Brothers & Sisters has been so intense lately. I haven’t even blogged about it because so much has gone on, it’s too much to write about. But this episode really got to me and I have to write about it.

Rebecca is pregnant, and she kept it from Justin. It’s so ridiculous because the two of them are so immature. I guess they’re the typical twenty-somethings, but it just boggles my mind how they can be so stupid sometimes. They don’t talk about their feelings to each other, they just blow up and spazz out. Justin fails his medical exams, and lies about it instead of leaning on Rebecca for support. All I can say is I’m so glad I have the kind of relationship I have with D. We don’t keep those kinds of secrets. He’s my best friend and he’s the first person I would run to if I were in Rebecca’s shoes.

I do like that he was finally there for her, but I’m mad that he didn’t fess up about his grades. Now he’s going to become more and more stressed out, and they’re going to fight like crazy.

In other news, I’m sad that Sarah’s hunky piece of Frenchman broke up with her. I don’t blame him though, she was pretty horrible to him. And I really hope her intuition about Nora’s relationship is wrong. It’s about time they let her be happy!

I do love that this show is about messy relationships, and that everything isn’t all sunshine and roses. But sometimes I want to see them have the happy moments. At least Kitty seems to be surviving her cancer so far. That was a heartbreaking moment when the family found out. I found myself crying like a fool right along with the rest of the Walkers.

Is it just me or has the “Holiday Season” started up ridiculously early this year? I try to avoid malls around Christmastime, so I do all my holiday shopping early, and normally online. The few times I have set foot in a mall, I was horrified to see that Christmas decorations were up in September!! I love Christmas, but I don’t like it when it starts too early. That’s what makes it so special-the anticipation!

I have a rule (well almost a tradition) not to decorate until after Thanksgiving. Because I do love Christmas decorations so much, I usually decorate the day after Turkey day. I figure it’s the perfect day because I typically have work off anyhow.

I really love the Christmas season-from the holiday photo cards I get from friends, to the twinkling Christmas lights outside. It’s a time to get together with people we love. A time to celebrate, and just be cheerful. It is not a time to go broke shopping for presents, or to stress out about gift giving. Since when did the holidays turn into that? Isn’t it sad? So I’ve tried to make it a point to give heartfelt gifts, or make my gifts. That way it’s fun, and not a chore.

I can’t wait to walk around our new neighborhood and check out the suburbs decked out with all the holiday trimmings. There is just something about this season isn’t there? I love the clothes, the food, the decorations, and spending time with those close to me.
What are your favorite things about Christmas?

Last night we braved the crowds and watched New Moon on opening night. The critics had nothing but bad things to say about this movie, and since it was my least favorite book in the series, I was prepared to agree with them. I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised, and I really enjoyed the movie. The bigger budget was evident in the second film, and I think they did an amazing job on the special effects. I thought the werewolf phasing was seamless, and I liked the new way the vampires moved.

Of course there were emo parts to the film, and laughable mopey dialogue. But overall the director stayed true to the book, and anything that was added only enhanced the movie, rather than take away from the story. The only complaint I would say was the lack of explanation about the werewolves. There wasn’t any mention of their incredible healing powers. When Jacob fights Embry in the book, he gets huge cuts from his claws. But he doesn’t need to go to Blue Cross NC because they heal within minutes. I’m sure they’ll explain that part of the story better in the next film, when the werewolves are involved in a battle.

I have one confession to make as well; I’ve always been on Team Edward, but in this movie, it was TOUGH. Jacob was downright gorgeous, while Edward looked like a strung out Heroin addict.

I think it was part of the story, to show how Edward’s leaving Bella caused him so much pain, but still. He looked awful! Not at all the sexy hunk he was in the first movie. I can only hope he hits the gym before the next film, or else I might have to switch to Team Jacob. Sorry Edward!!

All in all, it was a great movie, and I’m really pleased with the casting most of all. Dakota Fanning was perfect as the deliciously evil Jane. And Alice once again stole the show with her quirky and adorable persona. I can’t wait for the next movie, my favorite of the series.

Did anyone else see the movie? What were your thoughts?

