#20

It looks like I'm finally starting to get a break. I got 2 job offers this afternoon. One of them is where my husband works. I'm excited and unbelievably happy. Here's hoping things continue to get better.

#5/movie review

After I don't know how long, I finally completed another goal. And it was with an awesome movie. It's called The Horde. It's in French, but it fits so well. Basically, a group of crooked cops try to avenge the death of another cop by taking down a crime lord and his lackeys. Right in the middle of that, the zombie apocalypse breaks out, forcing them to work together to survive. And...it was absolutely brilliant. It wasn't just some low budget piece of crap that was thrown together. It actually was a very deep movie. What would you do if your allies became your enemies and vice versa? Would you just deal, or would you yourself also become a monster? Even if you're not into horror movies, this is worth watching just for the story and character development. Once again, well done France.

Quick and dirty movie reviews pt 3

Albert Fish:
And now I start the documentary portion of my reviews. This one was good, I suppose. It's really hard to fairly review this given the subject matter: a child killer with a fetish for poop and pee. The movie is basically an account of when he got caught, and delves into his past. I think this is a movie for hardcore serial killer/morbid history buffs. I like horror movies, and I like gore. I don't like it when it's actually real.

The Business of Being Born:
Every couple that is pregnant, wants or is in the process of starting a family needs to see this movie. It's a real eye opener. I will say that wanting to give birth in a hospital isn't bad. I would like to think most women do their research first, and not do what people think they should do. Every one should see this movie.

Cropsey:
Not the best in the world, but not the worst. I believe it was about several disappearances that occurred in upstate New York. It was kind of boring to me though. It went back and forth about what caused them. Was it supernatural? An escaped patient from the nearby mental hospital? I really don't know. It never clarified anything. This was like the film student's Blair Witch Project. It just wasn't that impressive.

American Meth:
I was saddened by this one. It's heartbreaking to see people broken down and strung out. But that's reality. It's raw and in your face, but it's effective. I saw give it a shot if you're curious as to what a meth addiction looks like. And don't do drugs. No one likes a meth head.

Very Young Girls:
I felt so uncomfortable while I was watching this. Girls as young as 11 or 12 being put to work as prostitutes. It does showcase a woman and her organization that try to rehabilitate these girls and get them off the streets. Unfortunately most of them relapse and go back to their pimps. I'm not going to make any jokes. It's not something that should be joked about. It's a serious problem, and it's all over the country. I commend that woman for working day and night to do whatever she can. And I hope others will follow in her footsteps. Only watch this if you want to see how bad things could get for girls in those situations.

On this day...

...Osama Bin Laden was finally killed. And the US has his body. This is huge. Almost 10 years to the day of one of the worst tragedies our country has seen, and the piece of crap responsible is going to pay for all eternity. I never thought I'd see the day. I know it probably sounds sick that I'm happy about it. But this is someone that caused the death of hundreds, then had a hand in starting a war that murdered thousands. Yes, I'm glad he's gone. I'm not sorry for being happy about this.

Quick and dirty movie reviews pt 2

And I'm back. Sorry I'm super behind on my movies. The good news is I now have more time to do my reviews. Starting with:

Tokyo Gore Police:
Oh Japan, how I love you. This movie is a gorehound's dream. We're talking dismemberment, disembowelment, and another dis word I can't think of. It makes no sense, but it's one of those movies that you don't watch for the story. You watch it to get grossed out and see people turned into mince meat. And boy does it succeed. If you want to gallons of blood within the first 10 minutes, this one's perfect for you.

I Am an S&M Writer:
I believe this is my first non-horror review. And...it's a dumb movie. It's about some "famous" Japanese S&M write, and how his life basically falls apart because he writes smut. I think they we're going for comedy, but it just didn't work. It ended up being a 90 minute pro-anal ad. All they talked about was anal and women's peeholes (I wish I was lying). It's long, weird and kind of creepy. But, if you're into that sort of thing, I won't judge.

Cinderella:
Let me start by first saying this has NOTHING to do with the one we all know. There were no ugly stepsisters or mother, no prince or anything else you can think of. It's about this plastic surgeon who's keeping a secret from her daughter about her past. It sounds very interesting, but it quickly became convoluted. I'm guessing it was trying to warn against vanity. I'm not sure. It didn't really strike a chord. If you want to see bitchy girls get their faced hacked up, then this is worth a one time watch. 

Amelie:
I love French movies. And this is no exception. It's so whimsical and funny. It's all in subtitles, but it's so worth it. I haven't seen a movie this well done in a very long time. It's about a young woman named Amelie who definitely lets her imagination get the best of her. If you have 2 hours and want to be taken on a ride, please check this one out.

I think I had a nerdgasm...

Alex and I are huge anime fanatics (otakus, anime freaks, ect). There's this convention that comes every year in Baltimore called Otakon. The first and last time I went was 2005. Alex has been going off and on since 2000. When I went, I didn't have a good time. I just went with the wrong people, and I didn't get to have the experience that I wanted. The good news is...We're going back this year! The last weekend in July to be exact. This will be our first convention together. And yes, we will more than likely Cosplay (dress up as characters, for those that don't know). We have some ideas, but nothing's set in stone yet. We still have 3 months. Anyways, I'm just uber excited and I can't wait to get my costume. Expect LOTS of pictures...

Day 30 - My favorite song this time last year

And I'm done! Ok, I'll admit my posts weren't on schedule, but hey I still made an attempt. I honestly can't remember what my favorite song was this time last year, so I'm making an educated guess.

Day 29 - A song from my childhood

I don't know why, but this song popped into my head. I must've been 9 or 10 when it came out. Yet another one hit wonder band from the 90's:

Day 28 - Favorite should have been a single song

Day 27 - A song that reminds me of drunk/party times

Day 26 - Favorite collaboration

Day 25 - Most played song on my iTunes

Day 24 - A song I want to play at my funeral

Day 23 - A song I want played at my wedding

Well, this is a little weird considering I already got married and we had a civil ceremony. But, there is one song I know I would want played if we renew our vows:

Day 22 - A song I listen to when I'm sad

Day 21 - A song I listen to when I'm happy

Day 20 - A Song I listen to when I'm angry

Day 19 - A song from my favorite album

Day 18 - Favorite sex song/romantic song

I think my favorite sex song is Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence. The song itself isn't about sex, but it's very erotic.


My favorite romantic song is Owl City's The Saltwater Room.

