(disclaimer: I think you should make resolutions, but I thought this was worth making you laugh...and besides, I never keep mine anyway)

Are you sick of making the same resolutions year after year that you never keep? Why not promise to do something you can actually accomplish? Here are some resolutions that you can use as a starting point:

1. Gain weight. At least 30 pounds.

2. Stop exercising. Waste of time.

3. Read less. Makes you think.

4. Watch more TV. I've been missing some good stuff.

5. Procrastinate more. Starting tomorrow.

6. Not date any of the Baywatch cast.

7. Spend more time at work, surfing with the T1.

8. Take a vacation to someplace important: like, to

see the largest ball of twine.

9. Not jump off a cliff just because everyone else did.

10. Stop bringing lunch from home: I should eat out more.

11. Not have eight children at once.

12. Get in a whole NEW rut!

13. Start being superstitious.

14. Personal goal: bring back disco.

15. Not wrestle with Jesse Ventura.

16. Not bet against the Minnesota Vikings.

17. Buy an '83 Eldorado and invest in a really loud stereo system.

18. Get the windows tinted. Buy some fur for the dash.

19. Speak in a monotone voice and only use monosyllabicwords.

20. Only wear jeans that are 2 sizes too small and use a chain or

rope for a belt.

Happy Birthday dear cousin Nick, and if I don't talk to my faithful readers out there (yeah right) have a happy New Year!

btw, I wrote some more of moonstone today. And I have to try to see TTT again before the New Year as I didn't realize my two free tickets from the SE FotR dvd expire tomorrow. argh. Anyway. Enjoy yourself! Don't drink and drive, and be happy

Posted by Jen at 5:56 PM | Permalink |

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Wonder of all wonders, it is SNOWING on Christmas Eve! It's been quite a long time since we've had a white christmas, and last year it didn't snow nearly enough, and certainly not enough to sled. But this...this is nice wet packing snow, several inches of it, enough to make driving very treacherous and wishing that someone I know was in town so I could take advantage of the incredible snowing conditions! sigh. We might go out later, if you can still see...the moon's only three-quarters waned...

Merry Christmas, my friends. All the best to you

Posted by Jen at 4:53 PM | Permalink |

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from Christina

1) You, Legolas, alone in one room. What do you do? Ask him to show off his bow

2) You, Arwen, alone in one room. What do you do? wonder how she got Aragorn

3) We sadly lost 3 when he fell into....ummm...ok, we just lost him.

4) What gift would you ask of the Elves? to be one of them

5) What race would you most like to be: Human, Elf, Dwarf, or Hobbit? see #4

6) Honestly...would you keep it secret, and safe? Yes.

7) If you would keep it secret and safe, would you be the ring-bearer, or would you swear to protect the ring-bearer? Protect. I'd like to stay sane, thanks.

Ok, you are the ring bearer, who makes up the Fellowship with you (of your friends) and if they�re enough like a character, say who they�d be: and here's where I feel crappy cause I don't think I have enough friends to make up the fellowship. Or that would have any interest in being part of it.

9) Ok, you�re not the ring bearer (but you are in the Fellowship like above), who of your friends would be the ring-bearer? Sheesh. You know I'd be Legolas, but apparently I'm more like a dwarf with my lethal sprint speed...see #8. I honestly have no idea who could do this.

10) Are you evil? Evil enough to become a tool of Sauron? Hell no. I am a nice girl!

11) If you had to be one of the nasty/evil creatures (i.e. the Balrog, the Cave Troll, an orc, Ring Wraith, etc) what one would you be, and why? Ringwraith. Such a cool name.

12) If you didn't know the ring was The One Ring, but you knew it made you disappear and such, what would you do with it? Hide from coworkers.

13) Pippin and Merry- are they really ok guys, or just big nuisances? Cute hobbits. End up being better in the book than the movie makes them out to be.

14) Who kicks the most ass; Gandalf, Legolas, Strider, or Gimli? you have to ask? Legolas, of course. Seven shots, seven orcs, the white knives, punching out a few Rohirrim...

