Today I'm thankful for... Not having to analyze Leo Africanus tonight

OHMYGOSH I can't even communicate how tired I am of doing those passage analyses. I'm so psyched for The Assault. 185 pages, here I come!

Jealous of my Paint skills?

P.S. I totally kept this up for a whole week! One post per day, people! I'm on a roll! Unfortunately, this post will push Darren Criss' beautiful face to the next page with my older posts, but c'est la vie.

Today I'm thankful for... My hair straightener

I'm in on the secret everyone's been on... I finally know how to curl my hair! I feel like I've just completed some right of passage! Oh, and by the way, stupid curling irons don't do jack! My flat iron is my best friend right now for making my curls hold all day 'er day :)

Today I'm thankful for... Three hour naps

I had one of those naps today where you wake up and you have no clue what time it is, let alone what day it is. Basically, I woke up like this kid:

And it was wonderful.

Today I'm thankful for... Being able to pre-order tickets online

What's that you say? Am I going to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 midnight showing? Uh, chyeah!! AH!! :D

So my dad, Capri, and I are going to the midnight showing. Excited doesn't even begin to describe my enthusiasm for this movie! Now all there's left to do is finish the book. Be prepared not to talk to me for the next four days, as I will be taking constant residence in what will soon be my cave of a room.

This is how I'm going to look when I'm done:

Oh yeah, there will be waterworks. No doubt about it.

Today I'm thankful for... That feeling you get when your room is clean

Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. You've just spent two and a half hours putting clothes away, de-cluttering, throwing crap away, and getting rid of your small army of seven water bottles next to your bed when you turn around and you can actually see your floor. It's a good feeling.

Today I'm thankful for... Not livin in a van down by the river

So today the Bio, Physics, and Chem kids all went to the Salt River to take samples and measure turbidity and all that jazz. As you could guess, I made this joke about a thousand times today. And you know what? Only two people got it. That's sad. If you don't know the reference, you poor, uncultured soul, go here right now: http://www.hulu.com/watch/4183/saturday-night-live-down-by-the-river

Today I'm thankful for... Megamind

SPOILER ALERT! You've been warned!

Soooo I just saw Megamind and I gotta say it was an awesome movie. It was so dang hilarious! What I love is that in most good vs. evil movies the central theme is how good will overcome evil. What this movie does is progress that part really quickly and gets to the main focus of the movie, which is Megamind trying to find his self identity within the good and evil spectrum. He actually defeats Metro Man within the first half hour or so, leaving the rest of the movie for him to comes to terms with his feelings for Roxanne, his villainy, his purpose, etc.

Alrighty so I love the character designs. From Megamind's overly-sized, blue head to Metro Man's Leno-worthy chin, every character looked fabulous.

Okay, Megamind and Roxy are just too cute. I mean, it's awkward at times, it's unexpected, it's unlikely, and I think that's what make it so sweet. I dunno, I just love them :)

The humor in this movie was actually laugh-out-loud funny, not just laugh-quietly-to-myself funny. I love his constant mispronunciation of words ex. "bolo," "Metrocity," "revanche," "shool," etc. Also, the spin off of the Obama Hope poster was awesome.

Favorite quotes time!

"Oooh, I'm shaking in my custom baby seal leather boots!" -Megamind

"I've been watching you, like a dingo watches a human baby..." -Hal

"Uh... Yeah, the spyiiider. Even the smallest bite from 'arachnis deathicus' will instantly paralyze... Aargh! Get it off!" -Megamind

"Death ray readying! "

"Let's see if Metro Man can withstand the full concentrated power of the sun! FIRE! ...Fire!"

"Still warming up, sir."
"Warming up? The sun is WARMING UP?"

-Megamind and Minion

"Just a few alterations, and I will be done with your cape! I'm calling it, the Black Mambaaaaa...!" -Minion

"Use the spray!"

"It's out!"
"Well, use the forget-me stick!"

-Megamind and Minion

"OW, my giant blue head!" -Megamind

"Is there some kind of nerdy supervillain website where you get Tesla coils and blinky dials?

"Actually, most of it comes from an outlet store in..."

"Don't answer her!"

"Oh, right! ...Romania."

-Roxanne, Minion, and Megamind

"In case you've noticed, you've fallen right into my trap!"

"You can't trap justice! It's an idea, a belief!"

"Even the most heartfelt belief can get corroded with crime!"

"Justice is a non-corrosive metal!"

"But metals can be melted, by the heat of revanche!"

"It's REVENGE, and it's best served cold!"

"But it can be easily reheated, in the microwave of evil!"

"Well, I think your warranty's about to expire!"

"Maybe I got an extended warranty!"

"Warranties are invalid, if used beyond their intended purpose!"

"Girls, girls, you're both pretty! Can I go home now?"

-Megamind, Metro Man, and Roxanne

"She's using her nosy reporter skills to find out all our secrets! Very smart. But such tricks... won't work... on me."

"Please talk slower."
"Temptress!"

-Megamind and Roxanne

"Aargh a bouncy house? What was I thinking?! Girls don't like bouncy houses, they like clowns!" -Hal

"Good luck, guys!"

