Office Recap, "Employee Transfer"

Happy Halloween, everybody! The Office celebrated in style. I love how Dunder Mifflin Scranton actually dresses up for the occasion. We had Kelly as Carrie Bradshaw, Ryan as the Geico Gecko (or Gordon Gekko, which conclusively proves the latest Stuff White People Like post), Meredith as a cheerleader (probably a slutty one), Oscar as Uncle Sam, Jim as Dave, and Kevin, Dwight, and Creed as The Joker. Creed was almost too accurate for comfort in that costume. Pam made an adorable Charlie Chaplin/Hitler all alone at corporate.

(via NBC.com) Just a couple of kitties, out on the town!

David Wallace let the cat (and by cat, I mean kitten) out of the bag on Holly and Michael, so H-dawg got transferred back to Nashua. I hate to say that not discussing the issue was classic Michael, because I feel like I overuse that phrase, but come on. It was classic Michael! Holly and Michael practiced their cute voices again in the truck, 'cept Michael's trucker voice sounded like it was from The Dukes of Hazzard. I'm not sure why Darryl agreed to be in a vehicle with Michael for seven hours, but whatevs.

The thing about long car trips is that they're fun in theory. The first hour rocks, but after that you begin to realize that your butt hurts and the scenery hasn't changed and the only radio stations with decent reception are country. Michael's ability to carry on a conversation and nap is astounding. The magnitude of a long-distance relationship with Michael hits Holly hard and they begin to hash it out somewhere around the halfway point, where there are no beds & breakfasts...emphasis on both. Life is a highway, but for Darryl, hell can be a highway, too. While Holly and Michael are so perfect for each other, the timing and location just wasn't right and sometimes that's all it takes. Curse you Amy Ryan for being such a talent and in demand actress!

Remember what I said last week about Dwight using his instincts to get Angela back? This week he began the attack to chip away at the fragile, preppy shell of Andy Bernard. What better way to do so than to mock the best Ivy League school out there? Dwight has this ability to fully research any topic and carry out a plan in exact detail. Andy receives "permission" to interview Dwight, which was the perfect opportunity to get back at his nemesis. (During "The Job," Dwight gave an interview to Andy for the Assistant (to the) Regional Manager position.) Dwight quickly turns the tables on Mr. Bernard and the interviewer becomes the interviewee! Brilliant. Of the three plot lines, I thought this one did the best job of mixing the funny with the character relationships.

Part of me was glad to see Jim and Pam interacting again, but the other part of me was sad that it had to be in such a lame situation. I'd always pictured Jim's family as being incredibly nice and funny. Sadly, his brothers were neither. Pam's prank wasn't that great when I first heard her describe it, but it after her elaboration at the end, it sounded pretty complex. Anything would have been better than the hot mess of a lunch with the Halpert boys. They decided to tease her about being an art major, because Jim hates it when they tease his girlfriends. Something like that would have been over-the-line in real life and while The Office can usually get away with that kind of stuff, their brotherly razzing was laaaaaaaame. TVGuide.com had this to say about the sitch. "The prank wasn't on Jim - it was on Pam. They wanted to see if she can take it and hang with the Halperts." That makes sense in a roundabout sort of way, but I thought the execution was poorly done. Pam talking about being the "absolute best" and planning to prank Tom for male patten baldness were both really cute.

I laughed lots during the first half, but the second half was very meh. What'd you guys think? Do you bet that Holly will ever come back? Will Michael go back to Jan? Will Kevin ever recover from waking up at 4 am to become the worst interpretation of The Joker ever?

There Is No Try

So I caved. The November, I will attempt I will succeed in writing a 50,000 novel thanks to the long tradition of NaNoWriMo. I have tried only once in the past, but then my common sense got in gear and for some reason I decided to pass my classes instead. But the glory of graduation is that I don't have any classes! (Kids, stay in school, but I also recommend graduating early.) I've got a plot line all ready to go and I'm working on a more detailed outline before Saturday begins.

Of the bajillion book ideas I have rolling around my head, I think it's high time I got one of them on paper from start to finish. The biggest challenge for me will be the lack of editing-as-I-go. Now that I've publicly outed my goal on the internet, I have no choice to follow through, right? Seriously, if I don't finish you must swear to shame and/or shun me. To help prepare my family for the inevitable freak-outs and lack of attentiveness to real life, I printed off a copy of a recent McSweeney's entry, "From The Complete Guide to the Care and Training of the Writer in Your Life."

The plan for the blog during November is to finish up a series of twenty-six events that have shaped my life, whether major or minor. Each will correspond to a letter of the alphabet. I've seen this done by many bloggers and this past week has been the perfect time to write and draft them for the upcoming month. For the most part, the posts are very short, but they should keep you entertained in my absence. The Office recaps will continue, since I can't quit on my show. Because I'm apparently super crazy, this means I'm also unintentionally participating in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month).

