Best and Worst of The Decade In Which We Had To Say The Whole Number

It's the end of another year, and the end of a decade.  We can look back at the '80s and fondly remember neon layered socks and acid-washed jeans, side ponytails, and the Back to the Future franchise.  We can look back at the '90s and reminisce about the birth of grunge, VH1's pop-up video, the rise of Adam Sandler movies (cringe), and matching socks to go with your Gap polo.  So, what will we look back at this decade and remember?  For one thing, what the heck do we call this decade?  Primo decade?  The Decade In Which We Had To Say The Whole Number?  The "Ohs?"  Suggestions?  Here's my take on the past decade, both good and bad.  Before I begin, though, you should know that, although there were a lot of political events, etc. that took place in this decade, I'm leaning towards the entertainment side of things, at least for the most part.  I will start with the bummer section first, so I can end on a positive note.

The Downside of the Decade:
1.  9/11.  To me, this was the worst event of the decade.  The horror it brought to our nation, and the grief we all felt as we watched the towers crumble will stay with me forever.  For our generation, it will be the day we all remember in our old age.  It caused fear through the nation, created paranoia, and resulted in the loss of many freedoms we took for granted, like greeting our loved ones as they got off the plane, privacy with our luggage, and the chance to knit while on a long flight.  It caused unprovoked prejudice, leaving many looking askance at anyone who looked Middle Eastern.  It changed our country forever.

2.  Hurricane Katrina.  We lived in Mississippi when Katrina hit, but we were visiting family in Utah.  Our eyes were glued to the weather channel for 2 days while we watched the swirling graphic move through Mississippi on the weather maps, wondering if our house was still standing.  We attempted one call after another, and were unsuccessful at contacting any friends there, and were left in the dark concerning the fate of our friends and our town.  We experienced the gas shortages, the ice shortages, the grocery shortages, and economic downturn of an area that was already economically depressed.  Tim went to Louisiana with a church group and witnessed wreckage and sorrow firsthand.  It was devastating, and destroyed many families' lives for years to come.

3.  On a lighter note, sequels.  Many, many sequels.  It felt like none of the writers in our decade could come up with a new idea.  Some sequels I thought should never have happened:  "Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3."  Disney can't just walk away from a success.  They have to beat it like a dead horse and make another gazillion dollars.  Ugh.  Speaking of Disney sequels, how about "Little Mermaid: 2 and 3", "Cinderella 2", "Aladdin 2", "Mulan 2", and "Beauty and the Beast 2".  Maybe they could just release the originals for a longer time instead.  I'd rather spend the money on those.  I've seen a few of the sequels, and I'm pretty sure there are trained monkeys that animate and write the music for them.  They are awful.  Some sequels I was grateful for, however, were the Bourne franchise and the X-men franchise.  Spiderman 2 was awesome.  Spiderman 3 was not.  I think it's one thing to take a book series and make them into movies.  The books are already set up to continue in a successful way.  A movie based on a Disneyland ride, though, shouldn't be made into 3 movies, even with the brilliant Johnny Depp as a star. 

4.  High heels at the grocery store.  I liked Docs.  You may have heard that from me before.  They are comfy and practical, and pointy-toed high heels are NOT.  And this trend has continued for a while now.  Can we please move on?  I like to be in style, but I won't be until the high heels in the store go away. 

5.  The rise of tapered jeans.  Oh, wait, now they're called "skinny jeans".  Which is an appropriate name, since you have to be skinny to look even close to decent in them.  They were a bad idea in the '80s, and they're a bad idea now.  Same goes for leggings.  Can we recycle baggy jeans now, please? 

6.  Reality TV.  Yes, I watch it, but I was a lot smarter when all I watched were dramas and sitcoms.  Why are we fascinated with watching people argue and bicker over money on TV?  Real World on MTV has been around for a long time, I know, but I blame Survivor for all the fuss.  I watched the first season, and it was addictive.  People stuck with nothing, eating rats and making fools of themselves.  It was like watching a fish tank.  And it seems like there are worse and worse ideas that are coming to fruition every day.  There was one where the contestants had to choose between honesty and money.  I did not watch this one.  Producers have thrown all morals aside in the attempt to make an extra million.  Disgusting.  One of my goals this year is to wean myself off of most reality shows.  No more Bachelor.  No more Dating in the Dark. 

