After a movie-less (and fun packed) weekend, I was ready for a day of recuperation (I'll have to do something about these habits soon - I don't think work will let me have a holiday after every two days of 'work'). Here is my (hopefully) quick recount of the hard two days work I put into achieving my goal.


#43, 44, 45 - Season 1 - New Girl
Still unable to watch Spartacus or Resident Evil, I was forced to start a new series, and considering the euphemisms that surround most of my movie watching experiences, I figure 'New Girl' sounded like a pretty good title for a series. Besides, who can go past Bones' sister being cute? Not the most amazing series, but funny none the less, and with such cuteness as Zooey Deschanel and Lamorne Morris - I can see that this will be a series I will continue to follow.

#46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 - Season 1 - American Horror Story 

Not necessarily something I would have chosen for myself, but, just like Spartacus, I was roped into this one by a friend (who it would seem has good taste). No Euphemisms there, stop searching. The fact that I watched the entire first season without moving from my place on the couch says it all. I was hooked. This could well replace Dexter when he is dead and gone.

With all my friends in different States, back at work, or too busy being lame I was forced to raid the 'New' folder of my hard-drive for movies I had, as yet, not bothered watching. I figured it was a good time to get some work done before the holidays finished and so I chose to movies I thought I could not get too distracted by:

#52 - The Guard (2011) 
Nearly turned me off the Irish. Nearly.


#53 - Set Up
Starring 50 cent. I say no more.

Second Last Weekend in my 6 weeks of weekend.

This post does not start with a number. It's another movie free weekend set in the sunny city of Melbourne. My good friend Lexie, who is in training to get on to the Australian Dragon Boat racing team had a race in my favourite city for Chinese New Year. I was so excited to hang out with her for the weekend and was happy to drive to let her relax. The added bonus to the trip was that we decided to stay with our mutual friend Kiki who had kinda brought us together in the first place.

It was kinda strange being occupied for the entire weekend without once sitting on a couch and turning on a television. We had Yum Cha in China Town, went to a book fair in Fed square, saw an awesome street performer with amazing muscles, checked out an art gallery, took some tram rides, met some awesome people in a pub, more tram rides (without a ticket - such rebels), then took a trip to the Western Suburbs where we found Kiki in her brand new home. It was so good to see her. We went for a drive to Werribee which I could not stop singing in my mind to the tune of Imma be. Eating dinner I realised that everyone in Werribee looks the same. I don't think that makes me racist though, unless Werribeean is a race. By the time we had joked and caught up and done the whole pillow fight thing that everyone knows girls do when alone, it was only 11pm, and still, I crashed.

Sunday was Lexie's day. She got up early and drove to the city. Kiki and I slept in a tad longer, lounged with our extra large cups of coffee and eventually trained in to the city. First on the agenda...STARBUCKS. Sure, we've been there a few times since they closed our local Starbucks (assholes) but we coulda smelled our way there even if we'd never seen it before. One Venti Caramel Macchiato and a Grande White Chocolate Mocha with cream later and we were playing with the ducks and taking happy snaps like love drunk tourists. We strolled around the city, paid an accordion player (very good for a young fella), and found ourselves at Minotaur where we relived all the movies, games, and tv shows we had ever enjoyed. It was hard to walk out empty handed.  But we did.

We ventured down towards Flinder's Street Station, checked out the markets at the Melbourne Arts Centre, strolled along Southbank, ate Thai curries at Southgate and wandered on towards the dragon boats. We tourissed (yes it's a new word) around the Exhibition Centre and Polly Woodside and eventually made our way over to the World Trade Centre Wharf where the dragon boats were racing. There were all sorts of teams - from young to old, fit, unfit, work teams, and make-shift teams. The dragonflies were pretty, but I felt for the old men in their pink and purple vests. There was a team with a simple MF written on their floaties (I'm into the technical terminology if you hadn't noticed). The first thing that came to mind that MF could stand for was the Mother Fuckers. Unfortunately, screaming this out during races was a little awkward, and the other teams didn't seem too impressed. The other team to watch were the Navy. And by team to watch I mean team to ogle. Boys and girls alike, they were a streamline team of neat hair, rock solid bums and bodies to die for. We mighta drooled just a little. But all this aside, we were rooting for the Bravehearts. Kiki, all the while porning up Dragon Boat races in only a way that Kiki can. Stroke... stroke... stroke...

