180 Degrees of Separation: Beauty and the Beast

As I was watching Soul Train last weekend, with a special tribute to the late Donna Summer (RIP), I realized that dance moves, music, fashion, and entertainment are all coming full circle. High waisted skirts, platforms, sequins, you name it, are coming back. If artists aren't completely remixing old school songs, then they have heavy samples playing in the background. And one thing I never thought I'd see again...

Shoulder pads!

That was a fashion 'faux poo poo' in my book. Women looking like linebackers with Olive Oyl legs. And now you see asymmetrical or cone shaped shoulder pads on the red carpet. *Shivers* At a certain point, fashion, music, and entertainment take a 360` turn. Film and television remakes are running rampant with reboots like Spiderman taking place within a five year span. Spiderman was a 2002-2007 film franchise based on the comic book from the 1960s. The film is being rebooted for a release this year. In TV land, one of my, and a very passionate cult fan following, favorite shows is Beauty and the Beast starring Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton playing Vincent and Catherine. The show aired on CBS from 1987-1990. The show recreated the love of two of the most known characters with drama, suspense, and action. The makeup of the kind-hearted Vincent, who portrayed Beast, was phenomenal and blew many fans away week after week.

This brings me to my main point. The CW has decided to reboot this cult classic with Kristin Kreuk playing Catherine and Jay Ryan as Bruce Bann--Vincent. That was all fine and dandy until I saw the trailer and Vincent now looks like a GQ model with a simple scar on his cheek. Ummm. Not so beastly. Apparently this Vincent is a doctor who's chosen to stay in hiding because he Hulk's out every now and then to protect Catherine, but this doesn't capture the true essence of the divide between Vincent and Catherine and why they can't be together in the same world due to the ignorance of society unable to accept Vincent's physical appearance being so different. I don't know what route they're going in for the reboot because, from the poster, the 2012 Vincent looks like he could blend in just fine. I could see having his face half blocked out by a shadow with the same beastly eyes seen in the trailer, but apparently they just wanted to upset me. I understand that Koslow is aiming for a modernized version, but if the premise is lost from the show that it is following in the footsteps of, it may give many fans a disheartening feeling upon attempting to return to the franchise. Alas, we shall see how this show pans out, but I'm already giving it a very questionable side eye. Judge for yourself. 

Photo courtesy of IMDB.com

Chick-fil-A Dessert Disaster

I'm kind of a creature of consistency. I realize that change is inevitable, therefore I can be flexible. But imagine my mini-breakdown when I walked into Chick-fil-A yesterday for lunch and immediately ordered a to-go order for a #1, sandwich only, and a slice of [yummy] cheesecake only to be met with, "we don't have cheesecake on the menu anymore, dear; but we have some new, delicious cookies."

WHAT?! 

Cookies? No thanks. Famous Amos has me covered on that. And now, apparently, McDonald's has added cookies to their menu, but hardly anyone has...had cheesecake. Now that's a real dessert. Upon looking up at the new dessert menu, I noticed that the [huge] Cookies and Cream Milkshake was also gone replaced by an undernourished looking brownie sundae. I was so disappointed I didn't even get dessert. No. Dessert. You're looking at the lady who prefers to eat dessert first, going without completely. I don't know the reasoning for the Chick-fil-A dessert menu change, but I'm disappointed in Chick-fil-A starting to look like every other fast food joint. Chick-fil-a has class; a new, local two-story location; and an ability to play hard to get as it closes its doors on Sundays.

Please bring the cheesecake back, Chick-fil-A!


Photo courtesy of www.chick-fil-a.com

Sookie Stackhouse Novels

UPDATE 5/20: So I recently finished the latest novel, Deadlocked, in The Southern Vampire Mysteries and it was wonderful! You can read that post here. Below is an updated order of the novels with the addition of Deadlocked. The different short stories of A Touch of Dead fall in between the first few novels, so I placed it after the last novel where a story appears, chronologically. Enjoy!

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Dead Until Dark (2001); Living Dead in Dallas (2002); Club Dead (2003); Dead to the World (2004); Dead as a Doornail (2005); Definitely Dead (2006); All Together Dead (2007); From Dead to Worse (2008); Dead and Gone (2009); [A Touch of Dead (2009)]; Dead in the Family (2010); Dead Reckoning (2011); Deadlocked (2012); Dead Ever After (2013); After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse Coda (2013)

If you know me, or read this blog then you'll know that I love to read and write. One of my favorite authors is Charlaine Harris. You may know her as the best selling author of The Southern Vampire Mysteries (also known as The Sookie Stackhouse Novels). The novels have gone on to be chronologically adapted into the award winning HBO series True Blood. Each season of the show is based on a book and the show will be returning this year on season five based on Dead as a Doornail.

