Pickles Aplenty

So, I read The Fault In Our Stars over a year ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it then, but now? I think I hate it. It's not because of the hype or the movie (never saw it), it's the fact that I can't remember a damn thing about the story or the characters. I went back and re-read passages to see if it would affect me the way it did the first time, but instead I developed a flaming hatred over every pretentious-hipster-douchebag thing Hazel and Augustus said/did, and I realized that they are cardboard cutouts who are BORING to read about. I feel bad saying this because CANCER, but just because characters have cancer, that doesn't mean they are fully-formed and interesting. I feel like this book was written for the sole purpose of making people cry, and that there isn't any substance to it. It's amazing how my feelings for this book have actually dropped...that's a rare thing for me.

Donna from That 70's Show. I thought Eric could have done so much better.

I take Zumba classes and weight train at the gym. I also go for walks and use the elliptical and treadmill as much as I can, just to keep myself moving. Sunday is my day of rest. :P I've been curious about yoga and pilates, as I hear they're great for toning. Any advice for a beginner?

Melisandre from Game of Thrones. Can't help it, I love that red bitch.

I don't want Mel to die. I'm sure she probably will by series' end, but I don't want her to. I just think she's a fun character because she is so convinced that her faith is the answer to everything, and I get a kick out of watching her. You don't really know what's going on in her head, and it's fascinating.

I read Melanie Benjamin's other books, Alice I Have Been and The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb, and I avoided The Aviator's Wife when it came out for that very reason. She takes interesting women who really existed and makes them sound melodramatic, like soap characters. Annoying.

I have suspected Stannis will die before series' end, and if he does, I hope he realizes, to his horror, that he burned his only child alive for nothing. Please, please, please let this happen. *fingers crossed*

I didn't say they didn't. I'm just tired of going to the People site and seeing every other headline being about them. I can see your point, though.

I'm tired of hearing about Caitlyn Jenner and the Duggars.

Going back to the hot Disney dudes conversation: I'm all about Robin Hood. Yes, I know he's a literal fox, but I don't care. He has charisma.

I have a feeling B&T will explain things to Carly as best they can and leave it up to her whether she wants a relationship with C&T when she is old enough. C&T are living in their own little world, though; the way they talk, they are 100% certain Carly will come back to them someday and they will all be a happy family again. I don't watch the show regularly so I might have missed it, but have C&T ever entertained the notion that that might not happen? Carly might consider B&T and their relatives all the family she needs and might be perfectly happy with the occasional visit or phone call. Now that C&T have given her a full-blooded sister, it's just going to complicate things even more. I can see Carly wanting to know Nova more than C&T, and that will cause some bitterness and strife because that is not in C&T's plans. Carly is supposed to come back to them, first and foremost. Because they did the selfless, mature thing and gave her a better life. Ugh.

I've often wondered if Carly will feel pressured to have a relationship with C&T because of all this, even if she doesn't particularly want to. Imagine the crap she would get if she decided against it, with all this being so public her whole life; C&T's "fans" would turn on her and call her ungrateful for all C&T have done for her, etc. etc. It would be a mess.

I had never heard of Gene Tierney, but after looking her up on IMDB, I can see what you're talking about when it comes to her beauty. She was stunning, and not in that obvious, Marilyn way...there is something mysterious about her, something you can't quite put your finger on. I would love to see her in action, so to speak.

I wasn't at all impressed with Anne Baxter at the start of the film; I thought she came off as wooden and not young enough to be called a "kid" (though I know that said more about Margo's fear of aging than anything else.) Towards the end of it, though, I started to come around and I realized why she was cast in the role. She was much more interesting when her "perfect" facade started to crack. Still not anywhere near as interesting as Ms. Davis, though. :)

Still Netflixin' my way through all their classic movies. Last night, I watched All About Eve for the first time, and I was...kind of bored? It's not that I didn't enjoy the movie at all, but I thought it lagged any time Bette Davis wasn't onscreen; she was luminous while everyone else was just sort of there. George Sanders** was all right, though, and I liked seeing Marilyn Monroe in a bit part. She must have had some work done before becoming a big star, because she looked different somehow, especially around the chin. **Speaking of George Sanders, his character is creepy as all get out, and a rapist. No matter how despicable Eve was, she didn't deserve to have some slimeball blackmail her into sleeping with him, but I know I'm viewing this with 21st century eyes. I'm sure audiences in 1950 felt differently.

I will. The only Jack Lemmon movies I'd seen prior to The Apartment was Some Like It Hot and Grumpy Old Men. Speaking of Some Like It Hot, I think that's one of the funniest films ever made. I know Marilyn was difficult to work with, but she really sparkles in that movie. And Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are hilarious.

Well, I haven't seen a lot of old movies, but I made plans to remedy that this year. I've been scouring Netflix for any good finds, and I watched The Apartment for the first time today. I really enjoyed it, but I'm surprised it was advertised as a comedy. There were definitely funny bits in it, but the whole story seemed so sad to me I had trouble seeing it that way. I thought Jack Lemmon and Shirley McLaine churned out some amazing performances and that McLaine in particular was perfectly cast; I really felt for her and her expressions killed me in a lot of scenes, especially her eyes. Jack Lemmon was cute in that doofy sort of way. Overall, I was happy I watched it and I thought it was a good movie to "cut my teeth on", so to speak.

I thought Lady Gaga did a great job, but I'm not sure if that's an unpopular opinion or not. To be honest, I have stayed far away from any online discussion of The Oscars because I really have no complaints about them, and people seem to be less and less satisfied every year; every year has the worst host ever, the worst musical numbers, the most unworthy presenters, etc. So, my UO is that The Oscars are still enjoyable and gets more right than it does wrong. Yup.

One thing Lois has over Marge is the fact that she has never been written as an idiot. As big of a Simpsons fan as I am, I have always been disappointed with how lame and, well, stupid they've written Marge to be. In the earlier seasons, there was a depth to her that just isn't there anymore. Lois can be selfish and trashy and cruel at times, but at least she isn't Marge-level stupid. If I were going to pick an animated housewife who didn't fit the insulting stereotype that all housewives are idiots, it would be Lois. But that's just me.

Ashley was a total loser, but he provided one of my favorite lines from the book: "Beloved, I am coming home to you."

I never noticed the homeless woman, but I loved the song they chose for that scene. It's so sad and haunting.

Just because it can't be said enough: Tara's death was brutal. I wasn't even a Tara fan, but I cringed at that scene. Poor girl didn't deserve to go out that way.

I'm going to fanwank that the homeless lady was Death. Makes sense to me.

I liked Lincoln Potter. He was fun to watch.

I'm re-watching the first season now, and it's a trip. For one thing, Charlie Hunnam's American accent was much better. For another, there is some great foreshadowing for the rest of the series; Gemma telling Wendy that Abel will never call her Mommy, Tara telling Gemma that trying to kill Jax's wife is not the way to get on his good side (oof), Jax hugging Uncle Jury after the Indian Hills chapter is patched in...great stuff before, but even better after you've seen the entire series.