It's pretty hot everywhere. You're sweaty and tired. I'm sweaty and tired.
Why not find a nice cool hidey-hole to curl up with some lemonade and a delicious podcast?
This week on the
Big Red Podcast Derek, Deeps and I talked about new summer TV series and reviewed the movie Once. What? You expected Spiderman 3?
Listen to this week's episode.Subscribe to the podcast with
iTunes or your favorite
podcatcher. Don't forget to leave us some iTunes feedback.
Labels: 2007, podcast
By: Alyssa | Thursday, June 28, 2007 at Thursday, June 28, 2007 | | 
Earlier today I wrote that despite the heat I'd been lucky in getting a) a relatively cool car on the T b) avoiding the hideous body odor of strangers and c) not really seeing anything too weird.
I got it all in one long commute today.
Frankly, I wasn't especially surprised that the T was both
hot and crowded. This is the time of year when I get a little paranoid climbing around in Park St. station - I fear someone won't being paying attention and will knock me down into the tracks. Irrational fear? Possibly.
The smells were almost awe-inspiring. If I were some kind of stinkologist I'd have had a field day.
And lastly, the weird stuff. Look - I've seen some tube tops, some short-shorts and flip flops. It's not the end of the world. But then this morning I spotted a rather hirsute gentleman walking towards me on Commonwealth Avenue. He was wearing very nice trousers and carried a small gym bag. Draped over the bag was his shirt.
That's how I knew he was hairy - no freakin' shirt!
Look, I'm willing to over look the shirtless look for many, but a middle-aged businessman walking from his gorgeous brownstone to his fancy car (honestly) was a little too much.
Maybe I'm just being classist. The wealthy sweat too.
Labels: 2007, Boston, weather, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | |
I was going to blog about blogging - but then I got all distracted by the raging heatwave we have. And we're pretty lucky compared to much of the country. We're not officially in a drought yet.
It's really been too hot to do much. For the most part I just try to stay hydrated and covered in sunscreen. I'm lucky - I work in an office with overzealous AC. And many of the train cars on the T this week have had working AC.
Everyone is more heads down than usual, we're just trying to hang on. The heat just drains your energy pretty quickly. And aside from a few questionably "dressed" individuals - I don't have much to report. well - everyone is sweating. Breaking news. I'm happy to report that I haven't encountered any exceptionally smelly individuals. We're all drippy and only slightly aromatic.
So there you have it - it's really freaking hot and should break sometime tomorrow.
Yaay.
Tonight we'll have watermelon and limeade for dinner. Delicious.
Drink some water people. Seriously.
Labels: 2007. weather
By: Alyssa | at Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | |
Our friends dropped by last night to escape the heat and blow off a little steam. Wait - is that a pun? Whatever.
Since we got the Wii our drop by rate has increased. That's cool with me, we're pretty social creatures and the chance that someone might just drop by forces us keep the house tidy. Win win!
Anyway, since we were going to be playing video games (Mario Party 8) I asked Deeps to record some shows.
Me: Hey are you taping The Closer?
Deeps: Yeah, and it looks like something else is taping.
Me: I can't remember.
Deeps: Oh - it's your Kyle XY.
Me: I'm doing it
for the podcast.
Deeps: Sure you are.
Me: Hey can you tape
Age of Love?
Deeps: For the podcast?
Me: I'm taking one for the team!
Deeps: Looks like there are two episodes tonight - the one from last week and the latest episode.
Me: Just tape the newest.
Deeps: I can do both.
Me: I'm familiar with the premise and I feel pretty confident I can pick it up in the second episode.
Deeps: You don't think you'll be confused by the mythology?
Me: If I am, I'll consult the Wikipedia.
Labels: 2007, television, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | |
In the
podcast we recorded just about 24 hours ago we praised the breezy fun of Creature Comforts on CBS.
Looks like we were a little slow on the uptake.
CBS yanked the show from the schedule today. Whoops!
Well - at least the other shows we talked about are still around: The 4400, The Closer and Kyle XY just to name a few.
For those who suggested we cover The 4400 this summer I would like to say that we'll do a much better job next week. The first episode was a lot of chess pieces being moved around - but this week the story got going.
And if there is anything else anyone would like us to cover over the summer, just leave us some feedback! We're also talking about doing some DVD coverage of shows that were canceled but that are worth checking out on video. Deeps and his big ideas.
