But then I learnt,

After being burnt
to get back up, push straight on, stop the tears,
people move on.

Well it's alright to be myself
Now I've learned to stand
Well its OK to be just who I am

I've spent years really hating me
longing to be friends
Now I hope that you can
understand,

This Is Who I Am

An Education (2009)

"If people die the moment that they graduate, then surely it's the things we do beforehand that count."

This film is very entertaining and quite charming, even if it is somewhat on the predictable side. As a coming-of-age story, as it has inevitably been described as, it is certainly a good one, and a mostly realistic one I would say.

The film centres on Jenny, a 16 year old school girl studying hard in order to fulfil her parents dream of being accepted into Oxford. Part way through her final year she meets David, an incredibly charming man in his thirties who sweeps her off her feet by introducing her to an irresistible world of music, parties, art and culture, and travel. David eventually proposes to Jenny, who throws away her final year at school in order to spend her time with him. Her parents, somewhat surprisingly, are incredibly taken with the older man, and are thrilled to see their daughter engaged to such a good sort.

Without giving all away, it is suffice to say that things are not as they seem, and Jenny learns a great deal about life, herself and the opportunities available to her in the process.

I was very taken with this adorable film, primarily due to the utter sincerity and honesty of the lead, Jenny, played by little known British actress Cary Mulligan. Cary (24) carries the role of 16 yr old Jenny effortlessly, and although you know how things will turn out, you want her to take the risks and make the mistakes, knowing how much she will grow from the experience.

The cast is very good, with our slightly sleazy older man played by the gorgeous Peter Sarsgaard (he looks better in real life, take my word for it!).The addition of Dominic Cooper, who I fell for in "The History Boys", is also welcome. Stalwarts Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina round out the experienced and professional cast.

The story is set in 1961, where the role women play within society was being stretched. However, it is quite telling that, while Jenny is encouraged by all involved to attend Oxford and get a degree, her career options upon graduating are teaching or the civil service. It must have been incredibly frustrating for talented, intelligent and adventurous young women to have known that they lives existed within such limited boundaries. I thought the film covered this topic well and worked it into the romance and coming-of-age parts of the film nicely.

I suppose this film is on the 'girly' side of things, and I guess most of the boys would prefer to be at home watching whatever sport is on this time of year. I thought it was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and I have to say that it was a relief to have something of worth to watch after the endless array of genre films and blockbusters that have swamped my local cinema this year.

As always, I encourage everyone to support independent and arthouse films, but (as always) its not going to be to everyone's taste.

For now.. enjoy

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

It's the last day on earth
In my dreams
It's the end of the world
And you've come back to me

In my dreams

In my head I replay our conversations
Over and over til they feel like hallucinations
You know me? I love to lose my mind

And every time

anybody speaks your name

I still feel the same
I ache, I ache, I ache

inside.

Wow - I can hardly believe that I'm writing a blog, its been such a long time, I thought these days were behind me!

So much has changed in my life since last time I was here, new job, new town, new people... maybe even a different La?

I'd love to hear how everybody is... do you remember me? Or has it been too long?

I suppose one of the most important things that has happened is that I fell in love... and had my heart broken. Hasn't everyone been there? But, it hurts... enough to make me want to avoid it ever happening again! It was a case of wrong person, wrong time, wrong place... wrong everything! But that's me all over, learning through my bad decisions.

I thought I might go back to writing a movie review here and there, maybe tossing a blog and an episode review on occasionally as well. I've missed this place, even if its not the place it used to be. I notice that I've been a member for 2 years and about 3 months - doesn't time fly.

Regardless, this is where we are at. Look forward to hearing from you.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

So, its a new year... 2009. Many things are not as I thought they would be if you had asked me 6 months ago where I would be right now. My whole life has changed, not to mention the changes we have seen around here. Sadly, I have just visited FrakkingFrakker's blog and we have also lost a truly amazing and very special friend of mine, John. Ralph was really my first true friend on this site and he has been a huge presence for a long time... he will be sorely missed.

Last year I did a full New Year blog outlining the highs and lows of 2007, the milestones of the year, and what I wanted to achieve in 2008. You never know what life is going to bring and there is no way I could have been prepared for all the experiences of 2008, so this year all I want is to have a year that I can be proud of, where I made more good decisions than bad ones, where I made more friends than enemies, and where I actually achieve something, rather than ran around in circles for another 12 months.

I hope to keep seeing movies, and working on improving my review skills. I'm also going to try to keep up my reviews on here, by writing them as I watch the episodes, and loading them whenever I get a chance to log on to someone's internet. One thing that 2008 has really shown me is just how passionate I am about writing and reviewing films (and tv shows) and that is a positive thing that I want to take with me this year.

I received the first season of HEROES for Christmas and have watched the first 6 episodes. I am very very impressed and can't wait to get through the rest of the show. I find it to be very original and very intriguing, with the story unfolding with plenty of suspense and intrigue. Once I have been through the whole season I will go back and start rewatching to get my thoughts on paper.

Right now I am stuck in a very small country town where we are waiting for flood waters to go down to travel on to our next destination... a fairly funny story really, and not where I expected to be right now! I really do take the long way round...

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

Standing out...

So you won't forget my name

Gone... but also forgotten? I guess time is all it takes to be forgotten in a big way! I made a huge move in my life 11 weeks ago, and moved cities to start a new job. Unfortunately, where I am now living I don't have any kind of internet access, which basically cut all my tv.com time from my world... which is something I never really came to terms with.

Life is fantastic, hugely challenging. I am now the fittest I have been in a long time, and my new job/path is working out well. I've fit it really well and made some very special new friends. I can't really say anymore about it, so I will just have to leave it at that.

I am back in my home town for Christmas, which is how I am online again. I thought seeing as I had some time I might write a quick Christmas blog, just to see who around this place remembers me!

2008 has been a crazy year. Lots of ups and downs. It has been the biggest learning year of my whole life. I feel like a different person, a much older person. My life has taken me in a lot of directions over the last few years, and I can only trust that it is all part of bigger plan that I am on.

The one real constant in my life has remained my music and Xena. I have had so much growth as a fan this year through the forum and my outside discussions with Ian, who has opened my eyes to so many possibilities. I look forward to another year as a fan.


