if i can't move to california, the uk would do.

My nights with American television are few and far between, especially now that we've found a great source for more British imports (you do what you can, BBC America and I love you for it). Matt and I are currently catching up on a Heroes-ish show called The Misfits.

It's fun and I already love the Irish kid and the creeper who looks like the singer from Joy Division*. Funny thing is, I've never actually watched Heroes. I missed that train when it started and I don't like jumping into the middle of something like that. Sure, the seasons are all on Netflix, so I don't have much of an excuse —one day, I suppose, one day.

Anyway, the opening credits for Misfits is pretty sweet.

*He also played Moritz in the London production of Spring Awakening. Everything's connected.

four seasons are for phonies.

I will not miss snow. Everytime I bring up my hatred of winter and thus, my wanting to move to Southern California people go...

"Oh you just wait, you're going to miss having four seasons."

I really won't. Not even a little. It's like someone else telling me what my favorite color should be.

Three-hundred and fifty-eight days out of the year I miss the Pacific Ocean, reliably warm weather and that part of 163 that cuts through Balboa Park. I miss Dog Beach, Ocean Beach and the pier. I miss truly amazing fish tacos, In-N-Out and real Mexican food.

The world at large thinks that the trip to California in July is only fueled by nerd-lust for Comic Con. Sadly, it's my one week of the year where I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be.

she said love may make you blind, kid.

Spring Awakening is coming to Rochester...

... and that is amazing in its own right. But if you watch the above video, note the risers on the sides of the stage with people sitting there. That is where Matt and I will be sitting for the Valentine's Day matinee show. I'm so freakin' excited, there aren't words.

Spring Awakening was part of the NYC trip that Matt put together when he asked me to marry him. In fact, that's was what we did the evening after we got engaged in Central Park. So it's special for that reason. It's also special because it's one of those rare musicals we both enjoy (instead of me thoroughly enjoying and Matt barely stomaching). It's not fluff (ie: not based on a Reese Witherspoon movie), the music is fantastic, the performances just suck you right into the story...

I'm gushing. I can't help it. I'm a musical nerd/snob and I just adore this show.

in case anyone was wondering...

Yes, I've always been this eff-ing cool.

tweet. tweet.

I'm tweeting in public now.

@kara_austin

For those who follow me on my original Twitter account, it's still my main. This one's just going to be scrubbed up and family-friendly. You know... no dead celebrity jokes within minutes of their passing.

that's not how you play video games.

Matt: So, do you like the Playstation?

Kara: Yeah, I guess. I mean, I never thought I'd dislike it. I still like the Xbox better. It's more warm and fuzzy. Like, sometimes I just want to give it a cuddle.

Matt: ...

playaid? kitchenstation?

Thanks to gift cards and Christmas cash, two household dreams are coming true.

Matt gets to be the coolest kid on the block by owning all the current video game systems with the addition of a PS3.

And Kara's going to level up her baking skills with the arrival of this:

It's not here yet, but just the promise of my long-admired-from-afar Ice Blue Kitchenaid mixer has somewhat made up for an awful week. No longer will I fret burning out the motor of my handmixer when subjecting it to things like gingerbread dough.

it's been that kind of day.

i always thought he was mister who and just happened to be a doctor.

Spoilers for Doctor Who: End of Time ahead. Consider yourself warned.

Christmas and New Years were a bit weepy on the count of the end of David Tennant as Doctor Who. I didn't like the first part of the holiday special, but the second wrapped things up allright and I'll give Russell T. Davies a pass on the whole "Doctor's reward". It's incredibly convenient; but I can't say I didn't love the Doctor getting a chance to see everyone again. Though, I still don't like the Star Wars cantina scene they threw Captain Jack in. However, allons-y Alonzo.

I always feel bad for Sarah Jane. I've never even seen an episode when she was a proper companion —but the idea of travelling with the Doctor, then getting left, stuck in a normal life again is just heartbreaking. As terrible as it is in it's own right, at least Donna can't remember. She doesn't know what she's missing. But I'll miss Donna a whole lot. Wilf too.

I didn't think I'd cry, but the final Ten and Rose scene pushed me over the edge.



It's incredibly unfair that David Tennant's run on Doctor Who has come to an end. This is compounded by the fact that we have to wait until the spring to see Matt Smith in action.

We did get this:


Matt found an interesting bit of trivia, as it seems to be that "Geronimo" is going to be this Doctor's catch phrase. There's an old WWII paratrooper's chant that goes:

Down from Heaven comes ELEVEN

and there's HELL to pay below

shout "GERONIMO" "GERONIMO"

Is it spring yet?

ex-mas wrap up.

before christmas.

Before the actual holidays hit there was the usual smattering of pre-tinsel festivities. Two work parties (both mine, oddly enough) and a Christmas small dog playgroup that I took the Clarkster to. The dog park is often heavy on the big dogs and he is kind of "meh" on that. So he worked the room like Sinatra and I embarrassed him and myself by handing him over to a stranger in a fuzzy suit.

holly daze.

Christmas was with my folks this year. Having run through PTO days like they were burning a hole in my pocket (not that I regret it. I fucking love you San Diego, Williamsburg and New Hampshire), I had to work Christmas Eve. Matt took the day off and had the car ready by the time work was over. Four to five hours later, we ducked into Kingston for food and then headed to the countryside for an evening with my dad and stepmother.

Christmas Day had it's child-of-divorce schedule: wake up at dad's for breakfast and stockings, go to mom's for presents and dinner, then back to dad's for presents. We shook up the usual schedule by getting Dad and Gaelen out to a Christmas Day night movie: Sherlock Holmes.

It was brilliant. RDJ has raced up my list of favorite actors. Even the previews before the flick were promising. Hot Tub Time Machine, Tracey Morgan/Bruce Willis/Stiffler/Kevin Smith awesomness and the new Christopher Nolan mindfuck (with Leo DiCaprio and Ellen Page). However, this was my first exposure to Leap Year and as much as I enjoy Amy Adams; that looks like pure garbage.

Saturday was Christmas with the extended family on my dad's side. So after a winding trip through the back roads connecting the Hudson Valley with Connecticut, we were in the thick of family. I don't get to see that side of my family often, so each time's a treat.

Sunday we headed home. However, we made a point to stop at Sonic on the way out. Fun times.

sweet lootz.

I know that whole "Santa's always watching" is a boldface lie because I got way too many awesome presents. Clark and I scored a tunnel and weave poles for agility from my mom. Dad and Gaelen fed my anglophile DVD collection with the first season of The IT Crowd and Matt was just spectacularly amazing to me.

The big present(s) aren't ready for primetime blogging yet. They're part of a year long project that, if all goes well, will probably dominate my blogging from there on out. But aside from that, my N64-like, present meltdown came when I opened a box containing the import of The Mighty Boosh: Future Sailors Live Tour. Four DVDs, a card game and a Boosh belt buckle.

Oh, and one incredibly happy girl.

Future Sailors is beyond hilarious. The only bit I've really seen before is the Bob Fossil Dance Academy and that was live in SD at the Boosh secret show. I want to run away and join the Boosh, pls.

I am incredibly spoiled by British TV. Thank god for BBC America, Adult Swim and the internet. The only American stuff I regularly watch is on the premium channels (save for my guilty pleasure human trainwreck shows like Hoarders). The major networks could drop off the face of the planet and I wouldn't bat an eye.