If you’re like me then this time of year can be pretty lame. And SAD (that would be Singles Awareness Day). So instead of pining over the great romantic love that you’re not having, do what I’m doing and practice some self love. Spoil yourself!

Here’s my techie grab bag:

Something I Can Use: Although not exciting, if I give myself a gift, I want it to be something I can use. A day at the spa (or, more accurately on my budget, a spa-in-a-box) would be nice, but a new umbrella would be better. It’s cute and shiny. And blocks the rain. And it will make it oh-so-much easier for that perfect man to see me on that gray and dreary day.

Something That Sparkles: I like jewelry. And I’m a geek. Did you know there was a whole section of Etsy dedicated to the combination of those two things? That’s right, geek jewelry. I can’t actually decide what I want because it’s all so full of win. And since it’s Etsy it’s pretty much proven to be unique.

Something That Rings: What better companion on February 14th than a new cell phone? I mean, it’s going to be there for me no matter what (well, unless I drop it into the toilet), and when I’m lonely there’s someone always on the other end. I just have to keep hitting call until I find someone awake. The perfect phone for a lonely geek?  The Sidekick. Or maybe something that lets you reach out and touch somebody. Either way, playing with all the phones in the store is a great way to spend a Saturday. And, who knows, maybe you’ll find another lonely geek lookin’ for (phone) love, too.

Chances are I’m going to hide myself in my apartment and watch Zombie movies until all the signs of love are gone from the store shelves, which, as everyone knows, is the total opposite of romantic. Although if I get bored it would be nice to have this little gadget, since I did get an iPod this year. Oh Claudio Sanchez! Sing to me!

[Photo courtesy of Squishy Sushi on Etsy!]

I like to think of the term in a broader sense, disregarding the time in which it was produced and whether or not it won any awards or are on any ‘best-of’ lists. No, a classic to me is something that has or will stand the test of time because of its brilliance, or its entertainment value, or its strong characterization, etc. And a movie like Shaun of the Dead has all of these things and more.

At first, it may seem like a silly zombie movie, but Shaun of the Dead, in all of its silliness, may actually be one of the most perfect movies ever made.

Shaun is a lazy television salesman, too caught up in the routine of his life to notice that he’s on the verge of losing his girlfriend, he’s neglecting his family, and, oh yeah, there is a horrible zombie outbreak. Fighting off the zombies in his favorite pub, The Winchester, Shaun has to come to terms with his own mortality and the loss of the people that he loves. At its heart, Shaun of the Dead is a movie about accepting one’s adulthood, and all the varied and often scary implications of that.

Going back to the idea of ‘classic’, if we apply the idea of the ‘classic’ movie or literary structure to the film, it has very strongly delineated acts and the main character, Shaun, goes through an inner emotional journey that reflects and is affected by his greater outer journey. This is some Chekov-level sh*t.

More than that, though, the movie is thoroughly and in every single scene absolutely entertaining. It incorporates aspects of different genres of film from the zombie movie, obviously, to romantic comedy (it’s even billed as a ‘zom rom com’), to a family drama, to a buddy film.

The director, Edgar Wright, and Simon Pegg, who plays Shaun and helped to write the script, is so good at setting up jokes and paying off what seems like throwaway plot points. In fact, it’s something that Wright and Pegg pull off to great effect in their second movie together, Hot Fuzz, as well.

What it comes down to, though, is that I can watch Shaun of the Dead over and over and still laugh at all the right parts, still gasp at all the right parts, and still tear up when I’m supposed to, even though I know how the movie ends and could probably quote it beginning to end if I had to. I can’t think of a single thing I would change in this movie and I can’t really say that about many other movies, even my very favorites. I will stand by my assertion that this is an absolutely perfect film and should be considered as such even outside the somewhat limiting horror genre. Especially because it subverts all of the familiar constructs of that genre so beautifully. It’s brilliant, entertaining, hilarious, shocking, and even sweet. It’s a classic.

• Are you ready for New Year’s 2008?

• HEY U R COOL <333!! Is this the way we’re dating now? Apparently, the answer is yes and we hate it.

• Zombies are coming!! Be prepared!! (Really!)

• This is the most adorable story involving Boy Scouts and helping and being prepared (zombies!) that I’ve read all week!

• Hey you! Stop being lazy, get off your ass, and clean out your life! Get with it!

• You have a boyfriend and we’re happy for you! But please, please don’t turn into this girl.

• I didn’t even know people still described themselves as “Goth”. Either way, it’s certainly not distracting.

• Authorities in Park Slope say that a little girl who draws on the sidewalk is to be fined for graffiti. Well, good! I needed just one more reason to think that Brooklyn is totally, totally lame. (Brooklyn Press)

• Pirates vs Zombies! Apparently, they couldn’t wait two more weeks. (Pioneer Press)

• Best/worst quote of the week: “[She was] Just holding the baby out of the window and I was like ‘Oh no … no … no.’” (Baynews9.com)

• Kinda like the story above, except reverse! I can’t help but think the little guy is adorable (and a better driver than me!). (Yahoo!)

• Parents who sign their kids up for pole dancing lessons are f*cking idiots…but, like, if you’re 9 years old and dancing on a pole while your other friends are playing T-Ball…wouldn’t you kinda know something isn’t quite right? (COED Magazine)