Boy the people over at ABC sure do love the actors from LOST. Not that I blame them, for they are all awesome. There are a few familiar faces in the new series V, and it’s hard to get used to seeing them without dirt all over their faces.

V is about alien ships coming to Earth, and calling themselves “The Visitors”. They say they’re here for peace, always, but there’s something fishy behind their peaceful and attractive exteriors. They want something from humans, and they are determined to get it. What that is we don’t know yet. Newscaster Chad Decker starts to see that they aren’t all they seem when he is granted an exclusive interview with the V’s leader, Anna. She says she doesn’t want him to ask any questions that would, “portray them in a negative light.”

Then FBI agent Erica discovers that these Vs have been living among humans for years. She learns they aren’t all peace and hope like they would like the world to believe.
Together with Father Jack (funny that Erica teams up again with a guy named Jack, just like on LOST!) she learns that her partner was a V in disguise. What’s confusing is that the Vs look exactly like humans, and the only way to tell they’re real is to cut them open. It’s not quite as cheesy as that show Dark Angel, where the soldiers all had barcode scanner tattoos on their necks. The Vs actually have reptilian bodies, but they cover it with a human exoskeleton type thing.
I’m still undecided about the show, but I’m interested. I love a good conspiracy, and let’s face it, even though he’s a Father, Jack is a total hottie!

I have to say I was pretty disappointed in this book. I waited a long time to read The Davinci Code, and I was hoping for something more spectacular. Maybe it was the reader’s voice that just didn’t appeal to me. I’m going to take my friend’s advice and read (listen) to Angels and Demons. I was told that book is a lot more exciting.
For me, the Da Vinci Code was interesting, but the dialog was lacking. I liked the idea of this secret society holding onto an ancient secret, and these two people going all over Europe trying to solve the clues and uncover the secret of the Holy Grail. That part I liked. But the dialog about the clues, where Robert Langdon just keeps repeating the clues outloud over and over again, I wanted to throw the CD out the window! I guess it was author Dan Brown’s way of letting the reader know that Langdon was trying to work through the clues, but it could have been done in a less repetitive or drawn out fashion.
Spoiler alert!!!
I just have to say that what is uncovered about Sir Leigh Teabing just seemed weak at best. Leigh was this rich eccentric, who probably owned fancy orlando villas in addition to his many other homes in Europe. He did not fit the bill of an insane killer. I thought having the detective being the killer would have made for a much better climax to the story. But I guess that was the twist that Brown was trying to get through.

Then there is to controversy over what the Holy Grail represents. This I liked, this idea that history isn’t what so many people believe it to be. I might have to do some more research on the Holy Grail, and the Priory of Sion. Even if none of it is accurate, the idea of a secret is just plain cool.

Did anyone out there read The Da Vinci Code? What was your take on it? And, is the movie worth watching?

Barney is back in all his original chauvinistic pig glory! Being newly single, he’s pulling out all the stops to get girls. He even shows the gang his Playbook. Leatherbound of course. The gang leafs through it, and Ted discovers there’s a play called “The Ted Mosby” which goes, “I got left at the altar”. Ted tries it, and it works! He isn’t sure whether or not to be happy about this.

While the group is looking through the playbook, Barney comes into the bar looking like scuba guy there to clean out spa filters. It turns out it’s an elaborate play called “The Scuba Diver” in which Barney tricks his friends into helping him get the girl at the bar.

It was classic Barney, and I loved how much thought he put into his plays. At the same time, it was kind of a cheap shot how he wasn’t sad about ending things with Robin, and it seems like the writers are just calling the entire Robin/Barney relationship a big mistake. Makes you wonder if they’ll come back to it. I don’t know if I want that or not.

The playbook parts were not the best part of this episode for me. The best parts were Ted and Marshal teasing Robin about how she’s going to find someone. It’s that theory, “you find someone as soon as you stop looking” and it’s so true. Again what I love about HIMYM is how they incooperate such real world dating experiences. The second you stop looking is when you find someone. Robin keeps denying it, and the Ted and Marshal jokes keep on coming. Robin says she’s going to throw herself into work, and of course, cue hunky coworker. Although in this case I found him to be less than attractive, but maybe that’ll work for Robin. Now if only we can get Ted to stop looking so he’ll meet the mother already!