After the first season of the show my parents got me the first book in the series, Dead Until Dark, for Christmas and that quickly spawned the addiction which has now taken me through all eleven books in the series. The twelfth book, Deadlocked, comes out May of this year and the only thing keeping me hinged on sanity and not losing my marbles in anticipation is re-reading the series. Harris' other books outside of The Southern Vampire Mysteries are also wonderful, but I've grown attached to heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, her adventures, and the unique cast of characters that have graced the pages. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do when the thirteenth and final book comes out in 2013. I think I may go crazy hanging on the ellipsis of, "...Sooo, what do I do now?" I hope Ms. Harris understands my fear and likely potential of going into a catatonic state when this series ends.

UPDATE!! Sooo, I'm almost ashamed to admit that it took me this long to get The Sookie Stackhouse Companion but I just bought it today and am psyched to read it! Especially, "Small-Town Wedding" which has a surprise cameo by my favorite SVM character, Quinn!! More on him to come in a later post. ;) 

Shades of Grey

It’s official. 


I’ve been bitten by the Seattle Grace bug. That’s right. I am officially hooked on Grey’s Anatomy! ABC at 9 pm has become a permanent fixture for my Thursdays. Having never watched a full episode of the show (aside from several YouTube clips of episodes with the sexy, sexy Jeffrey Dean Morgan) I started watching season 8 March of this year when Dr. Cristina Yang’s suspicion of her husband’s infidelity hit home for me. As explosive revelations in their relationship were revealed, I also became interested and then glued to the storylines of other characters and patients. Despite not knowing much about the characters, I was able to pick up on their stories and histories fairly quickly. Now I know I’m about 8 years late to the party that is ‘Grey’s Anatomy Obsession’, but now that I’ve crashed it, there’s No. Turning. Back. (Call me a sucker for Kevin McKidd, but have you seen Dog Soldiers?!) Dr. Hunt’s fight to win back the love of his estranged wife and the intense and monumentally tear-jerking season finale alone are two reasons why this gal will be Hulk smashing anyone or anything that gets in her way next season.

Passive-Aggressive Texter

Ahhh, the passive aggressive text. We've all gotten one. You know, that seemingly random message that pops up on your phone screen from a significant (hopefully past) other who appears to be talking to someone else. Whether it was a 3 a.m. "drunk" text or a middle of the day text, you probably know it when you see it. I read a Gawker post today about a 31 year old woman who went on one movie date with a lawyer. Following the date he texted her that he had a good time, wanted to get to know her better, liked her, and then proceeded to ask her if she wanted to get to know him better too.

Time out.

Let me just say that already I'm turned off by this approach of texting these post-date feelings. Then again, I'm not a big fan of texting. Positive as his message may have initially sounded, to me, texting can be cowardly. He was setting her up to have to respond via text her emotions and desires for future dates instead of inquiring face to face or via phone immediately after the date. He had a 50/50 chance. She politely thanked him for the date and told him that she didn't feel they had a connection. Now, if you read Gawker you know that those texts are now enlarged and posted...shared...and posted some more on numerous sites for thousands of people to see. And comment on. What follows is him texting her back that she's missing out and he would have done anything for her. While, down the road, that very well may have been true, his post the next day belittling her, her looks, and the date, that "accidentally" went to her and not his friend eliminates any respect for him.

(And the message was looong. Like, at least three text boxes worth. Do men really text each other memoirs like that?! If so, I'm jealous.)

His transparent text an hour later apologizing and promising the text referred to another woman made matters more despicable. Really, how many women did you take to see The Avengers yesterday?! Texts that "accidentally" show up on your phone are often just that. Accidents. But sometimes they're attempts to get a response, the last awful word, insult, or take some type of relationship stand without having to take full responsibility; or as a way to segway into what they've wanted to say, but haven't had the guts to bring up. I've received a few since dating through texting has gotten out of control and saw right through them. Silence is often a good policy as to not sink to their level after you've seen the person's true colors, but a simple, "who is this?" can also turn the tables quite nicely. ;)

Deadlocked

So today I finished Charlaine Harris' latest Sookie Stackhouse Series novel, Deadlocked, and I have one word: AMAZEBALLS!! Honestly, by the time you've read this post I would have started reading it again. It's. That. Good! If you've kept up with my blog, or even Google searched something in the realm of "Sookie Stackhouse" "True Blood" or "Charlaine Harris" then my poll or post probably popped up in the search. Why? Because I'm obsessed; obsessed with the heroine, fantastical creatures, action, romance, humor, and the skillful and creative way Harris has turned this series into its own beholder of magic. Honestly, I have NO idea what I will do this time next year when the thirteenth and final novel in the series comes out. I've already read the series in its entirety three times while waiting for the next novel. Whew!