Any past NaNo winners? I'm looking for tips on word-padding, music, late-night snacks, and sticking with it through the end. If you're participating, find me under "gretchasketch" and we can stress out together!

Music Is My Beach House

You know what's a really handy feature for the flat-face candy bar phones? Automatic key lock. You see, my first phone had a manual lock that I was always forgetting to factor in, leading to phone calls from my purse to my ex-boyfriend's family. True story.

My point is that WOM World invited me to test out the Nokia 5310 phone for a couple weeks and how could I resist? (FYI, I was not compensated to do this. I wanted to try out a new phone just for kicks and told them I'd give them an honest review. Fair? Fair.)

The Nokia 5310 is a sleek little piece of technology marketed towards music lovers. It features 1GB of memory for tunes, in addition to the typical phone stuff. The navigation was user-friendly for the music features and I was very much impressed by the sound quality. I liked the simple red and black design and it was also lightweight.

There is a trade-off in music capabilities instead of other popular features like internet access and a good camera. Basically, if you're looking for a reasonably priced music phone, I can honestly say that this is a great option. However, with all the other nifty updates that phones are getting these days, Nokia may want to have the 5310 move in that direction.

PoP, A Quickie Edition 6

nHere's a brief review of the concert and Gossip in the Grain. Unfortunately that's it for PoP this week, because I honestly don't know where my time goes.

Gossip in the Grain is the third full-length album from Ray LaMontagne. The opening track "You Are The Best Thing" is uptempo and bright, which is a bit of a departure for Ray. The rest of the songs fit in more with his style, although the overall tone is cheerier than Trouble, his first cd. Leona Naess provides a strong vocal backing for three of the tracks. His roots in blues and jazz are evident and he uses that knowledge to make each of his songs better. It's not an album that you can listen to all the time, but it's perfect for when you're in the mood for some reflection and a return to the simple things in life.

Leona Naess also happened to be the opening act for Ray tonight. She fit in somewhere between Feist, Sara Bareilles, and Brandi Carlile. She's got more personality than Ray, but was lacking a certain je ne sais quois when it came to her music.

Finally, the scruffy LaMontagne got on stage and started the show with no preamble. I've been in love with him ever since I heard "I Will Hold You In My Arms" on the soundtrack for The Last Kiss. His signature rasp is slow and soulful, more like molasses than honey. As an added bonus for Carla and I, he's got this very sexy Paul Bunyan-thing going for him. There was much swooning from all the ladies in attendance.

You got the impression that he was very shy, but he still made an effort to talk to the crowd. We didn't care, because we were there for the music. Songs that sound very mellow on the cd were energized and gritty live, while still retaining their inherent tranquility. Does that even make sense? It's late and I think it makes sense, but I'm not sure. In the realm of folk rock, Ray is one of the greats.

Anyhow, he didn't play "Hannah," which was number one on my list of songs for him to play. He did finish his encore with "Jolene," so that almost made up for the omission.


For your listening pleasure, here's "Hannah"...





...and "You Are The Best Thing"

Crush

So I haven't written very much about what's been going on in my actual life lately. Surprisingly enough, I do have a life outside of the internet. Crazy, right? Let's play catch up!

A few weeks ago, the Lil' Bro and I ventured out to the E-Center for the Weezer concert. This was awesome for two reasons. 1. Weezer rocks. Hard. 2. The Lil' Bro was actually showing an interest in music. Woohoo! Our seats were ridiculously far away, but we did buy them the day before....oops. The opening group, Angels and Airwaves, nearly ruined the experience because they were so painfully awful. At around 9:45 P.M., Rivers & Co. came on stage and redeemed the whole night a million times over. The first half was a good mix of their classic stuff, like "My Name Is Jonas" and "Perfect Situation" and "El Scorcho" and the delightful b-side "Susanne." Rivers is kind of a spaz on stage (albeit a brilliant spaz) and he let the other band members sing a few of the songs. The second half was mostly from the Red Album, which is what the Lil' Bro is familiar with. We're currently working on expanding his knowledge of their discography.

(If it's too loud, turn it down.)

Remember how I posted about the David Archuleta corn maze way back when? You guys, I totally went! And it fulfilled all of my expectations! Not only was it a well-done maze, but the best part was that they played David Archuleta music over the loud speakers THE WHOLE TIME. You've never experienced life until you've heard Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" sung by little Archie while navigating the Archuleta 4 President Maze. I'm hoping to go once more before it closes.

Autumn + Utah Kitsch = One super good time

(via)

I read about this unbelievable J. Crew sale on Stephmodo last week and convinced my mom to take me. It was really a no-brainer. Basically, Down East Outfitters (this Utah company) was getting rid of all of their overstock J. Crew merchandise at insanely cheap prices. Long story short, I ended up with two shirts, a scarf, a couple of tank tops, a cable knit sweater, a ton of hair accessories, and skinny jeans for under fifty bucks. Yeah, you read that right. Fifty junior bacon cheeseburgers. This is why I am so clearly awesome.

