More like AWESOME MAN!

Stay through the credits.

Also, Robert Downey, Jr., has been promoted on my Crush List from about 5th to 2nd. 

('Cause, y'know, there's still David.  *Points at icon.*)

I really loved Roy.  I'm not even sure why because the admiration started way back when, and I didn't see any of his defining performances (too scared of Jaws and just haven't managed to see French Connection or All That Jazz because... I don't know why!)  nor did I particularly follow his career...

I've just checked IMDB, and I think I can date my adoration for him, though, to of all things, a crazy cop movie in 1983 titled Blue Thunder.  The admiration for him was cemented (and I added love for Helen Mirren) with 2010--a movie I loved and rewatched rather often when it was on HBO (I saw it in the theater first).  And then, of course, years later he was in Seaquest DSV, and I loved him in that.

A great presence, a great actor, and what a voice. 

Wow, does this movie look fantastic already. Thrilled. I'm thrilled. And I'm a cat (duh). Snicked from csakuras

Now I have satellite TV as part of my package with my new internet and phone... and the satellite is out due to weather... on Oscar night...

I can't win.  Technology hates me.

Actually had the iron out last week and ironed two pair of pants which had been in the closet for MONTHS because they needed to be IRONED. I bought more pants instead because it was easier than ironing the two pair. As if ironing is SO HARD which it is not. I don't even dislike ironing. I just never remember to do it until I need to be in the clothes and driving to work so I wear other things instead. With laundry-doing, today, though, I'll have two shirts that will need ironed before I next wear them. I tend to go on clothing-style kicks where I wear variations on a theme for a span of time and then go shopping, get a few new things, and sometimes this results in a new style theme. I recently aquired a few very nice "dress" shirts (collars, buttons) with short sleeves that are nicely tailored and look nice but feel casual/comfy and which I can layer as I like to do but then also remove the sweater or jacket layer without feeling exposed if/when I get too warm. Prior style was shell tops or nicer t-shirts but sometimes those were snug enough that I felt a bit too shexy for work removing sweater or jacket. So I'm wearing these shirts a lot is what I'm saying, so I WILL be ironing them.

Other things To Do:
Check Hugo list
Read some nominees
Vote!

I have always wanted to go to a WorldCon and always wanted to vote for the Hugos, and now that I'm finally attending and therefore eligible to vote, I don't think I've read ANY of the nominees! Curses! In the past, I've often read several of the noms and would have been all set for the votin'. *Grumble*

Found out Mindy Klasky (author of excellent Glasswright series) has an LJ and have friended her. New book coming out in the fall is ChickLit which is awesome 'cause I love that, too. Sounds like a fun fusion of ChickLit and Fantasy, too. Yays!

Watchable movies are finally being released. Saw Praire Home Companion this weekend (loved!); Cars two weeks ago (meh... it was fun and pretty good but it was the weakest Pixar movie I've ever seen, including shorts and therefore a disappointment); and last weekend I saw The Lake House which I LOVED! Will be buying on DVD. Keanu was really good in it, too, which makes me believe he's improved as an actor in his maturing years. I love Sandra Bullock and have seen bad films just for her presence in them, but this was great. Sweet, a little old-fashioned, beautiful, moving, and lots of gorgeous Real Chicago Locations co-starring. Critics didn't rave (though Ebert AND Roeper loved it) but I think they were just being curmudgeonly because it was an excellent movie of its type and rather better than most of its type.

Next up is Superman which -- thank goodness -- has excellent advance reviews. Then the one we're all REALLY waiting for: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest! Johnny! Keira! Orlando! Yay!

Several people on the f'list have gone quiet... is it end of winter blues? Spring fever? St. Patrick's Day Green Rash? REAL LIFE?!

Anyway, thought I should post something. Here 'tis:

The plan is to go to V is for Vendetta this weekend. I keep making movie plans, and then we talk ourselves out of them. Late winter is the dead time for good movies, so that's usually why. Either we don't want to be depressed by the "serious" movies or we get scared off by the appalling reviews. Fortunately, V seems to be both not entirely bumming and well-reviewed. Sure, Alan Moore's having a big hissy-fit about it, but I think the dude just needs to chill. If he doesn't want Hollywood mucking up his stories, he should stop selling the rights! It isn't as if Hollywood just suddenly got bad at adapting things (and by "bad" I don't mean really bad. I mean bad in the opinion of people who prefer filmed transcripts of source material -- not that adaptations aren't sometimes, even frequently, not good, but... my parenthetical is taking over. I'll stop now).

Anyway, it looks good. I'm even giving the Wachkowski "We Threw Away a Golden Opportunity to RULE by Making a Philosophical Mish-Mash Slash Stupid Live-Action Mecha Anime Instead of the Film We Actually Set Up in the Previous Two Installments!" Brothers another shot, thanks to the generally positive reviews.

