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Saturday, August 14th, 2010
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 11:19PM |
I've signed my lease and paid my rent, so I'm officially living in a new city. I actually move my stuff in tomorrow. My grad school program orientation is on Friday, classes start Monday and then I will disappear into an abyss of work. BUT! I am convinced that this is going to be an awesome kind of abyss. For example, after filling out a survey to inform our roles in a project-based class, instead of a "Thanks for filling this out" screen, there was a "This survey is now diamonds!" screen.
If you're feeling neglected, feel free to e-mail, write, call, etc, me, since I may be too distracted to initiate much contact. Well... either that or I'll be constantly taking short breaks to be distracted on the internet. Time will tell. |
do you like pina coladas?  3 caught in the rain |
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Thursday, July 29th, 2010
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1:57AM |
I believe I have seen everything (that is, all the filmed things) that Steven Moffat has written since 1999. That is, Coupling, Jekyll, Doctor Who and Sherlock. Fair game: I have watched nothing written prior to these, and it's been a while since I saw Coupling. As a visual person, I also have a difficult time separating the final product from the written word, after seeing it all put together. That said, my favorite Moffat scripts:
9. Jekyll -- We all know how much the Moff likes to reinterpret the classics; it's become his trademark. His adaptation of Jekyll is a fun, modern, pseudo-sciencey, slightly trippy journey, that is a super fun ride despite some general weirdness and odd problems... until it falls flat on its face in the last two minutes. James Nesbitt is like the walking, talking definition of a BAMF in this role and makes it totally worth watching.
8. "Sex, Death and Nudity" (Coupling) -- If you've never seen Coupling, it's often described as a British Friends-meets-Seinfeld feel. The six main characters end up at a funeral for a deceased Aunt and discuss the unavoidably of laughing after thinking about not laughing. The Giggle Loop is a dangerous thing.
7. "The Eleventh Hour" (Doctor Who) -- Our introduction to Moffat's first season as show runner for DW, it manages to encapsulate all the necessary and basic points of the show, introduce an entirely new cast and set up the season arc without bogging itself down too much. Add in some endearing scenes with small children, witty banter and an excuse for the production team to redesign everything for the more-awesome.
6. "The Man with Two Legs" (Coupling) -- The worst pick-up line ever is lying about being an amputee to get out of trouble for staring at a girl's legs. "I've got too many legs!" is perhaps one of the best exclamations of all time and oddly appropriate to shout in many situations.
5. "The Girl with Two Breasts" (Coupling) -- in which we witness an incredibly ridiculous bar interaction, made both confusing and hilarious due to a language barrier. This is absolutely one of those things where you have to have the experience of watching it in order for it to make sense.
2. "The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances" (Doctor Who) -- The first of the New Who scripts by Moffat and a great introduction to his manner of writing. It's got a Blitz setting, unsettling events, his standard use of making everyday objects/actions terrifying, and some of my favorite lines from the series, including the discussion about the use of the Sonic Screwdriver and, "Everybody lives, Rose! Just this once, everybody lives!" which sums up something I love about this show: optimism and hope in the face of a seemingly endless string of un-rightable wrongs and horrible events.
4. "The Girl in the Fireplace" (Doctor Who) -- A little bit of everything: historical romance, spaceships, clockwork robots, alternative experiences of time... pretty much everything you could ask for. Except a little more, perhaps, on the freakishly sinister fact that the ship is built out of pieces of the human crew that once manned it. Um, creepy like whoa, Moff. This episode is only beat out by Blink because Blink can work as a stand-alone episode, which is a difficult undertaking for such a long-running and entrenched show.
3. "Blink" (Doctor Who) -- If you're already a DW fan you probably either love this episode to pieces or can't stand the fact that everybody else does. I'm in the first camp. It's a simple, brilliant execution of a time/space paradox, made better by the fact that [a] this was the first time in New Who where time is treated as cyclically mutable and [b] it works, but ultimately falls into place with the "turn" at the end, which when carried off properly is one of my absolute favorite experiences to watch. Girl in the Fireplace is a more subtle example and therefore a bit more striking in that regard.
1. A Study in Pink" (Sherlock) -- I will be the first to admit that I am a huge, unrepentant Holmes fangirl. I love the books. I love the old movies. I love the new movie. I love audio versions. I love(d) House. I love that awesome Russian version. And, after one episode, I LOVE this new version. Starring the most English-named actor ever (who is surprisingly easy on the eyes), Benedict Cumberbatch, and the always-endearing Martin Freeman, it's so filled with beautiful little call-backs to Doyle's writings, the best on-screen representation of technology use I've yet to see (the manner in which text messages are displayed), and hilariously awkward romantic confrontations (John trying to get a number from "Anthea"), at eleven minutes in I was on board a thousand percent. It also looks as if it will have an excellent and proper treatment of Watson, which is always the benchmark of a good Holmes. Hopefully certain elements will be toned down now that they're established. We shall see.