Things I Will Look Back on Fondly (in no particular order):

1. You know I have to put this in here. It's spanned the decade in a very aggressive and prominent way. Whether you love these books or despise them, you know they exist, and you have probably discussed them with someone at some point. This has definitely been the decade for vampires. I am confident that I will look back with fondness at these books, partly because I enjoyed them as the fluff they are, and partly because I will think back on the girls' nights I spent going to the movies and book releases and giggle a little.

2. The Harry Potter books may have begun in the '90s, but for me, they began while I was in college, finishing my Masters degree. I started reading them in 2001, and joined the rest of the world, waiting by my mailbox as each new book was released and sent to my home from amazon.com. The world was united as we followed Harry's journey from childhood to manhood, anticipating his next encounter with Lord Voldemort. Children, teenagers and adults all shared a common interest in Harry's fate in the final volume. Would he die? Would good prevail? How was Rowling going to satisfy billions of readers? Yes, the movies were also released in this decade, and they were fun and exciting, but I will pull the books off my shelf regularly and reread them for years to come, while the DVDs will probably be pulled out again when my kids are old enough to watch them.

3. Musical fusion. I'm guessing that emo rock will be the defining genre of this decade, but I feel like this decade, more than others, has been broader in musical types and preferences. Bands like Bon Jovi, U2, and Weezer have continued their staying power and released albums that have been, in my opinion, better than their albums from previous decades. They continue to tour and have attracted fans from a new generation. At the same time, we have the Disney generation of singers, including Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lavado (yes, I know their names). They are cute and perky and sing about young love. Emo rock has wormed its way into the alternative scene, and has softened a little of the anger that existed at the end of the '90s. Bands like One Republic and The Fray have developed the alternative sound into a more plaintive and emotional genre. Not that everyone has gone emo on us. We have our angry rockers as well (does Pink ever have a good day?). Of course, there are still the other types I've ignored: R&B, country, rap, and dance party. They still exist, but I tend to ignore them in my normal life, so I won't be thinking about them in 10 years. I will probably hear a song like "How to Save a Life" by The Fray and be awash in nostalgia. However, hearing "Stuck in a Closet, Part 8" will still make me change stations.

4. Capri pants. When they started appearing in juniors sections of department stores, I groaned and said, "Never!" But I did. As one who needs clothing that comes to the knee, I was extremely grateful to have a stylish choice. Of course, on someone who is 5'1", many of them end up looking like floodwater pants, but thanks to the recycling of fashion trends, they have been so prevalent in this decade that I have been able to find many pairs that fit right, and I haven't had to feel frumpy and dowdy just to cool off my legs.

5. While we're on the subject of style, hooray for long t-shirts and the whole empire waist style of shirt. My mom pointed out a few months ago that all my shirts look like maternity clothes, so I always look pregnant. Well, who cares? At least I have been able to hide my fat folds and feel less self-conscious about my gut. And, even being a short-waisted person, there was a long time in the '90s and the early part of this decade, when I couldn't find a shirt that didn't leave a gaping gap between my jeans and my shirt when I sat down. And combining the long tank with the plunging neckline on my "maternity" shirts, I have felt both covered and confident.

6.  The books are amazing, but the movies were mind-blowing.  It was like going to a visual feast.  For the first time, the fantasy genre became accessible to geeks and cool people alike.  From the minute details the Weta workshop toiled over to the perfect cast, it was magic.  The movies are like my generation's Star Wars.  We'll pull them out for our kids when they're teenagers, and they may groan over the lame special effects that amazed us, but they will still like them.  It's a great story.  It's moving and exciting and action-packed.  Thank you, Peter Jackson, for not messing these up.