Listen to this week's episode.Labels: 2007, podcast, television
By: Alyssa | Monday, June 25, 2007 at Monday, June 25, 2007 | |
Summer is here and we tackle the first installment of summer TV series including
John from Cincinnati,
Kyle XY (I know!),
The 4400 (by request),
The Closer,
Creature Comforts, and
Flight of the Conchords.
Plus we talk movies - including
Once and remind you about
The King of Kong. Listen to this week's episode.Subscribe to the podcast with
iTunes or your favorite
podcatcher. Don't forget to leave us some iTunes feedback.
Labels: 2007, podcast
By: Alyssa | Sunday, June 24, 2007 at Sunday, June 24, 2007 | |
Wait - that's different.
Eight things you don't know about me - tagged again. Right.
That's tough. I've been blogging for more than five years. I suspect there is very little you don't know about me if you've been a semi-regular reader.
8. I like Grade B maple syrup. It's an acquired taste I guess. I acquired it in New England.
7. Whenever I watch
America's Funniest Home Videos I laugh a lot.
6. I think that
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a totally underrated classic.
5. Whenever Deeps travels for business I get misty over any little note he leaves.
4. Sometimes I get bored and fast forward through boring parts of movies or TV shows. But I don't do it for stuff I talk about in the podcast.
3. On Saturdays after a morning of hard work I like to take naps in the living room while "watching" some BBC mystery.
2. I regularly listen to about 20 podcasts.
1. Deeps and I don't tell each other who we vote for in elections.
I'll tag:
Scott,
Allison Rose,
Jacki, and
Rachel.
Go crazy!
Labels: 2007, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Thursday, June 21, 2007 at Thursday, June 21, 2007 | |
I suspect we'll be doing a lot of talking about new summer shows on the next podcast - but I can't really wait.
First - I recorded a few episodes of Kyle XY on ABC Family. I don't know what makes that network "family." It looks like the cheaper, easier cousin of the CW. Well, I guess cousins are family. As for Kyle - wow. I'm saving
that for the podcast.
And then
The Closer returned. It was okay, and
poor Beaver (okay
Kyle Gallner) was all abused and tormented again. He's getting good at that. We think that Kyra Sedgwick's lipstick was ever so slightly dialed back from the clown setting of last season.
Finally, I've been saving up episodes of
John from Cincinnati. Why have I waited so long? I've heard it is very, very bad. And you know, I can play some Wii tennis instead of watching bad TV. But I do it for the podcast, ya know?
I'm not afraid to take one for the team.
Labels: 2007, television
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | |
Last week Deeps and I were walking through town running a few simple errands. I picked up some cash, got some 1 inch wood screws and some sunscreen. As we approached the local frogurt place I noticed a teenage girl sitting on a bench eating some pizza.
On her lap was a rather large snake - a python I believe.
I kept it together and hustled ahead to the frogurt stand before mentioning the snake to Deeps. He was apparently caught up in his own thoughts and hadn't noticed it.
Me: I'm pretty pleased I didn't lose my mind or anything.
Deeps: It's not going to do anything.
Me: I know - but that's the thing with the irrational fear. It cannot be reasoned with.
Deeps: So what does the irrational fear think will happen?
Me: It'll jump up and rip off my face.
Deeps: I don't even think that happened on Snakes on a Plane.
So there you have it. Mister Science invokes Snakes on a Plane for his snake expertise.
Labels: 2007, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at Tuesday, June 19, 2007 | |
We've been on a good roll the past few weeks. So that means we should probably take a little break.
Done and done.
No new podcast this week, but enjoy some of our greatest hits including the last episode about
The Sopranos Finale, The TV Set, and somehow we managed to talk about the Gilmore Girls for the last time.
Need more? How about
Episode 34 when we talked about Knocked up? Or
Episode 33 when we tackled three big season finales?
Still not satisfied? Check out the show notes and the archive of the
Big Red Podcast for all the previous episodes - even the bad ones.
If you like what you hear then feel free to subscribe to the podcast with
iTunes or your favorite
podcatcher. Don't forget to leave us some iTunes feedback.
Labels: 2007, podcast
By: Alyssa | Sunday, June 17, 2007 at Sunday, June 17, 2007 | |
We may be seeing
even more of them in the future.
I can't wait.
See lots of
photos from the gathering outside the Massachusetts Statehouse today.
Labels: 2007, Boston
By: Alyssa | Thursday, June 14, 2007 at Thursday, June 14, 2007 | |
Scott over at Moonshine Mountain has tagged me with another music meme. (I'm a little
foggy on the rules, but whatever.)
