Do you hear me talking to you?

Dear Friend,
I'm in mania about Muppets. Yeah, I've been watching all sorts of Muppet related stuff. It has led to the strangest thing, though, I read Labyrinth fan fiction. I don't remember ever watching the entire movie, but I read some fic. Nothing I'd recommend. I don't tend to find Jareth "dreamy," instead I find him quite creepy. Most fans of that film... well, they disagree with me.
I've tried before to get into fan fiction, but it just doesn't stick with me. Even the best written story eventually loses my interest. I'm beginning to wonder if I have a short attention span.
Anyway, the muppets. I just love the music they used on the Muppet show. It was all so weird and funny and sweet. I've had Jamboree stuck in my head for over a week, I think. Other favorites would be You and I and George and Cottleston Pie. I really enjoyed the Roger Miller episode, because that dude had some weird songs. I was also tickled to recognize the voice of Alan a'Dale from Disney's Robin Hood. I always loved that voice. I've always liked what I guess would be classed as novelty songs. The muppets had a good mix of "real" good music and just plain fun.
Did anyone else notice that the opening of the Muppet Show was on this week's LOST? I was pretty distracted by that. I don't remember what else was on the screens during that scene. I probably should have paid better attention.

I'm going to try to do something with my Livejournal account. I gave up the Deviant Art. I was far too needy for that. I'll find other ways to share my art that aren't as prone to popularity contest-ism. I don't need another way to get obsessed with who isn't talking to me. I've started using my Twitter a little more often. I've got that locked so the pervs can't read my oh-so silly thoughts.

I bought some super cool, too dang expensive art markers. I've used them a bit, but I'm still practicing. I'm glad I had a half-off coupon. Discounts rock.

New Layout, so why not post?

Dear Friend,
I felt for a richer color scheme, and to get rid of any sort of media related images in my intro and title. So, what do you think? I love the rose picture, but am a bit concerned that it is, well, huge. We'll see how I take to it.
I also wanted to stop using the Robin Hood banners because, although the artist who made them made them really well, the show sucks. I haven't truly watched it for the past month. I've had the TV on, and looked up when something "interesting" happened (usually when Much or Gisborne were on screen) but even that has been getting to be too stupid. I have been told that Much tells Robin off in the finale, so I may keep trying, just to see if my favorite character finally gets a backbone.
I'm looking forward to seeing Wall-E this Friday. I'm hoping to see it before the "kiddy" crowd sees it, because though I love animated movies and kids, I'm none too fond of them put together. I also want to see Wanted with Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy. Now, there is a contrast. Strange thing is, I've not seen an R rated movie yet, and since the first PG-13 movie I saw sucked, I've held out on watching one until I had picked a great movie. I've decided that the Godfather will be the first R movie I watch. I just need to find the time to watch it. The problem really is, I'm a wimp. No, really, I watch the AFI countdowns and when they show clips of the Godfather they always show the same clip of people being shot in the head, and this one clip that obviously is deemed suitable to air on prime time TV sends me into shock! How I'll get through that entire film I don't know. Then, if I find that I can't make it through the Godfather, I doubt I'll make it through Wanted, rated R for "strong, bloody violence" throughout. Yeesh.
I'm actually slightly apprehensive about the next Batman film. I'm such a wimp.

Coming to an end

Dear friend,
As I'm sure you know the school year is almost over. I have only four more days to work with the children, and officially two weeks after that to clean the classroom. Then I am free, Free, FREE! I don't plan on taking a full two weeks to get out of there, but I don't know if the people in charge are as eager to be rid of me as I am to be rid of them. I can't imagine that I've been altogether pleasant an employee, but I have tried to be professional and up-front about what I thought was fair. This is the only "job" I've disliked. (Job is in quotes because it's only my second paying job, but I've worked at more than two places, and I've worked at a school before.) I remember that at the beginning of the year I told myself that once I was used to the work I'd love it, since that's how I usually am. It wasn't true with this place. Perhaps I'm naive, but I don't think you should work at a job that you don't like. I used to say I wouldn't work a job that I didn't love, but at this point love seems far out of reach of work. I do, however, want to wake up on some Monday mornings without a sense of impending doom and dread. I don't know (still) what's next for me, but I'm not too stressed about that. I wasn't expecting a real summer vacation, but maybe I'll take one anyway. I've got the rest of my life to be responsible and adult over the summer, you know.

