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May 12th, 2009

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August 25th, 2005

05:30 pm - Random post! Yay! No one will reply to this. But I have to post it. It's the rules. 1. Reply with your name and I'll respond with something random about you. 2. I'll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you. 3. I'll pick a flavor of jello to wrestle with you in. 4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me. 5. I'll tell you my first memory of you. 6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of. 7. I'll ask you something that I've always wondered about you. 8. If I do this for you, you must post this on your journal. You MUST. Current Mood: indescribable

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August 19th, 2005

04:17 pm - Star War Episode III: The Backstroke of the West I didn't think I'd be posting in this journal again for a long time, if ever, what with being busy the last few months with moving to a new country, getting married, and now applying for a greencard, looking for a new job, etc. But I just had to post this link: "R2, do you is fucking" If I'd been drinking when I read the translations, I probably would have sprayed it out of my nose! Some of those might be made up, but it's still hilarious. Current Mood: amused

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July 6th, 2005

04:19 am - I'm up past sleepytime! Lalalala! I can't sleep at all, because I'm too excited about flying out to South Carolina to see Melanie in about 6 hours! My last day in the U.K. (for a while at least) was pretty fun. My friend from work took me and my mum to Pizza Hut for lunch. Then I went to the cinema to see War of the Worlds. It was a very good film for the most part. The tripods laying waste to everything in their path was awesome. It's probably my second favourite film of the year so far (after that one about Sith having revenge or whatever). Even though I'm happy to be finally going, I can't help feeling nervous about leaving my home and parents for so long. I just hope they'll be all right until I can come back to visit. Current Mood: excited

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June 22nd, 2005

08:07 pm - Two weeks and counting . . . Til I fly to South Carolina and see Melanie again! And just one week of work left. It's definitely gonna be a classic case of mixed feelings when I finish working at the college for good next Thursday. I'll genuinely miss most of the people there. I went out for dinner with a bunch of the guys and gals from the office last night to celebrate my upcoming move and wedding, and a good time was had by all. We even started a Star Wars and Simpsons quotes contest at one point. It's great to work somewhere where there are fellow geeks. But the job itself has become more and more difficult, and I won't miss that at all. To top it all off, the personnel department has said I can only take 9 days holiday before I finish, instead of 12. The reason being that the end of the official academic year is at the end of August and since I'll be finishing before then I don't get the full entitlement. I know they're just following the rules but it pisses me off that no one informed me about this until now. It could have interfered with my flight date if I'd handed in my notice any later, but luckily it won't. Anyway, I have a ton of things to pack and get ready around the house, but this heat is making it impossible. I hope we get a cool spell in the next two weeks. This is England - it's not supposed to be hot in June!! Current Mood: busy

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June 13th, 2005

08:20 pm - 2005 is the busiest year ever, and it's not even half over! I can't believe how much stuff has happened this year, not to mention all the exciting stuff that's still coming up! The last three days alone have been pretty busy. We went to visit my cousin, Sharon, on Saturday. It was a long, tiring drive, but it was great to see her and the family again. Her kids have grown so quickly! They were talking and running around like crazy. It was so funny watching the little girl beat her brother with an inflatible shark. I told Sharon they were all invited to the wedding, but whether they'll be able to make it to South Carolina is another matter. Sunday was supposedly my lazy day. But even though I slept til one I still got lots of jobs done around the house, like painting the roof of our summerhouse. I'm slowly getting through all the jobs I need to do before I leave. I also watched Star Wars Episode IV with my mum. She's never seen the special edition! Then, today, I handed in my official letter of resignation™ at work. There's no going back now! It was a pretty quiet day at work for a change, so we played pool for a while. I won one game and lost the other, which isn't bad for me. Tomorrow it's back up to London, hopefully for the last time, to destroy the exhibition we setup last week. And that's all I have to say for now. Current Mood: chipper

