oh, here we go...

Okay, so I am trying to get away from ranting all the time, because I would really like to be a more positive person, but I really want to get this off my chest so that I may go to bed.

I love this show. I've watched since Season 3 and always get excited for the new seasons. Well. It is now in its 8th season and this past Thursday was the fifth episode.

This week the designers split into two groups of 6 for their challenge. They had to make 6 pieces per group to make a cohesive mini-collection. They had to pick a theme and fabric. 

The group that had most of my favorite designers [April, Peach, Casanova, Valerie, Michael Drummond (He's from St. Louis...brownie points o_o) and Mondo] chose to do a military collection using lace. Edgy and feminine was their outlook. They became Team Military and Lace.

(Team Military and Lace)

The other team had a couple designers I like, and one (and a half) that I can't stand. Andy, AJ, Christopher, (I really like these three) Michael C, Ivy, and Gretchen. Now....Ivy is the "and a half" that I do not like much. Gretchen is the one that I cannot stand and haven't been able to since the first episode.

(Called themselves Team Luxe....but it really should have been Team Gretchen the Cutthroat Bitch Takes Over Everyone's Personal Design Aesthetic Using Manipulation and Bully Tactics)

Gretchen is the idiot with her arms in the air and Ivy is the one in front of her. The guys I like.

Okay, so Team Luxe, correction, Gretchen thought that "her" team had a great collection and that it was hip and modern and blah blah blah. She also said many many many times in many many many different ways how much the other team's collection sucked and was not cohesive or hip or whatever. 

She's always quick to say that she'll always be the winner and everyone else's designs suck compared to anything she'll ever do. (Basically, to be completely blunt, she thinks he shit don't stink. This is why I can't stand her)

Well...The runway came and the judges ended up loving Team Military and Lace, which is something that was not very surprising as it was a totally kick ass collection and I'd have worn every piece in it. 

Go, underdogs! Congratulations to Casanova, who finally found his balance between his own taste and pleasing the judges' tastes while keeping his aesthetic. Well deserved win for him and the rest of the team. I was happy.

So then came the moments of truth...The talk with the losing team. They showed footage of them discussing whether or not to call anyone out. They agreed to present a united front and stand by their designs.

On the runway...sort of. Before being judged.

So they went out there and Gretchen (Of coourse) took control and made up this whole sob story about how they love their designs still and did their best and can't pick a weakest link and refused to if asked...complete with fake tears and guilt trips and all that manipulative crap. The judges faces were priceless and I really wish I could find pictures of them. Made me laugh out loud at her stupidity. 

So after having said all this stuff about sticking together and standing by what they made, she made a complete turn and started throwing people under the bus and decided she did not want to stick by what she bullied everyone into making.

And while I do like Christopher and Andy, they are obviously manipulated very easily by both Ivy and Gretchen, because they were quick to pick Michael C as a weak link (Which is funny because he won last week and totally deserved it).

AJ, on the other hand, God love him, took responsibility for his [in]action in this challenge and admitted that he should have done more to get his aesthetic into the collection. But he spent most of his time making just one piece that was a shirt dress (Which is something that he'd never normally make) and therefore was thrown under a bus.

So it was down to Gretchen and AJ and I was starting to get a little excited that Gretchen might actually be put in her place and sent home. Well...to my dismay after saying her name, Heidi continued with "You are in." Which meant that AJ was out.

!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's all that went through my mind. Along with a string of colorful expletives directed toward the terrible decision on behalf of the judges. Yeah, she made more garments...She BULLIED the collection out of everyone else in her group and did not even give them a chance to stand up for their own aesthetic. AJ took the bullet and I hope she knows that everyone likes HIM better for doing that than they will ever ever ever like her.

AJ...You will be missed greatly. Come back to St. Charles, MO and I guarantee you'll see how you are adored.

At this point I was ready to throw my computer because I was so angry (and I still am). So, as show tradition, the cameras followed AJ back to the room where the rest of the designers are to say goodbye. Tim Gunn (One of the best parts of the show!) then comes in to send the losing designer to clean their workspace.

Well, Tim came in with a vengeance this week. Before he said anything to AJ, he had him sit down and addressed him and the rest of Team Luxe. He basically said how disappointed he was in everyone for allowing Gretchen to manipulate and bully them. And he was disappointed in them because now AJ had to take the bullet and go home because of their inaction.

Well, let me tell you, I loved Tim Gunn before that moment, and now I practically idolize him! Ivy, apparently, had an A-ha moment after that, and I seriously hope she apologizes to Michael C for the mean things she said about him to the judges.

