See Diary Part 14 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.
Entry — a couple of years ago minus a few months and a couple of days:
I shouldn’t have made it obvious I spent $89 to watch Richard Armitage. Will I ever hear the end of that? Probably not. Oh, well, I’ll just have to be more discreet. I just got sick of watching so much on my computer. There is a lot to be said for watching Richard on the big screen. Well, on my tv’s big screen. But I would love to see him on the big screen. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHO HE IS AND PUT HIM IN A GREAT MOVIE ROLE?! Then again, I have mixed emotions about him going to Hollywood. They seldom have anything of the caliber of North and South, and so many good parts are given to mediocre actors — Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Zach Efron. Vomit.
I’m not sure what to watch next. I did see a couple of things listed on Netflix that were not there before. YEA!! So it’s a toss up between Miss Marple and George Gently. Haven’t heard too much about those on IMDb, but I have heard incessantly about the Armitage Army. Something about ovaries exploding. I already feel like an idiot. Do I even want to go to that site? Then again, no one is going to know. I just need to hear what others thought about those shows and maybe someone there will know.
A little while later:
Blast! I have to join the site in order to surf the forum. I’m not ready for that. I guess it will be George Gently since I outgrew Miss Marple awhile ago.
A day or so later (or however long it took Netflix to get a disc to the boonies):
He’s done it again! I love this! I entered Ricky Deeming’s world. He’s a rebel and a schmuck, but he’s got a cause. I love his scathing indictment of society. Wonderfully written scene. Oh, what this guy can do when he has some great writing. Even poor writing he can deal with, but great writing? I may pass out from watching. Why can’t we have more roles like this for Richard?!! And SO ended up watching some of it. He liked it, and he didn’t even recognize Mr. Embouchure. MUHAHAHAHA. I’m not breathing a word.
I didn’t realize that AlisaGB on YouTube had some clips of it. I thought I knew all of her videos since she was so kind to upload so many clips of Robin Hood. Just like Heather, she has been a boon to me in the pursuit of watching Richard Armitage. Thank you Alisa!
[note: if you haven’t seen this episode, there are spoilers in this video]
Alisa has something uploaded called “Between the Sheets.” I may check that out next!
See Diary Part 16 here.
See Diary Part 13 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.
Entry — a couple of years ago (2008) minus a few months:
I’m now the proud owner of a multi-region DVD player. $89 and a little shipping, and it’s sitting in the entertainment cabinet. And why? Because I wanted to watch something else with Richard Armitage and it wouldn’t play on a Region 1 DVD player. I tried to get it some other way, but noooo, it wasn’t available. Did that stop me? Certainly not. I got so excited I ordered it before I left mom’s house and it beat me home. Not a good move as it only created a lot of curiosity in the house. We already have a DVD player. Why didn’t I just hack the damn thing? So that makes a grand total of at least 300 bucks I’ve spent on Richard Armitage, and no one’s ever heard of him! Well, a few people on YouTube and IMDb and yeah, some people in England.
That night:
SO and the little SOs are gone for the evening. I’m so past them watching anything with Richard Armitage. I could care less if they watch him, but I’m ready to watch “Sparkhouse.” Part of me cannot believe I’m doing this. I really did hate Wuthering Heights. Plus, SO made a joke about me watching. Of course it’s a joke. Everything’s a joke, and I always laugh. I can’t help it. He’s funny. Then there’s his obsession with changing up names. So Richard Armitage got a new one. The day SO says Richard Armitage’s name correctly will be the day I probably need to quit watching his stuff. But for now SO made another crack as he was going out the door, “I hope you and Mr. Embouchure have a good time.” Oh we will. I think. Not sure. But with $89+shipping and $30+shipping for the video, it better be worth it. That makes over a 100 bucks to watch the guy in one movie. No matter how much I like Mr. Embouchure, that’s an expensive night at the movies. I salve my conscience with the fact I’ve rarely bought anything for myself — at least in the last several years.