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June 7th, 2005

10:41 pm - I know it's pretty damn weird to eat people. I had a very busy day. We had to load all the equipment for the new media exhibition that's taking place in London tomorrow. We were so exhausted by the end of it that the boss took pity on us and let us go early. So I decided to go to the cinema and see Sin City. It was pretty damn cool. I loved the visuals, especially. The violence was ridiculously OTT, but it didn't bother me that much. It made me want to read the comic books. Now I really should try and get an early night for a change. Current Mood: tired

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June 3rd, 2005

08:07 pm - It's all falling into place I finally told my boss today about my plans to move to America and get married. I was quite nervous, but he took it pretty well. He congratulated me and said he'd be very sorry to lose me. I'm glad I've got that out of the way. Now I only have about a thousand other things left to do before I leave. The next couple of months are going to be very interesting. Speaking of marriage, look what I found! Current Mood: happy

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May 24th, 2005

10:29 pm - Not a bad day I had to go up to London to take down an exhibition, but it hardly took any time. If only all of them were as easy as that. I also found out my mum's bone cancer isn't as serious as we thought, and she'll be able to travel to my wedding, so I'm a bit more upbeat in general. Anyway, I was tagged by my beloved for this movie survey thing, so here goes: 1) Total number of films I own on DVD/video: 523 on DVD. No idea how many on video 2) The last film I bought: Open Water. Still haven't watched it 3) The last film I watched: a) In the theater?: Revenge of the Sith! b) On DVD?: Blue Velvet c) in general: I watched some of The Fifth Element on TV 4) Five films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me: Edward Scissorhands Star Wars Saga True Romance The Princess Bride Monty Python and the Holy Grail 5) Tag 3 people and have them put this in their journal (just gonna have to pick people at random from my friends list) smarmyeels wilhelmbjorn panglosssensei Current Mood: okay

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May 21st, 2005

11:32 pm - Star Wars withdrawal I knew I would be sad after Revenge of the Sith came out, but I didn't guess it would be this bad. It's so depressing not having any more Star Wars movies to look forward to. It doesn't just feel like the end of an era, but the end of my childhood. Good thing I have a certain wedding to look forward to . . . I also got a complete set of Star Wars toys from Burger King! Current Mood: melancholy

