So I am going to start this blog with a disclaimer. I may just offend some of you, and I am kind of okay with it. The way my day has been going so far, it's just one of those days.
So I really didn't sleep too well last night. I don't know if I just took too long of an afternoon nap yesterday, or if my body is rebelling against me, but I just could not fall into a deep sleep. So already I started my rather early morning, sleepy. Then I get to work, and it just felt like everyone was angry about something. The callers who called in where taking it out primarily on our producer Rose, but for those few calls I got, myself as well.
I was ready to get over it though. It has finally cooled down, and I was set to go on my run. I was going to swing home, get changed and take off before an afternoon meeting. Well, I get to the house and Mark has accidentally chain locked the door. I have no way to get in the house. Some of you may well remember that the back door is a different lock and Mark has the only key. Another major problem is that the 24 ounces of water are starting to add up, and I need to relieve myself so badly.
I call Mark and I can't get a hold of him. I try his desk phone, I text his cell phone, then I call his cell phone, nothing is getting through. So I decide to drive and get a coffee and use their facilities. Well I ordered a chai and it was just disgusting. More from my taste buds' stand point then anything they did. I am still trying to be light hearted, so I drive to Mark's building, sit in the parking lot and try calling a couple more times. I think I should go in and see if someone can get him. There is no security guard and I can't remember what floor he is on.
So now I am getting super frustrated. My day is at a complete stand still. I can't get anything done, I desperately need to shower before I head to my meeting and I can't clean the house. I decide to go to one of my favorite coffee places and get a latte while I wait. When I walk in the cashier asks me how my day is going. All I said was, "It's just one of those days that when it rains it pours." I even chuckled a little. She asked me what was going on and I explained I was locked out of my house the one day I really needed to get inside. The man behind her looks at me and says, "Well at least you're not in Joplin, MO." While I do agree with the sentiment, I was and still am very irked by his moral superiority here. I looked at him and said with a smile, "Well of course, I'm sure we all our, but that doesn't help me get into my house."
Of course a little bit later Mark got a hold of me and I picked up the key. I got to my meeting, had a great time with some Rose and Tim up at KCFV. Things seemed to be turning around, and then I drove home, only to find that again I am locked out. I gave Mark back his key at lunch time and I forgot my phone. So I am thinking, seriously dude, twice in one day? Luckily we had gone through all the windows I could crawl through on his lunch, so here I am breaking into my own home and thinking either he is REALLY tired today, or playing a not-so funny joke. Well from a phone call later I found out, that actually the landlord stopped by to fix the closet and "locked" up. But seriously, what are the odds?
So this takes me back to the man behind the counter's statement that honestly still really irks me. I hate when people pull these statements out. I can understand saying that if I were complaining and going on about how horrible things were (like I am here), but I was actually trying to make light of my situation. I agree that we should all, everyday, remember how blessed we are. We should be praising God for his generocity and the many blessings He has and will bestow on us. However, I don't think tragedies mean I can't have a day where I just feel like everything is going against me. It doesn't mean I am not allowed to feel a bit frustrated, or just a bit amazed at how everything seems to be going against me.
This isn't the first time someone has made these comments to me. I feel like the intention isn't to remind you of the many blessings you have, but instead make you feel bad for feeling. I am entitled to feel, now as a Christian, I do believe that I should respond apropriately with my feelings, but tragedies don't stop everyday life and they don't stop people from feeling. It's all relative, and there are horrible things happening all over the world. Based on this world view, no one in the US should ever have a bad day. It's like someone who has experienced death saying that you should appreciate someone and not have conflict because they lost someone in their life. Are they right? In a sense. We should always value each other, but that doesn't mean conflict isn't going to happen. It is always how we respond to conflict.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
A PSA for Drivers
I'm not sure how many of us really remember, but pedestrians actually do have the right of way. I have to say that since my family came to visit almost a month ago I have noticed a very disturbing trend here in St Louis, that this isn't actually the case. I am sure some of you are shocked by this, but even if the little man indicates that I can safely cross the street, it's not necessarily true. It's becoming a very disturbing trend, and this blog is very much a reminder to please pay attention because you might end up hitting me.
I cannot tell you how many times within the last few weeks I have had my like flash before my eyes and thought, well at least I know where I'm going. My mom, my sister, Reagan and I were all on a walk and a man got ticked at us, inching his way forward to the cross walk impatiently making faces at us. Luckily we had Terynn, who I thought might honestly start banging her fists on the hood of the car. Or there was the girl a couple of days ago who decided to pull out of the school drive way, almost taking me out at the knees. Luckily for her I sensed she wasn't paying attention and slowed my pace so she didn't hit me, but don't you worry I also made sure to yell in her convertable, "I'm glad to know pedestrians still have the right of way." Or there was the guy not even twenty minutes ago making an unprotected left turn who, again, came inches from taking me out and even after I flashed by him in his window did not notice me.
So really this is my call to all of us to pay attention. This is why they teach you to scan the roadway. This is why you shouldn't be on your cell phone. I shouldn't have to jump out of the way of a car while I am in a protected pedestrian zone and this is clearly happening far too often to be just a mistake. It's a mistake that could be very costly next time around.
This PSA has been brought to you by Paige the Runner and Pedestrians of America.
I cannot tell you how many times within the last few weeks I have had my like flash before my eyes and thought, well at least I know where I'm going. My mom, my sister, Reagan and I were all on a walk and a man got ticked at us, inching his way forward to the cross walk impatiently making faces at us. Luckily we had Terynn, who I thought might honestly start banging her fists on the hood of the car. Or there was the girl a couple of days ago who decided to pull out of the school drive way, almost taking me out at the knees. Luckily for her I sensed she wasn't paying attention and slowed my pace so she didn't hit me, but don't you worry I also made sure to yell in her convertable, "I'm glad to know pedestrians still have the right of way." Or there was the guy not even twenty minutes ago making an unprotected left turn who, again, came inches from taking me out and even after I flashed by him in his window did not notice me.
So really this is my call to all of us to pay attention. This is why they teach you to scan the roadway. This is why you shouldn't be on your cell phone. I shouldn't have to jump out of the way of a car while I am in a protected pedestrian zone and this is clearly happening far too often to be just a mistake. It's a mistake that could be very costly next time around.
This PSA has been brought to you by Paige the Runner and Pedestrians of America.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Extreme Couponing or Extreme Hoarding?
So has anyone else watched "Extreme Couponing" on TLC? I had heard about this "crazy phenomenon" for a few weeks and decided one day to watch it. For those of you that haven't watched, it is crazy. They spotlight people who generally went through a life altering event like a spouse losing a job, and how they decided to save money. They turned to the Almighty Coupon. Some of them will spend 30 hours a week clipping and organizing their coupons with supermarket sales. They then chart out their mission plan through the store to get all the items they "need" and then review the stores coupon policy to insure that their shopping trip will go off without a hitch. They might even call to make sure there have been no changes to the policy. Then they go to work wiping out the store for all they can get.
All I can say is why? I do think it's incredible and a little bit inspiring that these people can take $1200 worth of groceries and get it all the way down to five dollars. Sometimes they even make money, which with the cost of food these days, who doesn't want to be paid to shop? It is amazing, but when you look at their houses, they are stock piled with crap. They have three years worth of food and their own little grocery store, but they keep adding to it, and it's all crap food. I am not the most all natural girl when it comes to food, but I am slowly heading that direction, but why do you need 500 bottles of Gatorade or 300 cans of soda? Or even 600 bottles of pain killers?
I feel that this show is more on the level of organized hoarding. One gal bought three years worth of diapers and she doesn't even have kids! I grant you that diapers are very expensive, but why pick up something you don't even need? I know this isn't necessarily a pre-requisite anymore in our culture, but she isn't even married or in a relationship. I get she got the diapers for free, but why? That's just clutter, even if it is organized on a shelf in the basement. I mean she could at least donate it to needy people who do need diapers.
I feel that TLC really needs to blend two shows together here. "Extreme Hoarding" and "Extreme Couponing" should join together to treat these people. Help them start eating some of the food and wait a little bit until the stock pile gets low and then stock back up. I mean three years worth of cereal is great, but if you keep adding and never eating it, you're just wasting food. And if the food isn't going bad after that length of time, why would you want to put it in your body? Think of all the chemicals it takes to preserve that food for three years. TLC needs to start treating these people pronto and make sure they get the help they need. Or perhaps just encourage them to start giving some of the food away. The overweight daughter in law clearly does not need two years of her favorite soda stock piled. Let's donate that to a food shelter and maybe they can give those needy people a sugary treat.
All I can say is why? I do think it's incredible and a little bit inspiring that these people can take $1200 worth of groceries and get it all the way down to five dollars. Sometimes they even make money, which with the cost of food these days, who doesn't want to be paid to shop? It is amazing, but when you look at their houses, they are stock piled with crap. They have three years worth of food and their own little grocery store, but they keep adding to it, and it's all crap food. I am not the most all natural girl when it comes to food, but I am slowly heading that direction, but why do you need 500 bottles of Gatorade or 300 cans of soda? Or even 600 bottles of pain killers?
I feel that this show is more on the level of organized hoarding. One gal bought three years worth of diapers and she doesn't even have kids! I grant you that diapers are very expensive, but why pick up something you don't even need? I know this isn't necessarily a pre-requisite anymore in our culture, but she isn't even married or in a relationship. I get she got the diapers for free, but why? That's just clutter, even if it is organized on a shelf in the basement. I mean she could at least donate it to needy people who do need diapers.
I feel that TLC really needs to blend two shows together here. "Extreme Hoarding" and "Extreme Couponing" should join together to treat these people. Help them start eating some of the food and wait a little bit until the stock pile gets low and then stock back up. I mean three years worth of cereal is great, but if you keep adding and never eating it, you're just wasting food. And if the food isn't going bad after that length of time, why would you want to put it in your body? Think of all the chemicals it takes to preserve that food for three years. TLC needs to start treating these people pronto and make sure they get the help they need. Or perhaps just encourage them to start giving some of the food away. The overweight daughter in law clearly does not need two years of her favorite soda stock piled. Let's donate that to a food shelter and maybe they can give those needy people a sugary treat.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Color Me Orange
Okay, so today I had a wonderful, odd moment that I think I could only have. You see I went to make this amazing new recipe from Better Homes and Gardens (yes, I am that old lady who gets that magazine) and I ran into a bit of a predicament. You see I don't like oranges, well really I shouldn't discriminate, I don't like citrus. And it's not for a lack of trying. Over the years I have tried my fair share of orange wedges, and I don't get why everyone finds these fruits to be SO AMAZING. I find them squishy, slimy, and nasty. They manage to always leave residue between my teeth, and then later I get heartburn.
So you might then be asking yourself, "Paige, if you hate this fruit so much, why are you cooking with it?" Great question! You see, I am always willing to set aside my hatred and try new recipes. Besides, the orange would be cut up and mixed in with other ingredients, negating the texture and acidic issues. As I went to add it into the recipe, I came to a very funny stop. I don't know how to peel an orange. I mean why know how to peel something, I will NEVER eat. This logic had always held solid until today. I had to actually call Mark into the kitchen to ask what to do. I know this seems silly, but my fingers weren't getting under the peel (I almost called it the skin) and I was at a loss.
