Glee 100

I have just watched Glee's 100th episode. SQUEE, my heart feels numb.

So, if you care, read on about the things I quite liked and the things my fickle heart deliberated about. Please do not read on, however, if your eyes have yet to feast on the episode and you want all to be a surprise. In this circumstance, really, do something else.

Where do I begin, where do I begin…

Firstly - how do you tell your heart to stop leaping when you see Mike, Quinn, Puck, Rachel, Mercedes, Santana AND Brittany all back in the same room? They really brought out the stops for the milestone - Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristen Chenoweth too. CAN A GIRL CATCH A BREATH? Debating on writing a teeny tiny love letter to Ryan Murphy, his crew and the cast as I type. Seeing the interactions and most importantly the blend of the old and the new made my heart wanna twist and shout. So shake it on babEHH now.

And shake it they did! I'm still trying to figure out whether the whole 'recreation' of already performed songs were genius or a slipway to a Mufasa-like exit. I'm leaning on the genius… The familiar is great. You don't get the feeling of incompletion when you're greeted with the familiar. It was homely.

I did think that "Happy" was so refreshing in the midst of the re-sung, though! Maybe a balance would have been better… the cyclic effect that I seem to get the impression of is kinda tedious and I for one wanted to see how the characters took on new obstacles instead of running back to old ones - song wise and character wise. But you can't really complain when the songs were chosen by the fans, right?

I really liked how the story line developed just that arm stretch more to give us a little nugget of hope - Puck and Quinn are the cuteeeest (Chace Crawfy, how were we supposed to hate your obnoxious character with that gorgeous voice and luscious face?!?) And I'm an out and out Brittana shipper. But I hope that, despite my allegiance with Brittana, Ryan sticks true to Santana's character and doesn't have her running off to Brittany… I know my heart would never heal!

I loved how Finn was commemorated though. I couldn't stand to see Lea Michele cry.

I guess the running theme in 100 is nostalgia - whether that be in the form of the characters or the diva off or even the good old dumpster throw - it is definitely prominent. And y'know what, I found out I have very few bad words to say about it all. I guess that it's good that it was a toe-curling episode, because you can definitely feel the end of an era biting at your feet.

(Disclaimer: Image does not belong to me. Image can be found at http://www.rickey.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Glee-100.jpg)

L.

Hozier

Long time no post… no excuses: I just haven't really been into the writing spirit.

I've been stuck in a whirlwind of university life, Veronica Mars (I'm watching all 3 seasons before the movie… 2 down, 1 to go. What will I accomplish? I'll tell ya when I'm done) and being a teenager.

However, something that has crept into my life is a little artist called Hozier. Hozier (or Andrew, I'm sure his bezzie mates call him) is an artist I happened to stumble upon earlier last week. …Okay, I admit it, I heard his stuff on Teen Wolf.

"Like Real People Do" is the song that features during a really RULLY cute scene. It's little anticipating acoustic tap at the beginning is hauntingly beautiful. Kinda like a musical version of waiting for a movie to finally come on after the adverts play. You're met by satisfaction in the form of a gorgeously toned voice and comforted by a consistent riff. Listen to the lyrics - they'll make your mind slow dance.

But my favourite song (after I exhausted the one aforementioned) is "Cherry Wine". It begins in the same melancholy way… the pluck of a string. I can't explain it, but I guess I can try. When I listen to it, my heart feels yellow and hollow and when I cross my arms to clutch my biceps to try and radiate that warmth from within, all I feel are chills. Antonymous, I know.

Listen for yourself, I guess. And please do - all of his stuff. Heck, buy his EP if you really want to.

(Disclaimer: Photo is not mine. This image belongs to hosier.com)

(Links are scattered all over this blog post. Just do what Charlie Swan doesn't… hover.)

L.

Her

I'd like to think we were friends by now. So, in all honesty, this isn't a review. I'm reluctant to point out flaws in this movie. I'm merely sharing my discovery of a great film I watched at 2am. And so, with a prologue written, I'd like to introduce you to Her.

I've fallen in love with Her.

If you haven't heard of this movie, a) I'm surprised and b) you should definitely check the trailer out (which you can do right here).

It's a completely bizarre concept - set in a sci-fi future, where our techno-culture has expanded into unbelievable reaches, we're introduced to a man named Theodore (played brilliantly by Joaquin Phoenix. I might have a crush on him. Definite silver fox) His love life, like so many of us can relate to, hasn't been the smoothest.

His quirky yet fickle character finds a company that produces software beyond anything you could ever dream of - OS is an operating system that amplifies the already existing Siri by leaps and bounds. It organises your shit, it reads your emails out and it can even act as a personal companion, growing by learning. Theodore's OS is called Samantha (played fantastically by the gorgeous Scarlett Johansson) and they develop this unlikely relationship.

Anyways - the plot from there on shall be left a mystery as incentive to go see the film! It's so thought provoking in so many ways…

a) how we as a species are reliant on technology
b) the difficulty in unrequited love
c) the fear of the unknown
d) the prejudice we feel and even emit when we are faced with the unfamiliar

… are just a couple of things that crossed my mind when I watched it. It's so honest and raw and such a great piece of cinematic writing. It's an unlikely love story. And I'm a sucker for love stories. Kudos to Spike Jonze and the whole cast and crew.

Image source: http://cdn3.pitchfork.com/news/51817/3bf2e981.jpg
This is not my image.

L.

How To - Play It Cool (Mellow Methods)

I've recently been faced with the realisation that not all boys that take your phone number will actually call you… shocker.

