The weird & wonderful....

So... for Christmas, from my hunky hubby, I received a Kindle (squeeee!!!)

Which set up a thought in my mind - a challenge for 2011. My goal is to read, in order from A to Z, at least one book from an author a week, and blog about my thoughts on that authors and their book/s.

And in order to expand my reading list I plan to hit each letter twice - once revisiting an author I have already read, and once a new author.

So - if anyone has any suggestions of authors to read, I'd take them happily! While I generally read sci-fi/fantasy/crime, I'll take any and all suggestions.

Oh, and if anyone is interested, I'll be blogging at http://alphabetx2.blogspot.com/

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times: Princess Bride (me thinks...)
2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in a theatre: Spirited Away
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie: Samuel L Jackson
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie: Tom Cruise.
5. Name a movie that you can quote from: Princess Bride
6. Name a movie musical that you know all the lyrics to all the songs: none... but I do know a lot from Aladin (had to learn for school)
7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with: any Disney
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see: Ummm hard to say - but Princess Bride is cool
9. Name a movie that you own: Boondock Saints
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops: ummmmm can't think of any at the moment
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in?: No
12. Ever made out in a movie?: No
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't gotten around to it:
14. Ever walked out of a movie?: No - but thought about it
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theatre:
16. Popcorn?: Occationally
17. How often do you go to the movies?: Couple of times a year
18. What's the last movie you saw in the theater?: technically twilight - but as that was seen for mocking purposes only, it would have to be... the Reel Anime series
19. What is your favorite/preferred genre of movie?: Anime/Comic book adaptions
20. What was the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?: Neverending Story

Feel free to correct me if you rmember differently...

Ahh life is good when you are on holiday - however the reason for this holiday must never be forgotton.

I'm posting from Novotel Twin Waters, (On the Sunshine Coast) in air conditioned luxury!

The drive up was horrible (2 sets of gridlock - one caused by an accident the other for no discernible reason) but it was worth it.

About to go for dinner in a restaurant over the lagoon, and tomorrow am seeing Eumundi Markets and Australia Zoo (If you hear a report on the evening news that Bindi Irwin suffered a horrible fate - in the immortal words of Sargent Schulz 'I know nothing' - as someone needs to be free to raise the bail monies ;))

Hope that everyone also has a good weekend.

Just finished watching part 1 of Hogfather and have to say I am very impressed. They have the characterizations for Susan and Teatime right on - and there are also little details make me squee in joy, such as having Nigel Planer as Mr Sideney (and Nigel Robinson involved at all).

Eagerly awaiting part 2 tomorrow, and have marked as a definite DVD purchase :>

a. Post a list of 7 TV shows you love (current or cancelled)
b. Have your friends list guess your favourite character from each show
c. When guessed bold the line and write a little bit about why you like that character
d. Post in your own livejournal. If you so wish, repeat the MEME in your LJ or journal of choice.

... It's scary that I really only thought of the first two shows immediately - that shows how much TV influences my life (of course, I've stuck to Live action TV shows and not anime or movies :>)

1. SeaQuest - Lucas Wolenczak. Probably one of my first crushes. He was a smart, cute boy my age who was on TV.
2. Iron Chef - Chairman Kaga. What is there not to like? The clothes, the sub-titling, the "allez cuisine" and "if my memory serves me correctly", the clothes :>. And of course, the mind-breaking that occurs when you see him in a serious role ala the Death Note live action movies ...
3. Firefly - Simon Tam. Yes he's a little prissy and stuck up, but he also sacrificed everything for his sister and was thrust into a world that was completely different from everything he knew, and managed to adapt and survive - and in addition plan one of their only jobs which actually made them money:>
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Alexander "Xander" Harris. I feel he was underused as a character. He was the only "normal" one, and the one who suffered the most - as by the end of the series had to stake his best friend (a fact which was ignored for the rest of the series), suffered humiliation via various curses, saved Buffy's life, saved the world, lost his love and his eye (note he was the only character to actually suffer permanent physical harm).
5. Supernatural
6. CSI (the original series) - Greg Sanders, more so when he was the loveable Lab geek. He was so bouncy and enthusiastic, and so geeky too. While he still retains that, I miss the early season's Greg.
7. NCIS - Abby Scuito. She's a kickass perky goth with pigtails. I like her because she's professional, yet playful. Abby is unique, and it seems happy and able to express herself.

I have bit the bullet.

I just booked tickets to Japan for the 22nd July to the 15th August 2008 (along with Roohaha).

Now to:
a) organise the rest of the trip
b) save enough to pay for the rest of the trip and spending money
c) lose weight so I can enjoy said trip....
d) start learning enough Japanese to get by.

Oh well - Japan here we come

Title: Fuel
Author: purple_alicorn
Rating: FR13
Warnings: Movie based, possible spoilers
Word Count: 290
Author's Notes: Energon is never really used in the movie, but I wondered about the differences between running on it and our fuel.

( “Autobots” )

Title: Changes
Author: purple_alicorn
Rating: FR13
Warnings: none
Word Count: 308
Author's Notes: I used the term kami deliberately, as I wanted to distinguish the Norns (western type goddesses) from the Japanese gods. Inspired by a Terry Pratchett quote from Witches Abroad that “Most witches don't believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don't believe in them. They know them too well. It would be like believing in the postman.”

( “Keiichi )

Title: Little fishes
Author: purple_alicorn
Rating: FR13
Warnings: Crossover, crack
Word Count: 455
Author's Notes I have to admit, I only know about these from reading the odd comic/manga or two, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes. This came about from the question “Why is Kaito afraid of fish?” and an image I remembered of Delirium surrounded by them (and yes, her manner of speaking is capitalized strangely on purpose) .

( “Kaito” )

Title: Oath
Author: purple_alicorn
Rating: FR21
Warnings: spoilers, kink (BDSM),
Word Count: 820
Author's Notes: This started out as simple plot bunny of “what if Albert chose a different path to regain his family’s honor?” and turned into this monster. Note: It’s been a while since I watched the dvd’s so if my timeline’s slightly off I’m sorry.

( “When )