Top Five . . . Childhood Crushes

 I've already mentioned that I was a weird little kid, and that extends to my various childhood crushes as well.  I was a big movie buff even then and I often developed puppy love for offbeat characters in my favorite films.  I was lucky enough to have a young, very cool mom and to grow up in the '80s and early '90s, so my crushes come from that era (and a lot of them from John Hughes movies).  Here are my Top Five childhood crushes:

Max Casella as Vinnie Delpino

 5.  Vinnie Delpino (Max Casella in "Doogie Howser")

Vinnie was the titular character's best friend on "Doogie Howser, M.D."  He was a New York accented, wise-cracking budding filmmaker and often the instigator of the mischief the two friends got into.

Christian Bale as Jack Kelly

4.  Jack Kelly (Christian Bale in Newsies)

In the fact-based Disney movie Newsies, Jack Kelly was the leader of the "newsies" - New York-based newsboys who went on strike after Joseph Pulitzer raised newspaper costs.  Back when Bale was a relatively unknown actor, he did this heavily panned flick. But critics be damned, I freakin' love this movie and I still watch it when nostalgia strikes. 

3.  Lane Meyer (John Cusack in Better Off Dead)

John Cusack as Lane Meyer

I love Cusack in almost all his flicks, but Better Off Dead  is one of my favorites.  It has several quotable lines and Cusack is at his sarcastic best playing Lane Meyer, the jilted, semi-suicidal boyfriend of a popular girl who left him for his school's star skier.

Robert Sean Leonard as Neil Perry

2.  Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard in Dead Poet's Society)

Before appearing as Dr. Wilson on "House", Leonard was best known for his performance as Neil Perry, the intelligent prep school student who attempts to follow his acting dreams, much to the dismay of his father.  Dead Poet's Society  is an excellent film and Leonard is amazing in it.

Jon Cryer as Duckie Dale

1.  Duckie Dale (Jon Cryer in Pretty in Pink)

All of this brings me to my #1 childhood crush, and the only Teen Beat-esque poster I had on my wall.  In his pre-"Two and a Half Men" days, Cryer was best known as the unrequited love afflicted Duckie Dale.  Loyal to his best friend/crush and devoted to New Wave, Duckie was the coolest geek out there and every true Pretty in Pink  fan knows that Andi should have picked him over Blaine.

Honorable mentions:  Duncan (Elias Koteas in Some Kind of Wonderful), Ferris Bueller and Cameron Fry (Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck in Ferris Bueller's Day Off), and Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride)

Geek of the Week: Felicia Day

Felicia Day

Smart cookie Felicia Day got her start playing Scout in a community theater production of To Kill a Mockingbird.  In addition to being home schooled, she studied ballet and operatic singing.  She was also an accomplished violinist and was accepted to Julliard School of Music at 16.  Day decided to attend the University of Texas at Austin when they offered her a full scholarship and studied mathematics and music performance.  She graduated as a National Merit Scholar and the valedictorian of her class.

After college, she began an acting career that included a recurring role on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".  In her spare time, Day was an avid gamer and used her experience playing MMORPGs to create the popular web series "The Guild".  After the privately funded first season became a huge hit, Microsoft agreed to fund future seasons.  Day also appeared as Penny on Joss Whedon's musical web series "Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog" and continues to act in television and films.

Day recently announced via Twitter that she was working on a new web series.  The series will be based on the popular PC game Dragon Age: Origins and feature Day as writer, producer, and star.  Wil Wheaton, costar on "The Guild" and creator of geekfest Woostock, will also write and star in the production.

Follow Day on Twitter (@feliciaday) or visit her website/blog.

Day shows off her impressive pipes in music videos released to promote "The Guild":

Your Signature Here

A while back, I wrote a post about style.  I wasn't sure I had any, but after talking to a fashion-forward friend, she pointed out that everyone is continually drawn to specific items and these items often become a part of their signature.  Even if you don't think about these "signature pieces", other people notice and recognize them as part of your look.  My very wise friend says if you are unsure about how to create your own style, you should start with the items, colors, and patterns you are repeatedly drawn to and build your style from there.

Here are my signature items:

•  Dark plastic framed glasses - I tried the metal framed glasses, but the pads always pinched my nose and I loved the Buddy Holly-esque square frames that I saw many people wear.  I got plastic frames for my second pair of glasses and never looked back.
• Black Converse All-Star High Tops - Genetically cursed with flat feet, Converse All-Stars are the shoes I find most comfortable.  My dad wore Converses when I was growing up and I think my affinity started because I associated the shoes with him.

• Polka Dots - I've always been a fan of classic movies and retro clothing, but when I started working at a '50s-style diner I was given carte blanche to go all out.  My favorite items had black and white polka dots and this beloved pattern carried over into my regular life as well.  Polka dots have been on everything from my pajamas to elements of my wedding.

Our beautiful polka dot and fuchsia cake!

My bouquet (wrapped in polka dot ribbon)

• Fun earrings - I got my ears pierced later than most girls and I always loved funky earrings, especially when they were shaped like various objects.  My first pair of dangly earrings were silver fish bones similar to these.  (I still have and wear them, and I always get compliments!)  Since then, I've acquired earrings that look like sushi, playing cards, Gummi bears, and even nails.

• Cherries - At the diner, we were expected to sign our names on our tickets with a little flourish.  Inspired by a cute dress my mom had given me to wear under my uniform, I began drawing cherries next to my signature and it blossomed from there.  My absolute favorite earrings are these rhinestone cherries:

10 years and still going strong!

• Black glitter nail polish - I've worn black nail polish on and off for years and my favorite manicures have been black glittery nails with white tips.  When I do my own nails, my favorite polish is Sonia Kashuk Starry Night, which Target sells for $4.99 - an excellent price for quality polish.

One of my most recognizable signatures is about to change - my red hair.  I've had different shades of red hair for about ten years.  I was born blonde, but as I got older my hair inched toward brown and stopped somewhere in the middle, leaving my hair a kind of dishwater blonde/brown hybrid.  I had always envied girls with red hair (especially Molly Ringwald) and began dying my hair red during my first year of college.  I still love red hair, but I'm ready for a change - at least for a little while.  (I'll be posting my new look on Tuesday, so come back to check it out.)

What do you consider to be your "signature pieces"?