Hmm, let's see. What's there to tell?

Dead and final week will totally suck. I have too much grading, studying, working, and etc. to do and I am just tired and burned out. I unfortunately have been most of the term but I expect that to change soon just as soon as I can get myself into an more normal, reasonable frame of mind.

I'm getting the bugs out of my place, I might be able to even make an A in Research class, so all's well and good unless my classes hate me in their reviews. :)

Love all you! Hope to see you soon!
Amy

This is just too funny. I wasn't going to do any posts until later but I saw this on Mel's journal and... the first quote I got was just hilarious.

He that sleeps feels not the Amy

Which work of Shakespeare was the original quote from?

Get your own quotes:

I lifted this from Paul. :)

TV Fandom Meme
a. Post a list of seven TV shows you love (current or canceled).
b. Have your friends list guess your favorite 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 journal.

I think this may be cheating if Jen answers it, but ah well.

1. Nip/Tuck - Dr. Christian Troy
2. Battlestar Galactica (the new version) - Lee "Apollo" Adama
3. House - House, duh :>
4. Firefly - Wash
5. Angel - Spike
6. Family Guy - Stewie Griffin
7. M*A*S*H* - Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce

So, due in a large part to the heroic efforts and solidarity of everyone involved, I managed to have a very time at ACNW even though at least half of the con ended getting sick in some form or other. I have so much love and respect for everyone for pulling together and pulling through and to any of you who find this journal, big hugs and if you were among the fallen, I hope you're feeling better.

My games were very good all round. A few ended up being semi-low energy due to the plague, but I got to play a wide variety of styles, characters, and to interact with some of my favorite players and GMs and to meet new people I was able to stick on those favorite lists.

Some highlights for my characters included the fact that "Essence" Sawall (Son of the Seven Deadlies), aka the Conqueror or the White Horseman, not only carried a bow and will probably be given a crown (which is so freakin' cool Revelations wise), he got to kill Dworkin with the bow, almost destroy existence, but then probably end as King of Amber. So what if there's a whole lot of talk from my scary fellow players of making him a puppet king? ;> And in Grindhouse I got to play a dominatrix (though admittedly not well - I was waiting for the whips and bondage scene but the horror movie didn't really go that way, and it was cool enough I wasn't about to try to steer it), and then have my neurosurgeon guy in the seoond game cure zombification and kiss a woman with the top of her skull missing. And both my characters survived! I wonder if people don't like to kill off the characters of the girl in the corset... Hmm.... Worth noting for next year.

In What We Brought Through the Storm I barely stopped myself from betraying everyone, mostly because a) they all expected it and b) Random was going to screw me over anyway. My Betrayal at Castle Amber game was (I believe) extraordinarily successful, and fit the game slot perfectly. Kudos and super thanks to Mom and Jen, without whom the game would have never happened - everyone LOVED your work. I have some editing to do but plan to return with version 2.0 in 2008, unless I can't stop myself from running a serious game for a change. :) Mid-World Falling ended up being great - it's fun to play trustworthy and trusted characters once in a while, although if we'd trusted the guy with the bigger brain rather than relying on my medium-sized brain, we might have seen through the traitor's plots. Ah well.

We didn't get to play Simone's game (le sigh) so we'll have to try it next year, but I have soooo much love for Kristin for her awesome Firefly game that we ended up playing. It was fun, it fit in very well with my mood (and my shirt) and it ended being so totally Firefly I was imagining it as a TV episode the whole time, which I mean as a super compliment to everyone involved.

At first, going around, hearing who was playing whom in Brave New Gotham I was like - I'm the only Buffy character - this is so odd - but it ended up being a blast regardless. I had fun playing Faith, although I wish I'd been able to see some Buffy first, so I could have done more with the characterization - my Faith was kind of watered-down. But the game itself kicked ass, from Vampire Batman to Vampire Superman to the opening and closing of the Hellmouth, and every step in between, and everyone (else?) was so committed and into their characters, which rocked.

I also got to have some really nice conversations with a lot of people, to drink a lot, and am still in super-charged creative mode, so there is so much to be happy about. I'm friends-locking the other side of the coin, so you can choose not to read it. :)

Current Mood: indescribable

Not only am I completely recovered (well, pretty much) from my earlier spout of depression - I have found myself growing more and more obsessed with movies and movie trivia, so I've decided to have my own movie trivia contest - 20 questions a month, first answer worth 2 pts per correct, with scoreboards every 3 months and a winner every year. 5 questions will be generic movie trivia, 5 will be name the actor who played the role, 5 will be what movie does this quote come from, and 5 will be movie actors - name 5 movies they were in. Now, as you can no doubt tell, if you use imdb or other internet sites, this will be easy to cheat on, but I hope you won't. :)

I am going to make the first ones range from fairly easy to very challenging.

