The Hunger Games Sneak Peek

So everyone who watched the VMA's got to see a sneak peek for the Hunger Games movie. I didn't watch it (I think I would have poked my eyes off/driven a pencil into my ears) but Twitter gave me the link to watch the trailer after it aired.

What we got was 58 seconds of, what I thought, looks exactly as The Hunger Games should. I already love Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. The logo is really cool looking (I don't mind the fire effects, some people were saying they looked cheesy, but they looked fine to me. *shrug*). But...I hated, hated, whoever  was doing the voice over. Peeta? Gale? Not sure. But I hated him. My first thought was "Whoa, gangster?" and neither of them are anything close to that. When I watched it a second time, and thought about it a bit, the more I hope to hell that it's Gale, because I could at least forgive Gale sounding all harsh. He's kind of a harsh guy. But Peeta, man, do not make my Peeta Malark sound like that. Do not do it. (I really don't think it was Peeta. I think Gale was giving Katniss a pep talk before she left for The Capitol. But I'm still going to be nervous about it until I see who was talking.)

So...all in all, I liked it! I'm excited to see more, and I really hope the films can live up to the books.

No New Stuff Week 4

I totally thought I wrote up a post last week about No New Stuff. Apparently not. Ah, well, you get double the update today!

Last week the only things I bought were cold medication, and the alterations for my bridesmaid's dress, neither of which count against my NNS rules. The past week I bought Kayla's birthday present. Unfortunately I couldn't get all of what I wanted to get her at a non-chain store, but most of it was! So ha!

It has been really easy so far. I mean, I would love to buy TV seasons, and DVDs, but meh. I need to save my money for things like car insurance. Blech.

The Fears of Pottermore

I am in a state of constant roller coaster as far as Pottermore goes. I check my email religiously, waiting for my "Welcome" letter (is this what wizarding children felt like waiting for their Hogwarts letter?) to come, but at the same time dreading it. And for one reason. Just one. The Sorting.

I know I'm not the only one worried about this. In fact, I think about half of my Facebook friends are freaking. And Alex Carpenter pretty much put my concerns into song. To the tee.

Seriously...what if Pottermore sorts me into the wrong house. I have identified with Hufflepuff for so long. I think I could come to terms with Ravenclaw, or even Slytherin if I had to. But I do not know what I will do if I get sorted into Gryffindor.

....god. To anyone outside the fandom, this probably sounds completely insane.

In other news, No New Stuff is going well. I didn't buy anything at all this week (well, except for groceries and some meds to get rid of my cold/flu/sickness) because I have been sick all week. So it's been an easy one.

No New Stuff Week 2

I...can not remember what I did this week. I know I've watched a lot of Dollhouse, and I went to the mall with some friends (and bought nothing!) but other than that...my mind has gone blank. Maybe it's because I'm trying to distract myself with this blog so that maybe I'll stop feeling nauseous, but it isn't really working yet.

The only thing I can really remember is going to the mall with Emily and Elise, where Elise bought red high tops. I reaaaaaaaally wanted to get some high tops (I have never owned a pair and I have wanted a pair for probably 5 years) but I didn't. I ignored the urge. I also really wanted to go into the Body Shop, but I didn't do that either, because I just love that store too much to look and not buy.

I am having a really tough time with not going out and buying Doctor Who Series 6 or Torchwood Series 1 and 2. Because I want them so badly. But I'm not doing it. It's almost started to become a sort of obsession. Maybe not quite that serious, but like...I think about breaking my rules and going to buy them all the time. I keep saying "Oh, it's just a week, it's just one more week on No New Stuff." which makes me think I need to make my punishment adding a month instead of a week. (Oh yeah, we decided that if we break our rules, we have to write a blog post about why we broke the rules and add a week onto our plan as punishment.) Because adding another month actually scares me. So, yeah. Consider that my punishment. If I break the rules I will add one month onto the six months I originally chose.

Oh! I remember a success story! At work we have to clean out all of the lockers (ie. take all of the stuff people leave behind) so that we can rent them out again. We finally started going through all of the stuff (ie. throwing it out, putting it aside to go to value village, dibsing it) and I took a shit ton of binders, a couple of notebooks, a scale ruler (that hasn't been used!), a bag for my paint brushes, some nice, small needle nose pliers and wire cutters. So now, except for my paint brushes and any textbooks I may need, I am set for school. (I may need to find some loose leaf...but I think my parents have loads that I could take.) So...success!