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May 17th, 2005

11:18 pm - STAR WARS MADNESS!!! Moday the 16th of May, also known as Star Wars Celebration Day, was one of the greatest days of my life. And to think I almost missed out on a ticket! I had to get up at five am to catch the train to Leicester Square. I arrived in time to see a parade of storm troopers outside the Empire cinema. After sampling the atmosphere for a while (there was a replica X-Wing and tons of people in costume) I went into the cinema for the 7am start of Episode IV: A New Hope. I got a free goodie bag of SW stuff and collected the stamp for my passport to prove I had watched the first film and then took my seat. My row was as far back as you can possibly get, but luckily it had stadium seating and the screen was huge. I started chatting with the people around me. In my experience, Star Wars fans are always very friendly, and being in a cinema full of 1300 geeks was actually pretty fun. The film was introduced by an annoying local DJ who got everyone to hum the Imperial March for his radio show. After that the film started and the audience reaction was amazing right from the start. They waved their lightsabers, cheered the opening scroll and applauded nearly every big moment or character introduction. I’ve never seen the original trilogy with a fan audience before, so it was quite an experience. It was the 97 special editions of the films, but the prints looked brand new. Even though I’ve seen all the films countless times, I still spotted new things. I missed the first five minutes of The Empire Strikes Back because the lines for the toilet were ridiculous. It’s the first time I’ve seen a longer queue for the gents than the ladies. I guess it’s true what they say about sci-fi geeks being mostly male. Anyway, ESB was even better received than ANH. Vader’s revelation to Luke was still chilling, especially as we were only hours away from seeing exactly how his transformation came about. After another short break we were treated to Return of the Jedi. The audience reaction was quite amusing. There where wolf-whistles when Leia appeared in that costume, and laughs when the Emperor said it was strange that he had not felt Luke. There were also cheers for the Ewoks, which surprised me. The ending felt even more emotional to me than the previous times I’ve watched it. We had a longer break after ROTJ ended and before the prequels began, so I decided to check out what was happening outside. I heard the last few minutes of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing John Williams’ music, which was pretty awesome. I also met up with the guy I was collecting stamps for and he bought me a meal to say thanks. It was a good thing we both got all our stamps in our galactic passports, as I heard later someone was turned away from the cinema for not seeing the five films before Episode III. After the orchestra finished, they had a live Q&A in the square with several stars from the films, including Christopher Lee! I decided to skip the beginning of The Phantom Menace, since I already had my stamp, and stay to watch the stars on stage. Lee was amazing, and also very witty. They also talked to Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett). It started to rain, but I stuck around until the interviews had finished. Then I rushed back in to the cinema to catch the best part of TPM – the duel! I spoke to another guy after the film and apparently I missed some big boos for Jar Jar’s introduction. Attack of the Clones started soon after. This episode got both the best and worst reaction from the audience. The love story got laughs pretty much all the way through. Maybe other people have a dirtier mind than me, but they laughed at stuff that it never even occurred to me had a double meaning. Like Padme telling Anakin, “My goodness you’ve grown.” However, once the final battles started the reaction was totally positive. Of course, Yoda with his lightsaber brought the house down. It was the perfect way to get pumped up for the final episode. There was an hour break between Episode II and III, but I decided not to go out and get drenched again, even though the official premiere was happening outside. Luckily they had live video of the red carpet on the big screen, so I got a better view than I would have done outside anyway. After the stars had all gone inside they started playing some Star Wars music videos. Everyone was dying for Episode III to start, and people began drumming their feet when the scheduled time arrived. Finally, to thunderous applause, the parade of stormtroopers entered the cinema. But this was just the start of the special guests there to introduce the film. Producer Rick McCallum took to the stage, and was quickly followed by Hayden Christensen and Ian McDiarmid. Then, just when I thought things couldn’t get any more exciting, George Lucas himself was introduced. The noise of the audience was deafening. Finally they quietened down so Lucas could speak. He said we were the first people to watch the saga back to back, although he suggested it should be done over 6 weeks instead of in one day! Someone shouted out a request to make Episodes VII-IX and Lucas responded that the story was over. Then Lucas and the cast left to more thunderous applause. I only wish I’d been closer or had a video camera with a zoom, as I couldn’t really see much from where I was. Then, finally, the curtains opened and the film we’d all come there to see began, to the biggest applause yet. ( STAR WARS EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH REVIEW ) Before the end credits had even finished, Lucas and co came back out. They received a standing ovation, and Lucas joked that tomorrow we could watch them all again in Episode I to VI order. Some people booed Hayden, but I think it was more a reaction to his character’s evil than a critique of his performance. They all left to deafening applause. I felt totally exhausted. Not just by the emotional rollercoaster of Episode III, but by the whole day. It was almost midnight by the time I finally fought my way through the crowds to get out of the cinema and catch the last train home. I didn’t get home until 1 am, but it was worth it. It will be a day long remembered. The saga is finally complete. I’m sad that it’s finally over, but it’s been an amazing journey. P.S. I took some pictures, but they didn't come out that well thanks to my crappy digital camera. My galactic passport ticket Do I look scared? My own X-Wing! These aren't the droids you're looking for Don't worry, we have R2 with us. Current Mood: happy