Day 17 - A song I often hear on the radio that I love

Day 16 - A song that I used to love that I now hate

I was a huge Backstreet Boys fan. Go ahead and make fun of me, I totally deserve it. To be honest, I hate anything by them now. But there's one that's the best of the worst:

Day 15 - A song that describes me

Ok, this was really freakin hard. I'm all over the place. So, how do I find the one song that describes me? What song could possibly begin to encompass my personality? The truth is, there really isn't just one. I ended up picking the best then turning iTunes on random. The first that popped up was Kate Nash's Skeleton Song.

Day 14 - A song that no one would expect me to love

Hands dows Stealers Wheel's Stuck in the Middle With You.

Progress

In the past month or so, I believe I've completed 4 or 5 goals. I finished 2 big ones: paying off my credit card debt and put $1,000 into savings. And I gotta say...it feels so damn good. For the first time in 4 years, I don't have to worry about my credit card debt. I'm free. After stressing about it month after month, it's gone. And now back to my movie goals. I love movies way too friggin much.

Day 13 - A song that's a guilty pleasure

I'm going to get so much grief from this, but I'm going with Tokio Hotel's Humanoid. Yeah, I know. Believe me, I know. Curse you, Rock Band...

Day 12 - Favorite song from a movie

I know it's new, but I love the healing chant from Tangled. I don't know why, I just think it's pretty.

Day 11 - A song by my favorite band

Day 10 - Favorite music video

Day 09 - A song I can dance to

I don't normally dance. It's never been my thing. However there's this nerdy booty shaking dance that makes Alex laugh hysterically. I just came up with it a couple weeks ago, and there's only one song that fits with the dance. Don't listen to it if you're easily offended or just don't have a sense of humor.

Day 08 - A song I know all the words to

All Mixed Up by The Cars. I could only find the live version, but it's still epic.

Day 07 - A song that reminds me of a certain event

May 2009, my parents informed me we were moving to Maryland. This wouldn't have been so bad...if they had given me more than 2 weeks notice. I was so depressed. I had to leave all my friends. I didn't get to finish my degree. I had to put a good chunk of my clothes, books and games in storage (they were all stolen 2 months later). Right before we moved, I started listening to The Postal Service. My favorite song is The District Sleeps Alone Tonight. I felt like I could relate to the overall tone of it.

Day 06 - A song that reminds me of somewhere

As you probably already know, I went to a church for 7 years. Without going into too much back story, it did a number on me emotionally and mentally. I don't follow organized religion, and I never will. Hypernova's "Viva La Resistance" pretty much sums up how I feel about that church.

Day 05 - A song that reminds me of someone

I remember a couple years ago and me and my friend Sara would always sing at the top of our lungs in her car. I think our favorite one is 3OH!3's "Don't Trust Me". It reminds me of her because she would be in tears laughing while I did the stupidest dance I could think of. And no, I won't post a video of the dance...

Day 04 - A song that makes me sad

There's only one song that always makes me cry: The Ponytail Parade by Emery. It just reminds me of some really bad times.

Day 03 - A song that makes me happy

And...I already missed a day. Frack. But in my defense, I have a new job and the grand opening is on Friday. So, I'll just have to post twice in one day. Why I didn't do that for the other one, I don't know. I'm going to go with a song that's only a month old, but it should totally be a club anthem. Here's Club Villain by Your Favorite Martian:

Day 02 - My favorite cover version

Framing Hanley's Lollipop. Yes, I know. It's such a dumb song, and I can't stand Lil Wayne. But I can't help but love this version.

Day 01 - My favorite song

And of course the first one is the hardest one. How do I pick a favorite out of the 5,500 that I have? I had to really sit and think about this one. What is that one song I've heard countless times that I never get sick of? What song has the most meaning to me? After a while, I finally chose Subdivisions by Rush. It's...just an amazing song, and it reminds me so much of when I was younger. I don't care what anyone says. Synth is awesome:

YES!!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of days. I've been having some stomach issues, and all I really want to do is sleep. But I do have some good news. I got a new job! I start training on Tuesday, and the grand opening will be on Friday or Saturday. I'm so excited and happy right now. Looks like 2011 won't be so bad after all.

Quick and dirty movie reviews pt 1

I realized that I haven't been posting reviews of all the movies I've been watching for my Day Zero project. So, starting tonight I'm going to get back into that habit. However, I have 67 movies to review. It's going to take a few days. I'm just going to go from top to bottom on the list I have. I figured that would be so much easier than going by date So let's get to it:

Taxidermia:
Let me start by saying I saw this movie, then I actually tried going on different message boards to figure out what the hell this movie was about. I still got nothing. It's a foreign film from Hungary. And...when you see a man shooting fire from his penis and later having (graphic) sex with raw meat within the first 20 minutes, you know things will not end well. And they don't. From what I understand it showcased 3 generations of sexually deviant men, and each one had a weird fetish. The dialog doesn't help. I wish I could tell you more, but the less I have to remember about this the better.

3 Extremes:
Another gem from Japan. The film is divided into three stories: Dumplings, Cut and Box. The version I saw only had Dumplings and Cut, but it's still a great movie. It's in the same vein as Creepshow or Tales from the Crypt. It starts off very slow. It relies heavily on storytelling, but it quickly picks up. Yet another movie that I can't tell you about without giving everything away. Just trust me. It's worth one watch.

Delicatessen:
This one is actually from France. I was kind of surprised because I can't even remember the last time I saw a decent French horror movie. At this same time, this one is more of a horror/comedy. It's basically the non-musical version of Sweeney Todd. That being said, there's are some notable differences. The butcher kills the maintenance man every time the tenants need meat. Hey, I didn't say it made a lick of sense. I said it was a good movie. Just watch it...

Art of the Devil 2:
I tried to find the first movie. I did some research and found out there are 3 (possibly 4) movies...and none of them are connected in anyway. I decided to pick the first one that popped up on Netflix. I'm wondering if I should've picked 1 or 3. This one just didn't make any sense. Some kids get molested by a gym teacher (I think), and get revenge. Then I'm not sure what happens after that. They get revenge by filming the gym teacher having an affair with another teacher. One of them commits suicide, then immediately comes back and starts killing the kids. At least I think that's what happened. I really have no freakin clue. This movie had no continuity and jumped around more than a Tarantino film. Long story short, it was just stupid and a waste of time.

