Confession

Okay if you’re wondering why I’ve all of a sudden starting writing on my blog more, here’s the big secret - I’m writing a book (don’t laugh). They say practice makes perfect, and I find that the more I write the easier it gets, so here you go. Plus I generally just have a lot to say, but rarely do, except to a few good friends that probably think I never shut up. Some of you might be surprised to learn that my husband is much more of a talker than I, so if one of us is talking, it is usually him. I can write all day long, but really have to be in the right “mood” to talk – much to some people’s (husband-sister-friends) frustration. What can I say – I’m a complicated woman. Plus my cousin totally pumped me up after my last post when she implied that I was funnier than Bridget Jones…..to be exact “Bridget Jones move over you are hilarious!” I can’t say that I agree with her, those are pretty big shoes to fill, but it’s nice to know someone out there appreciates my ramblings. Thanks Cuz! And now I know someone out there actually READS this blog, so watch out…

Here’s a teaser for those of you dying to know about the book…it’s about a girl…from Alaska….who’s a commercial fisherman. Novel idea, right. No it is not an autobiography. I’m trying to stay very true to the commercial fishing experience, but the characters are fictional. Obviously I can identify a great deal with the main character, but she is primarily a figment from my imagination, even in regards to her appearance. She’s lanky with long legs, beautiful long dark naturally curly hair and much more to work with in regards to her feminine attributes, if you know what I mean. For those who still don’t get it…she has boobs. Note I didn’t say she had huge boobs, just that she has boobs period. Enough said – sorry if I offended anyone talking about boobs. How I wished I looked you ask….perhaps….but you’ll never really know. Maybe I’d rather be a blonde….Regardless if I ever get published, I don’t want any of my friends or family members showing up on Oprah sobbing “that was me, that character was me.” Because it’s not/isn’t, so you can stop worrying about it now.

Most of you already know that for Christmas this year my husband bought me the best present ever – the X-Files DVD Collector’s Edition, which includes all 9 seasons of the show plus the first X-Files movie. We’ve been watching several episodes a week since Christmas, and so far are only through season three. Only 120 more episodes to go.

Two years ago for Christmas my husband bought me the complete “Everybody Loves Raymond” series for Christmas. I watched it on TBS in the evenings, so he thought I’d enjoy having the set. Although I sincerely appreciated the gift, the set has remained virtually unopened on our DVD bookshelf, because although I enjoyed the mindless bickering of Raymond and his wife as I was winding down in the evenings, I had no interest in really following the show. It’s kind of one of those things I would watch if it was on, but didn’t miss it when it wasn’t. Sorry dear husband! Good thing I’m a firm believer in “it’s the thought that counts!”

As an aside - this is really what a freak I am…for the previous 2 Christmases (06 and 07) my husband bought me vacuum cleaners/moppers of some sort. And guess what – I actually LOVED them. OK, admittedly I wasn’t very excited about the Scuba when I first opened it, but once I realized it was the ONLY thing that would mop my kitchen floor without leaving streaks, I was in love. Jeff loves to tell people I ran it 4 times that first day. And in 07 he bought me a refurbished Roomba, which I was obsessed with for the entire 8 months it worked. So yes, I’m a vacuum cleaner junkie, which probably makes my obsession with the X-Files seem a little more understandable. Robotics and little green men – makes perfect sense right? Even scarier – what woman in her right mind gets excited over getting a vacuum cleaner for Christmas..I mean really excited. Hmmmmm….

Now back to X-Files. I am such a nerd about this show, and am the first to admit it. In my opinion it is one of the best series ever made. Granted 12 years later the aliens do look pretty cheesy, and some of the special effects are….well….obviously 12 years old, but the script, acting and characters remain just as appealing and alluring to me as the day the show first aired. And even though I’ve seen many of the episodes, I still find myself glued to the screen every time.

It’s surprising that the show doesn’t get to me sometimes, because they really cover some pretty intense and dark topics, and for the most part I CANNOT handle any type of horror movies or psycho thrillers because I have nightmares about them for months. But for whatever reason I never get scared watching X-Files. Besides, although I enjoy all of their wild excursions, everyone knows the real reason so many fans, including me, stayed hooked on the show….Mulder and Scully. Chris Carter did an amazing job of developing their relationship without cluttering up the show with an office affair and all that comes with it. He kept everyone hanging for 8 years, and then no one really knew for SURE if they actually did get together until the 2nd X-Files Movie was released last summer. But from the beginning their chemistry and connection was very strong, and just became more and more intriguing and addicting as the series progressed. I love their quips back and forth, and those one or two innuendos Carter threw in every two or three episodes that sent fans into turmoil each week – myself included. I very distinctly remember sitting in orchestra with my stand partner and friend Kate Monday morning, rehashing every Mulder/Scully scene from the previous night. I also remember begging my mom to make sure my dad was not in front of the TV at 9PM on Sunday nights so I could watch the show – and miraculously most of the time she came through. Thanks for playing interference mom – ahem – moving on.

