Long Distance Relationships

A little over three years ago, Mark decided to move us from Pennsylvania to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. At the time, I was miserable.  My family was in Pennsylvania, as was my best friend outside of those I'm related to by blood or marriage.  I don't make friends easy.  My mother says I'm antisocial.  I go a little easier on myself and say I'm asocial.  Either way, I'm not into people.  That being said, everyone needs friends, but my aversion to meeting people coupled with my lazy demeanor make it hard to maintain long distance relationships.  

My best friend*, who we shall call Taco, had recently met his soon to be wife, who shall be called Salsa**.  Together, Mark and I consider them to be our best friends.  It was shortly after the inclusion of Salsa into our group that Mark made his moving announcement.  Before this, we had begun going to karaoke on a regular basis where we were generally rock-stars.  Well, they were rock-stars; I was more of a groupie.  I remember sitting with them and talking about how much I didn't want to move.  Most of it was because I had them as friends.  The fact that I was going to be out of reach of my family was too much to deal with on top of all that.

When the time came, we moved.  We had very little notice.  My brother***, my other brother, and my mother were kind enough to accompany us when we moved.  They stayed with us the first week, easing the transition a bit.  After that, there was so much unpacking to do that it wasn't bad.  Taco and Salsa visited.  There was my new job which kept me occupied, but there is a lurking sadness when you leave those kinds of ties behind.  

I am the root of my own problems, as I won't call someone once I haven't called for a while.  I will stop making the effort to connect and glaze over it with silly excuses.  The truth is that the people you love will always be happy to hear from you.  All it takes is a decision from you to act.  Call.  Text.  Write.  Make an effort to connect with the people you care about, and they will connect with you.  It has taken me three years to realize this, to get past my fear that distance would diminish their love for me.  

While it seems that our move has been all doom and gloom and rain-clouds, there has actually been a great deal of positive repercussions.  I now have a job where the people I work with seem to like me, or at least tolerate me.  I feel like what I do is appreciated, and I like working there.  It's an amazing feeling.  I feel better about myself in regards to my work as well.  I've never had a problem completing any task set before me in a work setting, but now, I don't feel that my own failings as a person are over-shadowing my performance.  All things about work are better since we moved.

My relationship with my husband has always been strong.  We want nothing more than to spend time together.  It's hard to believe, but even with my underlying sadness about being away from my family and friends, Mark and I are happier than ever.  

I've gotten off topic.  I'm supposed to be talking about long distance relationships.  If an opportunity arises that requires you to move away from friends and family, don't immediately say no.  Don't immediately say yes.  Weigh the pros and cons.  The people you are close to will stay that way with a little effort on your part.  Don't be afraid.  Long distance relationships can work.

It will be hard though.  

Today, Taco and Salsa became a value meal when they added Nacho**** into the mix.  I am overflowing with joy for them and so extremely sad because I'm not there.  I know they are surrounded by an outpouring of love from all the other friends and family that are there, but I wish I could have been there.*****  It would be an honor to meet the life they have created.  I will someday, but this is one of those days that I hate being in South Carolina.

Long distance relationships are hard to maintain, and if you don't put in a bit of effort, you can lose touch with people.  In our society, with so many instant ways to interact with people, you would think no one is ever too far away to be reminded that you love them.  Learn from my mistakes.  Don't make excuses; pick up the phone.  

You'll miss birthdays and weddings, holidays and dinners, but you should never be afraid to make a change.  If you have to move away, just remember to keep in touch.  To those of you who are my friends up north, I miss you and love you.  

*This term will be used in this article to refer to the only person or persons that I am not related to by blood or marriage that I consider to be my best friend.  This does not indicate that they reciprocate the feeling; it is simply indicative of my beliefs.  My husband is my best friend, and I am close enough to my immediate family that I consider them all my friends.  This term is being used to label people that I have no other attachments to, save friendship.

**Because salsa is sexy, that's why.  Stop asking silly questions.

***I'm not sure if brother is the right term or if twin is more appropriate.  Ryan and I were extremely close.  In the year before we moved, Ryan met his soon to be wife, so we hadn't been spending as much time together.  Nevertheless, he dropped everything to help us move.  He's a good brother.

