Gretch-a-sketch (old)

Just a reminder that I am now updating the blog at my new address...
www.gretchenalice.com.
Thanks for your support and I hope to see you over there!

One of the traits I inherited from my dad is a restless need for change in environment. (This is in addition to a love for M*A*S*H and weird snacking habits--fritos and bleu cheese dressing at midnight, anyone?) 
Don't worry, though. It's the good kind of change, like quarters are to college students.

The long and short of it is that I made the move to a self-hosted blog. The "Gretch-a-sketch" name and theme will remain the same, but from now on you can find me at http://www.gretchenalice.com.
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I'm still working on my blogroll, but it will most definitely be up-to-date. Speaking of blogrolls, if you would be so kind as to update yours with my new address, I would be grateful FOR-EV-ER. Seriously, in the eternities I will find you and personally thank you. Oh, and you can also join my Facebook blog network!

Greatest email ever?  Yeah, I think this qualifies.

 

Did we really only have to wait a week between episodes? That hasn't happened in, like, months! I usually have a class on Thursdays, so I tape the show on our VCR, 'cause we're ghetto like that. We don't even have a remote to the VCR, so if I want to fast-forward through the commercials, I have to get up and press the button. I can't wait to tell my kids about all the hardships I had to endure.

The last few days, I've been reading a book that I probably wouldn't have read a year ago. The key factor was that it recieved numerous glowing reviews from my fellow bloggers and so far I'm loving every page. I got to thinking (it's a bad habit of mine) about the ways that my reading habits have changed since I started blogging. Without divulging my thoughts on the subject, I'd first like to hear from you all.

Consider the following (Holla for Bill Nye!)
1. Have you noticed a change in your reading habits since you started blogging or reading blogs?
2. Do you read more or less?
3. Has there been a difference in the ratio of fiction to non-fiction that you read?
4. Have you read any books that you might not otherwise have considered reading due to a blogger's recommendation?

Help a sister out!

Just in case you're wondering, PoP (Proselytizers of Pop) is where I review everything I've read, heard, or seen during the previous week. Yay!

Books
How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls, by Zoey Dean
Privileged, the new show on the CW, is based off of this book, which peaked my interest. Having a movie based on your book is one thing, but a whole tv show? Whoa.
Basic Concept: Megan Smith has to teach two snotty teens. (They're filthy rich, in case you were wondering.) If the girls pass the SAT, the twins' grandmother will pay off the Yale grad's redonkulously expensive loans. I can't blame her for taking the offer, but she's far too trusting of the orphaned Sage and Rose. It was amusingly scandalous and smarter than the average chick lit, although it did suffer from the stereotypical plot line of "Oh noes! I have a boyfriend but this other guy likes me, too. How will I choose?" I haven't really watched Privileged--anyone like or dislike it?

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore
It's been a long time since I was so deeply engrossed in a book like Graceling. Katsa is gifted/cursed with the Grace of killing, which her uncle exploits to torture those who go against his rule. She defies her uncle to go and resolve a larger mystery with her newfound friend and companion, Po. Each interaction with Katsa and Po positively crackles with electricity. Katsa is a strong, unique, and sometimes irrational female lead who is still easy to relate to. The scenery, action sequences, romance, and supporting characters are all gorgeously rendered. I feel really good about placing his sumptuous fantasy debut next to the likes of authors Tamora Pierce and Robin McKinley.

The Loser's Guide to Life and Love, by A.E. Cannon
A.E. Cannon lives here in SLC--she's a newspaper columnist, novelist, and a great speaker. In this book, she's combined A Midsummer Night's Dream with teenage hormones and hidden identities. Ed likes Ellie and Ellie likes Sergio (Ed's alter-ego). Ed has two best friends--Scout and Quark. Scout likes Ed, Quark likes Scout. Hilarity ensues! It's a quick read and there were many self-indulgent chuckles on my part. As it takes place in Utah, it references the Mormon sub-culture, but usually only to clarify bits of the plot--all teen readers will love it.

Music
Pretty in Pink soundtrack
As a certified mix tape compiler (not really, but I deserve to be certified), I love and appreciate soundtracks more than the average music lover. It's all about rise, fall, and the pairing of really good tunes with a really good theme. Based on those qualifications, this is a great mix. Classic 80's--synth-pop and orchestral groove. Plus, it conjures up memories of Blane McDonough, which is never a bad thing.

