As the film frenzy begins this chilly - and somewhat snowy/rainy - January, my two film friends (Jen, Cindi) and I headed to the legendary local venue, Tower Theater, to see "Wish You Were Here."
This Aussie flick begins with four friends having a good time on vacation in Cambodia. As they enjoy the culture, the four shop the street vendor's booths, eat local treats like fried snake, and relax on beach. The film cuts to two of the vacationers, Dave (Joel Edgerton) and Alice (Felicity Price) arriving back in Sydney, Australia and you discover that they are married with two kids and one on the way.
Slowly the film unravels secrets about what happened to change their fun, alcohol infused trip into a nightmare where one person didn't return and those who did make back home are now haunted by the last days in a foreign country.
"Wish You Were Here" gives gritty look at a married couple dealing with their relationship, kids and the aftermath of their Cambodia vacation. Co-screenwriter Felicity Price (also played Alice) and wife of the director, wrote the film's original treatment where the film looks at relationships and what happens when you add secrets into the mix.
Edgerton and xxx gave powerful and realistic performances which make you root for the couple to succeed as they work through marital problems. The steady release of facts and events unveil more about the missing friend and the couple's real struggles. Teresa Palmer ("I Am Number Four" and "Take Me Home Tonight") and Antony Starr also star in this movie.
18 November 2013
Blowholes - and I'm not talkin' name callin'
Again, I am fascinated with the Earth and all of it's crazy mysteries. I've been obsessed with maelstroms, tsunamis, and tornados... now I just uncovered a new thing - Blowholes.
Okay, so I've known about these weird things, but I just recently rediscovered them and their awesomeness. A blowhole is a blast of water that shoots out of a hole. It's formed when a sea cave gets a bunch of water flowing into it and then the water blasts out a hole in the top of the cave - like a geyser.
Now before you think I'm strange for obsessing or at least being interested, you must know that the Kiama Blowhole in Australia gets 600,000 visitors a year. That's thousands of others also interested in the strangeness of the blowhole phenomenon.
Also, blowhole sounds like a name you would call someone who's just BSing about dumb stuff. So the name is pretty funny. If you're a 4 year-old. Like I can be.
Okay, so I've known about these weird things, but I just recently rediscovered them and their awesomeness. A blowhole is a blast of water that shoots out of a hole. It's formed when a sea cave gets a bunch of water flowing into it and then the water blasts out a hole in the top of the cave - like a geyser.
Now before you think I'm strange for obsessing or at least being interested, you must know that the Kiama Blowhole in Australia gets 600,000 visitors a year. That's thousands of others also interested in the strangeness of the blowhole phenomenon.
Also, blowhole sounds like a name you would call someone who's just BSing about dumb stuff. So the name is pretty funny. If you're a 4 year-old. Like I can be.
27 June 2013
Why do I even care?
Do you ever feel like you just want to change everything about your life?
Maybe move to another country, quit your job, change your name and join witness protection. This is the week - or month or year or decade - I've been having and I'm really feeling antsy and angsty.
I'm also wondering why I even bothered to writing anything on this blog because I'm not famous so I'm pretty sure that no one ever reads it. It's almost like anyone now a days will only read something if it's 250-characters or less. Stupid Twitter. I don't understand that website or people who read tweets, discuss tweets, share tweets because they are 'so funny' WHO GIVES A CRAP!!!
Maybe when I got to Europe in September I'll meet some guy who just happens to be rich and sweet and single... He'll want to sweep me off my feet. Uggh! I girl can only dream - oh wait, I live in reality where men don't ask girls on dates, the guys I want to date have girlfriends or don't have the same morals. It's amazing how my list of qualities has diminished to not a criminal, employed, and someone I don't want to stab after two dates.
Life sucks... and then it kicks you in the girlie bits and makes you get up and go to work again.
Rant session over. I'm out!
Maybe move to another country, quit your job, change your name and join witness protection. This is the week - or month or year or decade - I've been having and I'm really feeling antsy and angsty.
I'm also wondering why I even bothered to writing anything on this blog because I'm not famous so I'm pretty sure that no one ever reads it. It's almost like anyone now a days will only read something if it's 250-characters or less. Stupid Twitter. I don't understand that website or people who read tweets, discuss tweets, share tweets because they are 'so funny' WHO GIVES A CRAP!!!
Maybe when I got to Europe in September I'll meet some guy who just happens to be rich and sweet and single... He'll want to sweep me off my feet. Uggh! I girl can only dream - oh wait, I live in reality where men don't ask girls on dates, the guys I want to date have girlfriends or don't have the same morals. It's amazing how my list of qualities has diminished to not a criminal, employed, and someone I don't want to stab after two dates.
Life sucks... and then it kicks you in the girlie bits and makes you get up and go to work again.
Rant session over. I'm out!
21 December 2011
Christmas songs that should be retired
During my two and a half years in retail at Bed Bath and Beyond, I worked - no suffered - through at least two holiday seasons. The craziness of the shoppers wasn't the problem. The five weeks of stale Christmas tunes was the torture only a retail worker can understand. The regular classic tunes were fine but after the 12th time hearing them in one day they begin to annoy and anger the listener. My angst against Christmas music has continued - even ten years later - and while a most of the songs I can stand between Black Friday and Christmas day, there are a few gems that make me cringe anytime I hear them.
1. Wonderful Christmastime - by Paul McCartney
"The merest snatch of the squelchy synth intro to this festive monstrosity is enough to drain the Christmas cheer from St Nicholas himself," said Chris Vinnicombe on MusicRadar.com
2. Favorite Things by Julie Andrews
This song has reached my top list of horrible songs because it isn't even a Christmas song. It's a song from a musical. I also despise it's message about 'things.' This is my least favorite thing about Christmas - the commercialism of it all.
3. Do They Know it's Christmas by Band Aid II (Feed the World)
This song was created by a group of stars to help the children of Africa. While this is worthy cause, the song sucks and the lyrics are terrible. I mean, do Africans even celebrate Christmas? Are we going to convert them? What is the point of the song? It's the whole Californication thing where everyone has to be Christian and 'proper.' The song was a nice idea but it falls short of the message and now it's just annoying.
While Christmas tunes generally make me scream, I've become okay with a few funny ones.
Bob and Dougs "12 Days of Christmas"
"The 12 Pains of Christmas"
"Christmas in Hollis"
"Baby Please Come Home" by U2
"All I want for Christmas is You" from Love Actually - not the Mariah version
and to give a little to those Hanukkah celebrators out there "The Hanukkah Song" by Adam Sandler
1. Wonderful Christmastime - by Paul McCartney
"The merest snatch of the squelchy synth intro to this festive monstrosity is enough to drain the Christmas cheer from St Nicholas himself," said Chris Vinnicombe on MusicRadar.com
2. Favorite Things by Julie Andrews
This song has reached my top list of horrible songs because it isn't even a Christmas song. It's a song from a musical. I also despise it's message about 'things.' This is my least favorite thing about Christmas - the commercialism of it all.
3. Do They Know it's Christmas by Band Aid II (Feed the World)
This song was created by a group of stars to help the children of Africa. While this is worthy cause, the song sucks and the lyrics are terrible. I mean, do Africans even celebrate Christmas? Are we going to convert them? What is the point of the song? It's the whole Californication thing where everyone has to be Christian and 'proper.' The song was a nice idea but it falls short of the message and now it's just annoying.
While Christmas tunes generally make me scream, I've become okay with a few funny ones.
Bob and Dougs "12 Days of Christmas"
"The 12 Pains of Christmas"
"Christmas in Hollis"
"Baby Please Come Home" by U2
"All I want for Christmas is You" from Love Actually - not the Mariah version
and to give a little to those Hanukkah celebrators out there "The Hanukkah Song" by Adam Sandler
30 June 2011
MINIBot vs. the Firepit
How a fight broke out between me, the MINIBot, and a fire pit.
In preparing for a Pre-Fourth of July bash, I purchased a freestanding fire pit at my local Wally World. I've always been crazy jealous of any one with a fire pit in their backyard and the $48.00 deal was the clincher. I found the 30" Round Home & Garden Outdoor fire pit on the second shelf - and of course, out of reach for my short stature. It also looked heavy and the last thing I needed was to throw out my back at in the Garden Center of the Jordan Landing Walmart.
It took me a second but I actually found an employee in the next section... unfortunately the acne-covered teen pawned me off on the non-existent garden center crew by saying, "Um, I think the Garden Center can help you. They might have to use that scissor thing." As I walked back to garden center and through the sliding glass doors to the outdoor area of the store, I passed the 'scissor thing' and noticed that it was a smaller one of those lifts that construction crews use to fix power poles and traffic lights during rush hour.
