I really don't know where to start with this review. You may or may not have heard of a little movie that came out this weekend by the name of Pacific Rim. I didn't see any previews for it until last weekend, but I heard there was quite the marketing blitz to get trailers in front of the masses. I didn't need a trailer to know I wanted to see it. It's a movie directed by Guillermo del Toro, and it falls into the science fiction category.*
Unfortunately, they're saying it's going to tank. There really weren't that many butts in the seats in the showing we attended, and they're only showing it on one screen at my favorite theater.** Granted, it is a Sunday night. We also saw it in 3D, which was not recommended on when I went looking for opinions. Mark really wanted to see it in 3D though, so those were the tickets I purchased. I must say, it was the right move. Watching giant robots pound monsters with a bit of 3D thrown in was awesome.
Let's talk a bit more about what everyone is expecting. I actually read an article a week or two ago predicting that this film would tank and help bring down the idea of the summer blockbuster. After the showing the Lone Ranger made, this movie flopping could supposedly cause major repercussions in the movie industry and a complete re-evaluation of how they make movies. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that. Studios will keep making big tent-pole movies because they will keep making money. Yes, you lose some (the Lone Ranger), but you also win some (the Avengers). That being said, Pacific Rim may not do well at all, which is a shame.
Pacific Rim is the most fun I've had at the movies all year. I spent two hours watching robots and monsters pound on each other, and it was fun. It was exciting. There were multiple times that Mark or I would just turn to the other and say "sploosh".*** I don't know the last time I had that much fun at the movies. It made me really want to be close enough to my friend Rick and my brother Ryan because that is the kind of movie I would love seeing with them. Heck, if they would fly or drive down to Myrtle Beach, I would pay to take them. (Seriously, guys.) I would see Pacific Rim in the theater a second time; I enjoyed it that much.
Now, I am a realist. Pacific Rim is by no means a perfect movie. I saw quite a few developments coming way before they were introduced, which could lead some to say that it was predictable. Additionally, there is some very cheesy dialogue, and Charlie Hunnam doesn't always work for me.**** Fortunately, none of that mattered. Del Toro did such an amazing job with the rest of the film that I just didn't care.*****
One of the most important components of a film like this is the special effects. If they don't work, a movie like this falls apart. I'm happy to report that they got it right in Pacific Rim. I did have have a flashback moment to Cloverfield at one point due to deisgn, but the CGI is actually pretty amazing. Those giant CGI robots felt real. They had the right movements; you felt that they had mass. That's not an easy illusion to achieve, but Pacific Rim did it. If you've read any of my other reviews, you probably realize that I'm pretty harsh on CGI. Pacific Rim did it right though, and that makes me very happy. I might even be giddy....as giddy as a schoolboy.
Of course, my absolute love for this movie could come from my own weird cross section of interests. Mark and I might have been the perfect audience for this film. We both have a healthy love of anime. What's funny is that I'm not actually a fan of giant mech anime. The only one I ever really liked was Neon Genesis Evangelion.****** Mark was a fan of the old Godzilla movies. We liked the things that del Toro appreciated, and that may be why we loved the movie.
You should go see Pacific Rim in the theaters. A movie about giant robots and giant monsters clashing in battle should be seen on the big screen. I would even recommend the 3D. It didn't make the movie too dark to follow, and there were a few scenes where it made me appreciate the size of the jaegers. This is a fun movie. I was hooked by the first fight. Go in expecting big, dumb fun, and it should work out just fine for you.*******
*I didn't used to be very big into sci-fi. I enjoyed it just fine, but I find myself being more and more interested in sci-fi properties. I read Ender's Game and am stoked for the movie. I squeed the first time I saw a trailer for it.
**I know a lot of you think that the theater in the Market Common area is the best, but you're wrong. The one in the mall is far superior. With the refillable buckets and cups, great employees, and excellent customer service, I feel sorry for your if you choose an alternate theater.
***You should be watching Archer if you don't know what that means.
****Of course, I only had a hard time with him when it was cheesy lines he was reciting. It may not have been him; it may have been more of that dialogue issue.
*****When Mark told me that Ron Pearlman was chewing the scenery, I struck him down. No one talks about Ron Perlman that way.
******To all of the people who are hating on this movie because it is being touted as an original work when it bears resemblance to Neon Genesis Evangelion, just knock it off. Yes, it has similarities, which made me giddy to see. I don't knock it because of those elements; it just made me appreciate it all the more. It's the first time I've ever seen something in live action that reminded me of an anime in a good way. It's an original property, even if there are similar elements. I respect your opinion, but I believe you might be missing the point.
*******Also, Idris Elba.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
World War Z
Let's just start this off by saying that the only real problem I had with this movie was the name.* Years ago, we discovered the Zombie Survival Handbook; it was amazing. I know they constantly crank out handbooks for random things, but this one was actually written pretty cleverly. Max Brooks**, the author, then took it to the next level with World War Z, his oral history of the zombie war.*** It was a collection of accounts of the zombie plague. You get before, during, and after accounts. It was a great approach.
When we heard that they were making it into a movie, we were excited. We were also apprehensive. Considering how the book was set up, it seemed a daunting task. In what way were they going to make the small encounters from the book flow into a film? Apparently, the studio didn't know either, as they just decided to make a zombie movie that had loose association with the book.
Our reaction to the initial trailer was not so good. Frankly, we were pissed off.**** Are zombies fast or slow? Nowadays, it can go either way. I prefer the classic, slow, shamble zombie. I can still watch zoombie***** movies, like 28 Days Later. I believe zombies should be slow, but I don't let my preference doom a movie before I've seen it. In the case of the World War Z novel, the zombies are slow. The movie, however, is littered with zoombies. Both Mark and I were aghast.
As the release date neared, Mark continued to rage every time a preview came up. He did not want to see the film. I, on the other hand, while disappointed with some of the obvious choices in the film, figured we would go see the movie anyway. It took a couple discussions, but I finally convinced Mark we should see World War Z.
It was much better than I expected. I am not a fan of synopses, but let me give you a quick one. The story follows Brad Pitt, as he tries to figure out how the zombie plague began and how to stop it. Also, the zombies are fast.******
World War Z, when you disregard the name, did a lot of things right. First of all, Brad Pitt is just amazing. He really, really wanted to make this movie. Even when things looked bleak, he pushed on. There is actually an article in Vanity Fair that details the pain of getting World War Z from book to screen.******* When the ending didn't work, they scrapped it and did something different. Pitt's production company was smart enough to look for help when they needed it, and it ended up working for them.
One of my big hang ups comes in the form of special effects. I prefer practical over CGI whenever possible. It just feels more real. With large groups of extras, the scenes in World War Z feel genuine. There is CGI, but it isn't overwhelming. It's used appropriately and only as necessary. It does not detract from the film.
The movie is also littered with talent. The actors chosen do a good job with the material they're given. I'm just gonna go ahead and keep giving mad props to Brad Pitt. He's good at what he does. On a side note, I wasn't even annoyed with the kid characters. They're not really featured, but casting the wrong kid and make you root for the zombies to eat them.
I had a lot of expectations when I walked into World War Z. Since I knew they didn't adhere to the source material, those expectations were low....really low. That allowed the film to be far better than I expected. It's not a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a good zombie romp. Go enjoy it for what it is. After that, go read the book. It will make you sad to see what we missed out on, but it's good experience points.
One final note, even when the zombie apocalypse comes, I'm not going to drink Pepsi. I don't care if I saw Brad Pitt do it.
*Mark agrees with me on this point. After the movie, I asked him if he liked it. He told me it was okay. When I suggested thinking about it and disregarding the name and source material, he said it was really good.
**Yes, his daddy is Mel Brooks.
***I used to read it to Mark when we would go places. Since I didn't drive, I was in charge of entertainment. Luckily, I don't get sick while reading in the car. Yay for me!
****Please excuse my language. That's just the best way for me to put it.
*****ZOOMbies....get it? They're fast zombies! They zoom around. Explaining it makes it less fun.
******I wanted to make sure you didn't forget.
*******This article is seriously worth reading. Go read it. I'll wait.
When we heard that they were making it into a movie, we were excited. We were also apprehensive. Considering how the book was set up, it seemed a daunting task. In what way were they going to make the small encounters from the book flow into a film? Apparently, the studio didn't know either, as they just decided to make a zombie movie that had loose association with the book.
Our reaction to the initial trailer was not so good. Frankly, we were pissed off.**** Are zombies fast or slow? Nowadays, it can go either way. I prefer the classic, slow, shamble zombie. I can still watch zoombie***** movies, like 28 Days Later. I believe zombies should be slow, but I don't let my preference doom a movie before I've seen it. In the case of the World War Z novel, the zombies are slow. The movie, however, is littered with zoombies. Both Mark and I were aghast.
As the release date neared, Mark continued to rage every time a preview came up. He did not want to see the film. I, on the other hand, while disappointed with some of the obvious choices in the film, figured we would go see the movie anyway. It took a couple discussions, but I finally convinced Mark we should see World War Z.
It was much better than I expected. I am not a fan of synopses, but let me give you a quick one. The story follows Brad Pitt, as he tries to figure out how the zombie plague began and how to stop it. Also, the zombies are fast.******
World War Z, when you disregard the name, did a lot of things right. First of all, Brad Pitt is just amazing. He really, really wanted to make this movie. Even when things looked bleak, he pushed on. There is actually an article in Vanity Fair that details the pain of getting World War Z from book to screen.******* When the ending didn't work, they scrapped it and did something different. Pitt's production company was smart enough to look for help when they needed it, and it ended up working for them.
One of my big hang ups comes in the form of special effects. I prefer practical over CGI whenever possible. It just feels more real. With large groups of extras, the scenes in World War Z feel genuine. There is CGI, but it isn't overwhelming. It's used appropriately and only as necessary. It does not detract from the film.
The movie is also littered with talent. The actors chosen do a good job with the material they're given. I'm just gonna go ahead and keep giving mad props to Brad Pitt. He's good at what he does. On a side note, I wasn't even annoyed with the kid characters. They're not really featured, but casting the wrong kid and make you root for the zombies to eat them.
I had a lot of expectations when I walked into World War Z. Since I knew they didn't adhere to the source material, those expectations were low....really low. That allowed the film to be far better than I expected. It's not a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a good zombie romp. Go enjoy it for what it is. After that, go read the book. It will make you sad to see what we missed out on, but it's good experience points.
One final note, even when the zombie apocalypse comes, I'm not going to drink Pepsi. I don't care if I saw Brad Pitt do it.
*Mark agrees with me on this point. After the movie, I asked him if he liked it. He told me it was okay. When I suggested thinking about it and disregarding the name and source material, he said it was really good.
**Yes, his daddy is Mel Brooks.
***I used to read it to Mark when we would go places. Since I didn't drive, I was in charge of entertainment. Luckily, I don't get sick while reading in the car. Yay for me!
****Please excuse my language. That's just the best way for me to put it.
*****ZOOMbies....get it? They're fast zombies! They zoom around. Explaining it makes it less fun.
******I wanted to make sure you didn't forget.
*******This article is seriously worth reading. Go read it. I'll wait.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The HOA
The dreaded HOA...the Homeowner's Association.... You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. To those of you that serve in some capacity with an HOA, I'm sure you're a good guy, just as I'm sure not all stormtroopers were jerks. Sometimes, we get caught up in something not realizing just how wrong it is, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me explain to you why I do not hold a high opinion of HOAs.
It all began on a lovely evening in Anhk-Morpork.* Basker and Trysla** were preparing for a night on the town. There was a certain zombie movie that needed seeing, and they were up to the challenge. Before they could embark on their adventure, a wild text appeared. Their landlord wanted to make sure they had no pets. Of course, they had a cat, which the landlord knew about. After kindly reminding the landlord of that fact, it was revealed they they are not allowed to have a cat.
Let's talk about their cat for a moment. Mr. Fluffles is defenseless in the world, as he is missing his front weaponry. Additionally, he's afraid of strangers and the outdoors. He's pretty quiet and only bites the ones he loves. Aside from spending short bouts of time on the balcony, he does not leave the house.
Well, someone decided to tell the HOA that there was a cat living with Basker and Trysla. The HOA then decided to send a letter to the landlord stating that the animal must be removed or fines would accrue. Mr. Fluffles spent four years living there with no problems, but suddenly, he is a nuisance. The letter states that owners are more than welcome to have pets, but renters are not afforded the same rights. It is a vague letter, saying that pets must be on leashes and must be cleaned up after.
Now, you have the story. Let's talk about all the ways it's wrong.
1. Basker and Trysla had no knowledge of the HOA rules. They have a note in their lease allowing the housing of Mr. Fluffles. At no point did they violate any rules presented to them.*** It is understandable why the HOA would restrict pets for renters, as a renter is not always going to care for a property as the owner might. That being said, the owners should be able to make that decision, as it is their property in jeopardy.