15) Would you rather be an Archer, Wizard, or Ranger?: Archer, right now, but Lego uses a sword too...haha! Two-for-one deal!

16) Who's your favorite character? Legolas, all the time.

17) Who's your favorite hobbit? Tie between Merry and Frodo.

1 If, for some odd reason, Aragorn and Legolas were to get in a fight, who do you think would win (and why)? Heh. Long-range? Legolas all the way. Can't beat his archery prowess. Up close and personal? Tough to say. Andruil would probably break the long knives.

19) Do you think the race of men is weak? well, yes. But then I would be putting down myself, and we can't have that...so just less strong-willed than the elves.

20) Does it make you sad to know the Elves are leaving these shores? Yes. I want to go with them...

21) React to this: Frodo lives! lol.

22) If you've read the book and seen the movie, did you like both, or do you think one was better than the other? I enjoy both. I like having the movie's visual when rereading the books. And the books just get better with each rereading. Like the movies get better with each viewing.

23) Do you think the movie was an insult to Tolkien's genius? Oh for heaven's sake. It's just a movie. PLOT DEVICE!

24) Any problem with the cast? Well, there is absolutely no reason for Liv to have such a prominent place in the publicity, but I like the cast. I think they work well togther. Wish I could be a part of something like that.

25) Honestly...do you think Liv Tyler did a good job as Arwen, or are you glad she's in the movie just because she's hot? She is great as an elf, but I don't personally like her that much. The movie would have been fine without her (Why no Glorfindel?)

26) What do you think of the choice to cut out Tom Bombadill? He would have been interesting. But alright considering the amount of material they DID put in.

27) Was the Balrog all you had hoped for? Honestly wasn't hoping for too much. Glad it turned out as it did.

2 Any other changes from the book to the movie that irritate you? Arwen's role in FotR and TTT...Missing Merry/Pippen moments...Faramir being a jerk.

29) How about that special-edition dvd, pretty cool, or no? Hot damn, baby. Among the top reasons to spend $60. Others being to buy books or cds.

30.) Lastly, what was your favourite bit of the movie? FotR: Moria/Amon Hen. TTT: Helm's Deep/Casting out of Saruman and parts leading up to it. And that damn flying elf

there's more...click the link!

last book you read: Whole book: The Two Towers for the third time. Part of book: Blue Moon by Laurell K Hamilton. It is the full moon, after all.

- last movie you saw: The Two Towers, for the second time.

- last movie you saw on the big screen: See above.

- last phone number you called: Sarah

- last show you watched on TV: Providence, cause it was on

- last song you heard: one of the myriad LotR songs off the two soundtracks

- last thing you had to drink: milk

- last thing you ate: Pasta house for dinner

- Last Time you showered: before bed yesterday

- last time you cried: a week ago, when I found out I will be losing my job Feb 1st

- last time you smiled: when Todd's new fuzzy rug got delivered to the lab

- last time you laughed: see above

- last person you hugged: Mom

- last thing you said: I won't be watching it

- last person you talked to online: Alex

- last person you talked to on the phone: Someone who wanted to talk to Todd

- last thing you smelled: Linguini with clam sauce

Posted by Jen at 10:57 PM | Permalink

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It's been about twelve hours since I walked out of the midnight premiere of the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at the Esquire theater. And I can't stop thinking about it. If I could leave work right now and see it again I would. But I've got an experiment running...so I won't.

There may be a few minor spoilers here and there in this review...it's probably all I'd ever get to cause I'm lazy that way. But I wanted to get something up for TORn (review #264, under Calenhíril). So here it is...

I truly enjoyed this movie. It was a near-constant barrage of action and adventure, and I think even if I hadn't seen the midnight premiere I would be tired after seeing it! The settings were, as before, wonderful. The music just swept you into Middle-Earth and is even better than the score for FotR.

The acting on a whole I think was more cohesive in this film, but some of the script was a little forced and predictable. But even when you knew you were supposed to laugh, it was funny.

I appreciated the effort that went into making Gollum and Treebeard. Gollum was well done, but there were just times when you could see that he was cgi. Treebeard was a bit of a disappointment, and there were definitely times when you could tell it was JRD's voice. The whole Merry/Pip/Treebeard story could use a little work.