(The picture quality isn't great, but the clothes are darling. So flipping stoked about this.)

Also exciting is the Ray LaMontagne concert I'm hitting tomorrow with Carla. So yeah, life is pretty good. I've got a lot going on right now, but it's fulfilling. This may have been the most generic blog post I've ever done. The rest of the week's posts will be better, I pinky swear!

Super Hopeless Romantic

I just spent a large chunk of my Friday evening reading the archives of My Super Hopeless Romance. This entirely engrossing tale of a 23-year-old who is in love with her best friend made me cry and laugh and feel generally girly all at once. Brillig linked to it earlier today and I had no choice but to pass it along.

Don't worry, I do have plans for later tonight, so it's not like that took up my whole Friday night. (Like that time I read From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels in its entirety.)

Office Recap, "Crime Aid"

What is Crime Aid, exactly? Crime Reduces Innocence. Makes Everyone Angry, I Declare.

This episode did wonders in keeping the story line moving along, but also offered plenty of laughs. My notes are chockful of awesome moments and lines and I just hope I can get to it all. Yeah, I take notes. So what?

It only makes sense to start with the most important part. Was that not the greatest "That's What She Said!" line during the auction? Everything else is secondary.

The cold open shows Pam at corporate, though it's unclear what she actually does. She's already getting room and board comped because of her RA status, but New York is expensive, y'all! Go figure. Oh yeah, and maybe because her new friends are staying out until eight in the morning. I like the fact that Pam is making new friends and getting a wild college life. She's never really been out of her Philly Scranton comfort zone and I think it's good for her. I have so missed the Michael and Pam interaction. My dad would sing the Ricola jingle ALL THE TIME when I was younger, so I get that it's annoying. Really, really, really annoying.

Andy and Ang have set the date for Thanksgiving Day (!) 2009. They're going to live in Disney Celebration Village and breed half-stern/half-a capella babies together. Okay, raise your hand if you considered just how much fun it would be to live right by Disney World? Me too. Even though they're completely wrong for each other, Phyllis makes a good point. Andy's safe. I still think Dwight has the edge, though. He's a hunter and those instincts are going to serve him well. There's a difference between a man who can scream well and a man who can whittle a knife with a knife.

(How amazingly pretentious is Andy's middle name?)

Phyllis, who stumbled upon the Dwangela love nest last season, proves to be a good source of comfort to D-Money. "We deserve to be with someone who wants to be with us." Oh, Phyllis, I can't even begin to say how true this is. Even though Dwight slashed her tire, he realizes that Phyllis wasn't using her knowledge for evil, but for good. The great part about the documentary format is the use of unseen comedy. How I Met Your Mother excels at flashbacks, but I had an even better time imagining the conversations when Angela taught Dwight about sheets, monotheism, and preventive medicine.

Michael and Holly continue to own my heart. The tally is at two dates and once they make plans for that evening, they play the "Tonight's no good, because I am busy taking you out" game. Michael awkwardly interjects a question if they'll be doing grown-up stuff (hey, this is a family blog, remember?) that night and Holly thinks they will. Ooh-la-la! I loved Holly's initiative in getting Michael back into the building for a little makey-outy time. These are my notes for that scene: Cute voices! Hand holding! After vous! Squee! Yes, folks, this is the stuff my recaps are made of. I sincerely hope they went elsewhere for the rest of the night.

In their excitement, neither of them remembered to lock the door. Ohhhh snap, because now Oscar is missing a laptop and Kevin is missing his surge protector. I hate it when I'm prone to surges too, Kevin. Holly and Michael (those two really need a good portmanteau) feel genuinely bad about their mistake, but are also genuinely in like with each other. (Twice.) Michael concocts a brilliant plan to auction off employee services and Bruce Springsteen tickets. The boss scored The Boss!

The auction takes up the second half of the episode, but it never draws the focus away from the character relationships. Michael has obviously never been to an auction and the gavel squeaks when you bang it. I love how the crowd is 90% Dunder Mifflin. No one wants $300 yoga lessons or Hank the Security Guard's bad cd or an all-inclusive Creed or Kevin's tax services. I can't really blame them on the latter, because numbers aren't Kevin's strength. David Wallace, the intrepid C.F.O., shows up with a weekend at Martha's Vineyard, which is very decent of him. Michael's Springsteen tickets got "stolen" by the thief, so that's a no-go. Wait, but what about Phyllis' hug? An all-out bidding war starts--it accelerates to one thousand dollars from her husband. (Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration.) To Phyllis: That better be some hug, if you know what I'm sayin'.

Real quick about Jim: Drinks with the guys leads to a visit from Roy leads to a conversation about Pam leads to a jealous Jim driving to New York to check up on Pam. He has reason to be slightly insecure, even though that isn't enough of an excuse to be over-protective/untrusting. The glory of Jim and Pam is that he is not that guy and they are not that couple, so he turns around right before the exit.