After all the excitement of the rowing and the stroking and the beating of drums, Kiki and I disappeared for intermission. We checked out DFO, bought nothing, felt proud, went our separate ways, her home to the burbs and I off to Costco to meet a friend. When I arrived back at the wharf the boating was over, everyone was drinking free wine and Lexie was in need of a massage. We stayed for speeches and found that the Bravehearts had won a first and a second out of 6 divisions. Lexie informed me that there was a Lesbian dance party going on over the way, so we did a lap of that before feeling old and unlesbianny. Well, at least old and undanceclubby. Then Lucy took me to dinner and we drove home to the hilarity of Tim Minchin and the memories of a weekend well enjoyed.

Spartacus

For someone who didn't really think Spartacus was appropriate, I sure am having trouble waiting a week to start Seasion 2!  I'm not sure I like the person I am becoming. I told myself, after Dexter, I would never watch a show that would leave me pining between episodes. And with only two seasons, I know Spartacus can't be a long term thing. Not like Dexter who has promised me a season 7 and 8 to come yet. Maybe I could go back to Tara (United States of) to fill the gap...

In other news, my friend has started American Horror Story, and another has begun New Girl (I do love Zooey Deschanel). They won't fit my holiday plans, but they are on order as we speak. 

I blame a large part of my television watching confusion on my trip to Minotaur on the weekend. Thanks to a lovely friend who encouraged me to come to Melbourne and another who took me to the massively nerdy shop. But all it did was prove that I am not dedicated to any one theme and that I would happily have bought some trinket from just about every movie, game, and tv show there (expect of course the anime - blah). 

More to come about my awesome weekend soon...

With two weeks remaining of the holidays, the chances of me reaching the 100 movie goal appear to be getting slim... but I am determined to keep the dream alive (even if it encroaches on my work). That's just the kinda dedicated person I am.

Mind you, by "dedicated" I mean "have nothing better to do" and when I say "keep the dream alive" I really mean "I'll keep writing about it until I forget to write about it or find something better to write about."

Resembling my ability to remember which day it is - here is an out of order and possibly not complete list of additions to the mission.

# 33 Resident Evil (2002)

So, I've been spending a bit of time with some pretty nerdy people of late. You know, the kind of people who play computer games... understand the impending doom of dividing by zero... write blogs. Anyway, I was convinced that this was a must see. And, I must say, after some eye ball rolling and jokes about nerds, I did kinda enjoy it. The chick in it is pretty hot. There's a little bit of suspense, some gore, Zombies, guns - pretty much all a boy could ask for. But the best part for me? Pointing out all the scenes that looked exactly like the game. Yes. I admit it. Resident Evil was one of my favourite games after finally moving from platform to first person shooter.

#34 Resident Evil - Apocalypse (2004)

Yeah, well, you guessed it - I enjoyed the first one so much I just couldn't help myself. I mean, I said I wouldn't become addicted, but it turns out I like it nerdy.

#35 Resident Evil - Extinction (2007)

I really like it nerdy.

Unfortunately I've got to wait a week before I can get the rest of my nerd fix, unless I want to download it myself.

#36 Tower Heist (2011)