So then it was infuriating and funny at the same time again when Gretchen came on saying that Tim hurt her feelings and she was not manipulative and cocky. Hah. You are very funny...

 I'm pretty sure I remember her being totally evil toward Michael C when talking to the judges and she's never really said one nice thing about anyone else's garment. Or if she has, it has been quickly followed with a "but mine is better."

Even when trying to get the audience to feel sympathy for her, it took her about ten seconds before she just started bashing AJ.

Really? Yes, you suck and you should take responsibility for losing because you ARE a manipulative bossy person that no one wants around....Stop taking it out on everyone else and own up to who you are.

So anyway. I really just had to get that of my chest and I feel better now. It's difficult to go to bed angry and I was already a bit ticked off from the Emmys. Perhaps I'll blog about that tomorrow. Good night all.

Pictures/video clip courtesy of mylifetime.com and google.com searches. :-)

finally!

So I finally got a job! While it's only part time, and doesn't pay great to begin with, it's as a checker at grocery store...I have previous experience working a cash register so it will pay off (hopefully) because I plan on trying to get full time and moving up really quick.

Still working on looking for more ways to get money because I know I need it. (I wonder if target is hiring...discount on clothes? Yes, please.)

So Monday was my 23rd birthday. I went shopping with my mom and then to dinner with her and my grandma. It was fun. O'Charley's has great food, and now they have birthday caramel pies...and they mean that quite literally, it is a freaking caramel pie. I wish I'd have taken a picture of it before I started eating it. Ah well, it looks like a chocolate pie only caramel.

Anyway. Saturday I went to the horse races. Again, didn't take any pictures, but I'm sure borrowing some pictures from Google search will suffice:

Fairmount Park and lots of pretty brown race horses.

...You get the idea.

After a couple of these:

..it was a lot easier to laugh about a lost bet.

I was surprised that the track was actually kid friendly. There were lots of families there, and even grade school fundraisers going on. 

Much different, but oddly similar to my experience at the greyhound races in Memphis, TN.

Except for this....

And that was my Saturday night, and before that I mentioned my birthday. I had an idea the other day to post a whole bunch of pictures from the last year and I've been lazy.

Truth is, I'd have to find most of them on Facebook and then either hotlink them or save them to my computer and then upload them...and there are quite a few I was looking at. So, since I'm feeling uber lazy, I'll save it for a different day.

I was in good spirits yesterday (as I am today as well) and also in a Criminal Minds sort of a mood. So I began watching Season 5 where I had left off...at episode 2.

Imagine my surprise when I see the guest star was none other than this man:

Mr. Connor McManus himself, Sean Patrick Flanery!

I was so excited and inspired that I began running my 3rd favorite movie through my head until I fell asleep.

I'd have watched it last night, but I had to be at work early this morning. So I mentally noted that I'd most definitely watch it today (after my nap, of course)

And that brings me to now. I am watching (well taking a break) this fan-fucking-tastic movie and smiling like a child who was just given ice-cream. 

I'm probably a nerd, but that's okay because I'm not the only one.

In the Merry Old Land of Oz....

Happy [Belated] 71st Anniversary to The Wizard of Oz. I meant to have done this yesterday when it actually was the anniversary, but I got writer's block, if I'll be honest.

The Wizard of Oz is one of those rare movies, and stories in general, that has made its way through quite a few generations and remains one of the strongest and most loved stories. It's funny that, even though it was made around 1939, therefore having minimal special effects, it remains one of the coolest effect movies ever created. It has to be legendary, because, not only was it the first color film to hit theatres, the stuff they did with the color was just...I mean, it just is so wonderfully colorful that it's difficult to believe it was the first experiment in color films.

Well, like many generations before me, even, I grew up watching this movie. I loved it, and I loved that my grandma has the vinyl record of it, so when we didn't feel like watching it, we could get the old record player going and listen to it and dance around. I remember loving Dorothy and Toto (Who doesn't) and the Scarecrow was always my favorite character, though the TinMan's song was always my favorite song.

I was terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West, as most other little kids, and her monkeys were equally as terrifying.

That being said, the next part of my Wizard of Oz story can be very amusing. Most people that know me know how obsessed and immersed I am in theatre. At Quincy University, we put on a musical every year. Last year, well the summer of 2008, technically, Connie Phillips (Theatre Director extradordaire) decided that it was going to be the year she finally tried to fly people on stage. Story behind her troubles, in a nutshell: MacHugh theatre was originally a gynmasium type place that was converted to a theatre, it has a low ceiling and is very small, so many people told her she cannot fly people on stage because it just would not work. Connie doesn't like hearing she can't, so she was even more motivated to try.

