Mike of Renal Failure commented on my last whiny entry, telling me that Indian Buffet Lunch would help with all my problems. He's not wrong. I am overdue for some Indian Buffet healing.
You know what also helps? This:
Matt Smith and Karen Gillan dorky dancing. I ship them in real life for shit like this.
Earlier this week, I engaged in some obsessive behavior. I was home alone on Monday night, and instead of doing something productive, I watched a marathon of Black Books. And after the marathon of Black Books, I engaged in further obsessive behavior by listening to the commentary for several episodes, including the series 2 finale episode, which had me laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.
This led to me once again becoming all moony over the genius and hotness of Dylan Moran. As one LisRock will attest, the man is sex on legs. And you know what? I don't have a boyfriend, nor do I have any prospects for a boyfriend; so what if I indulge in a little celebrity fantasy with a hot snarky Irishman? Don't judge me.
So come Tuesday, I was listening to some of his standup bits and thinking, damn, I'd love to see him perform. I mean, come on:
Right? So I do a search and I found a website and then looked up information on tours. And all I come up with is this show, which, as much as I love London, is no help to me right now. Ces't La Vie. I forgot about it and moved on with my life.
Until about 20 minutes ago, at 11:30pm when my brother calls me. To tell me that he just met Dylan Moran. In Philadelphia. At the Troc. Where he was performing. Tonight.
"I shook his hand," my brother told me. "I don't think I'll be washing my hand for awhile."
Of course my first question was WHY DID YOU NOT TAKE ME WITH YOU?! For which my brother did not really have an answer.
See, it's times like this I feel like the Universe is trying to tell me things and I was just clueless. I mean, really, what are the odds that I go on a Black Books/Dylan Moran kick and two days later he's in town? If I had dug a little deeper, I could have found out he was currently touring, doing a show, gone, and met him my damn self. Instead, I gave up after the first snag and missed out. I was a quitter, I guess. I come from a long line of quitters. It's amazing I'm here at all. But then, there's the guilty party of my brother, who, I would like to point out again, did not take me.
"Kate, he was so cool," Tom told me. "I told him I directed Mark Doherty's play, Trad and then we had, like, a thing."
It was then that I made my brother promise me that he was going to track down Dylan Moran's agent and get Mr. Moran to star in one of his shows. And then I could take lots of pretty pictures of Dylan and die a happy woman.
My brother was pretty star struck himself, telling me "I'm 99.9% heterosexual, but I would totally go gay for Dylan Moran."
"Tom," I replied. "I am heterosexual and I can't believe you didn't take me to see Dylan Moran."
"I got a poster at the show. You could look at it, I guess."
I would like to reiterate, for those of you that just joined us, that after everything I've done for my brother – photography, rides, fetching, carrying, coding websites, making brochures, supporting him at every turn – let the record show that he did not take me with him to meet Dylan Moran. Instead he called me to gloat. Piss midget.
Remember how last year I, like, cleaned up all over the place taking Oscar pools for all they were worth? This year I didn't do so hot. I think I got 13 right in my predictions, while Gary got a whopping 17 correct, much to his delight. He kept shoving his ballot in my face and making self-satisfied "Hmmmmm" noises. Bastard.
Anyway.
So, Hugh Jackman. He's not my boyfriend Jon Stewart by any means, but he was fine. I wasn't overly wowed by him, but on the same hand I didn't think he was horrible either. He got the job done, basically. I did really enjoy his opening number though.
A confession about Anne Hathaway: I kind of like her. I didn't see Rachel Getting Married, but I heard from Stephanie that she knocked it out of the park in that role. And considering how crazy her personal life was in the past year, I think she's handled it all really well and is pretty classy. I really dug her doing the number with Jackman.
Debbie loved that Jackman "brought Broadway to Hollywood," as she put it, but I hated this number. It seemed really out of place, choppy, and contained far too much Zac Efron. Actually, the entire Oscar telecast featured too much Zac Efron. I just didn't get this bit or how it related given that there were only two musical movies this year (Mama Mia and High School Musical 3), neither of which were nominated for anything.
