Yo yo yo

Hi, I'm Sandy.

This Monday, I decided it was pathetic that I hadn't seen Harry Potter 7 yet, so when I got out of class early, I drove straight to the movies. But I hadn't been to the movies in so long, and it ws only 8 pm, so I figured I'd maximize my time and see two movies.

First, I saw Tangled and I feel the need to say that Mandy Moore does a great princess voice. That movie was adorable. And she beasted the Alice from Twlight haircut.

But my beloved HPot didn't start for like 45 minutes after my princess movie, so I went into the end of Due Date, because I didn't want to see just a few minutes of 127 Hours because I feel like that will be an intense movie that needs my full attention. And Due Date doesn't. Some people told me they loved it, but the last 20 minutes didn't seem so impressive.

However Deathly Hallows Part 1 was totally impressive. I was a little pissed that this was the first time we ever saw Bill Weasley and they mentioned his Fenrir Greyback brawl just in passing, but that's prettty much my only complaint. Except that it made me sad. That's not a complaint, just a statement really. I'm probably the only person on the planet that cried when Harry's wand broke, but I cried when I read it in the book too. That wand was totally a character in the book. It bonded with Voldy's, it had a feather from Fawkes, and it was the first thing that proved to Harry that he was a wizard. Gah it's so sad.

Don't even get me started on George's ear.

The whole point of this post was that princesses are cool, Robert Downey Jr. needs better material, and I can't wait for July.

I Hope They Serve Diet Coke in Hell

It finally happened. I met the legendary Tucker Max.

Since he is the most judgemental person on the planet, I was rightfully intimidated by his presence. But I think he disliked me a normal amount and probably thought I was mildly cute. Wow, I am totally shooting for the stars. But he signed my new book and put his very contaminated, yet somehow still appealing arm around me. Score.

Team Peeta

Before I say anything, I would like to give a shout out to my pal Jim Strouse, who caved in and fell deeply in love with dear Dexter. Nice work. On a side note, Jim owes me 50 bucks for doubting my pop culture knowledge. Not so nice work.

But what I really want to talk about today is my new obsession with The Hunger Games. My sister has been talking about them nonstop for the last year or so and finally coerced me into reading them. And I would like to thank her because they were awesome.

The Hunger Games are about this post-apocalyptic North America where citizens are forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, which are a fight to the death between 24 teenage boys and girls. It's sooo not my usual scene, but there is a reason why these books are being called the next Twilight.

Well, I don't actually like Twilight, but I mean that they are really popular and have a girl torn between two lovers. The lovers here are hottie rebel Gale and likable thing Peeta. The girl choosing is Katniss, which is a horrible name, but she is cool. I know I didn't give a good description of Peeta, just saying he is a likable thing, but likability has to count for something, because I love him. Honestly, Team Peeta all the way.

I just read an article in Entertainment Weekly where the website polled readers about who they would cast in the movie of The Hunger Games and I was VERY happy with the results. First of all, I keep accidentally writing the Hunter Games, which might be Freudian, because people want my beloved Hunter Parrish to play Peeta. Hunter Parrish is Silas on Weeds for all you people that probably shouldn't be reading my blog. I love him. I love that match. Also, Effie from Skins is the number 1 choice for Katniss, which is amazing, because maybe that'll get Americans to pay attention to my favorite British show. Plus Effie is gorgeous. Her real name is Kaya something. Look her up if you don't know her. Also Hugh Laurie and Kristin Chenoweth were on the wannabe cast list! I am PSYCHED. And a huge loser for being so psyched about a fantasy cast list.

Anyway, my point is, go read The Hunger Games because they are really good and intense and sexy. Okay?

HIIAmSandy

So hey. It has been 5 months since I have last written. Crazy, I know. But like seriously. Crazy.

This summer half my friends kept travel journals or wrote blogs so that their families and friends could hear about the goings on of their summers. And for some reason I did neither. And this would have been the perfect summer to keep everyone updated (brag) about everything that I did and saw.

Because I went to Europe!

I spent the last 8 weeks living in London and traveling around little bits of Europe when I could. It was sweeeet. Actually, everyone who would possibly read my blog already knows what I did this summer, but I still like talking about it.

Because I write mostly about tv and movies and stuff, I will write my newest post about my celebrity sightings of the summer. We all know I like that stuff anyway.

Christian Camargo/The Ice Truck Killer-Starred in The Tempest at the Old Vic Theatre in London as Ariel. I saw his picture outside before I saw the play for class and freaked out. After the play, I made my classmates wait outside the stage door with me so I could tell him how truly terrifying Rudy Cooper/Brian Mozer/The Ice Truck Killer is. And then I got my super cool picture with him.

Nick Jonas- Played Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables. I didn't meet him, because he is clearly too famous to get near. But he was great as Marius, and I saw him at the stage door also, amidst hundreds of screaming little girls.

George Ure- Not famous, but currently playing Bach in Wicked in London. I didn't even see Wicked while I was in London, but George came to talk to my theatre class about what it's like to act professionally and all that crap. Even though I don't want to be an actress. He was a cutie and I liked him. And then he talked all about how happy he and his boyfriend are together and I was like aww okay.