2. The landlord was justified in contacting Basker and Trysla with the suspicion that there was an additional animal, likely a dog. Basker and Trysla had spoken with the landlord about adopting a dog. They didn't go through with it due to many factors, but I can see where the landlord would wonder.
3. The HOA made no attempt to speak with Basker and Trysla. The letter is vague, not stating what type of animal they saw. Is it possible they mistook someone with a dog for Basker and Trysla? As Mr. Fluffles only leaves the condo to sit on the balcony, which is in itself pretty rare, it seems mighty suspicious. Is it perhaps a generic letter, sent out to scare people?
4. Basker and Trysla have no real recourse. The landlord has asked them not to speak to the HOA for fear of making things worse. One cannot deal with accusations if one can not speak with the accuser. Was the clause stating no pets for renters in place four years ago when the lease was created and signed? Is this a recent addendum? We'll never know...
I'm sure HOAs actually serve some sort of good purpose. Honestly, I've never heard anyone speak highly of an HOA, but I'm sure there's a first time for everything. I'm sure the people running the HOA are just trying to do what's right, but that is little comfort when Basker and Trysla are going to have to move from their home after four years. I know I should blame the landlord, but I just can't bring myself to do it.
*Locations have been changed to protect the innocent.
**Names have also been changed to protect the innocent.
***Trysla is lawful good.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Bath & Body Works Hand Soaps
We pretty much use the Bath & Body Works hand soaps exclusively in our home. There is just something very satisfying about going in there and filling up a blue tote with all sorts of neat smells.* If you visit our guest bathroom and look under the sink, you'll see multiple bags of Bath & Body Works hand soaps. Sometimes, we just go nuts in there.
Now, we prefer the normal consistency soap over the foaming soap. It seems that the foaming soap goes very quickly. This could just be a weird perception with us, but both Mark and I felt that way. The foaming soaps clean just as well; they just don't seem to last as long.
Bath & Body Works realizes that maybe you want your soap to look fancy. As such, they've created metal pieces that fit over the bottles. This lets you add a bit of flair.** They will theme them to the seasons too! It would be nice if the labels would peel off of the actual bottles for a more pleasing aesthetic but that's not a make it or break it issue.
My only true gripe when it comes to the Bath & Body Works hand soaps is the pumps. When I pull out a new bottle of hand soap, there is a one in three chance that the pump will not pop up as it is supposed to. This means I have to dig out the bottle I just discarded to retrieve the working pump that I just threw away.***
I like the Bath & Body Works hand soaps. Could I get cheaper hand soap elsewhere? Probably. Do I want to give up our excursions into Scented Soap Shangir-La? Heck no. Mark and I will continue using those soaps, even if the pumps don't always work. We might be visiting too often; some of the employees even recognize us now.****
*The kitchen lemon is a common go to for us.
**Who needs flair for their hand soap? We do! Well, we did...until Mark threw the metal thingy away. He wasn't thinking.
***Or in the case of tonight, I just throw the unopened, nonworking bottle back in the bag and picked another scent.
****One girl talks to us about wings!
Now, we prefer the normal consistency soap over the foaming soap. It seems that the foaming soap goes very quickly. This could just be a weird perception with us, but both Mark and I felt that way. The foaming soaps clean just as well; they just don't seem to last as long.
Bath & Body Works realizes that maybe you want your soap to look fancy. As such, they've created metal pieces that fit over the bottles. This lets you add a bit of flair.** They will theme them to the seasons too! It would be nice if the labels would peel off of the actual bottles for a more pleasing aesthetic but that's not a make it or break it issue.
My only true gripe when it comes to the Bath & Body Works hand soaps is the pumps. When I pull out a new bottle of hand soap, there is a one in three chance that the pump will not pop up as it is supposed to. This means I have to dig out the bottle I just discarded to retrieve the working pump that I just threw away.***
I like the Bath & Body Works hand soaps. Could I get cheaper hand soap elsewhere? Probably. Do I want to give up our excursions into Scented Soap Shangir-La? Heck no. Mark and I will continue using those soaps, even if the pumps don't always work. We might be visiting too often; some of the employees even recognize us now.****
*The kitchen lemon is a common go to for us.
**Who needs flair for their hand soap? We do! Well, we did...until Mark threw the metal thingy away. He wasn't thinking.
***Or in the case of tonight, I just throw the unopened, nonworking bottle back in the bag and picked another scent.
****One girl talks to us about wings!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Roger Ebert
I'm not much of a writer. I'm not much of a critic. I muddle about on here, trying to get my ideas across. I can never hope to be as amazing as Roger Ebert. Heck, I would settle for being a fraction as talented as he.
While killing time on Reddit, I stumbled upon an article announcing Roger Ebert's death. Now, I rarely read full articles on Reddit. I get the gist of it from the title and move on. Not so with this article. I sat and read the entire piece, nearly moved to tears. It seemed the least I could do.
Roger Ebert was more than a talented critic. He made good use of the internet to disseminate his thoughts to as many people as possible. Where many people knew him from his television review show, I knew him from his online reviews. While I had seen the show as a kid, it was his style as a critic that spoke to me as an adult. I didn't always agree with him, but I loved his passion for movies. It spoke to me.
I love movies, but I had never really thought much about putting my thoughts down. When I started my daily reviews*, I was nervous. When I learned more about Ebert and his career, it inspired me. It's alright to put your thoughts out there. There is no right or wrong. We are all entitled to our opinions, and Ebert didn't mind when people disagreed with him. He enjoyed the discourse it could create. That's a beautiful thing.
The world has one less voice today. The least we can do is share ours.
*Yes, I know...I've been slacking in the daily department.
While killing time on Reddit, I stumbled upon an article announcing Roger Ebert's death. Now, I rarely read full articles on Reddit. I get the gist of it from the title and move on. Not so with this article. I sat and read the entire piece, nearly moved to tears. It seemed the least I could do.
Roger Ebert was more than a talented critic. He made good use of the internet to disseminate his thoughts to as many people as possible. Where many people knew him from his television review show, I knew him from his online reviews. While I had seen the show as a kid, it was his style as a critic that spoke to me as an adult. I didn't always agree with him, but I loved his passion for movies. It spoke to me.
I love movies, but I had never really thought much about putting my thoughts down. When I started my daily reviews*, I was nervous. When I learned more about Ebert and his career, it inspired me. It's alright to put your thoughts out there. There is no right or wrong. We are all entitled to our opinions, and Ebert didn't mind when people disagreed with him. He enjoyed the discourse it could create. That's a beautiful thing.
The world has one less voice today. The least we can do is share ours.
*Yes, I know...I've been slacking in the daily department.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Cheeseburger in Paradise - Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Mark and I have done a great job not eating out much in the past four weeks. We went from going out to eat one or two times a day to not going out at all. We have been out maybe two times in four weeks. Trust me...this is a huge accomplishment for us. We decided that when an outside force acts on us, it's okay to go out. Today, because we were short-handed at work, we had lunch brought in. I was lucky enough to get a buffalo chicken wrap from Cheeseburger in Paradise, and it was amazing!*
Cheeseburger in Paradise makes their buffalo chicken wraps a bit differently than other places. They start with one of those fancy, flavored wraps.** They then fill it with fried chicken chunks that have been coated in buffalo sauce. They cut the spice with some asiago cheese, blue cheese dressing, and lettuce. My favorite addition to the wrap are the cucumbers. They chop them up into smaller pieces and wrap them in there. The only addition I make to the wrap is to dip it in ranch dressing as I eat it. The buffalo sauce is quite hot, and I find that the additional ranch is quite necessary for my palette.
If you like buffalo chicken, you'll probably like this wrap. I've enjoyed it so much that when I order a buffalo chicken warp anywhere else, I ask them to put cucumbers on it. Cheeseburger in Paradise continues to make good food; eat there!
*Even though I ate it about three hours after it arrived. We were busy.
**I think it may be a tomato type one.
Cheeseburger in Paradise makes their buffalo chicken wraps a bit differently than other places. They start with one of those fancy, flavored wraps.** They then fill it with fried chicken chunks that have been coated in buffalo sauce. They cut the spice with some asiago cheese, blue cheese dressing, and lettuce. My favorite addition to the wrap are the cucumbers. They chop them up into smaller pieces and wrap them in there. The only addition I make to the wrap is to dip it in ranch dressing as I eat it. The buffalo sauce is quite hot, and I find that the additional ranch is quite necessary for my palette.
If you like buffalo chicken, you'll probably like this wrap. I've enjoyed it so much that when I order a buffalo chicken warp anywhere else, I ask them to put cucumbers on it. Cheeseburger in Paradise continues to make good food; eat there!
*Even though I ate it about three hours after it arrived. We were busy.
**I think it may be a tomato type one.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Perdue Simply Smart Lightly Breaded Chicken Chunks
I don't really like frozen food. I acknowledge that it is a great way to delay the aging process in food, hence allowing for longer storage, but I just feel it doesn't taste as good as fresh ingredients. Of course, fresh ingredients aren't always as cost effective and time friendly. Since BiLo loves to have specials where you buy a frozen entree and get a bunch of other stuff free, I've ended up with a freezer full of various frozen items. For the most part, it is frozen chicken tenders and frozen pizza. Today, we tried the Perdue Simply Smart Lightly Breaded Chicken Chunks. I was pleasantly surprised.
It seems that most breaded chicken is more breading than chicken. I think it's safe to say that breading is cheaper, so the breading overload saves the company money. When Perdue labeled these pieces of chicken as lightly breaded, it's actually an accurate description. I have had frozen chicken tenders before that pretty much required me to pick the meat out of the breading. This Perdue chicken was not like that at all. Finally...some truth in advertising.
The flavor of the chicken was also pretty good. It wasn't dry or stringy. The pieces were plump and flavorful. There was no funny taste from being frozen. I cooked them in the oven per the bag's instructions, and they turned out great. We just ate them like you would eat chicken nuggets, but I would love to try them on salad.
Speaking of salad, we've been trying to eat healthier. This chicken was by no means great for you, but it wasn't as bad as some of the other breaded chicken out there. I believe the lighter breading helps keep the calories down.* I was able to have a decent portion and still keep my meal at a relatively good number.
I don't often suggest people eat frozen entrees. Some work out, but I usually think frozen food tastes funny. I'm happy to announce that the Perdue Simply Smart Lightly Breaded Chicken Chunks** are really good. Next time BiLo has one of those sales, I plan to pick up some more.
*I'm counting calories and fat. I am not counting carbs, so I can't tell you how they were for carbs. Sorry!
**They also win for having the longest freaking name.
It seems that most breaded chicken is more breading than chicken. I think it's safe to say that breading is cheaper, so the breading overload saves the company money. When Perdue labeled these pieces of chicken as lightly breaded, it's actually an accurate description. I have had frozen chicken tenders before that pretty much required me to pick the meat out of the breading. This Perdue chicken was not like that at all. Finally...some truth in advertising.
The flavor of the chicken was also pretty good. It wasn't dry or stringy. The pieces were plump and flavorful. There was no funny taste from being frozen. I cooked them in the oven per the bag's instructions, and they turned out great. We just ate them like you would eat chicken nuggets, but I would love to try them on salad.
Speaking of salad, we've been trying to eat healthier. This chicken was by no means great for you, but it wasn't as bad as some of the other breaded chicken out there. I believe the lighter breading helps keep the calories down.* I was able to have a decent portion and still keep my meal at a relatively good number.
I don't often suggest people eat frozen entrees. Some work out, but I usually think frozen food tastes funny. I'm happy to announce that the Perdue Simply Smart Lightly Breaded Chicken Chunks** are really good. Next time BiLo has one of those sales, I plan to pick up some more.
*I'm counting calories and fat. I am not counting carbs, so I can't tell you how they were for carbs. Sorry!
**They also win for having the longest freaking name.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
The Conair Barrel Brush
Slowly but surely, I am collecting all the items that normal girls have. I am proud to say that I now have both a flat iron and a hair dryer. I have some gunk to put in my hair, as well. After talking to other ladies*, I've found out that barrel brushes are a pretty standard member of the lady's arsenal. Not one to be unprepared, I bought a Conair barrel brush not too long ago. It's been a fun journey.
Previously, my only experience with any barrel brush** was one that I got in a hair care set when I was in middle school. It was one of those sets that comes with three different types of combs and two different brushes. The set was teal, very pretty. That little barrel brush was quite dangerous, however. I managed to wrap my hair around it, but I didn't tell anyone. Instead, I just slowly extricated myself from the brush. After that, the brush and I were mortal enemies. I wouldn't even keep it in my room. I knew it was evil.
Fast forward to October of last year. I had gone to a few salons recently, and my favorite, Salon Edge in North Myrtle Beach, clued me in to how useful the barrel brush could be. The awesome stylist was kind enough to explain what she was doing and why. I find that knowing the use of all these weird hair tools is quite nice. It also makes me want to go buy stuff.
