Friday, December 9, 2011

[bearshorty]

Grimm S1E5 So instead of going to hang out with his girlfriend Nick goes to have a beer with Eddie and talk about cases. Slash is so so easy in this show. Not too mention that super duo have better chemistry. Using “Danse Macabre” was brilliant! So far I have liked every single episode. Oh, girlfriend will catch on soon. The actress is way too skinny. Nick is really growing on me; he is not broody, competent at his job and not fazed by this new aspect of his life.
S1E6 This was suspenseful – Nick getting in the middle of a feud. Oh, my God. I did not expect the episode to go there and have the hapless wolf, who can’t even recognize a Grimm, die by assassin pig. (And I can’t believe I just typed this sentence). In the beginning of the show I was afraid it would be too formulaic but the plots really haven’t been predictable. And Eddie will feel so guilty. I think I just fell in love with this show. “A bunny?” – “maybe she is not the right girl for you” – awesome dialogue sometimes. Why is Eddie always Monroe- I like Eddie better. Nick is smart provoking the arson guy to reveal the pigness. “Maybe I should just get you your own key” – awesome. And no resolution too – she escapes. And it is about internal conflict for both Eddie and Nick. For Nick – how being a cop will conflict with being a Grimm and for Eddie who struggles with his nature.

I’ve had a ridiculous amount of déjà vu today from teaching and music and conversations to story reading. Even stuff I know I never read before. This is really weird. Three, four times today at least.

Turns out there is a new edition of Expos book this year! Good thing it came to my attention today. I basically figured out my readings from next semester after I borrowed the department’s book. I need to make my way to the main campus next Friday and pick up a copy for myself. I think I will start with Carr article on how Google is making us stupid – something for students to respond to.

Since my writing students started their day one of two of their final exam, I just graded history papers at that time. I caught some plagiarism in one paragraph and borrowed an iPhone from one of the students. And it was Wikipedia. Sigh.

After office hours, I made my way to the other campus, got tea and a Boston crème donut and caught up on some TV on the computer. Why did TNT and USA no longer want me to watch either “Leverage” nor “Burn Notice” online? That just seems so wrong.


New Year/Yuletide holiday meme

I’m turning the Christmas Meme into New Year/Yuletide holiday meme since I didn’t grow up with Christmas. My family, and all Russian families really, celebrate New Year – it has always been the biggest holiday but it does resemble American Christmas in many ways. We have a New Year tree and Grandpa Frost brings presents for kids on New Year’s day. Because Bear’s family is Catholic I do Christmas now – I spend the holiday with him and his parents and even go to church with them but it is not about religion for me obviously since I’m Jewish and pretty atheist too.

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate especially since I never had eggnog.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
He wraps them now. When I was a kid he just put them under the tree.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Colored lights definitely.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No. We didn't have this when I was a kid and it is a little weird.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Around December 20th or so we put up the tree and it stays until January 14th – Russian old New Year. Once when I was a kid, Santa dropped the tree on our first floor (ground floor) balcony on December 29.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Russian salad “Olivie” – it is a mix of potatoes, egg, carrots, pickles, canned peas, onions and mayonnaise and it is the definition of a holiday meal.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Just celebrating at my Aunt’s apartment with the whole family. Sometimes us kids would dress up in costume. Also waking up on New Year’s day at 6am, waking up Sasha, my cousin, and opening and comparing our presents and then sneaking quietly to the kitchen to have Olivie salad and cake for breakfast.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Sasha told me when he figured it out when we were nine and it clicked for me since I realized that the Santa (or Ded Moroz) at the school pageant was in red costume and skinny that year while a few years before he was in blue costume and heavyset.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No. Never. Once my parents made me open presents on New Year’s Eve, right after midnight, because Mama was playing with her new video camera. I really didn’t like waking up the next day with no more presents. One of my favorite things is to stare at the tree with presents under it on New Year’s Day before I actually go open them.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Well, Mama does it. I help by handing her all four strings of color light then ornaments and then tinsel.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it! Love it! I grew up in Belarus and snow was a big part of winter. I can’t picture winter without sledding and snow.

12. Can you ice skate?
Yes. Because I learned to roller-blade first. I love it.

13. Do you remember your favourite gift?
Camera when I was ten – real old fashioned one. My uncle taught me how to use it a bit.

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Just spending time with family and presents and festive atmosphere and a big table laden with food.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Napoleon cake my Grandma Tanya used to make. She was the best cook ever.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
For New Year - Just spending the night at home with my family. For Hanukkah – making potato pancakes and lighting the menorah. For Christmas now, when I spend it with Bear, making pancake breakfast together.

17. What tops your tree?
A star.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
Giving. But I like getting presents too.

19. Candy Canes?
No opinion.

20. Favourite Christmas movie?
“Love Actually”

21. Saddest Christmas song?
I can’t think of one.

22. What is your favorite Christmas song?
“Silent Night” probably.