Comment on my trip to Hogwarts.....

Last month I took a little trip to Orlando with my little bro and SIL (aka Jenny aka the one who has my name) to visit our parents and to go visit some parks. As my facebook friends know, I was sick most of the trip, so I missed out on a few things. But I did manage to rally for Universal Studios Islands of Adventure so that I could experience Harry Potter The Forbidden Journey aka Harry Potter World (as I like to call it).
All I can say is it was awesome. The Butterbeer was the nectar of the gods (the frozen is way better than the regular) and totally worth the $10 to get the official Butterbeer mug. The actual Forbidden Journey ride was more than I could have hoped for. You get to walk through Hogwarts and experience the inside of the school. They actually have the pictures on the wall that move and jump from frame to frame! I tried to get pictures but they turned out too dark. I guess muggle cameras don't work for magical pictures. The Dueling Dragons roller coaster made me so sick, but Jenny and DJ loved it and rode both dragons. Eating lunch at the Three Broomsticks was an experience of a lifetime. Best fish and chips since, well, visiting England at Epcot Center. It was also fun to buy postcards and get them postmarked for Hogsmeade and to get Harry Potter stamps. All in all it was completely worth it, especially if you're a Harry Potter fan.

The rest of the Islands of Adventure was a blast as well. We got absolutely SOAKED from all of the log-type rides. It was so fabulous. I would definitely go again, just for those rides. And since it was September it wasn't that busy. And my mom got us the express passes (the equivalent of fast passes for Disney only they are so much better-but they cost $20) so we didn't wait in any lines at all! (thanks Mom!).

So here are the pics from Harry Potter, placed in a slide show for your viewing convenience:


Why Wednesday

I've decided to start "Why Wednesdays". I'll post a picture(s)* of something absolutely ridiculous that requires no comment, as the pictures speaks for itself, and causes us to ask ourselves, why?

*Images taken from Google Images

Comment on my returning tv faves.....

So

So I'm not going to give this post a grand introduction-there's too much to talk about anyway. At the request of my friend Tiffany I'm going to give a review of my returning favorite tv shows. I was a little reluctant to write this post because it shows just how MUCH tv I watch-but if you've known me for awhile this should be no shock to you. Also, I like tv more than movies so there it is. So in no order of importance whatsoever-here goes:

Desparate Housewives, ABC-I've gone back and forth on this show. I started watching it when it first started and loved it, then I thought it got boring. For some reason last season I got back into it and I'm loving every minute of it! I like the addition of Vanessa Willians as the new "Edie", and what's the deal with Paul coming back and bringing that weird chick he married from prison? Also love that Bree will be having a fling with Brian Austin Green. Hot! 

 Amazing Race, CBS-My parents got me into this show when I got back from my mission. I love that it's reality tv but it's more focused on navigating through foregin lands on a time crunch and making it through the challenges as well as dealing with taxi drivers who don't speak your language. There's still the element of competition but it's not as down and diry as Survivor because let's face it, they just don't have time for all that!

 

Biggest Loser, NBC-It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you wish Jillian and Bob could come to your gym and beat the crap out of you! So maybe I don't do too much laughing while watching the show-there's not a lot of joking going on. And maybe the editing COMPLETELY SUCKS. I mean seriously-why do they have to replay the last 30 seconds before the commercial break all over again after the commercial break? It makes no sense and it's definitely not going to win them any Emmys. But if you can watch this via your DVR and if you enjoy working out and watching people change their lives in amazing ways-this is the show for you. And really, I do want Jillian to kick my butt.

Glee, FOX-Oh Glee, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. First of all, the music. You sucked me in with Don't Stop Believin' and I've never turned back. Itunes thanks you for the money they've sucked out of me ever since. Secondly, Sue Sylvester your sarcastic stabs kill me. Third, the members of the Glee Club, Rachel, Finn, Brittany, Arnie, etc...you're all so weird yet loveable in your own way. Fourth-Grilled Cheesus? I laugh a-loud every time I think about the preview for this week's episode. Let's be honest-Glee is hot right now. Everyone should be watching. And then downloading. And then blasting in your car and singing embarassingly loud. It's fine.  