Let's return to the present day. Have you gone shopping for a hair brush lately? The choices are endless. Seriously, most stores have entire aisles dedicated to hair tools. I was in the local Target, which only gives half an aisle over to hair brushes. That, of course, still meant there were multiple versions of the barrel brush.
First, I knew I needed a larger circumference brush. This ruled out the small ones, maybe half total. Next, I knew I wanted one that looked fancy.*** That disqualified a few more, leaving me with maybe a quarter to consider.
I narrowed it down to three that I liked. The first brush was actually kind of simple. It had a wooden handle, with a mixture of bristle types. While it was simple, it seemed well crafted and pleasing to the eye. The second one was a quick drying brush and not fully round. It had little towel like tentacles that were designed to help dry hair. The third brush had retractable bristles. If you were to get your hair stuck, you could push a button on top to pull the bristles into the barrel itself, hence freeing your hair.
While I was tempted to go with the quick release brush, I decided that I wasn't going to be silly and get my hair stuck. I would not live in fear!! I put that one back. My concern with the second brush, the one with the terry type bristles amongst the regular bristles, was that it would get kind of nasty. It too went back to the shelf. This left me with the simple yet nice option, the first brush. I picked it up and rushed off to the register before I could change my mind.
Now, I didn't actually try using my new brush for a couple of weeks. I had to build up the courage, and anyone who could have watched as I tried it out the first few times wouldn't have gotten a good laugh out of it. I still can't make my hair look perfectly flipped out at the ends and such, but I am learning how to use the brush. It does help my hair to come out straighter as I blow dry it. The bristles are also forgiving, meaning that I haven't torn any of my hair out when using the brush.
While I still don't know if I'm using the brush in the manner that a salon professional would, I am happy that it is improving my opinion of my hair. I don't blow dry very often, sometimes as little as once a week. I do think it looks better than when I didn't utilize a brush at all when blow drying. It's all about the baby steps. Someday, I'm going to look like an adult!****
*I use that term loosely. My friends are much too interesting to be ladies.
**For any who are unfamiliar, a barrel brush is a round brush. It looks like a tube with bristles the whole way around.
***I'm allowed to be superficial every once in a while.
****Don't hold your breath.
Previously, my only experience with any barrel brush** was one that I got in a hair care set when I was in middle school. It was one of those sets that comes with three different types of combs and two different brushes. The set was teal, very pretty. That little barrel brush was quite dangerous, however. I managed to wrap my hair around it, but I didn't tell anyone. Instead, I just slowly extricated myself from the brush. After that, the brush and I were mortal enemies. I wouldn't even keep it in my room. I knew it was evil.
Fast forward to October of last year. I had gone to a few salons recently, and my favorite, Salon Edge in North Myrtle Beach, clued me in to how useful the barrel brush could be. The awesome stylist was kind enough to explain what she was doing and why. I find that knowing the use of all these weird hair tools is quite nice. It also makes me want to go buy stuff.
Let's return to the present day. Have you gone shopping for a hair brush lately? The choices are endless. Seriously, most stores have entire aisles dedicated to hair tools. I was in the local Target, which only gives half an aisle over to hair brushes. That, of course, still meant there were multiple versions of the barrel brush.
First, I knew I needed a larger circumference brush. This ruled out the small ones, maybe half total. Next, I knew I wanted one that looked fancy.*** That disqualified a few more, leaving me with maybe a quarter to consider.
I narrowed it down to three that I liked. The first brush was actually kind of simple. It had a wooden handle, with a mixture of bristle types. While it was simple, it seemed well crafted and pleasing to the eye. The second one was a quick drying brush and not fully round. It had little towel like tentacles that were designed to help dry hair. The third brush had retractable bristles. If you were to get your hair stuck, you could push a button on top to pull the bristles into the barrel itself, hence freeing your hair.
While I was tempted to go with the quick release brush, I decided that I wasn't going to be silly and get my hair stuck. I would not live in fear!! I put that one back. My concern with the second brush, the one with the terry type bristles amongst the regular bristles, was that it would get kind of nasty. It too went back to the shelf. This left me with the simple yet nice option, the first brush. I picked it up and rushed off to the register before I could change my mind.
Now, I didn't actually try using my new brush for a couple of weeks. I had to build up the courage, and anyone who could have watched as I tried it out the first few times wouldn't have gotten a good laugh out of it. I still can't make my hair look perfectly flipped out at the ends and such, but I am learning how to use the brush. It does help my hair to come out straighter as I blow dry it. The bristles are also forgiving, meaning that I haven't torn any of my hair out when using the brush.
While I still don't know if I'm using the brush in the manner that a salon professional would, I am happy that it is improving my opinion of my hair. I don't blow dry very often, sometimes as little as once a week. I do think it looks better than when I didn't utilize a brush at all when blow drying. It's all about the baby steps. Someday, I'm going to look like an adult!****
*I use that term loosely. My friends are much too interesting to be ladies.
**For any who are unfamiliar, a barrel brush is a round brush. It looks like a tube with bristles the whole way around.
***I'm allowed to be superficial every once in a while.
****Don't hold your breath.
Friday, March 29, 2013
To 3D or Not to 3D - A Cinemablend Feature
I used to love Cinemablend.com. I still respect the website, but it doesn't appeal to me as much anymore. I rarely visit the site anymore. However, if I'm trying to decide whether or not to spring for 3D, I wander over that way for the "To 3D or Not to 3D" articles.
I've always been pretty open to the fact that 3D is just a gimmick. I'm sure there are some filmmakers who feel it really can add something to their art, but a great deal of 3D is done to make money. That's a nice fee to tack onto already expensive tickets. That being said, there are films that are neat in 3D. Luckily, someone over at Cinemablend takes the time to figure out which films those are.
Before going to see the new GI Joe movie last night, I wanted to see what Cinemablend had to say. They break their review down into multiple categories, so you can get a good feel for the 3D quality. They discuss factors such as the darkness*, the effects that come out of the screen towards you, and the nausea factor. They do a pretty thorough job of letting you know when it is worth the extra money for a 3D experience.
It would be worth your time to check out the "To 3D or not to 3D" feature on Cinemablend. I may not always agree with their film reviews, but they haven't steered me wrong yet on 3D. My hats off to them.
*I attack the darkness.
I've always been pretty open to the fact that 3D is just a gimmick. I'm sure there are some filmmakers who feel it really can add something to their art, but a great deal of 3D is done to make money. That's a nice fee to tack onto already expensive tickets. That being said, there are films that are neat in 3D. Luckily, someone over at Cinemablend takes the time to figure out which films those are.
Before going to see the new GI Joe movie last night, I wanted to see what Cinemablend had to say. They break their review down into multiple categories, so you can get a good feel for the 3D quality. They discuss factors such as the darkness*, the effects that come out of the screen towards you, and the nausea factor. They do a pretty thorough job of letting you know when it is worth the extra money for a 3D experience.
It would be worth your time to check out the "To 3D or not to 3D" feature on Cinemablend. I may not always agree with their film reviews, but they haven't steered me wrong yet on 3D. My hats off to them.
*I attack the darkness.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm
My favorite lip balm used to be the little blue Blistex pot. It was super strong and really effective. Since I don't live in the ice and snow* anymore, I don't need such a strong lip balm. Now, I use the Blistex Medicated lip balm stick.
I don't know I stumbled upon it, but I have three of them sitting on my computer stand right now.** They're inexpensive, which makes them even more attractive. When I forgot one when I went on vacation in October, I found that the gift shop at my Disney hotel actually sold them. I was excited and decided that I wanted the lip balm Disney sold.
I suppose I should actually tell you about the lip balm itself. It's cheap and effective. It's no fuss and no mess. It works for gents, as well as ladies.*** It's good, solid lip balm. Try it.
*From the midnight sun and the hot springs blow!
**I wonder if anyone ever actually finishes lip balm. I've never finished one.
***I had four of them on my desk until Mark claimed one for his own. He usually uses things like Bert's Bees, but he decided to slum it with me.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Sam's Club Photos
I remember how expensive it used to be to buy your photos. Before digital, you had to buy the expensive film. Then, you had to pay to have it developed, which was also expensive. Of course, not all of your pictures were worth developing, but you had to take the good with the bad. You didn't know until after the fact what you had. Now, it's all digital, and that has opened up a world of awesome. I actually chose pictures from my computer and had them developed at Sam's Club in ten minutes. Welcome to the future!
I'm working on a project and needed to print out some pictures. Mark let me know that I can sign up on the Sam's Club website to order prints. You set up an account, upload your pictures, then decide what to order. You can do some basic editing on the site, and you can choose what size you need, up to an 8x10.
Since they make you create an account, Sam's rewards you with 25 free 4x6 prints. How awesome is that? I opted not to use my free prints today. I had ordered a variety of sizes, from wallet up to 8x10. After completing my order, they sent me an email asking me to pick up my photos at the nearest club any time after an hour and a half.
By the time I drove to the club, about ten minutes later, the pictures had already printed out. For the dozen or so pictures I got, it was under $4. So, here in the future, I can pick which pictures I want, choose the appropriate size, and pick them up ten minutes later....all for a few bucks. What is not to love??
If you need to order pictures I know there are a lot of different websites you can use. I haven't tried any of the others yet, but I know the Sam's site works really well. It's easy to use and the service is speedy. This is just another of the many things that Sam's Club excels at.
I'm working on a project and needed to print out some pictures. Mark let me know that I can sign up on the Sam's Club website to order prints. You set up an account, upload your pictures, then decide what to order. You can do some basic editing on the site, and you can choose what size you need, up to an 8x10.
Since they make you create an account, Sam's rewards you with 25 free 4x6 prints. How awesome is that? I opted not to use my free prints today. I had ordered a variety of sizes, from wallet up to 8x10. After completing my order, they sent me an email asking me to pick up my photos at the nearest club any time after an hour and a half.
By the time I drove to the club, about ten minutes later, the pictures had already printed out. For the dozen or so pictures I got, it was under $4. So, here in the future, I can pick which pictures I want, choose the appropriate size, and pick them up ten minutes later....all for a few bucks. What is not to love??
If you need to order pictures I know there are a lot of different websites you can use. I haven't tried any of the others yet, but I know the Sam's site works really well. It's easy to use and the service is speedy. This is just another of the many things that Sam's Club excels at.
Friday, March 22, 2013
The Glamorise Sports Bra
There is nothing fun about bras. They annoying and no fun to shop for. You don't get to show them off to everyone.* Depending on the size you need, they may only come in boring colors anyway.** After some research and shopping, I found a really nice sports bra made by Glamorise.***
I have no idea what the most important aspect is for a sports bra. At first, I was going to say fit. Then, I thought maybe support was most important. It's probably a combination of the two, with one supporting the other. My Glamorise sports bra fits well and provides ample support. I haven't given myself a black eye yet, so I know it's doing its job.
While most sports bras have no hooks and are just put on over your head, this particular sports bra actually has hooks in the back...a lot of hooks. Once you have it all done up, you know its not coming off.**** You can increase or decrease the band size quite a bit too. To add additional support, there is an added panel in the front. Once you have everything arranged, you can choose how high to set the panel. There are different heights at which to attach it.
This is most definitely the most technologically advanced sports bra I have ever owned. Most importantly, it keeps the girls where they're supposed to be. It's very comfortable, which is saying a lot for a sports bra. Most of the ones I have owned in the past pull on my neck and/or shoulders a lot. This one doesn't do that. I would suggest this particular sports bra to any well endowed ladies.
*Well, I hope you're not. I guess you can, but it's going to ruin your reputation!
**That's the boat I'm usually stuck in. Most of mine are black or red. I guess I should just be happy they're not nude.
***There will be no pictures in this review. You're welcome.
****Should you be inspired to have sexy time after your workout, this bra will delay that.
I have no idea what the most important aspect is for a sports bra. At first, I was going to say fit. Then, I thought maybe support was most important. It's probably a combination of the two, with one supporting the other. My Glamorise sports bra fits well and provides ample support. I haven't given myself a black eye yet, so I know it's doing its job.
While most sports bras have no hooks and are just put on over your head, this particular sports bra actually has hooks in the back...a lot of hooks. Once you have it all done up, you know its not coming off.**** You can increase or decrease the band size quite a bit too. To add additional support, there is an added panel in the front. Once you have everything arranged, you can choose how high to set the panel. There are different heights at which to attach it.
This is most definitely the most technologically advanced sports bra I have ever owned. Most importantly, it keeps the girls where they're supposed to be. It's very comfortable, which is saying a lot for a sports bra. Most of the ones I have owned in the past pull on my neck and/or shoulders a lot. This one doesn't do that. I would suggest this particular sports bra to any well endowed ladies.
*Well, I hope you're not. I guess you can, but it's going to ruin your reputation!
