Moonlight: The Little Show That Could

I recently acquired Final Cut Express HD for TechnoGeekery.com, as a step up from the very basic iMovie software I’ve been using to create my vidcasts. Up to now I’ve just been playing with FCE– like one plays with a shiny new toy, all careful and hesitant and unsure of just how far one can push and prod before breaking something–and I’ve discovered something I did not know. Dude. This software? It’s wicked COMPLICATED, yo?

So to practice setting up bins and entering in and out points I decided to make a sort of faux-promo for CBS’s fall sleeper hit Moonlight, my most favoritest underdog show of the season. Admittedly, I intitially watched out of love for all things Jason Dohring (Team Logan!)– and truthfully, I was not initially impressed, but I powered through (Team Logan!)– and I have to admit, by episode 4, “Fever”… yeah, it was all about Alex O’Laughlin. Oh, yes it was.

See, he’s my new TV boyfriend. He does this thing with his eyebrow…

But that is neither here nor there! (I was just saying.) The show–which is rooted in a sort of modern-day noir–continues to improve exponentially from week to week, and my favorite aspect is that there aren’t any demons or magic or curses… just Mick St. John, a P.I. in L.A. who is out there solving cases, kicking bad-guy ass, dealing with his issues, and, oh yeah, who just happens to be a vampire.

Right, then. There are no bells and whistles here, no awesome effects or transitions, just clips from the show set to a wicked good song: Ecstasy by Black Lab. So… enjoy! Or not. Whatevah.

Time’s Almost Up

I’m not sure if I’m going to make the deadline for NaNoWriMo this year, which… BUMMER?

*sigh*

Nevertheless, I shall persevere. So… here is a bit more of my perseverance (please keep in mind that NaNoWriMo is all about the quickness and the Just Do It-ness… you know, all rough-drafty and whatnot?… just sayin’):

___________________________________

It was just after the last bell. I had just closed my locker, ready to head out to my car, when a strong hand grabbed my upper arm and twirled me around.

“What the—” I started, but the words died in my throat when I saw Boomer Castillo glaring down at me.

He had planted himself directly in front of me, legs spread wide. His black hair was short, except for the bangs, which were dyed blue and draped over his forehead, obscuring one eye. His dark shirt, sporting the busty silhouette usually found on a tire flap, fit across his chest the way a shirt fits when a guy exercises regularly. Then again, what would you expect from a guy named Boomer? He stood so close I could feel his breath on my face. This was unfortunate, as dude had some serious Cheetos breath.

“Wow,” I said, conversationally. “Looks like you added weight-training to your heavy schedule of smoking pot and riding the half-pipe. Kudos.”

“All the better to kick your pretty little ass,” he said with a smile that did not match his menacing tone.

I gasped. “You think I’m pretty?” I asked breathlessly.

He narrowed his eyes and stared at me for a moment. That I wasn’t peeing my pants in terror appeared to be throwing him.

Then, “I know it was you,” he stated.

Well, crap.
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Ear Infections, Flu Bugs, and Stress… Oh MY!

Sick Kids + Sick Momma + Too Many Things I Feel Unnecessarily Compelled To Do = NO FUN AT ALL!

Just sayin’.

In other news, TechnoGeekery Show #11: Google Calendar… and SMS Commands is up at TechnoGeekery.com. I had originally planned for it to be a TechnoGeekery Quickie, but as can sometimes happen, the Quickie turned into a… you know… Longie.

My bad.

When People Get Too Comfortable Together: A Cautionary Tale

TGIM: You know what, Cat? I’m not going to wear my contacts today. I’m going to give my eyes a rest… you know, free eyeball it.

Cat: You’re… wait, what?

TGIM: Oh, hey, that was witty! Write that down.

Cat: Oh, good lord.

Ha Ha Ha? Really?

In Australia, street Santas are being encouraged to replace “ho ho ho!” with “ha ha ha!” You know, because all that deep “ho ho ho!”-ing scares the children? Not to mention the blatant sexist connotations inherent in the traditional phraseology?

Well, what a super idea!

Then again, potentially, any large man in a red velvet suit with a scraggly white beard could scare the bejeebies out of a child, especially when said child is coerced into sitting on the man’s lap while music with the lyrics “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he know’s when you’re awake…” blares in the background.

