Driving, Quickie Jobs, Movies, and Thought

I have to make another entry for this part. 

For the past two days I've had a miraculously good sleeping schedule. Two days isn't a lot, but it's a start. 

I tried to get some quickie jobs, but have so far failed. I'd really kind of like just a regular job now, but since I'm going away for the week and a half, I feel like it would be difficult. I went onto the job board and saw some jobs that would be easy as hell to get and immediately felt like a fool for not trying sooner. But... it's in the past, and I'm not sure it's so much at retrospect is 20/20 as much as that looking in retrospect, I can't clearly see my other reasonings. I'm sure that I made a healthy and smart decision. Whatever whatever. Plus there is the distinct possibility that I want a job now because I know I can't get one. But I don't believe that's true. I'm just acknowledging the possibility. 

But as far as quickie jobs, I'll probably do a research thing in August (probably = they said that I could, certainly barring an extenuating circumstances like amnesia or death).  I tried to give blood but they didn't need any new people. Although I felt guilty because I'd said that I wouldn't sell my blood because I feel that I should just GIVE it away. After all, it isn't market research. It's people's lives. But, I tried anyway. I didn't succeed, however, so I only have to feel bad that I WANTED to do it, and not that I actually did it. Although the day I tried to sell my blood, fitrec was doing a red cross blood drive, which I'd put in my calendar and everything, fully intending on doing it. And... I obviously didn't because I thought I was going to sell it. So... wah-wah. 

I ended up talking to my grandpa and we went over the plan. They're going to come up on Wednesday and we're going to hang out. On Thursday we'll go to the art museum (AWESOME... I LOVE going with them... probably because they're the ones who trained me to love art museums to begin with), and then we'll go back to their place. AND we're going to the Wolber Open, and it'll be nice because my mom will be there. So my job is to make sure I do my laundry and clean the apartment (although it really isn't that bad at all) and read the driving manual. 

I also discussed the matter of where to get the license with him and we agreed that PA would be the best place, and MA would be the worst. However, I told him how my mother seemed to really against me getting my license in PA and told me I should get it in NY, which I thought was ridiculous. He was really stuck on why my mom might not want me to get the license in PA, and even though we started talking about other things, he kept coming back to it. Finally he mentioned that maybe she thought that ERNIE (my step dad) would have a problem with me using the car. I thought about it, but even though Ernie hates me, probably (definitely) more than anyone else in the world, I don't think he'd have a reason to not want me to use the car. Whatever else he thinks about me, I don't think he has a reason to not trust me with a vehicle. 

We ended up talking about it for a bit, and I just got really upset and ended up bursting into tears about him. On the PHONE! With my GRANDPA! Which was really embarrassing, and definitely uncomfortable for my grandpa. And me. And my grandpa had to leave right after it happened and I KNOW he must have told grandma. And we're all going to be together for like... 10 days and I'm kind of worried it's going to come up... but also I kind of want it to. I kind of just want to talk to SOMEONE, other than my mom, who knows what's happened. Who can understand. 

(I know that was a little more personal than I usually am.. but... it's my blog and I felt like sharing.)

Regardless, my grandpa told me that he's going to try to teach me to drive-- we're gonna go out like... 2 times a day. And then my grandma will try if he's unsuccessful (although I don't know why he would be). And he said that worse comes to worst, he'll pay for me to have lessons with the local instructor. So no matter what, I WILL know how to drive by the time I leave. AAAAND as far as the license goes, he said that maybe I SHOULD get the license in New York because I can easily just get it changed over to MA or CA or whatever. My grandpa is always sooo generous to me. It's insane!! 

Two other things I want to mention: 

1. Last night I mysteriously went to bed at 10:30pm. I was exhausted. For no reason at all. So I'm in bed with a bra and pajama pants on, asleep, and then someone COMES THROUGH MY DOOR! I shot up, TERRIFIED! It was PAT! Moving in his stuff. He'd called but... I was asleep. I was trembling like crazy for the next... 15 minutes at least. They didn't stay much longer than that because he kind of had to emergency move in because the girl who was holding his stuff was going to move and he didn't get the message until recently. Something like that. So they came and left. But it was SUPER scary. And I think those things are infinitely scarier when you aren't wearing adequate clothing. 