By the time Mark got into the kitchen (approximately 5 seconds later) I had already cut it in half and was trying to take the peel off that way. (His pace was much to slow for me.) He then explained to me that you just have to dig in, and you don't cut into it because then all the juice comes out. This had not even occured to me. The orange did eventually make it to the food processor, and dinner was a success! I guess it's true, we do learn something new each day.
So you might then be asking yourself, "Paige, if you hate this fruit so much, why are you cooking with it?" Great question! You see, I am always willing to set aside my hatred and try new recipes. Besides, the orange would be cut up and mixed in with other ingredients, negating the texture and acidic issues. As I went to add it into the recipe, I came to a very funny stop. I don't know how to peel an orange. I mean why know how to peel something, I will NEVER eat. This logic had always held solid until today. I had to actually call Mark into the kitchen to ask what to do. I know this seems silly, but my fingers weren't getting under the peel (I almost called it the skin) and I was at a loss.
By the time Mark got into the kitchen (approximately 5 seconds later) I had already cut it in half and was trying to take the peel off that way. (His pace was much to slow for me.) He then explained to me that you just have to dig in, and you don't cut into it because then all the juice comes out. This had not even occured to me. The orange did eventually make it to the food processor, and dinner was a success! I guess it's true, we do learn something new each day.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I Just Want a Human!!
Right now, as I sit here typing, I am on the phone, with "customer service" for Microsoft. I just don't understand why we have to go automated? I am sure that the agents don't understand why, when they talk to customers they are so angry. I can tell you exactly, because when I have a problem I just want to talk to someone!! I get it, you need to figure out what I need the help with, so you put me through a rolladex of different options so you can better get me through the process and to the person who can help me, but when I have to go through eight different menus pressing buttons or talking to a machine, it gets old really fast.
It doesn't help that while trying to talk to the automated male, or typically female voice that can't understand me I end up getting hung up on. I don't want to talk to the machine and yell, with exacting clarity what I want to talk to them about. I want a human, even if I am transferred 15 times wrong, I would rather speak to a human being, and preferrably one who's native language is mine or that doesn't mumble into the phone. I just need to understand the person and have confidence that they understand me. The worst is trying to call a government agency. You might as well fall down an abyss. There is more chance of you actually hitting the bottom then getting to an actual human being, who not only will help you, but has a positive attitude while doing so.
I know that this rant is nothing new, but honestly, with a recession, let's get over ourselves and hire some of these unemployed to answer phones and help direct call traffic. I get that this is totally simplifying things and very unfeasible, but while I finish this, I have been hung up on by the computer for the fourth time, so hey, a girl can dream can't she?
It doesn't help that while trying to talk to the automated male, or typically female voice that can't understand me I end up getting hung up on. I don't want to talk to the machine and yell, with exacting clarity what I want to talk to them about. I want a human, even if I am transferred 15 times wrong, I would rather speak to a human being, and preferrably one who's native language is mine or that doesn't mumble into the phone. I just need to understand the person and have confidence that they understand me. The worst is trying to call a government agency. You might as well fall down an abyss. There is more chance of you actually hitting the bottom then getting to an actual human being, who not only will help you, but has a positive attitude while doing so.
I know that this rant is nothing new, but honestly, with a recession, let's get over ourselves and hire some of these unemployed to answer phones and help direct call traffic. I get that this is totally simplifying things and very unfeasible, but while I finish this, I have been hung up on by the computer for the fourth time, so hey, a girl can dream can't she?
Friday, February 25, 2011
Dodging Landmines
Neighbors, don't we just love them. They always make life so easy right? Well right now, Jesus' words of loving your neighbors has been something I have to chant to myself. I just don't understand why we can't be curteous anymore? I can get over my upstairs neighbors holding gymnastics classes that sound like they are going to summersult right through the ceiling. I can deal with the weird attitudes about parking spaces. I mean you take another person's "spot" because your "spot" was taken, you totally deserve to have them park right on your bumper so pulling out the next day will be next to impossible. Should have known better.
However, there is one offense I can't stand. If you have a dog, pick up after it when it craps on my lawn! I don't want to walk out to my car in the morning and step in your dog's poop. If I am headed to work, I usually don't have the time to go change my shoes because I stepped in a wretchedly horrible pile of poo. When I get a dog I will clean up after it, but it's your dog, it's not my responsibility to clean up after it.
Maybe you think I am being a bit over the top, but I am not talking about one pile, as I was bringing in my groceries the other day, I realized there were at least 6 different mounds in my yard. I felt like I was training for special opps to avoid landmines as I was darting and weaving around my lawn. It's occurring to me that the sign I saw posted in another neighborhood on someone's lawn, about cleaning up after your pet if it happens to choose my lawn, is completely neccesary.
However, there is one offense I can't stand. If you have a dog, pick up after it when it craps on my lawn! I don't want to walk out to my car in the morning and step in your dog's poop. If I am headed to work, I usually don't have the time to go change my shoes because I stepped in a wretchedly horrible pile of poo. When I get a dog I will clean up after it, but it's your dog, it's not my responsibility to clean up after it.
Maybe you think I am being a bit over the top, but I am not talking about one pile, as I was bringing in my groceries the other day, I realized there were at least 6 different mounds in my yard. I felt like I was training for special opps to avoid landmines as I was darting and weaving around my lawn. It's occurring to me that the sign I saw posted in another neighborhood on someone's lawn, about cleaning up after your pet if it happens to choose my lawn, is completely neccesary.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Surviving an Ice Storm
Wow, so Missouri weather has hit us two little Californians hard this year. I know many of the people we now know from places like Michigan or Ohio might think we're soft, and they'd be right, but we're slowly getting the hang of this crazy weather.
So last week, as some of you may have heard, Armageddon was proclaimed for the Mid-West and a huge chunk of the country in the form of an ice storm and then blizzard like conditions. I found myself wondering, what does an ice storm really look like? I mean obviously there is ice, but does it rain and then freeze and that creates an ice storm. To be honest, a part of me had this mental image of sheets of ice that looked like glass in a window falling from the sky. Now that would be a storm!
In actuality, for those who don't know like me, it's basically what we called sleet in Idaho. It's frozen rain. (Some of you may be saying Duh right now, but hey we all learn a little differently.) Now here in St Louis, the issue is that it is still wet enough to bind and then freeze. So the weather was a mess last Tuesday. Expecting to die on Wednesday, I awoke to the pleasant surprise of just snow, and to be honest, it wasn't even that hard. It was a nice little flurry, nothing to get upset about.
However, my problems came on Thursday. I was so cold on Wednesday, that I decided to not go out and brush off my car. HUGE MISTAKE!! In more than one way. First, our house has a screened in porch. The porch door had not been open, so it was completely frozen shut, there was no way to actually open the door. I had to walk around the house, however, as I went out our shared back door, I saw the salt our landlord had left us and decided once I got in to my car I would salt by our front door, so that when I came back from class I could get in the house. You see we only have one key to the back door, and since Mark parks in the driveway off that door, he has the only key. If I couldn't get the front porch open, and the neighbors locked that door, well I was SOL as some say.
Second, there was frozen snow, plus a 1/4" thick casing of ice, wrapped around my entire car. I had to use my key to break the ice that surrounded my door, and then spent 10 minutes pulling, breaking more ice, and pulling. At one point I did think that I might rip off my plastic handle and then be screwed because the passenger side lock is broken and I wouldn't be able to get in my car.
Finally, I pryed my door open with all my might. I inserted my key and just prayed the engine would turn over, and it actually did. I blasted the defroster and raced to the back of the house to get the salt mentioned earlier. I put the salt out on our steps as well, because they looked pretty icy, and I really don't want to kill the mail man. After having completed the salting, I went straight to work on my car.
It was quite a process to get the snow and ice off my car. I had a method to my madness though. I started at my driver side door, and continued on the side, to the back, around the other side, then to the front. Now I had to do a thorough job on the front because I forgot to lift up my wiperblades, and they were somewhere below all the layers, frozen to my car.
I dusted snow, I hacked at ice, continuing around the car. After about a half our, I noticed some of my neighbors just staring at me as they drove by. For now, I looked like the White Witch of Narnia. Completely cloacked in snow and ice, my hair wild and frozen, with ice scrapper in hand, attacking vigorously at my windows, shouting words and phrases not commonly heard. And finally, when all hope seemed lost, I managed to find my car. I looked at my phone clock and realized that I emerged victorious after an hour and a half of intense (and cold) battle. It was now 9:15-9:20, and I thought I might still be able to make it to my class. I hoped in my toasty car, engaged the clutch, put my foot on the gas and then listened to my wheels spin.
At this point I thought I'll try reverse and see if that works any better. This time with my head turned around I got a better view of the smoke coming from my tires and the exhaust making its way towards heaven. I thought perhaps I can use our neighbors shovel to help dig myself out. I ran to the back door, but alas, the neighbor had locked it. Determined to not fight my front porch door I decided to give it one more go. I got behind the wheel and gave it the gas, and finally, after lurching and studdering (and not from the clutch) my car was finally released from its icy cage.
Of course at this point, I would never make it to class on time, so I decided to head to Barnes and Nobles and buy a book. When I returned home, the long term battle began. That is the battle with my front stairs. There are two sets, one that leads up to the house in general, and then both my neighbor and I have a set that leads into our perspective portions of the house. The stairs were, and are so icy, that I can't actually just walk up them. I mostly rock climb up them, holding the bannister for dear life as I manuever around them. We are currently out of salt, and so now I do fear for the mail man.
So last week, as some of you may have heard, Armageddon was proclaimed for the Mid-West and a huge chunk of the country in the form of an ice storm and then blizzard like conditions. I found myself wondering, what does an ice storm really look like? I mean obviously there is ice, but does it rain and then freeze and that creates an ice storm. To be honest, a part of me had this mental image of sheets of ice that looked like glass in a window falling from the sky. Now that would be a storm!
In actuality, for those who don't know like me, it's basically what we called sleet in Idaho. It's frozen rain. (Some of you may be saying Duh right now, but hey we all learn a little differently.) Now here in St Louis, the issue is that it is still wet enough to bind and then freeze. So the weather was a mess last Tuesday. Expecting to die on Wednesday, I awoke to the pleasant surprise of just snow, and to be honest, it wasn't even that hard. It was a nice little flurry, nothing to get upset about.
However, my problems came on Thursday. I was so cold on Wednesday, that I decided to not go out and brush off my car. HUGE MISTAKE!! In more than one way. First, our house has a screened in porch. The porch door had not been open, so it was completely frozen shut, there was no way to actually open the door. I had to walk around the house, however, as I went out our shared back door, I saw the salt our landlord had left us and decided once I got in to my car I would salt by our front door, so that when I came back from class I could get in the house. You see we only have one key to the back door, and since Mark parks in the driveway off that door, he has the only key. If I couldn't get the front porch open, and the neighbors locked that door, well I was SOL as some say.
Second, there was frozen snow, plus a 1/4" thick casing of ice, wrapped around my entire car. I had to use my key to break the ice that surrounded my door, and then spent 10 minutes pulling, breaking more ice, and pulling. At one point I did think that I might rip off my plastic handle and then be screwed because the passenger side lock is broken and I wouldn't be able to get in my car.
Finally, I pryed my door open with all my might. I inserted my key and just prayed the engine would turn over, and it actually did. I blasted the defroster and raced to the back of the house to get the salt mentioned earlier. I put the salt out on our steps as well, because they looked pretty icy, and I really don't want to kill the mail man. After having completed the salting, I went straight to work on my car.
It was quite a process to get the snow and ice off my car. I had a method to my madness though. I started at my driver side door, and continued on the side, to the back, around the other side, then to the front. Now I had to do a thorough job on the front because I forgot to lift up my wiperblades, and they were somewhere below all the layers, frozen to my car.
I dusted snow, I hacked at ice, continuing around the car. After about a half our, I noticed some of my neighbors just staring at me as they drove by. For now, I looked like the White Witch of Narnia. Completely cloacked in snow and ice, my hair wild and frozen, with ice scrapper in hand, attacking vigorously at my windows, shouting words and phrases not commonly heard. And finally, when all hope seemed lost, I managed to find my car. I looked at my phone clock and realized that I emerged victorious after an hour and a half of intense (and cold) battle. It was now 9:15-9:20, and I thought I might still be able to make it to my class. I hoped in my toasty car, engaged the clutch, put my foot on the gas and then listened to my wheels spin.
At this point I thought I'll try reverse and see if that works any better. This time with my head turned around I got a better view of the smoke coming from my tires and the exhaust making its way towards heaven. I thought perhaps I can use our neighbors shovel to help dig myself out. I ran to the back door, but alas, the neighbor had locked it. Determined to not fight my front porch door I decided to give it one more go. I got behind the wheel and gave it the gas, and finally, after lurching and studdering (and not from the clutch) my car was finally released from its icy cage.
Of course at this point, I would never make it to class on time, so I decided to head to Barnes and Nobles and buy a book. When I returned home, the long term battle began. That is the battle with my front stairs. There are two sets, one that leads up to the house in general, and then both my neighbor and I have a set that leads into our perspective portions of the house. The stairs were, and are so icy, that I can't actually just walk up them. I mostly rock climb up them, holding the bannister for dear life as I manuever around them. We are currently out of salt, and so now I do fear for the mail man.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
This is my time to shop...
Right now we are dealing with what could quite possible the worst storm the country has seen in decades! Well I got the first news of its coming on Sunday, when a sweet elderly couple we just met warned us there was a blizzard warning and lots of ice expected. It concerned me a tad, but I guess I just let it pass from my mind.
So Monday I woke up and went about my usual routine, had my coffee and fruit smoothie, watched a little tv, and then headed to the store by 9 o'clock. So to save money these days, I shop at both Wal-Mart for all dry, boxed, canned, basically anything I don't worry about quality, and then I head to Schnuck's for all things I want fresh and as good as I can possibly get it. When I pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot, it was pretty busy. My usual front parking was taken and I had to park midway. Usually I go at 9am on Monday because it is a sleepy time. I can meander the aisles and shop with ease, and the store is practically mine. It still hadn't occured to me what was going on. I mean Wal-Mart wasn't crazy busy, but still this was more people than normal.
I got the supplies I needed and headed to self check out. Now here we'll tangent off for a second so I can vent. I am ringing myself up, something I do every Monday, and the weigher isn't picking up one of my items. I took maybe five seconds and finally got the item to register. Well at this point the help lady is sitting at her station and says with as much attitude as possible, "Maam, you need to push it back." I turned and politely said, "I got it, it's working now." Then with even more attitude (didn't know that it was possible), "She said maam if you just push it back it can weigh correctly." I turned to her and did something I seldom do, I gave her some attitude right back. I said, "Umm actually it's working now and I am just fine thank you." Then I gave her my look of got it? Oh she got it, she suddenly went quiet and left me alone. If she isn't going to come over and actually see if she can help me, then she can sit there quietly. I don't need her rudeness when I am just trying to check out.
Okay, so back on point. So after loading my car I headed to Schnuck's. Now when I pulled into Schnuck's parking lot, it was a mad house. Everyone and their brother was shopping. And of course, I got stuck behind the slowest driver while trying to find a space. At one point, she had four other vehicles behind her. It took sometime to get out from behind middle aged woman driving like a granny, but I did eventually park.
I get into the store and all of my "portion control" carts are taken. These are smaller and easier to manuever. People are just swarming everywhere. This is generally my time to relax and carefully choose products that best go with the week's meals. Not this time. Everyone was acting like I was so rude. They would block an aisle and then get upset with me when I was trying to get around them. It was complete chaos. Then I get to the check out and there are 8 lines plus the self checkout, and all of them are so busy the lines are going up the aisles. I waited for probably 45 minutes, with people still glaring when they didn't like that my cart was blocking the fancy feast. Where was I supposed to go? And then it dawned on me, all these people were stocking up for the big storm. At this point I was a little peeved with all of them being peeved with me. This is my time to shop. I am not in their way, they are in my way! I do this every Monday and 99% of them are not there shopping with me. Again, it's why I chose that time. It's peaceful and I don't have to fight my way through the aisles like a ravage beast on the hunt.
Finally, after enough time for my very green bananas to start ripening ( I am serious about this one, I think they turned a bit more yellow while I stood in line) I got out of the store, and managed to make my way home. Just another St Louis, weather related adventure.
So Monday I woke up and went about my usual routine, had my coffee and fruit smoothie, watched a little tv, and then headed to the store by 9 o'clock. So to save money these days, I shop at both Wal-Mart for all dry, boxed, canned, basically anything I don't worry about quality, and then I head to Schnuck's for all things I want fresh and as good as I can possibly get it. When I pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot, it was pretty busy. My usual front parking was taken and I had to park midway. Usually I go at 9am on Monday because it is a sleepy time. I can meander the aisles and shop with ease, and the store is practically mine. It still hadn't occured to me what was going on. I mean Wal-Mart wasn't crazy busy, but still this was more people than normal.
I got the supplies I needed and headed to self check out. Now here we'll tangent off for a second so I can vent. I am ringing myself up, something I do every Monday, and the weigher isn't picking up one of my items. I took maybe five seconds and finally got the item to register. Well at this point the help lady is sitting at her station and says with as much attitude as possible, "Maam, you need to push it back." I turned and politely said, "I got it, it's working now." Then with even more attitude (didn't know that it was possible), "She said maam if you just push it back it can weigh correctly." I turned to her and did something I seldom do, I gave her some attitude right back. I said, "Umm actually it's working now and I am just fine thank you." Then I gave her my look of got it? Oh she got it, she suddenly went quiet and left me alone. If she isn't going to come over and actually see if she can help me, then she can sit there quietly. I don't need her rudeness when I am just trying to check out.
Okay, so back on point. So after loading my car I headed to Schnuck's. Now when I pulled into Schnuck's parking lot, it was a mad house. Everyone and their brother was shopping. And of course, I got stuck behind the slowest driver while trying to find a space. At one point, she had four other vehicles behind her. It took sometime to get out from behind middle aged woman driving like a granny, but I did eventually park.
I get into the store and all of my "portion control" carts are taken. These are smaller and easier to manuever. People are just swarming everywhere. This is generally my time to relax and carefully choose products that best go with the week's meals. Not this time. Everyone was acting like I was so rude. They would block an aisle and then get upset with me when I was trying to get around them. It was complete chaos. Then I get to the check out and there are 8 lines plus the self checkout, and all of them are so busy the lines are going up the aisles. I waited for probably 45 minutes, with people still glaring when they didn't like that my cart was blocking the fancy feast. Where was I supposed to go? And then it dawned on me, all these people were stocking up for the big storm. At this point I was a little peeved with all of them being peeved with me. This is my time to shop. I am not in their way, they are in my way! I do this every Monday and 99% of them are not there shopping with me. Again, it's why I chose that time. It's peaceful and I don't have to fight my way through the aisles like a ravage beast on the hunt.
Finally, after enough time for my very green bananas to start ripening ( I am serious about this one, I think they turned a bit more yellow while I stood in line) I got out of the store, and managed to make my way home. Just another St Louis, weather related adventure.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Hollywood Dirt
The other night, Mark and I finally decided to watch one of the movies we had stored up on the DVR. We both thought it looked interesting, but afterwards were wondering what we had just watched. In honor of being disturbed, I am now compiling my list of the worst movies ever made. These are the ones that I wonder, what the Hollywood exec was smoking to spend money on it. But also, makes me think that there are a few too many roaming Hollywood needing a psych exam.
I am going to categorize these films, into stupid chick flicks and then more serious films, only because I sort of expect my chick flicks to be cheesey and campy, but once the cross a certain line, there's no going back. So let's dive in shall we.
Serious Films:
Alpha Dog: Yes ladies, I know Justin Timberlake was in this film, and I love him too, but no amount of JT was going to save this film. Also, I get that it's a real life story, but not every real life story should be saved for all posterity on film. I mean did I really need to watch Ben Foster take a crap on some guys carpet? (ruined my fond memories of him as Tucker on Flash Forward.) Did I really need to bear witness to a bunch of rich kids, who had nothing better to do with their time then sell drugs, and then let a kid die because his brother messed up? I get it, there is a lesson in this movie, but really I could have just opened my Bible and read anything Jesus said and gotten the message.
History of Violence: Now I do realize this is a controversial entry. I get it, it was a graphic novel, and it was stupendous, but maybe if I had read this novel I would have actually gotten the point of this movie. I mean did I need to see Viggo Mortenson's character violate his wife on the stairs? Not so much. I really didn't get the point. Yes, he used to kill people and decided to go for a more domesticated life, but I really didn't get anything else beyond that. Maybe I am just stupid, or perhaps and more likely, I was too distracted by him attacking his wife on the stairs to even care what was going on.
The Box: The movie that started this whole list into motion. I thought it was going to be a story about a moral dilema and the consequences. A couple is given a box by a mysterious stranger and told if they push the button they will recieve a million dollars, however, someone they don't know somewhere in the world will die. I thought this could be intriguing, but by the time unseen aliens who are testing human beings were brought into the mix, and we were having mind control brain hemmoraging that caused nose bleeds, I really was just wondering why. Why take a movie with so much potential and ruin it with aliens, and a Steven Spielberg rendition of salvation? (I don't believe he actually played any part in this movie, the guy just loves aliens.) Afterwards I felt disturbed and wondering who approved this garbage? They could at least do us all a favor and file it under sci-fi thriller.
The Weatherman: You knew Nick Cage had to make an appearance somewhere, and well, here it is. I guess I am naive because I actually thought this was going to be a movie about a weatherman, not a film about a perverted loser. Let's just say he worries a little too much about how tight his pre-pubescent daughters pants are, and not in a child molestor way, but I didn't need to here the inner thoughts of his character on this one. I understand playing darker roles make you a more serious actor, but honestly this was a terrible movie, with nothing in it to make it worthy of my time. I don't need to see a loser, who's divorced try to get some and here his inner monologue on top of it.
I Know Who Killed Me: Oh if I could take back seeing this disgraceful film. I didn't want to see it the day I walked into the theatre, but a group of friends peer pressured me into it, and since I didn't have my own car, they won. This film stars Lindsay Lohan, as a twin, one a good girl who likes to flirt with the gardner, and the other a stripper. They've been seperated at birth. Well good girl gets kidnapped by a serial killer, and it gets weirder as we move along. They mistake the stripper twin for the good girl, and it is the stripper who finally decides she needs to find her long lost twin. Sometimes we see child stars transition to adult films by taking characters that they feel show they are grown up. I honestly believe Lindsay wanted to show that she was grown up now and could do stripper and sex scenes. Well as we can see now, growing up wasn't the best choice for Lilo. What makes me hate this movie even more besides the ridiculous plot line, is that Julia Ormand signed on for this after years off to raise her family. I mean this is what you chose to use as your vehicle back into films?
The Happening: We've all seen that M. Night has been losing his touch with each movie he makes. This was I guess his call for all of us to wake up and take care of mother earth, because she is getting pissed, and if we don't the plants will release a neurotoxin that will make us all kill ourselves. I was very disturbed after watching this. I honestly felt that M. Night just wanted to come up with as many ways people could commit suicide and film it. I get the green cause, but to go this far to ingrain it in my head is a bit much. I mean coming into a town where everyone had hung themselves from the trees, or watching the implications when a man lays down in front of a running lawn mower, just disgusting. And my favorite thing is the wind being the villian. We must outrun the wind. Umm good luck with that?
The Village: Yet another M. Night film. Many might disagree with me on this one, but more or less I found it stupid, and for a scardy cat like me to find it not frightening at all says something. Plus it was more or less a poor remake of "Of Mice and Men." I mean that's what this movie adds up to. And really when we pit Steinbeck, one of the greatest word smiths against M. Night, we know who wins.
Jumper: I'm not really sure if this is a serious film, I mean it does have Hayden Christenson in it. This probably could have been an okay movie, but Hayden has a particular way of ruining almost every character he has played, except the ones who are supposed to be whiny ( Stephen Glass in Shattered Glass, and the druggie kid in Life as a House). The whole movie just took itself too seriously, and was just so so bad.
The Chick Flicks:
Honey: Let's start this one off by agreeing that yes, Jessica Alba is an attractive gal, but she cannot act. I get this is more of a teeny bopper film, but Save the Last Dance was good, as was 10 Things I Hate About You, or to go for a non Julia Stiles film, She's All That. This film just felt too contrived. I am going to believe that Jessica Alba is this crazy amazing dancer, I mean the movie didn't really showcase anything worthy of that. Plus the director of the music videoes looks like Mr. Scheuster on drugs. Then they have noted choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson as a not so great choreographer? It was just so stupid. Then we have the whole Mekhai Phifer problem. Mekhai is super hot, and a great actor, but every now and again he choses horrible films. But hey maybe he just wanted to kiss Jessica Alba, I know many men who wouldn't blame him.
Valentine's Day: I know it was in an earlier blog, but of course it had to come back. This was such a waste of space on my DVR. The characters were miscast, made no connection, but that was mostly because there were just too many of them. It just goes to show, you can shove as many A-listers as you want in a film and it doesn't make it good. Plus the Two Taylors, I mean it didn't get worse than that waste of film? Cut them out and the film might have improved and nothing would have happened to the storyline.
Crossroads: I hate to admit I saw this film, but I did. I was in high school and my best friend Marine and I decided what the heck, let's go see this little Britney Spears nightmare. Another horrible storyline. She wants sex, but then she wants to wait until it's meaningful, which will be with a stranger she meets while on a crosscountry trip to find her mother. Her one best friend is pregnant, and of course has the best voice coupled with stage fright. Meaning the Britster is going to have to come out and save the day singing, and also simultaneously ruin a Joan Jett song.
Maid in Manhatten: When this film came out I was excited to go see it with my mother and sister. About 15 minutes in I was so over the cliches I was trying to lasso either of my viewing companions with my sweatshirt. I get that it was Cinderella, but in this day and age, with all the Cinderella stories we have had, if you are going to do it, perhaps give it a new take a la Ever After. Don't give me every cliche in the book and think it will cut it. Also, I am upset that a notable and great actor like Lord Voldemort...I mean Ralph Fiennes would agree to this garbage. The man has won Oscars, and then signs up for this dribble?
From Justin to Kelly: Oh yes, I did just admit that I saw this American Idol film. Luckily it was free on HBO, I didn't waste $10. This film was horrible story, horrible acting, and cliches every which way, all laced in songs to showcase our Idols. It was horrible. It was like a horrible remake of Beach Blanket Bingo, minus the Frankie and Annette magic and Von Zipper. I felt this was honestly Seacrest's idea, I mean the guy is everywhere, and I just can't see Nigel Lythgoe coming up with this idea.
So there you are. The movies I still cannot believe were actually made, and also that I sat through them. There are of course more, but for timesake, these are the ones that made the final cut to this list. A shout out to my PIC Delyssa, who helped me remember all of the movies she and I have ever complained about.
I am going to categorize these films, into stupid chick flicks and then more serious films, only because I sort of expect my chick flicks to be cheesey and campy, but once the cross a certain line, there's no going back. So let's dive in shall we.
Serious Films:
Alpha Dog: Yes ladies, I know Justin Timberlake was in this film, and I love him too, but no amount of JT was going to save this film. Also, I get that it's a real life story, but not every real life story should be saved for all posterity on film. I mean did I really need to watch Ben Foster take a crap on some guys carpet? (ruined my fond memories of him as Tucker on Flash Forward.) Did I really need to bear witness to a bunch of rich kids, who had nothing better to do with their time then sell drugs, and then let a kid die because his brother messed up? I get it, there is a lesson in this movie, but really I could have just opened my Bible and read anything Jesus said and gotten the message.
History of Violence: Now I do realize this is a controversial entry. I get it, it was a graphic novel, and it was stupendous, but maybe if I had read this novel I would have actually gotten the point of this movie. I mean did I need to see Viggo Mortenson's character violate his wife on the stairs? Not so much. I really didn't get the point. Yes, he used to kill people and decided to go for a more domesticated life, but I really didn't get anything else beyond that. Maybe I am just stupid, or perhaps and more likely, I was too distracted by him attacking his wife on the stairs to even care what was going on.
The Box: The movie that started this whole list into motion. I thought it was going to be a story about a moral dilema and the consequences. A couple is given a box by a mysterious stranger and told if they push the button they will recieve a million dollars, however, someone they don't know somewhere in the world will die. I thought this could be intriguing, but by the time unseen aliens who are testing human beings were brought into the mix, and we were having mind control brain hemmoraging that caused nose bleeds, I really was just wondering why. Why take a movie with so much potential and ruin it with aliens, and a Steven Spielberg rendition of salvation? (I don't believe he actually played any part in this movie, the guy just loves aliens.) Afterwards I felt disturbed and wondering who approved this garbage? They could at least do us all a favor and file it under sci-fi thriller.
The Weatherman: You knew Nick Cage had to make an appearance somewhere, and well, here it is. I guess I am naive because I actually thought this was going to be a movie about a weatherman, not a film about a perverted loser. Let's just say he worries a little too much about how tight his pre-pubescent daughters pants are, and not in a child molestor way, but I didn't need to here the inner thoughts of his character on this one. I understand playing darker roles make you a more serious actor, but honestly this was a terrible movie, with nothing in it to make it worthy of my time. I don't need to see a loser, who's divorced try to get some and here his inner monologue on top of it.
I Know Who Killed Me: Oh if I could take back seeing this disgraceful film. I didn't want to see it the day I walked into the theatre, but a group of friends peer pressured me into it, and since I didn't have my own car, they won. This film stars Lindsay Lohan, as a twin, one a good girl who likes to flirt with the gardner, and the other a stripper. They've been seperated at birth. Well good girl gets kidnapped by a serial killer, and it gets weirder as we move along. They mistake the stripper twin for the good girl, and it is the stripper who finally decides she needs to find her long lost twin. Sometimes we see child stars transition to adult films by taking characters that they feel show they are grown up. I honestly believe Lindsay wanted to show that she was grown up now and could do stripper and sex scenes. Well as we can see now, growing up wasn't the best choice for Lilo. What makes me hate this movie even more besides the ridiculous plot line, is that Julia Ormand signed on for this after years off to raise her family. I mean this is what you chose to use as your vehicle back into films?
The Happening: We've all seen that M. Night has been losing his touch with each movie he makes. This was I guess his call for all of us to wake up and take care of mother earth, because she is getting pissed, and if we don't the plants will release a neurotoxin that will make us all kill ourselves. I was very disturbed after watching this. I honestly felt that M. Night just wanted to come up with as many ways people could commit suicide and film it. I get the green cause, but to go this far to ingrain it in my head is a bit much. I mean coming into a town where everyone had hung themselves from the trees, or watching the implications when a man lays down in front of a running lawn mower, just disgusting. And my favorite thing is the wind being the villian. We must outrun the wind. Umm good luck with that?
The Village: Yet another M. Night film. Many might disagree with me on this one, but more or less I found it stupid, and for a scardy cat like me to find it not frightening at all says something. Plus it was more or less a poor remake of "Of Mice and Men." I mean that's what this movie adds up to. And really when we pit Steinbeck, one of the greatest word smiths against M. Night, we know who wins.
Jumper: I'm not really sure if this is a serious film, I mean it does have Hayden Christenson in it. This probably could have been an okay movie, but Hayden has a particular way of ruining almost every character he has played, except the ones who are supposed to be whiny ( Stephen Glass in Shattered Glass, and the druggie kid in Life as a House). The whole movie just took itself too seriously, and was just so so bad.
The Chick Flicks:
Honey: Let's start this one off by agreeing that yes, Jessica Alba is an attractive gal, but she cannot act. I get this is more of a teeny bopper film, but Save the Last Dance was good, as was 10 Things I Hate About You, or to go for a non Julia Stiles film, She's All That. This film just felt too contrived. I am going to believe that Jessica Alba is this crazy amazing dancer, I mean the movie didn't really showcase anything worthy of that. Plus the director of the music videoes looks like Mr. Scheuster on drugs. Then they have noted choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson as a not so great choreographer? It was just so stupid. Then we have the whole Mekhai Phifer problem. Mekhai is super hot, and a great actor, but every now and again he choses horrible films. But hey maybe he just wanted to kiss Jessica Alba, I know many men who wouldn't blame him.
Valentine's Day: I know it was in an earlier blog, but of course it had to come back. This was such a waste of space on my DVR. The characters were miscast, made no connection, but that was mostly because there were just too many of them. It just goes to show, you can shove as many A-listers as you want in a film and it doesn't make it good. Plus the Two Taylors, I mean it didn't get worse than that waste of film? Cut them out and the film might have improved and nothing would have happened to the storyline.
Crossroads: I hate to admit I saw this film, but I did. I was in high school and my best friend Marine and I decided what the heck, let's go see this little Britney Spears nightmare. Another horrible storyline. She wants sex, but then she wants to wait until it's meaningful, which will be with a stranger she meets while on a crosscountry trip to find her mother. Her one best friend is pregnant, and of course has the best voice coupled with stage fright. Meaning the Britster is going to have to come out and save the day singing, and also simultaneously ruin a Joan Jett song.
Maid in Manhatten: When this film came out I was excited to go see it with my mother and sister. About 15 minutes in I was so over the cliches I was trying to lasso either of my viewing companions with my sweatshirt. I get that it was Cinderella, but in this day and age, with all the Cinderella stories we have had, if you are going to do it, perhaps give it a new take a la Ever After. Don't give me every cliche in the book and think it will cut it. Also, I am upset that a notable and great actor like Lord Voldemort...I mean Ralph Fiennes would agree to this garbage. The man has won Oscars, and then signs up for this dribble?
From Justin to Kelly: Oh yes, I did just admit that I saw this American Idol film. Luckily it was free on HBO, I didn't waste $10. This film was horrible story, horrible acting, and cliches every which way, all laced in songs to showcase our Idols. It was horrible. It was like a horrible remake of Beach Blanket Bingo, minus the Frankie and Annette magic and Von Zipper. I felt this was honestly Seacrest's idea, I mean the guy is everywhere, and I just can't see Nigel Lythgoe coming up with this idea.
So there you are. The movies I still cannot believe were actually made, and also that I sat through them. There are of course more, but for timesake, these are the ones that made the final cut to this list. A shout out to my PIC Delyssa, who helped me remember all of the movies she and I have ever complained about.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas....as long as I have a garage!
So I love snow. I've always loved snow. It's just such a fun element. As a kid I thought it was the best thing ever. And why not? You could turn it into weapons, craft it into caves and forts. It can become a mode of transportation, and also be very beneficial to your health, when used for a workout. All these reasons and more are why I love snow. I mean it makes for great Ansel Adams pictures (not that I am equating my skills to his in any way).
You can imagine my exicement when I woke up Sunday morning, looked out the window and saw a beautiful blanket of pure white. It was awesome, I was so excited I just had to wake Mark up from his dead sleep. He told me he knew, that it had started snowing last night, I continued to pester him, apparently he wasn't getting that there was snow outside.
We made our way safely to and from church that morning. We even stopped to pick up ice scrappers and de-icer. All to be prepared. We got in our sweats and had a joyous day, watching the snow come down outside.
Then Monday morning came and it was time for me to grow up. It was as I was trying to get into my vehicle that I realized that snow is great in theory. In reality it can be a HUGE pain in the butt. It's wonderful when you don't have the responsibilities of work, or need to actually get somewhere. It's awesome, basically if you have a garage.
Mark had been a sweetheart and went out and cleared all the snow and ice from my car, however, my locks and door were still frozen shut. "No matter," I thought. For we had bought de-icer. I stuck the little hose in the locks and waited a few seconds (it is after all supposed to be instant de-icer) put my key in, and nothing happened. So I tried again. Still nothing. Now I am getting concerned. I live close to work, but it's 15 degrees out with a real feel of about -2. There is no way I am going to walk and get to work on time. So I start de-icing my door as best as possible, and squirting more de-icer in the lock.
In a panic I call Mark at work, he doesn't pick up. Now I really am screwed. I leave him a frantic message. Cursing at the voicemail lady who takes way to long to give directions for something I know how to do. Finally, I decide to give it one more go. With all my might I twist the key in the lock and it finally turns. I then rip at the door to try to get it open. I sit in my freezing car, and try to get it to start. Finally after a long struggle, the engine just barely turns over. I blast my defroster, and now we are in business.
As I made my way out of the neighborhood and down the street to work, I realized, if I had a garage, I would love snow as much as I did as a kid. It would be a wonderous event everytime I saw flakes. I might still be a little nervous when I got on the roadways, but the minute I pulled back into my garage, I would be so excited. However, not having a garage has made me realize, that while I still love snow, we are not as close of friends as I once thought. Snow is my cool friend, who every now and again gets a little nasty and turns on me. I still want to be snow's friend because it's cool, but at the same time, I now very much distrust it.
You can imagine my exicement when I woke up Sunday morning, looked out the window and saw a beautiful blanket of pure white. It was awesome, I was so excited I just had to wake Mark up from his dead sleep. He told me he knew, that it had started snowing last night, I continued to pester him, apparently he wasn't getting that there was snow outside.
We made our way safely to and from church that morning. We even stopped to pick up ice scrappers and de-icer. All to be prepared. We got in our sweats and had a joyous day, watching the snow come down outside.
Then Monday morning came and it was time for me to grow up. It was as I was trying to get into my vehicle that I realized that snow is great in theory. In reality it can be a HUGE pain in the butt. It's wonderful when you don't have the responsibilities of work, or need to actually get somewhere. It's awesome, basically if you have a garage.
Mark had been a sweetheart and went out and cleared all the snow and ice from my car, however, my locks and door were still frozen shut. "No matter," I thought. For we had bought de-icer. I stuck the little hose in the locks and waited a few seconds (it is after all supposed to be instant de-icer) put my key in, and nothing happened. So I tried again. Still nothing. Now I am getting concerned. I live close to work, but it's 15 degrees out with a real feel of about -2. There is no way I am going to walk and get to work on time. So I start de-icing my door as best as possible, and squirting more de-icer in the lock.
In a panic I call Mark at work, he doesn't pick up. Now I really am screwed. I leave him a frantic message. Cursing at the voicemail lady who takes way to long to give directions for something I know how to do. Finally, I decide to give it one more go. With all my might I twist the key in the lock and it finally turns. I then rip at the door to try to get it open. I sit in my freezing car, and try to get it to start. Finally after a long struggle, the engine just barely turns over. I blast my defroster, and now we are in business.
As I made my way out of the neighborhood and down the street to work, I realized, if I had a garage, I would love snow as much as I did as a kid. It would be a wonderous event everytime I saw flakes. I might still be a little nervous when I got on the roadways, but the minute I pulled back into my garage, I would be so excited. However, not having a garage has made me realize, that while I still love snow, we are not as close of friends as I once thought. Snow is my cool friend, who every now and again gets a little nasty and turns on me. I still want to be snow's friend because it's cool, but at the same time, I now very much distrust it.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Clipping Your Wings
Okay so I had quite a lot of fun watching the drama unfold this morning, while I ate my breakfast. Though keep watching because Tabatha's Salon Takeover is back, and I most certainly will be covering it. So let's get things rolling with Jerseylicious. So Alexa finally got her Glam Factory up and running. The description being a 1960's, Andy Warhol, glammy, Alexa, and now space. So you knew there was going to be a throw down between her and the Gatsby. Though in watching that opening scene, did anyone else realize that she had more employees then just Olivia and Brielle? I mean she gets Gigi and Tracy to help her, but by the looks of things, there are plenty of girls...or was I the only one confused by this?
Meanwhile, Olivia, who is always caught in the middle, is offered the head stylist position, and good, why not. She actually listens to the customer and does more than a smokey eye. So Alexa comes in, and in a very unprofessional manner (though in her defense she did ask to go into Gayle's office) starts basically tellin Gayle to kiss off. Then throws Olivia in the middle. Here's the thing, we get it, you helped shape Olivia, but then you treat her like crap. Why would she want to stay with you, and if the tables were turned am I really going to believe that Alexa wouldn't have taken the head makeup artist position?
Okay, so then we have the Olivia and Briella storyline. Of course, Tracy, takes Briella out for drinks and asks, "Do you really think one person can be that evil?" I think Tracy has made it her goal to make Olivia miserable at every turn, and I think that's why she went after Briella. But what in the world is up with Briella then inviting Tracy to her party? I get it, you want to be nice to people, and it is your birthday, but Olivia is your best friend. Why would she lie to you, and why would you then decide to do that to your best friend? Talk about cold. Where was a life raft when Olivia needed it to get off that booze cruise?
So quickly, Real Housewives. Why oh why doesn't anyone just come out and say that Kim is tone deaf? I mean seriously, Kandi, I respect you girl, but you are starting to lose that. And then having the girlfriend come, who was is just me or did she talk kind of weird and slow. Like she took a lot of awkward pauses. And then wouldn't let anyone talk to her? Why? Just weird if you ask me. And then her daughter abstinence ring. I think it is wonderful of her daughter, but I'm with Nene, the example she's been given does tend to stack the deck against her.
We finally got closure on Sheree's doctor, and wow. I love that he was upset because after three dates when she called on the phone she didn't strike up a conversation with this man's kids whom she had never met. Say what you will about Sheree, but she actually seems like a good mom, no one meets her kids until she is sure they are going to be together for a long time. Then I loved how she asked him to prove he was a doctor. He brought his "transcripts" but then wouldn't show them. And then he wanted her to prove she was a woman...say what? I mean I loved Sheree's reponse when she did her little talking head.
I think we also learned that any photo shoot involving Pheadra and Apollo will turn out creepy. I mean the position they were holding their son in, was just weird. I was hoping that motherhood would make her a little less self absorbed, but that doesn't appear to be happening.
Meanwhile, Olivia, who is always caught in the middle, is offered the head stylist position, and good, why not. She actually listens to the customer and does more than a smokey eye. So Alexa comes in, and in a very unprofessional manner (though in her defense she did ask to go into Gayle's office) starts basically tellin Gayle to kiss off. Then throws Olivia in the middle. Here's the thing, we get it, you helped shape Olivia, but then you treat her like crap. Why would she want to stay with you, and if the tables were turned am I really going to believe that Alexa wouldn't have taken the head makeup artist position?
Okay, so then we have the Olivia and Briella storyline. Of course, Tracy, takes Briella out for drinks and asks, "Do you really think one person can be that evil?" I think Tracy has made it her goal to make Olivia miserable at every turn, and I think that's why she went after Briella. But what in the world is up with Briella then inviting Tracy to her party? I get it, you want to be nice to people, and it is your birthday, but Olivia is your best friend. Why would she lie to you, and why would you then decide to do that to your best friend? Talk about cold. Where was a life raft when Olivia needed it to get off that booze cruise?
So quickly, Real Housewives. Why oh why doesn't anyone just come out and say that Kim is tone deaf? I mean seriously, Kandi, I respect you girl, but you are starting to lose that. And then having the girlfriend come, who was is just me or did she talk kind of weird and slow. Like she took a lot of awkward pauses. And then wouldn't let anyone talk to her? Why? Just weird if you ask me. And then her daughter abstinence ring. I think it is wonderful of her daughter, but I'm with Nene, the example she's been given does tend to stack the deck against her.
We finally got closure on Sheree's doctor, and wow. I love that he was upset because after three dates when she called on the phone she didn't strike up a conversation with this man's kids whom she had never met. Say what you will about Sheree, but she actually seems like a good mom, no one meets her kids until she is sure they are going to be together for a long time. Then I loved how she asked him to prove he was a doctor. He brought his "transcripts" but then wouldn't show them. And then he wanted her to prove she was a woman...say what? I mean I loved Sheree's reponse when she did her little talking head.
I think we also learned that any photo shoot involving Pheadra and Apollo will turn out creepy. I mean the position they were holding their son in, was just weird. I was hoping that motherhood would make her a little less self absorbed, but that doesn't appear to be happening.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Steaming hot...garbage
Okay, so I watched Valentine's Day for the first time, and wow, what a terrible movie. I think it was supposed to be this year's He's Just Not That In to You. However, it really missed the mark. I think for starters there were too many characters. I mean you have the old couple that have been together forever (Hector Elinzando (or however you spell it) and Shirley McLane), the florist (Ashton Kutcher), his fiance (Jessica Alba), and his best friend a teacher (Jennifer Garner), who just started dating a doctor (Patrick Dempsey), who is married. We have two high school couples, one of which is played by the Taylors (no worries, we'll get to them). The little boy who is grandson to the old couple, and who is babysat by one of the high school girls. Wow, and that's only a partial list. We still have Topher Grace who starts seeing a completely miscast Anne Hathaway. We have Jessica Biel, Jamie Foxx, Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, McSteamy from Grey's Anatomy, George Lopez, and what the heck, let's throw in some Queen Latifah to top it all off.
Now think about this, He's Just Not That In To You had about 9 people to care about. Valentine's Day has so many people you don't really care about any of them. And then there were so many miscasts. Jessica Biel as the PR rep who is neurotic, while Anne Hathaway is the receptionist who also does 1-900 calls on the side, with horrible Russian and Southern accents. Ashton Kutcher and Jennifer Garner are best friends, somehow I just don't see that line up, maybe her and Bradley Cooper, or her and Patrick Dempsey, but I don't see Ashton for that role.