And now for the first 20 questions:

GENERIC:
1. What is the first line/sentence spoken in The Godfather?
Answered: "I believe in America."
2. Who kills Bruce Wayne's parents in Batman Begins?
Answered: Joe Chill.
3. In Labyrinth, what does Sarah call Hoggle at first, before she can remember his name?
Answered: Hogwart.
4. In the first moments of A Lion in Winter before the lines which come from William Goldman's play, what is Richard doing when he is called to the Christmas gathering?
5. Who is the first Replicant "retired" by Deckard in Blade Runner?
Answered: Zhora.

NAME THE ACTOR:
1. Who did the voice of Jack Skellington in A Nightmare Before Christmas? 2 points for singing voice, 2 points for speaking voice.
Answered: Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman.
2. In the Horatio Hornblower series, who played Captain Sir Edward Pellew?
Answered: Sir Robert Lindsay.
3. Who played Eomer in The Two Towers and the The Return of the King?
Answered: Karl Urban.
4. Which actor plays King Louis XIII in Richard Lester's Three Musketeers and Four Musketeers?
5. In Pulp Fiction, who is "Pumpkin"?
Answered: Tim Roth.

MOVIE QUOTES:
1. "This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence."
Answered: A Clockwork Orange.
2. "Pink. They're pink."
Answered: Superman.
3. "You don't seem excited, my little muffin."
4. "Well, double dumb-ass on you!"
Answered: Star Trek IV: The Journey Home.
5. "Claudia, you've been a very, very naughty little girl."
Answered: Interview with the Vampire.

MOVIE ACTORS (Name 5 Films):
1. Eric Stoltz.
Answered.
2. Robin Wright Penn.
Answered.
3. Guy Pearce.
Answered.
4. Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Answered.
5. Brad Dourif.
Answered.

This is just kind of a heads-up to my friends who are finding it hard to keep in touch with me right now... It's not your fault - I'm not sure it's even totally my fault. I'm depressed - not sure why, not sure how to fix it. It's never happened to me before and there's no logical reason why it should be happening to me now. Life's great, Hawai'i's beautiful, I'm progressing as an actor, though maybe getting more realistic about my actual chances... but at the same time I feel disconnected, ugly, stupid, untalented and uncreative. And I *know* that's the depression talking so please don't let that make you feel bad - I only let myself type it because I'm trying to explain why I've been lame at replying to emails, answering phone calls and so on for the past weeks. I love all of you and I would never in a million years want to make you feel bad or guilty or anything like that. I just need to work out some issues and I am sure I will, once I can be rational again. Until then, I just beg your patience and promise every three day posts if I can't do every day. I'd like to do every day. I'll work on it like I'm trying to work on everything else.

Love to all. Sorry if I just made you sadder. I didn't know whether to write this or not, which is why I didn't for so long. But now it feels like you deserve to know why I'm not being my usual self. I wish I was my usual self... I'd kill for the Amy who had confidence and loved herself.

But I still have complete confidence in, love for, and trust and belief in all of my spectacular friends, who rock, who make my days brighter and who really don't deserve to have to read this post. Hugs to you!

For those of you who are interested in this stuff:

Personal: I'm a terribly lazy person which means the less I *have* to do, the less gets done. I will happily sit around all day in front of the computer and then watch some movies and then run out for the five hours I work at my part-time job, and then right back to the computer. I tell myself I'm going to exercise and eat better but it somehow just doesn't happen. But when I'm busy, then for some reason, I can. Like the more I have to do, the more I want to do. It's weird.

Ah well, I'm enjoying my laziness at the moment, and it's due to disappear soon so I can't be too hard on me.

I didn't get my Netflix that was due yesterday, but I did get the movie miniseries I bought (Lonesome Dove) about five days ahead of schedule, so I'll have plenty to watch.

Angela and I went out for sushi yesterday night, which was fun. I had cherries with my sushi, which sounds odd but was actually a lovely meld of flavors. The cherries weren't *in* the sushi, of course. :)

Work: Is going just fine. It's usually slow as hell when I'm on, so I spend a lot of time standing around or chatting with the people who came in just to drink. I miss the kind of tips I got at Calapooia, and the busy, but the hours are flexible, the people are nice, and I've been able to buy all my groceries and take myself out a few times a week with the cash in my pocket since I got that job, so that my checks from the University can pay bills. So everything is really fairly ideal. I'll be going in and working 3 to 8 this evening, and I hope for a steady stream of customers so they don't send me home early. I'll be paid, anyway, which is always nice.