****I'm sorry to call your child Nacho.  He's much more amazing than that, but I had a theme going.  I really wanted to call someone guacamole, but it's green.  It's not attractive enough to be any of you.  

****Not for the actual event.  I've read about that stuff online.  <shudder>

A Costco Adventure

Well, the unexpected has happened.  I have journeyed to the Costco and lived to tell about it.  My husband, as many of you know, is a Sam's Club manager.  This means that Costco is a no-no word.  We don't shop there, and we don't talk about it.  Many people that I work with are Costco patrons.  While I am legally obligated to do them no  harm, I can't forgive them...for the death of my boy.  No, wait...I can't forgive them for shopping at Costco.  Actually, I bear them no ill will, and I try to convert them to Sam's Club as often as possible.  I decided that it wasn't right of me to vilify Costco when I haven't really visited their store.

So, let's talk about Costco, as it relates to Sam's Club.

The Better

• The produce section is vastly superior to the one found at Sam's Club, or maybe I just really like the idea they've implemented.  You go into what is essentially a giant walk in cooler to shop for the majority of produce.  The cooler temperatures keep fruit flies at bay and keep the product fresh.  If I could transplant this one aspect of Costco to Sam's Club, I would.  It was the only feature I was in love with.  From the outside, it looks like a normal room; you don't realize it is refrigerated until you step inside!*
• There seemed to be a bit more furniture, and it was easier to try out.  For example, I've decided I want a big sectional sofa.**
• The placement of the entrance and exit doors makes more sense.  There are less people wandering through the parking lot confused since you enter and exit in close proximity to each other.
• Costco was incredibly quiet.  While this is nice, it appears to stem from their lack of customers.  Sam's Club can often feel crowded because of all the people they have shopping at any given time.  Costco was virtually empty during our excursion.
• This is probably a personal thing, but I preferred Costco's bread display and racks to those at Sam's Club.  The ones at Sam's are angled.  The Costco ones were level.  I like being able to quickly see what bread is available without trying to see the backs of angled shelves.  I'm lazy; don't judge me.

The Same

• There is no real difference between the parking lots.  I have heard a lot of complaints about the Sam's Club parking lot, but they are virtually identical.  The real difference is that there are less cars and fewer people in the Costco lot.  I didn't see people moseying in front of cars.  It seemed a bit less hectic, but when the number of factors are reduced, that's a natural outcome.***
• The basic store layout and appearance are virtually identical.  Aside from some palette swaps, the aisles look virtually identical.  Costco doesn't keep as much product in their steel, hence making the place seem brighter, but you can tell both stores are providing the same services.
• Regardless of the home store brand, the products are also homogeneous.****  I can buy the same breads and fruits at Costco as I can at Sam's Club.
• I have heard many people tell me how much friendlier the employees are at Costco than Sam's Club.  I don't find this to be the case; they all acted in the same approximate manner.  We encountered one woman who greeted us enthusiastically.  No other employees spoke to us unless I spoke to them first.  I'm not criticizing them, just pointing out the normal behavior that I have seen at most grocery type places.

The Worse

• Costco's jewelry counter is uninspired.  If you want to see a piece, you stand side by side with an employee.  It is much easier to browse at a counter set up like the Sam's Club one, hence the reason most jewelry counters are set up in that manner.
• The cell phone kiosk at Costco is tacky looking, with its big red signage.  It looks as if it doesn't really fit.  The Sam's Club kiosks may have been that out of place in the past, but they now have a flow to them that works well in the store.
• The liquor store was smaller and had less selection.  They did have a nifty glass case for the fancy booze though.
• In general, the Costco signage was less polished.  Bright red signs with white block letters are boring and no more effective than the much more pleasing Sam's Club signs.
• The cases near the deli that housed the sandwich meats, cheeses, and the like looked very messy.  They utilize the bulk boxes the items come in to keep them organized.  While this probably reduces the time necessary to straighten up product, it looks messy.  Sam's Club has a much more appealing way of displaying those same items.
• The Sam's Club membership is $15 cheaper than the Costco one.  I had intended to sign up for a membership if there were sufficient products and prices to lure me in.  Unfortunately, the prices at Costco were higher on average than those at Sam's Club.  From the membership to the meat, buying at Sam's is a better deal.