A few hours later:
WHO is this guy?! Ewan MacGregor has a chameleon quality, and yeah, Russell Crowe can change himself quite a bit. But sometimes I can’t forget who they are. I didn’t even recognize Richard Armitage as the same actor. I knew going into this he was going to be different. I kept hearing on IMDb that this character looked almost nothing like him. But I still wasn’t prepared. I saw John Standring, and there was no thought of anyone else even after his transformation. Armitage becomes his characters more than any actor I’ve ever seen. Can I really make that grandiose statement about some obscure actor from England? But John Thornton was a force to be reckoned with. After watching him, I didn’t think Richard Armitage could be someone else so completely. Then he was Harry, and John Thornton was not even a thought in my head while I was watching him. Of course there was Guy, who was also a force and brooded so beautifully, but it wasn’t John Thornton’s brooding, and now another John, who really is another John and not just John Thornton with shaggy hair and dowdy clothes. Even after his haircut and change of clothes, the man, John Standring was still there only better looking. Wow. Why is this guy almost completely unknown? Is there that much of a barrier between here and England?
I wish SO would watch something more than Vicar of Dibley. That didn’t have nearly enough Richard Armitage to show his abilities. SO loves characters and stories so much he would love the acting this guy does. But he’s consigned Richard Armitage to nothing more than a Brad Pitt type of fascination for me. He’s so wrong. Brad Pitt never made me feel I’d been sucked into a black hole. Daniel Day-Lewis came close playing Gerry Conlon, but nothing like this.
John Standring has made this more than just a passing phase.
See Diary Part 15 here.
Screencaps courtesy of my stash.
I’ve simply got to talk about some fanfic. Oh, I’ll eventually post my top ten, which changes about every week, but for now I want to direct you to a fic that is for all of us GuyxMarian fans. If you still have a need for their relationship to be resolved (no matter how many writers have resolved it and again and again and again), you’re going to love the fanfic I’m reading. It’s the way I wish Season 3 had gone — at least as the fic is going so far. Just finished reading the latest chapter, and I’m very anxious for the next one. If the author doesn’t finish, I may have to do bodily damage. LOL! That is how hooked I am on this fic.
The only possible catch for you reading it is you have to become a member of C19 if you’re not already. I’m pretty sure the fic isn’t anywhere else. Oh, and I love the name of the piece. It satisfies on so many levels — Grant What I Wish.
Enjoy!
edit:
I wasn’t paying attention to the chapter titles, but now that I am, I’ll have to go back and reread them to see if the chess terms mentioned play out in the chapter. I play some chess, but I’m certainly no expert about it. I’ll have to get the help of one of the little SOs who happens to be a chess fiend. Good on Kleindog for throwing in another layer of interest!
June 21, 2010
Well, I’ve pondered the weekend activities, which consisted of reading some non-graphic real fic about Richard Armitage, and have decided that yes, I am a bit uncomfortable with examining Richard Armitage quite so much when it’s not obviously humorous hence my post of yesterday. I guess that’s the reason I put up that post. Whether any of you were uncomfortable with the real fic, I was. I would hate it if someone examined me that closely, and sadly, some people have tried. But I will not be examined like that unless I deign to drop my proverbial pants and bend over, which I probably am not going to do in this lifetime. And I’m not sure Rich’s real pants dropping qualifies as an invitation to exam him with such scrutiny, and even if I could rationalize that it does, I don’t want to take him up on it. Sometimes people think they want to almost completely expose themselves in the quest to be understood, but really, that’s not the best way, so I won’t be going down that path in trying to understand Richard Armitage, or candidly, I’ll try not to go there.
Oh, hey, I’ve probably had all kinds of thoughts about him like I read this weekend and more besides, but I’m not so sure I want to go there so deeply with this blog. Go there? Yes, I will go there, but not smacking quite so much of reality. This is supposed to be fluff with only a little serious thrown in. I keep telling myself it’s only fluff with a little serious thrown in. Check. I think I’ve got it.