And the acting, even Shirley McLane had me giggling to myself. I mean seriously, I think I giggled harder at this acting attempt then I did at all her talk of past lives and the what. Then we have two wastes of space, the Taylors. Lautner and Swift, who don't know. Wow, I mean we knew he was bad, but she wasn't much better. Part of me thinks it's his voice that makes him such a bad actor. Like the way he sounds, his voice, all of it, just screams, hi I am a good looking kid who can't act. It really felt like we could have cut them and the film would have moved along perhaps a little bit smoother.
The plot, for those wondering, is looking around the greater Los Angelas area and seeing how people celebrate Valentine's Day and what is going on in these particular characters' lives. You get all the cliched storylines, no deep thoughts on this, and basically a whole lot of characters, with no depth to make you care.
Okay so no we must move onto The Real ousewives of Atlanta. So Phaedra went into labor. I love how she says the doctors have different theories about how the baby develops, and I love that Dwight is in on the whole thing. I mean when even Kim Zolciak can break it down for you, and explain that actually it's a science, you know that you are heaping out garbage. Babies take 40 weeks to develop. And it was actually kind of refreshing to see that Kim actually did get her degree in nursing and knew what she was talking about. It does give a glimmer of hope...probably not.
I mean we all know why Phaedra was lying, but at this point she's in her thirties. I am not condoning a baby out of wedlock, but seriously, is her mom that much in denial, that she is also going to believe that by some miracle Phaedra's baby is fully developed at 7 months and they are going to induce? I mean honestly, they got married, so what is there to be upset about? You can't go back and change it, do you really need to live in denial?
And then we have Sheree's doctor. I love how upset he was getting because they were asking him questions. I mean I get it, no one wants to be grilled, but what do you expect when you have scandals surrounding you? I also love that he got his doctorate online? Can you even do that? I love what Kandi said, "Dr Kandi Buress, that has a nice ring to it." I have the same thoughts. Heck I can start working on a few more online degrees. It's like getting ordained online, of course you can do it, but beyond performing a wedding ceremony, are you going to trust an online reverand to preach to you?
Now think about this, He's Just Not That In To You had about 9 people to care about. Valentine's Day has so many people you don't really care about any of them. And then there were so many miscasts. Jessica Biel as the PR rep who is neurotic, while Anne Hathaway is the receptionist who also does 1-900 calls on the side, with horrible Russian and Southern accents. Ashton Kutcher and Jennifer Garner are best friends, somehow I just don't see that line up, maybe her and Bradley Cooper, or her and Patrick Dempsey, but I don't see Ashton for that role.
And the acting, even Shirley McLane had me giggling to myself. I mean seriously, I think I giggled harder at this acting attempt then I did at all her talk of past lives and the what. Then we have two wastes of space, the Taylors. Lautner and Swift, who don't know. Wow, I mean we knew he was bad, but she wasn't much better. Part of me thinks it's his voice that makes him such a bad actor. Like the way he sounds, his voice, all of it, just screams, hi I am a good looking kid who can't act. It really felt like we could have cut them and the film would have moved along perhaps a little bit smoother.
The plot, for those wondering, is looking around the greater Los Angelas area and seeing how people celebrate Valentine's Day and what is going on in these particular characters' lives. You get all the cliched storylines, no deep thoughts on this, and basically a whole lot of characters, with no depth to make you care.
Okay so no we must move onto The Real ousewives of Atlanta. So Phaedra went into labor. I love how she says the doctors have different theories about how the baby develops, and I love that Dwight is in on the whole thing. I mean when even Kim Zolciak can break it down for you, and explain that actually it's a science, you know that you are heaping out garbage. Babies take 40 weeks to develop. And it was actually kind of refreshing to see that Kim actually did get her degree in nursing and knew what she was talking about. It does give a glimmer of hope...probably not.
I mean we all know why Phaedra was lying, but at this point she's in her thirties. I am not condoning a baby out of wedlock, but seriously, is her mom that much in denial, that she is also going to believe that by some miracle Phaedra's baby is fully developed at 7 months and they are going to induce? I mean honestly, they got married, so what is there to be upset about? You can't go back and change it, do you really need to live in denial?
And then we have Sheree's doctor. I love how upset he was getting because they were asking him questions. I mean I get it, no one wants to be grilled, but what do you expect when you have scandals surrounding you? I also love that he got his doctorate online? Can you even do that? I love what Kandi said, "Dr Kandi Buress, that has a nice ring to it." I have the same thoughts. Heck I can start working on a few more online degrees. It's like getting ordained online, of course you can do it, but beyond performing a wedding ceremony, are you going to trust an online reverand to preach to you?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Customer Service, Where did you go?
Is anyone else wondering where customer service seems to have gone? I know I am. Let me be clear here, I totally get it from the other side. I worked at Starbuck's and I am presently working for GAP. I totally get when there is a pain in the butt customer you would rather just walk off from then help, but that isn't every customer. And that doesn't mean I excuse being lazy or complacent with your job. Every pain in the butt customer, as long as they didn't overstep their bounds, I gritted my teeth and did what needed to be done. it also motivated me to move faster, the sooner I got them what they wanted, the sooner they were out of my hair.
So let's move to what happened today. I am doing my usual run to the grocery store, and let me tell you, we needed it. My mom gave me a delightful recipe (though as I recall, as a child I wasn't so fond of this recipe. Hey it's low cal, you do what you gotta do.) of cornbread over ground turkey. I was looking for the cornbread, and for the life of me could not find it. I went to the baking section near the flour and cornmeal, but alas, no jiffy blue box was found. So I thought, maybe I'll try near the cakes and breads. Nope. I found the Jiffy brownies, but no cornbread. So I gave up, thinking when I get to the checkout I will ask them.
I step up to the check out lane, and the fun begins. Apparently the lady in front of me and the clerk were best of friends and hadn't seen each other in years. Don't get me wrong here, I am not against people chatting and catching up, however, when you are at work, I expect you to realize it and do what you're getting paid to do. So I am loading my groceries, the lady is finished checking out, and they proceed to talk for another five minutes. She doesn't even start to ring me up, and I need to finish unloading my cart. It was so bad, the gentleman behind me decided to go to another check out.
Finally, she starts ringing me up. As I am finishing unloading my cart I ask, "Do you carry cornbread mix here, I looked with all the baking supplies and couldn't find it." Both the clerk and the bagger, who just waled up respond, "Oh yes, it's with the flour and cornmeal." I then stated, "I checked there." "Oh," they both say, "well that's where it would be." Now mind you I am still unloading my cart. "Would you like to go look?" Yes that is what they asked me. Would I like to go look? Considering that I just told you that I did look and couldn't find it, no. I want you to do your job, stop bagging my groceries, waddle your hind end back there. You work here, you know exactly where it should be, you go find it. I am not going to leave all my groceries, and my purse and everything else to go search for an item that I already spent 10 minutes looking for twice. Are they not getting paid? Did I misunderstand something?
Now here me out, if it was just the bagger, I would not expect her to leave her post to go look. I would expect her to get on her loud speaker and ask one of the many stockers to get it. But since we had a bagger, that's what I expect her to do. Don't get me wrong, I am not being lazy either, but since I already had difficulty, all I am wanting here is some help. Too much to ask for? Apparently.
So let's move to what happened today. I am doing my usual run to the grocery store, and let me tell you, we needed it. My mom gave me a delightful recipe (though as I recall, as a child I wasn't so fond of this recipe. Hey it's low cal, you do what you gotta do.) of cornbread over ground turkey. I was looking for the cornbread, and for the life of me could not find it. I went to the baking section near the flour and cornmeal, but alas, no jiffy blue box was found. So I thought, maybe I'll try near the cakes and breads. Nope. I found the Jiffy brownies, but no cornbread. So I gave up, thinking when I get to the checkout I will ask them.
I step up to the check out lane, and the fun begins. Apparently the lady in front of me and the clerk were best of friends and hadn't seen each other in years. Don't get me wrong here, I am not against people chatting and catching up, however, when you are at work, I expect you to realize it and do what you're getting paid to do. So I am loading my groceries, the lady is finished checking out, and they proceed to talk for another five minutes. She doesn't even start to ring me up, and I need to finish unloading my cart. It was so bad, the gentleman behind me decided to go to another check out.
Finally, she starts ringing me up. As I am finishing unloading my cart I ask, "Do you carry cornbread mix here, I looked with all the baking supplies and couldn't find it." Both the clerk and the bagger, who just waled up respond, "Oh yes, it's with the flour and cornmeal." I then stated, "I checked there." "Oh," they both say, "well that's where it would be." Now mind you I am still unloading my cart. "Would you like to go look?" Yes that is what they asked me. Would I like to go look? Considering that I just told you that I did look and couldn't find it, no. I want you to do your job, stop bagging my groceries, waddle your hind end back there. You work here, you know exactly where it should be, you go find it. I am not going to leave all my groceries, and my purse and everything else to go search for an item that I already spent 10 minutes looking for twice. Are they not getting paid? Did I misunderstand something?
Now here me out, if it was just the bagger, I would not expect her to leave her post to go look. I would expect her to get on her loud speaker and ask one of the many stockers to get it. But since we had a bagger, that's what I expect her to do. Don't get me wrong, I am not being lazy either, but since I already had difficulty, all I am wanting here is some help. Too much to ask for? Apparently.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Dinalicous
Oh wow, we've got some stuff to cover. Okay let's start off with Dina Lohan, and get it done with. So Dina went on the today show and FINALLY admitted that her daughter is an addict. She said that well she never said anything before because it wasn't her problem to admit. Lindsay needed to admit it. You know I could buy it if Dina had actually just kept her mouth shut. Then I would believe she wanted to keep this matter private and was waiting for Lindsay to own up, but not our Dina. She was out there crying to the world that her daughter did not have a substance abuse problem. She blamed the judge, she blamed pretty much everyone, instead of saying, "My daughter has a problem, I should shut my mouth and get her some help." And now suddenly it's very convienant that she is now doing an interview saying that she knew all along, but was waiting on Lindsay. Here's the thing Dina, you knew your daughter had a problem, and you did nothing because you are an addict yourself. You are addicted to fame, and as long as your daughter is in the news and relevant it is good news for you. How about you try being a mother, just for once, actually do something that benefits your daughter?
Okay, so on to funnier things, Jerseylicious. Of all the Jersey shows this is the one I can get behind. We aren't seeing the Real World Jersey Shore, which is really all it is. It's the same format as the Real World, they all just happen to be self proclaimed Guidos and Guidettes. Jerseylicious was great this week. Gayle became a Grandma, and is contemplating letting Alexa go. Now I get it, she feels disrespected by Alexa, and Alexa is a trip to be sure, but I don't know that I feel it's all Alexa's fault. If Gayle isn't liking the partnership that's fine, but don't pin everything on Alexa, it does take two here.
Gayle got mad because the Gatsby's name was small on the flyer, but remember she didn't actually want the flyer. Turns out that Alexa's flyer idea was actually a good one. Some of the residents had them and came because of it. I think Gayle was probably deep down upset on that one that Alexa had a good idea and that because she thought it was stupid her name was smaller and at the bottom. And I honestly felt that Alexa made a good point, how many events has she done that Gayle hasn't put up the Glam Fairy name. Alexa still shows, is a pain in the butt, but does makeup. Also, it's not like there is a sign on the business that says that the Glam Fairy squad is there.
