recommendations
This is the part of the site where I tell you all the things that make me happy. And if they make me happy, they probably will make you happy, too, because I am your average, run of the mill person. Except for the way I can float vertically in the water, which is kind of strange. But you should check out some of the stuff I like, because it's good stuff, yep. Oh, and these are in no particular order, which is actually pretty unusual for me because I alphabetize everything.
Dinosaur Comics X-Files Family Guy Bruce Willis Lost Craigslist Bones Douglas Coupland Colin Firth Josh Groban Harry Potter House Hunters Barry Manilow
(shut it)The Office!
Dinosaur Comics is also on my links page, but it's going here, too, because it's so freakin' awesome.
The X-Files was, is, and will always be my favorite show in television history. Yeah, you've got your Seinfeld, your Simpsons, your Price Is Right--all great shows!--but no other television show can top the enjoyment The X-Files brought me for 7 or so of the 9 seasons it was on the air. I still have email friends I met on the X-Files message boards 10 years ago. In fact, I think probably the first thing I looked up on the internet when I got my first computer was the X-Files. Wallpapers, every little nitpicky detail of every episode, fan fiction - you name it, I looked it up. Heck, I've got X-Files wallpaper on my computer even as we speak. Sure, it took a hiatus (I'm extremely fickle), but it's back. Mulder and Scully: you rock!
Family Guy is so funny I can't even tell you. It's all kinds of politically incorrect, which is just the kind of thing I enjoy. See, when you live in a hippie town like I do, a show that steamrolls right over the touchy-feely-love-everyone crap that everyone else here likes is a welcome change from the norm. Isn't it funny how hippies try so hard to be different that they become the new norm, such that the real rebels are the ones who actually shave their pits and shower regularly?
Okay, that was mean of me to say. I actually really like the diversity around here, and the laid-back attitudes you sometimes see. But I do have to say "sometimes," because there's also a militant vibe to some of the folks around here that I really can't abide. I mean, if you want to go ahead and not spank your kids, that's your prerogative, but when you go around yelling at people in grocery stores because they're spanking their own children (children who, in my opinion, SERIOUSLY need a spanking), that's just not cool, man. Not cool. But now it's turning into more of a rant than a rave, so I'll stop now. Mayhap I will have to discuss this further in the rant section. We shall see.
Bruce Willis: I love me some Bruce. Why? Because he's yummy. Yeah, I don't even care what you say about my shallowness or lack of depth or however you choose to phrase it. Bruce is cool, and there ain't no two ways about it. Also, he has a really nice voice. And I'm not talking about his singing voice, because, although I know he likes to sing and has some albums and stuff, I've never heard him sing, other than the times on Moonlighting when he'd break into song. Which was often, and not at all offensive to me. But, really, it's his speaking voice I enjoy. It's just got a...quality, you know? Well, from that, you probably don't, because that was a weak explanation. It's like...a friend calling late at night to talk about nothing in particular. But not so late at night that it wakes you up or is otherwise an annoyance. Just the type of lateness where it's quiet in the house and you're kind of bored but really content, and then the phone rings and it's a friend you haven't heard from in a while but whose voice always cheers you up, even if you weren't in a bad mood to begin with.Oh, and sorry I don't have a link to the official Bruce Willis website, but I tried to go to it to grab the address and it looks like it's under construction. Or possibly was hijacked as part of some type of hostage situation. Hee.
Lost:
Dude, I tried not to become a Lostie. People were all, "You have to watch Lost!" and I was like, "I don't have to watch Lost! You're not the boss of me!" and they were like, "You're missing out!" and I was all, "Whatevs. Things I am not interested in trying: monkey brains, lesbianism, Lost."But then, see, what happened was that Steve wanted to start watching Lost, so I bought Season 1 for him on DVD for Valentine's Day, and then we watched the first episode and we turned to each other all, "OMG: Best. Show. Ever," and that was that. Now we're addicted. Hey, at least we have a common interest now. Prior to this, all we had was our shared love of sarcasm. What, like that's not a sufficient basis for a relationship?
Oh, and about Lost, if I could just add this:
Yes, I thought that might help you understand.
Craigslist is an online classifieds site that I visit every damn day. Sometimes several times a day. Why? Because there might be a bargain out there that I could miss if I don't check it frequently. It's like a giant garage sale, and I love garage sales, so how could I resist? Also, even though my town only has like 200k people in it (in the two-town area, if you will), it has its own town section. That's because people in Oregon, and in my town in particular, are really poor and have to get their stuff used. And there are also a lot of hippies, who believe in sharing the love--and the used furniture. Yay for me! I currently have 4 pieces of furniture in my house that I found on Craigslist. So go check it out for yourself and see all the wonderful bargains YOU can find!
Oh my gosh - and don't forget to check out the "best of" section. To find it, just click on the word "craigslist" in the upper-left corner, then when the "cities" page loads, look over to the left part of the screen and it will say, "Katrina relief," and then "help pages," and then "best ofs." Or, you know, just click on any instance of the words "best of" contained within this paragraph, wherein I have created links for you - yay! Bear in mind that many posts you find on Craigslist will contain expletives and/or sexual references. If you are likely to be offended, please do not take my advice in this instance. Stay away from Craigslist. I don't want to get a call from my mother saying how someone or other complained to her that her sweet firstborn recommended a porn site. Because, seriously, I did not write these things myself. I'm just sayin' a lot of them are funny.
