Category Archives: I Heart TV

Currently (or This Too Shall Pass)

Allow me to rant for a paragraph or two. There’s construction going on around my parents’ house and it is RUINING MY LIFE. The worst part is that I have my own place. Why do I stay with my parents?! I have my own place where I don’t have to deal with construction and I don’t have to worry about the water being turned off and I can WALK AROUND NAKED IF I WANT. Oh, Lisa. I’m so disappointed in you.

Second rant: I can’t wait until this election is over. I know who I’m voting for but I’m honestly scared about the outcome either way. Politics has never been something that I like to talk about. I like listening to people who are educated and passionate, and I read and do what I can to educate myself as much as possible. But I get so frustrated when someone with no fucking clue starts talking politics, or when you think you’re having a friendly exchange about politics with a rational human being and then they say that the President is the spawn of Satan and you realize that they are totally serious and you kind of wish you didn’t know them anymore.

Okay. The construction should be over in a month. The election, well, I’ll be living in this country indefinitely so I care deeply, but elections are so damn ugly. Are they not? It’ll be done by Thanksgiving, which isn’t that far away, y’all.

Now, I like saying “y’all” even though I’m a Chicago girl through and through. I’ve been using it a LOT recently, probably because I’m reading “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” by Jenny Lawson aka The Bloggess. I’m reading it on my brand new gently used Kindle Fire! I’m not totally against ebooks, but I still prefer the real thing. I like turning pages, I like bookmarks, I like being able to measure how “thick” chapters are, and I especially like that I can hand a book to a friend that I know will enjoy it after I’m done reading it.

I finally started watching Girls and can someone tell me what goat Lena Dunham sacrificed in order to have her career? I simultaneously want to hug her and high five her and punch her in the face. I can’t decide if I think she’s brilliant or just really, really lucky. (It’s probably both.) I like the show. I understand all the backlash and shit, and there are plenty of reasonable people I personally know who wouldn’t find it entertaining in the least. I just find it refreshing that I can enjoy it and can relate to it (to an extent) without getting emotionally involved (which is what is sort of happening with Parenthood, another show I’m currently marathoning). Anyway. Lena Dunham, fuck you and your brilliance and maybe we can hang out sometime? Please?

I can’t believe it’s September already. Summer went by way too quickly and I already know that fall and winter are going to fly by. I do have a feeling that I’ll have a lot of funny and/or excruciating tales to share with y’all. Be productive, creative, set goals, make plans, be spontaneous –cue inspirational music– every moment is a gift. Time will pass quickly regardless of how you spend it. So have fun and get shit done and live life and start dating so that you don’t have to buy a cat and you probably don’t have to buy a cat because the neighborhood stray already thinks that you’re her mommy and well that’s another blog post for another day.

Currently

Hey. The title of the blog is i-cant-drive, so let’s talk driving for a minute. Driving complaints: bikes, scooters, trucks, slow drivers, fast drivers, honkers, buses, tire pressure light, oil change, need to get my car detailed. Oh, crap, need to go for an emissions test, too. Kids, if you’re reading this and are looking at the photo above, you will note that my hands are NOT at 10 and 2 on the wheel. Do not follow my example. Be a good driver. On another note, it’s obvious that one should not drive while under the influence. I wish I could hand the keys over to someone else when I’m having a bad day.

Are you watching the Olympics? I’m not. I like keeping up with the highlights and results, and I even like reading people’s live tweets. When talking to a co-worker about it today, I realized that one of the reasons I’m not watching is because it stresses me out. Don’t get me wrong — I’m seriously impressed with the athletes and their abilities. But the pressure they must be under! It brings me back to my music competition days when I was a serious stressball and had a serious stick up my ass. It’s honestly gut-wrenching. Hearing about Gabby Douglas’s mishap on the uneven bars made me feel so nervous. Hearing about it. Not watching it. I can’t bring myself to watch it.

MK and I are prepping for our next quarterly party at work. I can’t help but think about how much has changed in the three months since the last one. The last three months, six months, one year… I still feel like I’m a boring, lame girl, but my life keeps getting better instead of worse. That’s good, right? Anyway, this quarter we’re doing a summer theme thanks to MK’s awesome ideas, so I’ve been listening to The Beach Boys tonight while putting a playlist together.

In terms of TV, I’ve been marathoning Lost Girl. I didn’t know what to expect from this show, but I’m fricken entertained. It’s good-looking people in supernatural situations with some sexy times and swearing (if you’re watching the uncensored version anyway), humor that I dig, and a mystery that keeps me invested but doesn’t cause me to lose sleep. It’s not campy but it ain’t Battlestar Galactica, either.

I’m pausing my reading of Everything Happens at Night and started reading The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris. It’s an easy read, which is just what I need right now, but I have a feeling that it’s going to break my heart.