My next feat of awesomeness

Yes, I know "awesomeness" probably isn't a word. Just go with it. I'm going to tackle most of my music goals next. Monday will be Day 1 of the 30 day song challenge. I know...I just did a 30 day challenge and it turned into a 40 day challenge. However, I'm a little more confident about this one. I love music. I live and breathe it. Hell, I'll probably have to resist the urge to post several days in advance. So, without further ado, here's the challenge:

Day 01 - your favorite song
day 02 - favorite cover version
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - favorite music video
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - favorite song from a movie
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio that you love
day 18 - your sex song/ romantic song
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you’re angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you’re happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you’re sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - Most played song on your itunes
day 26 - Favorite collaboration
day 27 - Song that reminds of drunk/party times
day 28 - Favorite should have been a single song
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

My two favorites

My husband and our cat:

Tattoo ideas

I've been wanting a tattoo for a couple years now. However, I didn't want to get one just to get one. I mean, it'll be on my body for the rest of my life. So, I decided whenever I reach certain weight goals, I'll get a new tattoo. Here's what I decided on:

When I lose 50 lbs.

When I lose 100 lbs

When I reach my goal weight.

Day 30

I made it! Today is the last day of my challenge. I gotta admit, 2011 is off to a godawful start. I lost my job, and for whatever reason every interview I've had hasn't panned out. I'm trying to stay positive and keep my head above water. It's really hard, and I'm tired of being so stressed out. But I feel like I can't relax or rest until I find another job. Hopefully I can either find a job, or some kind of release...

Day 29

Wow...I'm really bad at 30 day challenges. Moving on...There are several things I want to accomplish within the next month. But if I had to pick, I'd say I'd want to lose 10 lbs. Losing weight is like my driving force right now. I even managed to find a group called Done with Being the Fat Girl. And you have no idea how true that is for me. I touched on it somewhat a couple days ago, but it has affected me my whole life. It doesn't have to be that way for the rest of my life. I want to be able to actually run and play with my kids. Not standing off to the side gasping for air. I can't even walk through a mall without getting tired. It's ok though. I'm just taking one day at and time, and making progress along the way.

Day 28

I miss being a kid. I miss that blissful ignorance most of us had the luxury of having. Everything was so much simpler when we didn't understand what war, disease, rape ect was. If I could give my father credit for anything, it was that he tried to keep it in that state for as long as possible. If this tells you anything, I didn't find out what a condom was used for until I was 15. Then...I got older, and I wanted to learn things by myself. My parents decided that I should learn all about the bad things that could happen to me whenever I left the nest. I ignored them. But I still miss not having to worry about bills, debts and jobs. I guess I just miss not having to constantly worry...

Day 27

Is it bad that I had a hard time figuring out which problem bothers me the most? I'm going to go with my weight. It might seem superficial, but it has been a huge roadblock for me. I'm 150+ pounds over weight. I think I'm considered obese. The main problem I have is I never really thought about it before. Yeah, I knew I was bigger than most girls, but I was happy. Then I started going to school and working, and people felt the need to ask me why I was so big. It still hurts to think about it. But...I'm happy to say I'm trying my damnedest to stick to a plan. I weighed myself this morning, and I've lost 3 pounds in 2 weeks. It's going slow, but it's working for me. I know I'll be healthier one day. Not just for me, but for my family. And that will be an awesome day.

Day 26

I always thought I was into the tattooed yet sweet bad boy. Oh how wrong I was. I quickly learned that "bad boy" are the worse guy to date, and will leave you high and dry. I tried dating the sensitive type. The ones I dated wanted replacements of their mother, so those went nowhere. I tried dating a jock. All he wanted to do was take me to the gym so I'd lose weight.  Finally, I dated a geek/nerd. He's funny, sweet and constantly kicks my ass on Super Mario. We have fun and make dates night out of playing House of the Dead: Overkill. What can I say? Nerds are hot.

Day 25

I've been fascinated by Bettie Page ever since I was in high school. I always thought she was absolutely gorgeous. I didn't really learn anything about her until I saw The Notorious Bettie Page. I think she's awesome because of how she dealt with everything that was thrown at her. Now, I'm not crazy about the fact that she became a christian, but I don't fault her for it. She did what made her happy and what made her feel good. I think it's kick ass that she decided to do bondage or fetish pinups. It was insanely taboo in the 1950s, but she did it anyway. So, say whatever you want about her. I think she was a smart and gorgeous woman who will be missed.

Day 24

I've been really bad about this 30 day challenge. I think it's turning into the 40 day challenge. Anyways...I have way too many favorite movies. I'm not sure if I can pick an all time favorite. But since I don't want this to be a short post, I'm going to go with Evil Dead. It has Bruce Campbell, and it was directed by Sam Rami. I consider it to be one of the all time best horror movies. Bruce Campbell goes to a cabin with his girlfriend and a couple of their friends. They make the mistake of playing a tape where a man recites a passage from the Necronomicon (Book of the Dead). Then chaos ensues. We're talking full blown demon possessions. But it has some of the best gore effects of the time. It's cheesy as hell, but I think the best horror movies are supposed to be cheesy.

Valentine's Day/Singles Awareness Day

Yes, I'm putting both. I'm kind of on the fence when it comes to today. This is the 2nd Valentine's Day where I haven't been single. I will admit that it is a commercial holiday, but what if you choose to ignore whatever's on TV or what's in stores? And what if you use today just to show everyone you love a little bit of extra attention? I agree that you should show them you care everyday, but if you think about it it's not always possible.

There's work schedules, for one. What about people in the military? Or any long distance relationship in general? I only mean that sometimes people don't have the means or the opportunity to show how much they love someone. And I think today provides a special outlet for that for those that choose to use it. And that's my two cents for the day.

Now without alienating my readers or offending those that are single or just hate this holiday in general, I would like to share a couple of pictures. Don't worry. They're not sugary sweet:

The card I got for Alex. I love the design.

The inside

The card my sister in law gave us. Yes, she drew that herself.

Day 23

I love how today's subject just happened to fall on Valentine's Day. Well, let me satisfy the lust portion of my brain:

First is Jensen Ackles. He plays Dean on Supernatural. I don't know what is is about him, I just think he's unbelievably hot.


Next is David Beckham. Do I really need to explain anything?


James Franco


Jude Law. Not the most faithful, but still very attractive.


And finally Justin Long

Day 22

Let's see...I was 20. I was a sophomore in college. I had a ton of "friends", I was either going to a party or on a date every weekend. I was just focused on having on. I also didn't care about who I might've hurt in the process. I had a little bit of mean girl syndrome going on. I'm ashamed to say it, but it's true. I guess it was my way of dealing with my own self doubt and inadequacies. I was also obsessed and preoccupied with finding a boyfriend. That year I actually found 4 (yes, I know. Believe me, I know), and each one was more screwed up than the last. I saw all of that to say that I'm almost a different person.