I'm counting this one because I was technically awake. This movie was an accidental movie in a movie free weekend. I went to Melbourne to catch some friends, avoid sitting around my crappy home town doing nothing, and more importantly to get drunk. Well I achieved all of those things. I saw my brother at a much needed time and we walked the length of St. Kilda (at least the important parts) drinking and catching up on lost time. I drank enough to try to pick up the bar chick, to think I won at pool (when I'm not even sure I played) and to stumble home in heels. By 4am I had fulfilled just about every drunken pleasure. Then I passed out. The next day I needed air. Do you know how little air there is in a motel? A few massive corridors and a very long and stomach lurching elevator ride later I was breathing real air and avoiding the expected ride on the porcelain bus. But that was not the end to my long, painful day of hangover. In my drunken state that morning I had forgotten to charge my phone. So I was in the city, trying to organise the rest of my weekend, keep down yesterday's KFC, and catch up on some sleep while standing.We found ourselves in Crown, not suitably attired to gamble, and found comfort in the cool, quiet confines of the cinema centre. With half an hour before the next movie, I propped myself up against a wall where I was lucky enough to find a power point to charge my phone. I got as far as sending a text to the effect of "you know that coffee we'd planned on drinking? I think I might throw up at just the thought" before feeling too queazy to even look at the screen. Finally the movie began, and armed with what turned out to be the world's best hangover cure (popcorn) I prepared myself for a 2 hour snooze. Instead, however, I felt better and better with each mouthful of popcorn and managed to stay awake for the whole movie. That's not to say it was an amazing movie. Entertaining, yes. Kinda funny, I suppose so. Believable, not in the slightest.

All in all, I may very well not ever remember what this movie was about. But I will always remember it as marking a pretty cool weekend.

# 37, 38, 39 SPARTACUS!!

Yes, you calculated correctly - despite having a whole weekend out of the movie watching vacuum I managed to watch 6 more hours of Spartacus, bringing season 1 to a close. While I have season 2 ready to go, I just can't imagine it will be the same. I mean, I heard the actual Spartacus guy died! Which is sad. I feel as though I know him so well. So, I'm giving myself a week to contemplate whether any more Spartacus action is in order.

#40 and 41 Dexter - Season 6 (4 episodes)

With Spartacus on hold for a week, I figure I'll go back to some of my own guilty pleasures. I watched the last 4 episodes of Dexter season 6. And, as usual was left reeling at the cliffhanger. I just can't believe it! It changes EVERYTHING! What will they possibly do in season 7??? And now I'm back to that horrible stage of yearning - a whole year before I can find out how things will be for Dexter after this interesting turn of events. And don't worry people - I'm not going to go giving away anything massive like the fact that his son dies, like I did when his wife died a few seasons ago...

#42 The Melbourne Comedy Festival 2011 Great Debate - It's the End of the World.

Just needed something funny to get me past this feeling of sadness at how boring my life has become. You know, something to snap me back to reality and stop me thinking I was actually Dexter. Or Spartacus. Ohhhh but to be with either of them... SNAP OUT OF IT!

Ok, this post has been light on the pictures... so, here is a picture of the area of England that I plan to tour over Easter.

Ok, you dirty little boys and girls... 69 movies to go, and that number was not intentional.

But it does remind me of something I just read:

Dear 6, 

Please stop spreading rumours about me eating 9. 

You shouldn't be talking.

I hear you guys do some pretty nasty things.

Sincerely, 7.

But now back to the mission. No, no ary. I've really been quite slack in the movie watching department in the last two days. Am I losing passion for the mission? Or am I just being distracted by productivity? I'm going to hope that this is just a lull, and I will soon find my way again. 

My one and only movie for this post is really just another season of the IT Crowd - I have, in spits and spats watched Season Three. But in doing so I must say I have been quite productive. I've hung out with an awesome friend who feeds me. I've chatted with a bestie until I was black and blue. And I've checked out hot nerd shirts with a hot nerd.

In other non-mission related news, the last few days has brought with it:

A new hair cut for mini-me

A new hair colour for myself

The excitement of travel plans

Riding in the most awesomest riding shoes

A dream that my dad was dead

Scratching the scratchies that I bought for my dad but forgot to send for Christmas, so I may as well just scratch them myself and skip waiting the few weeks until I get it back in inheritance

(just kidding - sorry dad)

And now... to Wii Active, 
and contemplate what I will spend my $9 on...

Just another weekend in the holidays

It's the weekend. 

Not that I would know if it weren't for things like shops being shut. 

I'm on holidays. 

Lazy, Summer holidays, where every day is the same. 

Bliss. 

And yet, I fear, at half way through my holidays my mission may be failing. 

I start this weekend in my massive weekend with a whopping

remaining.

