Media Consumers Anonymous

It happened again. I just wanted to rent a movie. But it's like a flood gate or a bag of potato chips. Once you get through one, you're adrenaline is up and you're in the mood to watch as many as possible. This is why Netflix will destroy me. After a very modest two movie rental of Bridesmaids and Source Code, we returned to Blockbuster and rented Tropic Thunder, Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans, Interview With the Vampire, 28 Weeks Later, and the Swedish version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. 

I have to say about Bridesmaids that I was concerned the hype would overshadow the laughs. I also have a problem with uncomfortable misunderstandings, which means I never should have enjoyed a sitcom produced in the last three decades, but sadly what happened is I felt Bridesmaids was a little too close to home with my own life. I have relationships with the financially well off perfectionist that must have things her way before others can proceed. I felt for Annie's being left behind while others move on with grown up life. It was over the top, yes, but I felt the stinger in this movie. Also, how the hell can all these women fly first class? Just a bit of an irritation on my part. Good laughs.

When I sleepily awoke on Sunday to get through four of the remaining five on our second trip(damn you one day rentals). Interview With the Vampire was better than I remember. Though I was very young and freaking out over the nudity then. Then after seeing the scene with the theater of vampires disguised as humans playing vampires, my husband casually commented it was just like Tropic Thunder's "I'm the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude."

We moved onto Bad Lieutenant and it hit me again. Hmmm, New Orleans, like the beginning of Interview With the Vampire. Wait, producing heroin, just like Tropic Thunder. That's pretty strange. Well, there's no way that two foreign....wait is that Rose Byrne in 28 Weeks Later? Man, she's pretty. And cooler when she's not being a haughty bitch.

We knew if we dug deep enough, we'd find links to Source Code and Dragon Tattoo, but then it isn't just a casual observation that's kind of cool. Then it's actively trying to figure it out and that's a little sad. It's sort of like the weekend I watched Thank You For Smoking and 27 Dresses in the same weekend and Melora Hardin is in both. I also saw Enchanted, but the James Marsden connection isn't a big surprise. Just a bonus.

So now that I'm free of my rental obligations and back on my regular schedule, I need a nap. It was ten bucks for a night of rentals and I know that's a month of Netflix (Or is it? What is up with the new price structure? I can't find any news coverage of it.), but I know I won't be doing this again far a while. Especially with the holidays coming up. Maybe I'll just go back to the library. A crappy selecting will remind me it's better to use my time folding laundry.

Clooooone!

Futurama
C-SPAN9 Debate
www.comedycentral.com
Comedy Central Funny TV Shows Roast of Charlie Sheen

Does anyone else think of this episode of Futurama when they watch Mitt Romney and Rick Perry in the debates? This runs parallel to my theory that the Simpsons can predict the future. Now that Furturama is doing it, my head is spinning. The part when Fry brings up not being vaccinated is an especially nice touch to the theory.

Summer Adventures 2011

And clearly I'm just cleaning my calendar of notes out and posting to the internets today so here is my final adventure count.

Went to Half Moon Bay for clam chowder in a bread bowl, but originally said I would go to Monterey. Saw Doug Benson which I posted earlier. While going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium I stopped by for three bowls of chowder. It turns out you can go to a Monterey and have bad chowder. You just have to not go to a bar and grill. Avoid those and go to a fish restaurant. It's all overpriced so just suck it up. Fish Hopper is excellent and it turns out you can get it to go, so I recommend it. Also I hate big crowds at aquariums because little rude kids piss me off and their crappy parents make it worse because as their kids piss me off, they have their backs turned taking pictures and blocking my views. Got denied my free hat at an A's game on free hat day and they wouldn't give me one since I already entered the park. I know I'm cheap but if you think about it, so are they.

It seems like a lot but even after all this, I didn't make it camping. Seems like a shame to deny my dog an adventure, but he came to Half Moon Bay with us and also he's a dog, so I don't feel that bad. I'm way too paranoid of him crapping in the tent so we'll just have to see what happens next year. 

Here's to a wonderful summer and I hope it goes well again next year. Am looking forward to turning off the A/C.

Plate Hunt 2011

The beginning and end of summer feels unclear since I've finished school. And using the calendar feels just wrong. But I feel now is probably a good time to declare my summer over even though the temperature will now spike to over a hundred because it heard my declaration. But here is my final tally of what I did not get to see. Here's to next year.

Alabama

Delaware

Georgia

Illinois

Maryland

Mississippi

New Hampshire

North Dakota

Ohio

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Vermont

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Though I did see Illinois recently, I do not count it.

Please sir....at the Buffet

I recently asked my husband, when the hell did I become a Disney Princess? We had come back from Las Vegas and I was in a foul mood becuase I forgot how much Vegas likes to suck the dollar bills from your person. I don't just mean gambling because I love Reno and Tahoe. This is fifty dollars for lunch expensiveness.

Yes, I was on vacation and deserved to let go, but that's so hard to do when you have to drop about a hundred bucks a pop to do anything associated with Vegas. I look at the kids in their early twenties wondering how the hell they can afford this. I know how I can, and I don't like that I am, but how did you get a better room than me? 

I know, first world problems, with my room with the big bath tub and view of the topless pool. (I'm not kidding. But it costs fifty just to sit down there and actually see something. Though I think it was free if you were a size two and come with an entourage of slutty friends.) You had to wait a half hour before it opened to get a seat at the pool. And I come back home and my boss asks me why I go to the next state to do what I can here?

There is no good way to take a vacation anymore. I want it all. Giant rooms with fireplaces, tubs that can fit six people, room service, no waits at the buffet, and all for free. Sadly, the feeling came with me back to home. I want to make six figures from my own business, and be a full time stay at home mom with a nanny and maid to back me up. I want my fullest potential realized while creating my own charity helping educational and animal causes. Or to be more on par with how I've been feeling like a spoiled brat lately, despite my wonderful home, great husband, good financial security in an uncertain economy, an adorable dog, and a supportive circle of family and friends......I want mooooooooore.

Like my title suggests, I would like to claim I'm more Oliver Twist with my desire for more, however, I don't have a shortage of food, so I fall into the Magical Kingdom group. But at least they got to take for granted being royalty. I think I'm going to break out my tiara for a few hours. (Shut up, it was my Mom's idea.)

Celebrity Sighting # Ummm.....What?

As part of my summer adventures (yes, I am doing my license plate game, but will spare you the play by play this year) I saw Doug Benson perform at his 4:20 show. He was late which was not a huge shock, but I felt strange bringing in my name tag a la his Doug Loves Movies Podcast. Alas, I was not alone and I bonded with a couple at the next table with their very creative artwork. Did not get picked to play the Leonard Matlin game, but enjoyed avoiding having a panic attack if I were called on stage. It wasn't exactly my crowd of people as I am the biggest square in the world and didn't even know what 4:20 meant until a few years ago. (Still not sure of its origins.) Even stoned as hell, he was damn funny and I really enjoyed myself. 

On a side note, if you ever get the chance to see Ngaio Bealum, do it. He was freaking funny and surprised me with the nerd humor that went over my head(Side note: Took me twenty minutes online to find his name on the internet). And while I'm plugging, check out Doug Loves Movies. I have nothing to gain from this but spreading laughs to the world. They are other people working for the laughs, but I helped.

Don't Hate, Love (Or Just Let It Go)

After days of serious anger issues, I'm slowly calming myself and trying to enjoy what life has to offer. That being said, during my angry time, I managed to catch the trailer for Adam Sandler's new movie Jack and Jill. My instinct is to blame Katie Holmes for this, but there is no way she is responsible, she just wants to work. Then again, she shouldn't just get a pass because there is Adam Sandler and Al Pacino to direct so much blame.

After reading a few very angry and borderline sadistic comments, I realized why spew so much hate at this? I'm just going to not see this movie and move on with my life. The anger might come back when this makes fifty million dollars in it's first week, but once again, I'll harness my meditation practices.

However, this movie does look horrible and in order to reach my middle ground, I am sharing this video. Thank you to it's creator. Don't stop flexing your idea muscles.

(Stolen lovingly from Nerdist)