I want to dedicate this blog to Rob and to Lindsey, two of the most important people in my life. I think about Rob so often and will never forget any of the time we spent together. Linds is one of the strongest and best people I've ever met, and after the year we have had, I know that nothing could bind us closer.

The next 5 months will be challenging, but I think I'm over the worst of it all now. Then next May will see another move, to another new town, and another new adventure. No one could ever say my life is boring!

So... for now, just reminding that I'm taking the long way round...

Merry Christmas to all of you in tv.com land... even though I've been gone for a while, the time I've spent here over the last 18 months means more to be than I can say.


That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

I wished I was smarter
I wished I was stronger
I wished I loved Jesus
The way my wife does
I wish it had been easier
Instead of any longer
I wished I could have stood where you would have been proud
But that won't happen now
That won't happen now

There's a whole lot of singing that's never gonna be heard
Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow
Think I broke the wings off that little song bird
She's never gonna fly to the top of the world right now
Top of the world

I don't have to answer any of these questions
Don't have no God to teach me no lessons
I come home in the evening
Sit in my chair
One night they called me for supper
But I never got up
I stayed right there in my chair

There's a whole lot of singing that's never gonna be heard
Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow
Think I broke the wings off that little song bird
She's never gonna fly to the top of the world right now
Top of the world

I wished Id a known you
Wished Id a shown you
All of the things I was on the inside
Id pretend to be sleeping
When you come in, in the morning
To whisper good-bye
Go to work in the rain
I don't know why
Don't know why

cause everyone's singing
We just wanna be heard
Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow
Wanna grab a hold of that little song bird
Take her for a ride to the top of the world right now

To the top of the world

Looking up the hill tonight
When you have closed your eyes
I wish I didn't have to make all those mistakes and be wise
Please try to be patient and know that I'm still learning
I'm sorry that you have to see the strength inside me burning

"THE DUCHESS" (2008 )

- "This will be the mistake of your life"

- "No, I made that many years ago"

Recently, as I am now finished up at work and am packing up my house in preparation to move on Saturday, I went to see the new Keira Knightley film, "The Duchess". It's just been released in Oz, and I hadn't heard a whole lot about it, other than that they are already talking potential Oscar nominations for Keira and Ralph Fiennes. While I enjoyed the film, I wasn't overly moved.

As a portrait of the life and triumphs of the Duchess of Yorkshire, to me it didn't delve deep enough into the person that Georgiana was. Other than wear some simply incredible costumes and wigs, and show us her 'wronged-but-stolid-in-my-duty' face, I didn't feel like we got to see the things that made the Duchess tick. Clearly her liberal views, including the peoples' right to freedom and the vote, were important to her, which is quite ironic considering the life of virtual imprisonment she ended up living, but I think they could have been more of a focus. Also, given that we only see a snippet of her life, very little extended development as a person over time is shown, which seems to me to be a waste of Keira's talent. The shy Georgiana went from an enthusiastic but lonely young bride, to a woman loved by all, and to a hardened and incredibly strong-willed woman and mother, prepared to protect her children and do her duty at all costs. But the movie just presents it all a little blandly, which is a real shame.

None of Georgiana's relationships, either with her husband, Duke William, her lover, Charles Gray, or her best friend, Lady Elisabeth, were really delved into in any great detail. While Ralph Fiennes performance was good, it would have been interesting to see more of what their personal relationship was actually like: why did this man find his own wife so unappealing, other than that she seemed unable to produce an heir? The aggression he has towards her must have come from somewhere. Similarly, Georgiana was betrayed by her best friend, and yet why did Bess throw away their friendship and choose the bizarre life of living as a mistress in the home of her lover and his wife? The fact that she ended up marrying the Duke proves that it was more than just for her children's sake.

Keira Knightley is really starting to establish herself as one of 'the' actresses of the moment. She is very good in this film, handling the role with a lot of dignity and quiet composure. I look forward to seeing her extend herself even further in some more diversified roles in the future.

Ralph Fiennes doesn't do anything for me. I've seen him in quite a few films now and I really just find him creepy. He has a very unusual presence, but it is more on the sleazy side, rather than sexy or appealing. He is very good in this restrained role as the emotionally inept but highly aggressive Duke, but I still can't say that I like him.

Hayley Atwell is really growing on me. I recently saw her in the small-ish film "How About You", and while the film was quite clichéd, she gave a good performance. She's also in the new film "Brideshead Revisited" which is a remake being released in Oz later in the year. I feel like she was quite underused in "The Duchess", but as an actress she just seems to be finding her feet, so she's got plenty of interesting roles ahead of her.

Overall, this one is not going to shake your world, but it is well shot and directed, and has a nice feel to it, if a little weakly presented. The performances are all solid, and the story is quite interesting, if a little disappointing in its overall content. It will be interesting to see what its competition proves to be for Oscar nominations, the what sort of reviews it continues to get around the place.

For now... That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

Lookin' at you leaving...
I'm looking for a sign.

Stay... forever as you are
Don't change a thing
Because you're perfect

THE TOP 5 CHANGES

Fulfilling the last of our roles in ensuring that our voices are heard on our website during the Blackout, here is the list and explanation for the top 5 things that I would like to see considered by the powers that be.

The most important thing for me to say is that, given a choice, I would immediately vote to return back to the original layout. Of course, I fully realise that this is not only unrealistic, but probably impossible, but that is really my ultimate wish. I loved everything about the old layout, I found it extremely user-friendly, and (for me) it highlighted the key parts of our site that matter to users: our blogs, the blogs written by our friends, our reviews, and our achievements within the site.

As it is, I am happy to simply state the areas where I would like to see changes occurring. Like most other users, mine cover the same 'problem' areas, so perhaps this consistency may catch someone's attention.

1. The colour scheme. Pale coloured fonts on a white background ARE hard to read, no matter who you are. With no differentiation between different sections of the page, it all blends into one: blogs into friends lists, into personal information, into banners. The layout needs to be easy to read, and highlight the different features of our profile pages.

2. Our blogs. A huge amount of time and energy goes into writing and formatting our blogs. I feel like they are what set us all apart, and are what represent who we are on a relatively anonymous website. They need to be presented on our profile page IN FULL, as we wrote them, with full formatting, pictures etc. If I spend 2 hours writing a blog, I don't want it squashed into a box with no formatting, hidden with other older blogs that are equally impossible to recognise.