Sean Hayes- Saw him in New York in Promises Promises with Kristin Chenoweth. He didn't really come that close to me at the stage door, but I love him so decided to claim I saw him.

Kristin Chenoweth- Saw this Tony and Emmy winner and multiple nominee along with Sean Hayes. But she came up close to us and we got adorable pictures and an autograph. Yay!

I also saw Justin Bartha, Tony Shalhoub, and Joe from Empire Records whose name I'm blanking on, but got no close ups.

Oh also, I feel the need to give a shoutout to my London bff Ashley, because she did like everything with me there and I miss that tall redhead girl.

Who Are You Lloyd Doblering?

I know I have said it before, but this week it's truer than any other...

Someone is writing episodes of Greek with the sole purpose of making me happy. I know that one loyal viewer does not really benefit the channel, but it certainly gives me great joy.

This week's episode of my dearly beloved Greek introduced us to Cappie's parents, Tobias (Arrested Development reference? Prob not because it doesn't fit with the theme) and April, played by 80s teen dream, Lea Thompson. They are these crazy hippies that Evan has mentioned in the past, that travel around the country living life the way that they choose. And much to Casey's chagrin, they want Cappie to do the same.

Oh well, it was an interesting storyline, but wayyy too overshadowed by the movies that made Cappie's mom famous.

I am a loyal 80s teen movie advocate. Like, fairly die-hard. I may have cried earlier this week when Corey Haim died. The majority of my Netflix queue is devoted to the lesser known, crappier 80s romcoms, such as Tuff Turf and My Science Project. I'm getting off track. I just want to make it known how much I love the 80s. Strikes Back.

Pan to Rusty and Ashleigh's sociology class, when the weirdo professor lady starts doing a funkalicious dance in front of the room. Ashleigh immediately labels it as that National Geographic dance that Ronald does at prom in Can't Buy Me Love. My love for Ashleigh grows.

It doesn't stop there though. Rusty is having trouble choosing between Courtney from Dorm Life and Becca from Superbad, so Ashleigh coaches him using advice gleaned from countless hours of 80sing.

She tells him to go for Becca (character name Dana, but I know her as Becca), because Courtney (Katherine) isn't enough of an underdog, and is much more of a preppy girl who dates James Spader. AGREED. But Rusty still totally likes Courtney because she uses the word amalgam to describe the two of them.

But uh oh! Evan goes to hit on Katherine/Courtney and Rusty and Ashleigh simultaneously identify him as the preppy jackass, aka the James Spader (or Billy Zabka). It was magical.

So Rusty gets in a little fight and goes to talk to Katherine, but realizes that she isn't perfect for him, so he acts out my favorite movie poster. But forgets the Peter Gabriel. Oh well, these things happen. He ends up kissing Becca and it is actually really cute. I never think Rusty kisses are cute, but that one worked for me. Also, his lips looked weirdly red.

Other favorite bits include Ashleigh instructing Rusty to dress up like Anthony Michael Hall in Sixteen Candles. Or Anthony Michael Hall in The Breakfast Club. Or Anthony Michael Hall in Weird Science. All of these make sense because apparently Katherine is Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club.

"The movie's not over until the credits roll. And sometimes they even have a funny bit after the credits."

Ashleigh searching for St Elmo's Fire to help Casey figure out how to work things out with Cappie after college.

Understanding what Ashleigh was talking about when she mentioned the girl leaving for a semester at sea (Lori Loughlin and C. Thomas Howell in Secret Admirer!).

Question though. How come Ashleigh couldn't think of a song from an 80s movie, right before the lame teacher said "Bueller, Bueller?" The band played "Don't You Forget About Me" later, but she could easily have come up with that or "In Your Eyes" or "Somebody's Baby" or ANYTHING. But at least she has seen Just One of the Guys.

Wow, legit just my favorite show ever. I can't believe that there will only be ten episodes EVER after the end of this season. Should I start crying now?

About Time

Who remembers how ridiculously insanely crazy that season finale of Dexter was? Okay, I mean, I know that anyone who watched it could never have forgotten anything like that, but have you thought about it recently? Oh My GOD. Insane. Completely.

I had to pause it. Catch my breath. And keep watching it with my hand clutching the remote so tightly.

A couple weeks later I watched it again with my sister and at the exact same moment, she grabbed my hand and squeezed it so tight as she held her breath. And then just like I did, she read as many reviews, interviews, and watched as many clips as possible, just to get a hint at what was next to come.

But what is next to come? But if you know, DON'T TELL ME. It's really a free for all from here, and I don't want to know until September when it comes. But wow, they can do anything.

Oh, fun fact, Trinity is one of the 100 most popular girls names in the U.S. from 2000-2010. A girl I babysit even has a little friend named Trinity. Creepy, right?

Land of the HPot

I like desperately needed to write a blog entry because I'm insanely bored and I haven't written in A FULL MONTH. Pathetic.