When I found another employee, he was working at the register and couldn't leave. He did ask the lady restocking flower stuff to help me - third time's the charm. I walked her over to the fire pits and pointed out the one I wanted. I usually pride myself on being pretty self-sufficient with lifting and finding things in stores but the box was awkward. After the garden center lady reached up and easily pulled it off the shelf, I just thought "Wow! I'm now that girl in strappy sandals at the Big Ass Show clutching my Kate Spade purchase trying to keep my hair from getting messed up." Flower lady and I rearranged my already-selected stuff to get the big square fire pit box into the cart.
Only after purchasing the fire pit and walking to my car did I think that it might be too big for the MINIBot - even with the seats down and the front seat pushed up all the way. I parked the cart next to the MINIBot and opened the boot.
Hmmmm...
This could be tricky.
I loaded all of the small stuff into the front seat (which I pulled completed up). I moved all extras from my tiny trunk space (yes, MINI coopers have a trunk). I then picked up the rather light fire pit box and began to push it in flat.
No.
I twisted the box to a diagonal angle.
Nope.
I flipped the box thinking that one end was larger than the other.
Fat chance.
Breathing heavily and now worried that I'd have to make other arrangements to get the $#%& thing home, I tried to think of other options. Maybe it would fit into the back past the front seat. The problem in getting it into the back of the MINIbot was that there were two ledges (one on either side of the car) about two inches from the back hatch door and halfway up each side that held the top that covered what was in the trunk while the seats were all up.
Maybe the box would fit into the MINIbot if I pushed the box in behind the passenger seat. I moved the stuff I had just squished into the passenger's seat and pushed the seat forward all the way.
Narp! (DAMMIT!!!)
I put all the stuff I just removed back into the passenger's seat and put the seat back into its spot. I looked at the box. It was square and packed well (to not damage the coolest purchase ever).
What if I removed the packaging? The actual pit might fit into the car while the box was too big. But I didn't have a knife.
KEYS!
I pulled out my MINIbot's tough laser cut key and began to hack away at the packing tape that seemed to cover every inch of the box. This was more difficult than getting into a new DVD.
I pulled and yanked and the lid came off. Styrofoam encased the fire pit and it came out in pieces covering me in little static-y balls of white snow. I mutilated the entire fire pit's nicely presented packaging while innocent families and other onlookers watched my almost manic behavior.
UGGGHHH!
I pulled out piece after piece of the pit and then came the moment of truth: the round base and largest part of the fire pit. I pulled it from the styrofoam and carefully pushed it through the back door of the MINIbot.
IT FITS!!!
I did a little happy dance and placed the rest of the parts in the back of the MINIbot. The demolished cardboard, styrofoam, and plastic that had encased the fire pit was loaded back into the cart and wheeled to the flower/plant entrance of Walmart. I told the not-so-helpful workers that I had to remove the fire pit from the box and I didn't want to be 'that customer' and leave it in the parking lot. They looked at me like I was crazy... but I didn't care. I had just battled for 30 minutes to get my new purchase into my tiny MINIbot... and I won.
In preparing for a Pre-Fourth of July bash, I purchased a freestanding fire pit at my local Wally World. I've always been crazy jealous of any one with a fire pit in their backyard and the $48.00 deal was the clincher. I found the 30" Round Home & Garden Outdoor fire pit on the second shelf - and of course, out of reach for my short stature. It also looked heavy and the last thing I needed was to throw out my back at in the Garden Center of the Jordan Landing Walmart.
It took me a second but I actually found an employee in the next section... unfortunately the acne-covered teen pawned me off on the non-existent garden center crew by saying, "Um, I think the Garden Center can help you. They might have to use that scissor thing." As I walked back to garden center and through the sliding glass doors to the outdoor area of the store, I passed the 'scissor thing' and noticed that it was a smaller one of those lifts that construction crews use to fix power poles and traffic lights during rush hour.
