Pattie's Pop Culture Paradise

Photoblogging: Moon Shot

2009-12-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Long exposure + no tripod + slight blur = the amazing moon last night, as seen from my driveway.

Working to Put the Fun Back in Dysfunctional

2009-11-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

Keep holdin' on / 'Cause you know we'll make it through / We'll make it through / Just stay strong / 'Cause you know I'm here for you

Avril Lavigne / "Keep Holding On"

I’ve been trying to figure out how to write this post for a few weeks now, but it’s proven to be more difficult than I expected (I started this draft on November 8). As you may have noticed, posting here has been light of late. And with good reason, believe me. There’s been some personal drama going on, drama that has affected not only me, but many people I love and care about. I really can’t go into specifics as I do not want to add to an already incredibly stressful situation, nor do I want to threaten the possibility of recovery. But I won’t lie: Things have been hard, very hard, of late. While my personal stress and anxiety levels have risen to spectacular heights in response, it’s my waistline reflecting the stress the most. When things first started happening, I gained 7 pounds in the first week and a half. Not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, but I didn’t expect to start my annual holiday fattening ahead of Thanksgiving.

Any happy thoughts, positive vibes, and prayers for my family would be greatly appreciated at this time. Please bear with me as I try to get back to regular posting this week.

(PS: The spouse said to tell you that in this same time period, he's gone from a sub-compact to SUV-size spare tire.)

Photoblogging: Eyes on Knoxville

2009-11-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Knoxville Museum of Art keeps watch over the World's Fair Park.

Tuesday 10: The Good & Bad of Adopting a New Dog

2009-11-17T21:00:00.002-05:00

The Good:

Three dog night*
Improved exercise program for the cats (fleeing-intensive)
Female influence = Slightly restored civility of the barbarian boy dogs
Enjoying seeing her reaction to new experiences and people
More unconditional love to go around

The Bad:

Nonstop water drinking and subsequent dripping
A barking soulmate for the already-too-barky puppy
Too-barky puppy is jealous
Sleeping in the guest room until she gets used to our bedtime routine
Two words: Poo explosion

*Rich made me promise to use that.

Veterans Day 2009

2009-11-11T15:00:00.006-05:00

Written by my friend, Quinton, an Army veteran, this says it all about what Veterans Day -- and being a veteran -- means. Short, sweet, and to the point.

While you are making your choices today on what to watch on TV, what to eat for dinner, or what you want to say to someone, remember the veterans who have sacrificed their entire lives for that freedom. A special thank you goes out today to all the veterans. Please don't take for granted the freedom that you have. Many have fought and died for that freedom. Happy Veterans day, soldiers!

And a special shoutout from me to all the veterans I worked with in Hampton and Virginia Beach, VA, and the ones I work with now in Knoxville. Most importantly, a hearty thanks to my favorite veterans: my father-in-law, Doug; my brother, Ricky; and my brothers-in-law Ken, Kirk, and Michael. (And, of course, Q, an honorary bro-in-law). Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of what it is to be selfless and sacrificing.

"Where'd You Go?" by Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook

Happy 40th Birthday, Sesame Street!

2009-11-10T13:00:00.001-05:00

Forty years ago today, Sesame Street first aired. So to honor my old friends Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Ernie, Grover, Cookie Monster, Snuffleupagus, The Count, Gordon, Maria, and the rest of the gang, here's a story the Today show aired to commemorate the milestone that is Sesame Street turning the big 4-0.

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I grew up watching Sesame Street. Oddly enough (or maybe not so oddly), of all the things I still vividly remember from it, the death of Mr. Hooper has stayed with me all these years. I think it was the first time I really understood what death meant, the finality of it. And all because poor Big Bird couldn't grasp that Mr. Hooper was never coming back, never going to make his bird seed milkshakes again. I cried all over again watching this -- it still has the power to affect me like that, to remind me what it was like to be that little girl crying for her friend Big Bird, who wanted nothing more than to see his friend Mr. Hooper again.

While I, no doubt like countless others who grew up watching it back in the day, still miss Mr. Hooper, I can only smile when I think of everything else I enjoyed about Sesame Street: the songs, the silliness, the friendships, and, most importantly, learning without feeling like I was being taught. Even now, I still watch it some mornings as I'm gearing up for the work day ahead. Because if there's one thing the show taught me, it's that you are never, ever too old to enjoy Sesame Street. Here's to 40 more years.

Scene From a Marriage # 16,891

2009-11-09T10:00:00.002-05:00

"Remind me sometime this week to go to Vanessa's and trim her bush."

"Did you really have to say it like that?"

