Animation messed me up

Every now and again I think back on all my "celebrity crushes" from childhood and it gets real weird, real fast.

Secret of NIMH Justin, the rat

The Great Mouse Detective Basil, the mouse

The Lion King Simba, a-durr

The Rescuer's Down Under Jake, the kangaroo mousey thing? 

(and I guess I have a thing for rodents??)

The Fox and the Hound Todd, the foxy fox

Robin Hood effing Robin Hood I mean come on

(I promise there are humans, too!)

Anastasia Dimitri

Pocahontas John Smith

Ferngully Zac (John Smith, jr.) (srsly)

The Swan Princess Derek (but like...dat haircut tho, ew)

Treasure Planet Jim (specifically in that military suit at the end)

Like, maybe I have a problem.

Halloween Pitch

I'm seriously gonna keep pushing this guys. This is srsbsns.

I had such a good time last year utilizing Mickey's Halloween Party, I really cannot emphasize it enough. But I'm sure gonna try. So here's a general idea of what to expect from the event:

Relative to a one-day, one-park ticket (around $98 now) the tickets to Mickey's Halloween Party (here on out signified by MHP) are in the range of $55-70 depending on the day of the week and the particular weekend. You can get $14 off with annual passes. The actual event goes from, most days, 7pm to midnight but you're allowed in about three hours prior and they start herding out the rest of the park around 4pm.
It's advertised as an event for kids, but that shouldn't be surprising I mean it's freaking Disneyland. Obviously. The trick-or-treating is rather silly, I grant you. But it's dang good candy and they also throw in healthy items such as dried fruit packs and some granola bars (which were [singsong] awwwesooome to save for the next day in the park as sustaining snacks, btdubs).

(pic stolen from Allora) ;)

BUT! The main attraction of MHP is the fact that because you have to have the special ticket to be admitted and they close the park for the event, the volume of people is drastically lower than it would be normally. There are special parades and shows (that are fan-freaking-tabulous) that distract the families with youngsters so that the lines for the big ticket rides are so. short. Seriously, I feel like I'm letting you in on a big secret here (which is totally counter-productive, I know, so sshhhh), we basically walked onto Space Mountain and Indiana Jones and Splash Mountain.

(if you're viewing this on your cellular device,

I apologize for the size of these videos)

You are allowed to dress up and I gotta say, it is an absolute riot to be in costume in one of the most intricately detailed theme parks in the world. People are so creative and appreciative of good outfits so it's a general feel-good atmosphere.

Pay no heed to my churro (and turkey leg, and corn dog) food baby.

Also, if you're into this sort of thing, the character costuuuuumes omg they're so cool. Characters like the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, etc) have special outfits that they wear specifically for MHP. No other times of the year. So getting photos with them in their fancy garb is a really cool feature. And for general characters that don't look any different, it's the first time I've ever waited in line to meet a character and it basically made my life. See how excited I am? It looks like I'm about to pee my space leggings...

In conclusion, when we went last year, we were heading back to our hotel room at the end of the night and just marveling at how perfectly it allowed us to enjoy the park, get to everything we wanted to experience, but didn't feel like we had crammed or rushed around.
It really is such a special way to experience the park and I cannot wait to do it again. Originally, when Ali let me in on the plan she and her family had for this year, my mom and sister and I were just planning on doing three normal days in the parks but when I told Mark (who didn't even go with us last year and won't be joining us again this year because he's made of stone and just kinda "eh" about Disney theme parks) about it he asked,
"So you're doing the Halloween party again, right?"
Flummoxed I said, "Well no not really..." but he countered,
"Well it's such an awesome deal there's really no reason not to, right?"
So if my unenthused husband is arguing for it, it's got to be amazing!

Please come with me.

In Which We Fangirl Obscenely

And now! A list of my favorite Marvel superheroes as experienced in the Joss Whedon "Avengers" smorgasbord of awesome and epicosity. (I've legit been living under the impression that "epicosity" was a word, thanks Tobuscus) (although the squiggly red line is suggesting I use "bellicosity" which is to say "aggressive, and willing to fight" and is, really, not far off base tbh)
I've never read an actual comic book in my whole life. I've never seen a Superman movie. (My heart is still broken that I have no legitimate claim to be lusting after Henry Cavill.) (JK gaiz, 7 Deadly Sins whaddup) Literally the only reference I have for these characters are the recent blockbusters so please don't judge me too harshly for not knowing all there is to know about alternate backstories and such.
I'm a hardcore Whedonite though, I do have that going for me at least. #browncoatsunite

The award for tippy top most favorite goes to; 

Director Phil Coulson.
I knoooow, he's technically not a superhero but that's kinda what appeals to me. There's no radiation. There's no magical serum. There's no billions of dollars and a horde of IQ points backing his gadgets and gizmos. He's just a normal guy with a penchant for integrity and passion for do-gooding. He's the R2-D2 fix-all end-all of the bunch. Now, things changed a little bit when "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" resurrected him (in super creepy and traumatic ways, no crazy spoilers here) so we have yet to see really where this reborn Coulson can take his power-not-powers.

Tied for runner up favorite;

(Mm, dat sepia tone tho)

Robert Downey J...I mean, uh, Tony Stark/Iron Man and Steve Rogers/Captain America

Admittedly, Iron Man could very well be attributed to how much I enjoy RDJ and his excellent acting. I love his Sherlock Holmes as well, and I just honestly enjoy watching his work.
I love that Iron Man has very human struggles with balancing superhero work and trying to also be a "normal" important human. I like that he's rough around the edges and a little-bit-lot troubled and has lots of growing up to do. I like that we get to see that growing up. I like his dynamic with Pepper. I like his burgeoning morals.
Conversely, I love Rogers' innate goodness. But he's one that's almost "too" good. Where's the catch with this guy? He comes off a little haughty and goody-two-shoes-er but I mean who can really blame him, honestly. I don't even care how sucky the general public says his first movie was, I still get teary when he and Peggy are saying goodbye and they never get their dance, and OMG she has dementia in the second movie are you kidding me. And it's all only exacerbated by how nonsensical it is that he had to get frozen in the first place. But I'm not here to talk about plot or criticize the movies.
Cap is a guy with stiff, unwavering morals who has to learn that it doesn't make things any easier to be sure of what you believe. It can make things just as complicated as being an open-minded willy nilly. (Neither of those is a bad thing to be.) Things can always change. He trusts his heart and unfalteringly chooses to do the things he thinks are best. He's the epitome of "good intentions".

Bonus: BUUUUCKYYYYY /sob

I am simultaneously bewildered and slightly mortified by how attracted I am to this character. #confession

Next in the rankings of favoritism;

Classic gif is classic.
Natasha Romanov/Black effing Widow
She's so cool. I want to be her. Even with the red ledger. I mega appreciate the fact that they've kept her sizzling sexuality but she's so much more than a token set of boobs in a boys' franchise (but what else do you expect from good ol' Joss?) and her nifty outfit makes me happy. Skin coverage? Utility? Efficiency? wat is dis??
But like I said, she's so much more than what she looks like. She's kickbutt. What even is her superpower? Just being totally bada**. She holds her own in the midst of demi-gods, "genius billionaire playboy philanthropist"'s, super soldiers, and mutant, invincible green beasts. She's ruthless. Yet she's so blessedly loyal it's a marvel (eh? eh?) she can even hold herself together. Those scenes where they watch Fury die on the table? The tangible closeness you can sense at the grave scene? You get the idea that she considers him family and she fiercely protects her family.
She so in charge of her femininity and it's so refreshing.
Plus she's a manipulative super spy extraordinaire. Nbd.

Followed with;

Hawkeye/Clint something-or-other? Ah, Barton

He's so randomly there and you sometimes forget about him but the snark and level of bizarre that Jeremy Renner brilliantly plays into the character really speaks to me. Is he serious? Is he just that quiet guy that's secretly hilarious if only you get close enough to hear the things he says? Is he underdeveloped or just mysterious? I love it. He's the plucky guy with nerves of steel and a cache of [oddly never ending] arrows yet somehow manages to keep up.
And throw me to the gallows if you must, but I am a huge Clint/Natasha shipper. But I praise the writers for letting it be slow and only teasing hints thus far in the movies. (And THANK DE LAWD for Black Widow getting to be just Cap's peer in Winter Soldier rather than one more romance drivel. Yaaaaaassss.)

After which comes;

Bruce Banner/Hulk

How many of you want to strangle me if I say I've never seen a single Hulk movie? Not one. So I don't know much about the hulk other than the Jekyll and Mr. Hyde scenario and big, green, strong, "hulk smash".
But personally, I am an enormous fan of Mark Ruffalo's portrayal. I like that he's haunted by his capability and that it's not something he just immediately accepts and considers part of himself. He really struggles with it. But through hard work and with the help of some unlikely friends (the Science Bromance warms my little heart) he progresses and comes to relative terms with "the other guy".

It is a testament to how much I just love all of the Avengers that the bottom of this list is dedicated to a character that I still very much like;

Thor/Thor

No alter ego there. Logically and rationally I will concede that the Thor movies are a little scatterbrained and tedious (Sorry Ali, just...deep breaths) BUT I JUST LURVE THEM. I have a weakness for Natalie Portman that defies reason and I think I just really want her to be happy. Er, I mean her characters. I want her characters to be happy.
I like the idea of Jane Foster, the passionately geeky scientist who happens into an inter-universal romance regardless of the lack of development in said relationship.
"I hit you with my car and woah your biceps. Let me love you."
And Thor's just like, "WHAT IS THIS CONTRAPTION, PANTALOONS OF DENIM YOU SAY? I RATHER LIKE THIS 'COFFEE' SUBSTANCE, WHERE IS MY NOBLE STEED? SPEAK OF SCIENCE TO ME MORE MADAME, I QUITE ENJOY THAT."
He digs brainy chicks, I guess.
And yet I love it. So much. I really cannot adequately express why.
Plus Darcy. All the Darcy.
Basically, I love Thor's movie and the individual characters more than I love Thor himself. So that's why he's at the bottom of the list.
But I do appreciate his big...heart (not where you thought I was going, eh? ya little nasteh), and his transition from entitled brat prince to kindhearted, goofy, hammer wielding meatsack of awesome. I mean honestly, how do you even describe Thor?? If Loki were a jet black, mean, conniving cat, Thor would be the fluffiest, tawniest, doofiest labrador puppy.

Honorable Mention:

Maria Hill

Because BAMF.

Something that I realized from this silly list is that I am particularly interested in the people "behind" the superhero. I like to know where that person comes from, what they're like beyond their "powers", what makes them who they are and these recent installments in the Marvel universe seem, to me, like they're doing a marvelous job. (okay, I'm done with the puns. sorry.)
And really, honestly, this is hardly a definitive list. It changes all the time. Basically the first three are steadily my top favorites and the rest are just a jumble of "I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH" hugs all around.

So when does Age of Ultron come out again??


Update: 7/14/2014
Also, in rereading this post I discovered that I was a bit misleading in a few of my comments. I DO realize that Superman is of the DC universe rather than Marvel and I do NOT submit to the idea that superheroes are solely meant for boys. Of the former blip I was merely trying to convey that I am not a well-read comic fan and of the second mistake I just didn't notate my sarcasm. Oops.
Carry on!

[Crazy Eyes]

Developing a twitch caused by stress is like drinking too many water bottles, causing secondary drowning, and then jumping in a tank of water with boulders for shoes.
Why in the world is that a reaction to stress?
"Ah man I'm stressin' out!"
So your body is like,
"Hey man I gotchu! Here's a debilitatingly annoying muscle spasm that will haunt you for days, weeks, maybe a month or two if I did it right! You'll constantly want to pull your hair out and probably end up so aggravated that you actually punch yourself in the affected area just to see if it stops the twitching. It'll keep you up at night, make you nauseous every time you try to eat, and generally make relaxing a complete nightmare.
Oh! And don't worry, I've yoga-proofed it so even if you find your 'zen' it won't go away. No worries, dude."

Being stressed out and having a twitch is like being allergic to cats and the minute you have a reaction you volunteer to sweep up all the cat hairs at your local animal shelter (and later knit them into a shemagh).
It's like burning July in Phoenix and instead of jumping in a pool to cool off, you wrap yourself up in tin foil and lay on the pavement.
It's like being afraid of heights and purchasing the top floor of the Empire State Building for the purpose of being your permanent home except there's not even the added benefit of "facing your fears" and overcoming it, it's just WORSE. So much worse.
And all of these aren't even good metaphors because they hinge on 'you' acting on something. I didn't choose to get a twitch like I would choose to wrap myself in foil, or sweep cat hair, or knit, or buy an entire floor of a historic building.
So woot being powerless?

D'you watch Grey's Anatomy? Remember when Callie Torres had chicken pox and she went legit cuckoo for a bit there?

I'm basically at that point.

Which is why I'm here, complaining about it. Because everybody loves a whiner. Isn't that how that one song goes? The broadway one...oh. No, it's "winner".
Oops.
My life is a lie.

Not a Grey's fan?
How about Ghost? When Sam keeps Whoopi up all night singing that Henry the VIII song?

So I'm just losing my marbles to a "spastic colon" as the internet puts it (or a giant parasitic worm, as my husband puts it) and tomorrow I'm drowning my face in cheesecake. Because we've had four slices in the fridge since Sunday and I've been good, haven't touched 'em all week, and stuck to our rigid diet even though my uterus is begging for chocolate and throwing a mighty tantrum in the meantime.

Anybody wanna just stab me with a fork? Percussive maintenance, right?

Help me.

#Flashback Friday 'Merica Baby

Much patriotic.

Very freedom.

So 'murica.

Potentially Inappropriate Overshare

Not like, superbad or gross guys. Promise.

Sometimes, when a husband and a wife are both having bad days, things get said on gmail chat that probably shouldn't be said. Head's get bitten off that didn't deserve to be bitten off. And "silent treatments" are had.

And sometimes, in an effort of reconciliation and forgiveness, meme's are also had.

To which was speedily replied:
"/breaks-into-resentful-smile"

and

and of course it continues back and forth

and by now all is forgiven.

I love my marriage.
And thank you Google for all the expressive gifs. Mending marriages since I-don't-even-know.