3. Listing tracked blogs. As a writer of blogs, you rely on other people commenting on your blogs for confirmation that they are being read and appreciated. With a list of only 4 tracked blogs, it is far too easy for your blog to get missed by the very people you are writing them for. Linked to this point is the need for all comments by users to be shown, as your friends don't spend their valuable time commenting on people's blogs for the comments to be hidden or not shown at all.

4. Forums. Forums need users to exist. Users MUST find them easy to access if they are going to continue visiting. This new layout makes threads much harder to identify and respond to. The old layout really had this feature perfected, and the forums were so simple and reliable. I don't think it is unreasonable to try returning to the old forum layout for a trial period.

5. Our 'favourites'. The new layout makes listings of what the website deems to be our 'favourites'. My list of favourite shows lists "At Home with the Braithwaites" at number one. In my personal info box it lists "Kasey Chambers" as my favourite person. Neither of these are my 'favourites'. I think the concept of listing our 'favourites' is fantastic, as it makes it very easy for other users to identify why we are with the site, ie. what tv show we are 'associated' with, as well as the actors who make it important for us. But it seems absurdly simple to expect that we would get to choose our own favourites, rather than having them selected for us. This very simple feature could really enhance our personal profiles.

I could go on and on about all the things I want changed, but all that is showing is that I want the old layout back, and I'm not going to harp on and on about that. I would be thrilled if the bugs and basic issues are resolved in order to make the site more accessible and more user-friendly again. I love this site and it means so much to me. I will not leave if the problems are not resolved, but I would love to have the acknowledgement by the owners of the site that what we want matters.

Thank you to everybody who has taken part in the blackout. It has given me renewed hope and appreciation for our community and I am so glad to be here with you all.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

'Cos everyone's singing we just want to be heard.

I wouldn't want to be
Anywhere else but... here
I wouldn't want to change
Anything at all
I wouldn't want to take
Everything out on you
Though I know I do
Everytime I fall...

Well, the countdown is on to Blackout day, and I just wanted to post another reminder blog to everybody out there that if you feel that your voice is important, and that we (the people who keep this site running) deserve a say, then showing your support for this event is vital.

This is not about being complainers, or making an issue where there isn't one, its about banding together with the people of our community to ensure that we are not forgotten in the decision making process. This site plays a different role in everybody's lives, and for me it has brought such a fantastic new world to my doorstep. tvDOTcom is a part of my life, and thus I want to know that the contributions I make are acknowledged and that my voice is heard.

Its very simple to show your support and be heard:

1. Change your avatar (until the end of the blackout) to our "Gone Dark" logo:

http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd330/tjaman/tvdark.jpg

2. Change your forum signature:

(URL and instructions: {url=http://www.tv.com/users/Glenn11523/blog.php}{img}http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/4892/blackoutrm7.jpg{/img}{/url}

Change ALL the { } bracket combinations to [ ] and then
save it by going to your "prefs" option, then to the "Boards"
tab and paste the option in your "My Signature" box.)

3. On September 30, do not log in to tvDOTcom, do not visit, and encourage as many people as you can to do the same.

"One of our most fundamental needs is to be heard. Not just listened to, not just understood... but heard".

So on September 30, please make sure that your voice is also heard - by our absence. On the following day, ensure that the message is received loud and clear: write a blog a list the things that you want to see happen on our site.

I am so proud of our community, and what we represent. For most of us, this site brings friendship, support, a positive attitude and people with common interests into our lives. This is something to be valued, and I truly value all of my time here, and the people that I have met.

My forum signature has, for some time, featured the words of my leading ladies, The Dixie Chicks. Now, more than ever, it has relevance and meaning.

"Cos everyone's singing we just want to be heard."

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

I hear the ticking of the clock
I'm lying here, the room's pitch dark...

We've all heard from many of our friends complaints and grumblings.

Some of our friends have already left.

Many feel disenfranchised and even more are considering whether to stay or not.

Then it occurred to me that to simply leave the site is the playground equivalent to taking your ball and going home.

If you don't like the way the game is being played, then make your opinion known.

A site like TV.com is dependent upon users.

That user base and support is what makes the site possible. From the user base comes the data that is fed to advertisers ("We can help you reach XX of people by buying ad space on our site...").

CBS has rolled out a new version of TV.com that it seems not many of us are fond of. Blinding white background, small grey text, difficulty posting blogs and comments, the list goes on (and on, and on).

Meanwhile we bleed out users. Some of them have been around (like me) since before this site was even tv.com.

Should we complain about it? Hundreds have, it hasn't really made an impact.

Should we leave? Maybe, but I think we should at least let our voices be heard first.

So, I suggest:

For 24 hours, don't log into the site, don't contribute, don't edit, don't post, don't show up at all.

Let those that run the site see just how many of us are not happy with the way things are going and more importantly show those at CBS just how many of us are feeling this way.

The reason? It makes perfect sense that if they see a potential to lose a vast number of users (thus spoiling their ad rates, since who wants to pay a lot of money to reach a small number of people) that they may take our dissatisfaction more seriously and actually do something about it in a more timely fashion.

Of course if general apathy ensues and/or if people don't see the value of a blackout day, then CBS and TV.com can merrily continue on their present course safe in the knowledge that eventually we'll all just resign ourselves to the futility of having an opinion.

So... if you agree to participate in a 24 boycott of logging into TV.com on Tuesday September 30, 2008

I urge you to re-post this blog and invite all your friends to do the same.

I am not some rebel out to cause trouble for trouble's sake. I am a user who feels let down by the way things have gone around here recently and if all the hype about "we listen to you" is true, then by our collectively going silent for 24 hours and showing them in real terms just how many people are dissatisfied I hope that TV.com will find a way to really solicit our feedback about what we want to see improved.

The first step is to agree to participate. If that is well received, then I suggest on Wednesday October 1, 2008 when we return, we post a blog with our top 5 things (more if we have them, less if that's the case) of things we want to see changed.

My feeling is that this might get their attention and actually get something done.

Are you on board with the idea? If so, please re-post this and tell your friends.

This is how I've decided to deal with my frustration as opposed to just "taking my ball and going home."

Tuesday September 30, 2008 - I won't be here for 24 hours! Re-post if you won't be either.

