Jane Fonda is my grandmother

Yes, it's true. For those of you who don't know- I adopt her sometimes. Those sometimes conditions are when I watch Monster in Law. Indeed, it is Saturday night and I'm sipping some wine and found this on the ole' tube. Some may pshaw to chick flicks, and yes, I used to be you. But I have come to appreciate the lovely comedic value to romantic comedies. When done well they supply a breath of fresh air and some good laughs. In Monster in Law, this is truly Jane's movie- you forget that J-lo is even in the film. Jane steals every inch of screen- so much that I had to google to see if she had done any other film recently. Sorry to say, unless otherwise forced, I refuse to see the one with Lohan. She - what can I say.
Her character in this movie does have some fanatical ways about her that do remind me a bit of my grandmother, but in a good way. The way she just jumps off screen makes me love her and want to know her. Which is why I adopt her when I watch this movie. Her maniacal laughter and devious ways delight my eye. I sooooooo want her to make more like this. Of course Wanda Sykes is perrrrrrrrrrfect as her assistant to all of her evil plotting in the attempted undoing of J-lo. I should mention the fabulous eye candy Michael Vartan is the male in this movie. I like looking at him so much I wish that he were more than one dimensional onscreen so he would have more roles. Sigh. If I had to pick, I think my favorite moment in this movie is when Fonda's character Viola Fields, daytime talk show host, interviews a Brittney-ish girl who is wearing pasties- when girl admits to thinking Roe V. Wade is a boxing match Fonda launches herself on the little idiot girl. And Sykes response? "You all better get that little girl outta there!"

Halloween

Since I was prompted- why not.

I had a rather quiet Halloween this year- no parties, costumes, or trick or treaters. I wasn't really into it this year, which may explain why I didn't realize Wal Mart would be a mecca the day after.
Let me lead you to a visual- ever see WALL-E? The humans in Pixar's future are depicted as grossly overweight people propelled around on lounge chairs instead of walking. So picture lots of these folk, zooming around (on foot also) Wal Mart, buying en masse, not decor, but candy.
We're talking GROCERY shopping for candy. I mean a WHOLE FREAKIN' SHOPPING cart full of twix.
Now I admit, I am not the healthiest of people, and I do have a horrible sweet tooth, but looking at how much these people were hoarding really made me never want to buy candy again.
I had people pushing each other in the candy areas, yelling, directing spouses, and the creme de la creme- "it was $2.50 yesterday, it's only a dollar today!!!!!!"
I was there for yarn which I never found.

oh Shosanna

So, forgive me this lapse in time. Matt and I saw Inglorious Basterds a few weeks ago, walked out of the theater and didn't know what to say for a few minutes.
I've seen most of Tarantino's films, and knew what to expect in the way of gore. Hello? WWII, Nazis, and QT, you know there will be gore. What I wasn't prepared for was the very first scene of this film. I forgot where I was, what movie I was watching. I forgot that this was going to be an action packed movie with a Tarantino flair. Suffice it to say I was mesmerized.
The first five-ten minutes we are transported to a French country farm. The farm owner, portrayed by Denis Menochet, who delivers an intense, tear jerking, memorable few minutes, is visited by a small contingent of Nazi soldiers. And we are introduced to my favorite person in the movie. Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). He is dark, with more than a touch of insanity. Cunning? Check. Snake like. Yes. Why did I enjoy him so much? Well, it is a bit difficult to put into words. He is perfect in this role. Cunning and clever, and ruthless, but ingenious in this movie. The scene these two have together is my favorite. You feel so much in the scene, it is truly amazing.
The movies rolls along at a good pace, and I'll skip all the things you could guess from the previews. Diane Kruger, usually I could leave her. I actually enjoyed her German in this movie. I don't want to do a play by play of the movie- rather just mention the one other actor who stood out for me- Melanie Laurent. Beautiful, but not in the Hollywood typical way.In a sense she's the heroine of the film. Essentially there are two plots to kill Hitler, and hers is by far the most theatrical and enjoyable. I do mean enjoyable.
As the movie ended I found myself wondering, why hasn't a film like this been made before? I don't know if it was NEEDED, but I loved it. Loved it for the first scene, and for the actors I mentioned. I'm not a huge fan of gore, or of Brad Pitt's ridiculous accent (I think it was ridiculous on purpose), but everything was right in this movie, or wrong, but in the right way. For instance, branding Nazis anyone?