As much as I loved seeing Michael and Holly kiss in front of the auction board, I did not like David Wallace's Talking Head about how he wasn't aware they were dating. This is bad news bears, guys! I guess some things in life really are too good to be true.

Bonus Darryl moment: "Michael gave me a list of his top ten Bruce Springsteen songs. Three were Huey Lewis and the News, one was Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car,' and there was my personal favorite, 'Short People.'"

PoP, Edition 5

First, I'd like to answer the questions I posed a few posts ago about blogging and reading habits. My reading habits are always crazy in flux and blogging has had an impact on that. I've read a wider variety of books and I've noticed a definite increase in the amount of non-fiction that I've read. I attribute that to the fact that blogging is a non-fiction writing medium. I read less than I did in high school, but more than I did in college. Most of it happens on the weekends, unless I happen to have a 30 Rock marathon or something.

Books
The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary E. Pearson
Jenna wakes up after being in a coma for a year with no memories of her past. Slowly, she pieces together the details of her life-changing accident and how it impacts her future. Reading this book made me ponder so many things about the nature of life and ethics. The medical elements were sci-fi, but the emotion from Jenna is applicable to any teenage girl. Her progression in life and relationships and social settings is masterful. I loved how the book started out with short, staccato sentences and slowly evolved into longer, more thought-provoking passages. Word on the street is that it was optioned for a movie, but I don't see how anything can compare to the book.

Wow, that was it for this week. (Remember what I said about a 30 Rock marathon? Yeah.)

Music
Perfect Symmetry, by Keane
Listen, I love Keane. Hopes and Fears was way too good for a debut album. Under The Iron Sea? Not as good, but still dang great. Perfect Symmetry is the weakest of the three. It has its good moments, to be sure, but I can't get behind the fake 80s-ness and lack of pure piano pop. "You Haven't Told Me Anything" sounds exactly like The Killers' "Somebody Told Me." Been there, done that. Also disappointing: The cover art is not perfectly symmetrical. (On a happier note, have you heard their cover/mash-up called Dirrtylicious? It's amazing.)

Alright, Still, by Lily Allen
It's disconcerting to really listen to the lyrics of Lily Allen's songs, because you're all, "Wait, is this twee-voiced, British-accented, darling girl actually saying those things?" (Much like Sarah Silverman, except Sarah's Jewish.) This is a totally kick-awesome album, all sunny riffs and girl power and purpose. She's everything The Spice Girls wished they could be.

Movies
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
 Remember how I had mixed feelings about the book? I liked the book better than the movie. Michael Cera and Kat Dennings were perfect to play Nick and Norah, but I hated the liberties the movie took with the story. The novel had more direction and did a better job at portraying the complicated difference between teenage lust and love. Okay, this is making is sound like I hated the movie. I didn't hate it, I just didn't love it like I thought I would. I was sad to realize I'm not hip enough to relate to the characters anymore, but I am still hip enough to like and recognize the music.

City of Ember
Yet another movie based off a young adult book...yay for themes! City of Ember is the exact opposite of Nick and Norah, as I loved the book and I loved the movie. Saoirse Ronan, who has to have one of the most unpronounceable names in show biz, is sprightly and hopeful as Lena Mayfleet.  Harry Treadaway, as Doon Harroway, is the right amount of brooding and determined. Also, he's going to be insanely hot when he grows up. Just sayin'... (Edit: JB pointed out that he's actually 24. I feel better about liking him now.) Bill Murray's character is paunchy and smarmy, which doesn't make his character much different from his real-life self. It's a sweet kid's movie that also has that ability to charm adults. The book does a better job with showing the intracacies of the society, but otherwise it was a wonderful adaption. I don't get to say that enough about movies made from books.

Television
30 Rock, Season One
I was devoted to Tina Fey long before 30 Rock, but this show cemented my love. This is the funniest show on tv today and you all know how I feel about The Office. 30 Rock has that elusive whip-smart quality that is lacking on so many shows. Every week, the social commentary and political jokes are nailed. The best part is that it will still be funny in ten years and fifty years. The knowledge that I'm a young Liz Lemon is both horrifying and thrilling. I've also picked up mannerisms and catchphrases from her, such as Blerg! By the hammer of Thor! Everything is the worst! The dialogue is polished and much of the throwaway humor is only caught upon the second or third viewing. The attention to detail on the show is absolutely stunning. Like Dwight said to the man who didn't watch Battlestar Galatica, if you're not watching this, then you're an idiot. (Warning: This probably isn't the last I'll talk about it before the premiere next week.)

The Times, They Are A Changin'

One of the traits I inherited from my dad is a restless need for change in environment. (This is in addition to a love for M*A*S*H and weird snacking habits--fritos and bleu cheese dressing at midnight, anyone?) 

The long and short of it is that I made the move to a self-hosted blog. The "Gretch-a-sketch" name and theme will remain the same, but from now on you can find me at http://www.gretchenalice.com.

