Well, I didn't feel like blogging lately but I decided to give a small sign of life. Even if I should be in bed right now. I am being in a strange mood but the new week will cure that. Also, I am having a wellness trip (SPA, massages and everything) next weekend so that's a good thing. We were supposed to do that in my vacation but we had to postpone it, so it's a treat, now.

Really short blog but hey, that's good for a change, isn't it?

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What I'm Watching

Doctor Who season 2

I am loving the new doctor, I am beginning to get why people crush on him. His introduction in the Christmas Special was amazing and I was taken over by his attitude. I also saw Anthony Steward Head and all I could think about was: "OMG, where is his hair?" How cute is K-9? And how nice was "A Girl in the Fireplace"?

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TV Geek's Songbook

Pushing Daisies

This time, it's Olive bursting into song about her heartache. I admit I was bewilderd at first but Kristin Chenoweth won me over in no time. I love Digby, by the way.

Scene: Kristin Chenoweth - Hopelessly Devoted to You

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I am working on a character list right now but some places have yet to be established. But I am giving you a sneak preview - how nice am I?

I am not giving away much by confessing that I am a big fan of Spike (in case you are wondering: the non-Angel-hating variety). I am really sad because my all-time favorite video of spike scenes has been deleted from youtube. In case you need cheering up, here's my runner up for those occasions. I read that Auntie wrote about this song and I was reminded of this video.

Hugh Laurie video (Coin Operated Boy - Dresden Dolls)

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Take care everyone. See ya

That's it, the final part of the countdown, all truth revealed. I knew about my number one at once, no second thoughts.

And I am all healthy by now, thank god. My weekend was a little working (still have to catch up after my vacation), having friends over for diner (I made Indian food), some TV (with Queer as Folk, Dr. Who, and The Closer) and a bubble bath (haven't done that in ages).

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TV Geek's Songbook

Queer as Folk

I have been spending quite some time watching Queer as Folk (US) lately. The characters are so lovable with Michael, Emmet, and Brian being my favorites. The outstanding song moment is the admittedly cheesy Prom dance. It was so cute and the lyrics are just perfect for them. Since some you haven't seen the show, I shall say no more. *sigh* My runner up is David Bowie, by the way, at Michael's 30st birthday (Boys Keep Swinging).

Prom Scene (Mild Spoiler): Ben E. King & The Drifters - Save The Last Dance For Me

Dr. Horrible

That one is long overdue, it gives me the chills. What's not to love? Great lines, Dr. Horrible as ambulatory bush, and Captain Hammer with the most awkward smile ever.

Scene: On the Rise

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Firefly Countdown Part #6

Finally, the top three.

*SPOILERS for the episodes ahead*

#3 Jaynestown

I just had to have a funny episode in my top three and I go with this one. The crew poses as mud buyers in Canton and Inara services the shy son of the local tyrant. Jayne in disguise was a blast and the whole worshipping was hilarious. The song is great as well and Wash's comment gets me every time.
Also, River fixing the bible is cl@ssic and how awesome was it to see Book's hair? Simon was cute, when he said that Kaylee is "pretty pretty" but of course he managed to mess it up again, who is surprised?
The end is more serious. Jayne's speech was great and we get to see him, probably closest to noble in the whole series.

Favorite visual:

The crew seeing the statue for the first time. Those expressions on their faces are priceless.

Favorite quotes:

Jayne: (to the Mudders) Far as I see it, you people been given the shortest end of the stick ever been offered a human soul in this crap-heel 'verse. But you took that end and you - well, you took it. That's, well, I guess that's something.

Book: River? Please, why don't you come on out?
River: No! Can't. Too much hair.

Favorite Jayne lines:

Jayne: You guys had a riot on account of me? My very own riot?

Jayne: You're gonna talk me to death, buddy, is that the plan?

Jayne: Living legend needs eggs.

Favorite Wash quote (as I mentioned before, I know):

Wash: We gotta go to the crappy town where I'm a hero.