So I might touch on some serious things here, but I spend plenty of time examining serious things to the nth degree in my real life (I don’t like that term “real life” because I consider messing about on the internet as part of my real life. I haven’t quite compartmentalized it to the point I can call it an alternate reality, not seriously anyway. I’ve got to change “real life” to something else; hmmm. “offline life”? no, that sounds dead, and that life is teeming with so many wonderful and yes, sometimes terrible things that would never allow it to be called dead. I will have to think about a good term since I just don’t have one this morning. My clever machine is on the fritz right now. I’ve been reading too much German, which is quite a feat since I don’t really understand much of it. Is there any wonder why my brain is fried? And isn’t this a helluva parenthetical statement? I’ve just placed it here to see how long I could make it. Of course I’m doing it for that reason), I don’t need to do that here. Having given you this sort of diatribe, I’d like to go back to my insane self even though it’s not an alternate reality. I really am partially insane in my “real life.” Besides, the insane me is much more fun. Trust me it’s more fun.
Before I get off of this, I have to say: People, you are nosey! I put up an article about RA, in the comments section no less, and my hit count goes nuts. Yes, I know it’s due to the article. I can see what you’re doing. MUHAHAHAHA. No, I can’t see that much of what you’re doing only some keys you might hit. Yes, I’m nosey too — mostly about this RA thing — and it’s such a puzzle to me. I ask myself why a lot, and I have no good answer except that shallowly, yes, I’m shallow, very shallow at times I’m afraid, I like looking at those pictures of RA in his articles, and like the rest of the drooling masses who hang on his words, I want to hear what he thinks.
This is what confounds me, and yes, it’s one of the big reasons I’m anonymous. It’s embarrassing for someone as circumspect as I am. I’m dripping with circumspection, and for most of my life, I haven’t given a rat’s ass about what a celebrity/actor thought. Not even John Lennon. Well maybe a little and maybe I did care a little about what Kurt Cobain thought and sometimes what Daniel Day-Lewis thought and yes, a little bit of Kevin Spacey. But with John Lennon I heard so much about what he thought that I didn’t have a chance to get curious. Oh, well, I’ll never know now, and truthfully, although I love biographies and absolutely love to hear what people think and why, I guess I’ve consigned most (not all but most) actors to the stupid file so they rarely merit much attention beyond their performances. I have done this because most of the time they say stupid things to the public, and no, I don’t think RA is stupid. For cryin’ out loud, isn’t it apparent from this blog that I don’t think that? If not, then I really am a horrible writer.
Certainly, I am curious about what he is going to do next in terms of roles and even more what makes him choose those roles. See I can’t help it. He really does fascinate me and especially his chameleon quality. He’s kind of a male Meryl Streep only better looking and certainly sexier because I have never been attracted to Meryl Streep. Oh, I love her as an actress and think she is the best female actor (no question in my mind about that!), but she’s not my type.
Note:
After successively posting two pieces alternating between bravado and self-consciousness (on several levels), I need a damn good picture, but I’m not sure which one would be better than in yesterday’s post or even equal it. That is still my favorite RA picture. PHWOAR! Can any top it?
Need to get back to my Diary because I really do think it will help me figure out what the hell has happened to me, and no, I don’t consider it dropping my pants. Hey, my fascination with Richard Armitage is just a small portion of my messed up thinking. Did I just admit it’s messed up thinking to be this fascinated with a celebrity? ;-)
Oh, yeah, talking about the story. Aren’t RA’s characters great?! They really do get me thinking about all sorts of things about myself and others, and for anyone thinking I’m a hypocrite, if you’re thinking about these characters and how RA talks about these characters, how can you not wonder about the person behind them? But again, perhaps it’s just Servetus and I, and of course some German fans, who come to this conclusion. I wish you could see my eyes rolling. Good thing I can touch type.