So...Those of us who were Juniors and Seniors and very involved in theatre heard that she was going to try, and were very excited to hear that they were going to try producing Peter Pan. Well, Peter Pan requires 4 fly lines at least, and Connie was not even sure, at this point, if we could even fit more than one.

So plans had to change and they decided, instead, to do The Wizard of Oz. Some of us were disappointed, but quickly realized that a "test fly" show was necessary if we did want to do Peter Pan eventually.

I was one of those disappointed ones...at first. I then began to remember all the songs and characters I loved from my childhood, and as I continued my education and learned my range as an actor, I began to get excited for auditions. While I was terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West as a child, I was grown up now and I realized just how much of an acting challenge it would be to portray that character. I respected her instead of feared her now. I wanted to be the Witch.

I did not believe this was possible, however, because she is a lead character in a musical...I cannot sing very well, so I let myself get down just a little. Then, one miraculous day in my acting class with Connie, she got on the topic of Wizard of Oz and the differences in characters and what would be needed from an actor portraying them. She got the Wicked Witch, and I listened with bated breath to her analysis of the character. She said the best possible thing I could have ever imagined--The Wicked Witch of the West was not a singing role, she was purely acting. Well, let me tell you, the heavens opened up and a choir of angels began singing the "Hallelujah" chorus. I had a chance at getting this part.

So I practiced...a lot. On my voice, my movements, everything for auditions. I wanted to go above and beyond was what expected of me so I could almost guaruntee myself getting the role.

As it turned out, I was the only one that specifically went out for the role of the Witch (Mostly everyone else wanted to be Dorothy). I got the role, along with one of my best friends, Michelle. We were performing two weekends in a row, and with the witch-playing, flying, and ridiculous costume changes, we would need back-up, so I was thankful for the double-casting.

Being a part of Wizard of Oz was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and probably the one I'll remember best: I got to fly, get painted green in less than 7 minutes, scare children, scream a lot, perfect my evil cackle, and reconnect/connect with the coolest people ever.

That's me as old Almyra Gultch backstage with my best friend Libby (aka Toto)

My friend Tara Hibbert as Dorothy.

Jessica Rains as Glinda..I realize you can't see her face but it's a cool flying shot.

It's Munchkin Independence Day! Huzzah!

The Ruby Slippers!!!! These were practice ones, so they aren't perfect, but hell...I want them anyway!

My good friend (and twin) Sidney Shackleton as the Scarecrow.

Tinman! A.K.A. Dale Sandfrey, another good friend.

LaRon Grant as the Cowardly Lion. :-)

Flying Witch..Scary stuff, man.

Amidst an evil cackle. (Good times!)

Hanson/ Rooney Day/Concert

So, on Thursday, August 5th, my sister and I went to the Hanson/Rooney concert here in St. Louis. It was so much fun and I really feel like writing about it now, because I'm only just recovering from all the shock of the day.

So my day started early...I woke up at 9:30 to get ready, and then woke Melissa up at 10:30. We left the house around noon, by which time I was so excited, I'm pretty sure I talked my sister's ear off the whole half hour drive to The Pageant. We got there around 12:30 and I drove around for about 5 minutes looking for a spot...found one right by the tour buses.

We sat in front of the venue for a while, waiting for The Walk to begin, but we knew we had plenty of time and it didn't really matter where we stood when the walk started, so we walked down the Loop to get lunch.

We got back with about 15 minutes to spare before the walk was to begin. So we were standing there and all of a sudden, Robert Carmine (Schwartzman) and Ned Brower from Rooney just casually crossed the street to the cafe there. I really wanted to walk over and talk to them, but I didn't want to be a creeper and I couldn't think of anything intelligent to say, so I just made myself content with throwing them lots of glances while waiting for the Hanson guys to come outside.

They set up the table to register for the walk and not too much later the guys came outside. Isaac had his son with him to walk, and it was adorable. Unfortunately, he had to go back inside and the walk began with just Tay and Zac and the crowd of fans. I took my socks and shoes off, as it is a barefoot walk, and instantly felt the scalding heat of the sidewalk. It. Was. Painful. But, you know, that's the point, so I did my best to suck it and think about anything else but the soles of my feet burning. We got almost half way and I had to stop and put my socks on. I was a wimp, I'll admit, and I don't want to make e

xcuses, but there were people in front of us that were wearing their shoes and taking their sweet old time, all the while spreading themselves out in a way that I couldn't get around them unless I pushed through them. Anyway, I compromised with myself by putting my socks on, that way, I was still shoeless, but not completely barefoot and therefore putting like third degree burns on my feet.