Fandom Dreams: Doctor Who/Pirates of the Caribbean

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen that I tweeted about arguable the best dream I've had in ages. A lot of it has gone fuzzy now, but I want to write about it so I don't lose it completely.

Sounds like the best ever, right?

So, basically, Kayla and I were hanging out in this house. It was totally normal, and then Alex Day walked in. This was also completely normal to dream-self, and we started to just chat. The conversation turned to Doctor Who, as it does, and then we decided that we were going to go do something...I don't remember what now, but somehow Kayla and Alex ended up in a car outside. The yard looked exactly like my parents yard, but the house was not. Strange. But anywho. I volunteered to go and find Charlie. So I went downstairs (I'm assuming to the basement, but it didn't look like a basement) and there was Charlie. At first he was just hanging out in a chair, and then as I explained what Alex, Kayla and I had decided to do, we were suddenly in a kitchen. Which also didn't disturb me, I just kept on talking. He seemed intrigued (I think it had something to do with The Doctor), and then suddenly we were making out. Uhm. Whoa self. I never have dreams where I end up with someone, but apparently my subconscious really wants to make out with Charlie.

So Alex and Kayla were all "what the fuck is taking them so long?" and then Alex came in, and it was awkward, but not really because it's a dream and he didn't even notice. So we left and then somehow we ended up with the Doctor, in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I...don't even. But it was awesome, and I had a sword, and we were trying not to get blown up by cannons. And then Jack Sparrow ran by. The Doctor and Jack knew each other (not surprising. 11 and Jack are actually very similar, come to think of it.) and they started talking/fighting/running around trying not to get blown up. And then....I woke up. It was very sad, but very very awesome.

Wonderful Weekend

You know, from the amount I'm blogging lately, I might as well be doing BEDA. It's like a bug has infected me - I started, and now I just want to blog blog blog blog blog. Not that's a bad thing, after it's sat so empty most of the summer.

I really despise Mondays, and the wonderful weekend I had doesn't really help this Monday's plight. I mean, it's just a day of a week, it can't help it that it's right after a weekend! Poor thing gets so much hate, and Friday gets all the love. I think Kristina Horner may be the only one who actually enjoys Mondays. But I could be wrong.

Saturday I was supposed to have tea with some friends, but between my feeling like I'd been run over by a bus, and some other unfortunate circumstances, it didn't end up happening. So I ended up watching Merlin all day (akjahdafd Morganna, I HATE YOU. ....Season 4 please?) and forcing myself through about 30 pages of The Wind in the Willows. Ugh. For a 200 page book, it is taking me far too long to get through. It's just so boring! Oh, hey, lets go boating. Nope, actually, we're going to go on an "adventure" - oh wait, I want to wander through some woods instead. Arghabargle. I don't see how this is going to be an interesting play. ("Toad at Toad Hall" is one of the shows in the RDC season this year. At least the tech side should be interesting!) I was starting to feel better by the end of the day - my head no longer felt like it would explode, my lungs no longer were trying to force themselves up my windpipe - well, as much - and my throat was not nearly as scratchy. A good sign!

Sunday was a low-key morning. I intended to spend the morning and most of the afternoon in my PJs, printing off pictures and putting them in photo albums. I started doing that, but then Randy called, bored and wanting to do something. So, I braved the construction that was literally right outside my apartment, blocking off my normal route to anywhere, and we went to Chapters. I bought nothing! I nearly bought The Odyssey and a few other classics that were only $5 (ahhhhhhhhhhhhh) but I didn't! I'm so proud of myself! (Thanks, Rand, for talking me out of it.)

After that, I went to Sylvan Lake to see Maxine. I met a couple of her friends who also had cabins along the street, and because it was so darn windy and too cold to sit on the beach or anything lake-y, we decided to play board games. We played a game called "Don't Sink in the Sink!" - which is a Veggie Tales game and very...strange. We also played The Game of Life, which I hadn't played for agessssssssssssss and was very much good times. (I was a Doctor. So I decided I was the Doctor.) Max came back to Red Deer after supper (at like...8 O.o) and I showed off my apartment, and then she left.