So I'm doing this presentation for my public speaking class on Thursday and I decided to talk about the impending Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And since Harry and I have been in a relationship for approximately 10 years, I thought it's about time I visit him in person.

In Universal Studios!

Last time I went to Universal Studios, I had a hissy fit and ran away. So no one has wanted to take me there since. But I so badly want to see Hogwarts and have a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks that I swear I won't run away unless I see something truly horrible. Like a preview for Paul Blart: Mall Cop. And that's highly unlikely.

For the new Harry Potter land, the whole park is adapting to include it. The original awesome roller coaster, Dueling Dragons, is changing its name to Dragon Challenge, and the dragons are turning into the Hungarian Horntail and one of the other ones from the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

Also, Ollivander's wand shop is going to be some sort of interactive experience to show how the wand chooses its owner. But there are probably no more phoenix feathers.

I'm just frickin excited to see Hogwarts. And Hogsmeade. And the Hogwarts Express. And everything else awesome and Potterific. I've been waiting for this since like freshman year and the wait is almost over! Spring 2010! So anywhere from a month away to 4 months away. Hmmm... 22nd birthday trip maybe?

Boooook

The title of this post is a reference to Hocus Pocus, but I'm really not writing anything about that movie. Even though I love it.

I really just want to write about books.

I just finished The Help and it was so so so good and now all I want to do is talk about it. But the only people in my house are my mom and dad, so I'm just going to blog about it. A litte. Because I read all these other books too.

Okay, well now that I'm in the moment, I don't know what to say about it, but I swear, so good. Go read it.

I also just finished A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby. I already read High Fidelity by him and that was really awesome, and I'm in the middle of How To Be Good. I also just bought About a Boy, so you could really say I'm in a Nick Hornby phase right now. But it's not just that. I'm just in a book phase. I want to read everything.

I bought 4 books in the last 2 days and have a big pile of other things that I found in my sisters' rooms. And all I want to do is read read read. But really I want more books like The Help. Please send me book recommendations or IM me if you want to discuss any of the awesome books I'm reading right now (also on that list, Oliver Twist).

p.s. here is a complete list of my already purchased to-reads, in case you're interested:

Peter Pan

Little Women

Bel Canto

The Talented Mr. Ripley

A Very Long Engagement

The Reader

Nineteen Minutes

About a Boy

Please please please watch watch watch

Monday, January 25th at 10 pm

EVERYONE tune in to ABC Family for the chapter premiere of Greek. I don't care if you have never seen the show before, if you haven't watched it since the first time that Casey and Evan broke up, or if you are just a little behind. WATCH THIS EPISODE.

Not to say that it will be particularly good, but right after I read that my beloved Michael C. Hall has cancer, I read some other heartbreaking (in a different, less dramatic way) news. Greek might be getting cancelled! I legit almost cried.

Question: Is Greek really in danger of being canceled? —Lisa
Ausiello: I heard rumblings to that effect, but it wasn’t until ABC Family basically renewed every single one of its scripted programs except Greek this week that the show’s bubble status really hit me. I’m told ABC Family execs will be looking very closely at the ratings for the show’s premiere on Jan. 25, so, please, tell everyone and your sister to watch it.

Now I don't actually understand the rules for plagiarism, but that is from EW.com's Ausiello Files.

Now I am doing exactly what Michael Ausiello, aka my idol, told me to do. EVERYONE PLEASE WATCH THIS EPISODE. I cannnnot have my favorite show getting cancelled. I mean, I watch like a zillion shows and call a lot of them my favorites, but I have made it prettty clear that Greek is my legit favorite. Please don't let it get cancelled! Just watch the premiere. If you hate it, don't watch it again, but at least watch this one episode and tell your friends to also. Or I'll cry.

A Thought

This past summer at camp, during the zimrikudiah (weird song/dance performance thing) my adorable, chubby little camper asked me to take her to the bathroom. And since I didn't want her to pee in her pants, I took her. Also, she was maybe my favorite so it was only natural.

The closer bathroom was crazy crowded, so we decided to go to a further bathroom. But we didn't want to miss our dance, so we ran the whole way there and the whole way back.

And by the time we got back, our dance was just ending and everyone was sitting back down.

That sucked. I know this is a boring story, but I just thought of it and I thought it was too long for a facebook status.

The Road Trip

Ah, the joyous roadtrip is here. Actually, It's halfway over, but this is the first time I'm writing about it so...

Well, right now Danit and I are in Atlanta and it's fab. Even though it's barely warmer than the frigid Northeast. On the agenda for today is saying happy 6th birthday to Danit's cousin, working out the horribly painful kink in my neck, visiting the Da Vinci exhibit at the Atlanta art museum, and driving up to Asheville, NC for the next step in our road trip.

I mean, I know you've never heard of Asheville (probably), but I'm actually super excited for it. We even cut out our trip to Nashville justttt to spend extra time in Asheville. Mostly because our Asheville hotel is frickin amazing.

Yeah, I have more to say but I'm not sure where this post is going and my neck hurts, so I'm just going to stop writing.