Photoblogging: Come On Meet Happy

2009-11-09T08:00:00.003-05:00

Meet our newest family member, Happy. The canine sibs are thrilled to have a new big sister. The feline sibs, not so much.

*More on how Happy came to join our family later.

Tuesday 10: Horror Movies That Scared the Shit Out of Me

2009-11-03T07:30:00.001-05:00

*The originals, not the (sometimes-bastardized) remakes.

Photoblogging: Fall in Tennessee

2009-11-02T19:00:00.002-05:00

But one reason I love living in East Tennessee: Fall.

Tuesday 10: Places I Would Rather Be Right Now

2009-10-27T20:00:00.001-04:00

Italy
Spain
England
France
Australia
Hawaii
Switzerland
Belgium
New York City
Las Vegas

Photoblogging: Una Calle en Uruguay

2009-10-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

This street in Uruguay reminded me a lot of the streets in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Taken during our vacation, March 2008.

Halloween 2009: Jon & Kate Plus 8

2009-10-26T21:00:00.001-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day

So turn it up and break it down / Come on bring that beatbox back / Tell me do you feel it? / So turn it up and break it down / Come on bring that beatbox back

The Sounds / "Beatbox"

Rich and I don't watch any reality TV. At all. Well, I watch ABC World News Tonight and CBS' 48 Hours Mystery, but that's not that kind of reality TV. And we once changed the channel to try and see what all the fuss was about Survivor; it was on a commercial break, so we watched the Subaru Outback ad airing at that precise moment, called it a win, and changed the TV back to a good old fictional show. Regardless of our aversion to reality TV, we both know all about about Jon and Kate and their eight. Hell, I think at least 85% of the free world knows about them at this point. But I digress. Long story short, it was really easy to talk the spouse into going as them for our friend's Halloween party this past Saturday night. (All photos taken by Rich.)

And let me just say -- I've never felt dirty buying a piece of clothing before. But that's exactly how I felt buying that hideous Ed Hardy shirt at TJ Maxx. Although I'm pretty sure I didn't feel nearly as dirty as Rich did wearing it. But I have to say, he did an admirable job being douchetastic the other night, asking all the women at the party if they wanted to "babysit" for him. Talk about getting into character. My boy did me proud.

*Yes, they actually make a Kate Gosselin wig.

Vampires, Werewolves, Witches & Demons: TV Marathon Time

2009-10-23T13:00:00.002-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

And all those shadows there are filled up with doubt / I don't know who you think you are / But before the night is through / I wanna do bad things with you / I wanna do real bad things with you

Jace Everett / "Bad Things"

Hex (witches, demons, fallen angels)
As you know, I'm quite the fan of the supernatural and horror genres. Which is how I came across the late BBC series Hex a while back via Netflix. After watching the first season on DVD (I think it's split as three seasons in the UK vs. two here), I'd become quite invested in the adventures of student Cassie (Christina Cole); her dead roommate and resident ghost, Thelma (Jemima Rooper); fallen angel Azazeal (the very sexy Michael Fassbender); and all the other denizens of Medenham Hall: demon hunters, half-humans, demons, and, well, university students. While the show is not the BBC's best supernatural offering, I enjoyed it nonetheless. Heads up, though: It gets off to a really, really slow start; the husband actually bailed after about four episodes because he couldn't handle the pace. As for me? I was very frustrated to wrap up season one only to discover that season two is not yet available on DVD stateside. Which is why I was happy to see that the Chiller network has started airing season one of the series (I'm crossing my fingers I will finally get to see the last season. I need the closure).

Interested in checking it out? Chiller will be airing a Hex season one marathon tomorrow, Saturday, October 24, starting at 11AM EST.

*An added bonus for me: The title sequence uses a remix of Garbage's "Number One Crush" as its theme song.

Being Human (vampires, werewolves, ghosts)
While I enjoyed Hex a lot, I absolutely love the new BBC series, Being Human. Which, if you read my blog even occasionally, you already know. Despite also featuring vampires, it's worlds apart from True Blood, which I also love. While the show's main characters are a vampire (the top-of-my-Christmas-wish-list Aidan Turner as Mitchell), a werewolf (the amazing Russell Tovey as George), and a ghost (the lovely Lenora Crichlow as Annie), the heart of the show really lies in their unwaveringly loyal friendship and close relationship as roommates. And then, of course, there are their unique conditions and the impending vampire apocalypse to deal with.