So, all in all, a good weekend. Monday really doesn't have a chance, does it?

Torchwood vs Torchwood

(Spoilers if you haven't watched "The Category of Life" yet.)

I have been meaning to write this blog post for about a week or so now, but it hasn't happened yet. I decided earlier today, after I finished watching Merlin Season 3 (aghhhhhhh I need season 4 NOW), that I was going to watch latest installation of Miracle Day and then write what I'd wanted to write. I had planned on writing a I DO NOT LIKE THIS NEW TORCHWOOD AKDAJSH type post, which, to an extent, this will still be. But...something changed in this new episode. Vera.

RTD killed her off. Or at least, it seems that way. I mean, she has two gunshot wounds and is stuck in an oversized oven. All signs point to dead. This is nothing new - I'm used to having character's being killed off of Torchwood. What I was surprised at, was my emotional reaction. I was horrified, sad, even. I gasped out loud when that pig (can't remember his name) shot her. That is the first emotional response I've had in this entire series. (Well, except for seeing Jack the first time. I got very excited. But that's different.) I think that says something, no?

I'm not really sure what is wrong with the new series. I really like the message behind it. It's a warning of sorts. I like that. But there's just something missing. I don't feel connected to the new characters, except Vera. I think I really only remember Esther's name because of Esther Earl, but I honestly can't tell you the other guy's name. I think it starts with an R?

Part of my issue is the fact that it's so Americanized now. It's not just that it's set in America (which, no, I do not like. I miss Cardiff and the Hub.). It feels like a standard American cop show, with Jack and Gwen and Rhys thrown into it and the name "Torchwood" slapped across the front. It just doesn't feel like Torchwood. And I don't know what makes Torchwood. I have no idea. I thought it was Jack, but obviously it's not. I know that I really miss the old team. When Jack called himself Dr. Owen Harper I nearly lost it. And then when R-man started going off about the team and tearing Jack apart and blaming him for their deaths...I think that's when I started to really dislike him. I didn't really like him to begin with (he's the cliche American cop - gruff and angry.) but that did nothing to make me like him more.

I think...having new people, plus a new setting, plus nothing really to tie it back to the old series (well, except Gwen, Rhys and Jack, obviously) it just feels so new and weird. I mean, there aren't even Weevils! There hasn't been a single alien. Isn't that what Torchwood is all about? Aliens? Where are they? I suspect they're behind this whole Phicor business, but still.

This is also the first time I've watched Torchwood as it aired, so maybe that's part of it too. I haven't had to wait to see the aliens, or see the solution.

I dunno. I'm still undecided. I know that I really very much prefer Season 2 and Children of Earth. I'm still waiting for Miracle Day to win me over.

No New Stuff, Week 1

So far, so good as far as NNS goes. (It is so weird to type that. That is the initials of my elementry/middle/highschool. - I went to a K-12 school.) The first half of the week was easy. I didn't go into any stores that made me want to buy anything. But then yesterday Kayla told me about an awesome sale they're having on TV Seasons at Futureshop. Such as Torchwood Season 1 & 2 and Merlin. I waaaaant. But I won't. Because then I'd have to be punished. Sigh.

The HPA Staff are going to be starting an online D&D game. With like...over 30 people. It's going to be fanfreakingtastic. But I also need to get dice. I found some on ebay (don't worry, they're used!) that I could get, but I don't really like them. I want pretty ones, these ones are green and gold. Not my favourite. I'm going to see if I can't dig some others up, and if not, then I'll get those. This not buying new stuff is hard, man!

In other news, I am on Merlin Season 3 now! Whoo! It's so good! Though Season 3 isn't on Netflix, so I found it on TV shack and ended up watching the finale first because they had the episodes out of order. Twitch. Unhappy Jodi is unhappy. I was also very confused until I realized what was up with that.

I'm going for lunch with Matt today. Aka we're eating together. It should be funtimes. I miss my friends. Also going for coffee with Lauren later today in the coffee bus. It's going to be awesomeeee.

Coffee Bus! I'm excited!

Tomorrow should also be grand - Emily and Sarah are coming over for tea. So that will be fun! I miss those ladies. <3

It's weird not to be doing BEDA. I did it last year, and now I'm not this year and it's just...strange. I kind of wish I was, but I've already failed cus I haven't blogged every day. Ah, well. Maybe in April.