I enjoyed my foray into Costco, but I don't expect to return.  There wasn't enough difference between the stores to sway me one way or the other.  I already have ties to Sam's Club, so I have grown accustomed to their way of doing things.  When you toss in their lower prices, I'm a Sam's Club girl all the way.  Maybe someday in the future, I will re-visit Costco.  It's possible I just missed something awesome.  Do feel free to enlighten me.

*For my Disney friends, it was almost as cool as the old entrance to Ice Station Cool at Epcot.

**If we get a great dane, we'll need a bigger couch.

***For any of you science majors, I'm not making a scientific statement.  I may be completely misunderstanding some math rule, so I do hope the math majors will also forgive me.

****Okay, now the English majors can take a turn at me.  I'm pretty sure that works, but it's definitely a bit unusual.  It is not common vernacular, but I decided to go with it.  

Pagoda Express

While shopping in Wal-Mart, I spied these intriguing Chinese appetizers.  Chinese in the freezer section is not unusual.  What caught my eye was that they offered cheese wontons.  It has been my experience that most wontons have crab meat in them.**  Ever since discovering the cheese wontons at Authentic China Wok and College Buffet in State College, PA, I have been trying to find that same item here in Myrtle Beach.  This was my first glimmer of hope in quite some time.  In my excitement, I also purchased the Pagoda Express potstickers.

Both dishes score high in the ease of preparation category.  Each gave a simple and quick cooking method, as well as a more authentic options.  The wontons ended up in the oven, while we pan fried the potstickers.  Both dishes proved easy to prepare.

After about twenty minutes, Mark served our appetizers.  The wontons come with a sauce that I didn't use.  While they weren't bad, they weren't what I was used to having.  The ones I originally had have a very thin outer shell.  These were a bit heaver.  A lot of the cheese also escaped, leaving the inside pretty empty.  That being said, they're the best*** substitute I have found so far.

Mark assures me that the potstickers were pretty good.  I only tried one, but I dipped it in the included sauce.  It was so salty that I couldn't eat any more of them.  For whatever reason, Mark had no aversion to the sauce and ate most of them.

In the future, if I was really craving cheese wontons, I might pick up another package.  I may even try the potstickers again, just with a different sauce.  Since we have pretty much ceased going out to eat, I was planning on turning to the freezer aisle for items such as these.  Maybe it's time I learn to make them from at home, from scratch.

*That was almost my review, but it would have turned into a rant.

**Yuck.

***Can they really be the best when they're the only ones competing?  I won a photo competition when I was a kid that way.  In case you didn't know, I'm pretty special.

True Blood

True Blood is a vastly entertaining show that's about as filling and healthy as movie theater popcorn.  In a world filled with supernatural creatures, you follow the story of one Sookie Stackhouse*, telepathic waitress.  Her interactions with vampires, werewolves, shifters, fairies, and the like add up to be an amazing soap opera.

True Blood is anything but serious.  At the same time, it is a whole bunch of fun.  The idea of supernatural creatures going mainstream is fascinating, and it gives the show a nice backdrop.  The lack of seriousness allows the show to go places I wouldn't have thought possible.  I had read the Sookie Stackhouse books before the show aired, so I thought I knew what to expect.  While season one stayed on point for the most part, the show has seriously deviated since, but that's not a bad thing.  The HBO show is its own animal.

While the plot can be hard to swallow at times**, the dialogue is often clever and humorous, drawing in the viewer.  Lafayette has some of the best lines, and his character is fun to watch.  During his time on the show, Edgington has had his fair share of show stealing scenes.  The writers are constantly giving the actors humorous lines that fit their characters.  There are not one or two characters that are comedic relief.  The humor is spread throughout, making it more believable.  Everyone has their funny moments.

Aside from the fun dialogue, the show is populated by talented actors.  For goodness' sake, Robert Patrick*** was in tonight's episode.  He didn't do much, but he was there!  Mark and I are convinced that Rutina Wesley, Tara on the show, would have been a better choice to play Storm than Halle Berry was at the time.  Let's not forget Pam****; she's another one that constantly steals scenes.

The special effects are pretty good.  It's not often I'm pulled out of the show because of them, which is always nice.  There was a terrible effect in an episode a couple weeks ago, with a woman coming out of a pool of blood.  I'm not going to hold that against them though.

If you have an aversion to nudity, watching True Blood will cure you of that.  They randomly parade people around sans clothes.  Because it usually fits with what is going on or is covered by moderately important dialogue, you stop noticing.  Someone's naked?  I didn't even notice.  Okay, maybe I noticed, but I just didn't care.  I am afraid to ask Mark if he cared.

Most of the HBO shows I watch are pretty deep.  What True Blood lacks in depth, it makes up for in fun.  The show is one of those ones that you sometimes wonder if you should admit to watching.  Go ahead; admit it.  Revel in the fun.  If you're not watching it, stop being such a fuddy duddy.  Go check it out.

*I have always thought that name was silly, but perhaps, that's the point.

**If this were a less classy review, I would make an inappropriate joke here.

***He was the freaking liquid metal terminator!

****I was going to type out the actress' name, but it was very long.

The Imax Experience

When we first moved to Myrtle Beach, I was extremely excited to see that we had an Imax theater.  The idea of seeing movies on an even bigger screen was enticing.  In the past, I had a two very different experiences with Imax.

The first time I saw a movie on Imax, it was The Return of the King, and it was a horrible experience.  The print was scratched, and the film was not properly projected, resulting in an out of focus picture.  Watching such a long movie in such poor conditions didn't endear me to the Imax experience.  It was quite some time before I gave Imax another try.

Not counting the forgettable Imax experience that was Superman Returns*, my next real Imax experience was The Dark Knight, and it was amazing.  What Nolan did with the Imax cameras was effective and proved their worth.  I saw The Dark Knight multiple times in the theaters, but the viewing at the Imax was my favorite.

Now, there is another Nolan Batman movie, and he utilized the Imax cameras even more.  The important question is whether or not it is worth it to see the movie on Imax.

Cost

For two tickets to the 7:00PM showing, it was $31.  That's ridiculous.  I'm sure there are understandable explanations, but ouch.

Proximity

Most people don't have an Imax theater close by.  We travelled to Wilmington, NC to see The Dark Knight Rises.  In the past, we also had to travel a couple hours.  While there was an Imax theater here in Myrtle Beach, it didn't show first run movies.  Now, it has been closed and re-opened as a Big D theater, owned by the near-by Carmike cinema.  It only shows one movie per week, and this week they're showing Total Recall.  I haven't checked them out yet.

Projection

If the film is just being projected larger, it isn't really worth it.  After the poor experience I had with the Return of the King, I have lost faith in movies that aren't properly formatted.  At the same time, Nolan's movies actually utilize Imax cameras for some of the filming.  This makes them better candidates for an Imax viewing.  It's really up to you to decide whether it makes a difference.  Both of the Nolan Batman movies that I saw in Imax were more impressive in that format.  I would do it again.  I would not go out of my way to see Superman Returns or Return of the King in Imax again.

Much like 3D, Imax is only worth the extra cost when done properly.  Avatar was worth the upcharge for 3D, and The Dark Knight Rises is worth the up-charge for Imax.  If a film was created with that as part of the artist's vision, it's probably worth seeing in the way they intended, which is the case with both of Nolan's films.

Otherwise, I would steer clear of Imax.  It's ridiculously expensive, and even though the seats are comfortable, they're not that comfortable.  On a side note, I can't figure out why they try to convince you to see a movie in Imax when you're already doing so.  Theaters need to learn that they don't need to play promos for themselves once you're already in the theater.  Let the experience speak for itself; don't play a two minute promo telling me how awesome Imax or Carmike cinemas are.

*I know it doesn't seem fair to disregard that experience, but it was rather bland.  It wasn't great; it wasn't terrible.  I often forget about it altogether, much like the movie we saw.

Walt Disney World - The Happiest Celebration on Earth 2 Disc CD Set

As you've no doubt figured out by now, I am a big fan of many Disney related things.  When we cleaned out the old car to switch to the new one, we rediscovered a CD set I bought at Disney a couple of years ago.  It's a two disc set with music from the parks.  Between listening to Disney area music via youtube when I'm home and listening to this CD set when I'm in the car, I'm feeling the Disney vibe.

As I haven't done a lot of research into the other CDs available, I can't say whether or not this is the best choice when looking for park music.  Most of the tracks are from specific rides with a few area specific pieces.  I listen to about half of the tracks.  The music from classic rides that are still in operation make me happy, like Pirates and Haunted Mansion.  I'm not a big fan of some of the lyric based songs from attractions I no longer remember.  

Disney does a good job of making their music either sound epic or timeless.  Unfortunately, some of the songs on the CD set are neither.  At times, I feel as if I've stepped back into the early 80's.  While I respect the nod to Disney history, about  half of these tracks are far from their greatest hits.

When I'm visiting Disney again, I'll be looking for a CD that is filled with the different area music from the parks.  Until then, I'll keep enjoying about half of the tracks in the set I have now.  I'm thinking I paid around $30 for the set.  I only listen to it when I'm planning a Disney trip, so that's probably not the best use of cash.  Youtube provides me with better options for free.

Toys "R" Us

When I was a kid, I don't recall ever really going to Toys "R" Us.  There was one in Erie, but I don't know that my parents ever took us there.  Frankly, the product was expensive there.  Now, Mark and I will randomly visit Toys "R" Us.  We went almost two years ago, seeking video games.  Tonight, we went in looking for a particular item, and I was once again impressed with them.

Mark actually commented tonight that Toys "R" Us is exactly what a toy store should be.  They've recently merged with FAO.  At the front of the store, there was an entire display of their items.  Amidst the neat toys, there were a multitude of teddy bears.  Mark believes all kids should have teddy bears, so it makes him happy to see them.  That display alone would have endeared Toys "R" Us to Mark, but they continued to impress.

We meandered through the store, looking at a variety of items.  A very nice young man greeted us when he walked by, even offering assistance.  He was genuinely nice.  Later, when Mark had a product question, that same young man went out of his way to find an answer for us.  He even tried to find us a better option when our first choice didn't work out.  Even though it was a rival, he told us about another store that might have other items of interest.  He really displayed amazing customer service.

We received further positive impressions of the store because of their selection.  They really have everything.*  In the past, we've enjoyed looking at old action figures.  Today, we found a fleece throw for the movie Beastly.  I'm not even sure why it exists, but Toys "R" Us had it.  There were a bunch of cute Disney baby toys that I resisted buying.**  There are just so many fun and unique toys to be had there.  If you're all about the educational or creative toys, they're got you covered there.  There was a puppet/muppet kit that was inspired by the Muppets!***  When we first walked in, I found a Beaker puppet.  How amazing is that??  Also, if you're looking for video game related t-shirts, you can often find different ones in the video game section**** of the store.  I actually found a Gears of War hooded sweatshirt for an awesome deal last year.

If you're looking for a place to buy stuff for your child, or if you have a husband like mine, give Toys "R" Us a chance.  They have amazing staff and a huge variety of products.  There's something for everyone there.

*You can sing the jingle here, if you like.  I don't know all of it.

**I figure I shouldn't buy baby toys without a baby.  Don't wanna seem crazy.

***In case you didn't know, the Muppets are awesome.

****Speaking of the video game section, the lady working that area realized we were finishing up and offered to check us out.  We didn't even buy anything in that section, but she offered to help us out.  Once again, we received great customer service.