Are you excited? My Edward is coming back to the big screen. Now this was my least favorite book, so for once I’m counting on Hollywood to change it up a little bit. Plus watching the werewolves come to life will be pretty cool. And I hear that Edward worked out a bit more for this one. Yowza!

D and I are going with two other couples to see New Moon the night after opening night. We’re hoping to cut down slightly on the crowds, but I bet the theater will still be pretty packed. Should be a fun night though. What about you? Anyone out there going to see the New Moon movie?

I love Owen and Cristina as a couple on Grey’s. I like that Owen doesn’t take all the crap that Cristina pulls. He doesn’t let her bully him around. And when he brings in a cardio god as a “present” for Ms. Yang, I thought, oh he really knows her! That is until it becomes clear that Teddy Altman, Owen’s old Iraq buddy, isn’t exactly the cardio god Yang is used to. Plus it’s painfully obvious that she has a crush on Owen. Teddy is played by Kim Raver who I loved on Lipstick Jungle. It’s nice to see her on tv again, but I have a feeling she won’t be around long. She just doesn’t mesh with the rest of the cast very well. Maybe that’s the point, to show that she’s been in Iraq for a long time and isn’t as catty as the rest of the Grey’s doctors. Let’s face it, our beloved doctors act more like high schoolers concerned about acne treatment than grown ups!

Izzie makes her comeback when she brings in her favorite teacher from her hometown to see if McDreamy can fix him. I think she’s so immature for not even talking to Alex about their problems. I love that he stormed out on her, because she deserved it. Hopefully they patch things up, but Izzie can’t just walk away from a marriage and expect everything to be ok. The end of the episode finally shows their confrontation: “I am your husband and you didn’t give me the benefit of the doubt, so you know what, I can’t forgive you either.”

The last scene shows a major explanation for why the chief has been acting so strangly. He’s in the bar across from the hospital…drinking. After years of being sober, he’s cracked. It’s so sad to see him go down that road again, but it makes sense considering all the pressures he’s faced. I wonder if this means the end of being chief for him. If so, I’m pretty sure Derek is going to be taking over.

Was it just me or did anyone else think that Taylor Swift’s dancing last night at the CMT Awards was atrocious? First off, I blame her stylist and her choreographer, not her. She’s a tall, incredibly thing girl without an ounce of belly fat on her. Because of this, they should never have put her in black tight pants, which just made her legs look like a spider legs instead of sexy in any way. Then there was her long flowing tunic, which again, just made her look like a spider.

Let’s not forget her dance moves. She lifted those spider legs and sort of skittered around onstage in a very jerky, almost freaky fashion. I was laughing and yelling at the screen, “Girl you look ridiculous!” Too bad she couldn’t hear me.
I won’t even get into the fact that Taylor Swift’s voice is nothing to brag about. Her songs are catchy and fun, but she has a weak voice and her voice breaks on the tough verses. But that’s just my opinion. Did anyone catch the CMT awards? What did you think?

At first I was OK with Robin and Barney dating, but then they just starting getting lame. I’m glad the writers wrote this latest episode, the Rough Patch, because it points out what happens to two people not meant for each other. Barney and Robin started to let themselves go, and instead of having fun adventures together, it became talks about taking a trip or staying in and watching Legend wait for it, softhe fall, Legends of the Fall!

It was pretty funny watching Barney in the fat suit eating food the way he used to chase women, with wild abandon. And as for Robin, I really don’t think they had to work hard to make her look bad. I just don’t think Robin is pretty. I think she’s a bit of a cow. Luckily by the end of the episode both Robin and Barney realize that it’s more than a rough patch, and they aren’t meant for each other.

Hopefully now the writers will focus a bit more on poor Ted and his quest to find his mate. And I missed Barney and his antics. Here’s hoping next week’s episode will get back to the good stuff that makes How I Met Your Mother such a good show. Even though this wasn’t the best episode, I still cracked up at Marshal, Lily and Ted in the stake out wagon. “A van would have been too expensive!” Ted, you’re as frugal as I am, and I love that about you!