Life Unexpected, The CW-The little show that almost didn't. I don't know if I can pinpoint exactly why I like this show except I just think it's good. You've got the love triangle between Baze, Kate and Ryan, and then Lux (Kate and Baze's daughter) is there trying to fit in with having the parents she'd never thought she'd have, but in a very unconventional way. It's a CW show, the characters are interesting, it's set in Portland, I can't say much more than that.

Gossip Girl, The CW-So it took me a little bit to get into this show, it wasn't until the summer after the first season that I was like hey, I need to get into this. Maybe it was all the huge OMFG billboards in Time Square when I went to NYC that summer that got me in but here I am. I LOVE this show. It's a total guilty pleasure. It's set in the Upper East side, the clothes are there, the guys are hot, there's lots of scheming and subterfuge and the music rocks. I think last season got a little weird/ho-hum, but this season there's more focus on the friendship of Serena and Blair and they're taking on Columbia by storm, and I love it (not that you ever see them in class or anything).

 Bones, FOX-This show is my X-Files substitute/or the X-Files of the next generation. Basically you've got two people with amazing chemistry solving crimes. Booth is hilarious and hot and Brennan is painfully intelligent to a fault, but it makes for great tv. Love the rest of the cast as well. And this season Booth has a girlfriend which if eonline is correct, will make Brennan realize her feelings for Booth which makes me happy. Also if you can watch the opening scenes for this show while eating that says a lot-they like to make things disgustingly goopy and you can practically smell the stank through the screen. It's fun though.

Grey's Anatomy, ABC-Ok, so when Grey's first started I was in LOVE. I was in nursing school doing clinicals and I related to their fear of being first time doctors. The second season ender with Denny dying was AMAZING. I thought the show would go nowhere but up. Unfortunately I think it's been struggling, at least for me. I can't quite put my finger on it but it's not the same. I blame Shonda Rhimes for veering off with Private Practice too soon. Anyway I felt like it was coming back with the shooter at the end of last season. That was disturbing, yet riveting. I was at work at the time so I couldn't watch it but I was amazed at the amount of facebook status updates about it. As the show has come back for this season I'm not as intrigued as I thought I would be, but I've only seen the first episode. Maybe it gets better. But no matter what, I'll keep watching just because it's a Thursday night tradition.

 

Modern Family, ABC-There's a reason this show won Best Comedy at the Emmy's this year. It is HILARIOUS. I love Phil. I love Gloria. I LOVE Manny. Actually, there's no one I don't love. I especially enjoy the "documentary" style it's filmed in-it makes you feel like you're watching reality tv (which I love) which makes you feel like these characters could be real people. Maybe even people in your own family. So great. For laughs check out the episode last season when Claire and Mitchell recreate their brother/sister pairs figure skating routine-on dry land. Talk about side-splitting comedy! 

 The Office, NBC-I love The Office. I have all of the season on my ipod and I even listen to them every night to fall asleep (not all of them, just one at a time, and I usually only make it through the first couple of minutes. Some people use a glass of wine, I use this show. That doesn't mean it's so boring it puts me to sleep though, it's just, well, never mind). Anyway I thought it was kind of losing the funny factor in the last couple of seasons. But this season being Steve Carell's finale and all, it feels like they're pulling all the stops. It's almost as if it's the show it was back in seasons 2 and 3. I mean seriously-Michael having therapy sessions with Toby his nemesis? Doesn't get better than that. Until Jan comes back. I can't wait.

Survivor, CBS-I've tried to stop. Really, I have. I've even missed a few episodes here and there. But then I found the episodes were available On Demand, and my parents watch it and like to talk about it, and it is kind of fun to watch, and really I've only missed one season out of 21 so...........yeah, that's where that stands.....



Vampire Diaries, The CW-Yes, this may be my favorite show this season, second only to Glee. But that's not the reason this pic is centered, that would be the fault of Blogger. This show is a fantastic guilty pleasure. Ian Sommerhalder is freaking hot. Talk about eye candy. Doesn't get any better than him. You may also find Stefan hot as well. I found the book to be the poor man's Twilight but this show is better than the Twilight movies. No lie. And this season they've brought in werewolves. And Caroline's a vampire. And let's not overlook the fact that Katherine is back in town. KATHERINE! Let the games begin.

My DVR is 80% full. Not surprising, right?

Happy Watching!