Rehearsals: Back on track now Linda's returned from New York. I keep getting very good compliments from my fellow actors as well, which keeps my head above the water since I really have absolutely no clue what my character wants for herself. It's a plot character - really only there to serve her master and get him what he wants. Which might be enough for Shakespeare but leaves me feeling like I'm flailing in the dark a bit. If I knew what Linda wanted to do with the minor relationships I'd just make up a bunch of backstory for myself, stuff that might never be known to anyone but me but which would give me more confidence, but I don't want to decide anything she isn't going to like, in case it did become readable to the audience.

Anyway the last few rehearsals were a blast - Friday night for instance, I got to terribly over-the-top, which is always fun, and in a few places she is going to let me pretty much do the same thing in performance. It is a comedy, after all. :)

Will start rehearsing for Wild Man on the 15th, as well as continuing Shrew rehearsals and working, so I'll be busy then, but I'm still looking forward to it.

What it means is that I should get some work done on my curriculum for the Fall *now* so that I don't feel a crunch right before school starts. Cross your fingers for me that I won't slack off too much.

Current Mood: lazy

I probably shouldn't post this and burden others with my weirdness, but it's late, I'm close to drunk and I've had a really amazingly good day.

There was this couple at the bar I work at, and I was so happy once the kitchen closed, I wanted to have a few drinks, and some guys (not the couple I'm referencing) were buying and chatting with me and it was fun. Then I start talking to this couple from Liverpool, and he's absolutely dreamy and his accent...

I'm sorry... Any British Isles accent at all, and I'm starstruck. I just love them. I know all my Brit friends who PBEM with me and read this will be rolling their eyes and probably always think of me differently but I can't help it. It's hot. Like a Spanish accent or Australian or... I just like accents. So now I'm thinking, why the heck can't any cute British or Irish or Australian or Scottish or Spanish or whatever guy come to Hawaii who doesn't have a girlfriend or a wife? Is that too much to ask?

If you're reading this, you PBEM with me, or you might want to - and if you're willing to play a game I GM or at all interested in a game that's a bit off the beaten Amber path - give me an email, or check out Spires of Arcadia at http://cityofarcadia.wetpaint.com/

The wiki is far from complete but I'm ready to work with players.

And it isn't my first game, I've learned from some previous mistakes, so I think I can with honesty say it will be a good game! Plot and everything! ;)

So to all of you in the vicinity of my old home (that is Corvallis) I'll be flying into PDX on May 13th and be sticking around for two weeks this time. So those of you who want to hang out - let me know! I'm looking forward to catching up with you all, especially those who missed me last time around!

Love and kisses!

What I mean is - each of you that I have backstories with for Avery will get a Shakespeare quote each. If we're multi-threading you only get one. :) I'm not THAT good.

P.S. Do you like my new layout? I picked the colors myself - and figured I might as well put a picture of *me* up, instead of Liv Tyler... ;)

Okay, so I missed it by a day. Yesterday was weird.

But I won't let April go by without my tribute to the Bard, which is that in each game I am playing, each of my characters must quote Shakespeare today. If you are in games with me and want to earn special bonus brownie points, or just like a challenge, guess where the quote was.

For people in AXI, to make this fair, Avery will have to quote Shakespeare in *each* backstory thread... Wow, that is going to a challenge...

To anyone and everyone who has spoken to me lately or had me bitch at them, I am soo soo sorry. I've just been stressed and not sleeping and not eating right and feeling a teensy bit homesick and I do not in any way ever mean to take it out on you, those I love.

PLUS, my life is really awesome! I am in Hawaii of all places, doing exactly what I want to do, and I just need to learn to allocate my time better is all!

So now I have a great new roommate with whom I get along splendidly, I'm going to get to act in the Shakespeare Festival here (not sure how big the role will be but regardless it will be fun and I'll be making connections), I'll get a summer to enjoy the beaches and go exploring, I'm making new friends and getting to know some damn fine people - and I still have my old awesome friends who I will hopefully get to see again sometime in May when I fly back over after the term ends!

So everything is really very very awesome and I want anyone who heard me be depressed to know that I'm not at all depressed - it was just a super hard week.