'Cos everyone's singing we just want to be heard

Give me consolation
Let me walk out of the storm
Don't want to live in darkness
Oh let me be transformed

Let me find redemption
Oh please let there be peace
Let the trouble go away
Oh make the yearning cease
Take the rain away...

Well, somewhere along the way I missed the email advising of the changes that were going to be occurring to the site... and wow! What a shock... I'm kinda upset actually. I'm having a lot of trouble with almost everything, so I've taken Greta's lead and I'm posting via MovieToMe, which is still the same. I suppose I'll adjust... I hate the thought of it though.

I'm hoping that in the next little while I'll get motivated to write my own Dr Horrible blog... I finally watched it a few weeks ago and I'm (naturally) hooked. Can't get the stupid songs out of my head! I'm just not feeling in the mood at the moment... its been a huge couple of weeks. I was really sick last week, probably the sickest I've ever been. Gave my friends a scare, and scared myself a little. But its all good, and now that I've recovered its back into work. Yesterday and today I spent at a First Aid seminar, getting my Senior First Aid and CPR certificates. So now I can officially save lives. I finish up at work next Thursday, and the countdown is on. I'm about to embark on a whole new journey...

Anyway, I'll write a better blog later... I just felt like I needed to do something to connect with you all, it feels so different around here now.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

Some things are eternal
And some things pass away
But the light which comes when the night is gone
is not just called the day

Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I... can't hide

The (17) Sexiest Women in Film

This blog is solely dedicated to my list of the 25 Sexiest Women in Film which BoromirBeauty is running. This is a follow up to the 25 Sexiest Men and Women in Television, and the 25 Sexiest Men in Film.

I know that my list is supposed to have 25 women in it, but I just couldn't put together 25 women who met my key 'sexy' criteria. It is not enough just to be 'beautiful'; beauty really is in the eye of the beholder and for me, beauty requires an inkling of a brain, as well as talent in what a person does, a personality, and some sort of connection for me. So, for women in film, I have to admire their acting, as well as their looks, for them to make my sexy list. Thus, we have a list of 17, instead of 25. The more votes we get in the better, so put your list together and PM it to BoromirBeauty ASAP.

So, in alphabetical order, including the film I most admire each actress in:

Angelina Jolie

"Girl, Interrupted"

Audrey Tautou

"Ensemble, c'est tout (Hunting and Gathering)"

Helena Boneham Carter

"Conversation(s) With Other Women"

Jennifer Lopez

"Selena"

Julianne Moore

"The Hours"

Juliette Binoche

"The English Patient"

Keira Knightley

"Atonement"

Kelly Macdonald

"The Girl In The Cafe"

Laura Linney

"Jindabyne"

Natalie Portman

"Closer"

Neve Campbell

"Wild Things"

Nicole Kidman

"Cold Mountain"

Scarlett Johannsen

"Lost in Translation"

Thandie Newton

"Crash"

Toni Collette

"Muriel's Wedding"

Winona Ryder

"Little Women"

Ziyi Zhang

"Memoirs of a Geisha"

So, for now...

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

If you want to
I can save you
I can take you, away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there...

Pray for good and pray for love
Pray for peace and pray its enough
Pray for salvation, pray that we're right
Pray one day we open our eyes
And pray for them and pray for us
Pray one day we can live as one
Pray for the children whose time is to come
And pray the forgiveness for the stupid things we've done.

THE DARK KNIGHT (2008 )

"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

This week I finally got around to seeing "The Dark Knight" at the cinema, something which I have to admit I had been putting off doing. I really had my doubts about just how good this movie was supposed to have been, and having not had any desire to see the first in the series, "Batman Begins", I didn't really feel like there was much point in seeing this one either, particularly as it went against my general rule of not seeing any blockbusters. What really was drawing me to the film was to see Heath Ledger's performance, based on what I had heard about the role, and the fact that I just genuinely like Heath Ledger as an actor.

After seeing the film, I can't say that the movie really blew me away in any sense. I'm probably going to make a lot of enemies now, but I have to say I walked out a bit dissatisfied, and a little surprised that the film has received so many accolades and made so much money. I will acknowledge immediately that Heath's performance was nothing short of extraordinary. I have spent weeks arguing against his getting nominated for a posthumous Academy Award, but I am now firmly on the Heath bandwagon for Best Supporting Actor. Whether he wins or not, his surreal and utterly transforming performance is worthy and more than deserving of a nomination.

In terms of the rest of the film, however, I just don't feel the way I expected to feel. I felt that the plot of the film was unnecessarily complicated, to the point that I found it very difficult to follow for most of the film. Maybe this is just an indication of my lack of paying-attention and concentration skills, but I felt that simplifying the story would not have taken away from the essence of the film. At a lot of points the action scenes were so fast and used such strange angle shots that I really couldn't tell what was happening. Given, they were highly impressive and presented on a scale not often seen. I thought the dialog/script was especially disappointing, very clichéd and not at all original. And finally, the acting, with the exception of Heath, was pretty one-dimensional.

I have never been a huge fan of Christian Bale. Something about him just doesn't connect for me as an audience member, and as Batman/Bruce Wayne I felt no connection or awe for the character. I thought Bale's performance was particularly wooden, which could be forgiven based on the fact that he didn't have to do a whole lot other than glance around with those smoldering eyes and chiseled jaw. Overall, however, I didn't feel the scenes he did deliver were anything particularly special. I felt like Batman presents a huge character with such charisma and power and should inspire both fear and adoration, and yet I got none of that from Bale's performance.

Maggie Gyllenhaal was not great. Given the least to work with, Maggie was nothing more than something pretty to look at. I neither believed that she was in love with Bruce, nor with Harvey. It is this lack of character development that really let the film down for me, as I depend on strong characterization for connection.

Morgan Freeman played himself, playing a character, as did Michael Cain. My major disappointment was Aaron Eckhart. I have become much more drawn to Eckhart as an actor; his performance in the little known film "Conversation(s) With Other Women" just blew me away, but I didn't really feel like his character had a chance to develop enough. We needed to really see Harvey Dent as a hero to fully appreciate his demise into the villain, and I don't feel like he presented enough of a hero-aura to begin with to give the plot twist the power it needed.