And now, to bed. Not just because of tiredness, though. I'm staying on my former-roommate's couch until the 9th, when I move for grad school. Being that I am in closer physical proximity to her room right now than usual, and she is exhausted from tonight's rehearsal, I can hear her talking in her sleep. And she may have just begun sleep-looking for her shoes...? Although not usually somnambulatory, she does sometimes do some weird things. The sleeping mind is an odd place.... (P.S. saw Inception, may post about it later). |
do you like pina coladas? 2 caught in the rain |
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Mmm, Graymatter. 9:21PM |
You live, you die, and then you come back to life, get up, and shamble around trying to eat your former friends and loved ones. That's the way it is for everyone.
from Feed by Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire)
If there's one thing I'm taking away from this book so far, it's a very important date.
Feb 4, 2029: the day the United States Government began mandatory evacuation of Alaska after ceding it to zombie control.
I propose an annual pre-enactment, fellow Alaskans. We can't let the future be forgotten in the past, after all.
can you tell I'm enjoying this book? |
do you like pina coladas? 2 caught in the rain |
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010
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10:59PM |
MadLibs post!
I am so [adjective] about packing my [expletive] apartment. It is too [expletive] [synonym for "hot"] outside right now. I just want to [refreshing activity] and eat [cold food], but instead I have to [adjective] all my [expletive] [adjective] [expletive] possessions into [number*] [plural noun].
Love,
Rebecca
* Ideally this number will be quite small, and the noun will be "suitcases" or "boxes". This is wishful thinking at the moment. I need to keep culling. (If I had an Edward to throw away, I'd be Edward Culling. Har).
I'm moving out of my apartment, will be staying with my roommate in her new, tiny, place for a few weeks then moving to Pittsburgh in August for grad school. In the meantime, I really need to condense what I own -- I already donated a ton, but finally living in one place for more than four months at a time means that I've accumulated quite a bit of random stuff.
Thankfully, my mother is going to come visit for a few days and I have asked her to take some items home with her. I believe I will have to give up my sewing machine for the moment, since I won't have time to sew at school and it really seems excessive to drag it 2,000 miles for it to sit neglected in a corner, begging me to use it.
P.S. Somebody needs to buy my bed, ASAP. :S |
do you like pina coladas? 2 caught in the rain |
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10:16PM |
Hetero Life Mate and I were discussing how much we will miss each other when I move away for grad school. "It could be worse..." I said, which, of course, prompted a long list of movie, book and television separations that are worse than moving a few thousand miles.
Drowning after the Titanic crashes? Worse.
Getting trapped in a parallel universe? Worse.
Being thrown out of an airlock after finding out your husband is a machine? Worse.
Mistaken death leading to suicide due to feuding families? Worse (although WE have sassy gay friends who would save us).
My two favorites:
K: At least you're not crushed under a building and I'm growing another head out of my shoulder after the second apocalypse.
R: Damn it, I hate it when that happens!
and
K: At least I don't have to stand by and watch while you fall off a cliff while failing to be beamed to the Enterprise. And I'm Zachary Quinto.
R: I wish you were.
K: Zachary Quinto, or watching you fall to your death?
R: Zachary Quinto. I'd do you. ...Except in this scenario, I'm your mom.
K: I'd still do him.
R: ...
K: She's not actually his mom! She's Winona Ryder.
R: Oh, well, then. |
do you like pina coladas? 3 caught in the rain |
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11:38PM |
Whew, busy couple of days. At least I got time-and-a-half for working nine hours on a holiday!
Sunday night I went to Firefly Trivia, where I was paired with a stranger and placed fourth. We were not allowed bonus points for my Jayne hat or her Mal action figure, unfortunately. I'm thinking we lost out due to the questions about the actors and their appearances on other shows. Also, I'd lent the DVDs to a friend who ended up being a no-show, so I didn't have a chance to brush up. I'll pin it on that.
Despite lack of prizes I did get quite a few hat compliments, and the moderator was somewhat impressed that I knew who the Lassiter was named after (I thought it was common knowledge, but I was proven incorrect). Also, there were free strawberries.
I have a lot of revisions to do for a freelance project, now that I have sufficiently distracted myself by listening to the Will Grayson, Will Grayson audiobook in the bathtub for about an hour and a half. Onward! |
do you like pina coladas? |
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4:09PM |
I love the random information that comes out in "introduction" e-mails and posts.
The listserv for my grad program is up and running now, so people are saying hellos. A lot of snowboarders, anime fans, and gamers so far, and one person mentioned a love of Setlers of Catan (I'm totally befriending him, since I don't own my own board).
