Not Exactly a Madeleine

I felt like Marcel Proust yesterday. That isn't exactly something I can say everyday but yesterday, I felt like him. Proust was a French author who's most famous piece of work was In Search of Lost Time, a book published in seven volumes from 1913-1927. It was a book exploring the conception of involuntary memory. I've read the first volume but I haven't gotten around to the other six. In the first volume, Proust took a bite of a madeleine, a type of a cake-like cookie, and from that one bite, it opened up a wave of memories for him, enough to write seven books worth. If you've seen the movie Little Miss Sunshine, Steven Carell's character, Frank, is the number one Proust scholar in the United States. Now you know who the hell Proust is when it's mentioned.

Anyway, I felt like that yesterday. I was going through my cd collection, or rather the cds that I had brought from me to Indiana from Ohio considering I still have a lot of cds in my old room, and I found one that I hadn't listened to in what had to be years. I put it into my stereo in the living room and just listening to it again, it made me smile and remember things from high school that I probably wouldn't have thought of otherwise. The album is simply called New Found Glory and it is the band's album from September of 2000. I was a junior in high school at that time. New Found Glory is one of my favorite bands. I have all of their cds and I have almost all of their songs memorized. This is one of the bands that when they have a new cd coming out, I put the release date on my calendar so I won't forget. Listening to them makes me happy. Yesterday, as I listened to the cd I hadn't heard probably since high school, I was not only surprised to see that I still knew all of the songs by heart, but I started remembering things as if this cd was a background soundtrack.

I remembered making mixed tapes with songs Sincerely Me, Hit or Miss, and Dressed to Kill on them and then blaring them in my friends' cars as we sang along. I remembered cutting class with my friend Tim and going to Dairy Queen. I remembered leaning against Randy's car after he locked the keys inside and he had to use a coat hanger to open the door. It had scared me how skilled he seemed to be breaking into his own car. I remembered being in D.E.A.D.S. and being stuck in the band room with my closest friends after a downpour as we all took apart our drums so the wood wouldn't be ruined from the water. I remembered drinking nothing but grape soda and making stupid dances up with Scottie. I remembered how much fun I had in high school. All from listening to a cd I had had for years. I couldn't write up seven volumes from listening to it but take that Marcel Proust!

The Beer Prayer

Thanks to my friend Scotty who sent this to me at work today.

Tee-Shirt Collection

I love tee-shirts - almost as much as hooded sweatshirts. I have a large tee-shirt collection that is constantly being added to and I'm always on the look out for more. Some people collect stamps. I collect tee-shirts and hoodies. I found this amazing tee-shirt website at Noisebot.com and I've already found probably ten shirts that I want. The cool thing is you can either order the print on a shirt or a hoodie so this is the perfect website for me. Check it out and if you see one you really like, let me know.

Kingston's Debut

I hate people that can't take a bad photo and it seems that 8-month-old Kingston Rossdale is now one of those people. Every photo I see of this baby, he only seems to be getting more adorable. Kingston visited the Ellen DeGeneres Show and made his tv debut with his mom, Gwen Stefani, where she was promoting her new album.

Kingston

I found this picture of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale with their son, Kingston, and I just had to post it. Of the recent wave of celebrity babies, Kingston in my opinion is by far the cutest. Or maybe my weakness is just a baby with a mohawk - something my own future son will be sporting.

[picture courtesy of celebrity-babies.com]

The Curse of InStyle

I love people that sit around and make up crazy conspiracy theories. They make the world a better and more entertaining place to live in. One of the newest craziest ass theories to hit the web involves the magazine InStyle: Celebrity Weddings. Apparently, if you're famous and you pose for this magazine's cover before the big day, your marriage isn't going to last longer than the magazine's stay on the news racks. An example would be actress Sophia Bush. She wed One Tree Hill co-star Chad Michael Murray on April 16, 2005. She appeared in the magazine modeling bridal gowns in Spring of 2005. Her marriage only lasted five months with her divorce being finalized on Dec. 28, 2006. Is it just me or is InStyle: Celebrity Weddings a little full of themselves to think that their magazine holds any responsibility for the length of celebrity marriages- no matter how amusing it is?

My TV Couples

I am such a nerd but like most girls that invest their time in television shows, I have my favorite couples that I love to watch. Jackie and Hyde from That 70's Show, Charlie and Claire from Lost, River and Jayne from Firefly, Jason and Elizabeth from General Hospital, Trixie and Sol from Deadwood, Lem and Tigre from The Shield, and Ryan and Summer from The O.C. And since I am offically a huge nerd, I found these pictures of Ben McKenzie and Rachel Bilson who play Ryan and Summer and I had to post them. And since unfortunately the show has been cancelled, we'll never know if these two crazy kids would have ever gotten together.

A New Disney Ad

Have you seen the cool pictures for the new Disney ads? Celebrities dress up as famous characters and promote the theme park. Beyonce Knowles as Alice in Wonderland is joined by Lyle Lovett as the March Hare and Oliver Platt as the Mad Hatter. Scarlett Johansson channels her inner Cinderella while David Beckham mounts his steed to play Prince Phillip from my all-time favorite Sleeping Beauty.

[thanks to JustJared for the pictures]

The Legacy of Al Capone

Legendary Chicago gangster Al Capone died 60 years ago on January 25, 1947. And despite city officials wanting nothing associating their city with the larger than life criminal, tourists however are keeping his memory alive by visiting the city, driving by his house and even going to the hotels and restaurants Capone went to. Even the spot of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre is a popular stop for people all over the world visiting Chicago. Al Capone's grave is located at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery in Hillside, Ill. Visitors leave flowers and cigars at the site amongst other things.

