twistedplot

I'm completely haunted by the season finale of Dexter. Every time I think I'm over it, the final scene crops up in my mind again! It always impresses me when a show can have such a big impact, though it is rarely something happy that sticks with you like this (Torchwood anyone?). Did you think this season went too far?  Click on the image below to read an interesting interview wit the show's executive producer.

We watched this a few weeks ago, and I've been meaning to post ever since so say that if you are on the fence about watching this movie, just do it! It was so sweet and funny, and was truly an unexpected gem! D and I laughed hysterically over the scene with the giant mound of chopped onions - it is worth watching for that part alone!

Amy Adams is one of my new favorite actresses - I have yet to see anything with her that I did not like. And well, Meryl Streep is always delightful, as is Stanley Tucci.

I kind of loved the New Years Doctor Who/goodbye David Tennant episode. I was happy that if he had to leave, it would be done in a manner that suited the Doctor's selfless nature, and I was also delighted to see all our old friends receive a fond farewell!

The story ark of these holiday episodes was unique too - I never imagined the other Time Lords would make an appearance,  we got an interesting glimpse into where those TERRIFYING weeping angels came from (I hear they'll be back this season too! eek!), and the episodes were both scary and silly, in true Doctor Who fashion.

I wasn't super keen on our first glimpse of the new Doc though...he seemed as though he was trying to emulate David Tennant's doctor style and that will be no good. No no no. So, here's hoping he develops his own unique personality and that the new season will be brilliant!

A while back, Threadless hosted a cake contest where you had to bake an interpretation of a t-shirt design from their site. Now they are doing the same thing with knitting (and crocheting), which I think is SO FUN and wish I had time to participate! The contest is open until January 18, 2010 so get crafty!

I have been remiss in my wine list postings. There is a GREAT wine store a short drive away (seriously, it is the biggest wine store imaginable!) and we've been keeping our wine rack pretty full, though mostly we've been drinking old favorites, or trying new ones that have been more "miss" than "hit" because with new wines, we like to buy them like we buy books - by the cover! (alright, alright, we only sometimes buy books that way...but doesn't a great wine label or book cover make you want to reach out and try it?!)

So on that note, we loved the Monsters, Monsters Attack bottle, but didn't expect much from this 2008 Riesling, and were therefore pleasantly surprised by its yumminess! We don't drink a lot of whites because we generally prefer reds, but we would definitely buy this one again.

Fox announced today that Dollhouse is officially cancelled. All 13 episodes for season 2 will supposedly air, but that is it. I've been waiting for this news more or less since the show began so it comes as no real surprise. Here's hoping that someone besides Fox gets behind Joss Whedon's next venture...

I read SO MANY books that I can't believe I haven't posted a book review since May, and that was a cookbook! Appalling.

Well here we go. My opinion doesn't carry a prestigious honor (other than the fact that I have really good taste!) but I hope this recommendation will cause you to run to the library or the nearest bookstore, because The Hunger Games was one of the most thought provoking, thrilling and entertaining books I have read in ages. Yes, it is a YA novel (which I know some people don't like) but don't write it off because trust me, this book is grown up enough for all to enjoy. And I dare you to start this book and then try to put it down. It's like the "bet you can't eat just one chip challenge" - impossible!

When I was young, I used to become completely absorbed in whatever I was reading, to the point that you could send a marching band through the room and I probably wouldn't notice, but that doesn't really happen anymore. Until this book. It was so hard to tear myself away from this book that I felt snarly at anyone/thing that interrupted me, and it isn't just me people, subsequent readers have also been completely sucked in.

So go on, give it a shot! Meet Katniss, the Capitol, and the annual televised Hunger Games - the ultimate reality tv where one must kill or be killed.

Bet you can't read just one...

I love tv. I don't think that is a secret. Though I have to say that while I am usually enthusiastic about the new shows around this time of year, there seems to be little to get excited about. In fact, D and I have taken to watching lots of OLD tv instead, because in the last few years we've noticed a trend whereby new ones are either 1) really bad, or 2) really good and therefore likely to get shut down way to soon. 

So, instead of falling for a terrific new show, only to be very sad when it gets ripped away from us, we have been catching up on Supernatural and Smallville, both of which have been around for quite a while. Other shows which we are happy to have back are Merlin, How I Met Your Mother, House and Dexter. I am also happy to have back shows like Castle, etc, but to be honest I haven't had the time to watch them yet and will have to catch up later in the year. The same goes for Dollhouse, which is constantly under rumours of cancellation anyways, so where is the motivation to watch, I ask you?!

The only real exception to my no new tv rule is Glee. I am loving this show and so is everyone else apparently, so I don't think it's in danger of getting cancelled anytime soon. For starters, I've missed having hour-long comedies to watch. Also, I never tire of high school plots, and wacky and dysfunctional characters (including the adults. The guidance counsellor and cheerleading coach are hysterical!), and while the music on this show doesn't reflect my own taste (and I've had Beyonce in my head for several weeks now because of this show), the singing/dance montages are delightful.

The only thing that would make me happier with this show would be the addition of an episode directed by Joss Whedon...OH WAIT - they are going to give us exactly that!

Have you watched the show? do you like it? Any other new shows that you think are worth watching?

If you are anything like me, you are currently being bombarded by plea's for donations. And if you are anything like me, you find this frustrating.

It can be hard, if not impossible, to figure out what they are even asking you to support and where the money will go. Mostly it seems to go back into sending me MORE mail containing things I don't want (like a million christmas cards and envelope labels), and hiring more telemarketers to call me at all times of the day. Sometimes people even come to my door to make me feel guilty, or stand on every street corner downtown in my city so I can't avoid talking to them (you know you who are, people in red vests!). 

I think donating to causes is important, but I feel that any cause you choose to support should be close to your heart, for one reason or another.

SO after all that rant, if you are looking for a cause to support that may not have previously come to your attention, I wanted to lend my voice and my bandwidth to the Frehiwot Wondye Memorial Run, which falls close to my heart because it involves the children of Ethiopia.

Children's Heaven is a community based non profit organization which started its operation in July 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Their program is dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned girls who have lost one or both parents to the AIDS epidemic.

On November 22, 2009, 65 girls from the slums of Addis Ababa, will run 10 km through the city in honor of their friend's memory, and to raise funds for Children's Heaven to continue its work.

To learn more about this cause, or to sponsor a girl, click on the image below: