Call It Friend-O
Posted on December 4, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Tommy Lee does it again! No Country for Old Men is an absolute must see. Packed with just around-the-corner surprises that kept me jumping, this fast paced film is everything you expect from Tommy Lee (think Fugitive) and more.
I have to admit, I’m a fan - he rarely puts out a movie I don’t enjoy, in fact, I’m hard pressed to think of one now. He, like Harrison Ford, picks intelligent action films. This one keeps you thinking AND flinching.
Based on the 2005 novel by Cormac McCarthy, the film is set in the Texas/Mexico border area. The story follows a protagonist, who, while out hunting discovers dead bodies, heroin, and a satchel full of cash (two million dollars). His struggle to free himself from the trouble that follows is incredibly (and believably) terrorizing.
Don’t take my word for it. Check it out and tell me what you think.
Protocol Question: What constitutes an “item” in the Express Checkout Lane?
Posted on November 29, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
I hate to get into the express checkout line behind a yahoo who dumps a cart full of groceries onto the belt, thinking they’re above the law - the sign clearly states “Express Checkout: 10 Items or Less.” On a recent trip to the grocery I decided to test the system myself, thinking I may have found a loophole.
I had several pears, a couple apples, a twelve pack of diet coke, a few other miscellaneous items including 3 cans of Amy’s Organic Tomato Basil Soup. A total of 10 different items. Operative word - “different.”
It wasn’t like I had a basket full of groceries, and technically, if the cashier would have scanned each item once, then simply hit “X 3″ on her register, I’d have only had 10 items on the reciept. Instead, the old lady behind me who wreaked of smoke huffed and puffed (more like wheezed) and the cashier said something about making an exception for me THIS time but that NEXT time I ought to get in the regular line. Naturally, I challenged her.
I made my case as articulately as if I were in a courtroom. When I’d finished, it looked as though the people in line behind me were convinced. The cashier, however, held her ground. She explained:
All produce items of the same kind count as one item. However, 3 cans of Amy’s soup count as 3 separate items. Therefore I was 2 over the limit, out of order, and being abundantly blessed by her kindness in not asking me to leave the line. I didn’t like her attitude.
On my way out I looked for the nearest manager, someone wearing a single key on a telephone cord-like bracelet. I explained the situation and found that the front line manager wasn’t even sure what constituted an “item.” We had a decent chuckle over it as I walked away, letting him think I’d let it go. He doesn’t know me.
Reminds me of a song… check out : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pNCR3xubgU
American Lame-ster
Posted on November 5, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Caught Denzel’s latest flick last night; lord knows I love Denzel. I also happen to love Gangster movies (though “American Me” was a bit rough for my taste). Denzel + Gangster movie = Sure thing
Not so.
When the film FINALLY ended I swore it felt like it had dragged on forever; turns out, it did. The movie is nearly 3 hrs. long - plenty of time to get its point across which was… um, lemme see… yah - there was no point.
In fact, the strong start included a sudden death, an unexpected rise to power, a beauty queen and lots of money. And then it fizzled. It fizzled so loud and long I still have ringing in my ears. **SPOILER ALERT** Denzel plays a ruthless gangster who will kill even his own family members without a blink but then somehow turns hero in the last five minutes (elapsed time 1 hr.) of the movie by helping to name and take down crooked cops.
I realize you can’t rewrite stories based on actual events, but its hard to swallow the juxtaposition of a murderer being some kind of hero (though I’m glad the bad cops were brought to justice). I think the movie was longer than it needed to be and might have been more enjoyable had it moved faster (not just in time but in terms of action).
Anyway, its one of those movies that had I rented to watch at home I’d have fallen asleep to in the first 30 minutes. In fact, I might have done the same in the theatre if it weren’t for the real life gangsters sitting next to me who kept me alert and hugging my purse with a kung fu death grip.
La Vida Loca
Posted on October 30, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Anyone dying to know what I’ve been up to? *crickets chirp*
Well, I’ll tell you anyway…I’ve had the craziest week!!
First, I dined and hiked in Austin last weekend, promptly returning to see Matt Nathanson and Ingrid Michaelson in concert on Tuesday. Got a hug from Matt - was so funny - didn’t see him standing next to me and then when I realized I told him I loved his music and gave him a hug. Got a hug back and then was tackled and pepper sprayed by security.
Just kidding.
The hug happened, just not the other stuff. Later, Ingrid came out and hung with Laura and I to watch Matt. She was super cool and snapped a myspace worthy pic of she and I with her camera.
As I headed home Thursday I got a call from my uncle who said that my great-aunt and uncle were celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary in Monterrey, Mexico that weekend. This was around 3pm - I raced home, unpacked from Austin, threw a couple things into my soccer bag and I was on a plane at 5 headed for the homeland ;).
It was the first time, at least that I remember, I’d been to Monterrey. My uncle has a great place alongside one of the Mountains - a view from every room. I did yoga in the perfectly manicured back yard amongst giant palm and cypress trees and a rock wall fountain, all in the presence of the majestic mountains. It was surreal.
Sunday night, exhausted, I curled up in the comfort of my own sheets and thanked the Universe for my crazy but blessed life.
