5 Things you should NOT DO at 3 am!

1. Bouncing any kind of object off the wall in a hallway that is near one’s sleeping abode! For your information I am may be living in a box but that does not mean I don’t deserve my own wall peace!  So if that is some sick way of brainstorming your life in the middle of the night, then guess what none of us care! So please do us all a favor and go rattle your own walls and doors.

2. LOL’ing or Laughing-Out-Loud is usually encouraged. However, if at 3am you have a sudden urge to laugh near rooms where people sleep then try LIL’ing! As in Laughing-In-Loud. Unless your laugh is going to contribute in me sleeping more, I would say keep it all In!

3. Shutting your door loudly as If you are being chased by a monster is not okay. Plus if you really are, then don’t you want to be discreet about it so the monster wouldn’t know where you are?

4. Speaking in a foreign language loudly is still loud! Just because I can’t understand you doesn’t mean I can’t hear you!  Next time, try your inside voice and gestures and by that I don’t mean inside gestures, just simple hand gestures.  It’s the most peaceful way to communicate in the middle of the night.

5. Music is good, but Opera singing at 3am is not!  Also not cool is when you decide to hear songs on repeat for hours.  Okay I liked it the first 5 times but seriously even my nightmares are annoyed.

Hopefully this will NOT  be an ongoing list!  Please feel free to add to this list. 🙂

My tea for the moment: I finally found the box for STASH organic premium white tea at the store again! Yay! This is one of my favorites and they’ve been out of this for a while. I think I might have to drink more than one cup though, it’s sooo…brrrrr… cold tonight.

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Are You Ready For Sherlock Holmes!?

Paget_holmesWell!? Are you, are you!? I know I am! La la la, lots of exclamations can only mean one thing, you’re right! I’m really high on my friend’s b-day cake, candies and more candies!  Okay seriously, I’m really excited about the new Sherlock Holmes movie coming out on December 25, 2009 for three big reasons:

1.  Sherlock Holmes
2. Robert Downey Jr.
3. Guy Ritchie

I grew up reading the various adventures of Sherlock Holmes and then later watching the Sherlock Holmes TV series with Jeremy Brett.  He did such an amazing job with that character that for many of us he will remain the best Sherlock Holmes ever!  I just loved the “Deductive Reasoning” of Holmes.  Thanks to a fan, there’s actually a two-part video that shows different clips from the series on the “Art Of Deduction.” It’s so much fun to hear Dr. Watson and Holmes discuss it all. check it out!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twbWKyc3oGU]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCbuxrhKaU&feature=related]

Ahhh great memories.  You know I was actually on Baker Street (Holmes residence) in London some years ago.  Yeah! I clearly remember standing on the street saying OMG, where is this Baker Street?  Saddened and upon seeing no signage in near sight, I went to lean against this giant statue.  And as I was leaning, I was like hmm…what would Sherlock Holmes do?  and as I started to ponder, my eyes went on the shoes! Well of course the shoes! This is no ordinary statue, I said.  This is the one that wears the shoes! And if it wears the shoes then it must also wear a pipe! Then as I looked up, there he was!  Sherlock Holmes shining in all his glory with his amazing hat and pipe!   It was truly wonderful 🙂 hmm… Hey do you guys  know that people actually write to fictional characters?  Yes! Believe or not, even though it’s been over a 100 years since the character was created, people are still writing letters to their icon Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street every single day!

Speaking of icons and getting inspired, you guys need to check out some of these fun videos that i found on the topic of Sherlock Holmes.

The Muppets perform a case of Sherlock Holmes – “With no evidence and no killer, there is no murder!”  hahaha

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk7_MAO-iE0]

Wassup Holmes? What, son!? lol

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQQJ1OhARWk]

By the way if you haven’t noticed yet, this is going to be a long post, so make sure you’re sitting down with an extra large cup of tea or coffee!  I’ll wait if you want to go now?  Ready? Okay so moving on,  did I tell you guys how I’m a big fan of Robert Downey Jr?  Yup, I’m proud to say that I stuck by him through it all. Regardless of what he has gone through in his personal life, he was and still is an amazing actor! By the way,  if Iron Man is your first Downey movie then I really urge you to check out his pre-Iron Man movies.  There are a lot of good ones but two of my favorites are, “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” (2005) and the classic “Only You” (1994).

Here’s a cool favorite Robert Downey moments video made by a fan.  Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoILKIGflxc]

So now that we’ve looked at Holmes and Downey, let’s talk about my third reason, which is Guy Ritchie.  I’ve really enjoyed watching his following films.

  • Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
  • Mean Machine (2001) (executive producer)
  • Snatch (2000)
  • RocknRolla (2008)

He definitely has his own unique style and you may or may not like it. But If you had to start I would say begin by watching “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels!”  If you don’t like crime, action, drama mixed in with dark comedy type movies then these might not be for you.

So here’s the latest trailer of his version of Sherlock Holmes!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNPQjMBJCIU&feature=related]

Looks good to me, especially since Robert Downey Jr. is playing Holmes! Hee Hee 🙂 but for the real deal we’ll just have to see how it rolls when the movie comes out on December 25th! SO! Any of you excited about the new Sherlock Holmes movie? or the original text in general?

My tea for the moment: How about trying some Sherlock Holmes blend from Adagio Teas? I kid you not, this is for real! I think I’ll have to invest in this one for sure but if you guys beat me to it, then please let me know if this is a yes 🙂 or no 🙁

Want more fun stuff?

Resources:

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5 Funny Videos To Make You Laugh!

Hi guys! I came across these videos and they made me a laugh a lot.  Now since It’s already November and kind of dark and gloomy, I thought it would be cool If I helped us all prepare for the upcoming Winter blues.  So here are 5 videos that I hope will make you laugh and if they don’t then I’m sorry you must have a serious case of SAD and maybe you should watch Tom and Jerry!  And if you have already watched them, then check them out again because you know they’ll be super hilarious the second time around! 🙂

5. Abed and Troy’s Spanish rap “La Biblioteca” in the show Community.  Best way to learn your vocab words!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7io6a6a1qY]

4.  “Do Re Me” stunt in the Central Station of Antwerp, Belgium.  Ahh I always wanted to run around like Julie Andrews on that mountain, okay well that’s another dream but I also always wanted to break out in a crazy dance on DO RE ME in public! Don’t laugh, you know you so wanted to do it as well! 🙂

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k]

3.  Heavy Metal Pussy Cats! If you’re obsessed with cats and waste an enormous amount of time on “I Can Has Cheezburger” then this is for you! LOL!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAfpq6EPKck]

2.   Twilight: New Moon Deleted Scenes 2.  My favorite part is Edward secretly dancing to Beyonce’s song “Single Ladies” hahaha.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT8aC_T9-Hw]

1.  The Batman Scene –  Yes another clip from the show “Community” where Abed dressed as The Batman goes to rescue his peers towards the end.  This is the funniest take on Batman’s speech.  I can watch this over and over again!  And you should too!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqEl_3o094c]

Hope you guys got to relax and laugh a little, now go back to work! 🙂   You know, I think I should do a list of the best new shows for you guys soon.  By the way, which of the 5 videos did you like the most?

My tea for the moment: I wanted to spice things up a little bit so I decided to try STASH’s premium Chai White Tea.  It’s a little stronger than the usual White tea but it smells like hmm… Christmas for some reason.  I do not kid, just try it and tell me if you feel the same.  It must be all that cinnamon, allspice and cardamom mixture!

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Greg Wise Reads Persuasion by Jane Austen

Well hello there, I thought i should share this great find as we all continue to recover from a very exciting Halloween weekend and face the real world.  So are you ready for a rather seductive coffee or tea break? Yes you say? Hmm…good, now all you have to do for a “more seductive break” is sit back and relax and watch the “The Carte Noire Readers” read your favorite literary love scene oh la la la.  Hopefully you got your own cube and a good set of headphones at work.  Are you ready? They will only begin if you’re sitting comfortably. Okay here it is, the suave Greg Wise reading a scene from Jane’s Austen’s Persuasion.

Speaking of Jane Austen, have you guys checked out this book trailer of the mashup Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters yet? It’s funny! 🙂

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jZVE5uF24Q]

Still need more laughs? Then check out Austenbook, a Facebook newsfeed for Pride and Prejudice.

Hope you enjoy it, Happy Monday!

My tea for the moment: I’m trying out STASH’s premium Mango Passionfruit caffeine free herbal tea.  Hmm…it has a very citric taste to it, so if you like that, then try it out.

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PHANTOM LOVE NEVER DIES!

14832_197731714895_128086614895_4063287_3097452_nYes my friends that’s what we all said when we said goodbye to Phantom of the Opera. At least I did when I left Majestic theatre that fine night over a weekend. I was so sure I wasn’t coming back to NYC (sniff sniff) but hey who knew I would be back! And now, Phantom will return as well! Yes you heard it right, he’s a coming back.  So if you ever thought hey I wonder what happened to that Phantom dude? Or that gal Christine? Or Raoul?  Well guess what your dream will finally come true.