Insanity n. - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. ~Albert Einstein

So, thank you, Ms. Harris. I will now be considered officially and, most likely, clinically insane. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that Deadlocked ties up many loose ends and brings some storylines to an end...or are they? ;) I'm just going the throw my final novel guess in there and say that I believe Sookie and Sam will be together in the end. I was always rooting for Quinn, but too much negative has transpired between them. I do agree with his acknowledgement that Sookie was unfairly hardest on him because, for me, Eric (in his non-amnesia form) has never truly proven that he would choose Sookie over power. And Bill...well, that history is all kinds of complicated. My reasoning for Sam + Sookie:

1. They've known each other for about six years.
2. They trust and know each other's secrets.
3. They've protected and saved each other countless times. Sam in lion form? Awesome! 
4. Sookie posed as Sam's girlfriend at Sam's brother's wedding. 
5. Sookie stood with Sam and his family against two-natured discrimination and violence. 
6. They have chemistry and have shared some hot moments of passion throughout the earlier parts of the series.
7. Sookie chose Sam. (Note the ambiguous bold font ;)
8. They can grow old together without Sookie having to become a vampire. 
9. They can have babies.

*Well, I guess we'll all have to wait until next year for the final installment to see who, if anyone, Sookie chooses. I can barely wait!

I See Red

On the cusp of my last post about watching out for red flags, here are some pertinent types of red flags to be on the lookout for:


Liar #1: A man who lies to his mother. This flag is slapping you in the face. If he'll lie to her, especially about you, then he'll surely lie to you.

Speedy Gonzalez: Rushing the physical element of the relationship but not the emotional element.

Mr. Anti-Sun: Avoiding beach trips. Now I know that this may sound odd, but experience has taught me that a man who finds a reason to cancel or avoid a beach trip isn't really serious about you. I don't know if it's the mileage or the time in the sun, but there's something bonding about a beach/road trip that can tell you a lot about your partner's feelings. But, seriously: Who doesn't want to go to the beach?!

Facebook Jekyll & Hyde: Social media as a whole is detrimental to relationships, but if your partner is Mr. or Mrs. Born to Be Wild when interfacing with a roll log full of the opposite sex or acting as if your relationship doesn't exist, kick them to the curb.

The Textaholic: I am not a fan of texting. I have said so many times and voiced it to potential suitors. Casual texting is fine, but when you're trying to get to know someone you consider special, it's lame...and suspect. Texting is a great tool for keeping you hooked while they go wine and dine someone else. And texts that come hours apart? Don't get me started. If they disrespect you enough to ignore your request for phone conversations, let the last text message they see be a photo of you throwing up the deuces.

Liar #2: If you find that his/her stories, explanations, or excuses aren't lining up, that churning in your gut isn't just the bubble-guts.

Mr. Moral of the Story: If a close friend of your partner delivers some random and ominous riddle or fact about his character or habits, for all that is shiny and new, LISTEN! Or ask, "what in blue blazes does that mean?" I dropped the flag on this last time...

"Red Flag on the Play!"

Why is it that in relationships we put blinders on to the red flags of partners or potential partners' actions, but in a game of football red flags are almost sought after like a golden chalice? NFL teams will almost go to war over red flags because it is a direct challenge to the official of the situation (game). Red flags are thrown by coaches during critical times in a game. Red flags in relationships are to alert someone that the character and or intentions of a partner may not be trustworthy or in line with what s/he needs. As humans, we often overlook red flags because we hope the action or flaw was just a momentary setback, or we know that the problem is larger and may result in confrontation. Leaving a red flag type of relationship is most likely in our best interest, but will also result in us being alone and having to go 'back to the drawing board'--dating; and if you're like me, dating isn't as whimsical as it appears on a show like Sex and the City (and your shoes aren't half as stellar). However, the beauty of acknowledging red flags early on in relationships is that you live, you learn and you protect your heart. 

Rabbit Rabbit

Rabbit, Rabbit Blogosphere!! 

Happy May! And with May comes Cinco de Mayo, so whatever your festivities may (or may not) be, happy May and happy spring...and 'May the Fourth be with you'! (Sorry, I just had to ;)