Hello, my name is Rachel; and I love Jane Austen movies.

A while ago I found this really cool blog called 'Austenprose' where the author comments on all things Jane Austen related (every novel that comes out based on Austen, every movie, etc.) and loved it.
Interestingly enough, while I absolutely can't stand reading Austen herself *snore*, I love reading all the sequels and prequels written by other authors, and most of all....
I LOVE the movie adaptations.

What drew me to the blog was this post that I found where she collected pictures of all the 'Mr. Darcys' from Pride & Prejudice movie adaptations (plus one regency era portrait). She then asked her readers to vote on their favourite.

Much to my nerd-joy and vague embaressment, I found that I could make a very informed decision as I owned all five movies adaptions referred to in the poll.

Call it an addiction.













My choice was for Elliot Cowan from 'Lost in Austen' (bottom right corner), as he does a great job of coming off as a HUGE jerk most of the time; which, I may remind you, Darcy is supposed to do.

He can't be ALL longing looks and sexy Byronic suffering, or Elizabeth would have seen through him right off!
No, he has to be enough of a jerk that our brilliant heroin has no option but to destest him for much of the story.

In any case, the winner of the poll turned out to be Matthew McFayden with 35%.
But let it be known that Elliot pulled in a strong second place with 34% of the vote, followed by Colin Firth at 26%.
David Rintoul and Sir Laurence Olivier tied near the bottom with 2% each; which makes sense when you consider that David's adaption was rather boring and Laurence's strayed so far from the book as to be hardly recognizable!
The regency era portrait in the upper left hand corner came in just barely at 1%.

Well, that is your useless bit of fun for the day.
Cheers mates!

The job search from hell.....

So in case there was any question about this....
I desperately need a job for this coming year.
Desperately.
There is no, "if you don't get a job..."
There is only, "You will get a job."

Which is fine. I'm ok with that. Facts of life.
The problem is, we're in a recession.
Everyone needs a job.
The bigger problem?
I have been self-employed my entire life.
No 'experience' to speak of as far as cashiering (does this mean I can't count money? Apparently.) or 'customer service' (if teaching voice lessons isn't all public relations, I don't know what is.)

So the long and the short of it is; with about a hundred (if not more) applicants for each job, I am at the absolute bottom of each list.

The next bit of wonderful news?
The University of Minnesota has seen fit to refrain from offering me work study, even though I qualify for it. By a lot. (there will be phone calls about that tomorrow...)
Next problem?
Almost ALL the University student jobs are only available to those with work study.
Which I have not got.

To sum up: I AM SCREWED.

Brilliant.

On the bright side, Emily is coming to visit soon (HUZZAH) and my kitty is going to the vet in the next few days, which means he will be mine very soon!

'Torchwood: Children of Earth'

This mini-series was fantastical, funny, thought-provoking, touching, romantic, absolutely terrifying, and deeply sad...

Watch it.

You can see it for free on itunes right now. I don't know how long that will last.

Wow.
Brilliant.

This was some hardcore filmmaking and first class storytelling.

The Chain' by Ingrid Michaelson

The sky looks pissed.

The wind talks back.

The bones are shifting in my skin and you my love are gone.

My room seems wrong.

The bed won't fit.

I can not seem to operate and you my love are gone

So glide away and so be healed

and promise not to promise anymore

and if you come around again then i will take,

then i will take the chain from off the door

I'll never say,

I'll never love

but I dont say a lot of things

and you my love are gone

So glide away and so be healed

and promise not to promise anymore

and if you come around again then i will take,

then i will take the chain from off the door...

Ooooomigod, omigod you guys!

Everyone should see this trailer.
Everyone.
Ev-ry-one.



A very important date indeed. March 5th can't come soon enough.

*sad face*

Sarah is gone.
=(

She left this afternoon.