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May 15th, 2005

09:29 pm - The things I go through for Star Wars . . . The last few days have been very exciting. Just when I had given up on getting a ticket to the sold out Star Wars marathon taking place tomorrow (they're showing the whole saga, ending with the public premiere of Revenge of the Sith) a guy on theforce.net discussion boards offered me a spare ticket at cost price! I never expected that to happen, especially as he could have sold his spares on ebay for five times the price. I guess it's true that Star Wars fans really are the best people in the world. If only more people were like that. But now this entry is getting all corny, so I'll move on. Anyway, I had to drive up to London to meet the guy and buy the ticket. Which was a complete nightmare. I thought driving would be easier in London on Sunday, but it was just as bad as ever. The roads are impossible to follow and the drivers are maniacs. It took three hours to get there and back. Good thing I'm taking the train tomorrow. But it was worth it just to see that snazzy galactic passport in my hands. I also got a look at the stage they've set up for tomorrow. There's gonna be an orchestra playing Star Wars music and a live Q&A with some of the cast before the official premiere. Shame I'll miss most of that as I'll be inside the cinema nearly all day. Unless I can sneak out. 12+ hours surrounded by geeks with lightsabers might be too much even for me. I'll actually have two tickets with me tomorrow, because another guy on theforce.net gave me his because he won't be arriving until after the first few films are over, and you're supposed to get a stamp for all of them otherwise they won't let you see Episode III, which is kinda crazy. I hope it's easy to get these stamps. I have to get up at five am, so I hope I can get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow is gonna be an amazing day! Current Mood: excited

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April 25th, 2005

04:08 pm - I sense a great disturbance in the force . . . Got up early today to try and book tickets for the Star Wars marathon taking place in London on May 16th. They're showing all six films with Lucas and other guests supposedly introducing Revenge of the Sith. I was feeling fairly hopeful about getting tickets, since I was booking online and by phone in case one method didn't work. However, I overestimated my chances. The website didn't work at all, and when I finally got through on the phone I got as far as entering my credit card details and it disconnected me! I felt like screaming. The website eventually worked again, just in time to tell me that all tickets had sold out. That was less than fifteen minutes after they first went on sale! And already some fuckers are selling them on ebay at about triple the price. I'm not that sad about missing the earlier films since I can watch them on DVD anytime I want. But to see Episode III three days early with 1000 other fans would have been a great experience. Now I don't believe in nothing no more. Current Mood: pissed off

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April 2nd, 2005

06:58 pm - Geek rantings The last two days have been exhausting, physically and emotionally. I haven't been sleeping well since I started back at work, and everything seems to be going wrong. My computer is still crashing all the time, but I've given up trying to fix it. I got up early today to go to London because this store was giving away a special Star Wars mobile phone gift set with a Wookie pouch and other stuff to the first 25 customers. There was already a line when I got there, and about half of the people were in costume. I'm a geek, but not that much of a geek. Anyway, after waiting almost an hour they let us in and this guy told me I'd get the free gift pack. But then they came back and told me they'd run out of free ones but I could buy one for £80. Bastards! But I did get to meet Mr. Vader: I also picked up my ticket for the opening day of Revenge of the Sith, and got to check out all the new toys and stuff. So it wasn't a completely wasted day. Now I'm looking forward to finally been able to sleep in tomorrow. Current Mood: exhausted

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March 30th, 2005

08:55 pm - Two entries in one day! I'm on a roll! Now that I have my PC working again, I can finally do this: Put your playlist on shuffle. Pick the first 25 songs that come up and add "in my pants" at the end of each title. Bold your favorites. The Beta Band - Dry the Rain in my pants Nirvana - Come as You Are in my pants Human League - Together in Electric Dreams in my pants Queen - We are the Champions in my pants Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster in my pants Jeff Buckley - Lover, You Shoud've Come Over in my pants Oingo Boingo - War Again in my pants The Dickies - Banana Splits in my pants Abba - Waterloo in my pants Kula Shaker - Hush in my pants The Misfits - Mars Attacks in my pants Frankie Vinci - Angela's Theme in my pants Nirvana - Territorial Pissings in my pants Radiohead - Paranoid Android in my pants Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun in my pants Her Space Holiday - My Girlfriend's Boyfriend in my pants Bananarama - Cruel Summer in my pants The Features - Some Way Some How in my pants Jump - By the Way That They Dance in my pants Donovan - Season of the Witch in my pants Disposable Heroes of Hipocrasy - Television, the Drug of a Nation in my pants John Williams - Han Solo and the Princess in my pants This is Spinal Tap - Christmas With the Devil in my pants The Darkness - I Believe in a Thing Called Love in my pants Rasputina - Transylvanian Concubine in my pants It's amazing how pants go well with almost any title. Current Mood: amused