I'm somewhat comfortable in my own skin. I'm not desperate to fit in, or play a character. This is me. I'm just a newlywed 22 year old that's trying to pay off her debts, and create a better future for herself and her husband. Now I prefer to stay home and just watch a movie. I have a couple of true friends, instead of having a ton of people that I just hang out with. I may not be as social, but I'm definitely not a bitch anymore. I speak my mind, but it's out of honesty and not pettiness. I've changed so much, but for the better. Isn't that what growing up is about?

Day 21

I barely watch TV anymore. But there is one show I will make an effort to watch: The Big Bang Theory. Alex first showed it to me right after we started dating. I don't care what anyone says, it's hilarious. I think the reason why people make fun of it so much is because it's made by nerds for nerds. I'm talking (sometimes) obscure comic book, science fiction TV shows and movie references. And it's great. Not to mention it also deals with the fascinating occurrence of nerds dating or getting laid. I can honestly say every single episode has been funny. So, from one fellow nerd, give it at least one watch.

I promise I'm still working on my list...

I haven't posted about my progress recently. I'm still doing my goals. I believe I've completed 3 or 4 since the last time I mentioned them. The big one was read Anna Karenina. That took a little while. I had no idea it was 1,000 pages. But, I just finished it a couple minutes ago. Another one is start a savings account. We're finally putting money into savings. You have no idea how freakin' happy I am about that. So far, I'm doing pretty good and things are slowly getting better.

Day 20

I think education is extremely important. I didn't realize how important it was until I was out of school. When I was taking classes, I got job interviews left and right. I even had offers to sign up for assistance programs. But, me being the idiot that I was I didn't. I figured my mother would help me big mistake). I noticed since I've been out of school the only places that call me for an interview are retail ones that offer minimum wage. I don't mean to sound high and mighty, but I know I should be making more than minimum wage. Just because I don't have an official degree, doesn't mean that I'm incompetent or unintelligent. Sigh...

Day 19

I haven't spoken to my parents in 8 months. They were verbally and emotionally abusive to me ever since I turned 13. And as you probably read in a previous post, I even tried to kill myself to get away from them. They didn't always used to be that way, though. My mother used to be a class A beauty. Captain of the cheerleading team, and a genius. She was also well trained violinist. Then she started picking skin off her own face from stress. And then she started taking so many pills and Nyquil that her speech has started to slur and she would sometimes forget her own name. She's a hollow, scarred shell now.

My father was the high school quarterback. He used to be a popular dj in his hometown. He was incredibly smart, and predicted that computers would play a major role in people's lives. Guys wanted to be him, and girls wanted to be with him. Now? He has severe anger issues because he can't accept the fact that he's pushing 60 and his body is giving out on him. He never got his degree, and all he talks about now is how real estate is the way to go. Keep in mind that my mother is avoiding the IRS because she hasn't paid taxes in 5+ years. And my father is also in tens of thousands of dollars in debt, yet he doesn't have a job and hasn't had one since before I was born. They hate each other. They hate how their lives have turned out. They hate the fact that all 3 of their children are actually successful no thanks to them.

I say all of that to say that I don't think it's possible for me to disrespect them. They used their own children as pawns against each other. They forced my brother and sister to take care of me when they were kids. I might sound like a horrible daughter, but they tried to take away my future just so I would be miserable with them. I don't hate them. I feel sorry for them. Every choice they made could've been fixed. But, no. Now I have no idea where they are, and I don't care enough to find out. I'm spending the beginning of my marriage fixing all of the damage they caused. I'm not giving them another chance to do something else...

Day 18

First off, I really do not want to share my political beliefs. I'm so tired of talking and hearing about politics right now. I've already shared my religious beliefs...So what's left? Well, I guess you could say I'm pro-life, but at the same time I think there certain situations where abortion is ok or even needed. I don't believe in aliens, however there could be ghosts. I don't think the world will end in 2012... Now that I'm thinking about it, what does the word "belief" really mean? It could mean any number of things, in my opinion. Sorry for going all abstract and artsy. I have a tendency to do that when I'm zoning out...

Day 17

Where do I begin? I've had so much thrown at me in the past year that I'm surprised I didn't have a breakdown. My highs were getting married, getting far away from my parents and getting my license. The lows? I really don't feel like naming all of them. I'll admit that I had more bad happen to me than good. And it was a very hard year. I'm hoping 2011 is better, but so far it's about the same. I just want a freakin job. Most my problems will disappear as soon as that happens...

Day 16

I accidentally hit save instead of publish when I finished this yesterday. Anyways...I'm a huge music lover. And, I'm very very on the fence when it comes to mainstream music. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people stop liking a band when they start being played on the radio. That is such bullshit to me. If you really love a band, or proclaim yourself to be a fan, you don't stop liking them just because they might become famous. That being said, mainstream music is on a steady decline.

Two words: Justin Beiber. I feel ashamed just mentioning his (or her) name on my blog. He sounds like a 10 year old girl when he sings. I do not understand why he's so popular. That's not music. I just don't get it. There are so many bands that aren't getting the recognition they deserve, and that dumb-ass is going all kinds of platinum? I call shenanigans. Sorry for the rant, but I can't frickin stand him. Oh music...why are you being butchered by tween pop?

#9 Watch 10 documentary films

This one was very interesting for me. I saw 10 very different films. But out of all of them my favorite was This Film Is Not Yet Rated. The subject of censorship is absolutely fascinating to me. It's just so interesting to see what offends one person, yet doesn't make another person flinch. I think movies are a classic example of that. My personal opinion about movie ratings is that the people who rate these movies are only going by how it makes them feel. The more sexual it is, it tends to be NC-17. And I've seen so many NC-17 movies that are tame compared to what just gets PG-13. Oh well. Yet another thing people will never agree on, I guess.

Day 15

I don't have a favorite Tumblr. I've never been on that site, and I'm still not 100% sure what it is. Is it another blogging site? Or is it more photo oriented? Either way, I don't know and I'm not interested enough to find out.

Day 14

I was trying to think my earliest memory. I think I was 4 or 5, and I was living with my parents and my brother. The dining room of our house had this huge window, and it was very close to the driveway. I remember I made it a point to always wave goodbye to whomever was leaving. And then I remember one time I had turned my head, and I didn't see my mom leaving. So I missed waving goodbye. I got so upset. I mean, I was in hysterics. My dad couldn't figure out what happened to me. I don't remember how he calmed me down, but I remember how upset I was. Of course looking back on it as an adult, I feel so stupid. But hey, your priorities are different when you're 5.