When I found another employee, he was working at the register and couldn't leave. He did ask the lady restocking flower stuff to help me - third time's the charm. I walked her over to the fire pits and pointed out the one I wanted. I usually pride myself on being pretty self-sufficient with lifting and finding things in stores but the box was awkward. After the garden center lady reached up and easily pulled it off the shelf, I just thought "Wow! I'm now that girl in strappy sandals at the Big Ass Show clutching my Kate Spade purchase trying to keep my hair from getting messed up." Flower lady and I rearranged my already-selected stuff to get the big square fire pit box into the cart.
Only after purchasing the fire pit and walking to my car did I think that it might be too big for the MINIBot - even with the seats down and the front seat pushed up all the way. I parked the cart next to the MINIBot and opened the boot.
Hmmmm...
This could be tricky.
I loaded all of the small stuff into the front seat (which I pulled completed up). I moved all extras from my tiny trunk space (yes, MINI coopers have a trunk). I then picked up the rather light fire pit box and began to push it in flat.
No.
I twisted the box to a diagonal angle.
Nope.
I flipped the box thinking that one end was larger than the other.
Fat chance.
Breathing heavily and now worried that I'd have to make other arrangements to get the $#%& thing home, I tried to think of other options. Maybe it would fit into the back past the front seat. The problem in getting it into the back of the MINIbot was that there were two ledges (one on either side of the car) about two inches from the back hatch door and halfway up each side that held the top that covered what was in the trunk while the seats were all up.
Maybe the box would fit into the MINIbot if I pushed the box in behind the passenger seat. I moved the stuff I had just squished into the passenger's seat and pushed the seat forward all the way.
Narp! (DAMMIT!!!)
I put all the stuff I just removed back into the passenger's seat and put the seat back into its spot. I looked at the box. It was square and packed well (to not damage the coolest purchase ever).
What if I removed the packaging? The actual pit might fit into the car while the box was too big. But I didn't have a knife.
KEYS!
I pulled out my MINIbot's tough laser cut key and began to hack away at the packing tape that seemed to cover every inch of the box. This was more difficult than getting into a new DVD.
I pulled and yanked and the lid came off. Styrofoam encased the fire pit and it came out in pieces covering me in little static-y balls of white snow. I mutilated the entire fire pit's nicely presented packaging while innocent families and other onlookers watched my almost manic behavior.
UGGGHHH!
I pulled out piece after piece of the pit and then came the moment of truth: the round base and largest part of the fire pit. I pulled it from the styrofoam and carefully pushed it through the back door of the MINIbot.
IT FITS!!!
I did a little happy dance and placed the rest of the parts in the back of the MINIbot. The demolished cardboard, styrofoam, and plastic that had encased the fire pit was loaded back into the cart and wheeled to the flower/plant entrance of Walmart. I told the not-so-helpful workers that I had to remove the fire pit from the box and I didn't want to be 'that customer' and leave it in the parking lot. They looked at me like I was crazy... but I didn't care. I had just battled for 30 minutes to get my new purchase into my tiny MINIbot... and I won.
26 June 2011
Oops! I found a funny video clip
Comical clip from a so-so romantic comedy starring Michelle Pfiffer and Paul Rudd. In this scene, Saorise Ronan (playing Michelle's daughter) is singing in the mirror an excellent rendition of "Oops! I did it again."
11 June 2011
Miss March: The worst sex comedy ever!
Plucked straight from my blockbuster online queue, "Miss March" arrived at my house for viewing this week. I occasionally enjoy a raunchy comedy but this film was a big mistake. Had I known that the film was written and acted by those involved with the IFC show "The Whitest Kids U Know," I would have deleted it from my queue and never wasted my time.
"Miss March" begins as Eugene and his friend, Tucker, are finishing high school. Eugene is dating Cindy and they head up the abstinence club. Cindy finally convinces Eugene to 'do it' on prom night, but before the they can do the deed Eugene falls down some stairs and goes into a coma for four years.
Upon waking via baseball bat to the head by Tucker, Eugene discovers that his virginal girlfriend, Cindy, has turned into Playboy's latest monthly centerfold. The two morons decide to travel across the country to the Playboy mansion to reunite Eugene with Cindy for his first time.
The film tried to be funny on a frat boy level and constant bathroom humor just makes my eyes roll. What the film lacked was an ability to make me care about the characters - oh ya, and actors who could convince me that they were the characters and not just future comedy variety show actors. "Miss March" missed the beat and unlike films such as "American Pie" lacked the human emotion element that made the audience care about Eugene getting Cindy in the end.
My ruling... don't waste your time.
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