"Hahahaha we're gonna die!"

-The Warden, Megamind

"There's no such thing as the Easter Bunny! There is no Tooth Fairy! There is no Queen of England!" -Titan

"Back, you savages!" -Megamind

Today I'm thankful for... The faces Darren Criss makes when he hits high notes

So amazing artist and my future husband Darren Criss has FINALLY been discovered and I'm so happy! He played Blaine on Glee last night and while I freaking couldn't stand Glee, I watched it. I'm pretty sure that's the only thing that could get me to watch it. My facebook status was actually "Sami Nielsen is upset that of all TV shows Darren Criss could get his big break on, it's freaking Glee. AND his character is Kurt's boyfriend. It's like wishing for a stallion and getting Francis the Talking Mule." But you know what? It was actually pretty good! I mean, this might turn into a regular thing for me if Darren becomes a regular character! But so yeah I was pretty upset when I heard his character is gay, not because I'm homophobic or anything crazy like that, but if he and Kurt start dating, that'll really shatter the image I have in my mind of us growing old and being in love together forever, y'know?

In all seriousness, though, I'm glad the show addressed the issue of homosexual kids being bullied. I don't care what your views on homosexuality may be, no one deserves to be bullied or abused for any reason. That kind of thing can really mess a kid up.

Anywho, the only thing I'm upset about now is the fact that a bunch of people are going to be like "OMG(sh) Darren Criss I love him tee hee lolz!" It's like when people say they "totally love" that one band and when you ask them what songs they like from them they can only name like two. Starkids? Yeah. They love him. Gleeks? I think they need a bit more Darren before they can say they love him, but I think there'll be plenty to go around. Fingers crossed that he becomes a regular character!

So in the episode Darren sings a cover of "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry. You can listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn8IkrxLOfY. I've pretty much listened to it 6,000 times. Literally. Now, I think some of Katy Perry's music is alright, but I love this cover a bit more than the original, I have to say. So there are a couple parts of the song where Darren has to hit a high note or an epic note. Most people pull faces when they hit said awesome notes. Yeah, you know the faces I'm talkin 'bout!

See, a lot of people look uncomfortable when they sing all intense like that. Right now you may be asking, "But Sami, how does he still look super-mega-foxy-awesome-hot while doing it?" Well, reader, the simple answer is the world will never know.

Um, air guitar? HECK YES. I think he did that somewhere in AVPM or AVPS, but I can't think of where it would be! Any suggestions?

Elena, on the other hand, is particularly fond of the thought of Darren in "skin-tight jeans." ...I can't say I blame her.

But about Darren in general, now... A guy who sings, plays violin, piano, guitar, sings, acts, loves oldies, Disney movies, and Harry Potter, and is absolutely hilarious. And smexy, to boot! I mean, are you kidding me? It's like someone invaded my subconscious, extracted my list of desirable qualities in a man, and decided to mash them together into a pretty fiiiiiiiiine package. His Disney covers are seriously the only Disney remakes I've ever heard that I genuinely like. His "Part of Your World"? Yeah, I probably like that more than the original, which is saying something. Also, his AVPM, AVPS, and personal album and EP "Human" are all amazing. And quite honestly, any guy who can play the piano already has me half won over. The other half I would say is largly occupied by his looks (Yeah, I'm not shallow). I mean, my goodness! What divine cabbage patch did his saintly parents pluck him from?? I absolutely love his hair. Long or short, I don't care. He looks amazing either way. Right now I'm a fan of his short hair, but I just flip over curly hair. And his eyes are so big! Not in a creepy bug-eyed way, either. On top of that, Glee put him in a preppy suit coat. OHMYGOSH.

I mean ca'mon! Who doesn't love THAT?? Do you see the little smirk??

But above all else, what I really love about him is that he wrote a love song named "Sami." I've never heard a song with my name in it, let alone my nickname that's spelled the way mine is or one that is so beautiful! Also, if that isn't proof that we were meant to be, I don't know what is. Go listen for yourself! It really is an awesome song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH-KhaqPkZs

P.S. I hope to be doing this "Today I'm thankful for..." thing more often. A girl I'm friends with on facebook named one of her notes that and I got inspired :) I'm going to try to do it at least once a week, if not more. I've got a lot of things to be thankful for so I won't be running out of topics any time soon!

P.P.S.

Awwwwww yeeeeeeaaaahhh.... ;)

The Green Mile

Continuing with my top 5, here (Numbers 2-5 aren't in any particular order). I saw this movie for the first time about a month and a half ago on a Sunday. My parents and especially Tyler had raved about it and it was only a couple minutes into the movie so I figured I'd watch it.