7.  TV.  Reality TV was the shame of the decade, but people like J.J. Abrams and Ricky Gervais saved us from falling into a pit of reality horror.  This decade can boast shows like "The Office," "Lost," "Alias," "30 Rock," and "Monk."  Who could have guessed that a show could make it to season 7 with a premise of people stuck on an island in the modern day, when it seems laughable.  It's genius!  And Steve Carrell has perfected the awkward humor of a well-intentioned boss that has no inner monologue.  An obsessive/compulsive detective with multiple phobias ended up being hilarious and clever.  So, despite the pitiful overabundance of trashy reality TV, there has also been a great run of excellent TV.  

8.  Personally, I will look back on this decade with copious amounts of fondness, because in the past ten years, I have finished a Masters degree, gotten married, moved to and from Mississippi, had 2 beautiful boys, and settled in a place full of friends and near family

  

At last

Merry Christmas to me:

No more green and red, ratty, saggy recliners.  No more hand-me-downs.  I feel like a real grown-up now.  We are looking forward to trying different arrangements to make the most of the recliners that are on the ends of each couch for perfect football viewing. 

These couches have been a long time coming.  When we bought our house in Mississippi, we dreamed of buying new furniture to fill it, but instead got to replace the entire ductwork and HVAC system in our new house.  Our friends donated their sectional and provided us with seating that perfectly suited our needs, and we were saved from folding chairs in front of the TV.  When we moved to Utah, we left the enormous sectional behind, planning on buying new furniture with the profits from the sale of our home in Mississippi.  Again, that didn't work out, due to the crash in the housing market, and we ended up feeling grateful to sell our house at all.  My grandma moved and gave us her old living room set, and again, we were grateful. 

But I am in my 30s now.  It's time to pick out my own furniture.  To have a grown-up living room.  And for Christmas this year, Tim got me couches.  Thanks honey.  I feel like I can have a party at my house now without spraying the furniture with Febreeze. 

Christmas in a nutshell

Here are a few things I've learned about the Christmas season that I'm putting down in writing (typing), so my addled brain will remember it next year.

1.  Budgeting for Christmas presents for your kids and spouse isn't enough.  You've got to add a bunch more for neighbor gifts, school treats, concerts, work parties and activities so your kids and neighbors don't get the shaft.  I may not be doing neighbor gifts this year.  Sorry friends. 

2.  Letters to Santa should be written before all the toys sell out. 

3.  DO NOT GO TO WALMART.

4.  Although homemade gifts may be from the heart, they also take a long time and usually cost more than a gift the person you made it for actually wants for Christmas.  And if you decide that making gifts, making cards, making homemade neighbor gifts, and making tags is a good idea in one season, you're wrong.  It won't all get done, and then everyone gets a lame gift with their name written in sharpie on the package.  Homemade is okay, just not everything at once.  Which is, again, why neighbor gifts may not happen this year.  There just isn't enough time to bake something for the whole neighborhood.

5. Don't wait to mail the 10 different packages you have until the week before Christmas.  The line at the post office starts half an hour before they even open, and if you're there with 2 kids, you find that even 5 minutes is too long to be there.  This is why some of my dear family isn't getting their gifts until Valentine's Day.  Sorry.

6.  Plan ahead.  I have a very long list of things to get done before Christmas, and it's hanging over me like a guillotine.  If you're stuck with a million different projects the week before Christmas, it takes the whole true meaning out of Christmas for you.  All you feel is stress and anxiety and annoyance, when you should be feeling peace and goodwill toward men.  I'll tell you, there wasn't a lot of goodwill going around in the toy section at Walmart 2 nights ago.  This should be a time where you are seeking opportunities to serve, spending happy and loving time with your family, and celebrating the birth of Christ, not frantically searching for that one last gift your 4-year-old has to have. 

7.  Have fun!  Enjoy the holiday lights and listen to some Christmas music.  If you're missing the joy of Christmas, plug in your lights on your tree and keep them on all day.  It does the trick around our house.  Read the Christmas story.  Just don't stress and worry and turn into a Grinch (now I'm talking to myself here).  Merry Christmas!

