So You Think You Can Read?

Ahh! Sorry it's been so long, I've been keeping busy with work and the usual.

So here it is. I'm a total dork. Like, stereotypical dorky guy in movie type of dork. I collect comic books, read fantasy and sci-fi novels, and I'd rather play Final Fantasy or Suikoden games than Guitar Hero of Halo. The only thing I'm missing is a twenty-sided die and a Dungeon Master's manual. But obviously I know what these things are, so I'm not too off from total nerdville.

For some reason, I've always felt a need to defend these dorkier interests of mine. I spent the better part of the past two days finishing "A Storm of Swords" by George R.R. Martin. I planned to write about it here, and found myself trying to find ways to "legitimize" my interest in the book. I was going to write about how it stands apart from other fantasy novels due to its complex world and cast of hundreds (which it does), and discuss the fact that the storytelling is so strong it's being scripted for an HBO series (which it is), and ramble on about how the fantasy genre in general is a guilty pleasure. But screw that, I like the book and I'm glad to say it. I know there are a lot of trashy fantasy novels put out that are written in a few weeks, but the genre does have a lot to offer to the world of literature as well. And even if that's only in my own little delusions, the point is that it was a piece of literature I really enjoyed (and have started reading the next book in the series). So, if you're looking to get into the fantasy genre but don't want to be overloaded with sorcery and monsters, but do enjoy political intrigue, suspense, and a great cast of characters pick up all of the books of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, the first in the series being A Game of Thrones.

I was really excited to finish this book for two reasons. One: I was finishing a book and this always gets be geeked. For me, the last fourth of a book flies by because I'm so excited to see how everything wraps up. I generally tear into a book, reading the first fourth very quickly and then get distracted by games, DVDs, friends, or TV in the middle, and then tend to shut off all communication with the outside world while finishing the book. Two: I'm one step closer to catching up in this series. Yes, once again I am playing catch up. Just as I want to finish LOST and the Office to feel a part of their respective fan-based communities, I too want to finish up the remaining books in ASoIaF. I've only got one book left (three finished) before I'm all caught up and can sit in anticipation for the fifth installment to the series (supposedly coming out later this year). I feel like a kid again, waiting for the next Harry Potter book to come out. Freaking out when the title of the book is released, or the cover art, or if the author does an interview about it.

I guess there's another reason I'm excited to be finishing up this series. It means I get to start a new one (of maybe just find a great stand alone novel). I haven't gone book hunting in about a year, as I only read for pleasure during the summer and winter breaks. I wish I had enough time/drive to read just for fun at school, but I find studying, drinking, and sleeping seem to command most of my attention there. I figure I can finish this next installment of ASoIaF within a week or two, leaving half of the summer to find and read something new and exciting. I love book shopping. Grabbing a venti french soda with raspberry at my Barnes&Noble Starbucks and then spending the day looking for some great books is just a really relaxing thing for me. Of course, I then have to drive to Borders to buy the book I'm looking at, because their rewards program is about a million times better than the one at B&N. Gots to save that money. I wish Borders wasn't so loud and flashy. It all feels so new to me, whereas Barnes&Noble has an oldschool quality to it that I much prefer browsing in.

Oh, and don't think I forgot that So You Think You Can Dance? was on this week! The top nine couples (eighteen dancers) performed, doing everything from hip-hop, to salsa, to contemporary, and krump. This week's performances weren't as good as last week, but some definite favorites are starting to leap to the front of the pack.

A shout-out to my favorite couple of the week, Mark and Chelsie for their Argentinean Tango!

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And a pretty big BOO! to my least favorite routine, Comfort and Chris with their Krump. I like both of these dancers, but this week they were not turning it out for me.



So who was in the bottom three? Chelsea and Thayne (Jazz), Susie and Marquis (Salsa), and Comfort and Chris (Krump). I wasn't surprised, but I thought Jessica and Will or Matt and Kourtni also could have landed in the bottom spots.



After dancing their solos, we had to say goodbye to Susie (who looks like a rejected Pussycat Doll) and Marquis (which the audience was NOT happy about). I wasn't sure which guy was going to be sent home, and I have an inkling that Marquis was eliminated both because he hasn't stood out to the audience as a memorable personality, and because the judges wanted to wait until at least next week to eliminated dancers from different couples, creating a new couple in the process. Susie will not be missed (and now I won't have to listen to my mom complain about how she looks like a girl in a club instead of a dancer), and Marquis will be missed less than the other two, though he was a great dancer. This show really brings out the fire in my mom. She thought Marquis was safe for sure and started yelling when he was eliminated, "Chris isn't going home? C'mon! He didn't DO SHIT!"

I trust my mom's opinions on dance though. I mean, she wanted to take tap and jazz as a kid, and I think that counts for a lot (even if she never had a single lesson).