Birthday weekend is coming up! I’m not that excited. I mean, I don’t really have any plans which is totally boring and lame. I thought I would be out of town all weekend but it turns out I’ll only be gone Sunday and Monday. So if anyone wants to go to impromptu dinner, drinks, and a viewing of Step Up: Revolution (because COME ON, I want to see something mindless and happy and corny plus DANCING), let me know. We’ll have a time, as Rayanne Graff would say. If you get that reference, we can be friends forever.

Currently

Happy Sunday! Wait. Happy Monday! Oh, how I love and hate Monday holidays. I know I should be glad that I will only have a four day work week (and I only had a four day work week last week since I took Friday off), but the weeks where we get Monday off seem so long. Anyway, here’s what’s been happening.

Turning Veganese turned celebrated its six month anniversary which also means that I’ve been on my way to being vegan for six months. I feel great and morally superior to omnivores. Just kidding about that last part. But, I do feel great. I have had to shop for new clothes to go with my slightly new body. A better diet isn’t everything, though, so…

…I’ve decided to start working out again. My reasons for wanting to exercise are mostly superficial. Like I said, I feel great, but I would like to look great. I would also like to be more physically fit. I walked up seven flights of stairs at work a couple weeks ago and sounded like I was having a panic attack afterward. A guy at work does it everyday and said he started out the same way, but now it’s pretty much effortless. That’s good motivation. We have an on-site gym at work, so all I have to do is drag my ass in there. I dusted off the old gym bag (I literally had to dust it off) and packed it for tomorrow.

Another thing I’m going to try doing is bringing my lunch to work. I spend so much money on coffee, breakfast, lunch and snacks at work. It’s icky and it’s putting me in the poor house. Anyone got any recommendations on a good French press? I have one but I’m thinking of buying a nicer one and keeping the old one at work.

As part of my lazy Memorial Day, I thought it would be nice to watch a movie while laying in bed. I guess I could have watched it while working out in front of the TV, but I didn’t, OK? I watched a modern-day classic, the 2011 version of Footloose.

Watching this movie did not change my life and I bet you are rolling your eyes or laughing at the fact that I watched it. Well, I enjoyed it! I thought Kenny Wormald was charming. Shut up.

I also watch good stuff, like Mad Men. Ohmigosh, did you see last night’s episode, “The Other Woman?” Sooo good. So disturbingly good. Quietly shocking and thought-provoking. I just love Jon Hamm. And I love Ginsberg. I think Ben Feldman is cute and I love him in Drop Dead Diva and that Hillary Duff movie he was in and I swear to you that I am an intelligent person with good taste in television and movies.

Music-wise, I’m liking the new record by The Walkmen. I also can’t get Rihanna and Carly Rae Jepsen out of my head. Why am I admitting this on my blog? That’s my cue to end this post and go to bed.

 

I’m Goofy and I Know It

I saw the most incredible thing while traveling last week:

It’s a dude using a pay phone. A DUDE USING A PAY PHONE. I obviously had to take a picture. What I was unable to capture (to my dismay) were the moments before he picked up the phone, when he read the instructions and then looked for change. HE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Well, either he didn’t read the instructions well enough or no one was home because he never did speak to someone. Poor guy. I probably should have offered my assistance; he seemed to have trouble counting his change, too. I was not a good citizen at the moment. Plus, I was too busy giggling about it.

I caved and bought a pair of TOMS:

They’re comfy but let me warn you that I had to exchange my original pair for a half size smaller than my usual size. I’m a dumbass for not listening to my friend Monika when she told me to get a half size smaller. I do like them, but… how do I put this delicately… I have to be careful what outfits I pair them with because with the wrong pants or look, I basically look like an Asian refugee or female prisoner. This has to do with their slipper-like look, the fact that I’m Asian, and the fact that I have tiny feet (my TOMS are a size 5). TOMS gives a free pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair bought; Monika joked that I was one of the free pair recipients. Yes. That’s how they look on me. I’m wearing them anyway, dammit.

I finally finished reading Zeitoun. Wow. It’s so quietly powerful. I admit that I’m fiction’s bitch; it was Dave Eggers’s name that made me pick up Zeitoun more than anything else (yes, yes, ironic since he doesn’t really write fiction). I think it’s a really important story, and I would encourage you to read it. I started my next book, which was recommended to me by my friend Jen:

So far, so good. I may actually finish this one by next year…

This is nearly blasphemous, but I haven’t been keeping up with TV much lately. Mad Men is the only show I faithfully watch, but I did miss last night’s episode. It’s so good and Sunday nights are a perfect TV night for me. Plus, it’s Mad Men, people. If I’m only going to keep up with one show, it had best be Mad Men. Other than that, I’ve been marathoning Doctor Who. After Martha’s last episode, I wanted to pause before getting into the Donna episodes and the end of Tennant’s run. I feel like such a Who nerd for wanting to prolong Tennant’s run for as long as I can even though I’ve seen it all already and I’m a fan of Matt Smith’s doctor. Hahahaa, are you reading this? I can’t believe I’m talking about Doctor Who. Anyway, I still wanted something British, but more stiff and romantic, so I watched (for the first time) the BBC’s Pride & Prejudice miniseries:

Ewwww, Colin Firth! Stop being so sexy with that look and your dark curly hair and acting all snotty but then being all wonderful… I take it back, Colin Firth, please let me have your babies and is it okay if I call you Mister Darcy? Nothing will ever beat this adaptation! Disclaimer: I am not a Jane Austen nerd so take my assessment with a grain of salt. I loved it so much that I almost watched it again immediately, but there are other things to enjoy, such as Audrey Hepburn. I’ve never seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I know, I know! How lame of me. However, I did start by watching Sabrina and Audrey Hepburn is so pretty and petite and I hate her guts now.

In non-TV entertainment, I was uber elated to hear that the Art Institute will have a Roy Lichtenstein exhibit from May 16 through September 2. I fell in love with Lichtenstein when I saw a huge print of one of his works hanging in my boss’s office years ago. It’s such great Pop Art and I need to make sure I haul my ass downtown to see this one. Who wants to go with me?

Finally, and also in non-TV entertainment, I attended my niece’s dance recital yesterday.

Isn’t she sweet?!

Nah. She’s a goofball, just like her aunt. Alright, gotta go. I’m eating a mango and it needs my undivided attention!

Currently…

…Listening To:

It’s been a Personal Jesus/Strangelove/Just Like Heaven type of week. I guess that’s why I streamed Mixed Emotions by Tanlines nonstop on the days that I forgot my iPod at home this week. Thank you for the first listen, NPR! I am painfully behind on The Nerdist Podcast but try to make it a point to listen on my drive home from work. Hey, I have tickets to see The Nerdist guys next month. I need to make sure I’m caught up on all the inside jokes.

…Watching:

I felt the sudden urge to re-watch Everwood a couple weeks ago. I started with season 3 and am nearly done with the 4th and final season. This show was really kind of out there but still entertaining and touching. I didn’t skip any episodes, which I did during a recent Felicity re-watch. However, I do feel the need to say that the character of Amy Abbott, portrayed by Emily Van Camp, is pretty damn annoying: she’s pushy and selfish and presumptuous!

Reading:

I find that people either love Dave Eggers or hate him. I fall into the former camp. I spotted Zeitoun in a bookstore at O’Hare before a flight I took over a year ago. I didn’t start reading the book until three weeks ago. I shamefully don’t make time to read these days unless I’m headed downtown via the CTA. So even though this book is a quick read, I’m still not done with it. That should be remedied on or before my next appointment downtown, which is in a couple of weeks. In addition to this, I’m trying to stay on top of The Week.

…Awaiting The Release Of:

Guys, I can’t EVEN. I rarely watch movies in the theater anymore. I wanted to see a movie so badly this weekend just so I could practice being a movie theater goer. Yes! Really! I’m trying to figure out if I want  to watch with someone else or if I should go alone. There’s a lot of crying potential so I’m thinking I might go alone.

And this has been an update from i-cant-drive.net. Good night/day/whatever and good luck.

Pretty Little Liars and Ugly Hot Guys

Confession: I LOVE PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. It’s such a guilty pleasure. I didn’t want to get sucked in, I don’t even know how I got sucked in–well, I can probably blame my friend Jen for turning my mild interest in the show into an obsession–and I am now a sucker for the plot twists, teenage drama, and whackadoodle mysteries.

Why do I love this show so much? First, I am a teenybopper at heart, in love with shows set in high school that have a pretty cast. Seriously, the four main girls in this show are pretty! Grr. I hate them. Nah! I love them! Get four teenage girls in a room and you’re bound to hate one of them. Not the case with this group. All the characters (with the exception of their dead friend, RIP Allison) are likeable. I won’t lie, I’m also uberpsyched that Shay Mitchell, who plays Emily, is half-Filipino. Work it, girl.

The other thing that makes this show so fun to watch? THE DUDES. I mean, come ON. It’s so wrong that I think these boys are cute, but I do! I think they’re trying a little hard to turn Caleb into Tim Riggins 2.0, but maybe it’s just the hair. And the dude who plays Toby? Ugly-hot (thanks, Jen, for that adjective).

Mostly, I’m really into the mystery aspect of the show. These girls do NOT have easy lives! A killer is on the loose! Someone knows all their secrets! It almost fills the void left by the cancellation of Veronica Mars, which had its own grisly mysteries to solve.