Well halfway through, Taylor gives a speech, as usual, as he does in the beginning and the end as well. Well I had watched many of them and usually he's pretty funny and preachy. Well, he was uber preachy and very very snarky this time. I just assumed it was because so many people were wearing shoes and not pushing themselves to even try, and I was half right. I watched the video of the livestream and found out there was a fan that bugged Tay the first half of the walk and only took her shoes off for about a minute because he told her to, or well, she got him to tell her to. She was really ignorant and was doing the walk for all the wrong reasons. He was pissed, now I get his snarkiness.

So, the way back to the venue, I was lucky enough to keep pace with Taylor and hear him talk to the camera a lot and talk to another girl about his son and family and also see two little girls run up to him and give him pictures they drew. Adorable. We got back to the venue, and he gave another long speech and it was really cool. They went inside, and so it was time to go and sit in line until the concert.

I sat almost the whole wait, because I got a couple of killer blisters from the sidewalk heat, but the wait was actually pretty fun, just hanging with my sister for 4-ish hours.

Finally got inside, and ended up getting a really good spot on the floor, about 5 people/rows back. Derren Raser was the opening act, as a contest winner, he played fifteen minutes and was awesome. Then there was about a half an hour wait for Rooney.

Rooney came on stage and did a fantastic job, they opened with Shakin' with made me go crazy, jumping up and down and all that jazz. I was the only person I saw in my direction doing that, and I'm pretty sure at one point Robert pointed at me and said something good. I like to think so, anyway. :-) So they finished their set and were going to be at their merch table. Well, I didn't want to lose our awesome spot on the floor, but I really really wanted to meet the band, so we left and went to the merch room.

The guys came in behind everyone, much to everyone's shock and excitement...Robert cut through right by Melissa and she was like "Oh my Gosh...First Zac touches me, then Robert!" I just shook my head. Not fair. Anyway....He made it to the table, finally, but there wasn't much time til Hanson's set was going to be, so we only made it to Robert. Someone asked him if he was in The Princess Diaries as he was signing Melissa's ticket, and he got grumpy for a second because she was utterly ignorant, asking then if he was in "one at the end" to which he replied, with a sour look on his face, "I was in the whole thing, actually." I snapped a pic of him and Melissa and before I could have my turn he turned to other people next to us. That was cool, he apologized then got to me after. Melissa fumbled with my phone while he leaned over the table with his head resting against mine. He was being really really goofy, making me laugh and Melissa laugh, which made her fumble more. She finally got the picture, and asked him for a hug, then I was right behind her. I couldn't stop my mouth from opening, then, and I told him he was my idol...**facepalm moment number 1 for Jenny**

Well, we ended up in the back of the floor, which was okay, it's still only like 20 feet away from the stage and we had room to move around if we wanted to. It was about 15 minutes before the guys of Hanson finally took the stage.

It was phenomenal. Perfect mix of new and old and middle-aged (haha...For lack of a better term) stuff and a full 2-hour set. Plenty of antics and even a dirty joke thrown in by Zac. Yeah, they're all grown up, lol. I was sad when their encore ended (Man From Milwaukee) but excited for the prospect of meeting them soon after.

Melissa and I went to their merch table and each got a shirt and then headed to the parking lot to wait by the buses.

About 45 minutes or so later Zac came out. He took a long time to get to where we were, but hte wait was worth it. I snapped a picture of him and Melissa, and without having to ask, he signed my ticket and threw his arm around me for a picture. Ohh, they've been doing this a looooooong time. That was obvious. Mel took one picture, said it was blurry and asked if she could redo it, to which Zac replied "Sure" and I said "I don't mind!" **facepalm moment number 3...2 being about 30 seconds prior to that when I said "...and you're left handed which is awesome cause I am too"** So the second one turned out good, and as he was about to head to the next person and I was thanking him, Melissa asked him for a hug. He gave her one, but awkwardly. (Facepalm moment for Melissa)

By this time, Isaac had come outside, which I was excited about, because I didn't get to meet him last time I saw them live. I heard Zac behind us say that he'd probably catch up to him and that made me laugh a little. Taylor came out shortly after Ike and caught up to him. He was like a firecracker...Taking group photos instead of individual so people wouldn't be out too much later and the line was really long.