Plus Indian food. That's always good.

Edward Elric all-grown-up is a hottie. So, since Arakawa-sensei herself drew the picture you see (at right -- if you're on my blog and not seeing this on a f'list), I expect everyone will be suriviving the series, get restored (jury's out on Ed, though, since he's still begloved), and grow up a bit, and... apparently go out to a very formal affair of some sort afterwards. Sounds good. Image is from the fourth Fullmetal Alchemist novel which will be released in the US eventually...

Saw Second Chance at a sneak preview showing tonight. It's a very good, indy-feel "Christian" film starring Michael W. Smith and written/directed by Steve Taylor, both of whom are very talented musicians (Taylor went behind the scenes many years ago but used to be a recording artist, too).

It is really good. Again, it has a very independent film feel to it rather than an overcooked, overwrought "Christiany" style. It's realistic, understated, well-acted, looks like entirely location-shot in and around Nashville which gives it an organic verisimilitude, and has a very good story. There is no great, overdone drama-drama. It's a story about change and growth in the characters. The ending doesn't wrap everything into a nice bow which means it addresses the issues and problems it raises without providing pat answers. All in all, it's really quite wonderful. I HIGHLY recommend it. And Michael W. Smith? He can act! Go, Smitty!

So, where on earth did the time go? And no London report. And STILL no London report this time, either. I'm just going to clear out some cobwebs in my brain tonight and continue on. I'll come back to London a bit later. Feeling a bit sad and sore for London and the dear Piccadilly Line.

Busy seems to be my default mode, and it's nice that it isn't just work as it used to seem to be. Now it's work and friends and going to the gym and hanging out and going to movies and travel and working on my hobbies/interests and all that fun stuff.

I've become a rather overboard fan of FullMetal Alchemist over the past months and am anxiously awaiting season two to start on Adult Swim this month. I have an INSANE number of FMA tchotchkes. Insane. I counted up awhile ago and had almost 40 and I'm easily over that now... I have gone a bit mad, I think.

I also really love Samurai Champloo and Paranoia Agent (also Adult Swim). I've been reading more and more manga, now that I've got the hang of it -- and it is something you have to get the hang of, especially if you used to American comic book and animation conventions. All of these things have their own styles -- visual cues that mean specific things that you have to learn or get used to. Anyway, I really enjoy it. I buy some and read some at the bookstores with a coffee.

Movies have been good this summer. I really enjoyed Hitchhiker's Guide as a good start. Others I enjoyed were Star Wars III, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wedding Crashers, Bewitched, Kung Fu Hustle, the Interpreter, Bride and Prejudice, and Cinderella Man, but by far the best films I saw this summer were Batman Begins and Howl's Moving Castle. Coincidence that they both involved Christian Bale? Maybe. Probably not. He brings excellence to all he does.

Coming up good stuff -- Corpse Bride looks great, and, of course, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will be excellent.

Speaking of HP, read book six on release weekend, and it was AMAZING. It certainly maintains the high standards of the series and overall is better than book five (which I liked but which was HARSH and difficult which this one is, too, but in a different way...)

Caught up on Tamora Pierce years late and am half-way through her Alanna-world books (which means I've read the Alanna and Immortals series but not the other two yet). I just finished the latest Janet Evanovich (LOVE!) and am working on the latest Lois McMaster Bujold (excellent as always). On my to-read pile are the new Laurie R. King (Mary Russell rules!), the aforementioned second pair of Alanna-world series, the new Patricia McKillip, the new Neil Gaiman... lots of good new stuff.

Comics are good right now, too. I'm loving the Infinite Crisis ramp-up, all the stuff going on and tying together and being so frickin' cool. I love that.

I had a birthday, so I'm older now, too. I love birthdays. Mine was good. There was cake. It was good.

Escapism is in excellent shape. Would make you wonder what we're all escaping from if you didn't already know the answer to that.

In my apartment! Tinsel and lights and ornaments and CANDLES. Phew. Got that done. Got the cards done. Everything's all pretty. I love it.

TCM was showing old Christmasy movies all day, so I was able to see Meet Me in St. Louis for the first time in YEARS! Love that old thing, especially the "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" scene where Margaret O'Brien cries on cue. They followed that with The Bishop's Wife, and no one is cooler than Cary Grant as an angel.

I love old movies. Love old movies. I hope I can catch White Christmas, too, and I need to watch the original Miracle on 34th Street (with Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood) and my tape of Ruldolph (Bumble!) and THEN it will be Christmas for sure.

I love winter. I wish it were colder. I thought it was snowing earlier, and it may have been, but it didn't stick. There's still more than a week before winter officially hits, though, so I'm hoping.