She's going for the whip

Shouts Jimmy Fallon, aka "Hot Tub" Johnny Rocket, MC for Texas Roller Derby events.
Going into this movie I was a little embarrassed, thinking that the film was a bit on the cheese side, girl-power-girl -director- girl- Juno-on -roller-skates. I would ask really quickly of my friends, "wanttoseewhipit?" Fast, like a band-aid. Because, secretly, it sounded like a fun ride, but I had to play it cool.
After feeling out my friends, I ended with three dates. Yay me! We nestled into our seats, and I was so excited that I laughed at the previews. Opening is the beauty pageant scene from the previews, Juno with blue hair embarrassing her mother. So, that was expected. And I'm sorry Ellen Page, you are forever known now as Juno. Some people get those roles in life and they are just stuck with them. Juno was a great movie, great role, so don't feel bad. Plus the character Babe Ruthless, (which Page plays in Whip it) is a verrrrrry close Juno impression sans baby.
After a few scenes we arrive at our first roller derby. I think it's fair to say that not only was Juno sucked in, but everyone in the theater audience went to buy roller skates after the show. You fall for each roller girl, frenemy or friend, you love them all. Barrymore doesn't put much of herself in the film, just a taste to make you love her violent ways. Juliette Lewis is fabulous, I mean FABULOUS as Iron Maven, Juno's rival on another team. The costumes are great, the girls are bruised, saucy, tough as nails, sucking you right into the lifestyle of roller derby. You watch this and want to be friends with them. I single out Lewis and Barrymore, but really each girl was a treat. Kristen Wiig as Maggie Mayhem- great. Zoe Bell, Eve, Andrew Wilson (new Wilson brother) awesome awesome awesome.
Each scene was like a new surprise, a new treat. I was so excited I kept whispering and nudging Teresa. How can you not love a movie where the characters choose names like Eva Destruction, Jabba the Slut, and Rosa Sparks? Or Teresa chose her name- Pat M'booty. Cute, right? Well it's a rough and tumble ride, that makes you oooh and ahhh, and ooooow! at all the right places. Bloody noses and bruises as big as a Jack O' Lantern, these are the girls next door, just with the pretty layer pulled back showing the raw meat of contact sport and adrenaline highs.

Palin, circa 2009

Palin steps down. yay!? Or should we beware of the Presidential race 2012? I'm already nervous. Shoot. I had a few months off not to worry, now I'll be sweating for a few years. Damn her! Don't be so complacent people!

my moment

I truly am no different. I want a connection. Or many. With life, with the world. I want to feel, to breathe everything in. Any connection, with love, life, music, books, a moment, a song, a sunset. TO really feel alive in a moment, that's all I want. But to have someone who understands, who gets things in a similar way. People are just so shy about themselves, spending all this time putting any crap out on social networking sites, they forget to share anything real.

Wishing in vain

June 22, 2009 - Monday

Wishing in vain I have regrets, and things I wish ahd gone differently, but now in my life, I wish more to no be afraid. To get over the fear I might have in confrontation or trying something new. And, I really wish for everyone, that people could live without fear. Let go, really be free of all the little things in a day that make up the fears we percieve as large important things in life. Life really is what we make it, and sadly many people go though without stopping to breathe, or live really. So many fears, of rejection and pain, that most everyone has. So why do people wrap themselves up in their fear? Wouldn't it feel better to let it fall away? I miss people who aren't afraid. I miss that enthusiasm, excitement, the dreamers. The optimists. I feel like they are growing up into pessimists, pragmatists. The world needs both, but who's to say that we can't have a balance within ourselves? It's sad, really, to see people change into someone who has become afraid, and lost something within themselves.

I love this

Smart girl: Obviously 'irregardless' is the wrong word in the sentence.
Dumb girl: Why is that word wrong?
Smart girl: For starters, it's not even a real word.
Dumb girl: Sure it is -- I use it all the time.

overheard

overheard

So, I really had to post this, I snort-laughed out loud when I read it. From overheard everywhere:

http://www.overheardeverywhere.com/index-5.html


Woman to male friend: I am trying to figure out how long 14 minutes and 6 minutes is in total.
Male friend: 20 minutes.
Woman: Regular math and time math are the same?

arrogance

Hmmm, what to write today.....