**That's the boat I'm usually stuck in. Most of mine are black or red. I guess I should just be happy they're not nude.
***There will be no pictures in this review. You're welcome.
****Should you be inspired to have sexy time after your workout, this bra will delay that.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
My Food Journal: A Tale of Triumph, Junior Mints, and a Little Bit of Shame
It seems that everyone has an opinion on how to lose weight, how to be healthy. For every study telling you to focus on a low carb diet, there is another study telling you that you should cut out meat. No matter what you're doing, someone else has a better idea, and they're happy to tell you all about it. I'm going to share a tool with you that I used to scoff at. I'm not saying this will do you any good; it just happens to be helping me.
Almost three weeks ago, I started keeping a food journal. Every morning, I weigh myself, and it goes in the book. Everything I eat gets recorded. The calorie and fat content are also calculated and noted. If I make it to the gym that day, my time and distance gets written down.* If we have a "Treat Day", that gets marked down.**
Does this actually help? For me, yeah. I get embarrassed when I see what I have eaten some days. When I take the time to figure out calories, I am sometimes shamed.*** It's not a bad shaming though, as I'm the only one who knows. It just encourages me to think about what I'm eating.
Because I like pretty colors, I have all of my meals color coded. Additionally, my workout gets color coded to match the nearest meal. If I go to the gym in the morning, it gets noted in the same color as breakfast. It lets me see at a glance what I've been achieving. I also have a specific color for snacks, so I can see when I get a bit weak.
Keeping a food journal is a lot of work, but it's keeping me on my toes about what I consume. Some days are better than others, but all in all, I"m eating less than I used to. When I have a snack, like Junior Mints, I don't eat a box. I eat half of a serving. I don't lie in my food book, and that's helping me to make bigger, more important changes.****
*I'm only using the treadmill right now. Someday, I hope to branch out, but you have to start somewhere.
**Treat yo self!
***Those bacon cheeseburgers were amazing though. Mmmm....
****For example, the two of us haven't gone out to eat alone in over two weeks. Trust me, this is a huge accomplishment.
Food!
Almost three weeks ago, I started keeping a food journal. Every morning, I weigh myself, and it goes in the book. Everything I eat gets recorded. The calorie and fat content are also calculated and noted. If I make it to the gym that day, my time and distance gets written down.* If we have a "Treat Day", that gets marked down.**
Does this actually help? For me, yeah. I get embarrassed when I see what I have eaten some days. When I take the time to figure out calories, I am sometimes shamed.*** It's not a bad shaming though, as I'm the only one who knows. It just encourages me to think about what I'm eating.
Because I like pretty colors, I have all of my meals color coded. Additionally, my workout gets color coded to match the nearest meal. If I go to the gym in the morning, it gets noted in the same color as breakfast. It lets me see at a glance what I've been achieving. I also have a specific color for snacks, so I can see when I get a bit weak.
Keeping a food journal is a lot of work, but it's keeping me on my toes about what I consume. Some days are better than others, but all in all, I"m eating less than I used to. When I have a snack, like Junior Mints, I don't eat a box. I eat half of a serving. I don't lie in my food book, and that's helping me to make bigger, more important changes.****
*I'm only using the treadmill right now. Someday, I hope to branch out, but you have to start somewhere.
**Treat yo self!
***Those bacon cheeseburgers were amazing though. Mmmm....
****For example, the two of us haven't gone out to eat alone in over two weeks. Trust me, this is a huge accomplishment.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Nike Outlet Store
Some people over-pack for vacation. Some times, I'm one of those people. Other times, I know how to minimize. What I do not compromise on is shoes when we visit Disney. Mark and I have found that the best way to avoid sore feet and blisters is to change shoes once a day. We each take three pairs - sneakers*, Vibrams, and athletic sandals. This also gives us alternatives if a pair gets wet. Sadly, our current sneakers are getting a bit worn and dingy. It was time for a trip to the Nike Outlet Store!
It was a bit later than I would have liked when we arrived, with less than an hour until closing. You would think that would make the employees less than friendly, but you would be wrong. They were quite friendly and helpful. There was no feeling of being rushed.
We started out in the men's shoes.** Perhaps the most daunting thing about the Outlet store is the number of options. There are sooooo many shoes. We wandered around, with Mark trying on the occasional pair.*** We tried to be good customers and put items back where we found them, especially since it was getting close to closing.
When Mark finally found a pair of shoes he liked, we wandered over to the lady's section. Now, we get made fun of for this periodically but we tend to match. We usually wear the same colors. Of course, this meant that I was primarily looking for shoes that were the same style as Mark's choice. I will settle for same colors when necessary. I was unable to find the same style in women's, so I started just focusing on colors and styles I liked.
I have a problem when I buy shoes. It's incredibly difficult for me to find shoes that fit. Nike shoes tend to be cut small. Where I normally wear size 10.5, I can go up to an 11 in Nike brand shoes. I do appreciate that quite a few styles had my normal size. There was a shoe on clearance that I really liked that was not available in size 11, which is what I actually needed.
While trying on various shoes, I mentioned to Mark how it would rub at my heel. I've had that problem for quite some time, but I never thought much of it. An incredibly nice and helpful employee heard me and explained that it is because I have narrow heels. It was really great to hear a reason behind that annoyance. She even suggested specific shoes that fit a narrow heel better, as she has the same problem. She wins the award for awesome employee!
I finally found a pair I liked. Due to the color, Mark was prompted to switch his choice to the shoes he really liked but hesitated to buy due to price. He had been on his phone looking for better deals on these more expensive shoes, the ones that just so happened to match mine. He found them for six dollars less online. Once you factor in shipping, it's really not that much of a difference. We learned that the prices at the Outlet aren't really all that much more than what you can get the shoes for elsewhere.
I always figured the Nike Outlet would be really over-priced and stocked by snooty people.**** I'm happy to have discovered that I was 100% wrong. Our purchases weren't cheap, but they were totally worth it. Mark wore his shoes to the gym the other day to break them in; when we were done, he informed me that they were good to go. They were that good right off the bat. If you need sneakers, the Nike Outlet is a great place to start.
*I was told that up north we usually say sneakers, so I made sure to use that rather than tennis shoes.
**You would think I would be the one that would take forever picking out shoes; you would be wrong.
***In one shoe, he had to try them on three times. Apparently, he doesn't know what size he wears. Go figure.
****I feel pretty much all outlet stores are staffed by snooty people. I have no basis for this belief.
It was a bit later than I would have liked when we arrived, with less than an hour until closing. You would think that would make the employees less than friendly, but you would be wrong. They were quite friendly and helpful. There was no feeling of being rushed.
We started out in the men's shoes.** Perhaps the most daunting thing about the Outlet store is the number of options. There are sooooo many shoes. We wandered around, with Mark trying on the occasional pair.*** We tried to be good customers and put items back where we found them, especially since it was getting close to closing.
Shoes as far as the eye can see....
When Mark finally found a pair of shoes he liked, we wandered over to the lady's section. Now, we get made fun of for this periodically but we tend to match. We usually wear the same colors. Of course, this meant that I was primarily looking for shoes that were the same style as Mark's choice. I will settle for same colors when necessary. I was unable to find the same style in women's, so I started just focusing on colors and styles I liked.
More shoes!
I have a problem when I buy shoes. It's incredibly difficult for me to find shoes that fit. Nike shoes tend to be cut small. Where I normally wear size 10.5, I can go up to an 11 in Nike brand shoes. I do appreciate that quite a few styles had my normal size. There was a shoe on clearance that I really liked that was not available in size 11, which is what I actually needed.
They provide little socks for you to try on the shoes.
They're not those little nylon hose things!
No expense is spared!
While trying on various shoes, I mentioned to Mark how it would rub at my heel. I've had that problem for quite some time, but I never thought much of it. An incredibly nice and helpful employee heard me and explained that it is because I have narrow heels. It was really great to hear a reason behind that annoyance. She even suggested specific shoes that fit a narrow heel better, as she has the same problem. She wins the award for awesome employee!
Employee of the Year!
I finally found a pair I liked. Due to the color, Mark was prompted to switch his choice to the shoes he really liked but hesitated to buy due to price. He had been on his phone looking for better deals on these more expensive shoes, the ones that just so happened to match mine. He found them for six dollars less online. Once you factor in shipping, it's really not that much of a difference. We learned that the prices at the Outlet aren't really all that much more than what you can get the shoes for elsewhere.
I always figured the Nike Outlet would be really over-priced and stocked by snooty people.**** I'm happy to have discovered that I was 100% wrong. Our purchases weren't cheap, but they were totally worth it. Mark wore his shoes to the gym the other day to break them in; when we were done, he informed me that they were good to go. They were that good right off the bat. If you need sneakers, the Nike Outlet is a great place to start.
*I was told that up north we usually say sneakers, so I made sure to use that rather than tennis shoes.
**You would think I would be the one that would take forever picking out shoes; you would be wrong.
***In one shoe, he had to try them on three times. Apparently, he doesn't know what size he wears. Go figure.
****I feel pretty much all outlet stores are staffed by snooty people. I have no basis for this belief.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Dredd
While watching Dredd, all I could think about was how much I regretted not seeing it in 3D at the theater. I had heard good things about it, but we just didn't catch it in the theaters. Granted, Dredd isn't the best movie, but it was a whole lot of fun.
For those of you unfamiliar, Dredd is a Judge. In the future, Judges act as police, judge, and executioner.* With properties that have a lot to work from, you often get origin stories. Now, I don't know much about Judge Dredd to know if there is the potential for an origin story, but I like that we just get thrown into his world. There is a brief voice over to establish the rules and then we're off, into the story. It's effective and wastes little time.
With the opening title screen, you know this film was made with 3D in mind. There are various shots throughout that would have been stunning, maybe amazing in 3D.** The effects are petty good. There are lots of explosions. When you couple that with the slow motion scenes, it's fun. It may not be revolutionary, but I do appreciate their explanation for the use.
If you're squeamish, you might want to steer clear. The film isn't gore saturated, but it does hearken back a bit to the 80's action movie so far as the blood and bodies go. It's probably on par with something like Predator.
They did manage to land some solid actors, even if they're not headliners. Cersei took a break from sleeping with her brother to get uglied up for this film.*** Karl Urban, who Mark referred to as Jude Law**** multiple times, plays Judge Dredd. You know, Karl Urban is a whole lot of fun. He was also in Doom, which I love. I know it's a bad movie, but it's the right kind of bad.
Dredd is an awesome movie. Maybe it isn't a great movie, but it is a ton of fun. I like the vibe, and I like explosions. I got exactly what I wanted. I just wish I had seen it in the theater for that 3D experience.*****
*Apparently, the future sucks.
**If done properly, of course.
***I'm talking about Lena Headey, for those of you that don't watch Game of Thrones. Also, if you don't watch Game of Thrones, we are no longer friends.
****This, of course, led us into a discussion regarding which of them currently has the more promising career. I went with Karl Urban on this one; he does get to be in the new Star Trek movies.
*****3D is a gimmick, but with the right type of movie, it can be a great gimmick.
For those of you unfamiliar, Dredd is a Judge. In the future, Judges act as police, judge, and executioner.* With properties that have a lot to work from, you often get origin stories. Now, I don't know much about Judge Dredd to know if there is the potential for an origin story, but I like that we just get thrown into his world. There is a brief voice over to establish the rules and then we're off, into the story. It's effective and wastes little time.
With the opening title screen, you know this film was made with 3D in mind. There are various shots throughout that would have been stunning, maybe amazing in 3D.** The effects are petty good. There are lots of explosions. When you couple that with the slow motion scenes, it's fun. It may not be revolutionary, but I do appreciate their explanation for the use.
If you're squeamish, you might want to steer clear. The film isn't gore saturated, but it does hearken back a bit to the 80's action movie so far as the blood and bodies go. It's probably on par with something like Predator.
They did manage to land some solid actors, even if they're not headliners. Cersei took a break from sleeping with her brother to get uglied up for this film.*** Karl Urban, who Mark referred to as Jude Law**** multiple times, plays Judge Dredd. You know, Karl Urban is a whole lot of fun. He was also in Doom, which I love. I know it's a bad movie, but it's the right kind of bad.
Dredd is an awesome movie. Maybe it isn't a great movie, but it is a ton of fun. I like the vibe, and I like explosions. I got exactly what I wanted. I just wish I had seen it in the theater for that 3D experience.*****
*Apparently, the future sucks.
**If done properly, of course.
***I'm talking about Lena Headey, for those of you that don't watch Game of Thrones. Also, if you don't watch Game of Thrones, we are no longer friends.
****This, of course, led us into a discussion regarding which of them currently has the more promising career. I went with Karl Urban on this one; he does get to be in the new Star Trek movies.
*****3D is a gimmick, but with the right type of movie, it can be a great gimmick.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Comedy Central Closed Captioning
In my life, I don't have cause to turn on closed captioning very often. Growing up, my dad would sometimes turn it on when he would get up for work, opting to keep the volume off so anyone sleeping wasn't bothered. The only other time I really see closed captioning is at the gym.* If you're on the treadmill or other cardio type machines, they often have TVs attached . Some machines let you plug your headphones right into the TV; others do not give you that option. The treadmills at my current gym are the latter type. This means subtitles.
After flipping through channels, I ended up on Comedy Central. The Colbert Show was on. While I haven't really watched it before, I've heard good things. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get much of the content because I was so distracted by the subtitles. I wish I could remember the specific mess ups, but they were so bad that my brain has blocked them.
I thought maybe it was an isolated incident, but when the Daily Show started up, the terribly done subtitles continued. It got to the point that I just couldn't watch it anymore. I was spending more time trying to figure out what words they were trying to type than absorbing their content.
If you have to read closed captioning, I'm sorry, but if you try to use closed captioning when watching Comedy Central, I feel bad for you. It's just pathetic. I started wondering if it was a joke they were playing, but I really don't think it was. How unfortunate.
*I haven't been going very often, but I'm working on it.
After flipping through channels, I ended up on Comedy Central. The Colbert Show was on. While I haven't really watched it before, I've heard good things. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get much of the content because I was so distracted by the subtitles. I wish I could remember the specific mess ups, but they were so bad that my brain has blocked them.
I thought maybe it was an isolated incident, but when the Daily Show started up, the terribly done subtitles continued. It got to the point that I just couldn't watch it anymore. I was spending more time trying to figure out what words they were trying to type than absorbing their content.
If you have to read closed captioning, I'm sorry, but if you try to use closed captioning when watching Comedy Central, I feel bad for you. It's just pathetic. I started wondering if it was a joke they were playing, but I really don't think it was. How unfortunate.
*I haven't been going very often, but I'm working on it.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Zombies, Run!
I don't have a lot of apps on my phone. Mark will download random games and such onto my phone, but there are not a lot of apps that I use on a regular basis. I'm happy to report that I have recently found another neat and useful app though. I would like to tell you all about Zombies, Run!
Zombies, Run! is a running app. The basic story is that there are zombies. If you want to survive, you have to run. It's pretty basic. You get some story with each mission you do, meeting new characters and the like. There will be some dialogue followed by musical segments, which consist of tunes found on your device. You can set your missions to be any where from thirty minutes to an hour. If you exceed the mission length, the app switches to radio mode, which is more of your music with bits of information from the radio jockey.
There are various settings for the Zombies, Run! app. If you're on a treadmill, you can set it to measure your steps. If you run outside, it can use the GPS. You can also set up the playlist that it pulls music from. It doesn't seem to pick those songs randomly though, which means I always hear the same songs in the same order. This might be something I can tweak, but I haven't messed with it to find out yet.
Perhaps the neatest feature is the actual zombie chases. You have the option to turn them on or off. I like them on because they force you to sprint, hence getting your heart rate up a bit. My only complaint about the zombie chases are that there aren't more of them. When the app plays songs, you'll hear a computerized voice telling you what you've found.* That same voice will warn you if zombies get too close. There will be an accompanying beep that gets more frequent the closer the zombies get to you. You can be overtaken by the zombies, which is creepy.** If you get away, that voice tells you that you evaded them.
I don't get into most workout aids. I don't care for exercise tapes. I don't work out with others, aside from Mark. I haven't tried out classes yet. What I do like is this app. Zombies, Run! gives you a bit of story, some music beats, and some scary ass zombie chases. What more could you want?
*I found a sports bra one time!
**Their moaning gets very loud and scary. I don't like it.
Zombies, Run! is a running app. The basic story is that there are zombies. If you want to survive, you have to run. It's pretty basic. You get some story with each mission you do, meeting new characters and the like. There will be some dialogue followed by musical segments, which consist of tunes found on your device. You can set your missions to be any where from thirty minutes to an hour. If you exceed the mission length, the app switches to radio mode, which is more of your music with bits of information from the radio jockey.
There are various settings for the Zombies, Run! app. If you're on a treadmill, you can set it to measure your steps. If you run outside, it can use the GPS. You can also set up the playlist that it pulls music from. It doesn't seem to pick those songs randomly though, which means I always hear the same songs in the same order. This might be something I can tweak, but I haven't messed with it to find out yet.
Perhaps the neatest feature is the actual zombie chases. You have the option to turn them on or off. I like them on because they force you to sprint, hence getting your heart rate up a bit. My only complaint about the zombie chases are that there aren't more of them. When the app plays songs, you'll hear a computerized voice telling you what you've found.* That same voice will warn you if zombies get too close. There will be an accompanying beep that gets more frequent the closer the zombies get to you. You can be overtaken by the zombies, which is creepy.** If you get away, that voice tells you that you evaded them.
I don't get into most workout aids. I don't care for exercise tapes. I don't work out with others, aside from Mark. I haven't tried out classes yet. What I do like is this app. Zombies, Run! gives you a bit of story, some music beats, and some scary ass zombie chases. What more could you want?
*I found a sports bra one time!
**Their moaning gets very loud and scary. I don't like it.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Chi Chi's Sweet Corn Cake Mix
I miss Chi Chi's. They had some awesome food.* That was the first place I had a chimichanga, tortilla soup, and sweet corn cake. Since then, I have found few places that make those items as well as Chi Chi's did.** I am pleased to report that you can get a mix to make the sweet corn cake in the comfort of your own home.
While shopping in Target, I found the mix. At first, I was shocked. Then...I was super excited. I remembered really liking the sweet corn cake. After checking out the needed ingredients, I bought it and headed home. I was already planning on making tacos, so it worked out well.
Mark was kind enough to cook dinner, so he prepped the sweet corn cake. The ingredients were pretty standard, with cream corn being the only item you may not have on hand. You mix butter, the cream corn, the mix, and water then put it in a loaf pan which then goes in the oven. The hardest part was waiting forty five minutes for it to be done baking.
Once it is cooked, you eat it with a spoon or fork. It's too wet to eat like bread, but it stays together well. It's delicious too! I have no idea how well it keeps, as we ate pretty much all of it.
If you're looking for something to add to your taco night, pick up the Chi Chi's sweet corn cake mix. It's easy to make and really tasty. I'm starting to wish we had some left...
*You know...aside from the food poisoning.
**Don Pablo's made amazing tortilla soup, but they've also gone the way of the dodo bird.
While shopping in Target, I found the mix. At first, I was shocked. Then...I was super excited. I remembered really liking the sweet corn cake. After checking out the needed ingredients, I bought it and headed home. I was already planning on making tacos, so it worked out well.
Mark was kind enough to cook dinner, so he prepped the sweet corn cake. The ingredients were pretty standard, with cream corn being the only item you may not have on hand. You mix butter, the cream corn, the mix, and water then put it in a loaf pan which then goes in the oven. The hardest part was waiting forty five minutes for it to be done baking.
Once it is cooked, you eat it with a spoon or fork. It's too wet to eat like bread, but it stays together well. It's delicious too! I have no idea how well it keeps, as we ate pretty much all of it.
If you're looking for something to add to your taco night, pick up the Chi Chi's sweet corn cake mix. It's easy to make and really tasty. I'm starting to wish we had some left...
*You know...aside from the food poisoning.
**Don Pablo's made amazing tortilla soup, but they've also gone the way of the dodo bird.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The Season Ten Top Chef Finale
When you get right down to it, Top Chef is just a game show. The contestants compete in challenges to win prizes and stay in the game. It's much more elaborate than something like Plinko*, but when you boil it down to the basic components, you've got a game show.** Top Chef is great because it feels like more than a game show. It feels fancier, and I like seeing the creative dishes. With their most recent finale, Top Chef slipped a bit. It felt a little less upscale and a little more like a cheap game show of yore.
Top Chef focuses on a group of cooks who are competing to be named Top Chef. The challenges are designed to challenge the chefs by limiting time, ingredients, and the like. There is a panel of judges that decide the outcome. The basic premise is that of a game show.
The series sets itself above its ancestors with the chosen aesthetic and high production values. The contestants are also required to have a higher skill level than participants on a run of the mill game show. While they still have the overly-produced moments of anticipation/worry, I suppose there are certain tropes they must adhere to.
The most recent season finale was set up a bit differently. The chefs prepared their meals in front of a live audience. The judging was done by round at the same time. Cooking five courses in front of a live audience probably seemed exciting to the show makers, but it fell a little flat.
The set felt a lot like the set from Millionaire. Already, the episode felt a little dated. The lights they used during the tasting at the Judges' Table and during judging were tacky and didn't fit the feel of the show as a whole.
Usually, the chefs will bring out their creations to the judges then leave while the judges actually eat and discuss. This is a pretty standard part of the show. In the finale, the chefs stool there as the judges ate and discussed. Decisions were then immediately made regarding who won the round. They used the lighting and music to create drama.
In this show, that is unnecessary. If you've been following the season, you already have a decision about who should win. You may or may not have strong feelings about it; that's really something that can change from person to person, the level of involvement. The drama is created by watching two chefs that you like face off. Creating a false sense of drama is insulting, even if it is the television norm.***
I like watching Top Chef. Even though I did not care for the format of this latest finale, I will keep watching the show. It is available on demand, and that is what I'm looking for on a lazy Saturday. As long as it stays available, I'll keep watching. That being said, that particular finale was a misstep. They're capable of more, and the focus on telling everyone that it was filmed before a live audience just made it feel more dated.
*I know someone that was on that show. It's valid and counts!
**Ha! Cooking terminology!
***I'm not saying it is wrong to do that; I'm just saying that it feels cheap when the show does not execute it to that level on a regular basis.
Top Chef focuses on a group of cooks who are competing to be named Top Chef. The challenges are designed to challenge the chefs by limiting time, ingredients, and the like. There is a panel of judges that decide the outcome. The basic premise is that of a game show.
The series sets itself above its ancestors with the chosen aesthetic and high production values. The contestants are also required to have a higher skill level than participants on a run of the mill game show. While they still have the overly-produced moments of anticipation/worry, I suppose there are certain tropes they must adhere to.
The most recent season finale was set up a bit differently. The chefs prepared their meals in front of a live audience. The judging was done by round at the same time. Cooking five courses in front of a live audience probably seemed exciting to the show makers, but it fell a little flat.
The set felt a lot like the set from Millionaire. Already, the episode felt a little dated. The lights they used during the tasting at the Judges' Table and during judging were tacky and didn't fit the feel of the show as a whole.
Usually, the chefs will bring out their creations to the judges then leave while the judges actually eat and discuss. This is a pretty standard part of the show. In the finale, the chefs stool there as the judges ate and discussed. Decisions were then immediately made regarding who won the round. They used the lighting and music to create drama.
In this show, that is unnecessary. If you've been following the season, you already have a decision about who should win. You may or may not have strong feelings about it; that's really something that can change from person to person, the level of involvement. The drama is created by watching two chefs that you like face off. Creating a false sense of drama is insulting, even if it is the television norm.***
I like watching Top Chef. Even though I did not care for the format of this latest finale, I will keep watching the show. It is available on demand, and that is what I'm looking for on a lazy Saturday. As long as it stays available, I'll keep watching. That being said, that particular finale was a misstep. They're capable of more, and the focus on telling everyone that it was filmed before a live audience just made it feel more dated.
*I know someone that was on that show. It's valid and counts!
**Ha! Cooking terminology!
***I'm not saying it is wrong to do that; I'm just saying that it feels cheap when the show does not execute it to that level on a regular basis.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Matthias Harris
There are so many talented people in this world. I can't carry a tune to save my life, but I love music. I may not always like good music, but that doesn't mean what I like isn't good. While wandering around the wasteland that is youtube, I discovered an A Capella cover of Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know performed by some guy named Matthias Harris.
Now, you can ask Mark, and he'll tell you that when I discover a song I like, I'll listen to it over and over and over again, so much so that people around me can end up hating it due to over-exposure.* Needless to say, I greatly increased the number of views Mr. Harris had on Youtube for that song. Actually, as I type this, it's playing.
I would have been ridiculously happy if it had been available on iTunes for purchase, but when I last checked, it wasn't there. The Gotye version was there, but I don't care for that one all that much.** This has, of course, driven me back to Youtube.
Tonight, after listening to it three times or so, I was checking out what else they suggested for me when I discovered that he had a new cover out. He did his own version of Best of You, a Foo Fighters' song. Now, I was skeptical at first, as I really like the original. Harris, however, manages to handle the piece well.
It took me listening to it a time or two before I started to like it.
Perhaps the amazing characteristic that I am glazing over is the A Capella style.*** As far as I know, the music is created by him using simple percussion and his own voice. He claps and sometimes uses little shakers, but there is no use of traditional instruments.**** That's just plain amazing.
Because he likes to blow your mind, he has layered himself singing different parts of the arrangement You hear him essentially harmonizing with himself. To be able to create something this intricate and balanced is mind blowing.*****
Finally, you have the presentation. Harris has crafted videos for his Gotye's cover and Foo Fighters' cover that are interesting to watch. Yeah, it's just him singing a lot, but I like it. The visuals also help you understand just how many parts there are to the audio.