Tears, arrows, and car bombs

I am a sympathetic crier.  This means that no matter what I'm doing, no matter what mood I'm in, if someone starts crying, so do I.  TV show finales are a major problem.  This trait of mine creates a few problems:

1.  I cannot watch shows like the Biggest Loser and the elimination rounds of the dancing shows with other people.  My poor children can't figure out why I'm crying, and my husband thinks it's funny.  And then I get a headache from all the crying.  I can count on a doozy of a headache after the Biggest Loser Season Finale (which I'm waiting to watch with my husband, so I won't comment on that yet). 

2.  Mascara is out of the question.  It doesn't matter if it's waterproof, I can't do it.  Because once the tears start flowing, my brain stops working and I end up rubbing my eyes and getting mascara in my eyes, irritating my contacts and causing more tears.  It's a vicious cycle. 

3.  I'm an emotional person anyway, and it means that if there's something even slightly emotionally moving that also involves seeing someone cry, I'm doomed.  I start to blubber and sob.  And then comes the headache. 

I had a lot of headaches last week.  For some reason, USA and BBC America decided to end 2 of my favorite TV series in the same weekend.  So unfair.  "Monk" and "Robin Hood" are both done.  Forever.  It was like the producers got together and said, "Rachel could use a good cry.  Let's finish up our shows this weekend, and put lots of crying and emotional farewells in there."  Here's a quick rundown of each show's conclusion.  Be warned, SPOILERS will be included (Stacie, that means you, because I know you haven't watched the rest of season 2 or any of season 3 yet, so please wait to read this until you've at least gotten through season 2), because otherwise, I can't really write about them.

ROBIN HOOD  It's funny, because the whole series is about the hero, Robin Hood.  I'm pretty sure you're supposed swoon after him, cheer for him, and focus on him.  Somehow, though, I think the show ended up being a lot about Guy of Gisborne (here's a reminder picture for you:)

Yes, we watched Robin's journey from noble to outlaw, we heard his rousing speeches about saving England from tyranny, and we saw him escape time and time again from impossible and fatal situations.  But the journey I enjoyed more was the one Guy makes.  He begins as the Sheriff's brutal henchman, heartless and cruel and easy to despise.  (And also clad in black leather and easy to admire, just a little.)  Enter Maid Marion.  His love for her exposes his humanity and a softness and vulnerability that adds a little appeal to his otherwise horrid personality.  He is torn between a desire to impress the Sheriff and gain power and to be the man Marion wants him to be: a kind and giving person.  He chooses power again and again, and is spurned again and again by Marion.  In the final season, you get a glimpse of his past and the struggle he's endured to get to the position he now holds.  It explains his thirst for wealth and power, and why he's so torn between being rich and being acceptable to Marion (which is impossible, since she has eyes only for Robin).  This struggle finally destroys him and Marion in the final episode of season 2.  I think season 3 really was about how Guy and Robin deal with their grief, and finally, how Guy's remorse redeems him.  I loved the way the series concluded, because, instead of making it a final battle between Robin and Guy, with Robin killing off Guy, it was about Guy finally choosing the right side and fighting alongside Robin.  This series is one that passes my requirements for purchase.  I can watch it again and again and still love it, it has a satisfying conclusion, and it's only 3 seasons so it won't break the bank. 

MONK  There is no getting around it.  This is a great show.  With the countless gritty crime dramas out there (CSI: Every Big City in the Country, and Law & Order: Every Crime Possible to Commit), it's refreshing to have a series that is not only well-written, but really, truly funny.  Tony Shalhoub is an amazing actor, and plays the part of an OCD detective with multiple phobias perfectly.  I was going to name some of my favorite episodes, but there are too many.  I think the later seasons lagged a bit, but even when the show lost a little of its freshness, it was still better than the other crime-solving shows that exist.  And Monk wasn't the only great character.  Randy Disher (and his band, the Randy Disher project), Captain Stottlemeyer, Sharona (who was a bit over-the-top for me sometimes), and later, Natalie, were all great characters. 