#81

I'm proud to say I completed another one of my movie goals. And It was damn near impossible to find things starting with X,Y and Z on Netflix...

Day 13

Where would I like to move? West coast. I would love to not worry about snow anymore. And a dry heat is better than a humid heat. But, I know that won't happen. So I suppose I'll just have to settle for visiting whenever I can afford it (which won't be for quite a while). Vegas sounds awesome. I think that's where I'm aiming for.

New blog alert!

Because I'm a fan of shameless self promotion, I'd like to inform everyone of my new weight loss blog. It's nothing too fancy, but I want to share my progress with everyone. If you want to see how I'm doing, here it is.

Day 12

• Woke up at 9:45
• Had pizza for breakfast
• Read and finished a book in 2 hours
• Got a call about a job interview for tomorrow
• Went to the grocery store with my mother in law
• Cooked lasagna for dinner
• Wrote this post

So...my life is very uneventful at the moment. Hopefully things will pick up after I get a new job. Wish me luck.

Day 11

1. Tell All The People by The Doors

2. Who Needs Sleep? by Barenaked Ladies

3. Closer by Kings of Leon

4. Minimum Wage by They Might Be Giants

5. Death of A Martian by Red Hot Chili Peppers

6. Argue by Matchbox Twenty

7. Unglued by Stone Temple Pilots

8. Captain Jack by Billy Joel

9. Dr. Bones by Cherry Poppin' Daddies

10. Riders On the Storm by The Doors

A side note:
You know it's really bad when you put you iPod on shuffle, and your reaction to most of the songs is "Oh my god, I didn't know I had that!". It's a good thing I plan on listening to all of them eventually...

#96 - Buy a new handbag

I decided to get a wallet too :)

Day 10

I didn't have my first kiss until I was 19 with my first ex. Looking back on it, it wasn't anything memorable. There were no fireworks or "sparks". It just happened. When we were together, I really thought he was my first love. I was dead wrong. I was in love with the fact that I finally had a boyfriend. Then there's Alex. He's the only man I've kissed where I've felt fireworks, sparks, seen stars...Whatever you want to call it, I felt it the first time we kissed. I'm getting chills just thinking about it.

We've been together for a year and a half, and I still get goosebumps when we kiss. I know he's my first love. I can't really explain it. I just love him. Even when he pisses me off to end, I don't regret marrying him or giving him that chance to show me he's a good guy. He drives me nuts, but in a good way. I'd do anything for him, and he means the world to me. I hate to sound so cheesy, but I really did marry the man of my dreams.

Day 9

I think today's topic is kind of a copy of where do I want to be in 10 years. Nothing has changed in the past 5 or 6 days...

Day 8

I'm not sure when I've been 100% satisfied. Probably when I got married. This will probably turn out to be a half-assed post only because tonight is my last night at work. And I'm also really hungry, but I don't know what I want to eat. Priorities, right?

Day 7

I'm a Cancer...the crab. I have mixed feeling about my sign. According to this, I'm emotional and loving, intuitive and imaginative, shrewd and cautious and protective and sympathetic. On the bad side I'm changeable and moody, overemotional and touchy and clinging and unable to let go. As much as I hate to admit it, the basics are true. But at the same, I just think it's a little to random to be considered a reliable assessment. I thought it was cool in junior high, but now I think it's dumb. I don't put too much stock into it. I'm not making fun of people that do, but it's not important to me.

On to more important stuff, I finally learned that I got laid off. But my manager didn't tell me herself. I found out by looking at the schedule and seeing that I was only working Sunday. While it sucks that I'm out of work again, I'm glad I was let go. The store I worked for is slowing going up in flames and I didn't want to go down with a sinking ship. So, the job search resumes. But I know I can find something bigger, something brighter. Wish me luck :)
  

Day 6

Ok, I tried thinking of 30 interesting things. I tapped out at 9 things. So instead of that, here are pics of the oh so lovely weather here.

#8 and 51

We're having a snowstorm here in Maryland. It started this morning, and we had to clean off our car before we could leave. In the middle of that, I threw a small snowball at Alex. He retaliated by throwing one that was as big as my head. We went back and forth for a bit and called a truce. It was so random and dumb, but I had fun. We were giggling like crazy the entire time. Just another one of our cute moments :)

The book I chose for #8 was My Dirty Little Book of Stolen Time by Liz Jensen. And to be honest, I really did not like it. It has a great premise (time travel), but then it just doesn't make any sense. The main character is annoying and whiny, and I just felt like the whole thing fell flat. Oh well.

Day 5

I honestly thought about skipping today. Today's topic is a bit of a touchy subject for me. I actually tried to kill myself. I was 15, going on 16. I hated myself. My parents constantly reminded me of how much of a failure I was and how disappointed they were. I couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror without crying. I just wanted the pain to stop. I didn't want to worry about facing yet another day of bullshit. I felt I was most at peace when I was sleeping. I locked the door, put on my favorite music at the time, took the pills then went to sleep.

Either I didn't take enough or I was incredibly lucky, because I woke up 14-15 hours later. My parents didn't even know what I had tried to do. Then just yelled at me for being lazy and sleeping for so long. I remember being so upset because I was still alive. I feel ashamed for saying that, but that's how I felt. It wasn't until I was in college that I realized life isn't as bad when you have people to support you. I wish I had more support when I was younger, but I guess things do happen for a reason. I know not everyone believes that. But how else can I explain how I've lived though a suicide attempt and a drug overdose? I don't know. All I know is I've been through way too much hell, and I'm not giving up again.

Day 4

I believed that there was a god until I was 20. I started going to church when I was 14, and I was "on fire for the lord". Looking back on it, I think that was the worse thing I could have done. I prayed until I was blue in the face, memorized the ambiguous bible, gave money that I didn't have and wasted all my teen years hearing people tell me everything I felt was wrong. But I stuck with it. I tried. Then...I got date raped. I was 18 and a virgin. I got drunk, and to this day there still things I can't remember. The first thing my parents told me was "pray for forgiveness and that you aren't pregnant".

I was terrified. I prayed and prayed to forget or to be healed. Wanna know what happened? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I had to heal myself. I'm still in the healing process. I'm sure I sound bitter, but I don't know if there is a god. I can tell you right now that the Christian Baptist version probably doesn't exist. There could be something, but I don't know and I don't care enough to find out. If someone chooses to believe in that, then it's their life. I'm just not going to waste anymore of mine on something that has caused more pain and grief than I want to share...

