I get distracted and start something new tomorrow... Oh, and when I say Buffy, what I really mean is the Buffyverse and everything surrounding it. I wonder how many things I can come up with before I run out. I'm guessing pretty many.

OK, so here goes, in no particular order, what I love about Buffy #1

I love Giles. Really a lot. I love the depth of his character. His deep emotions for Buffy, the way he accepts and loves her friends also. The fact that he's not just the watcher - he has his own life and a past. His personal sense of right and wrong and the struggles he's been through to get there. His love of books and old things and tradition. How he can mess up big time and then take responsibility for it. His facial expressions when he's exasperated or horrified. The way he can become fiercely protective. Giles is one of my favorite characters ever, and he is a real person in my head way more so than any other character.

New set made custom with a friend for a christmas present. Beads by me, pendant by marciapalmer. I love these colors together!

The neighbor came over and we made stuff - caramel apples and peanut clusters. We had a really good time and made a really big mess.

Rudolpho the red-beaked penguin

Here's the blog post I made about it with all my oh so clever thoughts and opinions...

I need someone to write a story about the Trio becoming a singing group.

Made chocolate covered cherries with my BFF today. We had so much fun. In a few weeks these will be so good. Blog post with more photos and how they are made.

I've been listening to the Dar Williams song, The Christians and the Pagans, and thinking about the holiday season and how it's really OK that not everyone celebrates Christmas. Given the choice, I probably wouldn't. But we all do stuff to keep the family peace, don't we? And of course there's not much work for a choral musician who doesn't do Christmas! Anyway, as generally non-religious as I am, I am somewhat fascinated by the history of holidays and the transplantation of Christian holidays on top of pagan ones.

Anyway... here's an excuse to share my goddess pendants :)

I re-opened my card shop on etsy.

My favorite:

( blah blah blah about glee and a card I made tonight )

I put my shirt on backwards today and didn't realize it until I was at work. how sad is that?

I just had a great idea for next December's concerts. This planning ahead thing is getting out of control, but it's better than the alternative...

I miss singing and gigging so much, and it's making me sad. Every time I open the hall closet full of sound equipment I just want to cry. Meh.

So, what's everyone up to today?

Have you noticed the influx of ruffles this season? I don't mean potato chips, I mean clothing. Everything is so frilly and feminine. Everywhere I go I want to buy clothes, and then I remember what I look like, so I don't bother, LOL. But damn, I so love looking at the dresses - frills, frills everywhere! Like this and this. I'm really not girly in most ways, but I love ruffles and frills. Is that odd? I really want to learn to sew, but I just can't add another project right now. Sigh.

In other news related to my love of dresses: New etsy shop I am in love with. Gorgeous collage work of women and ephemera. Love love love.

I have to spend the afternoon learning accounting crap again this afternoon. Hate it. I'm trying hard to make myself care and it ain't workin.'

Being at work all day with a head full of things to make, songs to arrange, ideas to try is frustrating. But I'm grateful that I have a job and a head full of stuff!

( 3 more photos of fall goodies )

My etsy team is having a Scavenger Hunt this week. Visit my blog for the details of how to play and what shops are participating. My prize giveaway is a set of holiday cards. And there's some other good stuff to be won. So if you have a few minutes, come and play :)

( cut since I'm sure some of you are tired of penguins - but they're awfully cute... )