Season two is currently filming, so it'll be a while before we see it here stateside. In the meantime, you can catch up with season one as BBC America will be airing a Being Human marathon this Sunday, October 25, starting at 11:30AM EST. And judging by the hour-and-fifteen-minute blocks allotted each episode, the marathon will include the behind-the-scenes footage that originally aired during the season's premiere run earlier this summer (the featurettes are about three-quarters of the way into each episode, tacked onto the end of a commercial break).

True Blood (vampires, werewolves, telepaths, maenads)
I've been hooked on True Blood since I first saw the promo for its series premiere. While the very first episode featured enough Southern stereotypes and exaggerated accents to make both the spouse and I a bit wary, we stuck with it and, boy, do we enjoy the hell out of watching this show. Being on HBO allows it the freedom to indulge in all those horror-genre staples that mainstream TV can't: sex, nudity, profanity, violence, gore, and lots and lots (and LOTS) of blood. Not for the faint of heart, the show is based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books, although season two veered away from the books (or so devoted readers of the series have told me). Set in Bon Temps, Lousiana, the series revolves around waitress Sookie Stackhouse's (Anna Paquin) romance with vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), along with all the drama that comes with it. That drama includes a wayward best friend, Tara (Rutina Wesley); Sookie's boss, bar owner Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell); a vampire-blood-dealing cook (LOVE Nelsan Ellis' Lafayette); Sookie's aimless horndog brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten); and too many other fascinating, unique characters to do justice to in this post. There is also the thinly veiled parallel to the gay rights movement, with the vampires "coming out of the coffin" and living openly among humans (it's legal for them to marry humans in Vermont).

If you haven't yet given the show a try, HBO Signature will be airing a True Blood season one marathon next Friday, October 29, starting at 10PM EST.

What supernatural/horror-themed shows thrill, scare, and amuse you?

Scene From a Marriage # 14,323

2009-10-21T09:00:00.002-04:00

A shouted conversation while watching TV downstairs in the bedroom while the spouse remained upstairs in the living room:

"Hey!"

"What?"

"What is that music?"

"Nothing!"

"You're watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire again, aren't you?"

"No!"

"Yes you are! Don't lie to me. I know the music by now, you've watched it so many times."

"It's not Harry Potter! It's porn!"

"Bullshit! It's Harry Potter! AGAIN! How many times can you watch that movie?"

"You don't want to know!"

"Don't make me come down there. You'd better be watching porn if I do."

Uncomfortably Lucid

2009-10-20T15:00:00.001-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

The moon is shining on your face / And I finally think it's found its place / Cuz maybe baby / I just wanna do you, do you / Do you wanna do me, do me? / Underneath the moonlight, moonlight

Dylan / "In the Moonlight (Do Me)"

I'd really hoped to blog over the weekend -- I almost never do that anymore, save for the occasional Eye Candy post or Photoblogging. My vacation posts were a special occasion, of course.

Even though it's now Tuesday, I still feel like I'm coming down from the weekend. Rich and I were more social this past weekend than we've been in a long time. It all started Friday night when we got dressed up and enjoyed the S&W Grand sneak peek downtown.

Rich and yours truly in front of the S&W's grand staircase.*

Saturday morning, we enjoyed a tour of our new office building, which is still under construction. (We're told we'll be moving there early Q2.) Behold the new building, a mockup of our future cubicles, and the third-floor space where my department is scheduled to reside:

Saturday afternoon, I was off to a showing of Paranormal Activity (SO glad I never sleep with my foot out from under the covers. If you've seen it, you know why.) Saturday evening, Rich and I hosted Samantha and Michael and baby Stephen for a belated birthday celebration for Michael. We cooked chicken cacciatore and oven-roasted root vegetables and played a lot of Rock Band. Hearing his aunt and uncle and dad "playing" instruments while his mom gamely sang (ahem), baby Stephen was motivated to crawl a couple of feet. Probably to try and leave the room to escape the musical cacophony.

Sunday morning Rich and I hit the Alcoa Greenway for a bike ride. What did I get out of that bike ride? An overwhelming desire for very padded pants. Like baboon-ass-padded pants. Late Sunday afternoon we were off to Rich's parents house for a delicious dinner; we also took Caleb along to visit his cousin Happy, whom he hadn't seen in a very long time.

Last night we hosted one of Rich's college roommates, his wife, and their adorable 17-month-old daughter when they came by the house for a visit (they were only in town for about a day and a half and I'd never met them before).

And all those activities are why this old woman is tired and needs a nap.

*I'm trying really, really hard to let myself be photographed a bit more. Because I always hate the way I look in photos, I'd much rather be on the operating side of the camera. I allow myself to be photographed about as often as a rare, purple, singing, pizza-eating bird that lives deep in a wild, yet-to-be-discovered jungle. Maybe even a bit less.