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11:58 am - My Easter fun I'm back at work today after almost two weeks of lazing around the house and watching movies. I wish I got to do that more often. Although I did do a few jobs as well so I wasn't a total slacker. My mum got back today from her trip to visit my brother in California. She had a good time, and she brought back loads of gifts from my brother. I got a Nightmare Before Christmas Jack in the coffin, some Simpsons pez, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 and some Revenge of the Sith Cheez-Its! Woo-hoo! It feels almost like Christmas. I also reformatted my PC over the holiday, and after crashing about a million times it seems ok now. I hope. Current Mood: happy

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March 4th, 2005

10:32 pm - You can be an Apple, too! I just finished four days of training to become an Apple certified trainer for Final Cut Pro. I got 98% on the final exam, which was a lot better than I expected to do. It was a fun few days and I learned lots of new tips and tricks about Final Cut and Macs in general. There was an interesting mix of people on the course. The trainer was an American guy named Abba (I resisted making any jokes about his name), one guy was a TV producer and another guy came all the way from Mississippi. The only thing I didn't like about the whole experience was travelling to the Apple training place. It took over two hours to get there so I had to get up at 6am every morning to make it there by 9. The freakishly cold weather made it even worse. Yesterday I was hurrying to catch a bus and slipped on the ice and bruised my hip pretty badly. There's a lesson there, kids: don't run in icy conditions. But I'm glad I got the certificate. Hopefully I'll be able to use it to get a job as an editing wiz in the future. Current Mood: tired

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February 23rd, 2005

11:12 pm - Snow business I've gotten so depressed and fed up with the internet lately that it makes me want to not even go online at all. The Collective has been having nothing but problems lately and I don't get much joy out of being online anymore. I feel like I have no free time to watch movies or do any other stuff I want. If it wasn't so cold out I'd probably go somewhere just to get out of the house. It's been snowing off and on for the last couple of days, but not enough to really have any fun. The only good thing that happened today is that I passed the first online exam for the Final Cut Pro certificate my boss at the college wants me to get. I got 88%, which was better than I expected. Now I just need to attend four more days of training and pass another exam and I can become an Apple certified video editing guy! Current Mood: depressed

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February 13th, 2005

01:32 pm - I used to be over by the window, and I could see the squirrels, and they were married LJ Friends Meme by coolerq • You must tell 8 people about this game. • Melanie is the one that you love. • Princess Leia is one you like but can't work out. • You care most about Allan. • Colette is the one who knows you very well. • Martin is your lucky star. • Seaside Rendezvous is the song that matches with Melanie. • Smells Like Teen Spirit is the song for Princess Leia. • Sympathy for the Devil is the song that tells you most about YOUR mind. • and Coin-operated Boy is the song telling you how you feel about life Take this quiz Well, some of that is very accurate, at least. I finally watched Office Space, after everyone telling me I should see it. It was really funny, especially Stephen Root's character. I could also relate to certain parts of it too, although my office isn't anywhere near as bad as that one, luckily. Current Mood: relaxed

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January 14th, 2005

05:41 pm - I have my fiance visa!!! Well, almost. It should arrive on Monday. But the worst is out of the way now. ( The long, long story. ) Now Melanie and I can start planning our wedding and all the fun stuff that comes with that! Current Mood: ecstatic

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