This will require updating your feed reader of choice, but please take a second and make the switch.

Here, I'll make it easy for you:

Subscribe in a reader

Another quick option is to copy and paste these right into the search part of your reader:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/gretchenalice
OR
http://www.gretchenalice.com

(Also, if you aren't using Google Reader or a similar service, I can't recommend it enough. Learn more about Really Simple Syndication here.)

I'm still working on my blogroll, but it will most definitely be up-to-date. Speaking of blogrolls, if you would be so kind as to update yours with my new address, I would be grateful FOR-EV-ER. Seriously. Oh, and you can also join my Facebook blog network!

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Personal, Pop Culture, Humor

Join my network

Thanks for your patience! At least, I'm going to assume you're going to be patient and kind and virtuous about it, riiiiiight?

Come check it out!

I'm Not Even Being Slightly Ironic About This

Greatest email ever?  Yeah, I think this qualifies.

Office Recap, "Baby Shower"

Did we really only have to wait a week between episodes? That hasn't happened in, like, months! I usually have a class on Thursdays, so I tape the show on our VCR, 'cause we're ghetto like that. We don't even have a remote to the VCR, so if I want to fast-forward through the commercials, I have to get up and press the button. I can't wait to tell my kids about all the hardships I had to endure.

Where in the name of Anne Geddes did they procure so many fake vegetables? (via NBC)

You know what the sign of a true friend is? One who will fake-birth a watermelon so you can practice for the delivery of your ex-girlfriend's sperm donor baby. Michael attracts some insane friends, that much is for certain. Andy, ever eager to play the third wheel, jumps in to help but it ultimately shunned. I loved how Dwight drank out of the cup after his "water" "broke." In other weird food news, they also ate the birthing watermelon, which I imagine is probably more refreshing than placenta.

Jim and Pam are actually the least interesting of the plot lines for once.Conflicting schedules and new friends spell "Trouble" with a capital T which rhymes with fake angst. It's typical LDR stuff. Missed calls lead to nearly identical voice mails which proves they're totally in sync. Of course they are! It's Jim and Pam. (The Carpet featured a similar squee-worthy voice mail scene.) When do we get Pam back in the office?

Remember when Jan was just a high-strung corporate leader? I miss her. A lot. Crazy Jan should have been written off the show when she collapsed in on herself "like a dying star." That's what dying stars do. They go away. Anyhow, she got herself knocked up and bam! now she has a kid. A darling little girl named Astird. Or Astrid. Astird is funnier. She wisely choose not to call Michael at the time of delivery, because Michael should not be allowed in places with expensive equipment and tiny people. He's heartbroken and unsure about this new baby. Michael did have the sense to tell Holly beforehand that he would be treating her (and Ryan--ha!) poorly because she's all skinny and hot and Jan's not. Except Jan is hot again and Michael still treats her like she smells like old tomatoes and dirt. Also, can we not have Jan sing again? Ever? Kthx.

In one brief interaction with Holly, Jan is immediately able to sense that this is the kind of girl that could take Michael away. And in Holly's defense, her retort about the baby answering phones was very funny. Jan warns Michael that he can't date Holly (chillax, woman!) and in a rare moment of defiance, Michael goes and does just the opposite. He wraps Ms. Flax up in a tight hug and asks her out. Atta boy! It was like a sweeter, more innocent version of Casino Night. Maybe he's starting to finally see that he doesn't need the constant approval from those who are more successful. Ah, who are we kidding? I don't think Michael will ever grow out of that, but there was still a minuscule amount of character growth. With Michael, I'll take whatever progress I can get.

Dwight heroically tests out Jan's $1200 stroller for little Astrid.(Astird. Heh. Still laughing about this.) I'm pretty sure the makers don't even stress-test their product this much, but that's Dwight for you. He also pretends that there is a real baby inside and reacts accordingly. "Oh no, my child!" Goofy, but it's a good foil to the more complex Michael storyline.

Three throwaway moments that I really liked:

1. Dwight circumcised himself. Ha. (I'm so immature sometimes. Astird.)

2. Stanley suffers from some of the same symptoms as pregnant women, but he doesn't get any sympathy for it.

3. Darryl! There has never been a bad scene with Michael and Darryl in the history of The Office. 

Bonus: The montage with Michael and the babies was so cute. He'll make a great dad someday. Preferably to Holly's babies. Who biologically belong to him. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Curious

The last few days, I've been reading a book that I probably wouldn't have read a year ago. The key factor was that it recieved numerous glowing reviews from my fellow bloggers and so far I'm loving every page. I got to thinking (it's a bad habit of mine) about the ways that my reading habits have changed since I started blogging. Without divulging my thoughts on the subject, I'd first like to hear from you all.

Consider the following (Holla for Bill Nye!)
1. Have you noticed a change in your reading habits since you started blogging or reading blogs?
2. Do you read more or less?
3. Has there been a difference in the ratio of fiction to non-fiction that you read?
4. Have you read any books that you might not otherwise have considered reading due to a blogger's recommendation?