Day 3

Sorry I missed a day, folks. I was dead to the world when I got home from work. On to something interesting: my views on drugs and alcohol. I'll have a glass of wine every once in a while with Alex. If I'm celebrating something, it'll be a couple glasses. But, I don't drink to the point where I black out or get sick. I think alcohol is yet another thing that's ok in moderation. However, there are people that just drink in excess. I have friends that do that, and it just isn't pretty. If you don't know you're limit or can't stick to it, don't drink.

As for drugs...never start. I have (more like had) friends that currently smoke pot and have done harder drugs. And they're all kinds of screwed up. I've done that stuff. Then I did it too much. I don't know why people get into that. I did it because I had something horrible happen to me, and it dulled the pain. Sometimes that high just makes the world stop, and you don't have to deal with anything or anyone anymore. Then you crave that release from reality, so you do it more and more. Then your body will just give out. It happens to everyone, and don't let them tell you otherwise. Some of us are lucky and live. But others, aren't. So...I say stay away from it all. A temporary high isn't worth death. 

Day 2

Ah, one of my favorites: Where do I want to be in 10 years? I've answered this so many times, and each time the answer was different. At 16, I said I wanted to be in the process of going to medical school. At 19, I wanted to be a high powered lawyer. And now, here I am at 22. To be honest, I'm not 100% sure where I want to be yet. I still want to be married, and I definitely want kids. But I don't know what else I want besides that. Do I want to be working full-time and utilizing my Business Administration degree? Or do I want to stay home and take care of our kids? Hell, do I constantly want to travel with my family? I can't answer that because I'm not there yet. And it's very hard to think that far ahead when my life could go in any direction. I have an idea, but it's subject to change. Then again, isn't life in general always subject to change?

Day 1

It was the day before my 21st birthday. He was 28. I had moved to Maryland 2 months prior, and I didn't know anyone. I didn't even have family close by. So, I decided to join a dating site. I'd tried several before (with horrible results), but I was mainly looking for a friend. I came across his profile, and I noticed we had a lot in common. I sent him a message, even though I was 99% sure I wouldn't hear anything back. A few minutes later we started chatting. It was kind of weird at first because he knew about all these obscure things I liked and understood them. The next day he asked me out.

Then...we hit a bit of a rough patch. All of my relationships before him had ended badly. I felt like he was too good to be true. So I basically broke up with him before he could break up with me. I guess I just panicked. Thankfully, he didn't give up on me. Every time I talked to him, he told me how much he cared about me and for me to give him a chance. July 18, 2009 we became an official couple.

June 8, 2010, he proposed. He was taking me out to lunch, and before we left he told me to sit down and close my eyes. He said he loved me, and I was the best thing that ever happened to him. And that I was his perfect match, and he didn't want anyone else. Then he asked me to be his wife. I think you all know what my answer was...

We originally wanted a medium sized wedding. But after adding up the costs and how long we would have to wait, we decided to bypass all of that. August 2010 we set our wedding day for October 26, 2010. After several long weeks, the day had arrived. And...the rest is history :)

Frack!

I've been super stressed out for the past couple of days. I got a seasonal job over the holidays, and they're still not sure if they want to keep me as a regular employee. If they do, I won't have to worry about finding another job for a little while. If they don't, I need to find something else asap. I'm trying to just relax and remain positive that everything will work out, but it's hard. I'm applying like crazy, but what if I don't find something if they let me go? Being an adult sucks...

My kitty

I took some new pics of my cat Gill. He is the most affectionate cat you will ever meet. I just wish he didn't beg for food at 4 in the morning...

Dear Ice...

Thank you for making my steep and already treacherous driveway even more fun to traverse.

Sincerely,
               Char

Ideas and inspiration

I've been having trouble thinking of what I can posts. I've been ok mentally and emotionally for the past few days. I feel like it would be redundant if I just post "I'm ok" every few days. And I don't like going more than a day or two without posting. So I'm going to do a blog challenge. I'm still doing my list, but I'm focusing more on the books and movies at the moment. I came across this one (thanks to Across the Pond), and I thought it was very interesting:

Now, keep in my there are countless other challenges out there, but I still felt like this one would be more fun and meaningful. I might now start it until Thursday only because Alex will be off tomorrow and Wednesday. What can I say? I love spending time with my husband :)

New music weekend vol. 2

I chose "Hardwire" by Metric. They remind me of a blend of Eisley, KT Tunstall and Kerli.

Make it electric...

Hello everybody! If I seem extremely perky, it's because I had 2 big cups of coffee and I haven't had that debilitating crash. I feel really good today. I'm guessing it's because I have several days off to relax and catch up on my movies and books. I started Anna Karenina this morning. I'm only a few pages in, but I love it so far. Not much to report. Everything's been good, I feel great about myself and I'm madly in love with my husband. I hope everyone continues to have a great weekend, and I'll post again in a couple of days.

A little reminder.

When I got on Facebook this morning, I saw that one of my friends posted a great status. I loved it because I think it's a great reminder of why I married Alex. I modified it to how long we've been married, but everything else is the same:

If you have a wonderful man, who helps balance your whole world...who isn't perfect, but is perfect for you... who works hard and would do anything for you. Who makes you laugh and drives you crazy, who is your best friend, who you want to grow old with, and who you are thankful for everyday, and who you could NOT live without....I said "I do" almost three months ago for all of these reasons!

I decided to share this because marriage is a crap-ton of work, and there are times where it's far from easy. But my love for Alex never, ever changes. And I think that's one of the most important things couples need to remember: If you really love that person, nothing will get in your way and the hard times will pass.

#11 - Eat at a Thai restaurant

I found this great place called the Sapphire Restaurant and Lounge. Alex and I loved it. We tried goat for the first time. It kind tastes like a cross between pork and beef. We went to the buffet, and it was good but a lot smaller than we thought it would be. I meant to take pictures of the restaurant, but I forgot my camera. Since I completed this one earlier than I thought I would, I'm going to add a new one: Eat at 5 new restaurants. As for my first post, I'm doing a lot better. I had a bit of a rough patch, but Alex helped me through it. So, it's all good :)

What I want...

...is to scream my head off right now. I'm unbelievably stressed out, and I just really feel like I have no support from the one person I could use it from. It's frustrating, and it makes me feel like I can't do anything right. I'm barely getting sleep. Last night I got two hours. I feel like I'm going to go through this all over again tomorrow...