Gayle feels disrespected. Okay how about her basically telling Alexa's client she looked like crap after Alexa did her makeup. Now I agreed with Gayle, it was too much makeup for this woman, and it was a bit much, but if the woman liked it, you don't tell her you think she looked better before. If the customer is happy, then be happy with them. Sure Alexa doesn't listen to people, but if she is still getting business then obviously she isn't doing too bad.
I just think Gayle is done and needs to admit that and move on. Getting mad because Brielle came, she is a part of the Glam Fairy squad, and who cares? It's a charity event, what is so wrong with having an extra set of hands to help out?
And now we come to the shining moment of this episode, the boob job. Oh wow could we have had any better moment? First, Olivia told that she should find the size bra she wants and stuff it with rice and see how big she wants her implaints. So on the street Brielle and her are adjusting these rice patties and looking in business windows, then wondering why everyone is honking. Hello, you're adjusting and playing with your fake ta-tas on the street. Go home and play with them in front of the mirror.
Then, after everyone has told her not to get implants, the day has come and Olivia has the most awesome of melt downs in the office. It starts with the girl getting a reduction. She was a little over aggressive while convincing Olivia, and Brielle went into attack mode, when really it wasn't necessary. But that was it for Olivia, by the time she was changing into her gown she was in full panic attack mode, tears and all. I mean you would have thought the people were attacking her. I was wondering where the drugs were, because she freaked out. I loved, "You can keep my money, and charge me for this dress." As she roams around the parking lot in the hospital robe/gown while the surgeon is just trying to calm her down and talk to her.
Okay, so on to funnier things, Jerseylicious. Of all the Jersey shows this is the one I can get behind. We aren't seeing the Real World Jersey Shore, which is really all it is. It's the same format as the Real World, they all just happen to be self proclaimed Guidos and Guidettes. Jerseylicious was great this week. Gayle became a Grandma, and is contemplating letting Alexa go. Now I get it, she feels disrespected by Alexa, and Alexa is a trip to be sure, but I don't know that I feel it's all Alexa's fault. If Gayle isn't liking the partnership that's fine, but don't pin everything on Alexa, it does take two here.
Gayle got mad because the Gatsby's name was small on the flyer, but remember she didn't actually want the flyer. Turns out that Alexa's flyer idea was actually a good one. Some of the residents had them and came because of it. I think Gayle was probably deep down upset on that one that Alexa had a good idea and that because she thought it was stupid her name was smaller and at the bottom. And I honestly felt that Alexa made a good point, how many events has she done that Gayle hasn't put up the Glam Fairy name. Alexa still shows, is a pain in the butt, but does makeup. Also, it's not like there is a sign on the business that says that the Glam Fairy squad is there.
Gayle feels disrespected. Okay how about her basically telling Alexa's client she looked like crap after Alexa did her makeup. Now I agreed with Gayle, it was too much makeup for this woman, and it was a bit much, but if the woman liked it, you don't tell her you think she looked better before. If the customer is happy, then be happy with them. Sure Alexa doesn't listen to people, but if she is still getting business then obviously she isn't doing too bad.
I just think Gayle is done and needs to admit that and move on. Getting mad because Brielle came, she is a part of the Glam Fairy squad, and who cares? It's a charity event, what is so wrong with having an extra set of hands to help out?
And now we come to the shining moment of this episode, the boob job. Oh wow could we have had any better moment? First, Olivia told that she should find the size bra she wants and stuff it with rice and see how big she wants her implaints. So on the street Brielle and her are adjusting these rice patties and looking in business windows, then wondering why everyone is honking. Hello, you're adjusting and playing with your fake ta-tas on the street. Go home and play with them in front of the mirror.
Then, after everyone has told her not to get implants, the day has come and Olivia has the most awesome of melt downs in the office. It starts with the girl getting a reduction. She was a little over aggressive while convincing Olivia, and Brielle went into attack mode, when really it wasn't necessary. But that was it for Olivia, by the time she was changing into her gown she was in full panic attack mode, tears and all. I mean you would have thought the people were attacking her. I was wondering where the drugs were, because she freaked out. I loved, "You can keep my money, and charge me for this dress." As she roams around the parking lot in the hospital robe/gown while the surgeon is just trying to calm her down and talk to her.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Cannon in Self Love
Okay, sorry it's been so long. Where do we begin? How about the mess that is Charlie Sheen? You know let's start back a while ago, remember when Denise Richards made all those claims about how crazy Charlie was, and everyone was like she's crazy and she's making it up. I'll give you she is fame obsessed, and crazy, but she is a truthful crazy.
Next we hear that Charlie is really taking his sobriety seriously. He showed up on the set to Two and a Half Men and was all business. Well yeah, of course he was. That's his cash cow. He's an addict not an idiot. He's getting paid 2 million dollars an episode on one of the most overrated shows on television. I'll believe that he actually takes his sobriety seriously when he checks into rehab and actually deals with the issue. Somehow to me a "sober coach" who helps give you spiritual guidance doesn't seem like it's going to really contribute. After the story we heard of a coke fueld rage, I am thinking he needs a little more than "sober coach."
And yet another Disney star going through troubles. I just have to know what is going on with these kids? If we don't have Miley Cyrus stripping down and showing us "how grown up she is" then we have every female Disney employee dating Joe Jonas. You think they would get the message that this guy is just one big heart breaker. So now we have Demi Lovato in rehab, after partying and going a little crazt. Here's the thing, you're 18, life will go on. You'll find another pair of eyebrows that desperately need to be plucked to love. That's the problem. All of these Disney stars have been allowed to think they are so "grown up." They are kids and they still need someone to look out for them.
And speaking of parental intervention, Taylor Momsen, flashing tapped over nipples at her concerts. Okay the girl is 17, and her mom is at the concerts. Great mothering, when you daughter ends up with either STDs or knocked up please at least pretend to be shocked, someone has to because the rest of us won't be.
Leann Rimes and Eddie Ciribian (or however you spell his name) had a self-righteous interview with Robin Roberts. Apparently she has accepted being called a homewrecker and everything else. My problem here with Ms. Rimes is that I think she cares a little bit too much about being apart of everyone's life. And now she found a man that enjoys the spotlight just as much as she does. Personally, I don't need her justification that she's human and everyone makes mistakes, and that cheating is not who she is, she just fell in love. Okay, so here's the thing she is a cheater, and obviously it was low on her morality list, or she would have either a: realized she had a problem with her marriage, or b: gone to her now ex-husband and said it's over and then entered into a relationship. She can try to rationalize and explain her behavior any way she wants, but love is not going to make this right. The reason because she was right, it was love, but her decision was more about self love then anything else.
And last, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon confirmed she's pregnant. Congratulations to them, but honestly, do any of us really care? I know it's like the one piece of entertainment news that was sparkly and happy, but honestly I don't care about what the cougar and her boytoy are doing. Congratulations, you don't need to go on every talk show. The two of them annoy me, everything feels like it's just a way to get more spotlight....hmmm.....this sounds very familiar to the paragraph that proceeded this one, and really even the Disney kids and Charlie Sheen. They all think we should care about them. But back to the Cannons, hopefully her doctor will advise her that since she is so prone to exhaustion (mental breakdown a few years ago anyone?) that she should go home and rest out of the spotlight until the baby is let's say 10.
Next we hear that Charlie is really taking his sobriety seriously. He showed up on the set to Two and a Half Men and was all business. Well yeah, of course he was. That's his cash cow. He's an addict not an idiot. He's getting paid 2 million dollars an episode on one of the most overrated shows on television. I'll believe that he actually takes his sobriety seriously when he checks into rehab and actually deals with the issue. Somehow to me a "sober coach" who helps give you spiritual guidance doesn't seem like it's going to really contribute. After the story we heard of a coke fueld rage, I am thinking he needs a little more than "sober coach."
And yet another Disney star going through troubles. I just have to know what is going on with these kids? If we don't have Miley Cyrus stripping down and showing us "how grown up she is" then we have every female Disney employee dating Joe Jonas. You think they would get the message that this guy is just one big heart breaker. So now we have Demi Lovato in rehab, after partying and going a little crazt. Here's the thing, you're 18, life will go on. You'll find another pair of eyebrows that desperately need to be plucked to love. That's the problem. All of these Disney stars have been allowed to think they are so "grown up." They are kids and they still need someone to look out for them.
And speaking of parental intervention, Taylor Momsen, flashing tapped over nipples at her concerts. Okay the girl is 17, and her mom is at the concerts. Great mothering, when you daughter ends up with either STDs or knocked up please at least pretend to be shocked, someone has to because the rest of us won't be.
Leann Rimes and Eddie Ciribian (or however you spell his name) had a self-righteous interview with Robin Roberts. Apparently she has accepted being called a homewrecker and everything else. My problem here with Ms. Rimes is that I think she cares a little bit too much about being apart of everyone's life. And now she found a man that enjoys the spotlight just as much as she does. Personally, I don't need her justification that she's human and everyone makes mistakes, and that cheating is not who she is, she just fell in love. Okay, so here's the thing she is a cheater, and obviously it was low on her morality list, or she would have either a: realized she had a problem with her marriage, or b: gone to her now ex-husband and said it's over and then entered into a relationship. She can try to rationalize and explain her behavior any way she wants, but love is not going to make this right. The reason because she was right, it was love, but her decision was more about self love then anything else.
And last, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon confirmed she's pregnant. Congratulations to them, but honestly, do any of us really care? I know it's like the one piece of entertainment news that was sparkly and happy, but honestly I don't care about what the cougar and her boytoy are doing. Congratulations, you don't need to go on every talk show. The two of them annoy me, everything feels like it's just a way to get more spotlight....hmmm.....this sounds very familiar to the paragraph that proceeded this one, and really even the Disney kids and Charlie Sheen. They all think we should care about them. But back to the Cannons, hopefully her doctor will advise her that since she is so prone to exhaustion (mental breakdown a few years ago anyone?) that she should go home and rest out of the spotlight until the baby is let's say 10.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Real Housewives
Okay, so I know that this show is sooo trashy at times, but for some reason I can't get enough of the drama. And really after the episode I just saw it is time to finally blog about it. So this season, thus far, has had quite the drama and goings on. We got two new ladies, and well we still have Kim.
I have to say that Phaedra is really an interesting woman to me. I think Cynthia called it when she said that Phaedra is her biggest cheerleader. She keeps talking about how much a Southern Belle she is, and how she loves the classier things because of how she was raised. She says it so much though, that it almost makes me wonder if it's true. Like actually, your parents are pastors who raised you in a normal home, but because you have such a high profile job and are around all of these people, you feel the need to impress and let everyone know that you are Miss Manners and the like.
So I, for the most part, got over her constant ribbing of her husband growing up in a white home. I do realize that there are probably differences, however I was raised in a white home and I would say I can appreciate the finer things. Her talking about how her husband is used to canned food because of his white upbringing, are we sure this isn't from his prison days? I mean last I checked the prisoners aren't eating Wulf Gang Puck in prison, though if we let the ACLU know that might have that changed quickly. I mean my parents have always made nice wholesome food, and now I do the same. I think that is probably more of a social upbringing then anything to do with color.