But that is totally beside the point. Belting out “ho ho ho!” at all those poor, unsuspecting children? All they want is a stinking candy cane, after all. Hey, that could totally damage a child’s psyche, that’s all I’m saying. GOSH.

Triennial Wild Hair… Cut

The cutting… the coloring…

I can’t help myself. It’s a compulsion, I tell you! A COMPULSION!

I cannot be held responsible for my coiffuring compulsions. Just so’s ya know.

In Case Anyone Wondered Where the Sam Hill I Am These Days…

AKA: Why Cat is a HUGE Slacker.

NaNoWriMo, baby.

Honestly. Who knew that it was possible to be TOO thin? Well, apparently this is the case, if one slips the word “spread” before the “too thin” part. GOSH. Someone could have TOLD me!

In other news, TechnoGeekery Show #10: Scrapbooking… Taking it Techno, is now up at TechnoGeekery.com. Check it out! Digi-scrap is FUN! For the whole FAAAAAMILY!

Confessions of a Desperate Working Momma

I was once banned– that’s right, I said BANNED–from the TWoP boards for one teensy tiny moment of indiscretion–moments after the season four finale of American Idol–in which I may or may not have–I’m not sure, it’s all so hazy now–POSSIBLY suggested that all the Carrie Underwood haters just go ahead and SUCK IT. I know, right? What’s up with THAT?! Give a gal a break, yo? I was understandably carried away in the moment! I think! Again with the haziness! Honestly. And I liked my old TWoP user name, too. You don’t just come by sweet user names like that one every day, that’s all I’m saying. I mean, how wickedly cool is the na– well, my super cool, now unfairly defunct TWoP user name so isn’t the point. Whatever.

Ahem.

Then what IS my point? Oh! Yes! I have one!

Carrie Underwood haters? SUCK IT!

Hoo!

Aaah, the sweet, unmoderated freedom of blogging…

Feels GOOOOOOOD.

Oh, CRAP!

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo! What does this MEAN?! How shall I COPE?!

Must! Have! TV!

That being said, the following is a faithful re-telling of a fellow soccer momma’s “Oh, crap!” moment, thanks to her five-year-old daughter and her mad rhyming skillz:

FADE IN:

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD SOCCER FIELD - MORNING - ESTABLISHING

Lawn chairs and coolers dot soccer fields in a well-kept suburban neighborhood, where soccer moms, bleary-eyed coaches, and autumn leaves litter the dusty, trampled-down grass fields.

EXT. SIDELINES - MORNING

Parents, siblings, and the occasional family pet clutter up the sidelines of a soccer game in progress. It’s the final game of the season. Shouts and whistles can be heard in the background as MOTHER, 30-ish, is attempting to watch the game and entertain her DAUGHTER, 5– an energetic little girl sporting pigtails, OshKosh B’Gosh, and some serious attitude– by playing the rhyming game.

MOTHER
…okay, now how about a word
that rhymes with “new”?
Starts with “m”?

DAUGHTER
Moo!

MOTHER
Good! How about an “b”?

DAUGHTER
Boo!

MOTHER
Okay, let’s try another word.
How about a word that rhymes
with “me”?

A cheer erupts from the sidelines as one of the Stingrays kicks a goal.

DAUGHTER
(distracted)
…um…

MOTHER
I love to drink this…
(no answer)
I drink it all the time…
(still nothing)
Okay, listen:
“I drink coffee, I drink…”

DAUGHTER
(triumphant)
WINE!

Stifled laughter erupts from parents in the vicinity.

MOTHER
(suddenly defensive)
No!
(then)
Okay, yes, honey, sometimes I drink
wine. Um… why don’t you go see Daddy
for a few minutes? Good girl…

And… SCENE.

I know, right?

BEST. RHYMING GAME. EVER.

Cat’s Fall Super Cool TV Picks

My Top 5 NEW fall shows, in no particular order, except for by how much I like them:

Pushing Daisies
Samantha Who
Chuck
Reaper
Aliens in America

And then there are the guilty pleasures of the I’m Sure I Shouldn’t Enjoy This As Much As I So Totally Do variety:

Bionic Woman
Moonlight

And finally, my Number 1 Oh, If Only It Could Have Been So fall show:

Veronica Mars, FBI (NOTE: This link takes you to the actual 12-minutes of video shot for Rob Thomas’s pitch to the network. Favorite quote: “There’s lesbians to fend off and hazing rituals to be endured … I’m on a schedule.”)