Tuesday 10: Songs I Would Love to Never Hear Again

2009-10-20T12:00:00.003-04:00

"What Is Love?" by Haddaway
"When I Grow Up" by Pussycat Dolls
"I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry
"Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba
"Macarena" by Los Del Rio
"Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler
"My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion
"Alive" by Pearl Jam
"Losing My Religion" by R.E.M.
"Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Photoblogging: Dundas Square, Toronto

2009-10-14T09:30:00.001-04:00

Dundas Square in Toronto on my last full day of vacation. I miss weather like this all the more now that the fall rain has arrived here at home.

Tuesday 10: Albums That Got Me Through College

2009-10-13T10:00:00.001-04:00

Purple by Stone Temple Pilots
Weezer (Blue Album) by Weezer
Hormonally Yours by Shakespear’s Sister
Violator by Depeche Mode
Garbage by Garbage
Nevermind by Nirvana
Superunknown by Soundgarden
Vs. by Pearl Jam
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
Jar of Flies by Alice in Chains

My Happy for the Day: Craig Ferguson & the Craigettes' MMMBop

2009-10-09T14:30:00.001-04:00

It's been a stressful couple of days in Pattie Land, so today I'm going with something completely and utterly silly. For which I send Craig and the Craigettes my sincerest thanks.

I present to you: "MMMBop" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

This provided me with a much-needed smile and laugh. I hope it makes you smile, too.

Tuesday 10: My Current Favorite Albums

2009-10-06T14:00:00.001-04:00

Photoblogging: Black Guitar

2009-10-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

The stage at the HOLA Festival in Market Square, downtown Knoxville (9/19/09).

What's My Motivation? OR More Workout Music

2009-10-05T22:30:00.000-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

You are my only / You won't be lonely / Even if the sky is falling down / You'll be my only / No need to worry / Baby, are you down, down, down, down, down?

Jay Sean (featuring Lil Wayne) / "Down"

The weekend was a busy one, filled with small home improvement projects, errand-running, and copious coughing and nose blowing. Apparently, my lungs and sinuses are such fantastic hosts to viruses that the bronchitis is hanging on by a thread, holding on for dear life. Needless to say, it's annoying the shit out of me. (I actually feel fine despite what the wheezy cough sounds like.)

And speaking of getting healthy, guess who fell off the fitness wagon? Hell, my husband tumbled to the ground same time I did. So now we both need to get motivated to start working out again. And we were doing so well for a while ... At least the Bronchitis Diet helped me inadvertently shed a few pounds. Nothing like coughing your lungs up to kill your appetite.

Like I wrote a while back, music is a huge motivator for me when it comes to working out. (Well, that and my pants buttons cutting of my circulation.) I typically try to pick fast-paced, upbeat songs, but sometimes I'll just settle for fast-paced. The last few times I managed to do my workouts, these were some of the songs egging me on.

"More Human Than Human" by White Zombie
Yes, I listen to White Zombie. I like what I like. And really, what could motivate you to work out more than Rob Zombie yelling "more human than human" at you over and over and over? (I also work out to "Thunder Kiss '65"). I liked this song when I first heard it wayyyy back in the day, but I credit HBO and a certain True Blood promo for putting it back on my playlist. (This song would totally be on my Songs That Make Me Want to Beat the Hell Out of Someone playlist, were I ever to make one.)

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"Bleed It Out" by Linkin Park
No workout playlist of mine would be complete without at least one song by Linkin Park. "Bleed It Out" fits the bill perfectly. Fast-paced with aggressive (but not menacing) lyrics, this is great when you're legs are on fire on the treadmill.

"That's Not My Name" by The Ting Tings
Along with Linkin Park, this is one of my favorite groups. Pretty much all of The Ting Tings' fast-paced songs are fun enough to be on my workout playlist (and most of them are); I just happen to think "That's Not My Name" is one of their most fun. Admittedly, my puppy has something to do with this being featured here -- this is one of the songs to which Troubadour enjoys "dancing" with me between sets.

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"Aciiid" by Jem
Jem's album Down to Earth turned out to be a real treasure trove of great, unique music (each song has its own distinct sound). I originally picked it up because I kept hearing about her and well, then I found it on sale for $7.99 at Target. It's been one of my most-listened to albums since. "Aciiid" is a prime example of how diverse she can be when compared to other songs on the album. Really, though, any song with the lyrics "Move to the left / move to the right / up, down, round now /hands to the side / shake it to the left / shake it to the right / let me see you move girl / dance all night" was destined to be on my workout playlist.

