Project: Save 'Reaper'

Get hooked on a witty show that takes a cue from Joss Whedon's school of TV writing, "Reaper" fuses sarcasm, impeccable dialog and a great cast to create something that is highly entertaining. The second season starts up on March 3 on The CW. If you're wondering why watch a show called "Reaper"... then read on.


1. Reaper is what happens when an underachieving home improvement store employee, Sam, learns on his 21st birthday that his parents have sold his soul to the devil... who now expects him to hunt escaped souls from Hell.

Sam's dad: There's something I... I have to tell you. I, uh, I probably should have told you this a long time ago. I, uh... Before you were born, your Mom and I... sold your soul to the Devil.

2. The devil is a snappy dresser and comes in the form of Ray Wise (of "Twin Peaks" fame).

Devil: [pointing to a muscle-bound fireman washing the firetruck] There's your first fugitive. Broke out of Hell after 50 years for arson.

[the fireman starts flexing]

Devil: Oh, God, gag me. Look at that tool. Would you capture him already?

3. Bret Harrison (Sam) is HOT!

Sam's dad: Bad day?
Sam: Let's see, um, got chased by a pack of dogs, moved an air conditioner with my mind - oh and the Devil tried to carjack me, so overall, not a great day.

4. Sam's friends, Ben and Sock, join him in his quest to fight those pesky demon's who've escaped from Hell. Ben tries to help him defeat his first demon - a pyro - and loses his eyebrows. To make him feel better Sock decides to draw Ben's eyebrows back on with a black Sharpie.

Bert 'Sock' Wysocki: Ben would want eyebrows, and he would want us to give them to him. Say yes. Just do it.

5. Kevin Smith is involved. And lets face it (aside from Zack and Miri) Kevin Smith is just awesome.






6. Each demon is pulled, sucked or otherwise caught into a vessel (much like the Ghostbusters ghost traps). My favorite is still the first vessel in the pilot - The Dustbuster.

Ben: I take it back, Sam, that's a really evil mini-vac.

7. Vessels are taken to the DMV to return the trapped demons to hell. I mean, where else can you find hell on Earth but the DMV?

Sam: Wait. So, they're not all little vacuums?
DMV Demon: The boss gives you the vessel he thinks you can handle. You must be a real moron. [laughs]

Try the Pilot:

Cookie Sutra and Other Stories

After eating too much at Mimi's Cafe I went to Barnes and Noble with Jen, Cindi and Dani. Immediately we were hit with love books of all types but the majority were about... you guessed it: Sex! The top favorite was The Cookie Sutra. A mock of the kinky Indian love techniques Kama Sutra, The Cookie Sutra depicts the 'positions' using gingerbread cookies. I couldn't help but look and then laugh like a 12-year-old.



The second favorite was the display of books near the front of the store. First, it was 101 Nights of Grrreat Sex and then 101 Nights of Grrrreat Romance and then Experiencing Words with Jesus. When Dani pointed out the display she wondered if B&N employees were trying to tell us something. I have to admit - I did too.

Glitter, Glitter, Everywhere

In an effort to create sparkly hearts for the walls at the St. Valentine's Day Massacre Party (email me if you'd like to come), I decided that I would use found objects around my house. I needed red and black construction paper (check), and something to make it sparkly... I thought to myself "Self, let's use the glitter hairspray from several years ago." I generally think that spray anything is better because it is easier.

So I cut the hearts and then shook the can of hairspray. I luckily moved into my bathroom for this next part. As I sprayed the hearts with glitter, several gajillion bits of the stuff went everywhere. It covered my counter, my floor, my curling iron and hot rollers, the toilet, the wall, and so on. Now I thought "Wow! I'm brillant!" and then thought that moving outside would have been a better plan. I then spent the next few days cleaning up glitter from every surface of the bathroom. I'm just glad that the toilet seat was down otherwise my rear would have been as sparkly and gay as Edward from "Twilight." (Sorry for that mental image and the "Twilight" reference for anti-Twilight people).

I figure it was all in a good cause because this Friday, Feb 13th will have a great bash all dedicated to an awesome era (the Roarin' 20s). Why is it going to be awesome? Because it's a shindig inspired by a Valentine's Day when there weren't lovers getting all goo-goo eyed but instead gangsters were shooting each other. Aahhh! Now that's true romance... too bad they didn't have red and black paper hearts covered in glitter hairspray.

Underwho?

One of my BFFs is quite obsessed with the pasty white Brits that have taken over the big screen here in our little U.S. of A. (If you don't know who I'm referencing, it's okay... just blogstalk some of my friends.) What's funny is that I think that its contagious, I'm now obsessed with a pasty British guy.