Help a sister out!

Edit: Here were your responses...
From Stacey
1. YES
2. MORE
3. Maybe a little more non-fiction.
4. YES

From Mermanda
1. Have you noticed a change in your reading habits since you started blogging or reading blogs?
Yes. I am more open to reading new things that are recommended by bloggers.

2. Do you read more or less?
I started my quest to read 50 books this year months before I began blogging again... so I can't say my inhalation of books is in any way related to blogging.

3. Has there been a difference in the ratio of fiction to non-fiction that you read?
No. I always like to read a mixture of both.

4. Have you read any books that you might not otherwise have considered reading due to a blogger's recommendation?
Yes! The two that come to mind are "A Raisin in the Sun" and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan."

From Kristina P.
You know, I'm not a big reader in general. I joined a book club, and really, that's the only book I read for that month.
I am an avid blog reader, though.

 From Rebekah
1. I've noticed a change in my WRITING habits since I started blogging. I read about the same stuff.
2. Perhaps a little less actually. Less free time.
3. Negativo.
4. Hm. I THINK it was someone's blog that got me started on Jen Lancaster's books, but I don't remember.

From Stephanie Perkins
1. No (but I've always been a big reader)
2. Same
3. Nope
4. YES! Funny you should mention it, but my most recent was Jenna Fox! (Probably because we read a lot of the same blogs.)

 From Q
1. No, not really. Or not because I read blogs.
2. Less, because I'm more busy now, but I still read a lot. The amount of reading doesn't really have a correlation to blogging habits.
3. No. I only read non-fiction when I have to.
4. Yes, many, many times. I never would have even seen some books without a prod in their direction from someone's blog. Besides, I have trouble finding books for myself, so having someone I respect recommed it is a major plus.

From EP
1. Yes, there has been a noticible change in my reading habits since I started blogging.

2. I read a lot more since I started blogging. However, part of the reason I've started reading more has to be because I'm no longer in school.

3. Not that I can tell...

4. Yes. I have a lot more books on my 'to read' list because a lot of awesome bloggers.

From hwalk
1. I don't know. I guess a little, because I started reading more recently published books and caring about them more. And I started buying them more, because the library wouldn't have a book.

2. I have stopped reading outside books since this semester. But this semester aside, I have probably read more, or at least more consistently.

3. Not really. I still read both. Recently, I've read a lot more nonfiction, but that's because of school.

4. Way, way way more books that I want to read because other people tell me about them. When I go and get a book, it's usually because someone recommended it.

From snark snark
1. yes
2. more
3. gradually more non-fiction each year since college (but that's nothing to do with blogging)
4. i wouldn't say i've started reading more blogger recommendations than i used to read regular recommendations before, but i will say that i've started eliminating books i would otherwise read because i don't think they'd be interesting to others if i blogged about them

From cuileann
1. Yes
2. Same amount
3. No
4. Yes...well, not necessarily books that I would have said no to if I'd come across them on my own and read the back summary, but books that I probably wouldn't have heard of otherwise

Thank you for your answers! If you still would like to leave your opinions in the comments, please feel free.

PoP, Edition 4

Just in case you're wondering, PoP (Proselytizers of Pop) is where I review everything I've read, heard, or seen during the previous week. Yay!

Books
How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls, by Zoey Dean
Privileged, the new show on the CW, is based off of this book, which peaked my interest. Having a movie based on your book is one thing, but a whole tv show? Whoa.
Basic Concept: Megan Smith has to teach two snotty teens. (They're filthy rich, in case you were wondering.) If the girls pass the SAT, the twins' grandmother will pay off the Yale grad's redonkulously expensive loans. I can't blame her for taking the offer, but she's far too trusting of the orphaned Sage and Rose. It was amusingly scandalous and smarter than the average chick lit, although it did suffer from the stereotypical plot line of "Oh noes! I have a boyfriend but this other guy likes me, too. How will I choose?" I haven't really watched Privileged--anyone like or dislike it?

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore
It's been a long time since I was so deeply engrossed in a book like Graceling. Katsa is gifted/cursed with the Grace of killing, which her uncle exploits to torture those who go against his rule. She defies her uncle to go and resolve a larger mystery with her newfound friend and companion, Po. Each interaction with Katsa and Po positively crackles with electricity. Katsa is a strong, unique, and sometimes irrational female lead who is still easy to relate to. The scenery, action sequences, romance, and supporting characters are all gorgeously rendered. I feel really good about placing his sumptuous fantasy debut next to the likes of authors Tamora Pierce and Robin McKinley.