Vampire Weekend, self-titled
 In a string of Ivy League alt-indie-rockers, Vampire Weekend leads the way. Most of the tracks are edgy and full of allusions. These guys know they're smarter than you and aren't afraid to show it. The result is pretentious, but it's deserved. "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" is a blast, in a self-aware, East-coast kind of way.

Movies
Laser U2
You know that scene in Freaks and Geeks where the Freaks go to the Pink Floyd laser show, except it's actually Southern Rock night? Laser U2 actually played U2, but the disappointment was the same. The lasers were lame-dash-o and the graphics were genuinely weird. My friend summed it up most aptly by saying that it was like watching a screensaver for 45 minutes. I adore U2, but what the heck?

Eagle Eye
There's a menacing threat to the government and two "ordinary" citizens are forced into saving the world as we know it. So begin the majority of action flicks and Eagle Eye doesn't waver from the format. Just like the rest of those movies, the dialogue is painfully weak and any pseudo-feel-good moments are eclipsed by explosions. Newsflash: Billy Bob Thornton really isn't that funny. Michelle Monaghan is young enough to be hot, but old enough to avoid any bizarre sexual tension with Shia LeBeouf. (Well, it's mostly avoided.) Speaking of dear Shia, for some reason they thought it would be a good idea to have his face be all scruffy. I assume this is to make him more appealing to my age-demographic, who will always remember him as Louis Stevens. Instead, he looks like a 38-year-old man who's behind on his child support payments. But if you're interested a second opinion, the Lil' Bro thought the movie "rocked so much" and "can't believe" I didn't like it.

I went out to lunch with some of my mom's side of the family today. They brought up this conversation from a few months ago that I'd completely forgotten.

Me: Ugh, I can't stand Taylor Swift.
The Lil' Bro: Why? She's totally hot.
Me: I dunno. She always struck me as a skank.
Mom: Gretchen, you're kind of a skank.
Me: WHAT?
Mom: Well, you dye your hair...
Me: I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Mom: I figured it meant a wild, rebellious girl.
Me: (after a stunned silence) So close, yet so far.

Anyhoo, she now knows the definition. And next time she calls me a skank, I'll know she really means it.

The Office x tension between Michael and Holly + Jim pranking Dwight - Pam = One episode that I have pretty mixed feelings about.

"Business Ethics" revolved around the plot that Holly was to give her first conference meeting. Conference meetings have to be memorable, funny, and full of twists and turns. (Like a Robin Williams/M. Night Shyamalan flick) So hey, no pressure there, Holly.

Michael, of course, intervenes and somehow convinces everyone to begin spilling their indiscretions. Okay, if Michael Scott tells you that you have immunity, you shouldn't really believe him. That's just a good rule of thumb, mmkay, Dunder Mifflinites? The little things become to come out, like taking long lunch breaks or pirating music or watching YouTube videos in your office for five days straight. All of a sudden, Meredith busts out that she's been doing things with the Hammermill Rep in exchange for paper discounts and Outback Steakhouse gift certificates. I KNOW. Holly freaks out and Michael tries to play it off as completely innocent.

Mike-raculous and Holly-lujah talk it out over lunch at the famed Cooper's. Maybe it's only famous on the show, but I was still excited to see it. Holly can be silly, but she's also much more professional. Incidentally, this is precisely why Michael needs her in his life. I hated watching them argue--it was very reminiscent of "Boys and Girls" when Jim and Pam were fighting about the graphic design program.

We all know Michael thinks of the office as his family, as he doesn't really have anyone else. Holly quickly points out that "it's not a family, it's a workplace." Oooooh. Ouch. Steve Carell is so wonderful at grasping onto those fleeting emotions of pain and confusion. She's demoted from his true love to HR Rep and he treats her just like Toby.