Let's see.
I have decided I am a bit arrogant. But I have always known this really. I guess what brought this on recently, is my tendency to think I am interesting. I don't think everyone is interesting. Really I think not everyone is interesting to everyone. Convoluted enough? I am always fascinated by the more introverted, shy, mysterious folk. Maybe they aren't those things really, but how they seem to me. Certainly this doesn't mean I throw myself into this category. I just always enjoy figuring things out, especially people, how they work, why they choose certain things above others.
I go about my day, and see lots of people who look interesting to me. I just think people have so much baggage, and so many trust issues, that they are afraid to open up. Staying reclusive and quiet is easier as a self-preservation tatic. Just a few thoughts anyway.


Since this is a arrogance piece, I should mention the line jumper from the other day.
I was in line at the bookstore, standing next to the sign that reads: "PLEASE WAIT HERE FOR THE NEXT CASHIER"
I was next in line, two cashiers ringing, not a long wait obviously. This woman walks up, looks at me, smiles even, walks past me and THE SIGN, to wait for a cashier in front of me.
I kind of had this funny, what-did-she-just-do look on my face.
Then as the cashier opens up she turns to me and says
"oh, you didn't mean to go ahead of me, did you?"
Um, what? Do you know what a line is?
The other cashier was freeing up, so it wasn't a time issue really, so I just said
"whatever."
Who does that?

update-a-roo

awwww shuckie

Music wars:
A success.
Valentine's:
A suprise gift from my grandmother
Work:
eh.
Life:
Awesome
Josh:
gone
but back soon!
Family:
Overwhelmed by how happy it makes me to know my grandmother and cousin again.
Facebook:
a plus. Connecting with friends and family i normally don't hear from for years.
Kings of Leon:
New favorite
Suprise:
My new theme of life

music wars

I am currently having musical wars with my neighbor. In case I have yet to mention, or you've yet to read....

My neighbor with whom I share a wall is a bit disrespectful. She works different hours (I think as a bartender), and likes to come home late and party. Weekends, fine, whatever I will get over myself. But she does this during the week. And LATE. Sunday night, I was about to fall asleep, oh say midnightish, when I hear her music, and LOUD, SO LOUD, it shakes things in my apartment. I sleep with my ipod on, turn a fan on, to try and block her out, but I can still hear people laughing and partying. I had very little sleep that night.
You would think I should have knocked on her door and said something. I didn't, maybe just because I was so tired, and just out of it. I was soooo tired at work the next day I could barely keep it together.
I did confront her a few months back, and since she had been okay.
I came home today, and while things weren't out of control, I could still hear her hoochie music, so I thought for 2 seconds of what might annoy her the most, and put on the soundtrack to Across the Universe. Which I enjoy, being a huge Beatles fan myself. It's pretty loud. Plus I'm singing along to songs like Come Together. I think she turned hers down, but I'll give it the whole cd to be sure.

Me, blushing

Me, blushing I realized I've neglected to embarrass myself for a while, so here goes. While in California for Christmas, my friend Matt took me to Santa Monica. While walking back fromt he pier to his vehicle, we're just chatting, when I glance casually up at someone walking towards us.

Powell's, Monday afternoon

Picture this

I'm walking into Powell's, a great fabulous bookstore here (for alaskans, think Title Wave, only much much larger- you can literally get lost inside), la-la-la lost in my own thoughts. I squeeze past this short guy in skinny jeans who turns as I go by and says " hey. You're from Alaska." ummmmm...... He doesn't look familiar to me. me: yeah, I am......... guy: where do I know you from? Where did you work? I know you.......... -uh, this is weird. me: I worked at Borders? guy: Yeah, Borders Books and Music, that's where I know you from. He took off his sunglasses so I could see his face, but I'm telling you folks, he is unfamiliar to me. He tells me his name, and it is such an awkward exchange, that I just say, :oh yeah, your face is familar. Nice to see you! And I go inside.
But this brief exchange had me thinking. I was just muddling through who we notice - at work, in a cafe, school, on the bus, wherever. But maybe never talk to. There are tons of people I would probably recognize out of the context in which I see them, but I am a people person, and tend to make up stories or lives for people I see. Anyway, my point was just how connected we possibly are, without even realizing it. I had no idea I made some sort of impact on thsi person- just visually if nothing else. I haven't worked at Borders in 4 years or longer. So good memory guy!

Currently listening:

yay!

OOoOooohhh! I love my pictures!! They look super cool posted here! Yes, I took all those animal pics on my drive this summer. Surreal.