I don't know why I keep getting tagged with music - it's my worst field of knowledge. You know when people play Trivial Pursuit and there's that one subject that you're weak on? An always elusive pie piece?
Music is my elusive piece of pie.
But
in the year 1992 I was a a lass of eighteen. I remember a bunch of my friends took me to a divey Greek joint in downtown Indianapolis where we at flaming cheese and rocked out with some belly dancers.
I might have even rocked out to some of these songs.
10.
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston - I'm somewhat ashamed to say that this song hit about the time I broke up with my boyfriend. I drove around for a week listening to this song and crying. Driving and crying isn't what you learn about in driver's ed.
6.
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana - I remember the first time I heard this song. I was driving, again a popular teen activity in Central Indiana. I still have a pretty visceral reaction when I hear it.
2.
I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred - Man, 1992 was this perfect storm of end of 80s metal, the exploding rap and grunge scenes and of course bizarre one-hit-wonders like this. I might still sing this while doing laundry. I'm too sexy for folding socks.
45.
All 4 Love by Color Me Badd - I think that extra D is for savings. This song reminds me that I also graduated from high school and college from the kids of Beverly Hills 90210.
3.
End of the Road by Boyz II Men: This was the song I heard about 3 million times during graduation. I get it. We're like changing and stuff. Of course, that would assume I actually attended my high school graduation. I did not.
By the way, the people who choose this song to play over and over again for our graduation also tried to push really hard for a
Tears in Heaven theme for prom. S
ongs about dead kids make for a highly skippable event.
Now you're it:
Kristen,
Grumpy Frump,
Janna,
Steve, and
Nabbalicious.
Go nuts!
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at Wednesday, June 13, 2007 | |
In the
last podcast I played devil's advocate and I suggested that David Chase hates television. At the time I thought it was the move of a tired and cranky person who wasn't anywhere close to being a fan of the show.*
I still concede those points but I'm not totally convinced that I'm wrong. Our imaginary friend (Alan is real, our friendship is imaginary)
Alan Sepinwall scores an interview with Chase about the finale.I'd say that my argument is supported by Chase's comments about film and making films. He's using the vocabulary of cinema but television is a writers' medium. Cinema is the medium of the visual. Ask anyone who has ever tried to write for film - writers are at the bottom of the totem pole.
Don't believe me? Ever watch Project Greenlight?
(* I perpetuate the tired and cranky argument even now as I am both tired and cranky when writing this at the end of the day. Blogging while cranky is one thing, podcasting while cranky is quite another.)Labels: 2007, television
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at Tuesday, June 12, 2007 | |
We spent one whole day thinking about last night's series finale of the Sopranos. But first we finally talk about the Gilmore Girls finale (for those keeping track at home), a film by Jake Kasdan called
The TV Set which is a nice bookend for
last week's podcast about new TV pilots, and lastly we take on Tony Soprano himself.
Listen to this week's episode.Subscribe to the podcast with
iTunes or your favorite
podcatcher. Don't forget to leave us some iTunes feedback.
Labels: 2007, podcast
By: Alyssa | Monday, June 11, 2007 at Monday, June 11, 2007 | |
On Saturday a few of us got together to help our friends paint their nursery. Well, it wasn't a nursery when we started - but it is now.
To thank us for our work, Peaches took us to lunch at a local eatery. We were quickly seated (despite kind of stinking and being covered in varying degrees of paint) and met our waitresses. We had the regular and the waitress in training.
The regular waitress was very quick and efficient, her trainee was quiet and watched attentively. Drink orders were placed, food was ordered and the two disappeared into the kitchen.
Moments later the trainee appeared with a tray of drinks. She handed me the wrong drink, we just kind of passed it around the table until it was right. Then she dumped her tray onto our table - narrowly avoiding Peaches and Sparky.
She was horrified. Luckily, none of us actually got wet. Apologies were made, replacements arrived, the chef came out and Peaches was referred to as Mr. Peaches for the rest of the night. But alas, the trainee disappeared from sight for the remainder of the meal.
Everyone at the table was pretty mellow about it. Frankly - we were probably a little too gross to have been there anyway. Peaches has paint in his hair, I had pigtails plastered to my head and Electra's clothing was essentially held together by layers of paint. Sparky was surprisingly clean.
We hope we didn't make her cry. She'll probably always remember us. I can only hope that her memories come with smell-o-vision.
Labels: 2007, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | at Monday, June 11, 2007 | |
We're waiting an extra day to record episode 35 of the Big Red Podcast. We thought we'd watch the Sopranos finale and weigh in immediately instead of waiting a week.