And from now on, I'm resolving not to allow myself super hard weeks. Getting depressed just makes everything worse. The people I like being around the most are people with positive energy and great attitudes - and so I'm going to be one of those people, damn it! I am resolving to not let my first reaction be negative - I want to look on the bright side of life...

You may all sing now. ;)

Life. Is. Insane.

I'm trying NOT to think of all the crap I have to get done by early next week, and the tiny amount of free time I have to do it.

I figure, either it will get done, or it won't. If it does, all will be well. If not, I'll just have to figure out how to live with that.

Does anyone want to fly to Hawaii to be in an acting demonstration next Tuesday?

LOL. I'll *probably* be okay. I just hope they don't try to deliver the mattress while I'm at school.

Current Mood: stressed

No, seriously.

I walked into Magoos (this beer joint near campus) to grab a pint in between halves of the tech rehearsal, and they were playing "The Ding Ding Dong Song" on the jukebox. It took me a second to figure it out, and when I did, I chuckled for a few minutes.

It's not quite as ridiculous without the spiffy video, but still pretty darn silly to be playing on the loudspeakers of a large bar. :)

I've got a new character and I CANNOT find an actor I want to play him... I think my mental image is just too strong and nobody quite fits it! Help!!

Basic description is tall, lean, muscular, black hair, pale blue eyes, fine features, gentlemanly quality, quality of suppressed, hidden or possible violence and darkness.

I've run the gamut on my usual suspects and none of them are quite right - Christian Bale fits all except the blue eyes but he's just soooo often used in Amber games and I've cast him as a few characters before that I don't want to Avery to end up too much like. I thought about Stuart Townsend or Orlando Bloom but they're just a bit too young and pretty. I was seriously tempted by Peter Steele of all people but he seems to be always naked or evil-looking or both in his pictures. The eyes are right though.

Can anyone think of someone I ought to consider?

Your help is sooooo appreciated!

Yesterday was really a beautiful day. I went to see "In the Heart of America" which was extremely well put together and intensely moving. I couldn't really move for a few minutes after it was over, just kind of thinking about it.

Then, because my ride was in the cast, she invited me to go out with them and we went to this expensive (but very good) wine bar where somehow no one let me pay for anything but kept offering me some of their champagne or a glass of wine or some of the food they'd ordered. There was very good live music and we got up to dance for a bit, and one of the men was one of the best looking I have ever seen in person (although he is taken, it's still nice to be relaxing and enjoying yourself and look across the table at someone so beautiful).

So hopefully the rest of my week will go as well as Friday. I may have a roommate ironed out, only for a couple of months, but she seems really nice and down to earth and responsible, my friends have offered me some free stuff for the apartment, etc.

I'm planning to go out to Sears and look around a little for sales, etc. later today and then maybe take myself out to the Outback to celebrate St. Patrick's day (I know that doesn't make great sense, but there are no real Irish restaurants here and if I do an Irish pub thing alone again I'm afraid some guy will try to pick me up which is not what I'm in the mood for). Plus I'd really love a steak. I'm also going to go down to the beach to do my reading homework, something I should do a lot more often, but I hadn't because I'm not real comfortable in my bathing suits yet - but I figured hey - I don't have to wear a bathing suit just 'cause I'm on the beach. ;)

Love to all!

I loved this movie - and while having Christian Bale AND Hugh Jackman always adds to my desire to *see* a movie, it won't necessarily add to my opinion of that movie.

I thought it was smart, stylish and slick, with just enough tricks. I caught most of them before they happened but I completely missed the BIG one - which as I reconsidered was perfectly and very well set up all through the movie. It was interesting, character driven, exceedingly well acted, especially by Bale, Jackman and by the ever awesome Michael Caine. Whoever plays Sarah is also very nice.

I still think Scarlett Johannsen is overrated but she's definitely attractive and watchable. David Bowie does a pretty damn good Russian accent but has a very small part. Still, he's not immediately recognizable as Bowie, which has to be a compliment. It's real acting. :)

The movie got me in the first few minutes and kept my attention all the way through, even though I was tired and ready to crash. I would completely recommend it.

I liked the Illusionist a lot, but if I had to choose between Magician movies, I'd recommend the Prestige. :)

If you haven't seen the Departed yet, seriously, rent it! It's amazing! I was mesmerized and I was watching on my laptop so not a very comfortable setup. I was tempted to pop it back in and watch some scenes over. It's that good.

There are a lot of things I like about Hawaii.

No daylight savings time is just a bonus. :)