Before deciding to write this all down, I decided to look up Mr. Harris. I found his Tumblr page, which I normally wouldn't bother with, as I'm not a user of Tumblr, but I checked it out. He had a picture of his cat, whom he apparently loves very much. As such, I must approve of him, as well as what he has done. I sincerely hope he is a Redditor.******
On a final note, I didn't have to watch any ads when I pulled up his videos. That right there means you should go check them out. It will only take a few minutes. I'll wait...
*I'm pretty sure my brother suffers from this as well.
**I did like the Star Wars parody version, which I told you all about some time ago.
***I always thought it was spelled acapella, all one word. The spell check and internet assure me that I was wrong.
****I love music, but I am far from an expert. I don't know the rules of A Capella, so I'm hoping he isn't breaking them.
*****For me, anyway.
******He not only had a picture of his cat, but he also had a comment about The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. That is potentially a lot of Karma, depending on how it is used and blind luck.
Now, you can ask Mark, and he'll tell you that when I discover a song I like, I'll listen to it over and over and over again, so much so that people around me can end up hating it due to over-exposure.* Needless to say, I greatly increased the number of views Mr. Harris had on Youtube for that song. Actually, as I type this, it's playing.
I would have been ridiculously happy if it had been available on iTunes for purchase, but when I last checked, it wasn't there. The Gotye version was there, but I don't care for that one all that much.** This has, of course, driven me back to Youtube.
Tonight, after listening to it three times or so, I was checking out what else they suggested for me when I discovered that he had a new cover out. He did his own version of Best of You, a Foo Fighters' song. Now, I was skeptical at first, as I really like the original. Harris, however, manages to handle the piece well.
It took me listening to it a time or two before I started to like it.
Perhaps the amazing characteristic that I am glazing over is the A Capella style.*** As far as I know, the music is created by him using simple percussion and his own voice. He claps and sometimes uses little shakers, but there is no use of traditional instruments.**** That's just plain amazing.
Because he likes to blow your mind, he has layered himself singing different parts of the arrangement You hear him essentially harmonizing with himself. To be able to create something this intricate and balanced is mind blowing.*****
Finally, you have the presentation. Harris has crafted videos for his Gotye's cover and Foo Fighters' cover that are interesting to watch. Yeah, it's just him singing a lot, but I like it. The visuals also help you understand just how many parts there are to the audio.
Before deciding to write this all down, I decided to look up Mr. Harris. I found his Tumblr page, which I normally wouldn't bother with, as I'm not a user of Tumblr, but I checked it out. He had a picture of his cat, whom he apparently loves very much. As such, I must approve of him, as well as what he has done. I sincerely hope he is a Redditor.******
On a final note, I didn't have to watch any ads when I pulled up his videos. That right there means you should go check them out. It will only take a few minutes. I'll wait...
*I'm pretty sure my brother suffers from this as well.
**I did like the Star Wars parody version, which I told you all about some time ago.
***I always thought it was spelled acapella, all one word. The spell check and internet assure me that I was wrong.
****I love music, but I am far from an expert. I don't know the rules of A Capella, so I'm hoping he isn't breaking them.
*****For me, anyway.
******He not only had a picture of his cat, but he also had a comment about The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. That is potentially a lot of Karma, depending on how it is used and blind luck.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Sallie Mae - The Website
I'm not a big fan of student loans. I accept the bed I have made, but I don't have to like it. Between Mark and I, we have student loan payments that rival a mortgage. None of this is important to you, but it does lay out some ground work. It explains why I have to interact with the Sallie Mae website. I'll try to keep the review of the website about the website, rather than my feelings regarding Sallie Mae and their customer service.*
The Sallie Mae website is pretty enough, but it isn't the most user friendly. When you log on, it is almost impossible to find your basic payment. Additionally, finding the correspondences they have sent took me forever. If you have more than one loan, they are listed separately. That make sense, but it would be nice to see an overall picture. If there are late fees, they should be specifically listed. Sallie Mae should make it easy to find what you owe and on what date.
I pay additional student loans to Discover, so I'm familiar with the website of another company that services some student loans.** On their site, I can find the information that I was previously discussing. Discover's site is easy to navigate and makes sense. The Sallie Mae site seems intentionally obtuse.
There isn't a whole lot of choice for me at this point when it comes to dealing with student loans. I can't change the servicer at this point, but I can point out the lackluster website that Sallie Mae has presented. With as much money as they're getting, you would think they could spend a bit more money on their site.
*We have called and spoken to multiple people about multiple issues with our loans. Most of the time, it is difficult to get answers. When you do, they're usually different than the final outcome. We get multiple answers to the same question, and it is incredibly annoying.
**I give them my money. It's sad.
The Sallie Mae website is pretty enough, but it isn't the most user friendly. When you log on, it is almost impossible to find your basic payment. Additionally, finding the correspondences they have sent took me forever. If you have more than one loan, they are listed separately. That make sense, but it would be nice to see an overall picture. If there are late fees, they should be specifically listed. Sallie Mae should make it easy to find what you owe and on what date.
I pay additional student loans to Discover, so I'm familiar with the website of another company that services some student loans.** On their site, I can find the information that I was previously discussing. Discover's site is easy to navigate and makes sense. The Sallie Mae site seems intentionally obtuse.
There isn't a whole lot of choice for me at this point when it comes to dealing with student loans. I can't change the servicer at this point, but I can point out the lackluster website that Sallie Mae has presented. With as much money as they're getting, you would think they could spend a bit more money on their site.
*We have called and spoken to multiple people about multiple issues with our loans. Most of the time, it is difficult to get answers. When you do, they're usually different than the final outcome. We get multiple answers to the same question, and it is incredibly annoying.
**I give them my money. It's sad.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Pizza Hut's Online Ordering
Mark and I frequently have discussions about being good. We want to completely stop eating out and start going to the gym. Thus far, it's not going so hot. Since I got out of work a bit on the late side, we decided to just order a pizza. Mark had seen the commercials for the new pizza sliders from Pizza Hut, so we pulled up the website and placed an order.
The Pizza Hut website isn't bad; unfortunately, it isn't very good either.
The Pizza Hut website isn't bad; unfortunately, it isn't very good either.
- Not all items are available through online ordering. I have been caffeine free since September, but I still enjoy Sprite. Since our local Pizza Hut only has Pepsi products, I can make do with Sierra Mist. Unfortunately, Mark had to call to add a 2 liter to our order, as it didn't show up as on option online.
- They do not make it easy to see what toppings come on items. Tonight, I was trying to order a P'Zone, and I was pretty sure Mark and I would be happy splitting the Supremo. When I brought it up, it wouldn't tell me what the toppings were. I had to google it.*
- The after order experience is pretty lackluster. They ask you to create a profile for easier ordering next time, but they do not keep you up to date on your order status. Domino's has spoiled me when it comes to the after order experience.**
The Pizza Hut website is serviceable, but it isn't very impressive. They've just barely met the minimum requirements for a functional site, and they have definitely not gone above and beyond. We've ordered from Domino's in the past over Pizza Hut based solely on the ordering experience. Pizza Hut, I know you can do better.***
*How fun is it that you can use google as a verb?!?
**They tell you who is doing what to your pizza. I'm pretty sure if they spit in it, the computer will tell me. After all, the internet has to tell the truth.
***On a side note, the food was pretty good. Bravo.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Devil May Cry
I remember when the original Devil May Cry came out. I remember it being awesome and fun to watch. There were bright colors and movement. It was all win. Because I was familiar with the original games, I was a little apprehensive about the new incarnation of Dante. It turns out that I needn't have worried.
Let me be clear. This game is not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it is really fun to watch. There is a decent amount of humor coupled with some fun action sequence. If it was a movie, it would be on par with the craziness that was Cranked.* There is a bit of a creepy edge to it, as well. It's a good mix.
I can't speak as to the actual game play because I continue to be a voyeur. I figure it must be pretty good since Mark is playing through again for me. He thought I would like watching it, so he started over. He isn't one for playing games more than once. That alone says a great deal about Devil May Cry.
The mechanics appear largely similar to the original games, but that is part of the fun. You've got your guns, swords, axes, and the like. You get an army of monsters to use them on. What more could you want?
If you're looking for a fun game, you could play Devil May Cry. Mark picked it up on Steam, so I'm sure they'll have a sale on it someday. When they do, give it a shot.
*You know...that movie with Jason Statham....where he takes his shirt off.... Oh, wait...that's all of his movies....
Let me be clear. This game is not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it is really fun to watch. There is a decent amount of humor coupled with some fun action sequence. If it was a movie, it would be on par with the craziness that was Cranked.* There is a bit of a creepy edge to it, as well. It's a good mix.
I can't speak as to the actual game play because I continue to be a voyeur. I figure it must be pretty good since Mark is playing through again for me. He thought I would like watching it, so he started over. He isn't one for playing games more than once. That alone says a great deal about Devil May Cry.
The mechanics appear largely similar to the original games, but that is part of the fun. You've got your guns, swords, axes, and the like. You get an army of monsters to use them on. What more could you want?
If you're looking for a fun game, you could play Devil May Cry. Mark picked it up on Steam, so I'm sure they'll have a sale on it someday. When they do, give it a shot.
*You know...that movie with Jason Statham....where he takes his shirt off.... Oh, wait...that's all of his movies....
Monday, February 18, 2013
Beautiful Creatures
With the success of Twilight, there has been a surge of movies made based on teen romance novels of the supernatural sort. I've heard reference made to Zombie Twilight when referencing Warm Bodies, and I've heard people refer to Witch Twilight when discussing Beautiful Creatures. While Warm Bodies was much more than Twilight, that does happen to be a fitting title for Beautiful Creatures.*
While it may be poor form to compare this film to Twilight throughout the review, it is hard not to do so. Twilight is the relatively poor film that most novels adaptations of this sort will hearken back to, as it was so successful. It feels as if the movie companies are just trying to find the next Twilight.
Let's talk about what Beautiful Creatures does right. First of all, they have procured a pretty talented cast. While Jeremy Irons will chew scenery when he's feeling randy, he is actually quite the talented actor. Of course, he has to have something to work with. Emma Thompson and Viola Davis bring additional talent to the cast. Even our young leads do a decent job.**
Further aiding the film are the decent production values. Overall, the movie looks pretty good. There are some CGI enhanced scenes that are obvious, but they're not terribly bad. I appreciate the attempts to use practical effects when feasible.
Unfortunately, that sums up the good. Now, let's move on to the bad. The biggest problem facing Beatiful Creatures is the adaptation itself. The story feels hollow, like there is a bunch of material being left out. With any adaptation, that is to be expected. A good movie will find a way around that. Beautiful Creatures misses that mark. Neither the characters nor the story feel fleshed out. Characters are included because they were in the novel, but they never really amount to much.
Beautiful Creature isn't a bad movie, nor is it a good movie. While I was entertained during the film, I just never felt particularly attached to anyone. The characters fail to connect, and it is a shame. You can watch Beautiful Creatures, but I wouldn't pay to see it in the theater.
*Although, Mark and I like to think of it as a movie about Profion after he has decided to clean up his life and become less evil. Mark declared us Team Profion upon seeing previews for this movie.
**They are of a higher quality than Kristen Stewart. Of course, that isn't saying much.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Dead Space
As usual, I feel that I should preface my game reviews with the warning that I don't play some of the games. My review of Dead Space 3 will be based solely on my fulfillment as a voyeur. I experienced the first two Dead Space games this way, and it's worked out pretty well so far.
Dead Space 3 isn't quite the same as its predecessors. The biggest changes seem to be the addition of the weapon building stations, the multi-player, and the overall tone. In this case, being different isn't a bad thing. Dead Space 3 is quite enjoyable and has occupied our entire Saturday off.
I've been told that this is where I would say something about the plot. Apparently, all good reviews should
make some mention of the story.* I'm going to keep it rather basic. There are these "markers" that mess up anything near them, creating necromorphs. You have your crazies that worship them and your sane people that don't. As is to be expected, various governments have at different times tried to harness the power of these constructs. All three games follow Isaac Clark, who becomes more and more knowledgeable about the "markers" as games pass by.
Perhaps the most boring addition is the ability to create/upgrade your weapons. There are benches located throughout the game that allow you to create things such as the Hun 1 Badger.** They get mad props for the random references, but the bench time is boring to the voyeur. Mark assures me that it is really fun and has allowed him to tweak his approach to battle. You can make your weapon complement your preferred tactical approach.
While the weapon advancement was boring for me, the multi-player became the bane of my existence. I haven't even tried it yet, and I have a negative opinion of it, mainly because Mark keeps asking me to try it. I'm sure it would be fun, but I tend to panic which results in everyone dying. If I ever get the courage up to give it a go, I'll let you know.