#2 Ariel

A serious episode which I found to be very gripping. River attacking Jayne with a knife made for a surprising start and it was nice to see Simon really being useful for a change. He needs advanced equipment for River, so he advises a heist on a hospital. It was fun seeing the crew getting trained in medical speech; River's sixth sense becomes more obvious; and Simon gets to save a life.
It broke my heart to see Jayne turning on the others and the blue handed man caused very creepy deaths. I also liked the scanner visuals. Finally, I loved that Mal knew at once what Jayne had been up to. The last scenes at the airlock were very strong.

Favorite visual:

River's drawings in the end. They remind me of the Asian cartoon characters in the commercial featured in Serenity.

Favorite quote:

Jayne: What are you gonna tell the others?
Mal: About what?
Jayne: About why I am dead.
Mal: I haven't thought about it.
Jayne: Make something up. Don't tell them what I did.
Mal: (closes the airlock) The next time you decide to stab me in the back, have the guts to do it to my face.

Favorite Jayne quote:

Jayne: Hell, I don't know. If I wanted schooling, I'd have gone to school.

Jayne: Genial high-tech Alliance crap. (tries to break the door open with the fancy Alliance gun)

Favorite Wash quote:

Wash: It's all very sweet - stealing from the rich, selling to the poor.

#1 Out of Gas

I just love this episode, it has a great atmosphere, a brilliant score, and wonderful colors. There is plenty of drama but also immensely lovable scenes. The timelines are handled perfectly and I love the flashbacks that reveal more about the history of our heroes. It never gets old for me.
In the beginning we get a very nice scene in the kitchen area which is always good in my book. I loved Mal and Zoe setting foot on Serenity for the first time, Kaylee being all smart, Jayne's bad ass attitude, and Zoe despising Wash at first.

Favorite visual:

Seeing Wash with a mustach, no question!

Favorite quotes:

Mal: (about Serenity) Try to see past what she is, on to what she can be.

Inara: Oh, one further addendum. That's the last time you get to call me whore.

Favorite Jayne quotes:

Jayne: Hey! What do you two think you're doing? Fighting at a time like this. You'll use up all the air.

Jayne: Tell us where the stuff's at, so I can shoot ya.
Mal: Point of interest? Offering to shoot us might not work so well as an incentive as you might imagine.

Favorite Wash quote:

Wash: What do you expect me to do, Mal?
Mal: Whatever you have to! And if you can't do it from here, then get a suit on and go outside on the side of the boat—
Wash: And what? Wave my arms around?

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I am almost sad it's over. Enjoy your week!

Here it is, my second to last edition of the Firefly Countdown. I don't know what to do after that – I'd be open to suggestions.
I had a very nice time over my birthday. Thank you guys for your nice congratulations! I missed you. I'm back for a couple of days, now, and currently a little handicapped by a cold. I ignored that at first – I hate being ill – but I guess I'll be having fun with that one for a couple of more days. Work starts tomorrow, I guess I'll deal.
My mood is a little foul because one of my submissions got a rejection which I perceive as unfair. I shouldn't complain, it's my first experience in that regard but the rejection comment was a standard half sentence completely unrelated to my submission comments. Now, he's not responding to my PM asking for an explanation, although he read it. I'll try to stay cool about it.
What more is new? I am a proud new member of the AEA (Accidental Entertainers Association) founded by Inge and Viktor. Do some of you have experiences with spontaneously bursting into song? Then join!
Oh, and I changed my icon. I was playing with this thought for quite a while and I think this one will be it. A big yay for TwistedConverse, Katherine, Ashley, and Elly for encouraging me despite my numerous attempts - you are awesome! Here are some of the other contestants (the last one being my blog header, now):

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Update on the TV Geek's Songbook

Dr. Horrible

Well I might end up linking every song but why not? There are at least two more in my mind. This time, I'll link Man's gotta do. Just because it is a perfect entrance for Captain Hammer and made me ultimately fall in love with this show. Also, it's Ashley's favorite.