"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
You'd think that after hearing "Poker Face" about a million times since its release that I'd be sick of it. You'd be mistaken. If anything, I love this song more every time I hear it because I know from experience how much more fun this makes any workout. It doesn't matter if I'm booking it on the treadmill, doing crunches, or lifting kettlebells -- this song makes it all so much more fun.

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

What's on your workout playlist?

Scene From a Marriage # 16,321

2009-10-05T22:00:00.001-04:00

“You watched True Blood without me?! I can’t believe you TV cheated!”

“I’m so sorry. I couldn’t help myself. It didn’t mean anything.”

“Oh, so it didn’t mean anything?”

“OK, it did mean a lot. It was a really good episode.”

Gone Pink ... and Other Stuff

2009-10-01T22:39:00.006-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

How many times can I break till I shatter? / Over the line can't define what I'm after / I always turn the car around / Give me a break let me make my own pattern

O.A.R. / "Shattered"

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I've gone pink. As pink as I can go with this particular template, anyway. As of the end of this month, my mom will be an eight-year breast cancer survivor, a fact for which I thank God every night in my prayers. And anyone who knows me knows that it's because of her that I have participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life eight years (as of this June); for next year, my ninth participating, I am serving as the Event Chair for the Downtown Knoxville Relay for Life. (Anyone interested in serving on the committee, starting a team, or just volunteering, e-mail me.) I'll try to share my cancer story later this month; even though I'm one of the lucky ones, Mom's illness is still something that's really hard for me to put into words, written or spoken. When I talk about it I still cry almost as hard as I did the day I heard her diagnosis. So I'll do my best to work up my nerve to share it.

Phew. Now that that's out of the way ...

Show Him You Care: Give Him Bronchitis
A few months ago, I told a friend how I hadn't had bronchitis once since moving home four years ago. Apparently God overheard and said "Oh, yeah? Take THIS! Bwahahahahahahaha!" and I thought I was going to die I was so miserable. This past Saturday, as Troubadour and I enjoyed watching TiVoed episodes of Leverage, I felt a familiar congestion taking root in my chest. I did my best to ignore it and will it with all my might to go away, but I woke up Sunday with that tell-tale cough. I slept all day Monday and made it to the doctor Tuesday morning, where I was diagnosed with bronchitis. Second time this year. Guess who went to the doctor today and got the same diagnosis? I tell you, one sick spouse at a time is bad enough, but when both of you are sick and miserable, you begin to see the appeal of euthanasia.

Step Away From the Remote ...
After telling myself I would not pick up any new TV shows this year, I've gotten hooked on a few more this new TV season. (Bad Pattie! Bad!) It goes without saying that Glee is my happy show (oh, how I wish I could sing). Modern Family has, after only two episodes, become one of the highlights of my TV-watching week. Go watch this week's episode, "The Bicycle Thief," right now to see why. I'm also enjoying Cougar Town, although I'm pretty sure that was a stunt squishy stomach in the pilot. I mean, have you seen Courteney Cox? No unsightly squishy parts there. Two new sitcoms that are genuinely funny? I thought that was a dying breed. At the very least on the edge of extinction. Community is entertaining enough, although it needs to find its footing soon or I'm bailing. And even though we've got the first two episodes of FlashForward waiting in our TiVo queue waiting to be watched, I'm pretty sure I'll end up liking it. It's by JJ Abrams and the premise has potential. As for shows that are new this year but have already completed their runs, I'm also a fan of HBO's Hung on HBO and Showtime's Nurse Jackie. Oh, and that little vampire-ghost-werewolf show I wrote about recently, Being Human. I only watched it three times through (ahem). Dear Santa ...

I don't have time to get into the returning TV shows I'm enjoying this season too. Shit, that's its own whole post waiting to be written.

Reviews Due
I haven't forgotten about writing mini-reviews of all the movies I saw on vacation. I just haven't had time to write about them the way I'd like. (Being sick also took the wind out of my sails. I'm pretty sure my Facebook friends think I'm dead.) Also, I'm fond of links and visual aids, so that takes some time, too. In the meantime, though, I will say that you should see Whip It this weekend -- it's a terrific movie. Funny, dramatic, and it WILL make you want to see a roller derby. I know I want to go to one now. And I'm surprised Jennifer's Body didn't do better at the box office; it's really funny, scary, and gory -- everything you want from a horror comedy. It's a hoot, actually. I think the R rating really hurt it. When your star's biggest fans are horny 15-year-old boys (and my husband), an R rating leaves most of the movie's audience out in the cold. Although having seen it, I'm glad it was an R movie; too many PG-13 horror movies wuss out.

And that's my two cents for tonight.