There seem to have been a lot of opportunities to take many plot aspects to higher levels, which I felt like could have been taken advantage of a little more. There were strong themes in the film such as the fine line between hero and villain, between doing what is right and what is easy, and these were only lightly touched on during the extensive action scenes. I thought the Joker brought a number of interesting ideas about human nature, the way sanity and insanity blur together, and the role of rules in our lives and in our own minds, which, again, were only briefly touched on.

My praise for this film goes to the atmosphere it created. The whole presentation has an incredibly haunted and intense feel which works successfully to keep you on the edge of your seat. I have to agree that this film has really taken the comic book genre to a whole new level, presenting an example to future film makers of just how far the boundaries can be stretched. The atmosphere of the film does linger long after you leave the cinema, although I wish I was a little more haunted by the themes.

So, I'm torn about how much I like the film. I will not forget Heath's performance for a very long time; the complex reasoning behind the Joker's actions combined with his utterly crazed and intense performance is unlike anything I've ever seen. The heavy moral connotations of the film do make you question your own boundaries, and while the acting lets the film down, it mostly still works.

So, I suggest you go and see the film and develop your own opinions... this is an important one to see I think.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

I wish it had been easier... instead of any longer
I wish I could've stood,
Where you would've been proud
That won't happen now... that won't happen now

Maybe I was wrong
Maybe I'm to blame
I thought I'd see you and it would be the same
But when I look at you
Don't know who I see
Is it someone new or just a memory?

Am I crazy?

Well, who would have thought it was possible... La has finally made it to level 20! I couldn't have taken a longer or tougher route to get there, but regardless I have finally reached a real milestone!

I finish up at my job in three weeks, and I'm so desperate to go. My misery at being there is exacerbated by the fact that time seems to slow down considerably while I'm at work, and speed up during my time away. Seems pretty normal I suppose. My next adventure is right around the corner, and I can't wait to get going. However, between now and then I still have to survive another 3 weeks at work, and to prove just what a sucker for punishment I am, I've taken up my waitressing job again for a bit more cash. Call me crazy.

There has been a lot of drama around the place recently... not down my end of things fortunately, but I know that some people are going through a lot. Our friend Junky (LSSFanatic) won't be back, so I'd like to express my sadness at his leaving... I hope that he can find a bit of peace in his life without this world adding to his problems.

No new movies to report... I have to say that any spare time has been spent watching the Olympics. I know we have a lot of people who don't enjoy the Olympics, but I really just love watching the sport. I can watch anything, and I really enjoy the change of pace once every four years.

To finish up today, I want to leave you all with a question, which is something I don't normally do. It is significant to me in my life at the moment, and I'd love to hear your responses.

So: Have you experienced a moment in your life where you've had the chance to change your life by making "the leap of faith", and take your chances on the landing? What choice did you make? Why did you make it? Did you land on your feet?

That's all she wrote.

LLa xx

What do you say to taking chances?

But they weren't there beneath your stare
And they weren't stripped 'til they were bare
Of any bindings from the world outside that room
And they weren't taken by the hand
And led through fields of naked land
Where any preconceived ideas were blown away
So I couldn't say... "no".

I have to admit, I'm getting worse at blogging every week. I just can't seem to find anything to talk about and when I do, I can't really be bothered writing about it! Still, nothing much is happening at the moment and here I am, writing a blog, so I guess it could be worse.

.....

I've recently been watching a few movies, in between my Xena episodes and the other things filling up my life. The most recent cinema film was "The Savages", starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

"THE SAVAGES" (2007)

Wendy: Maybe Dad didn't abandon us... Maybe he just forgot who we were.

I enjoyed this film. I had been looking forward to it since the Oscars back in February, and I was thrilled when I found out that they were going to be screening it in Australia. However, this film is not for fun; it's really not funny, or easily entertaining. It's a little bit of hard work, and more than anything, its R-E-A-L. Its heavy stuff and it will throw you off balance a little. But that's what it's meant to do, and that's where the power of the film emerges.

The acting is, of course, superb. It is not Laura or Phillip's greatest film, but they are such consistent performers, both incredibly real actors who become the characters that they portray. Neither of their characters is likable; they are self-centered and incredibly selfish, with more issues that you think is humanly possible. But they are portrayed very realistically, and you find yourself enjoying the moments you spend with them during this difficult time, even though you don't really like them that much. I have to say that I thought it was interesting that Laura got nominated for an Academy Award for this one. I really hope that at some point in the near future Laura wins an Oscar, because I think she is one of the most unique and talented actresses of the generation.

This film deals with some really tough issues, which I will leave for you to delve into in your own time. What is so beautiful is the way they are portrayed - they are not prettied up, they are real and raw. And this honesty works so well. This one is worth your time... wait until it comes out on dvd and then give it a watch.

.....

I've also recently re-watched "Crash" and "Being John Malkovich" and was again blown away by just how good both these films are. I love re-watching, re-reading and re-analyzing films, TV shows, books etc. It really allows you to bring what you know, what you've heard and what you've understood to a whole new level.

Anyway... I'm off to sleep now. It's early, but I've been working, and to the gym and I'm so tired I'm falling asleep at my computer.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

And in our honesty, together we will rise
Out of our nightminds, and into the light

So this is who I am
And this is all I know
And I must choose to live
For all that I can give
The spark that makes the power grow
And I will stand for my dream, if I can
Symbol of my faith in who I am
But you are my only

I'm stating the obvious when I say that I've been a very lazy blogger over the last few weeks. Aside from being busy, I also haven't had a whole lot to talk about. But I guess the main reason behind my lack of blogging was my aim to wait for my big milestone - my 1 year anniversary on tvDOTcom. A lot of people here have been celebrating 3 years here at the site lately, and I know that I have long way to go to reach that goal, but 12 months is a huge achievement for me - it means a great deal to me, and is something I am very proud of.

So, tomorrow (28th) is the big day, and it is impossible to communicate just how much of an impact this site has had on my life. I've mentioned before that prior to finding this site, I was not an 'internet' kinda girl. I basically used the net to check my emails and do research for uni. I'd never been in a forum in my life, nor written a blog. I went looking for someone to share my love and enthusiasm for Xena with, and I found you guys, joined, and stayed. And the rest is history.

This community has become a highlight in my life. Through the good times, the bad times, the tough, you are all here offering support and friendship without judgment. Our one common link is through our love of television, and it is a stronger bond than I ever thought it could be.

