Finals

Nothing can make you grateful to be done with school like proctoring a final exam.  The nerves rolling off my students today are enough to make me anxious.  So glad 2013 was the year I finally finished.

Christmas Spirit?

So I am totally in shock that Christmas is only a week away.  I am totally not ready for it.  I honestly don't know where December went.  I know part of it is that I've been sick a lot, but still, it's been tough to wrap my brain around.

Anyway, tonight Tracy and I finally got our Christmas tree up. (Our anonymously donated tree from last year :-)  And I also put up a cute decoration that my Mom and I made as a joint effort when I went to visit in October.  Hopefully if it looks like Christmas I can get my head around it.

Additions to My Favorite Characters List – Television Edition

So I was looking back over my blog and was looking at the favorite character's list I created back in 2011 and it occurs to me that there have been some updates to that list.  Since I've had kind of a low energy week (stomach flu followed by monster cold, yay)  I thought I'd have some fun and update my list.  Today's editions all come from the world of television and fall into two distinct categories.

 It’s All the BBC’s Fault

Sherlock Holmes (played by Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock) – Tracy and I rewatched the first episode of Sherlock yesterday, and I was struck again with how well done this show is and Benedict Cumberbatch’s brilliant portrayal of Sherlock Holmes is at the heart of that.  He creates a Sherlock who is fascinating, insufferable, and heroic all at the same time.

John Watson (played by Martin Freeman in Sherlock) – Okay, so why do we put up with the above mentioned insufferable consulting detective?  Mostly, because John Watson does.   The dynamic friendship between the nearly unbalanced genius and the steady everyman makes for amazing television.

The Doctor (played by David Tennant and Matt Smith in Doctor Who) - Yes there are other actors who’ve played (and will play) this role, but it is these two who really created a character I could get behind.  The Doctor always likes who you want him to like and helps the people you want him to help.  And he does it while being irrepressibly goofy (at least in these two incarnations).  It’s awesome.

Donna Noble (played by Catherine Tate in Doctor Who) – Okay, so I love Rose,  Amy, Rory, River, and Clara but Donna Noble is my favorite companion of The Doctor.  There are two reasons for this – first, she and David Tennant’s Doctor create one of the best male/female friendships I’ve ever seen on TV.  Second, because Donna proves that even the most ordinary person can be extraordinary if someone gives them the chance.

It’s not Easy Being Green – the Arrow Gang

Felicity Smoak (played by Emily Bett Rickards)  – This character was supposed to be on the show for one episode…now’s she’s everyone’s favorite.  Including mine.  If Oliver Queen doesn’t kiss this girl at some point in the future, I will never forgive him.

John Diggle (played by David Ramsey) – Okay, so I’m getting the theme here that I like the depiction of friendships on television.  Digg and Oliver are hilarious, and I love that Digg is always willing to call Oliver on his crap while still being the steadiest possible friend.

Oliver Queen (played by Stephen Amell) - So yes, there was an Oliver on the old list, and Justin Hartley’s Oliver is still awesome and by far the funnier of the two.  But when I think Oliver Queen now, I have to admit Stephen Amell’s broodier version is the one that pops into my head.  Especially after the episode “Three Ghosts.”

Workity work

So on January 6th, I go from one part-time job to three.  And as of today, one of those jobs got bigger (Salt Lake Community College offered me back the second class that they pulled a few weeks ago). While I do have some concerns about the logistics of this change, surprisingly enough the overriding feeling I'm having is excitement.  Yes, I'm having a holy-crap-I'd-better-finish-up-some-stuff-and-be-prepared feeling, but beyond that I'm looking forward to actually being out in the world doing what I trained for 10 years of my life to do.   Would one full-time job be the ideal?  Yes, of course.  But one thing's for sure...I won't get bored.

Grateful

This has been one of those spots in my life where things have just been happier.   Even with having two weird flare ups of not feeling well, it's still been a amazing couple of weeks.   On the serious real-life side of things I have an internship with the Church Archives starting in January.  Still only part-time, but it's really interesting work that's going to pay decently.  That combined with teaching for the U and for SLCC actually makes me feel downright employable.  It's an extremely good feeling.

I've also watched three good movies in the last week.  First, Thor 2 last Saturday, then the epic Doctor Who special screening on Monday, and today Catching Fire.  All three of them were respectably clean and thoroughly entertaining.  It was a great run at the movies.  It also reminds me of how grateful I am to be married to the world's best movie buddy.  Tracy isn't nearly as in to Doctor Who as I am, yet he still went with me and we had a really fantastic time. 

There's also been a bunch of other things, both serious and silly that have gone on in the last few weeks.  I got to babysit my friend Pam's little boy this week for a couple of hours, and in spite of going through the terrible two's he was a total angel for me.  My long standing favorite show  (Castle) and my new favorite show (Arrow) had great episodes that were again respectably clean and also mushy.   I had a great chats on the phone with my Mom and my cousin Jennie.  Thanksgiving dinner turned out really yummy.  I got the "Jayne's Cunning Hat" card while playing the Firefly board game with Chris, Stacia and Tracy.  Tracy's Mom and Aunt came for a visit last weekend.   It's almost December and I went outside without a coat today. I got an amazingly sweet note from my friend Becky.  In fact, it's been so awesome, I feel like I'm forgetting things.

And can I just say again that I'm married to the most amazing-perfect-fit husband on the planet!

Like I said it's been a lovely few weeks.  I definitely have a lot to be grateful for. 

Random Silliness

I know as a Superman fan I have no right to say this...but seriously it was about stinking time...

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/11/19/arrow-oliver-mask-photos/

One Week

I made it an entire week without french fries...a stressful week no less.  There's hope :-)