Last minute, I decided to go to Saratoga to visit two of my cousins for two days. I went away with, literally, very little (I didn’t have time to really pack and even forgot my cell phone charger and laptop), but came back with:
A plan of action for the next few months
A love for a new city around here
A possibly broken thumb
Probably a few extra pounds, as I ate/drank enough calories to undo my previous week’s lack of eating (I wasn’t dieting, just really, really poor.)
Many missed calls and text messages
I’m very glad I went, because a break was needed.
Making this mental escape even better, is that it will be continued. Tomorrow I fly off to Dallas to visit my lady bestFF, C-Mo! I haven’t seen her since July, when I first returned from New Zealand. There will be sun, Whirlyball, laughs, AD quoting … overall fabulous times. I don’t care if we just putter around her house - I’m just very excited to see her and Anfernie!
Because I like to leave something visual - and I’m totally biting off USA Today’s Pop Candy - here is my Jack Sandwich.
Yes, that’s Kal Penn, and I think he’s gorgeous. Don’t judge me.
It’s been a tough week. Without oversharing, I’ve had some family and personal matters that have been causing stress among my loved ones.
And aside from that - although not nearly as important as my family - lately I’ve been very disappointed by decisions people have been making and hypocritical actions that have been occurring. If you know me, you can guess what I’m talking about. And, no, this isn’t some sappy, vague complaint against love or friendship. Nor is it about my current job.
But because I just finished my longest streak, so far, of professional work without a day off, and because I’m about to begin my first 2-day weekend in quite sometime, I’m going to watch, and share, some Zach Galifianakis music videos to “bring you/me joy” and briefly forget about some of the recent unfortunate events.
Although these are a bit old, his spot-on lip syncing and acting worthy of karaoke music videos make both pieces worth watching.
I love this Fiona song. The video only makes it better.
As if I weren’t already pretty excited for “Pineapple Express,” the official trailer, which was released this week, features MIA’s badass ”Paper Planes.”
You can only view the trailer if you’re older than 18, and don’t even think about lying. Apparently your info is checked against public records before you get to view the site it’s posted on. Once you’re in, read the big-brother-ish warning under the video player. Scary.
Isn’t that a question you ask amid a mid-life crisis when you’re at the top of some money-making powerhouse? Not at 22? And not when - after paying bills and planning a much-needed, 3-day weekend - you only have $9 left in the bank?
Maybe I’m naive (or most definitely I am), but I hate being part of the problem.
While getting my butt kicked at Boot Camp class (think junior high PE on steriods) this morning, I couldn’t help but feel as though I was in a sports/getting-into-shape montage thanks to my instructor’s musical choices: A lot of classic and 80s rock.
Though I like the music from time to time, it’s hard to not chuckle at the thought of my gym visits being edited into a sequence with John Mellencamp in the background. Then I started thinking about my favorite montage scenes 1. to distract myself from the pain, and 2. because no matter how serious or inspirational the movie, a montage is always somewhat hilarious.
So in no particular order, here are some of the funnies I could remember:
The “Higher and Higher” dancing scene in “Wet Hot American Summer”
Bill Murray’s failed attempts to get with Andie MacDowell in “Groundhog Day”
Stan training to be a better skier, with the song “Montage” playing in the background during the ”Asspen” episode of ”South Park”
Same song in “Team America: World Police” Always fade out in a montage …
The “Let’s Hear it for the Boys” scene in “Footloose,” where Bacon teaches his friend how to dance. It’s so awful, it’s good.
In other news, today is National Pancake Day at IHOP. Believe that I went there with a few girls after the gym (and yes, I worked out extra hard to make it worth it, so don’t judge me).
‘IHOP’ you get to enjoy the free short stack you’re entitled to today, and that you eat with this song stuck in your head:
It’s been snowing close to everyday recently, and no matter how much I workout, laugh and hang out with friends, it’s hard to feel completely cheery amid such gloomy, frustrating weather.
So tonight, I popped in (and by ‘popped in’ I mean ‘pressed the center button of my iPod’) some Van Morrison. Something about his music feels like home. I listened to the album ”Moondance” a lot in junior high, and always tried to sneak him into our listening rotation while working in the market through high school.
Once I hear the first few chords of any of his songs, I instantly get mental images of summers in California and Washington: Sneaking phone calls from boys I liked, my family barbecuing, being on the beach all day, and staying out late with friends since the sun set didn’t set until around 9:30 p.m.
I know it’s ridiculously cheesy, but I would give anything to rewind to when things were so much more calm. And warm. Until that becomes possible, I’ll wear a goofy smile whenever “Astral Weeks” and “Caravan” start to play.
“Say hello to my little friend,” and then a midget emerges.
T-shirts that say “I don’t do Mondays” or anything along those lines. This includes when worn to be ironic.
Tyra Banks.
“You might be (enter race, social-economic class, state-an) if …” jokes, especially in a forward.
Parodies of YouTube parodies of hit movies/online videos.
Bumper stickers, of any kind, that make it onto a car. (It’s OK if you buy one to show how ignorant or tacky a place is, so long as it is not on your car.)
Men getting kicked in the prives.
Impersonations of any ’90s movie or SNL character. Let the originals be.
On that note, add Frank Caliendo.
Ventriloquism.
‘Talking’ babies. (Laughing babies are OK.)
Smartass kids.
“Gilmore Girls”
About 90 percent of the skits on “Mad TV.”
I admit, there could be exceptions with some of these things, not including Tyra.
To end on a happy note, here is a short list of the things that I will always find funny:
“Arrested Development” - any episode, any time.
“Mystery Science Theater 3000″ - It was a treat to watch it on weekend mornings during high school [when I didn't have to be at a(n) dance competition/swim meet/IB study group/prepping for a half-time performance], and I think it’s why I love DVD commentaries so much.
Jason Bateman and Jeffrey Tambor have confirmed Ron Howard and Mitch Hurwitz are looking to make an “Arrested Development” movie.
Better yet, it seems like the entire cast is on board.
Words cannot express my joy. I haven’t been this excited about a movie rumor in a long, long time - or ever - and can’t imagine how my friends and I will celebrate.
In the mood for a quirky romantic movie, and not enough money to head out to the theaters, I watched “I’m Reed Fish” (for about the 5th time) the other day. It’s a little cheesy, but the ending is different enough, and it has some endearing moments.
One of them is when Schuyler Fisk performs a pretty song she wrote for the film. I mentioned the song in an earlier blog, but still can’t get it out of my head. Maybe it’s because I’m so shocked Kristy Thomas from “The Baby-Sitters Club” can sing and tours with Joshua Radin.