And of course, this site has changed the way I love Xena. Being able to connect with fans who love the show as much as me has prompted me to look deeper into the meanings within it, share my thoughts with other people who just 'get it', and even become a contributor. Not long ago I made it on to the Top 10 Contributors list - where I plan to stay!

My goals for my first year were to reach level 20, have 10 000 profile views, and 2000 forum posts. I achieved two out of three, and I am close to level 20. This week I had my first show added to the site: "The Farmer Wants a Wife". For the next 12 months my goal is to become the editor for this show (which will be my first), and also become the editor for some of the stars (also my firsts). Submitting has never really been my thing, but I feel ready now to stretch myself a little bit further.

As for the thing that is actually my strength (reviewing), I plan to keep going. I have now completed reviews for all of "Firefly", the first season of "At Home with the Braithwaites", all the stars of Survivor Amazon, and (of course) Seasons 1, 2, 3 and 6 of Xena. I've also reviewed many great movies, one review even won me a movie review competition. As movie reviews are really my only idea for blogs (still - I know!), there's little hope for anything to replace them in my blogs in the near future.

So, finally a shout-out to a few people who have really made this place special to me. I'm not trying to exclude anyone, because you are all special to me... but there are a few people who have really made an impact on me in my life in the 'real world':

FrakkingFrakker: You were my first 'true' friend here, and are now a friend for life. We've shared a lot over the past year, and I look forward to many more years stories, songs, and friendship. I couldn't have done it all without you.

UnicornTammy: Sadly, Tammy is not around as much as she used to be... but I still miss her everyday. She was such a special part of the site for me, right from the very beginning. I'm so glad that we are friends now in the outside world, and one day I'll come to see you in CA.

SassyMax: You girl - are such an amazing friend. I'll be on your doorstep in Melbourne, you just wait and see! We have so much in common, and I miss our chats so much. I promise I'll be online again soon!

Gabfan: I was so excited when you started tracking me! Your stories have changed the way I view Xena forever... your support in my submissions, and devotion to the show are incredible.

BoromirBeauty: You have been such a help to me in learning to be a contributor. You are one of my "Submission Queens", and when I 'grow up' I wanna be just like you!

LSSFanatic: My newest friend... you are going through a tough time at the moment, but I'm so glad that we got ourselves sorted before hand. We've still got so much to learn about each other...

MovieMark: I was one of the last people who got added as a friend to your old profile, and your shoutout to me on your blog introduced me to such a huge number of great people. You're still my number one guy!

Breezy: You were the first person to track me on this site, and you are such a brave woman. I have nothing but respect for you and I'm so proud of how you have done back at school this year.

SparkleFarkle: We've never become super-close, Sparkle, but your blogs have continued to brighten my day since I joined. When I thought that we were going to lose you, I was so upset... I guess I didn't realize how much you meant to me! Thanks for the laughs.

So, I'll wrap it up here. But I want to thank you all for making this the amazing experience the site is. No matter what the ups and downs (and I know tvDOTcom is having some issues), while this community exists, its worth fighting for. I'll feel like I've come a long way in 12 months as a person, and I'm glad this place was part of it.

So from this Oz gal

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

Can't let my words betray
I won't talk, I won't talk
And words will never be the way
I won't talk... won't talk

He was walking across a wire
Holding a loaded gun
Taking out every lightbulb one by one
And she was building brand new walls
To keep her safe inside
'Cos sometimes a place to live
Is just a place to hide

Well, the world keeps turning and I keep on being busy... I just never seem to have enough hours in the day for anything! Tomorrow after work I will be driving to Townsville, which is about 400 km south of Cairns for a job interview. I will be down there for about 3 days, during which time I will undergo psychometric testing, a forensic medical examination, and a panel interview. Wish me luck because if all goes to plan, this will be the start of a new direction for me.

I'm still slowly plugging away at Season 3 of Xena... about 2/3's of the way through reviewing. If I get the job I'm chasing, I will be starting in October, so I have about 2 and a half months to finish the rest of the series... shouldn't be too hard!

Movie review of the week is "Mamma Mia". I was not overly interested in seeing this one, but it was a case of this being the only film on when we went to the cinema, so this was it. I saw the Australian cast in the stage production of the show back in 2000 or 2001. Even though I like ABBA's music, I was not overly fussed on the show, and so I was a little surprised when I heard they were making the movie version. Needless to say, I was not fussed on this either!

"MAMMA MIA" (2008 )

While this film doesn't take a lot of effort, it does not really reward you well for the time you are investing in seeing it. There are a lot of problems with the film version of the stage show, not the least of which is that it really is not a true musical. This is a film with a weak plot trying which aims to fit as many ABBA songs into the show as it can. The music is fun, but it does not always work or make sense, and the plot is not strong enough to really pull it through.

The acting by the females in the film was just so over-the-top for most of the movie that I felt quite exhausted by the end. The constant squealing and screaming just never seemed to let up. On the opposite side, the men really played very little role at all, and you almost wonder why they went to the trouble of getting Colin Firth if they were just going to ignore him most of the way through.

The actors do their best with the songs, and Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried are pretty good and get it right most of the way through. Pierce Brosnan is atrocious. The best parts come in the form of the big chorus numbers, where the amusing choreography combined with a chorus of trained singers works wonders.

The costumes demand a large chunk of your attention throughout, and I thought that wardrobe did a very good job, with the costumes really contributing to the overall feel of the film. The location was also used very well, and I thought the Greek Islands were captured quite realistically.

Sadly, I just didn't really enjoy this one all that much. I tried really hard, but it just wasn't that fun. If you loved the musical, I'm sure you will enjoy this. If you didn't like the musical, or you didn't see it - I'd probably wait until it comes out on dvd. If you hate ABBA... well, you know this one isn't for you.

Finally... in other news, the week after next Kasey Chambers is bringing her 2008 Accoustic Tour to Cairns. I've got front row tickets which are not as good as they sound, since they have changed the venue at the last minute. In the previous venue, front row meant AMAZING tickets... now it means that I will be craning my neck all night to see the stage. *sigh* You just can't win. Anyway, I've mentioned Kasey before, and this tour she is promoting her new album which she wrote and recorded with her husband, Shane Nicholson. Its a brilliant country album, with some beautiful lyrics and melodies. I'm extremely excited about the concert and will let you know all about it after I've been.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

Tell me will the demons come

And drag your soul down below?