The Loser's Guide to Life and Love, by A.E. Cannon
A.E. Cannon lives here in SLC--she's a newspaper columnist, novelist, and a great speaker. In this book, she's combined A Midsummer Night's Dream with teenage hormones and hidden identities. Ed likes Ellie and Ellie likes Sergio (Ed's alter-ego). Ed has two best friends--Scout and Quark. Scout likes Ed, Quark likes Scout. Hilarity ensues! It's a quick read and there were many self-indulgent chuckles on my part. As it takes place in Utah, it references the Mormon sub-culture, but usually only to clarify bits of the plot--all teen readers will love it.

Music
Pretty in Pink soundtrack
As a certified mix tape compiler (not really, but I deserve to be certified), I love and appreciate soundtracks more than the average music lover. It's all about rise, fall, and the pairing of really good tunes with a really good theme. Based on those qualifications, this is a great mix. Classic 80's--synth-pop and orchestral groove. Plus, it conjures up memories of Blane McDonough, which is never a bad thing.

Vampire Weekend, self-titled
 In a string of Ivy League alt-indie-rockers, Vampire Weekend leads the way. Most of the tracks are edgy and full of allusions. These guys know they're smarter than you and aren't afraid to show it. The result is pretentious, but it's deserved. "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" is a blast, in a self-aware, East-coast kind of way.

Movies
Laser U2
You know that scene in Freaks and Geeks where the Freaks go to the Pink Floyd laser show, except it's actually Southern Rock night? Laser U2 actually played U2, but the disappointment was the same. The lasers were lame-dash-o and the graphics were genuinely weird. My friend summed it up most aptly by saying that it was like watching a screensaver for 45 minutes. I adore U2, but what the heck?

Eagle Eye
There's a menacing threat to the government and two "ordinary" citizens are forced into saving the world as we know it. So begin the majority of action flicks and Eagle Eye doesn't waver from the format. Just like the rest of those movies, the dialogue is painfully weak and any pseudo-feel-good moments are eclipsed by explosions. Newsflash: Billy Bob Thornton really isn't that funny. Michelle Monaghan is young enough to be hot, but old enough to avoid any bizarre sexual tension with Shia LeBeouf. (Well, it's mostly avoided.) Speaking of dear Shia, for some reason they thought it would be a good idea to have his face be all scruffy. I assume this is to make him more appealing to my age-demographic, who will always remember him as Louis Stevens. Instead, he looks like a 38-year-old man who's behind on his child support payments. But if you're interested a second opinion, the Lil' Bro thought the movie "rocked so much" and "can't believe" I didn't like it.

And I Don't Want Anyone At My Wedding Who's Called Me A Hussy

I went out to lunch with some of my mom's side of the family today. They brought up this conversation from a few months ago that I'd completely forgotten.

Me: Ugh, I can't stand Taylor Swift.
The Lil' Bro: Why? She's totally hot.
Me: I dunno. She always struck me as a skank.
Mom: Gretchen, you're kind of a skank.
Me: WHAT?
Mom: Well, you dye your hair...
Me: I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Mom: I figured it meant a wild, rebellious girl.
Me: (after a stunned silence) So close, yet so far.

Anyhoo, she now knows the definition. And next time she calls me a skank, I'll know she really means it.

Office Recap, "Business Ethics"

The Office x tension between Michael and Holly + Jim pranking Dwight - Pam = One episode that I have pretty mixed feelings about.

"Business Ethics" revolved around the plot that Holly was to give her first conference meeting. Conference meetings have to be memorable, funny, and full of twists and turns. (Like a Robin Williams/M. Night Shyamalan flick) So hey, no pressure there, Holly.

Michael, of course, intervenes and somehow convinces everyone to begin spilling their indiscretions. Okay, if Michael Scott tells you that you have immunity, you shouldn't really believe him. That's just a good rule of thumb, mmkay, Dunder Mifflinites? The little things become to come out, like taking long lunch breaks or pirating music or watching YouTube videos in your office for five days straight. All of a sudden, Meredith busts out that she's been doing things with the Hammermill Rep in exchange for paper discounts and Outback Steakhouse gift certificates. I KNOW. Holly freaks out and Michael tries to play it off as completely innocent.

Mike-raculous and Holly-lujah talk it out over lunch at the famed Cooper's. Maybe it's only famous on the show, but I was still excited to see it. Holly can be silly, but she's also much more professional. Incidentally, this is precisely why Michael needs her in his life. I hated watching them argue--it was very reminiscent of "Boys and Girls" when Jim and Pam were fighting about the graphic design program.

We all know Michael thinks of the office as his family, as he doesn't really have anyone else. Holly quickly points out that "it's not a family, it's a workplace." Oooooh. Ouch. Steve Carell is so wonderful at grasping onto those fleeting emotions of pain and confusion. She's demoted from his true love to HR Rep and he treats her just like Toby.