Bones is one of my favorite television shows.
I have trouble finding a show to call my own. You know, something where I'll be talking on the phone and say, "Gotta go. My program's coming on." I like to say things like "program" because it makes me sound really old. Soon enough I will be really old in actuality and it won't be so funny anymore, but it works for now.
The reason I watch Bones is twofold: first, I like forensics shows and have been looking for a good fiction one for a while now (because, damn - could CSI be any more ridiculous?); second, David Boreanaz is in it, and, let's face it, he's yummy. But also, as I said before, I love anything about forensics. Usually I watch Forensic Files and Cold Case Files and Dr. G Medical Examiner and other real-life programming, because the fictional shows previously available left a lot to be desired. They basically talk down to the viewing public like we're a bunch of bumbling idiots who have never heard of DNA.
Bones goes into a bunch of complicated stuff, some of which I don't understand. Which is what I like. I mean, I already know what a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer is. I know which plants are poisonous. I know about blood spatter patterns (although it's REALLY hard to say--seriously, try saying it fast out loud...see?). I need more. Bones goes to the level I need, the level I crave, the level I gotta have. You get the picture. Also, did I mention David Boreanaz? Yeah.
Douglas Coupland is my favorite author. Ever since I read Microserfs, I've been hooked. He has such a quirky outlook on humans that his writing is truly unexpected and refreshing. Go now to the library or corner bookstore and procure for yourself some Douglas Coupland books. You will not regret it.
Colin Firth. Yes, Mr. Darcy. By all means, jump in the lake. Jump in the lake and then climb out and be all wet. No, don't worry; I'll wait while you do that.
Don't look so distressed, Mr. Darcy. I don't mind that you're wet. In fact, I must insist on it.
Here--have some coffee:
There. That's nice, isn't it? Two of my favorite things, all in one picture: Colin Firth and coffee. Mmm...the Firthy goodness.
Aw! Look at the pretty eyes and the curly locks. This--THIS--is why all the ladiez luv Mr. Darcy.
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Josh Groban is a young, hip, fresh, amazingly talented singer. I cannot say enough about his voice. If I'd had even a hundredth of that talent when I was his age, I'd probably be, like, Bill Gates today. Ew. Well, at least a rich and famous person. You can test drive Josh here, and buy his CDs here or here or here or here or here. Practically anywhere, really. I sincerely recommend Josh Groban CDs for anyone in the world.
Harry Potter books: I know it's unoriginal of me, but I just love the Harry Potter series. I have read some really horrible things about them from parents and teachers and priests and fellow Christians, and I just have to say that every single thing I've read has been an unfounded - and, I'd wager, unresearched - claim. Let me reassure you that nowhere in the Harry Potter books does anyone say or imply that 1) Jesus and/or Christianity is weak, 2) you should take up witchcraft in your spare time, or 3) professional wrestling is real. These books are just very imaginative stories about a boy who starts out as a misfit and stumbles into something he's good at. I don't think that's too terrible at all. In fact, I think every kid feels like a misfit at one time or another, and I think these books are a good way to tell them that it's okay not to be perfect. Kids aren't stupid - they know these books are fiction. But they're also a darn good time, and I think everyone should read them. So there.
House Hunters is fantastic. It's on HGTV and it shows people looking at three houses, and then choosing and buying one of them. I love this show because I have a credit rating of approximately 4, so I'm not going to get to buy a house myself any time soon. I house hunt vicariously through this show.
Tony Parsons is another author I adore. My favorite of his books is Man and Boy, which is the story of a guy who, in the course of screwing up big time, learns to be a man and a father at the same time. Read it. Read it now.
Barry Manilow: not just for mom and dad anymore! Hey, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "But, April, you're WAY TOO YOUNG to like Barry Manilow!" And you're right. I'm terribly young. Still wet behind the ears and such. Oh yes, I'm very, very young. But, really, it is okay to like Barry Manilow. I used to say I didn't like him. I tried to fight it. But then I heard Mandy on the radio and knew all the words (because of forcible Manilow experiences at the hands of my parents early in life), and realized that it was a nice little song. My favorite Manilow song is "Ships," but I have very many that I like, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. No, I am not. And I encourage you to let your inner Manilow shine forth, because it is the right thing to do. Like a sneeze, a love of Manilow is not something one should bottle up.
The Office is the best show on television, and the only reason it's this far down on the page is that I'm too lazy to move everything around.
This show is hilarious, yet not a traditional sitcom, which is good since I'm not a sitcommy kinda gal. I could probably write a disturbingly-stalkerish depiction of my love for this show, but I won't. I will just say this: other than my parents, there is probably not a person alive who dislikes The Office and gets along with me, because I honestly can't relate to people who don't like--or worse, "don't get"-- The Office.
If you have never watched it, I strongly urge you to do so. I guarantee you will love it. Unless you're an idiot, in which case not loving The Office is probably the least of your problems.
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