Helm's Deep was amazing. The effects were wonderful and you really felt the action, and the emotion. The jokes on Gimli's stature were a little annoying after a while but did lighten the mood of a very dark and slightly scary part.

I loved the flooding of Isengard. Triumphant Ents, what can I say.

I'm very pleased at how they wove the three stories together--just about the time you were wondering "what happened to..." they cut to that group. And I have to put out my shoutout to more lines for Legolas The love triangle was not in as much evidence as it looked to be, and while the alternate Frodo/Sam ending was a little weird and completely not canon, I think it fit in with what PJ was trying to do, and I accept it.

Overall a very good film. I think it was better than FotR. More action, superb effects, and a year of experience only serve to enhance the movie. Go see it!

one thing that is quite spoilerish that disappointed me...(scroll down)

Legolas doesn't kill the Uruk that's going to set the fire for the blowing up of Helm's Dike! He hits the shoulder, then reaims and gets him but it's too late... and the Dike goes BOOM! I suppose someone had to do it, considering that the dike really does fall, b-b-b-but why did it have to be cause Lego's shooting wasn't spot-on at that moment? Bugger.

(end spoilage)

Aside from that , all was wonderful. We got there about 10, waited for a while until Alex came by with the tickets...I could have worn my cloak and no one would have laughed. And we weren't the first. And had we gotten there any later we wouldn't have gotten a seat near the front and near the middle...as it was we were at the right end of the third row...not ideal for your neck, and needless to say I'm paying for it today. My neck and shoulders are very sore. But it was worth every minute of waiting and craning. I loved it.

I know there are things I forgot in the review, like how the beginning just hits you with a load of beautiful scenery and snatches of dialogue and then we see the fight with the Balrog. One phrase I can use to describe the movie is boom-boom-boom. The images just keep coming. There isn't a long Hobbiton sequence to bog down the first part of the movie, you don't have to wait till the middle of the movie to meet more characters. Legolas is there all the time And he does more of those "oh-Valar-my-heart-just-broke" looks. Damn that is one fine elf. No Legolases from the costumed moviegoers. Not as common as it should be, lol. Next year I will wear a costume. It better be done by then!

More elvish. More action. Some things are totally different but it still makes a good movie. And that's what I went to see: a good movie. And that is what I got. Many OMB moments.

I'll probably be back for more, when I remember. Feel free to comment

Posted by Jen at 3:44 PM | Permalink |

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God willing this will be the last countdown entry. My dad should be here in about a half hour to pick me up, then I'll go home and drive back to the school area to pick up people and we'll go to dinner. Then we'll won't freeze our butts off (it's supposed to be in the 50s all night! How weird is that, in the middle of december?) for the two hours beforehand. Maybe we'll just sit in the bar nearby the theater and play cards all night, lol. Or something. Gah. Midnight must come faster! I know I am gonna be so tired tomorrow. That's what I should do now. Take a nap so I can stay up through the whole movie! Wouldn't that be so terrible if I slept through part of it! I'm sure someone would wake me up though. lol. Note to self: not obsessed. Really. Although you could buy me the really large Legolas poster that just came up (and is already sold out) on Allposters.com (see link in the sidebar to go to my referral site ) and you wouldn't be reminding me that I'm obsessed.

For all of you out there waiting with me, I'm sorry it's coming!

PS: vote for me, ok? and visit the new forum.

Posted by Jen at 6:14 PM | Permalink

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Now I'm just bored. But if you go to this site every day http://www.excedrin.com/ (after you vote for my site of course) and click on the logo you can make them give $1 to Toys for Tots. Go for it! And don't forget about thehungersite.com and other such things...hopefully it makes a difference!

Posted by Jen at 5:19 PM | Permalink |

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no, I'm not obsessing.

Also, it's Bernard Hill's birthday today. He plays Théoden in the movie I'm about to see Look, not just posting random TTT countdowns!

Posted by Jen at 3:11 PM | Permalink

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sheesh, can the day go any slower?