In less heavy thinking, I was sick of the last layout and header the instant I put it up. I'm not actually that crazy about Guy of Gisborne, and though Richard Armitage was the only reason I started watching Robin Hood he really isn't enough to keep me watching it. Honestly, it's Much that I ended up adoring. It's maddeningly difficult to find out anything about Sam Troughton, the actor who portrays the lovable Much, but that's OK. What I have found out about him leads me to believe I wouldn't actually like him all that much. I do like his character very much though.
Also very airy and light in thought, I love how the English say "strawberry" and "squirrel".

Can't get much more silly, now can we?

Dear Friend,
The new title pic and color scheme have been inspired by Robin Hood's second series premiering on BBCAmerica last night. I was literally the only one in the house who lasted through the entire, stupid, cheesy and absurd episode. The season promises more of the same. I can't wait. I was astonished at some of the ridiculous things I saw and heard, such as Djaq's line, "Pepper. OUCH!" It was so stupid. I know this show was cheesy last year, but it almost seems they threw any serious thoughts out of the window this year. If you've never watched this show and want to try now, I warn you, check your brain at the door. You won't need it, I promise.
Another silly show I watch, Top Gear, has the season finale tomorrow. I'm sad to think I won't have anymore new episodes for awhile. I've gotten rather attached to the Stig, to be honest. Believe me, it's not a crush, that would be plain bizarre. I adored the scheme to drive across the channel in cars converted to boats. I smiled with glee at the love story that was Richard Hammond and Oliver, too. Filling cars with water, 24 hour races with second-hand cars, racing RVs, Star in a Reasonably priced car! All brilliant. I've heard, with dismay, that the US intends to attempt a version of this show. I hope it doesn't make it off the ground, there is no way it could work the same. You need Clarkson, Hammond and May, and no one in the USA is at all like them. I love America and all, but come up with your own ideas, guys! Leave the UK's to the UK!
Although, if they listened to me, I'd never have been such a fan of the US Office. I hate the UK version, sadly.
Buh-bye!

Yes, I do happen to be wearing a Santa hat

Dear friend,
Christmas shopping on the Friday evening before Christmas is just. plain. nuts. Don't you agree? I was in Best Buy tonight. The crowds and traffic and horrible parking were made up for by the necessity of stifling squee-ful laughter. As my mother was asking a question about a printer (yes, we did buy it) this train of thought traveled the track of my mind: "Gee, it's like my mom is asking Will Scarlet about printers. Could this guy look any more like- Oh my word! I think I just saw Allan A'Dale!!!" and then I needed to keep myself from randomly cracking up in a crowded electronics store.
Yes, friend, I saw two guys in Best Buy who look like characters on BBC's Robin Hood. I wondered aloud to my mom if I might find Much in the blue shirt and khakis. I also said that if "Allan" said "I'm not trying to be funny, but-" I'd dissolve into a puddle of laughter. Now that I think about it, I shouldn't have looked for Much in that store (for whom I have much love- ooh, bad pun, I apologize) but rather I should have combed the location for Guy of Gisborne. Now THAT would have been a find!
Eagerly awaiting Christmas. Love that I'm on vacation. Must go now, Patrick Stewart's version of A Christmas Carol is airing on TNT at this very moment!

The voices in my head sound like Mel Blanc

I, about 7 years ago, described myself as a "voice junkie." Why I used that colorful phrase is yet to be understood, but I still love to hear good voices. I don't mean singing voices, just speaking voices. I once had an online pen pal for an entire year with whom I had nothing in common other than an appreciation for Rob Paulsen. I worked at reading quickly in order to read the credits of cartoons in order to know who was doing the voices. I have the "Speechless" memorial art for Mel Blanc. I like voices.
So, anyone who is as into voices as I am would of course like Mel Blanc. He's the man of a thousand voices, after all. I read his autobiography for a school report. I know why he changed his name from Blank to Blanc; a horrid teacher told him that he was always going to live up to his name, he would be blank, worth nothing. People like that shouldn't be allowed around children, let alone teach them. Anyway, I've been a Mel Blanc fan for longer than I've been a Rob Paulsen fan (which has got to be almost 15 years, now) so imagine my dismay at finally hearing Mel's radio show on XM classic radio and realizing I don't like his normal voice. It was like finding out Santa Claus doesn't exist. I still respect him for his talent, but man his normal voice was ugh. It didn't help that his character in the show was a moron... but then sitcoms, be they on TV or radio, are filled with idiots. I wish I'd never heard it.
Phil Harris is on XM, too. He's not known for doing a wide range of voices, but that's because his own was so cool. I first liked Phil as Little John in Disney's Robin Hood, who is basically Baloo from Jungle Book (which I also love), who is basically O'Malley in Aristocats (love the character, the movie is meh...) and recently I've heard his radio show and heard him on Jack Benny's show (I think it's Jack Benny). It's a voice from when I was a kid, and it's cool. The drunk jokes are somewhat amusing, too.
I bought the Many Adventures Of Winnie the Pooh this week. I love that this movie has great voices. Sterling Holloway sounds so soothing and sweet in all his Disney work. I assume that's how he always sounded, but without any research on him I won't say for sure. I remember watching A Day for Eeyore when I was little, and I could tell it was different, but my most recent veiwing showed me just how different it is. Jim Cummings, though great, is not Sterling Holloway. The only thing that keeps the magic in that short is the fact that I watched it as a kid. I also love John Fiedler as Piglet. I watched 12 Angry Men recently and smiled as soon as he talked. Paul Winchell and Barbara Luddy are great additions, too.
There are so many different voices that I've loved for a long time, but I think I've mentioned all the ones on my mind now. So I'll quit.