So they got closer and I about hyperventilated when I saw that Tay caught up to Ike. Got Ike's signature, confused him a little since my ticket was a folded up piece of paper, he didn't know where I wanted him to sign, so he found Zac's signature and signed next to it. Got a picture of Meliss and I together with him. (Hooray for making friends in line to take pics for us!) And Tay was there by the time I was handed my camera back to me. I heard him say, sort of to himself and aimed at those in front of us "If there is a next time..." Well this freaked me out and I said "Whaaat, don't you say that!" And he smiled and said "Well, you know, I mean...I dunno if you'll be here next time we are." Phew. Me: Well, of course I will, why would I miss it?!" Melissa added that she's been a fan since she was 6 and I chimed in my age 8 fact. He was really appreciative and even said "Wow, thanks so much, that's amazing." I handed my camera to his security guard and he threw his arms around Melissa and I. We smiled (Me a little too big) and when the flash went, Taylor said "Perfect," and patted then squeezed our arms. He thanked us, we thanked him a lot, and as he went to the next people, he turned around and said "I guess I'll see you next time!" :-D

We walked to my car and left. I couldn't sleep because I was still in shock that, not only did I actually meet and talk to a band I've been a fan of for more than half my life, but also met Robert Carmine, who I've been a fan of for close to 8 years. Fantastic night, best whole day of my life, and even the pain of the blisters and soreness then following morning couldn't take my smile away when I realized it wasn't a dream after all.

Melissa, ISAAC HANSON, and me. :-) He's adorable and soo nice.

Melissa, TAYLOR HANSON, and myself. He was the easiest to talk to. :-)

ZAC HANSON and myself. I hope he wasn't creeped out by us....o_O

ROBERT CARMINE (Schwartzman) and me. Ohh he was talking but this is still a great picture. He was fantastic, can't wait til Rooney comes back.

Best.Day.Ever. Period.

Hanson - If Only

Every single time I see you I start to feel this way

Makes me wonder if I'm ever gonna feel this way again

There's a picture that's hanging in the back of my head

I see it over and over

I want to hold you and love you in my arms and then

I want to need you cause I need to be with you til the end

Then I hear myself reply you've got to hold it in

This time, tonight

If only I had the guts to feel this way

If only you'd look at me and want to stay

If only I'd take you in my arms and say

I won't go cause I need you

I sit here, waiting, wondering, hoping, that I'll make this right

Cause all I think about is your hands

Your face, and all these lonely nights

There's a feeling that's screaming in the back of my head

Saying over and over

I want to hole you and love you in my arms and then

I want to need you cause I need to be with you til the end

Then I hear myself reply she'll never let you in

This time, tonight

If only I have the guts to feel this way

If only you'd look at me and want to stay

If only I'd take you in my arms and say

I won't go cause I need you

Please don't go cause I need you now

I want to hear you say

It'll always be this way

We will be hand in hand for every night and every day

I want to scream and shout

Cause I'm losing any doubt

And all I care about is you and me and us and now

If only I had the guts to feel this way

If only you'd look at me and want to stay

If only I'd take you in my arms and say

I won't go cause I need you

Please don't go cause I need you now

photoshop fun.

This is what happens when I open Photoshop to play around. This is somewhere I'd like to be right now. Sitting on the beach, enjoying the sound of the waves (And maybe a yummy strawberry daiquiri...)

Still on the search for a job. It seems as though it is necessary to apply to every business hiring in the St. Louis area in order to get a phone call from a decent position (Not just calls from stupid marketing firms trying to get me to sell stupid stuff for them)

Even without a job or getting out of the house much, I've been pretty upbeat lately, and I'm pretty sure I have fantastically written fan fictions, Hanson, Rooney, Frontierville, Farmville, and Netflix to thank for that. I'm honestly surprised my computer hasn't just become a part of me yet. It's sort of pathetic, but I'm doing my best to make the best out of my situation. It's for the best. (how many times can I say 'best'? Let's count....)

I have recently become addicted to watching my Twitter feed. I'm following some very entertaining people (Who just so happened to be obsessed with Jackson Rathbone) who share an account and talk to each other through said account. Not to mention the live chats with other Hanson fans while watching them stream live on their website.

I am officially allowing myself to become restless about the Rooney/Hanson concert. Only two and a half days left. I will most definitely be taking lots of pictures and videos and probably acting like a teeny-bopper all over again, because, face it, good music just does that to me.

I am going to stop writing as I know the constant sound of the tap tap tapping of my keyboard is probably irritating the heck out of my mom and dog. And Criminal Minds is on. It's time for me to get my (almost) daily dose of Matthew Gray Gubler.

Even Dr. Spencer Reid wears awesomely mismatched socks. :-) Hot.