So, if all goes well we'll get the next episode up late tomorrow night.
If you're looking for something to tide you over, might I suggest episode 34? It is quite delicious! We dissect Knocked Up (skip to minute 15 if you haven't seen the movie yet) and start assessing what might be on our TV screens in the fall.
Listen to the latest episode.Subscribe to the podcast with
iTunes or your favorite
podcatcher. Don't forget to leave us some iTunes feedback.
Labels: 2007, podcast
By: Alyssa | Sunday, June 10, 2007 at Sunday, June 10, 2007 | |
Deeps was out of town this week for a business trip. He was due to take a very late night flight back to Boston and he left me a series of messages with updates.
7:30
Hi, it's me. I'm at the airport really early. But what do I care? Ooh, I think Fisher Stevens is getting his shoes shined.
7:45
Looks like there are a lot of delays. I'll let you know if I'm delayed. I don't see Fisher Stevens anymore.
8:00
My flight is overbooked and I'm in a middle seat. And I lost my magazine.
I was at the grocery store when all this went down, so I called him back when I got home. We agreed flying is awful (which is putting a crimp in my plans to do a big trip to Europe later this year). And that being in the middle seat was extra awful on a long flight.
Me: Maybe you can sit by a baby and a chatty salesman.
Deeps: I can only hope.
Me: Or a baby and Fisher Stevens.
Deeps: I think he's going to Chicago.
Me: It's probably better to fly with Fisher Stevens than Cat Stevens.
Deeps: Or
Ted Kennedy.
Me: Just stay off the no fly list.
Labels: 2007, marriage, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Friday, June 08, 2007 at Friday, June 08, 2007 | |
I’m not a
fashion expert, but I know what I like and I know when I see something a little unusual.
Last night on the ride home from work on the Red Line I stood between two men dressed in a very interesting manner. I’d be tempted to call it a fashion continuum.
On my right stood a man in a pin-stripe suit, flashy shirt and very flashy tie. The pin-stripes on his suit made him look a bit like a refugee from a Jimmy Cagney movie. Or possibly a stand-in for Silvio on The Sopranos.
The stripes were overly wide, the shirt was too much with the suit and the giant jewelry he wore was blinding. I wondered if he was being ironic or trendy or something else.
To my left stood a man who looked a bit like he might have recently escaped from the
U.S. Open circa 1981. He had shaggy hair and a headband tied Rambo-style around his head. Bangs and hair flopped underneath. He wore very short shorts – think NBA in the early 80s short. He wore an old t-shirt, mirrored aviator sunglasses and athletic socks. To complete his ensemble he wore brown deck shoes.
Both men exited around Davis Square and I wondered where they might be headed at 7 PM. It’s a bit early for a costume ball. I'm not sure where you could work in those shorts.
Maybe they lost a bet.
Labels: 2007, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Thursday, June 07, 2007 at Thursday, June 07, 2007 | |
I know it is summer because the humidity arrives and I am forced to wear short pants. Stupid short pants.
But the other way I note the arrival of summer in Boston is that the baby ducks are born. Yesterday I finally saw some flitting around the lagoon - they were very tiny. But they were fast.
I'll admit, I was starting to get a little nervous about them.
The Peregrine falcon has been flying around and I was wondering if he'd gone for an easy snack. Oh yeah, I went there.
The ducks were too far away for me to photograph with my crappy camera, so imagine some baby ducks in your mind. And while you're at it, imagine a coupon for big savings on a digital camera. Now imagine that I've won the lottery.
What? Too much?
Labels: 2007, animals, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, June 06, 2007 at Wednesday, June 06, 2007 | |
This week Derek, Deeps and I review
Judd Apatow's new movie
Knocked Up. We were surprised by our reactions. Who knew? FYI - we talk about pregnancy in a very frank way. Younger listeners or those easily offended should skip this week.
Then we attempt to start talking about the 800 new shows debuting in the fall. We've watched clips and previews, but still haven't seen any full pilots. That doesn't deter us from making our list of stuff that may intrigue or offend. And then someone gets started about scientists. It is a big episode - but it'll help make that drive to the beach go a little faster.
Listen to this week's episode.Subscribe to the podcast with
iTunes or your favorite
podcatcher. Don't forget to leave us some iTunes feedback.
Labels: 2007, podcast
By: Alyssa | Sunday, June 03, 2007 at Sunday, June 03, 2007 | |