# 56 - Spend a weekend with only my books and music

Sorry for the lack of warning, but I spent one weekend with my books and music. And...it really sucked. I know it sounds bad, but I love my internet and my PS3. The good news is I finished 5 books, listen to 602 out of the 4,364 I have on my iPod and finished 57 out of 1,014 Sudoku puzzles. So, it was a very productive weekend. I finally got to read The Time Traveler's Wife. That book is beyond amazing. It definitely lives up to the hype. Within the next few days I'll watch the movie. I'm really proud of myself. I kind of thought I'd cave in, but I didn't. I never want to repeat that ever again, but I'm still happy I completed yet another goal.

#95 - 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind

Here's the one that I've looking forward to completing. It's very eye opening. And it definitely makes you re-evaluate your life:

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
I'd say probably my early to mid 30's. I don't know why, but ever since I turned 20, I've just felt so much older than what I actually am. I'm guessing it's because of all the things I've had to deal with in the past 4-5 years.

2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
Never trying. If you fail, you can at least learn from your mistake. If you never try, you won't know what might happen.

3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
I guess we just accept whatever is given to us, and don't strive to achieve something better. As far as liking the things we don't do, for me it's fear. Fear of failure, or that the thing I like really isn't what's best for me. So, I just give up on it and play the "what-if" game.

4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
Yes, probably. I make all these plans to do things, and one way or another they don't pan out.

5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
All of the intolerance and hate. Yes, it's good that everyone is different. But if someone is basically the 180 of what you believe or how you live, you shouldn't hate them for it. It really pisses me off when I hear someone being attacked for being who they are. None of us have the right to judge another human being.

6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
Listening to and discovering music. It's one of the things that is extremely important to me and makes me happy.

7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
 I was just settling. I'd like to think I'm doing what I believe in, but sometimes I'm just not sure.

8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
 I'd definitely speak my mind more. Right now I just stay quiet to keep the peace.

9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
I was letting a "higher power" decided what was best for me. When I realized that didn't exist, I put my money on fate. It was until a little over 7 months ago that I took control of my own life.

10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
I wish I could say it's the latter, but I know it's the former. And I probably make thing harder than they need to be because of it.

11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?
This has happened to me before. And...I joined in. I didn't defend him/her. I was more focused on fitting in than doing what was right. I lost several friends because of it.

12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
Do what's best for you, and don't let others control you.

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
Yes. I really would

14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
Yes. It takes me seeing something 2 or 3 times, but I can always find the beauty that the artist saw in the midst of chaos.

15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
When I listen to music, I  don't just hear it. I can feel and see it. I can't describe it, but it's a very physical experience for me.

16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
I guess it's because everyone's different. Everyone has their own quirks and preferences.

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back?
Go back to school and get my degree. I kept saying money was the reason, but that hasn't been the case. I haven't been as diligent in looking for a stable job as I could be. And because of that, I'm still in debt and just waiting for something to happen.

18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
More than likely. I tend to hold grudges. If I had to guess what I'm holding on to, I'm guessing it's the whole situation with my parents. I feel like I should hate them for everything they did, but I can't. I feel like I should say something to them, but I have no desire to and I'm so much happier without them. I feel like I'm stuck, and I don't want what's going on with them prevent me from doing anything.

19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
Italy. I've always been fascinated by their culture and it looks like a beautiful country.

20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
I've never done that. I know it doesn't make it go faster.

21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
I really don't know. I used to believe ignorance is bliss, but now I'm not sure. I can't pick.

22. Why are you, you?
Past experiences and people shaped me into who I am now. If I hadn't done certain things, I'd be completely different.

23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
No. Absolutely not. I had a lot of growing up to do, and I didn't know how to act around people. I'm a lot better than I was.

24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
I always lose touch with people who live near me. The problem is I'm never that broken up about it when it happens. I wish I was.

25. What are you most grateful for?
Finding someone who gets me, and realizing I'm not alone anymore.

26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
I'd say lose the old ones. Who knows how many great memories I'll have in the future?

27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
No, I think you have to question it and see that it's true before you can believe it.

28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
To be honest...I don't think I've ever figured out what my greatest fear is. There are things I'm afraid of, but they're not my biggest fear.

29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?
Let's see, I was 17...I have no idea what I was upset about at 17, so no I guess it doesn't matter.

30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special? 
I don't have a good memory from my childhood.

31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? 
When I got married.

32.  If not now, then when?
Soon, I hope.

33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
Nothing. So..I don't know.

34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?  
No. I always feel like I have to say something. I don't think I've even had a moment of silence with my own husband.

35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
That's what humans do. We have the unfortunate ability to take something that's good, inject our ulterior motives into it and deform that good thing.

36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
I think there's a general guideline, however there will always be a gray area.

37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? 
Yes. But I would still look for something better.

38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
Something I enjoy doing. I know there isn't a job that's 100% perfect for me. But I do know there's something that's not mind-numbing like what I'm doing now.

39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
Yes. I'm just sitting here, wasting time online before I go to a job that I really don't like. This happens every week.

40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
I've never experienced that. I wish I could.

41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
My grandparents. I haven't seen them in years, and I know they don't have much time left as it is..

42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
No. There's no guarantee on how long I'm going to be alive. For example, if I do take 10 years off my life to be famous, but I'm supposed to die at 33, that means I'd only live to be 23. I'd die within a year. It sounds morbid, but I'm not going to gamble on something that isn't a guarantee.

43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living? 
Living is having a daily drive. It's like a fire that's ignited every time you wake up. You look forward to facing the world and make plans to do things and better yourself. Being alive is just waking up, and doing the same thing over and over. It's monotonous.

44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
Now. If you keep saying tomorrow, then you'll never do it.

45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
More than likely, it's a lesson we know we need but don't want to learn.

46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
I'd speak my mind more often and not hold back.

47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
I never have. I know I'm breathing, and I guess I feel that's all that matters.

48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
I love a lot of things. And I know I haven't been showing it recently.

49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?
I know I won't.

50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
I'm honestly trying to make them for myself. But, I think I still want others to make the difficult ones for me. I'm trying to break out of that habit. 