The full video of Dr. Horrible can still be watched here.

Scene: Man's Gotta Do

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Firefly Countdown Part #5

To cause more speculation about the top, I am breaking my habit to only post two episodes. I'll do three now and the top three next time.

*SPOILERS for the episodes ahead*

#6 Our Mrs. Raynolds

I loved this episode. What a nice twist to introduce Saffron as a shy and devoted wife. They really had me fooled. The reactions of the team members were wonderful, especially Jayne wanting to trade her for his beloved gun and Book's reference to the special level of hell (*winks to Hari, who prepared me for that one*). Kaylee's delight and Inara's jealousy were also fun to watch.
Wash craving for Saffron's food and later resisting her seductions were other treats of this episode. And wasn't it a shame that Inara didn't come clean about kissing Mal?

Favorite visual:

Jayne approaching Mal with his Vera

Favorite quote:

Book: If you take sexual advantage of her you're going to burn in a very special level of hell. A level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater.

Favorite Mal quotes:

Mal: But she was naked and all... articulate!

Favorite Jayne quote (That wasn't hard to guess, was it?):

Mal: Are you offering me a trade?
Jayne: Trade?! Hell it's theft. This is the best damn gun made by man! It's miles more worthy than what you got!
Mal: What I got? She has a name.
Jayne: So does this. I call it Vera.
Mal: Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle.

Runner up:
Jayne: That's why I never kiss 'em on the mouth.

Favorite Wash quote:

Wash: Okay, everybody not talking about sex, in here. Everybody else, elsewhere.

#5 War Stories

This time Wash is the jealous one. The conflict was well developed and made for a great storyline. Having Mal and Wash bickering in custody was awesome and made my laugh, admittedly. Zoe choosing to save Wash over Mal without a second thought made for another very strong scene. We saw her in complete warrior mode. Shortly after that Mal lost his ear. On a side note, Inara's customer being a woman was an ok twist as well.

Favorite visual:

River blindly shooting all the attackers while Kaylee was watching.

Favorite quotes:

Zoe: Jayne, this is something the Captain has to do on his own.
Mal: No. No it's not!
Zoe: Oh.
(my runner up visual is following this quote: Zoe, Wash, and Jayne shooting Niska)

And this time Book was a blast:

Simon: I've never shot anyone before.
Book: I was there, son. I'm fair sure you haven't shot anyone yet.

Zoe: Preacher, don't the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killing?
Book: Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps.

Favorite Jayne quote:

Zoe: I understand. We have no choice. Take me, sir. Take me hard.
Jayne: Well, something about that is just downright unsettling.

Favorite Wash quote:

Wash: Hey, I've been in a firefight before... Well, I was in a fire once... Actually, I was fired from a fry cook opportunity. I can handle myself.

#4 Objects in Space

This episode even grew on me since I first watched it. It broke my heart to see River imagining all the thoughts of the others but it made for nice insights. Seeing everyone suspicious of her was very sad but I enjoyed Simon rooting for her, no matter what. Bounty hunter Early was a very creepy villain in his polite way. Especially his exchange with Kaylee was painful to watch. At first I was kind of turned off by the "River is the ship" idea but since it played out as a trap, I was pleased. Seeing River as a real member of the team was great.

Favorite visual:

Mal suddenly showing up in his space-suit behind Early and throwing him off Serenity.

Favorite quotes:

Mal: You know, you're not quite right.
River: That's the popular theory.

Kaylee: Don't let the space bugs bite.

Simon: Are you Alliance?
Early: Am I a lion?
Simon: What?
Early: I don't think of myself as a lion. You might as well, though. I have a mighty roar.

Favorite Jayne quote:

Jayne: Let's move this conversation in a not Jayne's fault direction.

Favorite Wash quote, kind of:

Wash: Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science fiction.
Zoe: You live on a spaceship, dear.

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Enjoy the rest of the weekend. See you around!

Are you curious which episodes are left or do you want to be surprised?
Here is a sneak peak in alphabetical order:

***SPOILER***