Things I felt it was reasonable to mention:
Sewing, DIY, microcontroller programming, my love of sci-fi, reading, and pancakes
Things I felt it would be weird to mention:
My macabre interest in graverobbing, the poster of Zac Efron wearing a party hat that is staring at me, my current lack of pants
Trying to start off right here, folks. |
do you like pina coladas? 2 caught in the rain |
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3:52AM |
My current favorite file name on my desktop is "data flow and indicators of love.txt" I tend to make many notes in a single document and this one encompasses information structures, robots, human/computer interaction and random thoughts on future projects. Pretty much what it says on the label, just a very silly label to have. It's hanging out right next to "a strange physicality.txt", which is more project notes.
The following conversation was reported by my roommate, between her and a cast member of the play we worked on:
Katie: Rebecca and I just got Battlestar Galactica season four from the library.
Jesse: Okay, that sentence just got geekier and geekier as it went along.
Speaking of said play, it closed tonight. Strike went quite well. Photos were taken of many, many things in the past few days, and I shall share at some point. |
do you like pina coladas? |
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12:01AM |
How much do I love my brothers? So much.
I am talking to Eldest and Youngest online right now. Youngest just got back from a school trip to the Galapagos and is telling me about milking a cow and we're making Darwin asides. Eldest is at a cousin's wedding in Tennessee:
N: you should be here. You could wingman me and donate blood.*
R: Are you going to [other cousin]'s wedding?
R: The timing is a lot better for me on that one
R: I'm planning on being there
N:no, don't think so
N: which means it's like a 1% thing
N: you and mom are, right?
R: yeah
R: You and me wingman-ing it would be hilarious
N: omg, I'm afraid it would be a hilarious double-fail
N: "Hey, that's my brother Nathaniel, he's into Scrabble"
N: "Hey, see that girl over there? She wants to give blood in all fifty states."
N: and then.... "Oh hey, have you met my mom yet?"
Youngest brother experienced a typing fail, because middle brother stole the keyboard and changed it back to the traditional Qwerty layout. You see, youngest brother only knows Dvorak.
MY FAMILY IS AMAZING.
Tomorrow, Hetero Life Mate (aka roommate) and I are going to watch Iron Man 2 and go to a cheese festival. Tomorrow is going to be awesome, especially since today was stupid. Perhaps later I will write out a post detailing how various people were misogynistic, anti-intellectual and/or just plain frustrating....
*It really is a life goal to donate in all fifty. This means I have to visit them individually, with at least several weeks between each. I was angry when I saw a blood drive yesterday because the state of Washington won't let me donate again until July 28th because they require a one year wait time after getting a tattoo. Sad face! |
do you like pina coladas? |
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Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
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8:58PM |
Three Four Open Letters:
Dear Internet at Large,
I am so glad that so many of you seem to be watching PBS tonight... even if it is only because Tennant and Stewart are on it right now. Yay public television! It's made possible by viewers like you, you know.
--
Dear PBS,
Are you really promoting this on your website with a trailer that refers to the play as "the classic family tragedy"? Seriously? What?
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Dear Seattle Public Library,
Thank you for posting items in your catalog that are on order. This means that I will be able to watch it for free at my leisure as soon as you get the discs in. You are beautiful and I love you.
--
Dear IMDB,
I appreciate that you have spoiler alerts under rollover protection. But [a] is anything in Hamlet really a spoiler? and [b] "tragedy" and "based on stage play", well, really, really aren't. |
do you like pina coladas? 4 caught in the rain |
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Saturday, April 24th, 2010
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5:36PM |
When I Come to my Senses, I'm Alive! is now open! Whoo! This means I can go back to eating and sleeping, which is exactly what I've spent today doing. After some near-disastrous last minute issues -- eg, some helpful people took care of hemming a dress, with the result being that it was WAAAAAY too short -- everything worked (after some panicking on the SM's behalf) and everybody was not-naked and the show was well-received. I'll try to get photos.
Bonus: I threw a bunch of stuff at the set designer in the event that he might want to use it, and my Miranda poster ended up in a prominent position, causing several audience members to remark and/or squeal.
Other, Misc Things:
I discovered I am on the amazing Carly Whitaker's website (under "Fashion"), wearing very short shorts (by Leah Wichler) and carrying cupcakes.