The Pukin Patch
Posted on October 18, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
This week I was invited to join my nephew’s 1st grade class on a field trip to a pumpkin patch; a long country drive, fresh air, and time with the little one - what’s not to love? I accepted and offered to be a driver.
Just an aside:
I settled into bed the night before the field trip and fell asleep anticipating the next day’s early excursion. I dreamed that I drove down a winding country road with a car full of kids while parents lined either side of the street rating my driving; they booed and waved exaggerated “two thumbs down” gestures. With each turn I tried to gain their approval by either dropping my speed, exaggerating the use of my mirrors or singing children’s songs as I attempted to tame my heathen-like passengers as they wildly destroyed my car (kicking the backs of seats, marking the upholstery with pen, etc.). I only woke when I’d had enough - one of the kids threw something that knocked the lid off of my grande Starbucks latte, emptying the cup before I’d even had a sip.
Everyone has their limit.
The Pukin Patch
Though I was not rated on my driving skill the field trip was not without its stressful moments. I counted 23 times I was asked “Are we there yet?” and I’d only started counting AFTER it had become annoying. Once there I carried a backpack that contained lunch, souvenirs, and 3 small, but heavy, pumpkins - oh, and my nephew on my shoulders.
At the music area of the grounds a single guitarist played “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain” while the kids picked an instrument from a basket to play along. There were arm wrestling matches over the wooden train whistles that hadn’t been washed in God only knows how long. My nephew was tempted but after I reminded him it was flu season and assured him that this was precisely how people got sick, he decided, with a long face, to heed my advice and played a set of maracas instead.
We wandered from one activity to the next and enjoyed a picnic by a pond after a lazy hayride. The finally relaxed atmosphere was not to last, however.
Just as the chaos following a bee sting subsided another child in our group yelled for his mother and then immediately proceeded to hurl his lunch (bologna on wheat). The entire class, myself included, watched in horror. When he’d heaved the last of it, I shook my head and muttered to my nephew, “Aren’t you glad you didn’t use the whistle?”
Needless to say, it’ll be a while before I go on another field trip and even longer till I eat bologna.
Welcome!!!
Posted on October 9, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
I haven’t had the time to write anything lately or to trick out the page, but I will. Music, of course, is soon to come.
No, the picture isn’t of me - I STILL have no tattoos, despite the occasional whim to get one.
My favorite feature of the new site is the search function - I use it to search for my favorite blog posts so that I can read them over and over and over! Ok, not so much, but it IS a cool feature.
Do you like Pina Coladas?
Posted on September 18, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Gettin’ caught in the rain…
Okay, not all of you will remember the lyrics to Rupert Holmes’ “Escape” aka “The Pina Colada Song” but check out how his prophetic lyrics played out in a real-life uber modern kind of way.
Couple Divorces over Online Affair - WITH EACH OTHER
Oh, one slight difference… Holmes’ version has a happy ending where the couple laughs off their indiscretions. Not so much with the Bosnian couple.
Why’d it have to be a "crackdown?"
Posted on September 17, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Hee hee. Just a lil “funny” that I found today.
Relaxing Raft Ride? I Think Not.
Posted on September 11, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
I mentioned in an earlier post the trip we made to the lake late this summer. One of the “fun” things we decided to do was rent one of these rafts to drag behind the boat. We spent hours on the water either leisurely towing the kids or nastily trying to get the other grown up to fly off the raft by gassing the boat and whipping erratically around the lake. The latter, it turns out, is GREAT FUN! Two days later — not so much.
Surely about to die from the shock my barely-there-muscles underwent, I was unable to lift my arms to feed myself and found that even laughing as I recollected the day was painful. Not as painful, I imagine, as a similar excursion was for some of my good friends on a recent team outting.
Caleb (Left in video) says he’s sure he’s putting the chiropractor’s kids through college, having already been to 4 of 44 visits he’ll have to make, no doubt, over the next few months.
Enjoy.
Damn Right I Got the Blues!
Posted on September 7, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Recently in Chicago for an interview - Deb and I got together to spend some time on the town. For years we’ve met up annually in the windy city to stay on Mag Mile where we’d shop to our heart’s content, and spend evenings dancing or hitting the lounges on Rush/Dearborn.
Instead, this year we spent days riding the L to the lake, Chinatown, and to one of the greatest hot dog places I’ve been in a while (AJ’s). Evenings, given that Debbie is still in a walking boot from her unfortunate sledding event in February, were spent modestly and relatively quietly.
One night I managed to convince her that she could have just as much fun on the town in a walking boot as she normally does in heels - we got dressed and headed to Buddy Guy’s Legends.
WHAT A GREAT TIME!
The place is literally a legend, having had its share of them play on its stage. Eric Clapton, Willie Dixon, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and recently John Mayer, just to name a few. Anyway, on this random visit we saw John Primer who I met personally and who was generous enough to gift me a free cd (that I love!). He was a fabulous and entertaining talent. In talking to him I learned that he’d played with a number of greats including John Prine, my all time favorite folk singer (Dad used to do covers). In fact, John Primer played with my favorite blues artist too - Muddy Waters. Here’s John doing “Hoochie Coochie Man” which was written by Willie Dixon and first performed by Muddy.
If you get a chance to check out Buddy Guy’s while in Chicago, I personally think it beats the BIG mainstream House, hands down.
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