I know I said that the overall tone was a change, but it's a small one. The original game had a much more survival horror feel to it than this iteration. The feel of the third game is much more action like.*** There are still creepy moments, and the monster noises sound like something out of a sorority bathroom after heavy drinking or lunch. The scare factor just isn't there anymore. You're used to seemingly dead things getting up and chasing you around.
Dead Space 3 is a good looking game with decent voice acting and music. It's worth the purchase price and is entertaining enough to watch. If you're looking for something to do on Valentine's Day, I'm going to suggest taking your significant other out to a movie. If you're both into gaming, this could be an alternative.
*At least, that's what I read on Reddit.
**It don't care!
***I wanted to say actiony, but apparently, that's not a word. Pfft.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Cactus Sands
When you live on a golf course, there are certain inconveniences you have to deal with. For example, people are constantly renting the condos next door for vacation homes. This leads to random groups of people who may not be overly respectful of the time or noise level. Small annoyances like that are off-set by the perks of living on the golf course. One of the first things you'll notice is that they generally keep our buildings and grounds in good shape. It wouldn't do to have the golfers looking at shoddy buildings and brown grass when they're golfing.* All that landscaping upkeep has to be handled by someone. In our case, Cactus Sands keeps our property looking nice.
The gentlemen** from Cactus Sands can be seen around the property a couple of times each week. They bring multiple trucks and a ton of people. They keep the area looking nice, and I have to give them respect for a job well done. I don't see amazing flower displays, but you can only ask for so much. The grass is trimmed, as are the plants and trees. You don't see dead plants. Offending pieces are removed.
While I'm sure it is at the direction of the HOA, Cactus Sands spreads mulch at least once a year, rather than the less appealing pine straw. While the piles of mulch are unattractive, they're only on site for a couple of days before being spread appropriately around the grounds. It's a good choice.
The only complaint I have regarding the hard working folks from Cactus Sands is their occasional lack of consideration. They're kind enough to not do anything too noisy early in the morning, but sometimes, it seems as if they're forgotten that people actually live where they're working. Often, trucks are parked in the main entrance and exit. As there is only one way in and one way out of the complex, it is an unwise decision. Furthermore, they left a small green tractor with a bucket*** parked across the roadway recently. While I was able to turn around and take a different route to the complex' exit, it was unnecessary. The bucket was full, and the tractor was parked across the lane. There was no one driving it. It was just sitting there while two men on foot were talking. It was incredibly rude. If the tractor had been parked to one side, it wouldn't have been an issue.
Cactus Sands appears to do a good job with their landscaping. They just need to learn where to park their trucks and tractors. They should keep out of the main thoroughfare. It's safer and less annoying that way.
*In the off season, the grass browns. There is only so much that can be done. For the most part, it doesn't look as bad as the grass around the rest of Myrtle Beach.
**I have no seen any female employees. It doesn't mean they don't exist, but I have not seen one.
***If there is a fancier name for that piece of equipment, I apologize that I don't know it.
The gentlemen** from Cactus Sands can be seen around the property a couple of times each week. They bring multiple trucks and a ton of people. They keep the area looking nice, and I have to give them respect for a job well done. I don't see amazing flower displays, but you can only ask for so much. The grass is trimmed, as are the plants and trees. You don't see dead plants. Offending pieces are removed.
While I'm sure it is at the direction of the HOA, Cactus Sands spreads mulch at least once a year, rather than the less appealing pine straw. While the piles of mulch are unattractive, they're only on site for a couple of days before being spread appropriately around the grounds. It's a good choice.
The only complaint I have regarding the hard working folks from Cactus Sands is their occasional lack of consideration. They're kind enough to not do anything too noisy early in the morning, but sometimes, it seems as if they're forgotten that people actually live where they're working. Often, trucks are parked in the main entrance and exit. As there is only one way in and one way out of the complex, it is an unwise decision. Furthermore, they left a small green tractor with a bucket*** parked across the roadway recently. While I was able to turn around and take a different route to the complex' exit, it was unnecessary. The bucket was full, and the tractor was parked across the lane. There was no one driving it. It was just sitting there while two men on foot were talking. It was incredibly rude. If the tractor had been parked to one side, it wouldn't have been an issue.
Cactus Sands appears to do a good job with their landscaping. They just need to learn where to park their trucks and tractors. They should keep out of the main thoroughfare. It's safer and less annoying that way.
*In the off season, the grass browns. There is only so much that can be done. For the most part, it doesn't look as bad as the grass around the rest of Myrtle Beach.
**I have no seen any female employees. It doesn't mean they don't exist, but I have not seen one.
***If there is a fancier name for that piece of equipment, I apologize that I don't know it.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Chili's To Go
With our current schedules, we've been a little lax in the "no eating out" policy*. It's been even worse since Mark got sick. He has wanted soup pretty much daily, and Chili's just so happens to have a nice and spicy soup on their menu that Mark enjoys. As such, I don't even want to think about how many times I've been to Chili's recently. A sick Mark at home means I've been picking up the food and bringing it to him; this has led me to become quite familiar with the Chili's To Go system.
We have ordered carry out from quite a few table service restaurants, with Outback and Carrabbas being pretty high on the list for impressive service. Outback allows you to order online, and both of these restaurants will come right out to your car to handle the transaction.
I guess I was a little spoiled, as that's what I was hoping Chili's would do. Unfortunately, that was not the case. On the multiple occasions that I ordered from Chili's, no one came out to my car when I arrived.** That's not a bad thing, as it isn't too terribly hard to get out of the car and walk into the restaurant. Since I was usually coming from work, I was dressed.
Once inside, however, the experience became less than impressive. On average, I would have to wait about five minutes before someone would wander close enough to the "To Go" area to notice my presence. If you're going to offer this service, it is important to man that area, especially when you know there is an order prepped/prepping to go out.
After an employee would notice me, the experience would improve. The people are always nice there. I've not had a bad interaction that was employee based. They do their best to make the service and food good.
While you may expect the food to be less than stellar when you take it home, the items we ordered have continually held up well. Aside from one container of ranch coming open, everything is carefully packed. At no time did our soups escape their styrofoam prisons.
I had mentioned that Outback allows the customer to order online. It appears that Chili's is also trying to create an online ordering system. I attempted to use it on two different occasions. The first time it gave me a message saying that the store I wanted to order from was not accepting online orders. The second time, it appeared to go perfectly. When I reached the restaurant, I was disappointed to find out that it did not go as smoothly as I thought. My order hadn't even been started, as no one noticed it.
In an attempt to apologize, the person in charge told me that the order had just come through. I find that hard to believe, but I appreciate that she was trying to make it better. She even comped one of my items. She handled the situation the best way that she could, and I was fine with that. They should probably institute a system for monitoring online orders though, as the next person might not be as chill as myself.
If I'm being lazy and looking for quick curbside service, I'll go to Outback Steakhouse. Thus far, they're the only ones who have gotten the hang of it. Chili's is making an effort, but they have quite a ways to go before they're successful.
*Insert inappropriate joke here.
**After going in to pay, one gentleman did bring the food out to me.
We have ordered carry out from quite a few table service restaurants, with Outback and Carrabbas being pretty high on the list for impressive service. Outback allows you to order online, and both of these restaurants will come right out to your car to handle the transaction.
I guess I was a little spoiled, as that's what I was hoping Chili's would do. Unfortunately, that was not the case. On the multiple occasions that I ordered from Chili's, no one came out to my car when I arrived.** That's not a bad thing, as it isn't too terribly hard to get out of the car and walk into the restaurant. Since I was usually coming from work, I was dressed.
Once inside, however, the experience became less than impressive. On average, I would have to wait about five minutes before someone would wander close enough to the "To Go" area to notice my presence. If you're going to offer this service, it is important to man that area, especially when you know there is an order prepped/prepping to go out.
After an employee would notice me, the experience would improve. The people are always nice there. I've not had a bad interaction that was employee based. They do their best to make the service and food good.
While you may expect the food to be less than stellar when you take it home, the items we ordered have continually held up well. Aside from one container of ranch coming open, everything is carefully packed. At no time did our soups escape their styrofoam prisons.
I had mentioned that Outback allows the customer to order online. It appears that Chili's is also trying to create an online ordering system. I attempted to use it on two different occasions. The first time it gave me a message saying that the store I wanted to order from was not accepting online orders. The second time, it appeared to go perfectly. When I reached the restaurant, I was disappointed to find out that it did not go as smoothly as I thought. My order hadn't even been started, as no one noticed it.
In an attempt to apologize, the person in charge told me that the order had just come through. I find that hard to believe, but I appreciate that she was trying to make it better. She even comped one of my items. She handled the situation the best way that she could, and I was fine with that. They should probably institute a system for monitoring online orders though, as the next person might not be as chill as myself.
If I'm being lazy and looking for quick curbside service, I'll go to Outback Steakhouse. Thus far, they're the only ones who have gotten the hang of it. Chili's is making an effort, but they have quite a ways to go before they're successful.
*Insert inappropriate joke here.
**After going in to pay, one gentleman did bring the food out to me.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Horrycounty.org - Tax Payments
Today, I'm bringing you a review that may be a bit short and unexplored. Usually, I like to have a good grasp of whatever it is I'm writing about. Today, I went online to pay the taxes for my car.* I would love to tell you about my experience, but it was cut a bit short.
When you receive your tax bill, it states that you can make your payment online by visiting horrycounty.org. That sounded pretty good, so I decided to go ahead and get it done today.** After typing in the website, I just stared blankly at it. I'm not sure if all the cleaners I used today while cleaning house impacted my higher brain functions, but I just didn't see where I needed to go to make my payment.***
I finally noticed "Online Services" at the top of the screen, which opened into a larger menu. This, unfortunately, is where our adventure ends and why the review is a bit short on experience today. To pay your taxes online, there is a fee. Regardless of what method you choose, they'll charge you a fee. I especially love that they call them "convenience fees".
If you choose to pay with a credit card, you get a 2.85% fee. Using your debit card? That's a flat fee of $3.95. An electronic check will run you $2.50. I understand that the county does not receive any of these fees, and I imagine these are the fees the county accrues when they allow people to pay this way. That doesn't make it any less insulting.
I wish I could tell you how the rest of the payment process went, but I don't know. I decided I wasn't paying any extra fees. Instead, I pulled out my checkbook, blew the dust off, and wrote a check. Now, I just have to go buy envelopes.****
*For those unfamiliar, you pay taxes on your car when you live in South Carolina. Coming from Pennsylvania, this was originally quite a shock. Now, we're used to it.
**They're not even due yet! I am so ahead of the game!
***I even tried using Ctrl + F, but it didn't help!
****I'm pretty sure the box of envelopes will be cheaper than their fees!
When you receive your tax bill, it states that you can make your payment online by visiting horrycounty.org. That sounded pretty good, so I decided to go ahead and get it done today.** After typing in the website, I just stared blankly at it. I'm not sure if all the cleaners I used today while cleaning house impacted my higher brain functions, but I just didn't see where I needed to go to make my payment.***
I finally noticed "Online Services" at the top of the screen, which opened into a larger menu. This, unfortunately, is where our adventure ends and why the review is a bit short on experience today. To pay your taxes online, there is a fee. Regardless of what method you choose, they'll charge you a fee. I especially love that they call them "convenience fees".
If you choose to pay with a credit card, you get a 2.85% fee. Using your debit card? That's a flat fee of $3.95. An electronic check will run you $2.50. I understand that the county does not receive any of these fees, and I imagine these are the fees the county accrues when they allow people to pay this way. That doesn't make it any less insulting.
I wish I could tell you how the rest of the payment process went, but I don't know. I decided I wasn't paying any extra fees. Instead, I pulled out my checkbook, blew the dust off, and wrote a check. Now, I just have to go buy envelopes.****
*For those unfamiliar, you pay taxes on your car when you live in South Carolina. Coming from Pennsylvania, this was originally quite a shock. Now, we're used to it.
**They're not even due yet! I am so ahead of the game!
***I even tried using Ctrl + F, but it didn't help!
****I'm pretty sure the box of envelopes will be cheaper than their fees!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Andy Dufresne & That Kid From Slumdog Millionaire
I could not have written this review before tonight. It is a simple review, perhaps one of my shortest. I have a new found respect for Andy Dufresne* and that kid from Slumdog Millionaire after our oft used toilet revolted against us. Having re-claimed the bathroom, I must proclaim the afore mentioned characters absolute bad-asses. Although, I do hope they took really, really long showers with a ton of soap and plenty of hot water.
*He's the character from the Shawshank Redemption. I called him by name because I actually knew it without looking it up.
*He's the character from the Shawshank Redemption. I called him by name because I actually knew it without looking it up.