Generally I'm not a Ben Stiller fan. But this was hilarious. Come on. And Natalie Portman, I love you, but please eat a sandwich or twelve.
When it came to presenting the acting awards, I was torn about how the did them this year. On one hand, it was sweet to see past winners singling out the nominees and giving them each personal kudos. However, I thought some people got better speeches than others. And, I really missed seeing clips of their work. And it also went on forever.
YAY! I am, across the board, a huge Kate Winslet fan. I think she is just so rad. Aside from being ridiculously talented and gorgeous, she also comes across as incredibly clever, sincere, and normal. I sort of want to be Kate Winslet. I'm glad she finally got her Oscar and I loved her speech, especially when she had her Dad whistle to her and then she elatedly waved to him. She's fantastic.
Oh, I am so glad Slumdog Millionaire won. I saw it this past Monday with Kelly and just loved it. Months and months ago, before it was on anyone's radar, the Doc saw a screening of it and then told me it would win. I was skeptical because I hadn't even heard of it. Even Brisket was like, nope, we're not even going to screen it here at the KOP theater, it's too indie for anyone to care about. But WOW. How great to be wrong, and how awesome for an Indian film, half done in Hindi for crying out loud, to win. I'm so pleased.
All in all, I enjoyed this year's Oscar's. Deb's Annual Oscar party helped get me out of this "winter of discontent" attitude I've been in for the past week and a half, but next year I think I would like to be more low-key with my Oscar plans -- some wine, popcorn and a few catty friends. Who's in?
ETA: I also agree with everything said by Joe here.
Barring any major schedule changes*, I get to meet this guy next Friday night:
OK, for those of you that are not raging dorks, that's Gareth David-Lloyd, who plays Ianto on Torchwood, which is a spinoff of Doctor Who.
WHATEVER, HE HAS A SEXY WELSH VOICE AND LOOKS AWESOME IN THAT SUIT UP THERE. PLUS HE GETS TO REGULARLY SNOG JOHN BARROWMAN; I'M KIND OF EXCITED.
*Torchwood is at the end of its filming right now, so lots of hiccups and changes are possible. I'm trying not to get too excited, but really? Drinking pints with Ianto = AWESOME.
Dude, I was just talking about this last night with someone. They asked if I thought Tennant was leaving, and I pointed out this iO9 post and the speculation that there might be a movie, along with the claims that the Beeb is keen to keep Tennant happy with lots of money and flexible scheduling since he's so popular. So I guessed that Tennant would stay on through at least part of season 5, because I guessed he would want to work with Stephen Moffat some and ALSO, what a fabulous mid-season swerve that would be, to have a regeneration occur in the middle of the series when no one was expecting it! Oh well, I was wrong wrong wrong.
Let the speculation on Eleven begin! I like: James Nesbitt, Richard Coyle, Stephen Fry, Chiwetel Ejiofor (this will never happen, but I can dream), and Dylan Moran. Paterson Joseph is the current favorite, with odds of 3-1. I'm kind of "meh" on him. Mainly because the two roles I know him from are from Jekyll and his bit part in Doctor Who, and in both cases he played "that obnoxious guy."
Anyway. I was devastated when Nine left*, thinking that no matter how cute Ten looked he would never be my Doctor, you know? But then we got so much time with Ten, and I've grown accustomed to him and now I sort of can't wrap my head around him leaving.
*I totally still miss Eccleston a bit. I would have loved to have another season with him.
I don't even know how to begin to talk about this coherently. I am going to type 13 words. 13 words that may well be the most dramatic in the history of this blog:
My abstract was accepted to the academic conference. I am going to Wales.
I KNOW. I've done approximately 17,457 happy dances thus far. I can't stop grinning. That sound you hear? Is the sound of me SQUEEEEEEEEEEing.
I can't even begin to describe the adrenaline and excitement coursing through me right now. I've been longing to go to the UK for ages, and now it's finally happening.
I have to say, it's an excitement underscored with a bit of fear. I've never done anything like this. I have to attend an academic conference, present my paper in front of a panel and then defend it. Holy shit.
Stephanie and I were talking on GChat:
STEPHANIE: What is the date for Wales?