How far can you run?

If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you... I will be waiting
Time after time
Time after time

Hello fellow tvDOTcommers... It is finally my day off, and after having a huge sleep in (my first in many many months!) I am up and about and off to the doctors. Nothing serious, just a medical evaluation for a job application... long story involved there.

Anyway... movie review of the week is "Prince Caspian". Despite my strong anti-religious feelings, I have always been very moved by the Narnia series. Having had the books from a very young age, I re-read them once a year or so, to try and recapture the magic that I experience while in that world. They never disappoint. I also have the original made-for-television Narnia series and I really think that the original BBC production was truly able to capture the essence of Narnia. In terms of the newer movies, I was seriously disappointed with "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Somehow it just didn't quite capture the true Narnia for me. The second movie, however, is a major improvement.

"PRINCE CASPIAN" (2008 )

**Some Spoilers**

Prince Caspian: I'm not the one who abandoned Narnia.

King Peter: No... you invaded Narnia.

The general consensus seems to be that this movie is much darker than the first, but is also a much better all-round film. I have to agree on both accounts. There is definitely a darker feel to this one, but it is a story with much more serious overtones, at least in my opinion. The movie doesn't really delve deep enough into the the enormity of the issues that are touched on, such as losing faith, and non-believers, and instead favours the action and adventure side of the story. This is to be expected and doesn't really take away the enjoyment of the film.

I thought all performances in this film were excellent, with the highlight being the gorgeous Ben Barnes, who plays Caspian with relish. The interactions between the returned Pevensie children and the people of Narnia are not overdone, and are realistic. The Narnians look great, and the location is beautiful.

There are scenes added to this film which are not in the book, and this is a bit of a problem for me. If you are going to invent parts, don't remake a story, write a new one. But nevertheless, the added storylines still work well, and add drama and intrigue to the movie. We still have the ever present battle of good versus evil, and strong moral lessons to be learned. I thought this film was very professionally done. It all felt very polished, with clear messages throughout. It has a real epic feel to it, as it should do given that this is Narnia.

Overall, I really did enjoy this one, much more than the first. I feel like the movie saga has been redeemed somewhat, and I will be seeing the next film, which is believe will be "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". I'm not sure how family-oriented the films will become, because I don't really feel like this one was a 'family film', but we shall see.

Finally... in other news, I got my eyebrow pierced last Wednesday. I really like it, despite the fact that virtually no one has noticed, including the lady I share a house with! People seem to be under the impression that I have always had it, which is just not true!

Anyway... hope the week is treating everybody well.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

'Cos everyone's singing we just want to be heard

Disappearing everyday without so much as a word

Somehow...

Wanna grab a hold of that little songbird

Take her for a ride to the top of the world

Right now...

For those of you who don't know, in the Xena forums we have started up the Xenathon. We are basically watching every episode of Xena, starting with the Trilogy, on set days and then discussing it in the forum. It is quite an adventurous goal for us Xenites, but its a great concept and I am glad we are giving it a go. For those who are interested, I have already written reviews for all of Season 1 (including the Trilogy), Season 2, half of Season 3 and all of Season 6 - so feel free to read those if you want.

My movie of the week review is "The Happening". I know what has been said about this film, but sometimes a second opinion can help.

THE HAPPENING (2008 )

This movie has received pretty much overwhelmingly bad reviews, from virtually every direction. There is a lot of talk that M. Night Shyamalan has 'lost his touch' and his reputation as a film maker. I have to say that I disagree. Now, we all know that I detest genre films, and rarely go to see them. However, I have always had a lot of confidence in Shyamalan's work. I own and love "The Sixth Sense", "Signs', "The Village" and "Unbreakable". I think they are original, cleverly plotted and well executed.

"The Happening" is not as strong as those films, but by no means is it the worst film I will see this year. The concept is excellent, it is just not executed as well as it could have been. I love the idea of our planet rebelling against human damage. I think it is only a matter of time before we reap what we have sowed, and we all begin to pay in a serious way for the abuse to the planet over the last few 100 years. This is where this film is going - the plants have joined forces in a defence mechanism to protect themselves from further human damage. And this is only the beginning!

There is also a lot of talk that the film is too graphic, too gory. I disagree. It IS most definitely graphically violent, but we are pretty desensitized, and I didn't find I was all that bothered. I thought it needed that realism because we are talking about people inflicting pain and suffering UPON THEMSELVES. This is an interesting concept and for it to realise its full potential, we needed to be horrified by what we were seeing.

The weakness in this film is the characterisation and acting. The poor acting leads from the poor characters, and the complete lack of character development. You've got to care about these people for the film to matter, and you really don't. These were one-dimensional, boring and clichéd. It is a shame, because I think that all three lead actors are great - Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo have all made some great films, when given decent material to work with. Here, they have none.

If the focus had stayed on the catastrophic events occuring, then it might have saved this film. But sadly, the focus was on a bunch of people that you really didn't have any strong feelings for, and this is the final letdown.

I read that when Shymalan first presented the script to the studio, it was titled "The Green Effect". I think that this is a much better title. "The Happening" suggests that we are about to see something amazing, and while what we do get is good, its never going to live up to its title.

My advice: wait until this one comes out on dvd. I saw it with free tickets, and in a way I am glad that I was able to see it and form my own opinion. Its not going to change your world.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

Please tell me, so I can finally see... where you go when you're gone...

RIP. Robbie xx

There was never time enough
I can't breath
It's too hard to think of love
I can't breath, I can't breath

Well... two blogs in only a few days - La must be back! I have finally got my new place all set up... I shifted my bed and desk today, and after 2 weeks of sleeping on the floor, and using my PC on my lap, I was nearly in tears of happiness! Thank you for your beautiful words of sympathy and support for Lindsey and myself following Rob's death. Linds is doing amazingly well, and is flying home to Cairns on Wednesday - which goes to show her strength. I am incredibly proud of her.

I have started watching and reviewing Season 3 of Xena this weekend. I am four episodes in, just starting on The Rift (you fellow fans know what I'm talking about!). It will be a drama filled week getting through these heavy-duty episodes! It makes me feel so much more myself to be reviewing again; its what I enjoy and I think I'm getting pretty good at it! I'm also now on the Top Contributors List for Xena, which is something I have been desperate to achieve since joining tvDOTcom. I know it sounds like not much, but it really has been a huge goal of mine... so we will see how long I retain my position!