This week I’ve been browsing through the set, revisiting some of my favorite Mulder/Scully moments. At first Jeff got upset thinking I was watching ahead without him, but I really wasn’t. I had to remind him that I’d seen them all before, and would gladly watch them again. There’s just something about these two and their relationship that is extremely addicting. And what I love is there is no sex, drama or anything inappropriate for the most part (inappropriate is a fairly subjective term, and I realize some may consider the content of the show alone not suitable for viewing). Just lots of chemistry, and some really great lines, a few of which I’ll share below. Who knows, maybe I’ll make a believer out of some of you skeptics.

And you know what’s really creepy – there are several parallels between myself and Scully and my husband and Mulder. There is an extreme height difference between both pairs; my husband is a very passionate and unconventional person like Mulder and I am more of a realist and rule follower like Scully. I guess that’s really all that comes to mind right now, but enough to make you think. Although I am NOT one of those people who gets so caught up in shows and movies they start becoming like the characters. I was a realist and rule follower long before I ever started watching the show. And I was ~ still am ~ a nerd, a proud nerd at that. Just look at what I do for a living. I bet you Chris Carter originally had Scully set to be an Analyst, but decided to make her into a DR at the last minute so she could do all the alien autopsies.

So to all of my nerd lovers out there, I leave you with some of my favorite lines from my (still) favorite show. ENJOY! – The X-Fanatic

SCULLY: " How much you're like Ahab You're so consumed by your personal vengeance against life--whether it be its inherent cruelties or its mysteries--that everything takes on a warped significance to fit your meglo-maniacal cosmology."
MULDER: "Scully, are you coming on to me?"

MULDER: "Whatever tape you've found in that VCR, it isn't mine."
SCULLY: "Good. Because I put it back in that drawer with all those other videos that aren't yours."

SCULLY: It's not ice cream. It's a non-fat tofutti rice dreamsicle.
MULDER: Ugh. Bet the air in my mouth tastes better than that. You sure know how to live it up, Scully.
SCULLY: Oh, you're Mr. Live-it-up. Mulder, you're really Mr. Squeeze-every-last-drop-out-of-this-sweet-life, aren't you? On this precious Saturday you've got us grabbing life by the testes stealing reference books from the FBI library in order to go through New Mexico newspaper obituaries for the years 1940 to 1949 and for what joyful purpose?
MULDER: Looking for anomalies, Scully. Do you know how many so-called "flying disc" reports there were in New Mexico in the 1940s?
SCULLY: I don't care. Mulder, this is a needle in a haystack. These poor souls have been dead for 50 years. Let them rest in peace. Let sleeping dogs lie.
MULDER: No, I won't sit idly by as you hurl cliches at me. Preparation is the father of inspiration.
SCULLY: Necessity the mother of invention
MULDER: The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom
SCULLY: Ye drink or be merry for tomorrow we may die
MULDER: I scream, you scream, we all scream for non-fat tofuti rice cream, Scully.

MULDER (handing Scully flowers): I stole these from some guy with a broken leg down the hall. He won't be able to catch me.

MULDER: What are you doing.
SCULLY: Trying to open my magazine. If I can separate the shell from the casing maybe I can get the powder to ignite.
MULDER: Oh. And maybe it'll start raining weenies and marshmallows.
SCULLY: Do I detect a hint of negativity?
MULDER: No. Yes ... actually. Yeah.
SCULLY: Mulder, you need to keep warm. Your body's still in shock.
MULDER: I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat was to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with somebody else who's already naked.
SCULLY: Well, maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you'll get lucky.

MULDER: They're out to put an end to the X-Files, Scully. I don't know why, but any excuse will do. Now, I don't really care about my record, but you'd be in trouble just for sitting in this car and I'd hate to see you to carry an official reprimand in your file because of me.
SCULLY: Fox...
MULDER: And I... I even made my parents call me Mulder. So... Mulder.
SCULLY: Mulder, I wouldn't put myself on the line for anybody but you.
MULDER: If there's an ice tea in that bag, could be love.
SCULLY: Must be fate, Mulder. Root beer.