Michael Sheen... at first look the guy isn't really that attractive (yes, I know this). But when you see the film "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" you'll understand my obsession. If you say, Underwha? then you need to jump out of the hole you're in and IMDB the "Underworld" trilogy. They are sci-fi, about vampires and lycans, and filled with great action sequences. 

In the first flick, Kate Beckinsale reigns as a leather-wearing Death Dealer who's part of the vampire clan. Her job is to rid the world (or Underworld) of Lycans (another name for werewolves). In her quest she discovers that hottie Scott Speedman has been turned into her mortal enemy by none other than the first lycan, Lucian (Sheen). There are battles and truths discovered about who Lucian really is and why the war between vamps and lycans began. "Underworld" reveals the truth and begins the end of the war - which is continued in "Underworld: Evolution." 

The new film released last week expands on the beginning of the war which is a prequel to the first two "Underworld" films. Focusing on Sheen's character Lucian you discover that there is a very Romeo and Juliet feel to the whole thing. There's nothing like forbidden love mixed with stellar fight sequences in the rain. In "Rise of the Lycans," Lucian (Sheen) shows passion for his beloved and will do anything for her including scaling a mountain for a secret rendezvous. 

I know I'm obsessed but what can I say? It's probably just the story in the film, the character of Lucian and all of that is messing with my hormones. But it just might be that this British fever is catching.

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans"

Priceless

$354.74 for a package deal of Adobe programs (Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, In Design)

$125.25 for tickets to the Avenged Sevenfold and Buckcherry concert next Wednesday

$11.19 for a Chicken Caesar Pita, Chips and Salsa to go at Chili's

$110.00 for jewelry at a Lia Sophia party (not all for me)

Finding out I can charge $600 to my VISA card in less than 12 hours...

PRICELESS

And the Sleep Deprivation Begins

In the middle of the first week of school for the spring 2009 semester I realized that I really should just suck it up and finished soon. It's not because I hate school (okay I do sometimes) or that I want to move on from my current job, it's just because I'm am feeling too old to be working 8 hours a day Monday thru Friday, taking two classes early Monday and Wednesday mornings, and teaching 5-6 year olds in primary every other week while trying to have some semblance of a social life.

It's only week one and I'm tired. I don't think I'm as sleep deprived as my two co-workers with newborns that won't sleep but still, I feel that I have a valid rant here. Its just really hard to do all the responsible stuff (work, school, church, home chores) and the fun stuff (friends, media). I remember at 19-years-old I was able to work all day, hang out with friends until late then go swimming from midnight to 5 AM, and then get up for work at 9 AM to work another 8 hour shift.

Now when I think about not getting my full eight hours of sleep I want to just whine or cry. It's amazing how much getting old sucks. This is why people go through college from 18-22 - they have more stamina. Or maybe all that sleeping done during high school allows for the absence of it during college.

While I am ranting I do really like my classes so far. My Web Design class will be good cuz then I'll be able to spice up my blog and MySpace page. My instructor is a web designer and he's very laid back. Check out my progress by clicking here.

My other class will be hard but interesting, it's Mass Communication Law. The whole class is looking at the law that impacts communication like the First Amendment, Censorship, Copyright, Libel, etc. My instructor is a little certifiable but VERY engaging.

Anywho, I'll keep you posted on my website and the insanity of my mass comm law prof. If anything this semester will be anything but boring.

Dirty Little Secret

After an entire day of pulling weird stuff out of my parents kitchen during an early spring cleaning marathon, I took a much needed break. My mom and I worked for over eight hours on those items that get shoved into weird spaces in cabinets, cupboards and closets. (We're still going... there are more closets with more stuff). For dinner my mom and I grabbed some food and went to watch a movie (the kitchen table is currently loaded with recipe books). We watched The House Bunny starring Anna Faris who is great at playing that clueless blond. One of the side characters is Colby, a goofy frat boy in love with one of the sorority girls. Colby is played by All-American Rejects singer Tyson Ritter. This connection got me to thinking about the band and their music. I really like the song and the video for Dirty Little Secret. It's funny and the video was ingenious. But what I didn't know - until Angie told me - was that there is an actual place people send postcards with their dirty little secrets. The postcards are then uploaded onto a blog called PostSecret for all the read. So while I'm de-junking my parents house you can enjoy reading some really intriguing secrets. I wonder if it's liberating to just write down your biggest fear, annoyance, secret, action, etc. and then let strangers read it?

Dirty Little Website

Dirty Little Video