So her baby shower...can we really call it that? 150-200 guests that is insane, but great for the baby. Think of everything that baby is going to have. Though I do hope a few of them pulled together for some big ticket items, how many stuffed animals does a kid need? Then she has ballerina's and everything else. I am sure she appreciates the arts, but how about throwing that party at a different day. I liked how all of the other ladies put it, sit down, open your presents, and eat some cake. This doesn't need to look like your second wedding. And the rhinestones on the eye. I am all about bling and glitter and looking fabulous, but that was a bit much. She has such beautiful eyes, do they really need to be bedazzled?
I have to say that Phaedra is really an interesting woman to me. I think Cynthia called it when she said that Phaedra is her biggest cheerleader. She keeps talking about how much a Southern Belle she is, and how she loves the classier things because of how she was raised. She says it so much though, that it almost makes me wonder if it's true. Like actually, your parents are pastors who raised you in a normal home, but because you have such a high profile job and are around all of these people, you feel the need to impress and let everyone know that you are Miss Manners and the like.
So I, for the most part, got over her constant ribbing of her husband growing up in a white home. I do realize that there are probably differences, however I was raised in a white home and I would say I can appreciate the finer things. Her talking about how her husband is used to canned food because of his white upbringing, are we sure this isn't from his prison days? I mean last I checked the prisoners aren't eating Wulf Gang Puck in prison, though if we let the ACLU know that might have that changed quickly. I mean my parents have always made nice wholesome food, and now I do the same. I think that is probably more of a social upbringing then anything to do with color.
So her baby shower...can we really call it that? 150-200 guests that is insane, but great for the baby. Think of everything that baby is going to have. Though I do hope a few of them pulled together for some big ticket items, how many stuffed animals does a kid need? Then she has ballerina's and everything else. I am sure she appreciates the arts, but how about throwing that party at a different day. I liked how all of the other ladies put it, sit down, open your presents, and eat some cake. This doesn't need to look like your second wedding. And the rhinestones on the eye. I am all about bling and glitter and looking fabulous, but that was a bit much. She has such beautiful eyes, do they really need to be bedazzled?
Friday, October 22, 2010
Gap Toothed Bride and Other News
So apparently Hillary Duff's tooth fell out three hours before her wedding, so she told Ellen DeGeneres. Now I don't watch Ellen, so I don't know the whole story, just what People Magazine printed. Does anyone else find this odd? I mean what were you doing three hours before your wedding that your tooth fell out? I mean you would either have to have rotting teeth, have hit it extremely hard, or pulled it out?
Onto the next rant, Lindsay Lohan. Yes, we all need to say a prayer for that girl, but I almost think jail would have been good for her. Why is she any better than any other junkie? What the court really needs to do is get her clean and away from her destructive family and around people who actually care for her.
OC Housewives news, Vicki split from Donn. This seems so weird after the vow renewal. I never like to see a marriage dissolve, but from the way the show painted it, Donn was last on Vickie's list. Now my question is how long before he and Gena are dating? Does anyone else remember how Gena seemed to think Donn was a catch?? Anyone else remember that?
Last: Kim Kardashian's $1 million birthday cake. I mean really? I was glad to hear she had nothing to do with it, and thought they should give her a cupcake and donate the rest. But considering this girl just had a week of Birthday parties, shouldn't she have donated some of that money? You know maybe I should start talking with Mark. My birthday is a week apart from Valentine's day, maybe this is the perfect way to incorporate love and my birthday. We better call a planner.
Onto the next rant, Lindsay Lohan. Yes, we all need to say a prayer for that girl, but I almost think jail would have been good for her. Why is she any better than any other junkie? What the court really needs to do is get her clean and away from her destructive family and around people who actually care for her.
OC Housewives news, Vicki split from Donn. This seems so weird after the vow renewal. I never like to see a marriage dissolve, but from the way the show painted it, Donn was last on Vickie's list. Now my question is how long before he and Gena are dating? Does anyone else remember how Gena seemed to think Donn was a catch?? Anyone else remember that?
Last: Kim Kardashian's $1 million birthday cake. I mean really? I was glad to hear she had nothing to do with it, and thought they should give her a cupcake and donate the rest. But considering this girl just had a week of Birthday parties, shouldn't she have donated some of that money? You know maybe I should start talking with Mark. My birthday is a week apart from Valentine's day, maybe this is the perfect way to incorporate love and my birthday. We better call a planner.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Missouri on the roads.
After having lived in three states, it has become a trait to examine how people in different states drive. This trait I have definitely inherited from my mother. So let's examine this shall we?
California, well we are all in a race to get somewhere, and pretty much self consumed jerks, who cut you off and race ahead of the line, just sure that we'll be the ones to beat traffic and get there first. Californians are a little too enthusiastic about merging, they don't care if there isn't room for you to get over, they are coming into your lane any ways. And hey at least we all know how to speed together, except for the overly cautious and Prius drivers.
Idaho, well they don't know how to merge at all. It's like they are waiting for a signed invitation to get onto the freeway. It doesn't help that nobody actually moves over so there is a chance of you being able to get on the freeway. So you better be good at eyeballing it.
Then we come to Washington. My mother didn't think that there were any worse drivers until we moved to Washington. How can people who pretty much deal with rain EVERY day, be so scared of it. When they get on the roadways they all act like they have never seen precipitation before. As if that weren't bad enough, there is no knowledge of why the fast lane was created. You have people going 10mph under the speed limit sitting out in the left lane, and no clue that perhaps their best placement would be in the right lane. And they wonder why they have such bad traffic. Washingtonians are weird mergers, halfway between an Idaho and a California. They want an invitation, but then get fed up and agressively attack whatever space may or may not be there. So obviously traffic is a nightmare. Add in some Canadian drivers (I'm not even going to open that can of worms) and you have one big mess.
So now let's look at Missouri, at least the St. Louis area. Okay, first off, these people LOVE their horns. They will honk because they don't like what you are doing. Example A: Today I was coming home from my run in the park. They are doing construction on a street called Skinker, so in my direction it narrows down to one lane. I was behind a semi, and coming up to a light where I need to turn right. There were cones blocking the right lane almost all the way up to the light, and where they stopped the cones, there was only enough room for the semi, who needed to be in the right lane. This meant that I had to partially block the one lane because I couldn't get completely over. The lady behind me kept pounding on the horn. Now what am I supposed to do? I need to turn right so I can't just stay in the lane I was in, it's on the left hand side and goes straight. But there wasn't quite enough room for me to get over, so my little trunk had to stick out. Lay on your horn all you want, there is no other way this is going to play out.
Here's another shining example. Mark and I went to an event that didn't serve dinner. So afterwards, when it was late, we went to a drive-thru to get him something quick to eat. Now I am totally with everyone in that drive-thru, it could not have moved any slower. We are talking they took an order about once every ten minutes. We had four cars in front of us, and by the time we got to the speaker we have about five more. While waiting, a car a couple cars behind us starts honking. Really, you're going to start honking. We're all trapped in this one little lane and we can only goes as fast as those serving us. Pipe down, you'll get your fatty burger and milkshake.
Next, there is the issue of people consistantly taking up two lanes. It's like no one understands that they are supposed to stay within the lines. We're not in Kindergarden here. I am constantly worried when I go to pass someone that they might come over on top of me.
Last, we have the aggressive behavior. They see a spot, and it doesn't matter that another car might becoming too closely, if they think it's their spot, the go for it. When getting on the freeway, same situation, they know how to merge, and they will merge on top of you if need be. Sadly, since I don't like to get in accidents, I have had way too many times where the horn and aggression come together. Someone decided for me that I should have pulled out in front of an oncoming car to claim a space, but I wasn't on the same page. So I have to sit there listening to their horn.
Okay, so there's my rant for the morning. Just remember when you come to Missouri, be prepared to be crazy on the roadway, all while doing the speed limit and honking your horn.
California, well we are all in a race to get somewhere, and pretty much self consumed jerks, who cut you off and race ahead of the line, just sure that we'll be the ones to beat traffic and get there first. Californians are a little too enthusiastic about merging, they don't care if there isn't room for you to get over, they are coming into your lane any ways. And hey at least we all know how to speed together, except for the overly cautious and Prius drivers.
Idaho, well they don't know how to merge at all. It's like they are waiting for a signed invitation to get onto the freeway. It doesn't help that nobody actually moves over so there is a chance of you being able to get on the freeway. So you better be good at eyeballing it.
Then we come to Washington. My mother didn't think that there were any worse drivers until we moved to Washington. How can people who pretty much deal with rain EVERY day, be so scared of it. When they get on the roadways they all act like they have never seen precipitation before. As if that weren't bad enough, there is no knowledge of why the fast lane was created. You have people going 10mph under the speed limit sitting out in the left lane, and no clue that perhaps their best placement would be in the right lane. And they wonder why they have such bad traffic. Washingtonians are weird mergers, halfway between an Idaho and a California. They want an invitation, but then get fed up and agressively attack whatever space may or may not be there. So obviously traffic is a nightmare. Add in some Canadian drivers (I'm not even going to open that can of worms) and you have one big mess.
So now let's look at Missouri, at least the St. Louis area. Okay, first off, these people LOVE their horns. They will honk because they don't like what you are doing. Example A: Today I was coming home from my run in the park. They are doing construction on a street called Skinker, so in my direction it narrows down to one lane. I was behind a semi, and coming up to a light where I need to turn right. There were cones blocking the right lane almost all the way up to the light, and where they stopped the cones, there was only enough room for the semi, who needed to be in the right lane. This meant that I had to partially block the one lane because I couldn't get completely over. The lady behind me kept pounding on the horn. Now what am I supposed to do? I need to turn right so I can't just stay in the lane I was in, it's on the left hand side and goes straight. But there wasn't quite enough room for me to get over, so my little trunk had to stick out. Lay on your horn all you want, there is no other way this is going to play out.
Here's another shining example. Mark and I went to an event that didn't serve dinner. So afterwards, when it was late, we went to a drive-thru to get him something quick to eat. Now I am totally with everyone in that drive-thru, it could not have moved any slower. We are talking they took an order about once every ten minutes. We had four cars in front of us, and by the time we got to the speaker we have about five more. While waiting, a car a couple cars behind us starts honking. Really, you're going to start honking. We're all trapped in this one little lane and we can only goes as fast as those serving us. Pipe down, you'll get your fatty burger and milkshake.
Next, there is the issue of people consistantly taking up two lanes. It's like no one understands that they are supposed to stay within the lines. We're not in Kindergarden here. I am constantly worried when I go to pass someone that they might come over on top of me.
Last, we have the aggressive behavior. They see a spot, and it doesn't matter that another car might becoming too closely, if they think it's their spot, the go for it. When getting on the freeway, same situation, they know how to merge, and they will merge on top of you if need be. Sadly, since I don't like to get in accidents, I have had way too many times where the horn and aggression come together. Someone decided for me that I should have pulled out in front of an oncoming car to claim a space, but I wasn't on the same page. So I have to sit there listening to their horn.
Okay, so there's my rant for the morning. Just remember when you come to Missouri, be prepared to be crazy on the roadway, all while doing the speed limit and honking your horn.
Monday, October 18, 2010
The First Tamale
Well okay, I decided to use my time to start blogging about my life here in St Louis, Missouri, but also all of the television that I watch, as well as pop culture events. Since I seem to watch all of the guilty pleasure television (that I know you're all watching) I thought, what the heck why not put my thoughts down. Also, since I am fresh off my move, why not chronicle my day-to-day journies of looking for a job, navigating my way around a foreign city, and just living life in general.
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