Oh, and look out for a Torchwood rant sometime this weekend (probably). I've been needing to rant about Miracle Day, and this is the best place I know to do that. (I miss old Torchwood....)

[REVIEW] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Well. Now that my very word vomit-y LeakyCon blog posts are all out of the way...I have something a little more fun - Deathly Hallows Part 2 review! Yeah! I almost appologized to anyone who isn't a Potter fan, but then I realized that it's my blog. I do what I want. XD

It’s been a few weeks since the release now, and I have seen the film a total of four times. The first was the amazing amazing screening at LeakyCon, the second with Kayla, the third with Randy, and the fourth with all of my friends (or, many of them) for my birthday. It’s been about a week since I’ve seen it, so hopefully I’ll actually be able to say something about it.

All in all, I was happy with the film. I started to write this out in paragraph form, but I think I’ll do better in lists. It may not be as long then. (Maybe.)

• I absolutely loved the stuff at Shell Cottage (THEY PUT IN THE “HERE LIES DOBBY A FREE ELF” BIT IN. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS) and the Gringott’s scene was BRILLIANT. That dragon broke my heart a bit, the way it was abused, the poor thing. Even Hermione using Reducto on it’s tail! Uhm. But all in all, yes, I loved it.
• I think one of my favourite added scenes was when Voldemort was walking through Gringotts, feet bloodied, all of the Goblins dead. God that was scary. Voldemort was so so scary in that scene. It was so well done.
• Aberforth was perfect, so was the Hogshead. I don’t have anything much more to say on that front, but I love love loved it.
• When Neville showed up in the portrait, I got major goose bumps and was overcome with the urge to cheer. (I blame LeakyCon.) And then when the trio came out of the other end into the Room of Requirement...oh goodness the chills. I was again overcome with the urge to cheer. (Still blame LeakyCon.)
• When everyone is in the Great Hall and Snape does his “everyone will be treated as a traitor aka die” speech I was actually a bit scared of him, even if his eyes did look sad.
• Seeing McGonagall scared was really...well, scary for me.
•  The “how dare you stand where he stood” line almost made me tear up. But that’s just because I’m still grieving for Dumbledore.
•  That whole bit with Harry telling Snape off was so wonderful, and so book 7 Harry. When the Order walked into the Great Hall, all bad ass...I once again, got chills and wanted to cheer. (Sigh. LeakyCon.) 
• Snape vs. McGonagall. God she is such a bad ass. And Snape was terrified! And totally didn’t want to fight her.
• “Blow it up? Boom?” “BOOM!”
• “I’ve always wanted to do that spell!”
• Where was Grawp?
• The Chamber of Secrets scene was so good! I’m so glad they added that. And the kiss. Ohhh the kiss. Finally.
•  I was extremely happy with the film until DRACO APPARATES INTO HOGWARTS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE, KLOVES. NOT POSSIBLE! And then...the film took a bit of a turn for the worst, for me. Though I did like the Room of Requirement scene! I really liked Harry’s added bit to Draco – asking him why he didn’t sell him out. That was lovely.
• “THAT’S MY GIRLFRIEND, YOU NUMPTY!”
• “Not my daughter, you bitch” was so disappointing. Molly screamed it in the book. Like, fiercely. She didn’t just say it and then look terrified when Bellatrix came at her. No, she was pissed the fuck off. Fred was dead, she wasn’t about to loose Ginny too.
• I missed the bit with the House Elves. I wanted to see Kreacher with the locket, head of all of the House Elves being all fierce and RAWR.
• Oh, hello magical boat house that we’ve never seen before. Nice to meet you.
• Snape’s death scene was so violent! I mean, we didn’t see it, but the sounds and jerking and just a;kajdafsdf. Alan Rickman was so brilliant. I actually also liked that his memories were tears. It’s very poetic.
• The Prince’s Tale was so well filmed. The editing! Oh, the editing! It was glorious! And Alan Rickman. Oh my Merlin, he was a GOD. (Not Oscar worthy, though. Just saying.) But I didn’t cry, which is strange.
•  But...how did Snape have Lily’s memory? When she was telling Harry to be brave? Continuity is your friend, Mr. Kloves.
• I was surprisingly happy with Fred’s death. Seeing him dead on the ground, his family distraught around him (my god, George’s face
• “I’ll go with you!” My heart...it broke a bit.
• The forest scene. Oh, the forest scene. It was so perfect. And I was fine...right up until Sirius started to talk. And then I lost it. Sirius, you are still my hero.
• Neville. What can I say? He was so freaking bad ass. I loved it. I loved him blowing up the bridge. I loved him being all cocky when Howarts was protected and the Death Eaters couldn’t get to him. I loved the “oh shit” look on his face once the Death Eaters go passed. I loved him standing up to Voldemort. What I didn’t love...was his speech. It was directed right at the fans. And I really wanted to see him get his head set on fire, as awful as that sounds. I wanted to hear him yell “DUMBLEDORE’S ARMY!” – that’s all that would have been needed. Voldemort never would have let him go on about how Harry will always be with them. Neville would have been Cruicio’d before Harry’s name was out of his mouth.
• Awkward Voldemort hug. Nothing else needs to be said.
• I missed hearing Hagrid sob. That would have been so heart breaking, and probably would have sent me over the edge.
• When Harry falls out of Hagrid’s arms, (which looked like it hurt, bee tee dubs. Ouch.) George turns to talk to Fred. Oh my heart.
• I am actually okay with the "Let's finish this like it started. Together!" scene. Harry saw no way out and was trying to kill Voldemort. He figured, hey, if I can't kill Voldemort any other way, maybe we will get smushed. And then they apparated. Inside Hogwarts. *flail* But nonetheless. I am now not as distraught about that bit as I was when I first saw it.
• I wanted to hear Harry tell Voldemort that he was going to die. and that he was willing to die to protect the people at Hogwarts so now THEY were protected. I wanted to hear Harry call him Tom more than the once. I think without having Voldemort's own curse backfire, I think we lose the power of Voldemort being his own downfall and we lose Harry keeping his innocence. The weird disentegrating made death seem less real and final. Basically, I just didn’t like that whole final battle much. It was okay but...not great.
• When did Voldemort and Bellatrix turn into vampires that explode into dust? The thing I loved about the fact that their bodies – especially Voldemort’s – remained in the books was that in the end, he was nothing more than a man.
• I didn’t like the Nagini’s death either. That whole scene was just iffy to me. The bit with Ron and Hermione trying to kill her, and the Neville coming up with the sword and she again turned to dust. I would have loved to see her headless body hit the ground.
• Where was the cloak? It’s called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows but we only see the cloak once, and it’s totally brushed over! Bah.
• Harry, why you know fix your wand? And is it just me...or would the Elder Wand not break that easily?
• Old Harry looks like John Green. Just saying.