In case you stop by here on your way to buying me christmas presents (hah, yeah right) I just set up an American Eagle Outfitter's wish list. So in addition to your Amazon.com choices you could make me all warm by buying me sweaters

Posted by Jen at 1:54 PM | Permalink

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That's all I can say. Oh, and happy belated birthday to Miranda Otto, who plays Éowyn. Her birthday was yesterday.

One Day!

Real life sucks, btw.

Posted by Jen at 12:15 AM | Permalink

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Yes. I am doing a bit of a countdown. "The girls have gotten a bit excited..." (Orli on the status of his fangirls...) Yes. I know it's silly. But damn, this movie is gonna be cool.

Thanks to my cousin Nick...your laugh for the day.

Subject: Memo from Santa

To: All Concerned

From: Santa Claus

I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer serve the States of Georgia, Florida, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas on Christmas Eve.

Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, my contract was renegotiated by North American Fairies and

Elves Local 209. As part of the new and better contract I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies so keep that in mind.

However, I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement, who happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us.

Differences such as:

1. There is no danger of the Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba Claus. He has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads: "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson."

2. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave an RC cola and pork rinds [or a moon pie] on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe. He dips a little snuff though, so please have an empty spit can handy.

3. Bubba Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin' coon dogs instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time, and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba's fireplace.

4. You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen.," when Bubba Claus arrives. Instead, you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, on Andretti, on Elliott and Petty."

5. "Ho, Ho, Ho!" has been replaced by "Yee Haw!" And you also are likely to hear Bubba's elves respond, "I her'd dat!"

6. As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus' sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety triangle on the back with the words "Back Off."

7. The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area. Instead, you'll see "Boss Hogg Saves Christmas" and "Smokey and the Bandit IV" featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other.

And Finally,

8. Bubba Claus doesn't wear a belt. If I were you, I'd make sure you, the wife, and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree.

Sincerely Yours,

Santa Claus

Member of North American Fairies and Elves, Union 209

And a Christmas present from my secret santa

Send a Christmas Tree!

Posted by Jen at 11:03 AM | Permalink |

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I'm so excited in one week I'll have seen The Two Towers! Yes! BTW, please vote every way you can. At least keep me tied for second place

Also, there is a new board for the Etoiline.com network! it's located at http://etoiline.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi/YaBB.cgi, so please check it out and sign up again if you were on the old board. Sorry, the other one went wacky for some unknown reason so here this one is!

Posted by Jen at 6:11 PM | Permalink

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So I got the TTT soundtrack on friday, the same day that I got an email telling me it had shipped. Fast service, I like it! Now, the street date was supposed to be the 10th, so I got it really early if that's still the case. Cool beans! It's very good. I've only listened to it about five times in three days...but it's got some really cool new stuff. I got the internet special edition so there's some bonus features that I haven't had time to check out yet, but will soon. Tell you all about it then!

I missed Dominic Monaghan's birthday yesterday (err, the 8th anyway) so happy 26th, Dom!

Ok, this is important. I moved up to the Apprentice's Challenge (again ) so I need you to vote for me everyday this week! Wouldn't it be nice to be in the Tower (the highest level of competition) during the week that LotR comes out? lol. Not obsessed am I

Oh, and in case you were thinking of getting me a gift and didn't see anything terribly interesting on my wishlist (see after the post) you could try going to TORn's Holiday Gift Guide for the Tolkien Fanatic and see if something suits your impression of me and thank you, Alex

Jem, I'll get right to work on that reader's guide for you. Yeah. I did some of your layout this weekend. I'll try to get it done soon. But I really need the title you want...it's part of the illustration, you know...

Please vote! Welcome to all my new supporters!

Posted by Jen at 12:23 AM | Permalink |

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(I didn't make it, but it sure is cool, eh?)

Egad. I really wish it was the 17th already! Well, maybe not, as I've done *no* Christmas shopping (eek, only nineteen days left!). Heh. Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Carol of the Bells just came on the radio. And the classical station that's always on in the lab on the first floor is playing christmas music too. I wonder if I really could get a PS2...then I truly would have a dilemma. Sit in front of the comp oogling Legolas or sit in front of the dvd playing Legolas? Murph. I think I'd rather have the bow. Do you think I could hide it from my parents? lol.

