This is mainly due to the fact that I’ve been occupied with watching “Dollhouse,” instead. I’m almost done with the series (my first watching), and it’s hard to stop and pop in a movie.

Lousy lovable Joss shows.

This time around I have two things that will prove helpful: a Netflix account, and a blog that can be updated from anywhere.

So, yes, I’m attempting to watch 100 films this year — specifically, those I’ve never seen.

I’ll create a page containing the complete list, which I’ll update as I go.

I’ll also post entries for films I wish to give a more detailed review. Or, I may just do a “this week I saw…” thing.

I feel like I watch so many movies, but the challenge will be watching ones I haven’t already seen several times.

1. Every Woody Allen Movie – As you may infer from its title, this website chronicles the author’s journey through the Woody Allen filmography.

   He watches the movies in chronological order, and blogs a detailed synapsis and review for each. As a relatively new Woody Allen fan, I especially appreciate the insertion of additional insight, anecdotes and trivia. It’s a very enjoyable site.

   The site covers not only the films written and directed by Allen, but films he has appeared in, and even a tv movie on the life of Mia Farrow.

   I highly recommend this site to everyone. Even if… maybe especially if you know nothing about Woody Allen.

2. This is Not Porn – I was alerted to this site by my buddy Michelle Hamilton, and I’m very grateful.

   It features rare celebrity photographs, but more interestingly, photos of people you’d never expect to see together. One of my very favorites is a shot of Harry Belafonte and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. laughing together. It’s not something one would expect to see, and it’s fantastic.

1. SoundHound. Best. App. Ever! Want to know what the song is you’re hearing in a store, on the radio, on a commercial, etc? Just launch the app, and it will “listen” and tell you. You can also launch it while listening to your iPod, and lyrics and songwriter information will be displayed (when available). This “now playing” mode also gives you the option to share song information via Facebook, Twitter, email, or text.
2. Dream Zoo. What is so darn fascinating about building a virtual zoo containing psychedelically colored animals whom you then breed and collect coins from? I have no idea, but I’m hooked.
3. WordPress. I’m using it right now. I love the convenience of being able to post or edit blogs right from my phone, whenever the mood strikes. It’s so much more effective than saying, “oh, I need to remember to blog about that when I get home.”
4. Words With Friends. As someone who has been a big Scrabble fan since childhood, this app is a Godsend. I’d go years without finding someone willing or able to sit down and play a board game; now, we play from our phones.
5. Bracelet Book An app for friendship bracelet patterns. Yes, you read that right. Yes, I’m 33 years old. My favorite part? The “to-do list,” which is essentially a way to bookmark the patterns you’d be interested in making. You can also post and read comments, creating both a sense of community and a support system.

Honorable mentions: Angry Birds/Angry Birds Seasons/Angry Birds Rio, IMDb (Internet Movie Database), and of course, Google.

• Misuse of the word “literally.” – If you say something like “she/he literally ripped my heart out and stomped on it,” you are using it wrong. You would not be alive if that literally happened. Unless, of course, you received immediate medical attention from the most gifted physician in the world.
• Confusing Your and You’re. – If you’re describing something belonging to someone, such as “your shirt,” then that is right. If you want to say “you are” in a shorter way, then it’s you’re. “Can I borrow you are shirt?” wouldn’t make sense, would it? Of course, I do take into account a person’s age or familiarity with the language before letting this one get to me.
• Physical beauty and talent being mashed together, or confused. – I would say about half the people in the entertainment industry are only there because they are considered attractive. Actually, half is probably a very conservative estimate.

On the other side of the same coin, people with significant talent are often overlooked because they are considered unattractive, or they fail to project a certain image. Also, if someone famous “loses their looks” (or, you know, dares to age), their career often suffers. It’s disturbing, to say the least.

An example of this that probably bothers me most: when an incredibly talented singer or actor gains weight. Every article, entertainment blog, etc. mentioning that person will comment on their weight above all else. My favorite actor, Marlon Brando, did some of his finest work after the time he was considered a “sex symbol” had passed. I’m just sayin.

• Unsolicited “advice.” – Telling me my child should have a coat on when I know she’s already overheated? Passive/aggressively recommending your gardener’s services, because you don’t like the way my yard looks? Pretty much any sentence that begins with “you should…?” Please, save it! Especially if you don’t even know me!
• A television show or film franchise forgetting its own history. – One of my favorite shows, “Friends,” is quite guilty of this.

  For instance, in an episode called “The One With the Prom Video,” Chandler is surprised to see a heavyset young Monica in an old home movie. However, in later episodes (such as “The One With the Thanksgiving Flashbacks”), it’s made clear Chandler not only knew Monica had been heavy, but that he actually knew her back then.

  Yeah. It’s a weird thing to be bothered by, but it just irks me. Plan ahead, people; either part of Chandler’s backstory is that he and Ross have been friends since college, or it’s not.

• Improve overall health (better eating, weight loss, exercise, reduction in medication needs).
• Find a new school for further education/career training.
• Manage money more effectively.
• Procrastinate less.
• Become pregnant for second (and final) child.

Recently, I decided to sit down and update my list. The old one contained a few things that have either happened, or can’t happen. For instance: marry a great guy (done!), have a child (done!)… meet Michael Jackson, or at least see him in person (I missed out on that one).

