The End of 2013. Oh What a Relief It Is!

  So I've been really horrible with this blog this year. Mainly because this year has not been the best, and I didn't want it to seem like I'm doing nothing but complaining. But now the year is wrapping up, and honestly it's ending on a pretty high note, so I thought I'd share some of the highlights that have come within the last couple months.

- As many know earlier this year I had sister trouble. I'm happy to announce that all has been resolved, and I could not be happier. I love my sisters so much and all I want is to feel a part of the family again and us love each other equally. I think we are on the road to that happening once again. An extra bonus is the time I have got with my nephew who I adore more than anything, and didn't know I had that sort of love to give. It's been amazing.

Rachel's kneeling, she's not really that short ;)

That smile!

- My regular readers know that I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, and this year brought forth the 50th anniversary. So most of November was filled with special after special and then the big 50th anniversary episode which I got to see in the theater in 3D and I'm so glad I did. I wish I had taken the time to report on my experience, but I've been so lazy. So I will share a few pics from the party we held the night of and then the movie viewing a couple days later.

Partying it up Doctor Who style

Best movie experience ever.

- I started a new job in October. Those close to me know what a tough time it's been this year, and finding this job has been a blessing from the gods. I have finally found a place where I can be happy, where there's no drama, backstabbing or turning a blind eye to office politics. In fact there is virtually no office politics! I had no idea that this kind of thing could exist. That people could be adults and treat each other like adults, and just focus on the job, and not "who's better than whom", and "what kind of hell can I create for my co-workers today?" None of that exists with my new job, and I'm so glad I can't even tell you. I love it, and my co-workers. They are some of the most awesome people I'm proud to get to know. I'm so lucky. I don't have any pics of work itself, but I thought I'd share the awesome gifts I received for Christmas.

I'm pretty sure the best salsa I've had

I love how my co-workers know me already

The scarf is beautiful!

That's right folks a Vitamix

- I have some of the best friends a person could ask for. Not once have I doubted any of them would be there for me when I need them. And I love them so much. Jordan you have been my rock this year, and I'm going to make next year amazeballs for the both of us. So many plans, and so much fun to be had, we are going to rock it. You are a fantastic person, and we will be old ladies on your porch drinking our wine yelling at the kids. It's going to happen.  Penny, you are the most amazing friend, and I'm so proud to say we are going 20 years strong. You continue to surprise me every day with your love, and I only hope I can show you the same love back. Your kids are my kids, and I can't imagine any of you not being in my life. Angie, our friendship has grown stronger and stronger this year, and I can't wait to see what the future brings for us. We have each other's backs always and forever. I love our no expectations friendship and that we can enjoy each other's company so easily. I see next year being fabulous and us getting to do so many Beatle-y things together. I love each of you so much! And to show you just how great my friends really are, here are the gifts I got:

Thank you Penny!!!

The TARDIS Disappears! Thanks Jordan!!

I really do hope next year brings nothing but happiness and joy to me, my loved ones, and all of you. Thank you for everything! Each and every one of you make a difference in my life, no matter how minute it may be. I'm so grateful!

Happy New Year!!

TV Review: Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

So the Doctor Who Christmas Special happened, and it left me confused, sad, excited and meh all at the same time. That's a lot of feelings from one episode. And I don't think it's a good thing entirely. Here's why:

In typical Steven Moffat fashion, we got an episode where the storyline was way overworked and left most everyone going "huh?" I had to watch the episode twice to understand it, and I truly still don't know if I do. Instead of giving Matt Smith a simple beautiful send off story, Moffat had to try and go big and showy, and I think it kind of backfired on him. When I first watched the episode, I kept running through my head, "I'm going to have to re-watch this." But at the same time, when it came to the actual regeneration time, I was a complete mess. It didn't hit me until the day of that I was going to have to say goodbye to Matt. I had been so excited about the 50th anniversary that it really didn't register with me. And now I had got to the part where he's about to regenerate and we again get a big show without a lot of sense, and then a tender moment with Amy Pond which sent me into hysterics, and then blink and you miss it, he's regenerated. And that bothered me a lot. I feel like Matt Smith deserved so much more than the send off he got. He deserved a better storyline, a better regeneration, and a better goodbye overall. At the same time, even though I didn't care for the story, I did feel the emotions behind it all. The fact that he sent Clara away twice wasn't lost on me. He'd done it before with Rose, and it's a self preservation thing more than a saving my companion thing. He doesn't want to see them die in his name nor feel the pain of that kind of permanent loss. There were also a few funny lines, and a few quotes that will stick with me. I'm still unsure why they needed to point out that Matt was wearing a wig by saying the Doctor shaved his head. The wig didn't actually look all that bad, but we did get a nice little line out of it about his delicate eyebrows, which had me laughing. And then the Doctor's final speech just before the fastest regeneration there has been happens, where he speaks of people changing throughout life, but at the same time staying the same person. It's so true and speaks volumes. I think Matt did amazing with what he was given in this episode. He acted his little heart out, and I commend him for that.

So in the end there were good things and bad things about the episode. I think with the Christmas episodes Moffat has been more miss than hit. I'm sad to see Matt Smith go, I never thought he would grow on me as much as he did, and I'm grateful he did. I'm excited to see what Peter Capaldi's Doctor has in store for us. And also thrilled that Clara is the second companion in the Doctor Who reboot to actually watch a true regeneration happen and experience like Rose did, the differences it brings out in him.

Geronimo!

On a side note, I guest posted on my dear friend Jordan's blog about all of the past Doctor Who Christmas episodes. Go check it out! And her blog, because it kicks some butt.