Guitar!

So my christmas was great, how about you?

Awesome! Glad to hear it.
Anyway, my main gift was a sweet guitar. It's a black, solid-top Ibanez. It's cheap, like $150 but I am a beginner, so whatev. I am addicted to it. I'm close to nailing "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life." It is a whole barrel of fun.
Other highlights include:
-A new messenger bag that I really like. (My old one I have had since my senior year of high school..................oh my god.)
-A subscription to the Austin Film Society magazine.
-A gray sweater that I am addicted to that my brother got me. I love it.
-A sweet tea pot. Not a tea kettle, a tea pot. I love it as well.

Good times Jesus, good times.

ALSO!

I just wanted to post the information for my show on here in case anyone in Austin sees it.
I know someone living in Cedar Creek reads this pretty religiously, and they should def. come see the show.

Gag Reflex New Years Eve Bash
Show at 7pm
-$20 per person
-Free Beer, Wine and Soda
-Must be over 21
-Can pay with cash or check at the door

Show at 9:15pm
-$40 per person or $75 per couple
-Free Beer, Wine and Soda
-Free Mangia Thin Crust Pizza
-Door Prizes
-Free Champagne Toast
-Must be over 21
-Can pay cash or check at the door

Call 731-3945 for reservations, but do it quickly we are filling up!

GUH!

I am so tired. I cannot wait for tomorrow at 7, when I will be free for Christmas and another day as well. I traded in Mass Effect because it was boring the shit out of me. Seriously, I like depth in my gaming but if the BIBLE was a game I would not fucking PLAY IT. That's pretty much the depth of Mass Effect. They kind of just assume that you know everything to do with the universe before you even start playing, which is something you can kind of do in a game like "Knights of the Old Republic" because well....it's fucking STAR WARS. But this is a whole new universe that no one has any background with and it is just too fucking much. That, and there must be a grand total of like four different environments and its not like they are the same environments....they are the same FUCKING maps over and fucking over again. The only stuff that changes is what the planet you land on will look like, but then you can pretty much assume its going to be rocky as shit and a bitch to get around. The only awesome moment I had in that game was when I had to go to the moon and I could see Earth. That was the kind of moment I play video games for. But then again, it's a game that spans multiple galaxies and the coolest thing happens like a mile away from my house (give or take). I also traded in The Orange Box because well....I beat it. That's about it. Awesome game(s). But when they are done....they are done. And TF2, while amusing does not have nearly enough depth to hold its own in a video game library. So I am left with Halo 3 and Guitar Hero 2, neither of which I am planning on trading in because they are still fun.


I got my grades from ACC.

Intro. to Radio/TV/Film : A
Composition I : A
Oceanography : B
U.S. History I : C

Fuck that teacher. I hate him so much, but whatever. Those are the best damn grades I have EVER gotten so I am happy.

Todd!

So I saw Sweeney Todd today. I made a special trip downtown just to see the movie.
Went to the Alamo South Lamar.

I honestly don't care if you went to see the first screening of the movie and sat next to Johnny Depp and Tim Burton themselves. I watched Sweeney Todd whilst eating my very own meat pie. I fucking love Austin.
The movie, and there may be spoilers ahead:

Johnny Depp:
Fucking Brilliant. I am going to have to see it again, because I was so focused on him through the movie that I forgot anyone else was on screen. He is Sweeney. Plain and simple. His singing is just talky enough to feel natural, and SO drenched in passion that it is ridiculous.

Helena Bonham Carter:
Very nice. I liked her portrayal. Mrs. Lovett has always been such exaggerated women, almost rooster-like performances. It was a nice change. Not a strong voice, but she compensated well by always being in character.

Alan Rickman:
Awesome. Perfect casting. He is the exact character that you WANT to see die so it's good.

Sacha Baron Cohen:
So damn funny. As soon as I had heard of this casting, I was convinced it was brilliant and I am glad to have been proven right so well.

Other people:
Very good. You could kind of tell that Toby wasn't a fantastic actor, but he made it up by being really damn creepy at the very end.


It was so much more gory than I had expected. A horror movie set to music is the best description I have heard for it and that is the truest.

GOD!

WATCH THIS NOW.

BATMAN EXTENDED TRAILER.

Pops!

The other night me and the Moms went to the Alamo Draftouse for the "Christmas Pops Singalong." It was probably the most fun I have had in a few months. Mom loved it too. There were all kinds of ridiculous songs from "Merry Christmas" by N*Sync to "Christmas Time is Here" by Charlie Brown. It was great. After the show about half of the audience (Mom and I included) went down onto 6th St and continued caroling there.
Austin is so fun.

Zowee!

So......I saw "The Golden Compass" today. Wow. I liked it a lot. I think it is getting terrible reviews because everyone reads the book then goes and sees the movie expecting it to be on par, but no book-to-movie will ever be as good as the book so get over it. It was awesome. Also, I am glad they are marketing it differently then "The Chronicles of Narnia" because this is not a kids movie. It's more like a medium between "Chronicles" and "The Lord of the Rings". Very intense fighting.
SPOILER ALERT!!