By 3pm Saturday I had made no progress on the mission. Or anything else for that matter. I was still stumbling around my filthy house in my PJs having just rolled out of bed. But did I care? Not really. Except to say I figured I could happily lounge around someone else's house in my PJs and feel like I had at least made some social achievements. Add to that a few more episodes of whatever TV series the other people liked and I was suddenly achieving two things at once.

And so it was. Lexie and I watched Season Two of The IT Crowd (2007). We had a good ol' laugh at the expense of silly IT people ;) and sat through the 14th viewing of The Work Outing (the episode about the gay musical called Gay). Note to self: Find the DVD remote for Lexie! 

After TV we had trivia dinner. That's dinner with all trivia members past and present. What a great group of people, half of whom I'd never met (being a trivia noob and all). I am the 'smile and nod'er of the group. This applies to both trivia and dinner parties. Having very little trivia ability of my own (and knowing that Google is there to answer my every query) I have become fluent in such phrases as "go on", "tell me more", and "yes, I've heard that". But no-one called me on it and most seemed genuinely happy to tell me more. So, all in all Saturday was a productive (in the holiday sense of the word) day.

Sunday brought with it both and early night and an early morning. In bed before 1am I was able to rise before midday! It was new to me. I didn't know what to do with the day. So I went for a ride, got bored, and crashed a friend's place for some movie watching. 

#27 Lion King 3D (1994 but 3D'd)

Just not the same if you can't sing every song at the top of your lungs. And to tell you the truth, the 3D aspect was nothing special. I wish I had seen it in the cinema, with my sister and daughter. My sister and I woulda been belting out each and every lyric while my daughter cringed in the corner.

#28 Avatar (2009)

What a long movie. Even longer when you've seen it before. And longer when you kinda want to be doing other things, but really don't know how to get off the couch. People are kinda cute in blue though hey?

#29 and #30 Wii Active I forgot I was allowed to include these. Did none this weekend, but I'll add the others I did last week. 

#31 Scott Pilgrim v The World (2010)

Interesting. Started and finished my Sunday movie viewing with strong references to old school gaming. Ahh I miss my SNES and the original SMS (Sega Master System) lol. 

Which reminds me - completely un-mission related... if anyone can find me the original snake game from the PC - the one where the snake ate red apples and occasionally gold apples I would love you long time. Well maybe not, but I'd be grateful. I've played about a bazillion others since, but none are the same. 

This one was special. 

I played it at my wife's house. 

Back in the 80s.

Slipping into the Coma

 14 movies down and it's all becoming a blur...

My life for the past 10 days has consisted of:

So, I'm just going to spit out some titles in no particular order (numbered purely for the sake of keeping count)... and hope that I don't forget anything:

15. Spartacus - Blood and Sand (2010 - TV series)

OMG!!! More hot guys. Boobs. Sex. Fighting. Sweatiness. Muscles. Slaves (you'll have to watch it to see the hotness in that word). Droool Droool Drool. All up so far I've watched 8 episodes of Spartacus for the mission, making it count for 16, 17, and 18.

19. The IT Crowd - Season One (2006 - TV series)

Watched with some awesome friends this is another fav of mine. I can't go past some good ol' British humour. Plus there were techies present so it was even funnier. We watched all of season one which is 6 episodes and they're about half hour each, so I'll only count that as one movie.

20. 13 (2010)

Creepy and odd. But good for some background noise if you know what I mean. I just wanted to make this one number 20 so it was strange to read.

21. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

That's right I did! And I sang along to every word of it!  ♪ Oh I could tell you why, the ocean's near the shore.  ♫ I could think of things I never thunk before. And then I'd sit, and think some more...♪

22. Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides (2011)

Another one in a set of movies I have never bothered watching. But it was tolerable. And I was all for the mermaids! I've never particularly enjoyed seeing Johnny Depp waltz around like he has an acquired brain injury. But it was ok. I might just watch the rest of them one of these days.

23. Uptown Girls (2003)

On because it came on TV while I was blogging about watching movies. Actually not as stupid as it seemed in the beginning. I mean I kinda liked Brittany Murphy since Clueless. And by since I mean that was all I saw her in. And Dakota Fanning... what a cutie. Turns out it was less Disney than expected and had a half decent ending.