I will just throw in a short movie review for good measure. This is an older movie that was released a couple of years ago.

JINDABYNE (2006)

Jindabyne is a truly haunting film that is impossible to shake after viewing. I first saw this film on its cinema release a couple of years ago, and it is a movie that I have never forgotten. I recently bought it on a cheap dvd table (for $8.99 - its an insult to Australian films) and having watched it again found myself just as moved this time around.

As an Australian film with a primarily Aussie cast, this is an incredibly credit to the Aussie film industry. The story-line is tragic and beautifully directed. It is a story about relationships, between everyday people in everyday situations, and the huge toll that life can take on all of us. Horrible situations bring out the best in some people, but in most cases they bring out the worst. The film follows how a small community deals with the murder of a young Indigenous girl, and the repurcussions of the discovery of her body.

The acting in this film is quite astounding - the actors could be my next door neighbour, one of my customers, a friend. I imagine that the impact would be less for people not from Australia, but the acting is subperb regardless. There is no need to single anybody out - the entire cast are wonderful.

The cinematography is also beautiful - this part of Australia is at once stunningly beautiful, and desolately barren. The film balances the scenery as it balances the light and dark shades of the characters.

I will leave this one here, but this is a film that everybody needs to see. It is probably a film no one has heard of, but it will open your eyes and truly touch your soul.

So for now... take care everyone.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

As you're disappearing I'm hearing
All I wanted you to say
I should focus more on the thought of
letting you just slip away
But I get this strange feeling you're not revealing
Everything you wanted to say
So it's just a little harder for me to play the part of
Watching you walk away

Hello Friends! I am really back this time... back for a while, at least! So much has been happening in my life, and I have really missed being here so much. I cannot believe what a gap tvDOTcom left behind... just knowing what everybody is up to, and have you all brighten my day with your blogs is something that nothing in the 'real' world can replace!

Ok... so firstly, I am basically finished uni for the semester. I have a history exam in about 2 weeks, but it should be a breeze, so I am not worried, and am going to start enjoying my holidays now!

I guess the most important thing to tell you about, is the death of a very special friend of mine, Rob. He is the partner of my best girlfriend, Linds, and they have both been a very big part of my life for almost a year. Many of the movie reviews that I have written, were written about films I watched with them. I spent most weekends (and a big part of the week!) at their house.

Sadly, on Friday, May 30, Rob passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly while down in Melbourne. He was 36.

As you can imagine, it has been a fairly difficult couple of weeks since then. Last Wednesday night I flew from Cairns to Melbourne to be with Linds for a couple of days. I returned to Cairns (and the warm weather!) on Monday night, and hopefully Linds will be returning to Cairns in the next few weeks. She is an amazing and very special person, and Rob loved her very much. I cannot wait to have her back up here with me.

Linds, Me and Rob.

I have also moved house... again. Long story, but I was not happy where I was living previously, and a new place came up, so I grabbed it. Moving has been a huge drama, and I am still without a bed, mattress or computer desk (which are at the old house), but finally things are starting to get back to normal.

So, I will get back to what I do best - writing movie reviews! I will hopefully start to (slowly) catch up on some blogs, but unfortunately I will have missed out on some forever. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive and missing you all, and will be around the place again.

THEN SHE FOUND ME (2007)

I saw this film today (still using up my free tickets!) and I was not overly impressed. It was a pleasant way to fill in an afternoon, however. It was directed by, and starring, Helen Hunt, who has really made some excellent films over the years. I always saw her as a woman with more to offer as an actress, and her film choices have always reflected that to me.

Having said that, I don't think that this film is really that special. To me it feels a little stilted, and sort of skips through parts that need more of a focus, and then spends a lot of time on sections of the film that seem a little pointless. I feel that it was not particularly believable, and this is a problem because you need to identify with these characters to appreciate the film.

I have to say that I thought Helen Hunt looked old. I think she is a very beautiful woman, but she looked tired throughout, and didn't pull off the 39 year old she was supposed to play. Her acting, however, was spot on - and she did the best that she could. Colin Firth was lovely as the love interest, but just a little off the edge of the radar for me. I found his up and down mood swings a little too extreme. Matthew Broderick was odd, as usual. He does nothing for me at all; just too geeky and oddball for me. Bette Midler was probably the most consistent, she doesn't break any ground but she gets there most of the time.

The film seems to be attempting to portray the complexities of life, and the flaws in everybody's character. I guess it achieves that, to a degree. Most other issues are skirted around the in the general love triangle, making babies moments. It ends on a feel-good note and you don't walk away all that disappointed. It does not feel like a film made by a first-time director, and this is a credit to Helen.

So... go and see it if you feel like it. I'd rather give my money to this film, than to the ridiculous Sex and the City movie which will guaranteed be breaking all box office records by the end of the week.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

RIP. Robbie ~*hugs always*

They keep no fear, no second prize
Walking like Jesus with voodoo in their eyes
They come in green, they leave in black
Holding dead roses with bullets in their back.

Well... the end is near. It is now Saturday of Week 11... semester finishes Friday of Week 13. Then I have study vacation and 2 exam weeks, however, I only have one exam... so on Friday 6th June I am pretty much free. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to it... this semester has been so hard, a struggle from start to finish, and leaving you all for so long has been one of the worst parts of it!

In between my last blog and this one, I had my birthday! I turned the big 22 (I know... not that old!) and my beautiful friends UnicornTammy and SassyMax both threw me a birthday blog. I am very fortunate to share my birthday with another special tvDOTcommer... that's right, Suze ( Julsus) also has her birthday on May 13!! So there is a coincidence for you!

I also had all four of my wisdom teeth removed last Thursday in day surgery. It wasn't pretty for a couple of days, but I had no time to rest and recover because I had a seminar presentation for history due the following Monday! Fortunately, all went well, I am almost healed up and just have a few more stitches to dissolve! (and the presentation went great!)

I also got a couple of chakram necklaces off ebay a few weeks ago... so I have a pic to share with you. I have the Xena Trilogy on its way as well... all ready to start watching in The Xenathon that we are running on the Xena forums!

So... for now - I'll leave you and go to keep working on my anthroplogy essay. Just wanted to let you know that I am still alive, and that I miss you all terribly.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx