Follow up to my cranky Christmas post

After I had my meltdown on Friday night I made myself put down my phone so I wouldn't call anyone and begin to verbally beat them, I walked away from the computer so I couldn't bah humbug anymore and then made myself some food.

(Let me add here: I fully expected to wake up on Saturday to some nasty comment about how there are starving children in Africa with no house at all and that I should quit my bitching and just be grateful. That's something I've been telling myself since I hit publish on Friday night and I totally would have deserved it. But no one said anything (yet) about how I was being a major brat. Thanks for that.)

So anyway, back to the food. Turns out I was kind of hungry. Ok, like a lot hungry and putting something in my tummy other than Reese's peanut butter cups was a very good decision on my part. Then I sat down in front of the television and put Julie & Julia into the DVD player. It was a gift from my fabulous in laws and I hadn't seen it yet. I LOVE it! The combination of eating good food and watching a movie about people making good food improved my mood considerably. And right about the time the movie was over our water came back on. It just so happens that we are on a well and the pump for the well is on a different power line than our apartment. The power for the well hadn't been restored yet. Not until about 10:30.

At first the toilet was making some seriously crazy sounds. I thought for sure it was going to blow up, which would have just been the icing on the cake that had been Christmas day. So I shut the door to the bathroom and walked away. Next, I called Andy to tell him about the water coming back and the toilet situation and he said, "You just shut the door?" Um, yeah I just shut the door. What the hell did he really think I was going to do about it if the toilet did explode? Being covered in sewage would have completely destroyed the small semblance of a good mood I'd managed to create and I thought shutting the door was a stroke of genius. I told him just that and that if the toilet did explode then at least the mess would be contained to one room.

But, whatever, the toilet didn't explode. So at 11:00 I took a shower, then Andy came home from work and he took a shower and we happily tucked ourselves into bed where visions of working plumbing danced in our heads.

On Saturday I finally got to see my family.

There were several people missing, but it was nice to see most of them anyway.

Highlight of my day:

When my youngest nephew opened his present from Andy and I (a t-shrit with a Mr.Potato head face on it). He held it up to his chest, said, "OH! Thanks!" then tossed it over his shoulder to contiue playing with the toys I'd interrupted him from. I do not have that on video, though I wish I did.

What I do have on video is my family trying to arange themselves for the annual Christmas picture I impose on them.

I thought it might be funny to document, but instead of telling them I just set the camera up on the tripod, pressed record and waited.

Let me apologize in advance for how nasaly and whiny I sound. Apparently that happens when I'm being bossy. I'm gonna' have to do something about it.

What you can't hear is that my uncle Tony is making farting noises at me the whole time. He hates having his picutre taken, like my sweet little husband, and has grown increasingly surly about this photo every year. Also, my grandmother had not had a bath yet that day and refused to be in the photo at first. We got her in there, but she's probably going to tell me not to put the picture on the internet the next time she talks to me. Too late.

There were several missing components to our family because I was there a day late, but I still insisted because there were more than four of us gathered at one time. That's something that only happens on holidays, and after losing some vital people in my family unit I've decided this is absolutely necessary. One day they will all thank me.


It did turn out to be a wonderful Christmas anyway. Somehow it always does. I think it's just the season.

I hope yours was merry and even if you don't celebrate Christmas I hope that you've taken some time out to spend with your family. Even if they drive you batty it's worth it.

"I'm over vampires"

Andy has had enough.

I, on the other hand, have not. I've had a thing for vampires since the first time I saw The Lost Boys. Swoon.

Unless you've been living under a rock lately you've noticed the recent surge of vampire mania in television and movies.

Last night when a commercial came on for New Moon Andy looked over at me (squealing and clapping in anticipation) and told me he was done. No more. He refuses to be my enabler any longer.

I have to say he's been really tolerant. Because I'm not just into the Twilight saga. Any movie, show or book about vampires will usually hold my attention - at least long enough for me to determine if it's worth my time. Any time at all is too long for Andy.

So I'm trying to get my fix on the sly. I watch what I can online. Books are easier because Andy doesn't read them with me. He can pretend they are about something else.

But I need a date to go see the movie. Who's in? I'm willing to wait a bit to avoid as much of the tween frenzy as possible.

In the meantime I'll just get my jollies from watching The Vampire Diaries online. (I also have a weakness for teen television dramas. Shut Up! I'll grow up when everyone else does!)

What's your guilty pleasure?

All time low...

During these long winter nights, when Andy often isn't home, I can get quite lonely. I have to find things to entertain myself. There is only so much useless TV I can watch and sometimes I read so much my eyes feel like they might pop out of my head.

Just now though I had "Grease" on in the background while I was wasting time online. Olivia Newton-John was belting out "Hopelessly Devoted" and I sang along while I got up to put another log on our fire. Milton came out to see what all the commotion was about. So I scooped up the little fur ball, cuddled him in my arms and danced around the living room while I sang to him. All the while he had this look on his face that said, "This is it. She's finally lost her mind and she's going to eat me now."

I'm at a loss...

At a loss for blog material, that is. I just haven't done anything since Christmas, and my vacant head isn't giving me any good material. It's fried from all that baking. Remember the baking?

I can tell you that I went shopping on Friday. I haven't been shopping since February. At least not for myself. I got some extra cash for Christmas though, so I took advantage and treated myself nice. Real nice. Lots of deals were found. Shinny new things were bought. I even went on a wild goose hunt for a new pair of shoes. A specific pair recommended to me by my little cousin. According to her I just had to have a pair because they are so comfortable. They'd better be worth all the trouble. I had to order them. They'll be here within the week, so I'll have to let you know.

I went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button today. Going in I have to admit that I was a little skeptical. I was not looking forward to spending nearly three hours in a dark theater and I was unsure that the story would satisfy when it was all over. I'm here to tell you that it was worth the drive behind slow tourists there and back. I'd even go again. The movie left me feeling sad and happy at the same time; if that's even possible. You should go see it. For sure. It's a winner.

I think it's supposed to get cold again tomorrow. The weather has been bizarrely warm the last week. The cold will be a welcome change, but give me a week and I'll be begging for 50 degree temps again. I have a love-hate relationship with the conditions up here on this mountain.

That's all I've got for you right now. I'll try to come up with something fun and entertaining in the days to come. Until then, enjoy the last days of 2008.

Gratitude, Day 25

Do you have a redbox at your local grocery store? We do. We kind of live far away from civilization so we just got a redbox a couple of months ago.

It's fantastic though. We have digital cable, but OnDemand isn't available where we are (I told you we lived far out), so renting from the TV is not an option. The closest Blockbuster is 20 minutes one way, plus the $5 to rent, plus the gas to drive back to return it. You can imagine that we didn't rent a lot of movies 'round these parts.

But since we got redbox? I could rent a movie every night if Andy would let me. I can drive a couple of minutes and just pay a buck. I love it. How could they have let us live without this for so long? I'm going out later, so I think I'll swing by and see if there are any new movies in my favorite vending machine.

Handicapped

This morning I watched a documentary called "Hear and Now" about a married couple, Paul and Sally, who had both been deaf their entire lives and at the age of sixty five they both decided to get cochlear implants. The documentary was filmed, produced and narrated by their daughter Irene Taylor Brodsky. It takes you through their journey from before their surgery until a year afterwards.

The whole story is very touching and really makes you appreciate having all of your senses in tact. Paul and Sally lived very fulfilling lives as deaf people and it doesn't appear to have hindered them in achieving the goals they set out for. It was only in finally achieving hearing that they seemed to be handicapped in any way. I can imagine it was just as hindering as going through life hearing and then suddenly losing that ability. They could turn off their hearing aids and did often because all of the sound they were taking in was overwhelming and nonsensical; at the same time is was like a whole new world they had never discovered and they spent a lot of time in awe of their new sensory perception.

By the end of the documentary I was wondering exactly who was handicapped, Paul and Sally or the other "normal" members of their family? Irene kept saying how much she wanted her parents to be able to hear things like music or the sound of their family's voices. But it didn't make any difference to her parents. The sounds were like toys in a way. They could play with them, but at the end of the day they preferred to go back to the silence they had always known. They appreciate life and the things around them in a different way; maybe better than people who can hear. They have had to work harder for what they have achieved. Not because they were any less able to function, but because "normal" society couldn't function their way.

It seems like when we see someone who is deaf or blind who has achieved something great, something that is considered commonplace for "normal" people, we are in awe of their determination and will to reach out and grab what they want. We say, "Oh look what they have had to overcome to reach their goals." We assume that their lack of hearing or sight must have been their biggest obstacle, but what if it wasn't? If that's all they have ever known then is it really an obstacle, or is the way we treat them the biggest obstacle? Our fear of the unknown and assumptions regarding their "disability" might be the biggest thing standing in their way.

When a couple is expecting a child the one thing that they wish for the most is that they are happy and healthy. But if the child comes out "unhealthy" or with some sort of handicap, who is really going to be affected the most? If the child can't see from the beginning then it is the parents that have to make the biggest adjustment in their lives. So are we scared for our children or are we scared for ourselves? Scared for what they are going to be missing, or what we will miss them experience? Even though their lack in one sense will let them experience things that we could never imagine. A person who lacks hearing sees things more vividly and in more detail, and a person who lacks sight will hear things that "normal" society would never pay attention to.

We need to take the time to appreciate what these "handicapped" people can do and how they experience life. If we take the time to pay attention to who they are, handicaps and all, we might find a new way to appreciate who we are.

Hell froze over

Two things happened today that I never would have guessed could ever happen. Not unless the cosmos make a major shift causing the whole world to change. There is something very wrong happening right now.

First, I went to see Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. It was great! You should all go.

I was the first one in the theater at the first showing today at one thirty in the afternoon. The film isn't exactly what I'd call deep or thought provoking, but that isn't what I was expecting. I went in looking for something to entertain me for an hour and a half. And entertain it did. No shock there. What was shocking was that this movie made me wish I was a teenager again. GASP! Never, in the seven years since I left teendom behind, have I ever thought that it would be enjoyable to go back to that loathsome time in my life. But as I sat in the theater engrossed in the wild night that Nick and Norah were having, I found myself wishing I was there with them; the world wide open in front of me waiting for me to jump in. Don't worry, I have come back to my senses, but there is something magical or hypnotic in that movie. There is no other explanation for that thought crossing through my brain.

Next, my mother called me a few minutes ago.

There is nothing crazy about that. I have a wonderful relationship with my mother and I talk to her with regularity. The odd, life altering part, was the motivation behind the call. She and my step dad are on vacation at the moment and as they do not have a laptop she has been sans her computer all week. I'll just ad lib the conversation for you.

Ring, Ring

Me: Hey Momma

Mom: Hey Joanna, how are you doing?

Me: I'm good. What are you up to?

Mom: Terry and I are still on vacation

Me: Oh, I'd forgotten that. How is it?

Mom: OK, we've done nothing but sleep.

Me: That sounds nice.

Mom: It is.

She asked at this point if I'd heard anything new lately and I fed her some general chit chat news. Nothing exciting. Then she got down to it.

Mom: Well, can you look up on the internet real quick what the loto numbers were for October first?

(Pause)

Me: (Making my way to the computer) Are you playing the lottery?

Mom: Yes.

Me: But you voted against the lottery, you didn't think we should have one.

Mom: I know, just tell me the numbers.

Me: blah, blah, blah x2. I can't believe you're playing the lottery.

Mom: Well, when I win I'm going to pay off all our debt and take our whole family on a really big vacation to Disney World.

Me: (laughs)

Mom: Don't laugh at me. You won't laugh when I win.

The odd thing here is that my mother was vehemently opposed to the NC lottery. Not only did she believe they would use the money for something corrupt instead of bolstering the education system, but she also believes that gambling is a sin. All she did leading up to the election was rant about how this lottery was going to be the downfall of our state and effectually send us all straight to hell (I may be exaggerating a bit here). I guess her own personal Screwtape got the better of her and she decided millions of dollars was worth giving up her soul. (more exaggeration).

So you can see how my world has turned upside down today. I feel light headed. Maybe I'll go lie down and think about how I can convince my mother that I'd rather take a trip to Europe than to Disney World.

Seven days, and counting

If you haven't seen the previews for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, then you must be living under a rock. I don't remember the last time I was this excited about a movie, and I have no idea why this one appeals to me so much. What I do know is that next Friday, October 3, I will be at the local theater, ticket in hand. I'm probably going to be there stag because I have yet to find anyone who shares my enthusiasm, but that's ok. All you haters are going to be sorry that you missed it.

Not another Batman review...

Actually it is, but it isn't like most of the raving reviews I've seen.

Andy and I went to see The Dark Knight this afternoon. I think I'm the odd man out here when I say that I was disappointed. I will not go into a lot of detail for those of you that haven't seen it. If you would like to see my opinion of the movie you can read it over at Jenny's blog. She pretty much said it all.

I have another disappointment to interject though. I'm not so excited about the dark twists and turns that are being taken in today's superhero movies. They did the same thing with Spider Man 3 as they have done with The Dark Knight, though it's admittedly more intense in the later. I understand that the movies are being made to follow the comic books more closely. My issue is that it seems like these darker, more intense movies are being marketed for all ages. The Dark Knight is rated PG-13, but who's kidding who here? What kid doesn't want to go see Batman catch the bad guys, 13 or not? It just seems like these movies have a lot of psychological undertones that children wouldn't be able to understand. In The Dark Knight they aren't undertones really. It's as much a psychological thriller as it is an action movie. But then you go to the toy store and there is an entire isle dedicated to these superheros. So who is really to blame here? They film industry or the toy industry?

I don't know, and nothing has really happened for anyone to be blamed. It's just a concern I have, and I'm going to have to leave it up to good parenting (assuming that still exists) to determine if a child is ready to see this movie or any other like it. But, if I had a child right now, I would be making the decision to NOT let him/her go to see The Dark Knight.

Although, there was a preview for a new Pixar film that I would like to see, even in my childless state.

My man is coming home today!!

Woohoo!! It's been a long 3 1/2 days without Andy. I've done a lot to entertain myself, but life just isn't the same when he's gone. I've been watching a lot of movies to help distract me. I rented "Penelope" and "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" on Thursday. "Penelope" was very cute. It's not Oscar worthy, but it's a good story and has a good message. Two thumbs up! "Pirates" was just ok. I was very disappointed in the ending, and I thought it was just way too long. It's 10 minutes short of 3 hours and I got tired of watching it. That was kind of upsetting because I really enjoyed the first two.

Yesterday I went to see "Mamma Mia" by myself. I like going to movies alone sometimes. I really enjoyed "Mamma Mia". I don't often like musicals made into movies because I feel like the music doesn't fit. I get tired of them singing and wish they would just get on with the story. But this one wasn't like that at all. I thought they did a really good job of making the music part of the story rather than just plopping some songs in there and calling it a musical. Anyway, I recommend it as a girl's movie. Guys aren't going to get into this one too much.

I got up this morning and did Week 4, Day 1 of C25K. I alternated 3 minutes and 5 minutes of running with walking. It went pretty well. I meant to get up early and go before the heat set in, and I even set my alarm, but I just couldn't bring myself to get out of bed at 7. So I ended up at the track about 20 after 9. I usually don't go when the sun is shining directly on the track and I know that slowed me down a little. And I haven't run 5 minutes non-stop yet, so that was a struggle. But I made it through and I feel good. Mornings are busy though. There were a lot of people there and I prefer a less busy track while I'm jogging/walking. I'm going to try some different times in the morning and see what is the least active time. I'm not sure if Andy is going to join me anymore. He really misses cycling and hasn't been since we started this. Today marks the 3rd day that I've gone alone and I don't mind it now. I did when I first started the program, but I think I'll be fine. I enjoy going alone now that I'm a little more conditioned. And my ipod should be here in the next couple of days so I'll have that to keep me company too!! I can't wait!!!

Week 2, Day 1 C25K, repeat.

Andy and I got busy (read: lazy) last week and we only completed two of the days in our C25K program. So we decided to just do the whole week over. We just finished the first night (again) and my knees are putting up a battle. I don't know what is wrong. I've never had knee problems. And they haven't hurt until today. They have been hurting at work though, especially if they are bent for a long period of time. So I'm going to try and keep them uncrossed and not tuck my feet under me. We'll see how it goes. It could result in back pain because my back has never been real happy about me sitting in the same position for a long period of time. Hope and pray that my body is just trying to adjust and this isn't it's way of telling me to knock it off.

My long weekend was nice and relaxing. I had a long to do list, of which I only got a couple of things done. But it was nice to have some extra time away from work and to just relax. Andy worked the whole weekend, which was kind of crappy, but that's the job and it doesn't happen every weekend.

He did manage to get off early Sunday and we went to see Wanted. We never go to the movies, so this was quite the night out for us. We got popcorn, a drink and two types of candy. The movie was good. I would watch it again. Probably not in the theater, but something has to be Oscar worthy for me to pay that much again to see it. Since our $1 theater closed we are cheapskates about the movies.

I finally managed to get some wedding pictures framed this weekend!! They are propped up on the mantle until we decide where to hang them. But, hell, after two years I finally have something in a frame! Woohoo!!

I watched Elizabeth

I just finished watching Elizabeth. I thought it was pretty good. I really enjoy historical movies like that. Afterwards I look up all the historical people to find out what really happened. I have heard people say that The Golden Age is not as good as the first Elizabeth with Kate Blanchete, but I'm not sure how you can compare the two. The first was made a long time ago and it's just a continuation of a story. It isn't like a completely made up story with sequels that are trying to extend the success of the original (ie. Shrek or Pirates of the Caribbean). And I don't remember the first Elizabeth being hugely successful in the first place so really there isn't a comparison. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I would watch it again. It really makes me want to get my dang digital cable back so I can watch the new season of The Tudors. That show is pretty great. Andy is watching UFC and when it's over I'm sending him to the grocery to get us pizza. It is my birthday week after all, I can't be lowered to run errands. ; ) So I'll post again later this week. I'm taking Thursday off for my birthday and going to Winston for a girls day with Julie. Yay!!

I really have nothing to say

It's been a pretty uneventful day. I worked, I came home, I took a nap (the best part of the day!) and then I went and rented some movies. This seems to be my new Friday night routine. Blockbuster has seen more of me in the last 3-4 weeks than they have in the last 3 years. Anyway, I rented Dan in Real Life, Waitress and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. I have watched the first two so far. They were surprisingly good. Dan wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I'd watch it again. Waitress was exactly what I was expecting, but with a few surprises. I'm watching special features now. I love special features. I'll watch Elizabeth tomorrow or Sunday and let you know how it turns out. Andy is hanging out with friends tonight and I'm alone, well just me and Brunswick, but I can't sleep with him because I don't trust him to stay in the bed all night and who knows what trouble he will get himself into while I'm asleep. So that's all for now. I'll talk to you later. Happy Friday (even though it's technically Saturday now)!!!