#7 and 74

2 more done today. The movies I chose for the marathon were The Phantom of the Opera, Death Row, iMurders, Tokyo Gore Police and The Red Shoes. The good news is my appetite for awesomely cheesy movies was satisfied. The bad news is all of them were cheesy in a bad way. Since I decided to go with bad movies first, let's move on to awesome music. Here are my 101 favorite songs:

1. "Head Over Feet" by Alanis Morrissette
2. "Adelaide" by Anberlin
3. "A Whisper and A Clamor" by Anberlin
4. "There Is No Mathematics to Love Or Loss" by Anberlin
5. "Body Movin'" by Beastie Boys
6. "Glass Onion" by The Beatles
7. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles
8. "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles
9. " Happiness Is A Warm Gun" by The Beatles
10. "Martha My Dear" by The Beatles
11. "Piano Man" by Billy Joel
12. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) by Billy Joel
13. "What Lies Beneath" by Breaking Benjamin
14. "Mandolin Rain" by Bruce Hornsy & The Range
15. "Lust For Kicks" by The Cars
16. "You're All I've Got Tonight" by The Cars
17. "Bye Bye Love" by The Cars
18. "Don't Cha Stop" by The Cars
19. "I'm In Touch With Your World" by The Cars
20. "Moving In Stereo" by The Cars
21. "All Mixed Up" by The Cars
22. "Around The World" by Daft Punk
23. "People Are Strange" by The Doors
24. "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors
25. "Break On Through (To The Other Side) by The Doors
26. "Skulk" by Echo Image
27. "Bennie and The Jets" by Elton John
28. "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John
29."The Party Song" by Emery
30. "Churches and Serial Killers" by Emery
31. "The Smile, The Face" by Emery
32. "Edge of The World" by Emery
33. "Playing With Fire" by Emery
34. "Mushaboom" by Feist
35. "Leisure Suite" by Feist
36. "I Feel It All" by Feist
37. "1234" by Feist
38. "Wind Up" by Foo Fighters
39. "February Stars" by Foo Fighters
40. "Everlong" by Foo Fighters
41. "Stakeout" by Freezepop
42. "Peacemaker" by Green Day
43. "Wings of a Butterfly" by HIM
44. "Killing Loneliness" by HIM
45. " Sell Your Soul" by Hollywood Undead
46. "Viva La Resistance" by Hypernova
47. "Oh My God" by Ida Maria
48. "Anna Molly" by Incubus
49. "Megalomaniac" by Incubus
50. "Warning" by Incubus
51. "Die Alone" by Ingrid Michaelson
52. "Twentysomething" by Jamie Cullum
53. "Ruby" by Kaiser Chiefs
54. "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers
55. "Rooftops" by Lostprophets
56. "This is The New Shit" by Marilyn Manson
57. "Back at Your Door" by Maroon 5
58. All of Mindless Self Indulgence's songs
59. "Silent Whisper" by Monolithic
60. "Time is Running Out" by Muse
61. "Stockholm Syndrome" by Muse
62. "Plug In Baby" by Muse
63. "Undisclosed Desires" by Muse
64. "The Small Print" by Muse
65. "Starfuckers Inc." by Nine Inch Nails
66. "Capital G" by Nine Inch Nails
67. "The Saltwater Room" by Owl City
68. "The Bird and The Worm" by Owl City
69. "Dental Care" by Owl City
70. "Fireflies" by Owl City
71. "Careful" by Paramore
72. "Emergency" by Paramore
73. "Faster Kill Pussycat" by Paul Oakenfold
74. "No Compromise" by Paul Oakenfold
75. "Debaser" by Pixies
76. "Wave of Mutilation" by Pixies
77. "Dead" by Pixies
78. "Mr. Grieves" by Pixies
79. All of Queens of the Stone Age's songs
80. "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" by Radiohead
81. "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" by Radiohead
82. "Cherry Bomb" The Runaways
83. "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads
84. "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads
85. "Dead End Friends" by Them Crooked Vultures
86. "Istanbul" by They Might Be Giants
87. "A Sorta Fairytale" by Tori Amos
88. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve
89. "The Freshman" by The Verve Pipe
90. "Inaction" by We Are Scientists
91. "Cash Cow" by We Are Scientists
92. "It's A Hit" by We Are Scientists
93. "Rich" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
94. "Man" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
95. "Tick" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
96. "Black Tongue" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
97. "Maps" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
98. "Heads Will Roll" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
99. "Gold Lion" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
100. "Way Out" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
101. "Cheated Hearts" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

#2

I was able to finish #2 - Make a list of 101 things that make me happy. It was easier than I though it would be. I figured I'd be able to think of 5 or 6 things, then draw a blank. But I just kept going and going. I was surprised at how many things make me genuinely happy. I decided against posting the list only because I feel that should be kept private. I will, however, post my 101 favorite songs tomorrow :)

Umm...

I really can't think of anything to post today. No goals were completed, and the movies I watched today were so dumb that they're not worth reviewing. I'll try to think of something interesting for tomorrow.

# 42, 86 and 88

Okay, the "crisis" from earlier has been averted. We took Gill to the vet, and he appears to be okay outside of dirty teeth. Now onto my goals. I'm kicking ass. It's only the 3rd day of the new year and I've completed 4 things. For #42 I chose Amadeus. I had heard about it several years ago, but was never able to see it. I was pleasantly surprised. It's actually more like a dark comedy. A little longer than that I thought it would be, but I still loved it.

Then came the two I wasn't looking forward to. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised. The 2 people I had regretted severing ties with forgave me. I actually spoke to one of them briefly. As far as the exes go, I could only find one (and I was so happy, you have no idea). And we're okay. He has his life and family, and I have mine. So far, I'm happy with my progress and how things are turning out. Maybe 2011 won't be so bad after all.

Short post. Not sure if I'll be posting later.

Sorry, this will be so short. When Alex and I came home about an hour ago, I noticed our cat Gill was dragging his left back foot. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, but there's no reason for him to be dragging his foot. So we're taking him to the vet this evening. I'll try and give you all an update if I feel up to it tonight.

New music weekend pt. 2

Today's pick is "Crawl" by Sparta. I can't really describe it, but it's a very light and melodic song. I'm surprised I've never heard of them before:

New music weekend pt. 1

One of my goals is find 26 bands I've never listened to starting with each letter of the alphabet. I figured instead of just sharing my favorites, I'd incorporate my goal for a while. First up is "Just Got To Be" by The Black Keys. They sound great, and I'm really liking this song:

#77 Experience a New Years kiss/ Hello, 2011

Happy New Year, everyone! I know it's only the first day of 2011, but I'm hitting the ground running. I was able to cross off one thing on my list. It may sound weird, but it was very special for me. I've never had a New Years kiss before, and my first one was with Alex. Now that I've gotten one fun thing out of the way, I'm going to take care of the harder ones: make peace with people whose friendships with me ended badly, and make peace with my exes. I'm not going to lie, I don't want to do either of them. I don't want to divulge my past, but this is going to suck considering the people involved. However, I know it'll be good for me to get closure. So...wish me luck.