24. Waiting (2005)

Still waiting to really understand what it's about. Watching as I type. I don't think this would be the kind of thing I would choose to watch of my own accord, but the telly is on, and this is a movie.

25. We Bought A Zoo (2011)

Went to the movies with some friends and my Mummy. What a beautiful movie. It begins with Matt Damon as a single dad. As if I didn't already wanna marry him. Add to that a heaps cute kid, some animals, and Scarlett Johansson being awesomely 'real person' hot (not the usual pimped up bullshit). A near tear and a bit of a laugh.

Woohoo! 1/4 of the way there!!

10% of Mission Complete

 With 10% of my mission complete I began the third day with a little...

Dexter has become a little bit of an addiction for me. Introduced to him three years ago, I have marathoned my way through almost 6 seasons. I have on more than one occasion found myself going through withdrawal symptoms between seasons. Season six has been the hardest wait. I downloaded and watched (on my ceiling of all places) season 5 the second the last episode aired on American TV, and spent the next year pining for its return. I have tried to hold off watching Season 6 until the whole season was available, but I was weak and watched the first 6 episodes when they became available. And so on this day, I watched Episode 7 and 8 which makes 2 hours worth, so I'm counting it as movie number 11

Number 12 was

Postal (2007)

Ummm... there's not a hope in hell I could retell this storyline, but in the world of Spoof movies it's not too bad.

Yup.

This awesome picture here would be the reason I have started cheating on the picture drawing thing. I'm a little ashamed to say that was an attempt at Iron Man. I have never seen Iron Man before, and had no intention to, but I will take what I can get in this challenge and so I claim number 13 as

Iron Man 2 (2010)

It was ok.

I should now watch the first Iron Man

Movie Number 14 was...

Thor (2011)

WHAT CAN I SAY?

Not really something I thought I was allowed to be into (you know, being a girl, and old, and not at all cool).

But...

I will say:

HOT

YOUNG

AUSSIE

MALE!

That is all.

94 Movies to Go

So, with 94 movies to go, the day after boxing day was deemed 

'be lazy and watch movie day, part 2.'

I managed to squeeze in 4 movies this day. 

Here they are in short:

Yes, that is a person vomiting hearts.

Movie Number 7 for the mission was 

One Day (2011)

I don't want to dwell on it's spewy lovey doveyness, but it was your typical boy meets girl. Boy is cocky. Girl pretends to not want boy. Girl really wants boy. Boy goes off to conquer the world. Girl pines. Boy remembers that she was actually good. Wants her back. She's got someone. She loses someone and wants him again. He's with someone. Then she's with someone when he wants her again. And he's with someone when she wants him again. And in the end I think they both die lonely. 

Or something like that. You know, same old same old. 

Redeeming factors: 

having a giggle at Anne Hathaway's poor attempt at an English accent; 

and Jim Sturgess. Just Jim Sturgess. Swoon...

Number 8

The Blind Side (2009)

I really enjoyed this one. Watched home alone, I was allowed to shed a tear or two. It was a little 'whites with money v blacks with guns' but heart-warming all the same. I liked it so much in fact that I don't want to tarnish it with my words. So no more reviewing. Just watch it.

Number 9

Sanctum (2011)

Wow, just all my favourite things rolled in to one movie. Aussiness, water, and darkness. Anyone sensing the sarcasm? What can I say? I'll watch anything for a little company... But, in all honesty it was kinda ok. A few familiar faces is always good, and the Australian acting wasn't too off putting. Mind you, it makes the American characters stand out like dogs balls. Not that I can say I've noticed many dogs balls, but I had to throw in the Australianism. All in all the young, kinda cute kid survives, so that's all that matters. Sorry. Hope I didn't ruin it for you...

Number 10

Transformers (2007)

Not nearly enough transforming for my liking, but a movie none-the-less. That's bumble-bee above in case you were wondering. I drew it in 'chalk' to compensate for my inability to draw anything transformer related. I think you all know the storyline, and to tell you the truth I mighta had slightly better things to look at during this movie...