Leaving this post open for my joined fanlistings. It will take me a while to get this all updated and current so bare with me! :)

*Updated: 11.27.08/27.11.08

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Last night's episode of How I Met Your Mother was another entrance into the tale of Ted The Wing Man. It's a ever-going characterization that has long worn out in season three. So to see it return at nausea in season four is equal parts grading and disappointing.

I miss the Ted of yesteryear. It was the Ted with a wild abandonment for love and romance - a Ted on the quest for a wife. Now, I know it's unrealistic to imagine in the wake of failed relationships and engagements that he wouldn't be hardened and changed. But I can't fathom why the essence of the character has to change or, more appropriately, be voided out.

That said, it was nice to return to sincere heart with Lily and Marshall. Even the rest of the key points in the episode were strong, with the exception of Ted's random hook-ups [Again!?! Was there no other way Barney and Marshall could of kept the bar open?]. Still, overall it was a delightful one-off gem.

So Bradford Anderson is that good. In the face of true adversity he was able to bring humanism to his role and convey honest chemistry with a character who is a self admitted whore. Don't believe me? Just watch Maxie's girl talk with ill-fitted friend Sam as you transition (skip) into his special moment where he finally, once more, gets the girl. And by 'gets the girl' let it relate more so to the kiss than other physical activities. In that single moment I felt the tenderness and my heart was singed by that romantic part of me that wanted the geek to get his girl. Truthfully I feel partly had, knowing who the true Maxie is and how that would impact the long-term longevity of a relationship. But in spite of this Anderson makes his character Spinelli real, raw, and doused with vulnerability. And that's just how I like my characters.

In a subsequent related note, I did a inside happy dance when I noticed the one and only Grant had returned to my television. Sure, the writing will never match Another World during the character's heyday. And yes, there's no Vicky, he already shot his brother, and the actor isn't even playing the devilish Grant, but rather some devilish authoritative bad guy of the month on General Hospital. But God am I forever grateful to have an actor of this stature giving me a reason to continue watching a show I should have given up on years ago.

And in closing, break out the pinball machines because the Jax we were first introduced all those years ago has returned. Expect further recurring patterns as he slips and calls Oliva Brender.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Chrismukkah and Happy Holidays!

I hope your holidays are blessed and filled with peace and joy. May the company of those you love and those who love you warm your heart and give you lasting comfort into the new year.

Love Always,

Delise

A-Channel has decided to give me an early Christmas present by showing retro Gossip Girl over the next few weeks. Though the show has a semi-strong footing it has a rather uneven go around evidenced by today's watch of episode 101. But I was surprised how well the pilot held up and how I rather enjoyed it in juxtaposition to my initial thoughts from the first viewing roughly a little over a year ago. MuchMusic has had near day long marathons that I barely watched, and yet this has drawn me in because there is a comfort in curling up in bed, after work, and watching an episode each day. And I of course wait for the real action to slowly unfold as it actually already has. "I'm honored to be playing even a small role in your deflowering," said Chuck. "You're disgusting," said Blair. When first watching that scene, little did I know that it would spiral into something so unexpected yet arguably show defining.
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Christmas is already arriving and yet I feel like it crept up on me. Sorry for no long greetings, though short ones will be coming. And I wish I had made some original Christmas graphics but I never had the time. That said, I trust in the spirit of Christmas and God's grace that this will be another year of being reminded through love and memories the miracles of Christ's birth and all the promises that were fulfilled the day God sent his only son to earth.

I have all these thoughts swirling in my head about Gossip Girl. The truth of the matter is that ever since Natey-Gate [run with it people] ended the show has never rebounded. While I rather surprisingly delighted in Nate and Jenny it was the sign of sharks swirling around, if not in fact water skiers jumping over, them. Are the writers playing all their cards too soon?

When once the writers claimed they had seasons of material waiting to be revealed they've already resorted to killing a character. Though the man was no Caleb Nichol, Bart Bass was one smarmy, evil, rich guy. And I truly felt there was so many places this character could go. Yet instead I'm left to endure Lily and Rufus? Yes, I did find them almost enduring at one point, but now find them nauseatingly bad. Good thing that dirty little secret is out, Lily had Rufus's baby all those years ago and never said a word. Could a new, baggage including, female hellion be in order?

Now there's that complex matter of "Chuck and Blair; Blair and Chuck." In the wake of the dearly departed, we were left to find Blair being all motherly and wifely to Chuck, a man who looked liked his soul had been surgically removed, and the surgery was irreversible. And there with her bleeding heart in her hands she finally said "I love you". Chuck's response? Well it was the equivalent of f-off. Poor boy's father just died. He has no time to play into the hands of some epic love story. And quite frankly I'm not sure if I do either. Chuck&Blair are devilishly electrifying. But I advise they neither marry or procreate. And playing the epic love card, to this degree this soon, when it was already made clear they could never work out in the long haul, is a dangerous move for a show I'd like to see stay fresh and relevant for longer than recent storyline implies. But don't get me wrong; there is something quite wonderful, if at the same sadomasochistic, in watching their scenes.
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Thoughts on Grey's Anatomy forthcoming. Though I'm sure you know I'm thinking what everyone else is thinking. Though my Grey's Anatomy opinions have been decisive and dividing in the past, I'm for once a part of the majority!
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Anyone who is even interested in the some good year-end thoughts on the daytime television will enjoy this. And may I add, just about everything related to General Hospital I agree with. It's nice to have someone discussing the soaps with frankness and guts. No avoiding the truth here.