About the final episode (SPOILER ALERT).  What was genius about that episode is that USA spent the entire day leading up to the final episode showing old episodes that had clues about Trudy's death.  And when he solved the crime, it had nothing to do with any of those clues.  Another plot device they used that really did have me guessing was poisoning Monk and killing off the guy that knew which poison was used, thus eliminating the possibility of an antidote.  They had Trudy appear to Monk at the beginning of the episode and tell him "it won't be long now," and, having seen shows kill off their main character in the last episode before, I was expecting Monk to die.  I loved that the poison ended up being in his wipes, and it was nice that it was Natalie that figured it out.  So appropriate.  I thought the whole series wrapped up nicely (and yes, there were many tears shed, and I used my long hair as a shield so my husband couldn't see me crying, as if that trick fools him anymore), and if there weren't so many seasons, I might consider buying those, too.  I'll miss having something fun to watch every Friday night.  Let's just hope Psych keeps going for a while. 

Well, time to watch Harry Potter again with my boys.  My husband pointed out yesterday that we've watched it pretty much every day since Halloween.  Yikes.  Time to introduce a new movie.

An Updated Howl

THIS POST REFERS TO MY PREVIOUS REVIEW.  IF YOU WANT THIS TO MAKE SENSE, PLEASE READ THE POST BELOW FIRST. 

I went and saw New Moon again last night with some friends.  After a second viewing, I have some things to amend from my previous review.  But first, a reminder of what the best part of the movie is:

Now to business.  Here are a few feelings I had after a second viewing:
1.  Overall, the wolves weren't as bad as I had thought.  It's that first shot you get of Sam Uley in wolf form.  Both friends I was with mentioned "Neverending Story" after that shot.  A little on the fake, puppety side.  And I still thought the snarling snouts weren't convincing.  But overall, they weren't quite as bad as I thought. 
2.  The music got old really fast.  It was a lot of gushy piano and violin stuff that belonged in a Lifetime movie.  It was appropriate in small doses, but really, 2 hours of it is a bit much.  Especially after the killer soundtrack in the first movie.  (A lot of people told me that the music from the first movie bugged them, but I liked it, because they changed it up with awesome songs by bands like Muse and Paramore.)
3.  Mike Newton is hilarious.  Especially when you're at a late night showing with friends and a lot of candy.
4.  My eyes were really irritated and sore the first time I saw it.  I think that's why I thought Rosalie's hair looked better in New Moon than it did in Twilight.  In the scene at the end, when Bella's calling for a vote, her hair looks terrible!  I mean, grody and nappy and terrible.  I couldn't believe I'd missed that the first time.  Ick.  I was very wrong.  And while we're on the subject of hair, I spent the first half of the movie in great anticipation of Jacob's hair getting whacked off.  That wasn't the greatest wig, either.  Invest, people.
5.   I wanted more of the banter between Bella and Jacob.  They just barely skimmed the surface on their little age game, and the funny conversations they have.  They did the same thing in Twilight between Bella and Edward.  I know they can't drag it out in long conversations, or the movie would last forever, but I would have liked a little more.
6.  The second time is much much better than the first.  It helped that there were three of us that were feeling very silly and only 2 others in the theater.  That made for a fun time.  But really, it's easier to overlook the flaws on the second viewing. 

About Robert Pattinson and my criticism of him as Edward.  I still think "EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW" when I see or think about that scene without the shirt on.  But, after watching a few interviews between him and Ellen and him and Jimmy Kimmel (both of whom are hilarious, and I'd love to have lunch with either of them), I like him a lot more.  I still think he's wrong for the part.  But he openly admitted that his body was less than fabulous.  I think he actually referred to it as a "12-year-old girl's body."  And then you add the chest hair...He also said that when he saw Taylor Lautner he felt a little self-concious (like maybe he should also have been pumping iron and downing protein shakes for the last 6 months).  He was very pleasant, and much better looking without the white make-up and bright red lipstick.  There was actually a preview for another movie with him in it, before New Moon started, and he looked hot.  So it's possible for him to be hot.  Just not with his shirt off, wearing bright red lipstick.  So, Mr. Pattinson, I'm sorry.  You seem to be a nice man.  Just don't take off your shirt in Eclipse, please.  Thanks.