Short Sick List

So the flu came to our house. Sadimac caught it first a few days before Orycon, and it looked like it was going to be a really quick cold when it faded in time for the Con.

A few days later it hit her again and she stayed sick for nearly two weeks after that. I held out until last Sunday, then the walls came tumbling down. We lived off of OJ, Nyquil and hot fluids for the most part, and neither one of us thought it would ever end.

So in dedication to the horrible illness that had befallen us, I present a list of films and shows that really hit the spot when I'm sick

• Bloodsport (which as fate would have it, I was watching when the idea for this entry popped into my head): Probably the ultimate Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. Complete with violence, multiple bad 80's music montages, the feisty piece of ass romantic interest, that guy who played Ogre in Revenge of the Nerds, and for some reason Forrest Whitaker. As an added bonus, Sadimac loves this movie, and enjoys most fight movies (although I don't think she's seen Street Fighter *shudder*)
  

• Pitch Black: I like SciFi, and when I'm sick I especially like violence. What I don't want is exposition. Pitch Black starts with bang, has a nice lull as the characters find out just how screwed they are, then continues with another series of bangs. Vin Diesel is a guilty pleasure of mine, Claudia Black's a Farscape vet so that's always good, and you can not go wrong with Keith David.

• The Venture Brothers: Violence? Check. SciFi? Check. David Bowie references? Check. Funny? Check.
  

• Tombstone: Violent Kurt Russel infused western. Long, but with so few pauses in the action it holds the sick and drug addled attention well. Raimi's The Quick in the Dead, with it's trick camera work, frenetic pace, and Keith David presence works well too.

• Princes Bride: a movie I know word for word, and familiarity is a comforting thing when you're coughing up a lung.

Any other favorite sick time entertainment out there?

Music lists and putting my brain inbetween gears

My Dad posted a top 25 favorite song list the other day. It seemed like a pleasant diversion from the utter bull shit that my job has been lately, so I've decided to bang one out for myself. No particular order here, just a stream of music if you will:

1. Halleluiah by Leonard Cohen: If I let myself, Leonard Cohen could populate half of this list.

2. Goodbye Forever Once Again by Jason Webley: Go to my links, click on Jason Webley. Imagine if Tom Waites drank a lot of absinthe and decided to take up gypsy folk accordion music. A thousand times better than it sounds, you will not be disappointed.

3. Van Halen by Nerf Herder: Pure nerd rock, plus, they provided the theme song for Buffy.

4. Seven More Minutes by The Rentals: Matt Sharp left Weezer, and went on to make something oh so much more special

5. Army by The Ben Folds Five

6. Coin Operated Boy by the Dresdin Dolls

7. Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash

8. Bicycle Race by Queen: I really miss Freddy Mercury. Every once in a while you see a glimmer of what he was in the performance of others, but nothing can replace the last Avatar of Dionysus.

9. Lovin' Yummy by Rick Bain and the Genius Position: Somewhat silly, but if fracking rocks.

10. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

11. War Ensemble by Slayer

12. Desperado by The Eagles

13. Rocketman by Elton John: Yeah, I know he’s a bit faded, but his work from the 70’s is frelling awesome

14. Between the Bars by Elliot Smith

15. War Pigs by Black Sabbath

16. Highywayman by The Highwaymen

17. Apollo by Hum

18. Velouria by The Pixies

19. Mother’s Little Helper by the Rolling Stones: The fuckin’ Stones man! (How I wish they had all died in about 1978)

20. Winter by Tori Amos

21. 3^rd Planet by Modest Mouse

22. Someone to Watch over Me by Willie Nelson

23. Dear God by XTC

24. Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes

25. Arena Song by Sugar Boom.

The fun thing about my brain and these lists is that this particular grouping would be fundamentally different if written on any other day.