The Worthy and the Worthless of 2008.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

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24-26 Banners

( All stills from the movie; special thanks to imdb.com and michaelcerasource.net. Additional thanks to the originators of the, mainly, light textures I played with. You will be directly credited soon in my user info.)

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I'm sure it's seemed like I dropped off the face of the planet, even though I've literally gone longer without posting. I'm rarely on Facebook, and I haven't posted on Fan Forum in months, with the lone exception of a post I made on George&Izzie's 100th thread. Work is consuming and much of free time has been spent maintaining home and being away in Mass for about week which I spent taking over Ikea. Or it overtook me, depending on one's assessment.
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Also during that time I saw Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, which I surprisingly enjoyed and literally fell in love with. There is something about the way Michael Cera delivers the word beautiful. Like some could watch Anthony Hopkins read the phone book I could hear Cera recite that one line at nausea and actually never get sick. And the man is a master at bringing nuance and texture to all characters most in the industry are to dub, rather generically, sensitive.

Though underrating or panning the film seems to be the consensus, a few critics truly were attuned to the film's magic. The New York Times had the best review that I've read.
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My television watching has been sadly put on the back-burner as I am currently behind on Grey's Anatomy. I have however managed to keep up on Gossip Girl, with the exception of missing most of the infamous cat fight between Blair and Serena. No worries however, I finally caught up at the library.

That said, I've yet to miss any of the glorious dynamic between Chuck and Blair. Last Sunday's (actually I think two Sundays ago) episode was brilliant in context to them. Everything else I was either indifferent to or bored by. But them; never. And to the show's credit, the writers have an amazing ability to interchange partners and relationships without it ever feeling contrived or forced. The whole new dynamic of Chuck and Vanessa was strongly believable and intriguing. It's also added a brilliant new layer to Chuck and Blair. And no, I didn't see that ending coming. Them being obscenely hot is a given, but Chuck's turnabout was genius.

Of course next episode the inevitable came which is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand the powerful electricity and the complexities of their relationship are sized down for a long while based on the current set-up. On the other hand this ship was never one I excepted to happily walk down the isle come years from now. I'm not left disappointed. Plus, the truth remains that had they taken them any further this soon the writers would have less of a goldmine to tap from in later episodes and seasons.
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As life goes on, I seem to be growing slowly, better coming to terms with the issues surrounding my mother and life in general. For the first time I publicly spoke about my former home-life and my childhood, something that both released me of weight and added new complexities all at once. But overall it was what I needed to do. I'm also consequently growing in my spiritual life and knowing that my journey is still only beginning and building. The Lord is never ceasing, always by my side, always empowering me through his grace.

they go to YouTube. I've never been able to watch one video that didn't have any direct relation to television or music. My journey started with Chuck and Blair. A few romantic fanvids and key moments from season one. And So of course I stumbled my way on to a couple of interesting videos. I'm always led into John Mayer at some point. The first was this one.


And it was the first time that I had even heard one note from the song. It actually doesn't sound bad. I might have to seek it out. But the pure beauty of this little video? Is seeing old school John Mayer with his on par sense of humor. "Go back and listen to Daughters Bitches". Classic! And though the line on it's own may seem a tad strange in context to the joke it works perfectly. It's also amazing to see Kanye's ego in check throughout.

Also of note is this performance of "Heart of Life".


And Clarity.


Of course I had to click on a TMZ video. *sigh* Hearing John mutter drunken political rambilings kills the joy of watching the previous, but I digress.

Ok, Gossip Girl owns my television viewing currently. The first three episodes, are better than a good chunk of first season. And the last episode is the best of the season thus far. Seriously, can Chuck and Blair not steal this show every week? I keep waiting, thinking, ok, maybe Dan and Serena can catch up to the electric heat and buzz that is Chuck and Blair, but they never do. This past episode was one of the few times I wasn't completely indifferent or bored by them, so I suppose that says I can at least respect the storyline.
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Ok, I got my first paycheck today! All the laborious slaving over housecleaning amounts to a nice sum. I've already planned my big save up for a laptop/notebook as my computer is, in computer time, from the dark ages and keeps eating up memory.
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I'm in a design rut endlessly fretting over this GG banner I made, trying to make it inspire me. And though I've changed colors and have like 10 different versions of one banner, I don't have a finished layout and fear I'm to call it in for now. I think I may see if I still have the original edit of my current banner so I can add in some fresher pics.