Cookie Blues

This is exactly what it sounds like. Gingerbread cookies singing the blues. I suppose life isn't easy when you're edible. Of course, being human, we're all theoretically edible but that is called cannibalism and is frowned upon in most socities.

Superbowl Shuffle

It's the Chicago Bears vs. the Indianapolis Colts in the Superbowl and living in Indiana, it is a state divided. Jokes have been circulating through our email accounts and today, Sarah who works in our branch in Naperville but was born and raised in Indianapolis sent this joke today to Linda and me.

"A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Chicago Bears fan.

She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Bears fans too.

Not really knowing what a Bears fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air.

There is, however, with one exception. Susie has not gone along with the crowd.

The teacher asks Susie why she has decided to be different.

"Because I'm not a Bears fan" she reports.

"Then the teacher asks the girl, "What are you?"

"I'm an Indianapolis Colts fan" boasts the little girl.

The teacher asks Susie why she is a Colts fan.

"Well, my Dad and Mom are Colts fans, so I'm a Colts fan too", she responds.

"That's no reason," the teacher says. "What if your mom was a moron and your dad was an idiot. What would you be then?"

Susie smiles and says, "Then I'd be a Chicago Bears fan."

It was pretty funny even though the Bears are going to kick the Colt's asses. It's about time Chicago gets another Superbowl Shuffle.

If I'm addicted to anything, it's sparklers.

If you're a fan of Comedy Central's show "Reno 911!", you should know that their first full-length movie "Reno 911!: Miami" is being released this year. You can check out the theatrical trailer and two exclusive clips here. This movie is going to be completely ridiculous and I can't wait. Maybe if I'm in Ohio, I'll go see it with Adam. He's a fan of this craziness too.

Rayne Picture of the Day

A behind the scenes look at Serenity with Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin and Summer Glau with director Joss Whedon.

Golden Globes

For some reason, I got sucked into the Golden Globes last night and wound up watching most of it. I'm not sure why since I hate watching award shows but the Golden Globes has always been a different kind of awards show. Everyone is relaxed and drinking and just having a good time and it shows.

Biggest highlight of the evening was when Martin Scorsese won for Best Director. I actually clapped and cheered. The man, my hero, deserved it more than anyone else and I'm so glad everyone seemed to realize that. For the most part, I wasn't too upset with the other wins. Sacha Baron Cohen won for Borat, America Ferrera won for Ugly Betty, Alec Baldwin won for 30 Rock (and I don't care what my father says. He's hilarious). Meryl Streep won for The Devil Wears Prada and though Emily Blunt didn't win for her supporting role in that movie, she did win for some television series she had been in and I was so happy because I adore this actress.

Unfortunately, Leonardo DiCaprio didn't win for The Departed which was disappointing because I felt that in such a huge cast, he owned that movie. Babel won for Best Picture - Drama, which should have gone to The Departed. Dreamgirls won for Best Picture - Musical/Comedy, which was no surprise but it should have been Little Miss Sunshine. And Cars won for best animated feature instead of Monster House.

All in all, everyone who won was expected to have won with only a few minor surprises. And since this show is over with, it will be on repeat during the Academy Awards in a couple months. Some hilarious speeches were made and it was so funny to see Peter Sarsgaard laugh hysterically when they showed a clip from Monster House. I heart Peter Sarsgaard.

Some funny lines:

"Thank you to every American who has not sued me so far." — Sacha Baron Cohen, winner of best actor award for comedy, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"

"I know everyone says they have a wonderful crew and certainly that can't be the case. We can't all be wonderful. Somebody somewhere is working with a crew of drunken thieves. But it's not me. They smell of newly mown grass." — Drama actor winner Hugh Laurie for TV's "House."

"I'm glad this isn't too heavy because I just had hernia surgery Dec. 21. So, I just wanted to share that with all of you." — Best actor in a TV musical or comedy winner Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock."

"I think I've worked with everybody in the room. Yes, I have." — Musical or comedy actress winner Meryl Streep for the movie "The Devil Wears Prada."

Lemonhead

FX's hit show, and a personal favorite of mine, The Shield returns for it's 6th season in March. My favorite character, the man I watched the show for, Curtis "Lem" Lemansky (Kenneth Johnson) was murdered in last season's finale by his supposed best friend Shane Vendrell. I vowed that I wouldn't watch the show anymore without Lem but I realize that I have to. Shane has to get his and I want to watch him when he does. FX has slowly been releasing promos for the upcoming season and you can watch two of them below.

Rayne Picture of the Day

A still from Serenity of Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin) and River Tam (Summer Glau) for your enjoyment.

Eat Your Damn Onions

I Could Stand To Hear a Little More

Who doesn't love a good fight scene? Here are some behind the shots of Adam Baldwin and Summer Glau from Serenity practicing one of the greatest bar fights found in a movie.

This is totally random of me to post these but I love all things involving River and Jayne. [photos courtesy of summer-glau.net]

I'm a Gummy Bear

Who isn't used to random things coming from me? Here is something that can be categorized in no other section but the random section. Yes. It is a gummy bear dancing and singing. I can't explain why but it's oddly entertaining.

How Can You Not Be A Fan?

This is totally random of me but I just found this picture on the Internet and I had to share it.

It's a picture of Summer Glau and Adam Baldwin aka River Tam and Jayne Cobb from Firefly and Serenity, the cutest would-be couple. I know they are friends in real life but I'm not sure when this picture was taken or where. I'm not even sure if they're just hanging out or if they're on the set but it doesn't matter because the picture made me happy to find it.