There are two ice bears that fight in the movie in a very ferocious scene. It ends with the good ice bear batting the bad ice bear's lower jaw off of his face. Then he clamps his mouth around the bad ice bears head and snaps his neck.
...
Let me repeat that.
Bear #1 rips Bear #2's lower jaw off his face.
Bear #1 then puts Bear #2's head in his mouth and snaps his neck.

There was not one person in the theatre who did not react to that with some version of "Jesus Christ!"





I am currently reading:
Marvel "Universe X"
-Just started. Alex Ross illustrations = win.

DC "Watchmen"
-I have read this before but decided I should brush up to get excited about the movie.

Speed!

So the trailer for the "Speed Racer" movie is out.
It looks pretty damn intense.
Gag reflex is going so well. We added a new sketch to the beginning of the show that made me cry it was so funny.
Christy called tonight. It was very nice. I miss her.

House!

So, quick update.
I has a bajillion hours to kill before rehearsal the other night.
I went to the Alamo Drafthouse.
I ordered one ticket to "Enchanted."
I ordered a serving of fries with queso. I ordered a Amber Draft Cider (deliciously intoxicating).
I watched the movie.
I chuckled.
I laughed.
I laughed some more.
It was a great movie with a really great heart. It was nice to see Disney back in their familiar territory with twists to keep it original.
Five stars. Good show.

Comics Abound!

Finished DC "Batman: Hush Returns"
- I realized I don't enjoy it when the Joker is not drawn stylized in one way or another. Drawing the Joker as a regular guy with face paint on just is not exciting. Comic was alright. Nothing fantastic. Nothing terrible.

Read:
DC "Kingdom Come"
-I have made it my life quest to own any TPB that Alex Ross did illustrations for. Not only are his comics the ones with the most compelling stories, but good god that man can fucking draw. It's amazing. Old Superman and Old Wonderwoman baby is lolocaust. Must buy.

DC "Identity Crisis"
- Not to be confused with "Infinite Crisis." I have read this before, but I had forgotten most of it. Splendid, sad story telling of loss, rape and the Green Arrow putting an arrow shaft through Slade's eye. Honestly, one of the most engrossing sagas I have read ever. Very, very good. Must buy.

News!

Why was I not informed!

This is the best thing I have ever seen on YouTube. Ever.

Scrubs Charlie Brown Christmas

Awz!

I said I would get back to you on my reading and here it is:

Marvel "Death of Captain America"
- I was kind of disappointed because I have yet to see the actual DEATH of Captain America. This TPB focused on what the after-effects were. And I have to say that I have no idea how Marvel keeps doing this, but just like when I read "Spider-Man: Reign" I found myself literally on the verge of tears. Captain America was such a symbol, and seeing what happens when that symbol is destroyed was almost heartbreaking. Wow. I am such a fucking nerd, but I love it.

I am currently reading
DC "Batman: Hush Returns"

Work was good today as always. Riggins from FNL came into the store, which was an unexpected surprise and awesome. He looks the same in real life as he does in the show. Very ragged, yet good looking. I wonder if he drinks the same irl.

Work!

It's weird that I am enjoying my job so much. Most of the time I am either ringing people up or joking around with my fellow employees. And with their employee book-lending thing I have rented thusfar:

Clive Barker's "Mister B. Gone"
-Book that reads like the journal of a demon. Pretty interesting and gory so far. Funny how an abusive, ass-hole father is basically every demons father. Also funny how priests bait demons from hell with beer.

DC "Infinite Crisis"
-Lame. I mixed this up with Bill's recommendation "Identity Crisis." I didn't get this at all. The only thing I liked was when the Joker killed Lex-2 for "not letting him play" in the destruction of the universe.

DC "The Long Halloween"
-Awesome Batman murder mystery story. I think the coolest thing about Batman art is the hundreds of ways they depict villains. Scarecrow and Joker look impressively terrifying in this. Must-read. Loved the depiction of Harvey Dent's transformation to Two-Face.

DC "Haunted Knight"
-Companion to "The Long Halloween." Shows different Halloween nights in Gotham. There are three, but the only one that really stuck out was the Mad Hatter's story. He kidnaps Gordon's daughter and dresses her up as Alice. He also has a bunch of other kids drugged up to play all of the other parts in wonderland. Funny Moment: Drugged kid reacting to Alice refusing tea, "Just drink the tea. He doesn't like it when you don't drink the tea." I dunno. It was funny when I read it.

Marvel "Death of Captain America"
-Haven't read it yet. Will get back to you.

Also, there is this shelf where we get new CD and book promos for free, and what happened to be there today? The Original Broadway Cast Recording of LoveMusik. Fuck Yea! Free Bitch! Uh! Eat That BILL!