Let out that breath you’re holding and realize we won’t be too hard on RA, and always remember that this is not serious. At least I’m not serious. If I ever get too serious, I’ll stop. Yes, I’m going to keep throwing a little serious into this fluff — I have to keep in touch with reality somehow. But it will mostly be about me and SO and the little SOs and whoever else is near and dear to me that I care to wax on about. But never forget the beauty of all this is that you don’t have to read any of it. LOL! Damn lol. At one time I looked down on people who used LOL and now I can’t seem to stop using it. I blame it on my poor writing. I have to use the LOL as a crutch to make sure that you know beyond question that I’m not serious. LOL! Sorry, it’s hard to stop once I get started.
A gratuitous pic so this post won’t be a total waste of your time, and I’m making it one of the best so it’s really not a waste of your time:
and since I’m really feeling guilty about this post which is me with hat in hand hoping that someone somewhere won’t be offended (man, that need to be understood is hell), I’ll throw in a video I recently saw for the first time and really love and think you will too (unless you’re squeamish about guns; yeah, I didn’t think that would be a problem):
Screencap courtesy of my stash.
RA’s Diary
Entry — sometime during the filming of Strike Back.
It is so hot here in South Africa! I could use a drink — especially after that snake scare. Thankfully, I got another box of insect repellent from a fan. It’s been helpful. I don’t get enough practical gifts, but the fans make some really lovely gestures. It’s humbling. I just wish they would give to people who need more than I do.
If they’re determined to send me something, they need to take note — I like vodka and not underwear! Plus, Mum doesn’t need to see those things.
Hmmm. If they send me enough vodka perhaps I’ll start liking their underwear. There was that one beach picture… maybe vodka isn’t a good idea.
note from RA Addict: YES, this is a fake entry dictated by my control freak, who is not satisfied speaking for myself; it must speak for others too. ;-)
Disclaimer:
At no time in the writing of this entry did I imagine I was really speaking for Richard Armitage nor did I deceive myself into thinking I really know his thoughts. Therefore, there is no need to involve his agent or publicist in what is supposed to be humorous. Of course I realize tone on the net is not always properly conveyed, and hey, I’m not a writer (I just have lots of crap I want to say), so I’m not taking the chance of being misconstrued. You do know this is supposed to be humorous? LOL! If not or if you are action fans RA picked up during the Strike Back airing, I put in LOL to make that clear.
Have a nice day. :D
Additional note:
I would say I’m inspired by the realfiction from the German fans, but I had already written this fake diary entry and several others before I discovered that wonderful place. As it is, I have to depend on someone to translate for me. Thank you, Servetus. But I just want to say to those German fans, I LOVE YOU! and we are so on the same page.
Oh, Servetus, perhaps blogging is not an antidote for RA addiction, which isn’t really a problem in my opinion, but it is a lot of fun. Especially when I can say whatever the hell I want and don’t have to worry about sentences that uh, really aren’t sentences. I wonder if RA has an anonymous blog. If not, he might enjoy one too. My words in real life (as if this isn’t real! LOL!) are weighed so heavily most of the time (yeah, can you believe there are people who actually hang on the words of someone like me? what a joke) that it’s a relief not to be taken seriously, and I’m sure that what I’ve experienced is not a scintilla of the scrutiny Richard Armitage has endured. Poor guy. Okay, maybe I’m feeling a little convicted about this. LOL! Here he has all these people of which some are nuts, and damn, I’m probably chief among those, poring over his every word and move. Sheesh.
Rich,
I hope you can disappear but good when you’re not being filmed. Oh, and if you ever need someone to help you with an anonymous blog, let me know. But don’t make the mistake I have of talking about some of your issues as the real you. For instance, don’t go on and on about orange trousers you bought but never wore or about underwear with your picture on them or about that time in the tent when you were 17. Well, I think you get the idea.
Sincerely,
One of your crazy fans
Man, I never know when those fake fan letters are going to strike.