Earlier this month, Andrew Lloyd Webber did a press launch at Her Majesty’s Theatre for “Love Never Dies” the highly anticipated sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, the longest running Broadway show in history.  The new musical story will take place ten years after the end of The Phantom of the Opera at Coney Island in Brooklyn! Yes that’s what happened to him, he immigrated to USA! Woo hoo.  By the way do you know that about hundred years ago Coney Island was like the 8th wonder of the world? Yeah seriously! Kind of hard to believe after my last visit over the summer but hey that’s what it was according to Andrew Webber.

Okay are you guys ready?  Here’s the video of the press launch.  It starts out with an introductory film that summarizes the success of the Phantom and later Webber talks about the sequel and introduces “The Coney Island Waltz” – Quite lovely!  Ooh and the best part comes around 11:41 when Ramin Karimloo performs “Till I Hear You Sing” – Karimloo will play the Phantom and Sierra Boggess (originated the role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid on Broadway 2007-May 2009) will be the new Christine Daae.  Ramin Karimloo is also currently performing the Phantom in the London production.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewqcvu7j90U]

“Love Never Dies” will premiere in London at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday March 9, 2010 (previews from February 20) and New York on Thursday November 11, 2010! Overall thoughts?  Are you excited?  Will you fly to London to check it out or wait till it comes to NYC?

And if by any chance you can’t or haven’t watched any theatrical performances of The Phantom Of The Opera yet, I highly recommend you run, walk, or drive  to your nearest library or get it online and specifically check out the original cast of Webber’s production that started in 1986 with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman.  And after that you may check out the 2004 film adaptation staring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum.

My tea for the moment: TAZO Lotus Decaffeinated Green Tea with subtle essence of lotus blossoms. Sounds good doesn’t it? hehe  Actually it is especially since I enjoy flower flavors.

Phantom Links
Love Never Dies – Official Website
Love Never Dies – Blog
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Never_Dies_(musical)

The Phantom Of The Opera – Official Website

http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com

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Good Things To Avoid While Packed Up Like Sardines In A Train!

9d50854b-948f-466b-a4b0-b7fd6da2c0d9If your daily commute involves some kind of trains, especially NYC subway trains (like me), then you know how crazy the traffic can be at times or most of the time, when we’re all packed like sardines!  Space is not an option and if someone doesn’t smell good, or is having a private uncomfortable conversation next to you or if a crazy is having a fit then tough! You just have to deal with it.

It’s all good to an extent but there is something we can do, yes you are right! We can make a list, so after careful observation, I have decided to make a list of things that certain people could do to prevent one from disgusting the other!

Good things to avoid while packed up like Sardines in a train!

  • Shower –  You may think it’s cool not to shower for a week but seriously the rest of your fellow commuters don’t!  And if for some really good reason you can’t then please think of investing in a good smelling product, like a cologne or a perfume! Think free trials in the cosmetic areas. Heck you can even use lotion or rub purell all over yourself!
  • Wash your jacket – This one is usually huge during winter months.  Just smell your jacket once before you leave, just once please.  If you are in denial, please wear that smelly jacket and lock yourself up in a very small confined space like a closet or a box for a few minutes. If you don’t die then you’re good and so will be your fellow commuters.
  • Nose picking – oh so not acceptable and yet I have seen so many men and women do this! You may think no one saw you secretly pick your nose and wiping it but let me to tell you a secret, we may all pretend we can’t see you but we really can! Here’s a “How To Stop Picking Your Nose,” link that might help you out.
  • Extremely loud conversations – Normal conversations are good but extremely loud ones when we are all packed up like sardines is not.  We really don’t need to know how much you like turtle necks or the fact that your chest is a forest! No, some of us just don’t want to know.  Calling and sharing your miserable story with five people in a row is also not good.  The first two times was hardly bearable but to cry and moan about it in the same exact fashion with no variety is annoying!

This is an ongoing list and I will have some more “annoying train habits” in the future, until then please feel free to add-on and share your observations.

My tea for the moment:  TAPAL Lemon Green Tea.  There is nothing like the taste of freshly squeezed lemons! Ok seriously, I don’t taste the fresh lemons but it is does have a nice refreshing green tea taste with a hint of lemon so give it a try.
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V: The Final Battle and Aliens

V the final battleDoes anyone remember V: The Final Battle? Well some of you might be too young to know of it but basically it was this TV miniseries that aired in 1984. It was all about the “Visitors” (aliens) trying to take over the world.  I think I watched it a few years later but all I remember is that we were hooked!  It had spaceships, ooh a big mothership, aliens, reptiles, rats, rebels, lots of action, and drama! The title track was so good.  Oh and if you’re interested in checking out a pre-Freddy Krueger Robert Englund, he was in it too! I think “A Nightmare on Elm Street” came out the same year but after V: The Final Battle and we never felt the same about sleeping and dreaming again.  Whatever you do don’t fall asleep! Yikes!

