Distracted By Something Shiny

So, the other night my dad called to ask me if I watch Castle. This is not a new thing for him. One time he spent five minutes telling me everything that happened in an episode of Castle he had just watched. He really likes that show. A friend of his from the hospital turned him onto it and he’s been catching the reruns on TNT. I told him what I always tell him about Castle, that I watched the first season and occasionally catch reruns but it’s not one of my regular shows. “Well”, he says, “do you know who the guy is who plays the writer dude?” See, my dad is a huge Firefly fan. When he first discovered it, it was all we talked about for weeks. It didn’t surprise me - growing up I remember my dad’s two favorite things as Star Trek and John Wayne westerns, so Firefly is right up his alley. Anyways, he’d suddenly realized Castle is Mal and was sure that my sister and I needed to know this information immediately. It was actually kind of adorable and sweet. And it’s always fun when he finds a new thing to fanboy over, even though he doesn’t know what a ‘fanboy’ is and would probably balk if he thought someone was putting the ‘geek’ label on him.

Normally, when I think about where I get my fannish tendencies, I always think of my mom. She legit serious fangirls over Gilmore Girls, The Unusuals, Northern Exposure, Magnum PI, Quantum Leap, etc. She also gets fixated on one particular actor in a heavy way - she revisited her Ricky Nelson love when I was about ten. I have seen Rio Bravo so many fucking times because of that - a John Wayne western costarring Ricky Nelson who sings a song with Dean Martin during the movie - my parents weren’t letting that one slip by. But anyways, then I think of my dad’s mom and remember that at least some of these tendencies I get from her - (you should hear the pervy things she used to say about George Clooney). In her younger days, she was all about Frank Sinatra. So my dad’s side of the family certainly has some of those things going on as well, it’s just not something that was ever encouraged growing up in the hicks on a farm.

But my dad was big into Star Trek: TNG and no one was allowed to talk while he was watching an episode. Also, he was the one who got us into The A-Team and I think he came there through Battlestar Galactica. My dad certainly wasn’t crushing on Dirk Benedict, but I think when The A-Team premiered it was a, “Look it’s Starbuck, let’s watch this!” moment. Granted, he was never as big of an A-Team fan as me, but it was appointment TV for him. He was also into Buck Rogers, Star Wars and Quantum Leap…that was both my parents. We’d all sit down to watch Quantum Leap, along with any friends or family that wanted to join us. New QL episodes were a big deal around our house. He also fanboys over monster movies, Mel Brooks movies and he went through big Marx Brothers and Smother Brothers phase.

My parents don’t engage in what I typically think of as fan hobbies, but their fannish traits are hard to ignore, especially when my dad is reciting an entire Castle episode to me that veers off into random Firefly quotes, and my mom has to pause the DVD and call me every time Adam Goldberg does something hysterical in The Unusuals (which is all the time, cuz he’s really fucking funny). I was just thinking about it after that phone call with my dad and it’s nice once in awhile, to forget all the other bullshit with them and enjoy the things we have in common. I got some bad traits from them, I’m sure, but the fangirl thing I totally own and celebrate!

Firstly, Fandom news - look I'm branching out in the world of LJ. I joined the Star_Trek newsleter and the Star Trek RPS Comm. Just to mix it up with my SPN. And because, Space Cowboys! baylorsr, liptonrm, I blame the Starship Impala re-read, thank you.

I also joined the Glee newsletter and several fic communities. For one, because - Glee! For two, because - Puck! And for three, because I have fic to post soon.

I made a few new icons (Steve Carlson's boots and Dodger from Oliver & Co.) and ransacked the internet for a ton more (Lost, Ian, Glee, SPN, RPS). Sadly, I still don't have a decent Chad Michael Murray icon. I tried to make one but all my CMM pics are pixel-ated all wrong and I can't seem to make it work. Fear not, I will prevail.

Over the holiday weekend, hiyacynth and liptonrm came to visit. We watched Ocean's 11 and Ocean's 13. I say, who doesn't love Basher? Don Cheadle - yes. Accent - yes. Slightly British-punk clothing style - yes. Explosives - hell to the yes.

It also never ceases to amaze me that all those years ago, my then 14 year old cousin, convinced me to love Scott Caan with him. He had the biggest man-crush. I'm sure he's gotten over it. I haven't.

hiyacynth brought me birthday presents. Whiffle Ball for my Nintendo DS (I have finally mastered the pitching. Am still working on the batting.) The wonderfully horrible movie "Axe" starring Jason London, some chicks and some crazy serial killer. I look forward to its awfulness and his lickable, lickable-ness. And finally, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. I loved the music in this! God, I am such a sucker for musicals. And I am totally crushing on Neil Patrick Harris right now. Between this and Glee, I want to take that boy home. Immediately. And do dirty bad things to him. Plus, a duet.

And after the initial shock of the ending, I was like, "Hmm, that makes so much sense. It's all twisted and delicious." Nathan Fillion says in the behind-the-scenes, something to the effect of "What did you think was gonna happen? You should know better by now."

The Musical commentary was genius. Most notably, Nathan sings a song called "I am better than Neil", and then Neil and Nathan and Jed Whedon sing a song all about the video game they played together while filming the show (Nathan is such a gaming geek, how am I only discovering this about him now?). And at the end, they may slip a line in a song that basically says "If you've made it through this musical commentary, you are a f-ing nerd."

Thank you so so much, hiyacynth. Kisses and Smooshies.

Also, the nephew came over Sunday night and slept over. We watched Backyardigans before bed (he's 4). I had never seen that show before. It was adorable and something I could stand to sit through again, unlike most of the shows approved by his parents (we watched every episode of Scooby-Doo that we own, twice now, and I keep forgetting to record more Superwhy!, so Backyardigans was a nice treat.) They sing in it and during one song my nephew throws up his hands and declares "I'm gonna have this song in my head for like a week."

In the morning, he got out his Big Wheel that was too big for him last year. He has finally mastered it but now I'm wishing I bought him a regular bike. Why do you sit in like a half-laying down position on the Big Wheel? It can't possibly be comfortable. Then my cosuin brought her boys over and they ran through the crazy sprinkler we got this year. It's a long tube with little spouts on it that wiggle back and forth in a sweeping arch, several of them, and sprays, literally, everywhere. It was really not hot enough, but three kids between the ages of 4 and 6, didn't really notice.

Then we went and saw Shrek 4 and no matter how many times I see them, the Dronkey babies squish my insides. As does Puss-in-Boots' big giant eyes. Plus, Jane Lynch and Jon Hamm as Ogres! They can make Shrek movies until I die and I would be quite happy, thank you. (Hmm, maybe I want a dronkey baby icon?)

Hope everyone else's weekend was spectacular!