See Diary Part 12 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.
Entry — a couple of years ago shy a couple of months and a few days:
I’m over being hacked at the ending of Robin Hood Season 2. Well, I think I am. But if I ponder it long enough, I get irritated again. I just need something really good to watch, and I’m mad at myself for caring so much about something as lame as Robin Hood, which I didn’t even like to begin with! I just want to get lost in a character. I need to get lost in a really good story, but I’m too numb to read. Need something passive.
Right now I get up early in the morning, fix Mom and myself some coffee and toast or whatever she is able to eat, and then we head out for the bowels of the hospital. Usually we get there by 7:45am, and she is prepped for her radiation treatment by 8:00am. All told we’re there about an hour and a half each weekday morning. This is our third week of six weeks, and I feel that I’m getting to really know some of the people who come in for treatments. It’s a wonderful and terrible experience. I have never been a great crier, but I’ve had to forestall tears on several occasions. One day last week I couldn’t keep from it and had to retreat to a restroom to sob when a young child was wheeled in. The mother of the child was in a daze. The child is terminal and yet they are giving treatment to ease some pain. I have nothing to say. I can only cry.
The upside is that I have now spent a month of uninterrupted time with Mom, and that has not happened since I was a kid living at home. We have laughed and cried and made big plans. She’s dreaming of the day we can travel together. She wants to go to England and has begged me to go with her. I don’t know if I can do that, but I dare not tell her. I can’t ruin the dream. It’s something for her to hang onto. I did tell her that if she were feeling better in a year, we would do it! Not sure how I’m going to pull that off. But she got carried away after we watched North and South, and I got caught up in it and said, “We can be like Val and Gil in ‘The World of Henry Orient’ and stalk Richard Armitage!” She belly laughed and said she would be sure to wear one of her capes, and take a good collection of her hats or acquire more there. I would love it if I could arrange for her to meet him. She would be like a kid about that and get so much out of it. But really, he would love meeting her!
I was dreading this trip, but the truth is I love reverting to childhood with Mom. She was always able to be a child with me to the point of lying in the floor and coloring with me when I was little. She sang songs with me and had the uncanny ability to know the lyrics to every song whether old or new. Then there were the “shows” we put on. I remember one summer she had all the neighborhood kids in a backyard show that ran once a week for almost the whole summer. To cap it off Mom made the best treats. People loved coming to the “shows” just to consume her latest creation. And the costumes! which she made on a treadle sewing machine. Oh, there was nothing she couldn’t do. Truly an amazing person. I’m blessed.
And her dramatic flair that parenthood was never going to dim. A country could never contain her much less a mere room. My flair on the other hand was not nearly as pronounced, and I did let parenthood and life in general almost snuff it out! This time with her is reviving that and SO considers it an answer to his prayers. He had been mourning the loss of it and blaming himself. It wasn’t him. It was me. I put too much on myself. I’ve always put too much on myself because I’ve given myself too much credit for how things go down. I’m not that in control — only of my reactions. I’ve just deceived myself into thinking I am and let my joy be completely taken by the cares of the world. But I don’t want to come to the end and realize I have not let myself really live.
For now Mom and I are loving this time of watching movies together, and she is such a fiend for drama that it’s a joy to watch her in her element. It’s no wonder she loved being a trial lawyer. That’s half the job — the dramatics. How many conversations in my lifetime have we had about dramatics — the pacing of a movie, dialogue, camera angles, close-ups, an actor’s diction and demeanor? I have no clue. It’s been a blast to revisit that, and North and South is perfect for mining details. It really is a little gem of a piece.
In a few weeks I have to go back to my reality, to SO and the little SOs. Hopefully, it won’t be that dismal world I’d created for myself, and maybe Mom and I will make it to England.
edit: a little taste of ‘Henry Orient’
See Diary Part 14 here.
Screencaps courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.com and my stash.
RAFrenzy 