KATIE: It's November 14-16
STEPHANIE: eeeek!
KATIE: I KNOW
STEPHANIE: you need to start writing!
KATIE: I KNOW
STEPHANIE: like, yesterday
KATIE: I am terrified, but stoked
STEPHANIE: let the terror guide you and drive you to finish
KATIE: Well that worked for the abstract So if I follow the same plan, I'll be finishing the paper on the plane
KATIE: I can't wrap my mind around this
STEPHANIE: not for the first time, doctor who has broken your brain
KATIE: I am going to the post office today to get passport forms Look what you've gotten me into, Stephanie!
STEPHANIE: you'll thank me later
STEPHANIE: you should get knighted or some shit while we're there then when you come to my house you really would be a fancy guest
KATIE: for serious Dame Katie of TARDIS
Then Renee and I majorly geeked out together:
RENEE: SQUEEEEEEEEEE! I am so proud of you, lady So proud! I'm dancing around my cube right now.
KATIE: I've danced around my entire office
RENEE: lol
KATIE: I CAN'T SIT STILL I am both excited and terrified
RENEE: It will be fine. We will spend the summer prepping. And stalking Terry Jones.
KATIE: I am going to be standing in front of a PANEL of SERIOUS ACADEMICS, DEFENDING MY PAPER
RENEE: It will be fine. It will be awesome. It will be like falling in love.
KATIE: I am falling in love with Wales I am only buying a one-way ticket. I will stay there for the rest of my days
RENEE: lol We need to plan!!! Oh, I'm so excited. Positively geeked. I'm sure between me and Stephanie we will have you überprepared. You will be supersexy and Whovians will be falling at your feet! Sorry. I just geeked out at ninety words per minute there.
KATIE: I AM SO GEEKED OUT AND DYING OVER HERE
RENEE: Why are we not together right now to squeal like 12-year-olds while jumping in a circle?
KATIE: I don't know. But my life will not be complete until we do this.
RENEE: passes out
KATIE: For real
RENEE: <3
KATIE: I am grinning like an idiot
RENEE: Faint
KATIE: I KNOW. And I have 3 weeks of vacation time saved up
RENEE: Nice
KATIE: so I am probably going to go for 2 weeks at least
RENEE: lol. Don't get knocked up!
KATIE: I'll get knocked up 14 times and need 14 abortions
RENEE: lol (That's the price of a ticket there and back at least 7 times.)
KATIE: (that joke was in poor taste, and I apologize. BUT I DON'T CARE BECAUSE I AM GOING TO CARDIFF)
RENEE: It's okay. I just had to look at an amputated baby arm, but that's okay, cuz you are going to Cardiff! And I'm stalking Pythons.
KATIE:And I am stalking every bloke with an accent
Stephanie and I had a Whosday yesterday and watched the latest two episodes which were ohmygod SO GOOD and made us covet a library planet, afraid of the dark, and cry with broken hearts, all at once.
As sad as I am that Russel T. Davies is leaving Who, I am very excited about Stephen Moffat taking over.
I am so totally wearing my "The angels have the phonebox" shirt that Renee gave to me, in honor of la Moffat.
Shut up.
Back onto politics: Dennis Kucinich, bless his liberal heart, has presented 32 articles for impeachment against President Bush to Congress. IT'S ABOUT FRICKIN TIME. Judging by the lack of media coverage from any major news organizations (including the BBC!) means that fuck all will be done about it, sadly. And this is why I hate politics.
This LJ post completely made me snarf all over the place. And also, I say yes.
More to come, soon. I have weekend updates and photos for you guys.
STOP FUCKING UP GOOD BRITISH SHOWS. The US version of Life on Mars looks like ass. (Even though it stars Colm Meaney and Lenny Clarke, both of whom I normally like, this does not redeem the stiff wooden Jason O'Mara, who my friends, is certainly no John Simm. And as much as I may like Colm Meaney, Philip Glenister is THE MAN, and I don't see how you can recreate that.)
If you like British shows so much, why don't you just buy the rights to them and air them as they are? There's a reason I'm addicted to BBC America.
Adding this one to the grave next to Viva Laughlin and Coupling,