Back in the other corner of the office, Jim is tracking all of Dwight's non-work activities, thus wasting his entire day. Dwight's gullibility and love for the rules sets up a prank that's not elaborate, but it is effective. (Oh, and real quick. Jim and Pam announce their engagement to a weird mix of apathy, anger, and unbridled enthusiasm. Jenna Fischer was sick for a few days, so that's probably why she was absent.) Jim hits all of Dwight's weak spots, like BSG, Harry Potter, LOTR, and Star Wars. As a fellow geek, I got way too much pleasure out of that scene. There is no way I could have held my tongue to the tune of "It's about a guy named Dumbledore Calrissian, and he needs to return the ring back to Mordor." (Somebody please write a fan fic about this, kthx.) If you'll remember from the last episode, Dwight is stealing company time on a regular basis with one engaged accountant. This is why we need Pam around, because she would have picked up on that in no time.

Kendall, the HR guy from corporate, takes a brief conference call with he not only approves but encourages Meredith's behavior. Times are tough in the paper industry, y'know? Holly is aghast, but still gets to finish her presentation anyway. What I liked most about this episode was that it got back to the Season One business of identifying the workplace struggles that everyone goes through. Ribs for everybody!

This is my mandatory notice that I won't be blogging for the next few days as I work on a few projects that need to be taken care of sooner than later. When you get to missing me (don't deny you will), just come back and enjoy the following picture. It's of me. As a toddler. With FIVE puppies. It probably exceeds the maximum level of cuteness allowed on this blog, but I'm willing to risk it. See you on Friday!

The three winners of the Office giveaway are allthewine, CDP, and j*amy.
Email me at lady.luck.05(@)gmail.com with your address by Sunday. Congrats!

And now...a meme! This one comes tagged from Stephanie Perkins. I've just recently started reading this blog and she's so hilarious and insightful. Plus, she's a librarian and a writer, so naturally we're friends.

1. What are your nicknames?
I've answered this before. But since you asked so nicely... Gretch-a-sketch, Gretch, Gretcher, Gretchie, Fetchin' Gretchen, GretchieGAL, Gretchizzle, and Hen.

2. What was the first movie you bought in VHS or DVD?
My mom probably bought The Lion King for me, but it's the first one I can consciously remember waiting for. I was eight and I knew the exact release date. Some things never change.

3. What is your favorite scent?
If I had access to Amorententia, I'd smell laundry soap, brownies, and rain on the desert dirt.

4. What one place have you visited that you can't forget and want to go back to?
Either Chicago or Seattle. Probably Chi-town. Chicago bloggers, I love your city. I just needed you to know, once.

5. Do you trust easily?
Why are you asking me all of these questions?
(In all seriousness, I don't trust easily, but once I do, it's unwavering.)

6. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?
I'm a thinker. I try not to be sometimes, but I can't help it.

7. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
Oh jeez. You don't really want me to unload right now. Uncertainty sums it up pretty well.

8. Do you have a good body image?
I'm female. Enough said. ("It's as if the Dove commercials never happened!")

9. What is your favorite fruit?
Fresh peaches, strawberries, clementine oranges, and Asian pears.

10. What websites do you visit daily?
It's ridiculous how many. But I couldn't live without twitter.

11. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
Window shopping for boots online, buying STUFF, and banana peppers.

12. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
She appreciates the Hot British Man, which I think is enough to vouch for the character of a person. Stephanie's the kind of person I meet on the internet and think, "Wow, we'd so be friends in real life."

13. What's the last song that got stuck in your head?
OneRepublic's "Apologize" (Getitoutgetitoutgetitout)

14. What's your favorite item of clothing?
Pac-Man pajama pants represent!

15. Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?
Oh man, that sounds good right now. Yes. Yes, I do.

16. What would you do if you saw $100 lying on the ground?
Turn it in. I'm a good girl, I am! (But for fun, let's just say I didn't have to turn it in. I've got this ever-growing bookmarked list of "Things I Want" and it would go towards a magical pair of boots.)

17. What items could you not go without during the day?
I get the shakes when I don't have access to the internet.

18. What should you be doing right now?
So, so many other things than this. At this exact moment, I should be cleaning the bathroom, which is the bane of my existence. We have guests tonight, so I can't procrastinate either. Boo!

*obligatory tagging*
I'd like to see this from Melissa, Melina, Carla, Q, Alishka, and Ashley.

Happy first weekend of Rocktober! (And thanks to Maxie for introducing me to the term "Rocktober.")