Older brother and I need to do something with the moniker "Qualitative & Quantifiable". I am the first, he is the latter. Earlier today he placed very well in a 5K race and was telling me all of his splits and PRs. I was telling him about hemming dresses and not sleeping. We split the gene pool pretty evenly between us. |
do you like pina coladas? |
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Thursday, April 1st, 2010
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1:07PM |
I know you lot are a crafty sort. Any tips and suggestions on making a quick mold of an actor's head tonight? I don't want to keep him around for long, since I'll be doing this after rehearsal, so I won't be starting a paper-mâché cast at 10pm. The plan is to put a layer of plastic wrap on his noggin and then get the basic shape down by layering up some tape (packing or painter's, possibly duct) so I have a semi-flexible shell to work off of later. I don't need too much detail, since I don't need facial features, just size and curvature so he can have a shiny hat and be the king of all Andinia a network executive with too much money to spend on tech gadgets. Thoughts? |
do you like pina coladas? 3 caught in the rain |
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Monday, February 15th, 2010
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Life is Finally Happening in Real Time 1:45PM |
I have been selected to interview at the Royal College of Art for admission to the Design Interactions Masters.
!!! AHHH! THIS MIGHT REALLY HAPPEN.
And now, apparently, I have to be in England on March 8 for the interview. Haven't yet figured out travel plans, etc. Hopefully will be staying with my dad's cousin's family in London. No idea how long I'll be over there. OH MY STARS AND GARTERS. |
do you like pina coladas? 5 caught in the rain |
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Saturday, January 30th, 2010
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10:51PM |
In project news: the Flatmate, aka Katie, was cast in the play I'm costuming! This is wonderful: we've been friends for about five and a half years and have never worked on a project together. We only had one class in college, and though we both worked in the Costume Shop, I don't recall that we ever actually worked shifts (officially) at the same time. And yet somehow we ended up as Hetero Life Mates (my favorite of her nicknames). We are a married couple. Except not. Her family thinks this term of endearment is hilarious.
Today was my last day at the store before it closes for good. I spent seven hours packing boxes with smaller boxes. Bennington College taught me how to pack, that's for sure. All that moving around finally comes in handy for something! My boss was on the phone with the manager at another store and described my actions as, "like playing Tetris with shoe boxes".
And now, off to home to do some more show planning and watch some Battlestar Galactica with K! Tomorrow I need to: read The Picture of Dorian Gray for book club, find some solderless breadboards somewhere, prototype, prep a budget for the show, job hunt, call some people about some admissions stuff and then hang out with a friend from high school. Yes. Good. I need to type things in order to remember. Annnnnd, I'm off! |
do you like pina coladas? 2 caught in the rain |
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
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4:26PM |
| Any Lady Gaga fans out there? You've probably seen my friend Angela today, since her Video Glasses Instructable exploded all over the interwebs in the past 24 hours. Go Gella! She's been picked up by all the major gadget blogs. That's what happens when you allow people to indulge in pretending to be somebody who indulges in pretending to be... somebody. |
do you like pina coladas? 1 caught in the rain |
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LAMENT 12:57PM |
No.
Nonononono.
Library, what are you doing to me?? WHY? WHY do you drop seasons 2 of Battlestar Galactica AND Torchwood into my lap at the SAME TIME? WHEN I AM DOING IMPORTANT THINGS? Like applying to school and finding jobs and making art and stuff?
Library, why do you tempt me so? You are supposed to be a force for good. Why have you forsaken me?
...
I hate you library. I HATE YOU.
...
I didn't mean that, please forgive me.
In other news, new OK Go album is finally out and in my possession. Slower and more mellow than numbers one and two, but it's growing on me. |
do you like pina coladas? |
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Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
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8:52PM |
The flatmate and I just finished rewatching Jekyll, starring James Nesbitt, since she got it for christmas.
1. I forgot how awful the final scene is. it feels like it was added only to tie up a loose thread that was otherwise left on the cutting room floor.
2. James. Nesbitt. SO AMAZING. GUH.
3. Gina Bellman has weird legs. And now I want to rewatch Coupling. |
do you like pina coladas? |
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
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1:40AM |
There is a sore muscle in my arm that I forgot existed. This muscle is only used, it seems, when playing racket sports and climbing in a rock gym. I got a punch card to my local hot yoga center for Christmas. I'll be needing it to work out some of these weird knots.
I could be productive and write an essay OOOOOR I could finish my New Years cards (already belated) while watching something on my computer. Hmmm. I did change my phone start-up screen to a reminder to WORK ON THINGS, though, which should guilt me into action pretty quickly. Whenever I need to call somebody, I will think, gee, I should be working. Fun.
Saw Avatar with two of the three brothers today. Regular 3D, not IMAX. Conclusion? Fun movie, would see again if invited / if on IMAX. As a regular movie, enjoyable. As a visual spectacle, AMAZING. Have no real interest in buying it once it's on DVD, but I would love to get my hands on some art and production design books. Ah! Invented biology! Be still my heart. If you haven't seen this portion of Life On Mars (the animated special about The Future, made in 1957, not the television show) I highly recommend it. |
do you like pina coladas? |
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Monday, January 4th, 2010
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1:14PM |
| I shouldn't be surprised that my back is sore; that's what happens when you play hockey and go rock climbing in the span of a few hours. |
do you like pina coladas? |
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accomplished