Friday, January 18, 2013
The Fox Website Episode Streaming
Our access to entertainment is just plain astounding. When I was a kid, I remember having to watch shows when they were actually on tv. In general, I don't think we appreciate just how great our entertainment feeding tubes are nowadays. I sat here and watched three episodes of a show on the internet, and it wasn't even illegal! Fox is kind enough to provide recent episodes of their shows on their website for free streaming.*
When I say it's free, I mean that you don't have to pay them anything. You do, however, have to sacrifice brain cells and time. I had to watch just as many commercials as if I had watched the show during its television airing, and I'm okay with that. I'll pay the price of watching the ads to see the show. What I don't care for is the use of the same four commercials at each commercial break. Mind you, I watched three one hour shows. I should have counted how many times I heard the three commercials for University of Phoenix. Also, people watching tv on the internet are apparently in desperate need of lotion, particularly the St. Ives brand. A little bit of variety would be appreciated. As it is, I will avoid the services/products from those commercials out of principle.
I wouldn't substitute watching shows on studio sites over my DVR. Quality is another big issue. While the majority of the show looked good, the quality dropped at the end of each episode. On the third episode I watched, it happened a good fifteen minutes before the end of the show.
I decided to refresh the page, taking note of where I was in the show. While trying to get back to my spot, I had to watch over five minutes of commercials. They hit me with the initial thirty second commercial, and when I clicked to skip ahead to where I had been, I had another two and a half minutes of ads I had to view. I realized I wasn't far enough in, and they treated me to two more minutes worth of commercials after I made the adjustment. I understand that they have agreed to run those ads. I also understand that they could have a better system.
While it is amazing that you can watch your favorite** shows on a free website, there is a price to pay. If you watch shows on the Fox website, you are going to watch close to fifteen minutes of repetitive commercials, and you risk the video quality dropping drastically by the end of your viewing experience. I appreciate the additional venue, but it isn't very kind to the consumer. When possible, stick with your DVR.
*As I'm sure you realize, most stations offer this awesome service. Of course, not all websites are created equally.
**I wouldn't say that I was watching a favorite shows. The shows I like are set to record with the DVR. This was more like one of those shows that I wanted to check on, to see if it was still going steadily downhill. It was.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The Cabin in the Woods: Special Features and Commentary
I can count on one hand the number of movies that I have bothered to watch with commentary. I don't even have to use all my fingers, let alone the thumb. Cabin in the Woods aside, I have watched two movies with the commentary: Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God and Resident Evil.* To devote that much time to commentary, it has to offer up something of worth. The D&D movie had commentary that was supposed to be the characters from the manuals.** The highlight of the Resident Evil commentary was the banter between Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez.*** Maybe the commentary for the Cabin in the Woods isn't quite that amazing, but it is well worth your time. When you add in the special features, this becomes a film worth buying.
I suppose when you are deciding whether or not to buy a movie on Blu-ray****, the biggest factor is whether or not the movie itself is good. I've already gushed about the Cabin in the Woods in its own review. If you didn't read it or need a refresher, the movie is great, one of my favorites from 2012. Apparently, it's not for everyone. A lot of people don't like it, and I honestly can't figure out why. The movie is full of great lines and a neat premise. I'm not going to bother telling you what it is about, as you can visit my original review for that information. Besides, I expect you already know.
What you may not know is what extra goodies you can expect if you buy the disc. I'm not one for actually taking a DVD off of the shelf and putting it in the player. I have so many venues for entertainment open to me that I rarely resort to my shelves. It's because of this particular flaw that I have a multitude of DVDs and Blu-rays that haven't even been opened.*****
I didn't hesitate to open the Cabin in the Woods. If you buy the it, you get commentary with Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon. They wrote the film together, with Goddard taking on the role of director. I believe Whedon did some second unit directing. The movie is the offspring of two talented gentlemen. You get to hear all about it when you listen to the commentary. I couldn't tell you what they talked about for two hours, but I was entertained the whole time.******
The only downside to having the commentary on is that you miss the dialogue in the movie. Anyone watching commentary should have already watched the movie; that should go without saying. In our case, we hadn't seen the film since it was in theaters. This left me wanting to listen to the film itself over the commentary. An easy fix is to watch the movie again before watching it with the commentary on. This is not an MS3TK situation where they only talk over quiet parts of the movie. This is more of a two hour podcast between two guys chatting it up with a loose focal point.*******
Goddard can be a bit distracting during the commentary. He has a lot of interesting things to say, but he says them oddly at times. His voice goes up or hitches. I spent some time on Google trying to find out why, but I had no luck. If anyone knows, please enlighten me.
After we finished the commentary, we actually watched each of the featurettes. Once again, this is not something we normally do. If you've seen the movie, I'm sure you wanted to know more about certain aspects. A couple of the features delve deep into those aspects, those parts of the film. You get to see more than you did in the actual film. Instead of ruining what you saw, it lends itself to a deeper appreciation.********
I don't actually watch movies on Blu-ray or DVD very often, but I have already watched the Cabin in the Woods twice in the comfort of my own home. With an interesting commentary and multiple high quality featurettes, you should own the Blu-ray. It's actually well worth the money.
*Yes, I realize those are both somewhat nerdy films, especially the first one.
**It was full of win.
***And I quote, "Twat shot."
****Or DVD or laserdisc...whatever you use.
*****Seriously, I need to sell them to someone. They just collect dust.
******When they mentioned that they were drinking wine, Mark suggested we do the same. He figured if it was good enough for Joss, it was good enough for us.
*******Really loose.
********Seriously, practical effects are king.
I suppose when you are deciding whether or not to buy a movie on Blu-ray****, the biggest factor is whether or not the movie itself is good. I've already gushed about the Cabin in the Woods in its own review. If you didn't read it or need a refresher, the movie is great, one of my favorites from 2012. Apparently, it's not for everyone. A lot of people don't like it, and I honestly can't figure out why. The movie is full of great lines and a neat premise. I'm not going to bother telling you what it is about, as you can visit my original review for that information. Besides, I expect you already know.
What you may not know is what extra goodies you can expect if you buy the disc. I'm not one for actually taking a DVD off of the shelf and putting it in the player. I have so many venues for entertainment open to me that I rarely resort to my shelves. It's because of this particular flaw that I have a multitude of DVDs and Blu-rays that haven't even been opened.*****
I didn't hesitate to open the Cabin in the Woods. If you buy the it, you get commentary with Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon. They wrote the film together, with Goddard taking on the role of director. I believe Whedon did some second unit directing. The movie is the offspring of two talented gentlemen. You get to hear all about it when you listen to the commentary. I couldn't tell you what they talked about for two hours, but I was entertained the whole time.******
The only downside to having the commentary on is that you miss the dialogue in the movie. Anyone watching commentary should have already watched the movie; that should go without saying. In our case, we hadn't seen the film since it was in theaters. This left me wanting to listen to the film itself over the commentary. An easy fix is to watch the movie again before watching it with the commentary on. This is not an MS3TK situation where they only talk over quiet parts of the movie. This is more of a two hour podcast between two guys chatting it up with a loose focal point.*******
Goddard can be a bit distracting during the commentary. He has a lot of interesting things to say, but he says them oddly at times. His voice goes up or hitches. I spent some time on Google trying to find out why, but I had no luck. If anyone knows, please enlighten me.
After we finished the commentary, we actually watched each of the featurettes. Once again, this is not something we normally do. If you've seen the movie, I'm sure you wanted to know more about certain aspects. A couple of the features delve deep into those aspects, those parts of the film. You get to see more than you did in the actual film. Instead of ruining what you saw, it lends itself to a deeper appreciation.********
I don't actually watch movies on Blu-ray or DVD very often, but I have already watched the Cabin in the Woods twice in the comfort of my own home. With an interesting commentary and multiple high quality featurettes, you should own the Blu-ray. It's actually well worth the money.
*Yes, I realize those are both somewhat nerdy films, especially the first one.
**It was full of win.
***And I quote, "Twat shot."
****Or DVD or laserdisc...whatever you use.
*****Seriously, I need to sell them to someone. They just collect dust.
******When they mentioned that they were drinking wine, Mark suggested we do the same. He figured if it was good enough for Joss, it was good enough for us.
*******Really loose.
********Seriously, practical effects are king.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
New Year's Resolutions
Every year, people make New Year's resolutions. If what I read on the internet is the least bit accurate*, a chunk of those people have already given up. While New Year's resolutions can be useful, they're only as good as your determination and support.
Last year, I decided to write a review on a daily basis.** My goal was mainly to add a bit of discipline to my life. I had actually intended to add a new daily task each month. I got all the way to August before that went to the wayside. Some tasks were easy, others not so much. The one goal that I managed to stick with was my writing. There was the occasional miss, but I was careful to put up a heading for something I did that day.*** This lead to my week of catch up writing the week prior to New Years.
Perhaps the stress of trying to get all 366 reviews up before the end of the year burnt me out. It could have been the criticism I received after my husband's well meaning post regarding my work on Reddit.**** I might have just been tired. Either way, this is my first review written this year. I've put up headings since day one and have notes and thoughts, but this is the first time I've actually put fingers to keyboard.*****
I succeeded with my daily reviews last year. It wasn't precisely a New Year's resolution, but it happened at that same time. I may have hesitated to call it a New Year's Resolution last year because I thought it that title was indicative of failure. I don't see those resolutions as being completed very often. I know I have never successfully changed my behavior that way in the past.
If I have to declare a New Year's resolution this year, I would once again have it be tied into my daily reviews. I can go through last year's posts and point out the quickly and carelessly written ones. This year, I don't want it to be so apparent. I've always been one of those slackers that just writes from their head. I don't make rough drafts. I don't re-read what I write. I just pour it out and move on. This year, I will re-read each post to verify its quality. If you're going to take the time to read it, that's the least I can do.
As you probably expected, this review wandered a bit off topic. Rather than just reviewing the idea of New Year's resolutions, I focused on my own experiences. In reality, New Year's resolutions are rarely successful. I only managed to get through last year's goal by putting these posts out there for my friends and family to see. The fact that I usually enjoy writing them just makes it easier. Now, let's see if I can do a better job this year. I'm already behind, but it wasn't until today that I decided I wanted to continue on.
Thanks for your support.
*They can't put it on the internet if it isn't true.
**I use the term review loosely.
***When I arrive home from a movie going experience at 1 AM, it is incredibly difficult to write anything of quality.
****Mark, being his usual sweet self, posted my blog to reddit. He wanted people to say some kind words regarding my year of writing. There were some very nice people. Of course, there were also well meaning critics. I appreciate their attempts at helping me become a better writer, but it is still hard to see commentary about how one's thoughts are scattered and uninteresting.
*****Pen to paper sounds so much more dramatic, but it just wouldn't be accurate.
Last year, I decided to write a review on a daily basis.** My goal was mainly to add a bit of discipline to my life. I had actually intended to add a new daily task each month. I got all the way to August before that went to the wayside. Some tasks were easy, others not so much. The one goal that I managed to stick with was my writing. There was the occasional miss, but I was careful to put up a heading for something I did that day.*** This lead to my week of catch up writing the week prior to New Years.
Perhaps the stress of trying to get all 366 reviews up before the end of the year burnt me out. It could have been the criticism I received after my husband's well meaning post regarding my work on Reddit.**** I might have just been tired. Either way, this is my first review written this year. I've put up headings since day one and have notes and thoughts, but this is the first time I've actually put fingers to keyboard.*****
I succeeded with my daily reviews last year. It wasn't precisely a New Year's resolution, but it happened at that same time. I may have hesitated to call it a New Year's Resolution last year because I thought it that title was indicative of failure. I don't see those resolutions as being completed very often. I know I have never successfully changed my behavior that way in the past.
If I have to declare a New Year's resolution this year, I would once again have it be tied into my daily reviews. I can go through last year's posts and point out the quickly and carelessly written ones. This year, I don't want it to be so apparent. I've always been one of those slackers that just writes from their head. I don't make rough drafts. I don't re-read what I write. I just pour it out and move on. This year, I will re-read each post to verify its quality. If you're going to take the time to read it, that's the least I can do.
As you probably expected, this review wandered a bit off topic. Rather than just reviewing the idea of New Year's resolutions, I focused on my own experiences. In reality, New Year's resolutions are rarely successful. I only managed to get through last year's goal by putting these posts out there for my friends and family to see. The fact that I usually enjoy writing them just makes it easier. Now, let's see if I can do a better job this year. I'm already behind, but it wasn't until today that I decided I wanted to continue on.
Thanks for your support.
*They can't put it on the internet if it isn't true.
**I use the term review loosely.
***When I arrive home from a movie going experience at 1 AM, it is incredibly difficult to write anything of quality.
****Mark, being his usual sweet self, posted my blog to reddit. He wanted people to say some kind words regarding my year of writing. There were some very nice people. Of course, there were also well meaning critics. I appreciate their attempts at helping me become a better writer, but it is still hard to see commentary about how one's thoughts are scattered and uninteresting.
*****Pen to paper sounds so much more dramatic, but it just wouldn't be accurate.
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