...okay, that was pretty damned long.

Overall, I liked the movie. It was pretty good. The first part is still better, and Half-Blood Prince is still my favourite (I think), but it was pretty good.

No New Stuff

I, along with a whole bunch of HPA Staffers, have decided to start a project. The project is called "No New Stuff" and for the next 6 months I will not be buying any new stuff. (With a few exceptions, which I will list below.) Everyone who is participating in the project gets to set their own rules, and I chose 6 months because a year just seems so long! So, 6 months it is.

Side note: Matt Maggiacomo and Paul DeGeorge did it a few years ago, you can find it on the HPA YouTube here.

I am going to be blogging about it here every Friday. I'll be talking about my accomplishments, my difficulties, and if need be, what I will have to do as a punishment if I deviate from the plan.

As for the plan...here it is.

From August 1, 2011, until February 1, 2012, I will not buy a single new thing. I have a few exceptions to the rule, and they are as follows:

• I can still buy used things from thrift stores and the like, but nothing new.
• Personal hygiene supplies. For obvious reasons.
• School supplies. If I need something from school, I am still going to see if I can't get it used, but some times it's just not possible.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 on DVD. I know I won't be able to stop myself from buying it, so there's no point in trying.
• Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins and The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. I want these books. I'm not preordering them, but I already know that I want them, especially Lola, so I am going to get them.
• Gifts.
• If I have to buy new, wherever possible, I am going to buy from independent stores. So for gifts, they will all come from independent stores.