We had a great time though.
We went and saw 'Harry Potter' again in D-Town where it's cheap.
We went to the mall and walked around.
We watched the first three episodes of 'Torchwood: Children of Earth', which is AWESOME thus far. Two more nights to go!
I will give no spoilers.....suffice to say that BIG stuff is going down every night and the tension is unbelievable!
Ack!
But I love it. It's so much fun.

We went to Jackson County Humane Society and picked out my kitty. I put down a deposit only to have them call me today and be like, "Whoops. That kitten we told you was a girl? It's a boy."
Deal breaker.

So I had to drive to Maquoketa and get my deposit back. Now I have to check out both the Davenport and Clinton humane societies to see what they have.
*sigh*
I thought that was done! Booooo.........

In good news, I have a dresser and a DVD shelving unit. So.....That's nice.

I'm a little in limbo right now, trying to figure out what to do next.
And I guess I'll be watching 'Torchwood' alone the next two nights.........EPIC FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers mates.

Waiting, waiting......

I'm a'settin' things up for the coming year.
I'm buying furniture (eeeeeeeekkk.....soooo muuuuch moneeeeeyyy....*dies*)
Every dime. Every single dime I have accumulated this summer is disappearing in the next week.
I've even spent money I haven't got yet!
That's called 'planning for the future', it's a very technical financial idea. =D

Mom is in Chicago with Dad for a dealer's conference right now and she's going to check out Ikea furniture. If she doesn't see anything we like better, next week we're going to go back to Oak express and get this gorgeous table and pantry that are really cheap right now.

Sarah's coming today, she's on her way.
HUZZAH!
It'll be nice to cuddle with one of my chicas. Mom's not much of a cuddler and I could use some quality movie watchin', blanket sharin', brownie eatin' good times.

'Torchwood: Children of Earth' will happen as well. The first night has happened, but I taped it so that Sarah and I could watch it together. *EEEE!!* It's gonna rock. Like, hardcore. Russel T. Davies (creator of the new Doctor Who) said he thinks its' the best thing he's ever done, and that's saying somethin'. I'm sooooo excited! It's gonna be SO MADE OF AWESOME!!!
Nerdfighters!

We're also gonna drive to Maquoketa and pick out my kitty.
I'm so excited!
I'm gonna pick out which kitty I want to adopt and then fill out the paper work.
Next week I will pick up the kitty and drive her to Minnesota and to her new home in Christy and my apartment!
*chants* kittykittykittykittykittykittykitty.....*jumps up and down*

I'm trying to come up with good kitty names, of course you really can't make any decisions until you meet the kitten and see what comes to mind, but I'm sort of leaning right now towards 'Rowena'; after Rowena Ravenclaw.
I know, I know.
Geek.
*shrugs*
Dont' care.
=D

Anyways....
Cheers mates

The 100th Post!

Harry Potter was great.
Amazing.
Really great.
It's definately a 'filler' movie, mostly made up of exposition for the next two films.
Not a whole lot happens...But if you're a Harry Potter fan, you're not in it for the action, you're in it for the ride; and this movie is a great ride.
The acting really blew my mind this time.
All the professors were amazing and the kids are getting better with every film.
The adult characters really rocked though.

Seeing the film has also re-affirmed by dedication to re-read all the books.
I'm about halfway through book 3.
Woot!
I've always wanted to re-read them, it just always seems that there's a book lying around that I haven't read yet and like I should keep going htrough new stuff until I go back.

NO MORE!
I've got a fever!
And the only cure.....
IS MORE POTTER!!

I'm goin' back, where I can be me
To the Hogwarts witches and wizards academy
They've got a great big castle there
where they hop on brooms and fly
it's never dull
and there it can be just Dumbledore and I

A little spell casting on the siiiiiiide
Yes, that's where I'll be
At the Hogwarts witches and wizards academy

And if anybody asks for Rachel, or Rae V
Just tell um' that I'm where I am a magical me
at the Hogwarts witches and wizards academy-ee-ee-eeeeee
Send me an owl there!
To the Hogwarts witches and wizards academy!!!

~parody of 'I'm Goin' Back' from "Bells are Ringing"