I ought to order the Legolas ornament, eh?

Yes, I like to ramble. Guess what? I got bands! Yahoo! (scientific humor. Just smile and nod.)

Thanks for getting me up to level two in DWA and hopefully this time next week I'll be in the lead for the Apprentice's Challenge...wishful thinking never hurt anybody...

Posted by Jen at 12:47 PM | Permalink |

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which is a good thing. But funny how it's been snowing all day but it still looks like only about an inch hit the ground...sigh.

two weeks! Two weeks till TTT mustn't forget the WB special tonight.

Posted by Jen at 3:32 PM | Permalink |

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It snowed for the first time this year last night. Pretty, wafty snow, only about an inch, not enough for sledding, but enough to make driving a pain. We nearly spun out twice, no big, but the curb was pretty darn close. It's supposed to snow all day, just lightly, so I probably won't be sledding tonight. But I did throw a snowball at my dad.

Phillip has never seen snow falling before. Silly Californian.

'Scuse me while I go look out a window. It's very nearly an American Beauty snow...

Posted by Jen at 10:55 AM | Permalink |

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It doesn't suck. But I got a talking to today. I need to do more work. And I feel really bad cause some of the stuff that I should have been doing and just didn't could help Todd with his poster. And he said that Jan was non-confrontational and would just disapprove without telling you. Shite. I still wonder if tissue engineering is truly the way I want to go, maybe I should just be a writer. I'd enjoy myself more, I think. I just wouldn't make any money. I used to be a problem solver. What happened to that? Did the advanced math just kick it out of me?

On a happier note, Alex got tickets for the midnight premiere of TTT today, so I'll be very happy in two weeks or so...

also, I finally uploaded Chapter Five of TMC to Caldir. If you don't know how to get it, send me an email.

Posted by Jen at 12:22 AM | Permalink

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Thanksgiving was good. LOTS of food. We were eating most of the time. Early mornings though. Almost worth it with the oatmeal. And the stuffing was good as always.

I shot my grandpa's hunting bow for a bit. I started off kind of wobbly...those compound bows are nothing to be scoffed at. I don't know how much poundage it took, but there was this cute little puller gizmo that saved your hands and made the release much smoother. I did manage to kill the pig in the first three shots, but I got better Mom said I was channeling Legolas. I laughed. It was embarrassing.

Thanksgiving day was Grandma's 75th birthday. And she's still very pretty. My uncle and aunt made a powerpoint presentation of memories of and feelings about her. It wasn't as sappy as it could have been. Did you know she wants to be an astronaut when she grows up?

Started a pattern for the silver frock. Luckily Grandma is a really good seamstress and she had some muslin so we didn't go about cutting into (and most likely screwing up) the pretty dupioni silk. Learned some nice things about sewing that will be put into good use, eventually.

Corey said she might be able to make the buckles for me, and the closures. I'd just have to pay for the silver. Or nickel. Or something. And Grandpa gave me an antler for the long knives. I'm much closer now course, I'd have to figure out how to make the knives...somehow I don't think they'd like it if I brought actual long knives into the convention...or live arrows...hmm.

Watched the Very Merry Muppets Christmas. Cute. You can never go wrong with the Muppets. Kermit is still the cutest frog.

Alex says I have to wait till Tuesday to see if the theater we want to see TTT at will have a midnight premiere. Well gosh darnit they better! I want my TTT! lol. Not obsessed. See, my coworker is leaving for Slovakia (christmas break, you know) on the 18th, so we *have* to see it at midnight so she has time to pack before her flight

I feel like there's more I wanted to say but I can't remember it. I'll try to have a sneak at Chapter Five of TMC up when I get to work. No promises, and it will be in caldir so you'd have to let me know if you want to read it.

Back into the semi-bigtime at the WQ, so please remember to vote for me this week...link is just after the post. Thanks!

Posted by Jen at 12:15 AM | Permalink |

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