So recently I decided to check out some of the old clips of V: The Final Battle again and I just couldn’t help but laugh a little, okay maybe a lot! ☺ For starters, the graphics now seem goofy and some of the scenes that might have creeped me out back then now just appear real funny.  For those of you who are familiar, I’m thinking especially of that alien baby scene and ooh that one scene where evil Diana gulps down a rat! Oh yes, she does!  I was so amazed and shocked as a kid. No seriously gulping down a rat without choking is an art my friend. I have to tell you though that for back then this was no laughing matter, well unless you just liked to laugh at creepy stuff and you were messed up like that but otherwise this series was a huge hit.

Here is a clip for V: The Final Battle that kind of sums up the series.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQpenFUBtMg]

This is the only good quality clip- Just putting it up so you guys can check out the rat scene at 2:04 and you can see see Robert Englund at 0.34
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M77HfZu24bw&NR=1]

Intro and Summary and the baby birthing scene around 3:09!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX1j_NjlumE&NR=1

And I don’t know if you guys know but they’re now doing a re-make of V: The Final Battle.  This one is called “V” and it will premiere on November 9, 2009 on ABC.  The trailer looks interesting and graphics are neat but we’ll have to see if it’s as good as 80s hit version in terms of acting and storytelling. Oooh and it has Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell ) from “Lost” in it as well! Whoa are you thinking what I’m thinking? Did she really say goodbye to us forever in that deep hole? (Trying my best to avoid spoilers here) Of course this doesn’t mean she won’t be in “Lost” anymore because the fans know that really anything can happen in that show.  They sure do love to mess up with our minds and answer our questions with more questions!

Here’s the preview for the new version titled “V” –  This time the backdrop is NYC (woo hoo) as opposed to Los Angeles.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQoSCEMzJYE]

On another note, but still speaking of aliens I got an email yesterday that read “UFO seen in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon!” Apparently this was all over the net.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiLZ9DXfEaA&feature=related]

Wonderful, aliens are now shopping for some land in the middle east as well!  I wonder if they checked out the world and the palm tree set up in Dubai?   That’s some prime property with plenty of water and sand for their alien needs.  By the way I see two of them! 🙂

So what do you guys think? Will you check out the new “V” TV series?

My tea for the moment:  Tapal Jasmine Green Tea.  Hmm…I wonder if the aliens drink tea? Maybe something like Human green tea? uggh

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It’s Snack time!

healthy_meal_cd2dNo, not nap time! I said snack time! Although I must say it’s just as good as a naptime, don’t you think?  After all, the perfect snack contributes to a perfect nap time. Okay seriously, don’t try this at work because snoozing is not good, particularly if you’re in a cube setting or in the theatre!  Yes, we can hear you snore! And hey you, yes, YOU texting in the middle of the dark movie theatre, we can all see you, so stop it before I send the phone snatchers after you!  Ahhh so where was I?  yes snacks, they fill our hearts with joy and lights up our eyes.  As soon as we hear that growl in our tummy, our mind goes ping! Then it’s all about the Snack time!

You know that when you were pretending to be all busy and working away and staring at the computer screen, what you were actually thinking about was man, what will I have for lunch today? Or what quick snack would do me good right now?  Or I’m so hungry I can’t concentrate are those even words coming out of his/her mouth?  Whether it’s that long dreadful day at work, or the peak hunger hours of 6-9 of class hours, or watching a game, movie, or a TV show or maybe it’s just when you used your brain too much or spoke too much. Basically you feel exhausted and hungry! And all you want are SNACKS! IMG_9064

Well to help you guys out, I have decided to occasionally share with you some snacks I consider healthy or more like wholesome. I am looking at a snack that will fit nicely in a Ziploc bag and then in your bag or purse, something that will give you the feeling of being full without any guilt.  And it won’t hurt if it was a little healthy too hehe. I am not an expert but as a poor student trying to balance life and school, I have been able to find some interesting food options to help me live. Perhaps you might like some of these snack options as well?