So, here is my current bucket list…

• Save a stranger’s life (I’m an organ donor, so this will more likely be accomplished after I die).
• Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square (New York City) at least once.
• Visit Graceland (Elvis’ home in Memphis, Tennessee).
• Visit Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (long story).
• Become fluent in at least one other language. That’s “other” if you consider me fluent in English.
• Learn to play an instrument (well).
• Record an album (one that would actually be available for purchase).
• Travel to Italy.
• See the great pyramids in Egypt.
• Sing with Color Me Badd. – That one sort of happened in 1998, if you count Mark, Kevin and I all singing along to a song playing in a club. It was “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” by Sly & the Family Stone, by the way.

This song right here.

• Work with Sam Watters as a writer, recording artist, or both. If that could be combined with the item above, that would be ideal.
• Interview the people on my “interview bucket list.”
• Write and publish a book.
• Attend at least one Comic-Con (San Diego or New York City, preferably).

• I love many Woody Allen films, and hate a few. I tend to react strongly one way or the other; the only one I can remember being lukewarm about was “Match Point.”
• My favorite flower is the lily. Specifically so-called “oriental” varieties (such as Stargazer), and daylilies. Calla lilies are ok, but I prefer the “star-shaped” types.



• I am primarily of German, French, Dutch, Scottish, and English ancestry. As with most people, there are likely a few more things in the mix I don’t know about.
• I have severe arachnophobia (an intense, sometimes illogical fear of spiders). It seems I have always had it, as my first sentence as a toddler was “Daddy, kill the spider!”
• I ran a fan site for the group Color Me Badd (colormebadd.net) until June of 2011, when the group requested it become their official website. Not only that, but I still run it; many celebs just take over domains from fans and push them aside. That is an example of how great these guys are to their fans. One of the best days of my life. Oh, and yes, I’m planning a new fan site, as well (gotta let the fangirl flag fly).
• When I was a child, my mother and I used to go see country/gospel group The Oak Ridge Boys in concert whenever they performed in South Lake Tahoe (California/Nevada border).
  They would do two shows per night, usually for about a week-long run. We averaged two nights out of the week-long run (four shows), and they usually came around about twice a year. Therefore, without exaggeration, we saw them perform about 80 times. They called me “Patty from Sacto” (abbreviation for Sacramento), and displayed gifts and drawings from me on stage.
• I tend to listen to the same album a few times during the week, before shifting to another. This week it was “Audio Day Dream” by Blake Lewis in the car, and “This Christmas” by 98 Degrees at home.
• I absolutely love making “Genius” playlists on iTunes. Basically, you choose a song, and they create a playlist of your music based on that choice. It’s cool to see how things fit together.
• English/Language Arts was always my favorite subject in school, and I wanted to be a professional writer “when I grew up.” I tried my hand at journalism in college, and became burnt out. I’d still like to publish a book someday, but I think I’d really love being a songwriter.
• For about five years, I tried for a career as a professional singer/recording artist. I was told the same thing by many people: that I had the voice, but not the “image.” I think
  I’ll always be sorry I let that stop me.

You’ve dressed as Michael for Halloween or a costume party… or just for fun. Bonus points if you did so prior to 2009.

Here’s a random one about me:

• My favorite number is 25, my favorite day of the week is Thursday… Michael died on Thursday, June 25, 2009. I am very bothered by that.

First up… Seth Green and Matthew Senreich of “Robot Chicken.”

As a long-time Seth Green fan, I was especially excited to learn he is kind to his admirers/fans. For some reason, I sort of expected him to be kind of standoffish (maybe because of some characters he has played); to my delight, that isn’t the case.

I have not met Seth or Matt in person (yet), but I have an experience to share, nonetheless:

In late October of 2009, Matt challenged fans (via Facebook and Twitter) to a costume contest. He wanted to see us try our hands at dressing as characters from a show he and Seth did called “Titan Maximum.”

He said the winner would receive an autographed copy of the “Robot Chicken Star Wars: Episode II” special on DVD.

I shared the idea with other fans via Twitter, and “mentioned” Matt in my tweet. I said I already had a costume in mind (Michael Jackson), but loved the idea. Matt replied and asked if I’d do a TM-inspired costume also. So I agreed.

I dressed up as Gibbs (the villain, voiced by Seth), and took photos. I posted them on the Titan Maximum Facebook page (as Matt said to do). Ultimately, I didn’t win the contest (not a shock, ha ha).

About a day after the contest ended, I received a private message from a staff member of Stoopid Monkey (Seth and Matt’s company), asking for my mailing address.

Next thing I know, I receive a Robot Chicken Star Wars Episode II DVD in the mail, signed and personalized by the guys (Seth wrote “Hey Patricia” in a speech bubble by Lando). I was so excited! To think, I didn’t even win, yet they took time out to send each of us who participated (at least I assume so) an autographed DVD.

Not to mention, I finally have Seth’s autograph, after being a fan since we were kids.

I could give quite a few examples of how awesome Seth and Matt (and Seth’s wife, Clare) are, and I probably will, but this gives you some idea.

Another thing: Clare, Matt, and most of the RC staff are my Facebook friends. That says a lot, trust me.

Related links:
very not lame: the Seth Green fanlisting

Comic Book Love (Seth & Clare relationship fanlisting)