Thursday Thirteen - 217 - 13 Eye Candy T13s

Here's a look back at some of the rather distracting Eye Candy Series that appears from time to time at A Piece of My Mind.


1 - 13 Ways to Admire Jensen Ackles










2 - 13 More Ways to Admire Richard Armitage











3 - 13 Ways to Say Happy 40th Birthday to Gerard Butler







4 - 13 Ways to Admire Michael Fassbender











5 - 13 Ways to Admire Tom Hardy









6 - 13 Ways to Admire Djimon Hounsou











7 - 13 Ways to Admire Konstantin Khabensky







8 - 13 Ways to Admire Lenny Kravitz









9 - 13 Ways to Admire Jared Padalecki













10 - 13 Ways to Admire Alexander Skarsgård











11 - 13 Ways to Admire Kevin Smith









12 - 13 Ways to Admire Kevin Sorbo









13 - A double holiday round-up!

Since I'm a dual citizen of Canada and the US, and since I'll be celebrating Canada Day in New York, and the 4th of July in Nova Scotia, here are two tributes to the hotties of my two nations. Enjoy.


13 of my Favourite Canadian Hotties in Honour of Canada Day








13 of my Favorite American Hotties in Honor of the 4th of July

Thursday Thirteen - 189 - 13 Ways to Admire Alexander Skarsgård

1 - Following in the footsteps of his Viking forebears, Sweden's Alexander Skarsgård strides victorious over any territory he chooses to conquer.




















2 - Alexander Skarsgård - currently appearing as Eric Northman on True Blood

6' 4"

Eyes - Blue

Hair - Blonde

Type - Athletic / Mid-30's

He works as an actor / Director

Works in television / Film / Stage



















3 - Alexander grew up in Stockholm, the oldest son of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård and his mother My Skarsgård, a doctor. He has five younger brothers and one younger sister.

Appeared in several films as a child actor, including Åke och hans värld
(Ake and His World) (1984)

Became a teen heartthrob after his role in Hunden som log (The Dog That Smiled) (1989)

Had an extensive credit list in Sweden before his first North American role in Zoolander as an airhead model (2001)

Appeared as Sgt. Brad Colbert in the HBO series Generation Kill, which follows an American marine unit in Baghdad (2008)


Next photo is straying into Not Safe For Work territory...



























4 - Alexander keeps in tiptop shape - apparently, just because. His credits aren't as heavily weighted with the same amount of fight sequences as the previous hotties from my Thursday Thirteen Eye Candy series have had.








































5 - The very delicious Mr. Skarsgård is technically still available, ladies. Though he is currently attached to California-bred actress Kate Bosworth, known for her roles in Superman Returns and 21.














6 - Alexander no doubt drew on his own experiences when he played Sergeant 'Iceman' Colbert in Generation Kill, having served with the Swedish Navy as a Patrol Leader.













7 - He has appeared for three seasons as vampire Eric Northman on HBO's True Blood, based on the bestselling novels by Charlaine Harris.

He's just my type of gray character. Willing to pursue Sookie when she is clearly involved with Bill. Willing to suffer to save his Maker. Not above dealing in vampire blood when that is forbidden. Not too proud to serve the King of Mississippi, if it means he can avenge his human family's demise at the king's hands.










8 - Remember my soft spot for a man in chains?

...well...

True Blood occasionally gives us a tied-up Eric, but his role as Sheriff of Louisiana's Area 5 keeps him more often in the dominating position.

As in the photo below, where Eric scornfully chides the Vampire King of Mississippi to die with dignity.


























9 - And Alexander is an awesome crier.














10 - Alexander has worked hard to avoid typecasting, which apparently has not been easy. His early teen heartthrob status and his five-time win as Sexiest Man in Sweden make certain roles offered to him unavoidable. But Alexander persists with more fascinating choices, such as this cad character from the Swedish film Om Sara (About Sara).























11 - Recently Alexander competed against True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer in the Battle of the Fang to raise money for charity. The results were very, very close:

Team Bill Compton: $35,043
Team Eric Northman: $34,223

But Alexander dutifully wore the shirt designed for him by Stephen:

'Bill's Bitch'

















12 - When asked by Polish FILM magazine about the fascination with vampires, Alexander answered:

"Maybe it’s because they have strength and perfection unreachable for us, the mortals. Gigantic life experience gives them wisdom and knowledge impossible for humans to even imagine during their short lives. There is both mystery and suffering in them. I do not find this fascination strange at all, I succumb to it as well."

- Alexander Skarsgård



















13 - When asked about his look, Alexander replied:

"I dress myself, I do shopping myself, no stylist has ever helped me. I still bring most clothes from Sweden: Acne, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, Whyred. I feel good in such clothes. Perhaps I look a little bit strangely European, Swedish in California."

- Alexander in Polish In Style magazine

Through the Opera Glasses - 19 - True Blood Season 2

On Sunday night my husband and I settled in to watch the second season of True Blood, another delicious series from HBO. Here's a trailer for season 2.













How could I resist a series featuring a melancholy vampire like Bill Compton?













Vampire Bill is an American Civil War vet who has taken up residence in Bon Temps, Louisiana, the setting for Charlaine Harris' series of books on which the series is based.




This is the only kind of TV show that can capture my attention - one with quirky, edgy characters and writing that really pushes the envelope.

Although having uber amazing Viking leader Eric doesn't hurt.

















The blundering bad luck of Jason Stackhouse - as well as his racy sexcapades - are a favorite part of the show for me.
















And I really love supporting character Terry Bellefleur, the post traumatic stress disorder Gulf War vet. He has a scene in season 1 where he sees something while out fishing, and flips into battlefield mode, communicating with military hand signals. I just love that scene. His befuddled civilian persona gives way to the soldier within and I love that glimpse of him.


Can't get enough of gay cook Lafayette, either. He tells it like it is, girlfriend.




























And who can resist the rivalry between Bill and diner/bar owner Sam? Especially since Sam keeps a secret of his own...


Not every character in True Blood is male - just my favorite ones. Except for Sookie Stackhouse herself, the main character for the series.

She's fast becoming one of my favorite female characters ever.






Here's the original trailer for season 1. If you haven't discovered True Blood yet, and if you love vampires, oddball towns and superior writing, give this series a look.

You'll pinch yourself to see if you're dreaming.



Ms Snarky Pants says Alas, we canceled our HBO because we weren't watching it near enough!

Jen says This series is next up on my to-be-read list. My friend just finished the first one and she loved it.

Travis says We were at the bookstore last week and took a look at the novels.