Back in the other corner of the office, Jim is tracking all of Dwight's non-work activities, thus wasting his entire day. Dwight's gullibility and love for the rules sets up a prank that's not elaborate, but it is effective. (Oh, and real quick. Jim and Pam announce their engagement to a weird mix of apathy, anger, and unbridled enthusiasm. Jenna Fischer was sick for a few days, so that's probably why she was absent.) Jim hits all of Dwight's weak spots, like BSG, Harry Potter, LOTR, and Star Wars. As a fellow geek, I got way too much pleasure out of that scene. There is no way I could have held my tongue to the tune of "It's about a guy named Dumbledore Calrissian, and he needs to return the ring back to Mordor." (Somebody please write a fan fic about this, kthx.) If you'll remember from the last episode, Dwight is stealing company time on a regular basis with one engaged accountant. This is why we need Pam around, because she would have picked up on that in no time.

Kendall, the HR guy from corporate, takes a brief conference call with he not only approves but encourages Meredith's behavior. Times are tough in the paper industry, y'know? Holly is aghast, but still gets to finish her presentation anyway. What I liked most about this episode was that it got back to the Season One business of identifying the workplace struggles that everyone goes through. Ribs for everybody!

Prosh!

This is my mandatory notice that I won't be blogging for the next few days as I work on a few projects that need to be taken care of sooner than later. When you get to missing me (don't deny you will), just come back and enjoy the following picture. It's of me. As a toddler. With FIVE puppies. It probably exceeds the maximum level of cuteness allowed on this blog, but I'm willing to risk it. See you on Friday!

Snap, Crackle, Pop

The three winners of the Office giveaway are allthewine, CDP, and j*amy.
Email me at lady.luck.05(@)gmail.com with your address by Sunday. Congrats!

And now...a meme! This one comes tagged from Stephanie Perkins. I've just recently started reading this blog and she's so hilarious and insightful. Plus, she's a librarian and a writer, so naturally we're friends.

1. What are your nicknames?
I've answered this before. But since you asked so nicely... Gretch-a-sketch, Gretch, Gretcher, Gretchie, Fetchin' Gretchen, GretchieGAL, Gretchizzle, and Hen.

2. What was the first movie you bought in VHS or DVD?
My mom probably bought The Lion King for me, but it's the first one I can consciously remember waiting for. I was eight and I knew the exact release date. Some things never change.

3. What is your favorite scent?
If I had access to Amorententia, I'd smell laundry soap, brownies, and rain on the desert dirt.

4. What one place have you visited that you can't forget and want to go back to?
Either Chicago or Seattle. Probably Chi-town. Chicago bloggers, I love your city. I just needed you to know, once.

5. Do you trust easily?
Why are you asking me all of these questions?
(In all seriousness, I don't trust easily, but once I do, it's unwavering.)

6. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?
I'm a thinker. I try not to be sometimes, but I can't help it.

7. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
Oh jeez. You don't really want me to unload right now. Uncertainty sums it up pretty well.

8. Do you have a good body image?
I'm female. Enough said. ("It's as if the Dove commercials never happened!")

9. What is your favorite fruit?
Fresh peaches, strawberries, clementine oranges, and Asian pears.

10. What websites do you visit daily?
It's ridiculous how many. But I couldn't live without twitter.

11. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
Window shopping for boots online, buying STUFF, and banana peppers.

12. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
She appreciates the Hot British Man, which I think is enough to vouch for the character of a person. Stephanie's the kind of person I meet on the internet and think, "Wow, we'd so be friends in real life."

13. What's the last song that got stuck in your head?
OneRepublic's "Apologize" (Getitoutgetitoutgetitout)

14. What's your favorite item of clothing?
Pac-Man pajama pants represent!

15. Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?
Oh man, that sounds good right now. Yes. Yes, I do.

16. What would you do if you saw $100 lying on the ground?
Turn it in. I'm a good girl, I am! (But for fun, let's just say I didn't have to turn it in. I've got this ever-growing bookmarked list of "Things I Want" and it would go towards a magical pair of boots.)

17. What items could you not go without during the day?
I get the shakes when I don't have access to the internet.

18. What should you be doing right now?
So, so many other things than this. At this exact moment, I should be cleaning the bathroom, which is the bane of my existence. We have guests tonight, so I can't procrastinate either. Boo!

*obligatory tagging*
I'd like to see this from Melissa, Melina, Carla, Q, Alishka, and Ashley.

Happy first weekend of Rocktober! (And thanks to Maxie for introducing me to the term "Rocktober.")

We Call Her Rice-A-Ronnie

Two quick items of interest:

1. My "Office" supplies giveaway closes today at six. Get your entries in and don't forget you can earn an extra entry if you blog or twitter about it!

2. Handbag Planet is opening up shop on October 15th. In celebration of this, they're giving away 24 gorgeous purses. Check it out! (I call dibs on the 4 AM blue purse.)

Awards

I'd like to thank the academy...

Blogroll

Coming soon!

About PoP

Coming soon!

What are men compared to rocks and mountains?

Saturday morning, my family trekked up to Silver Lake and Lake Solitude. The weather was behaving perfectly and the colors were sublime. The aspen had turned saffron-yellow and the other trees were just beginning to rust. Utah in autumn is simply resplendent.