Pretty Little Liars is good, dramatic fun. Actually, no. There should be more fun on the show. But I guess that’s hard to do when someone is essentially stalking you and you’re worried that you will be murdered. Huh.

Catch Pretty Little Liars on Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC Family.

Official site

Photo from abcfamily.com.

Nikita: My Thoughts

So I haven’t been as TV-blogging crazy as I thought I would be, mostly because I would rather concentrate on my viewing than take notes, and also because it has taken awhile to solidify which shows I care to watch this season. Case in point: I was hoping to contribute to another news blog about Lone Star, and that show got cancelled after two weeks. But, I digress. Someone asked me to blog about Nikita. After watching three episodes, I’m ready to to share my thoughts.

First, let’s get this out of the way: Maggie Q is hot (in my opinion). She’s beautiful, strong, sexy and she does her own stunts in the show. SHE DOES HER OWN STUNTS, PEOPLE. If I had her face, I would NOT be sparring with people. She manages to look beautiful even when she is supposed to look crappy. And I love that the show doesn’t feel the need to constantly comment on her looks. I must also add that I’m tickled that a female Asian (even if she’s not 100% Asian) is headlining a show that ISN’T about Asians.

While I found Nikita entertaining enough to keep my attention in the first two episodes, I also found that I didn’t really care about Nikita’s motivation for wanting to take down Division. Explanation: In Alias, a show that Nikita is compared to for obvious reasons, we only saw Sydney’s fiance in the pilot episode – but we saw enough of him to really understand and feel how betrayed she was. In addition, she was bluntly told what SD-6 really is. In Nikita, our heroine already knows she’s basically a bad guy. I mean, yeah… I’m sure there are some assassins in the world who murder for “good” reasons, but come on. It’s only after her fiance is murdered that she’s all like “I am running away and taking these jerks down!” At least, that’s my impression. Wow. All this is my long way of saying that Nikita seems like a kid who is rebelling because her favorite toy was taken away.

Despite all of that, I find Nikita to be a strong show with good action, good stories-of-the-week, and great characters. I like watching it because I can sense that every episode is driving us closer to an ultimate end: this isn’t a show that will constantly be about chasing bad guys and screwing up Division’s missions, until a point is reached where the writers are forced to conclude the story somehow. There’s a larger story taking place and a goal that the writers are trying to meet. (I was pleased to read in a recent interview with Maggie Q that, yes, the first 13 episodes are basically a complete story.)

What has really attracted me to the show is the cast. I can finally take Shane West seriously, and I love his chemistry with Maggie Q. He’s great in this, but I really hope we can see him crack a smile and not be so tortured all the time. Lyndsy Fonseca is another little hot tamale and I love her in this. A show with Xander Berkely and Melinda Clarke? Uh… hello, awesomesauce! I’ll admit that it’s hard for me to see Aaron Stanton playing a nerd, but it’s nice having him on my TV. As for Maggie Q… well, I like her but, physically, it doesn’t seem natural or easy for her change her voice or her facial expressions – HOWEVER, I still think she’s technically a good actress. I get what her character is feeling, and that’s really all you can ask for.

So those are my thoughts on Nikita. I’ll definitely keep watching. Check it out yourself on Thursdays at 9/8c on the CW.

Last Night’s TV :: Sons of Anarchy :: White Collar

After marathoning the first two seasons of Sons of Anarchy, I should have known by now that lulls in the middle of the episode do NOT mean that something totally exciting is won’t happen at the end. Duh. I was too busy tweeting or whatever and totally missed the violence… the beautiful, beautiful violence… a-HEM.

After watching last night’s episode, I’m really worried about Tara and Jax. How awesome was Tara’s freak-out in the nursery? I like Hal Holbrook and I like Tig and I LOVE Gemma, but I’m left wondering how the sick dad story is going to mesh with everything else that’s going on. I’m gonna miss Half-Sack, but I’ve heard that Kurt Sutter is introducing two or three brand spankin’ new prospects, so that should be interesting.

It’s equal parts delightful and annoying that Chuck (is that the weird freaky guy’s name) is still around. Oh, and Irish. Stupid Irish dude. I don’t even… STAHL NEEDS TO DIE. (Excuse me, but am I paid to write about TV? No. So lemme just spew out jibberish, thankyouverymuch.) Still, I must applaud Ally Walker on her brilliant portrayal of that stupid bitch.

Final note: I don’t know about Clay. I just don’t trust that dude. Oh, and moment of silence for Deputy Hale. Poor bastard.

Are you still there? I just have three words on the summer finale of White Collar: What. The. F^&#.

Fair Warning for My Readers

I’m going to try and start blogging about TV again, starting next week when the new season starts.

Any shows in particular that you guys want to read about? Yes, I am asking you, one of the three people who read this blog. Comment away!