IMG_9065My first find are Thomas’ “Bagel Holes!”  I know what you’re thinking looking at that little girls happy picture and no they’re not only for the kids! Big kids and their moms can eat them too okay.  They’re great because they’re really like these small round bagels or holes.  Although I don’t get why they are holes? Seriously if it is a hole then shouldn’t you literally see a hole? like as in a doughnut?  In any case, I do agree when they say it’s “Breakfast That’s Good To Go!” or more like a snack that’s good to go. You can pack about 2-4 holes in a bag and it fuels you up good.  I tried the Blueberry ones and they were so yummy.  If you have tried them, did you like them? If not, let me know when you do try them.

My tea for the moment: Celestial Seasonings’ Decaf Green Tea with (Bai Mu Dan) White Tea.  This is an interesting blend for sure.  Is anyone a fan of green and white tea fusions?  I think white tea normally tastes much better on its own.  Have you guys tried fusions before? Do you like them? yes? no?

So What’s The Deal With The Balloon Boy?

477I don’t know if you guys heard but today was all about the balloon boy! When I first saw the title I was like oooh a real life “UP” maybe?  Ahh that would be so cool!  Finally, I would be able to travel around the globe in the cheapest way possible.  Okay so it might be a little risky, scary, and perhaps a little too adventurous, hmm…yeah I can see being attacked by birds especially Hitchcock’s “Birds” they were all so creepy, and there is the whole thing with coming into a plane’s way but hey let’s not go there, yikes and what if all the balloons popped!? I mean are helium balloons really durable? And of course am I really qualified as a grumpy old person yet?  But then does it really matter? At least they take you up, up and away and you don’t have to worry about checking in or paying fees for your luggage, see what I’m saying (taking a sip of my hot beverage) Ahhh…lovely! Ok so how did I get here, YES! The balloon boy!

So after all that serious thinking I actually read the article and saw the picture of the runaway balloon.   Two things, one the balloon boy is really not a balloon boy because guess 1A-Balloon-1016.ART0_GP2RNQGA.1+NY123__CORRECTION_Boy_in_Ba.JPG.embedded.prod_affiliate.156what? He never even got on the balloon! Whaaat!? Yeah, that’s what I said! He was actually just hiding in the attic because his father had yelled at him earlier.  It was his older brother who told the dad that “Falcon” that’s the kids name might have taken a flight! And you can imagine the rest of the horror! But fortunately little Falcon is just fine. And second, this is no “UP” kind of balloon ride! I was so disappointed to see a gray flying saucer looking balloon instead.  Really? What is this? Man, I was really hoping to see thousands of colorful balloons with an attached house floating around.

Anyways the good news is little Falcon is out of hiding and his father will try never to yell at him again.  Unfortunately on the other hand people are now debating whether or not this whole thing was real or a hoax? I don’t know and I don’t care!  But in case you want to hear the whole interview, check out not the balloon boy and his family in an interview in the following link.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/102720/nbc-today-show-was-it-a-stunt-balloon-boy%E2%80%99s-family-speaks-out

My tea for the momentLipton‘s Decaffeinated Black Tea.  Try it with some milk and sugar or without with a touch of mint.  Either way it’s a great black tea for such a brrrr…cold weather!

Cassette Tapes = Cool Art

Now why didn’t I think of turning my old tapes into cool art? Hmm…well no worries, I think i just got an idea as to what I can do with my mountain of magazines back home! Ahh i love it, Imagine a giant paper  skeleton left standing in the recycling bin! I would love to see the reaction of the recycling truck man who by the way for some reason left all those magazine bags i left for them to pick up during this past hot summer.  Was it because it got too heavy for you? or because I broke some recycling bin code when i put 5 bags instead of 2 or what?   I’m just saying I haven’t forgotten that episode and I’m still upset!  It was a lot of hard work slaving away in the garage and getting tortured by spiders and other nasty insects that seemed to be all into reading all of a sudden okay.  And seriously spiders, what’s wrong with you?  Do you think I’m Little Miss Muffet and you will just frighten me away? Okay I was frightened a little bit when one of you decided to read along with me while I had the pile of magazine in my lap. Man, all those magazines up in the air was a huge mess, so thanks a lot spiders!

Going back to the old tapes, here is an example of the cool cassette tape art from artist Brian Dettmer.

Brian Dettmer: Cassette Tape Skeletons

Brian Dettmer: Cassette Tape Skeletons

You can check out the whole series at the following designboom’s site link

Brian Dettmer: Cassette Tape Skeletons

What do you guys think?

My tea for the moment:  I normally enjoy floral flavored teas but today I’m trying out Wild Raspberry (Caffeine Free) herbal tea from STASH. Wow this is a perfect mix, skeletons and red color tea! How nice, but seriously I don’t think I care for berry flavor teas, it’s a little too sour for me. But I’m not giving up yet or at least until I finish this whole sampler box I just got!