Years of reading dating columns from glossy magazines that belonged to my sister did not actually prepare me for the harsh reality - I don't know whether this was because I was completely naive and unexperienced or because, no. I do know. It's definitely because I was completely naive and unexperienced.

So, ladies and gentlemen, facing the 'real' world of crowded, stuffy pubs and letting people into my "personal bubble" in clubs, concluded in the inevitable happening - I gave out my phone number for the first time.

But now, less frigid about letting people know my number, (what are the chances I've actually given them to it correctly after a few drinks??) I've finally gotten the 'why hasn't he called me?' bug. Ew, right? My 12 year old self would never had guessed.

Anyways, back to the point  - stay fresco, amigos.

1. Don't believe that 'DON'T TALK TO HIM FIRST' bullshit. Let me remind you of the amount of guys that are mind readers: 0. They're not psychic. We all know that the dating game rules say 'let him make the first move', but what's that gonna lead to? Maybe you do, you lucky thing, get a guy who's intentions are wholeheartedly to call you - but spare a thought for us ladies that aren't so fortunate. Text or call him between a 2 - 4 day period. Don't wait for things to happen to you - make things happen.
2. Do be enthusiastic, but do not act as if you could care less. Having a monotonous attitude is unattractive in ANY aspect of your life, and should be avoided at all times! Don't play it so cool that you get frozen out. 
3. Don't tweet about it. I drunkenly tweeted about a guy that I met on a night out and received an almost immediate warning text informing me of what I'd just done. I like to stuff that mistake into the 'rookie error' pocket of my life. It gives the impression that all you're doing is thinking of him, and how, Lord tell me, do you explain it to your friends if he doesn't contact you?
4. Do tell somebody, though. If nothing comes out of it, at least you had the thrill of the possibility. It's supposed to be fun, not a gruelling game of 'It's A Knockout'. 
5. Don't let one experience prevent you from doing it again. Just because Jacob turned out to be a d*ck doesn't mean that Luke will be the same!

But remember that it is your phone number and treat it like your packet of gum: you can hand a couple out, but don't f*cking tell everyone.

L.

5 Things To Smile About

I was feeling really down today, but a lot of people around me radiated a kind of warmness and joy that teases you in despite the dark clouds that hang above you. I reminded myself that moods are contagious, and you should always keep people that won't induce negativity as company. There's nothing worse than a Negative Nancy (or Natalie, or Niamh, or Norman or Nathan.. I don't know why Nancy gets picked on) so here are a couple of things that happen in life that you could smile about.

1) When you pull your curtains back and you see that it has snowed overnight:
As a kid in primary school, waking up at 6am was no problem if it was to listen to the radio (see that... Radio, not Facebook or Twitter!) and keep your ears open for your primary school's name to be called. And it's not much different now I'm 18. I doubt it's very much different for adults with full time occupations! Planning a completely different day ahead to welcome Jack Frost was, (and still is) the most exhilarating thing! It's spontaneous, and it keeps us on our toes: and whether we stay in with a hot drink or go out and embrace the snow, is up to us. And that goes for ANY type of weather! (Hear that sun? It'd be nice if you showed your face too... we like it!)

2) Discounts:
I complimented a lady on her maxi-dress yesterday evening and asked her if she'd been anywhere nice: she replied she hadn't, and that the sun was enough of an excuse to wear it (can you tell we live in England?). She proceeded on to tell me that she'd seen it in the Monsoon sale, with a £25 discount. BUT, as it scanned through, it came out even more cheaper. HOW GREAT IS THAT. I, not the benefitee of the sale, was ecstatic for her because those little perks are something great, aren't they?

3) The Stranger Smile:
In my Tumblr bio (you can take a peek here!), I write that I'm 'appreciative of the stranger smile'. I smile to strangers as much as I can. I grew up in a tiny village where everybody says hello to each other, and so I think I've developed an inability of fearing strangers, but trying to remove the stigma associated with them. "But stranger danger is a THING, Lol", I hear you say. I know, but weren't all your friends strangers once?
Try it - smiles are contagious. Smile right now. See if it makes you just that teeny bit happier. And if it doesn't, think about how silly you looked smiling to yourself. Weirdo.

4) Opportunities:
Hey kid, how cool is it that we have so much to choose from? You can wake up tomorrow and choose to be someone who is intellectually stimulating, or a movie-nerd, or an athlete, or a basket case (...sorry, that turned very "The Breakfast Club". Guess which one I am). You might think it weird or you may have just not grasped the concept of freedom or liberty as severe as I see it, but it's your life, and it may take a couple of weeks, months or years and a few pennies but you can do it. That's something to smile about. Solidifying your dreams. Cheesy, but who doesn't like cheese?

5) That time when you did that really awesome thing:
You've lived a couple years by now, (I'm guessing.. unless the children from "Baby Geniuses" are reading this. What's up Sly?) so you've got a collection of memories that make you smile. No doubt. You've got that time when that thing happened and you were like 'woah' and that time when that other thing happened that made you feel really anxious and crappy but now you're like 'hahhahah lmfao lol'. Y'know?! Those little things shouldn't be forgotten - try and squeeze them tight to embed them into that little noggin of yours, and save them for a day when the sun isn't shining so brightly, and your smile isn't as wide as it could be.

As you might be able to tell, this kind of progressed into something a little deeper than intended. But let's cut the stuffy, philosophical tension and list a couple of other things that might make you smile:

6) Jennifer Lawrence.
7) Junk food.
8) Trashy reality TV.
9) Alcohol (disclaimer: this may also make you cry. Side affects include headaches and sickness.)
10) Tumblr/Twitter
11) Photos!
12) PoorMichelle


...please feel free to add your own in the comments below! :)

L.