This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It was all I could talk about for days. It's amazing that a movie kept me entertained and mentally engaged with it for FOUR HOURS. Four hours!! And I don't think any other movie has made me cry that hard! It's so heart-wrenching! The first scene that did it was when Del was electrocuted. The thing is that once Percy was going for the sponge, I knew what was going to happen. And I'm not talkin about my eyes just waterin up, either. I mean tears streamin down my face, snot coming out all over the place kinda cryin. I also freaked out in the scene before that when Percy stomped out Mr. Jingles. It was one of those moments where you gasp aloud. The second is from when John showed Paul the vision to when he was put to death. OH. MY. GOSH. I was sobbing! For some reason, I cry whenever I see him sitting there watching the movie. It's like he took a childlike joy from something so simple even after all the pain and hate he'd known and even though he knew he was going to die. And the actually execution gets me into that uncontrollable sob kinda state, especially when the guy goes to put the cloth over John's eyes and he asks Paul to leave it off. My question, though, is if he was able to keep Paul and Mr. Jingles alive for so long with just a short exposure to his power, how old is John? He could be hundreds of years old, if what I gathered from the movie is right!

Now some of the funny parts, because this movie actually is really funny! I always laugh when Percy goes on his little rampage through the restraint room, trying to find the mouse, and Paul scolds him and tells him to clean up the mile. One of my favorite lines! I also love when Wild Bill spits the Moon Pie in Brute's (my favorite character) face and Del calls him Little Black Sambo haha. Racist, but funny.

Favorite Quotes!

"Get all this back in the room. You are cluttering up my Mile." -Paul

"Please, Boss... don't put that thing over my face.

Don't put me in the dark. I's afraid of the dark." -John

"What happens on the mile stays on the mile.

Always has been." -Paul, Brute

"John Coffey, ma'am. Like the drink, only not spelt the same." -John

"He killed them with they love, they love for each other." -John

"And I think about all of us walking our own Green Mile, each in our own time. But one thought more than any other keeps me awake most nights: if he could make a mouse live so long, how much longer do I have? We each owe a death. There are no exceptions.

But, oh, sometimes the Green Mile seems so long." -Paul

Kiki's Delivery Service

I've decided I'm going to start writing movie reviews since that whole writing about my life thing didn't work out. So I figured I would start with my top five favorite movies of all time! It took FOREVER to decide, but it's done! Set in stone! Here's number one:

So for starters, it's a Miyazaki movie, which makes it all the more better. All I can say about the animation is that it's classic Ghibli: simple yet fantastic. What really surprised me were the voice actors they got for the movie: Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman (rest his soul), Janeane Garofolo, Matthew Lawrence, and Debbie Reynolds! Studio Ghibli can afford to get big names now since they've put out so many movies, but this was dubbed in '97! Crazy!

When Disney produced the film, some of the material was altered, such as the soundtrack. Normally I'd abhor any change to a Ghibli movie, but I LOVE the songs they added. "Soaring" and "I'm Gonna Fly" are freakin awesome. They're the kind of songs you listen to when nothing else will make you happy :)

Y'know how people have that one movie that they watched again and again and again as kids? This one's mine :) If I'm remembering right, it was a gift my dad got me from one of his business trips to Japan. Ever since then, this movie had made me smile. I have so many happy memories associated with it, from watching it on our family road trips to chilling at Selena and Katasha's house. To this day I can't get tired of it. It's like every time I watch it I see something I never noticed or there's a line I've forgotten that catches me off-guard. There's such a comfy nostalgia that comes with watching this movie that I absolutely love! It's such a whimsical and innocent movie and I heart it to bits <3 It's my official favorite movie ever.

Kenzie Quotes

Alrighty, so I've been hiatus for a while now and there are some priceless Kenzie Quotes that need to be blogged. So the first one happened when my brother's ex (then girlfriend) was visiting us with Tyler and we decided to go out to Chili's. We had eaten our food and she had some salad left on her plate so Mackenzie reaches over the table, yells "salad cubes!" and eats her crouton :)

This one happened a long while back, but it's more than worth mentioning. A few months back, Mackenzie and I were in our room and she saw that I was playing with a Magic 8 Ball. I would start every question with "Oh, Magic 8 Ball..." and acted like it was the higher being, the all seeing eye. Soon after she started copying me. At one point I got an answer I didn't like and muttered something about it. Mackenzie looked at me furvently and exclaimed, "No not backsass the Magic 8 Ball!"

Last night dad, Kenzie, and I were kneeling down for family prayer and it was Kenzie's turn to say it. She's normally good about saying prayers and says the general things one would say, but every so often a Kenzie Quote slips in there. Just for some background info, I got her three turtles this past Christmas and in her prayers she frequently asks to bless our pets. "Please bless our turtles... with... magical water... or something." After the prayer we asked her about it and she defended herself by saying, "Y'know, the Lord's water!" I find no fault in her reasoning.

I wasn't there for this one, but my mom filled me in. So my mom went to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and my nephew in Kentucky for Christmas and she brought us back souvenirs, right? For Mackenzie, mom brought back a few DVDs, one of which was a tribute to Michael Jackson. Kenzie's has had an obsession with his music ever since he died, so she was way psyched. So she watched it today and tonight as she and my mom were preparing for bed Mackenzie asks, "Mom, you know who the best man on earth is?" Mom answers, "Your dad." Kenzie goes, "No, Michael Jackson. His fame is global." She can be so dang funny :D