Armitage thoughts

I've seen Richard Armitage in three roles. Each new role has a new hairstyle. The hairstyles have been going downhill.
The first time I saw him was in North and South. Grand miniseries (ha, grand and mini... it's nearly 2 in the morning, cut me some slack) adapted from Elizabeth Gaskells novel. Nothing amazing about his hair, but it looked good on him. Heck, he looked good on his own... but the hair did help. Even when it was covered by that hat, that tall, tall hat. How he didn't hit things with that hat I don't know. Heck, maybe he did, it just wasn't on camera.
Then I started watching Robin Hood. His hair is too long. Guy of Gisborne is also way too evil, and potentially abusive. Yet, he still has his moments of looking good. You know, when I'm not wondering if he's wearing eyeliner. I love heavy eyeliner for myself, but I'm not so sure about guys, let alone guys in period shows.
I've been watching the Impressionists. Fascinating miniseries about my favorite artist(s). I'm finding out a lot of things that will certainly change how I look at their art, but I must admit that the first shot of Young Monet made me wonder "What is on Richard's head? It can't possibly be hair!" Fortunately, by the second episode he's had a haircut, but the beard is growing longer by the second.

I need sleep...

10 hours of TV leaves me fried

I watched ten hours worth of television programming today, my friends. And when you break it down, I only watched 3 shows.
I've been telling my mom about Robin Hood since before I started watching it. Today, in honor of "Tax day" they had a marathon of all the episodes that have aired in the US. Since my mom had trouble jumping in at the third episode, I told her in advance that she could start from the beginning today. She also used the time to sort through some paperwork, while I felt unwell and didn't do a thing. She enjoyed it, very much. I, however, having seen them all already was slightly bored and eventually the huge screen of our 60-something inch TV game me a headache. I took a break from looking at everything for awhile, and just listened to dialogue while I used my laptop. Strange, is it not, that a computer screen didn't bother me...
Just as "Brothers in Arms" (current favorite episode of mine) was ending, my dad came home and Planet Earth was starting on Discovery HD. I've been watching that with my dad since it started. I've gotten a little bored with how repetitive it's seemed, though. I feel like every single week I see elephants and hear about the life cycles in oceans. Thankfully, there wasn't an ocean episode tonight, though there were elephants. I adored the birds of paradise, actually. Those and the otters. Quite entertaining watching the otters gang up on an crocodile or alligator, I forget which.
After that, I don't know why I watched the Apprentice. I probably watched it because I've been watching with my mom since the beginning of the season. I don't care who wins, as I hate all of them. Tonight's episode was particularly dull since no on was fired. The task wasn't even interesting.

I'm surprised I'm still capable of coherent thought after such a marathon of the boob tube. Especially now that it's nearing 1 AM.

I know what I'm doing Saturday nights!

So, I've been watching and enjoying Robin Hood on BBCAmerica ever since we had DirectTV installed. Tonight was the first time it ever made me say "Good Lord!" in shock. I've gasped at moments, but tonight I gasped three times. Yeah, for some reason I'm really into this show. I've heard it described as "utter rubbish", but I like it. I think it must be a sort of "giddy teen" show. Not a stupid "angsty, dramatic teen" show, but definitely giddy. I like "giddy teen" shows, that's why I watch a grand amount of Disney channel shows.
Anyway, just wanted to express my admiration of this "stupid" show. It's entertaining, though imperfect.