I THOUGHT that was going to keep me up, but nay. I fell right back to sleep. Miracle. 

2. Unsurprisingly, I woke up at 7:30am ready to go. Like... couldn't have gone back to sleep if I tried. I looked up quickie jobs, but there were no new ones for today. Then I went to the gym... which was a little gross because the last time I did my laundry, I forgot to wash my gym pants... so they had/have a very .... disgusting feel to them. Anyway, as I was going back home from the gym, I came across some old ladies in front of the Planned Parenthood handing out pamphlets and rosaries, which, regardless of how I feel about their position on anything, I HAVE to admire because.... they have a cause and then they DO something completely generous and peaceful about it. Very sweet. And more than I can say for almost everyone else that I know (barring Natalya). I didn't take a rosary though, because even though they are pretty... I already have a rosary (which I told the lady) (and which I obviously don't use, but is very attractive) and maybe it should go to someone who doesn't already have one. She seemed delighted. Although, for all the work that I'm sure it takes to make a rosary and then get it blessed and everything, I wonder how many people will take one off the street and actually use it. I would have to probably say zero, right? Nevertheless, it was very nice. I chatted with them for a bit, came home, and... did this. 

As far as the movies go, I'm off my shitty movie kick I think. I just ordered Angels in America, although I made a mistake and got only the second disk... so it's useless as of now. I am also getting the movie Loser, which is KIND OF bad I guess... but I really like it. And I got the first Lord of the Rings... so we shall see. 

And what I watched: 

David Cross: Let America Laugh. I thought it was a stand up show, but actually it was like... a pseudo documentary of one of David Cross' tours. It was interesting. I really love David Cross and I would LOVE to see one of his shows. 

Also I saw Sophie's Choice. I knew it was going to be sad because it's always sighted as the saddest movie. And it was VEEERY sad... although III thought the choice was between the two guys, which I was sure would be sad... but not the saddest thing I've ever seen. I wasn't sure what the hype was going to be about. But... I actually don't know if I'm ruining it to say it WASN'T between the two guys... because that's probably what everyone thinks. But whatever.  It WASN'T. And you'll probably never guess what is WAS between... but suffice to say that it WAS one of the worst choices EEEVER!! I almost had to pause to absorb. It took my breath away. 

I also rewatched Spice World (with Katherine) and Superbad. Nothing really to say about them. If I didn't thoroughly enjoy them, each in their own way,  I wouldn't have rewatched them. 

Also, I've continued to read The Tipping Point, which is pretty amazing. It also has a chapter about children's television, which kind of discredits what I learned in television and childhood, which essentially told me that children's television is straight up bad (weird lesson for television students). Now I don't know what to think. Probably a little of both. 

I WOULD be more inclined to trust a school book over a pleasure book, but the school book was written by someone my teacher knew and worked with personally... and comes off as a little biased. I disagreed with some parts... like how Disney movies hinder creativity, which I just can't see as being true. I even asked my grandpa about how creative children were when he was a kid, and he said that there are creative people and there are some not creative people. He said that he wasn't particularly creative. But I happen to believe that my best friend and I were literally as creative as you could possibly be (I'm obviously biased and I know it sounds arrogant... and I don't think I'm even KIIIIND OF as creative today, but I truly believe that)... and...I saw every Disney movie made (except Dumbo, mysteriously). 

AAAND The Tipping Point is a hugely popular and hugely scrutinized book. But, you have to always be skeptical about books promoting media. 

Basically, I just don't know. It's all just food for thought, I guess. And really I don't foresee myself working in children's television... although it is a reasonable possibility for me, certainly more likely than it is for most other people. 

Romantic Comedies

Are we going to have ANOTHER He's Just Not That Into You fiasco!!!

Mother fucker!!!

First of all, I'm pretty sure this is going to be a huge hit. Bigger than He's Just Not That Into You. And second, I hope that HHEEE learns something at the end too... which... I think he might. And I hope that other less crazy women are portrayed in the film. And I hope she has a SPECIFIC reason for being crazy. I hope it starts with some childhood thing where something happens and then she decides she's going to always be the aggressor in relationships... or whatever her deep flaw is. And I hope he has a SPECIFIC reason why he's so mean about teaching her. And then obviously they'll fall in love yadda yadda. 

The thing about the romantic comedy genre is that it's forgivable for me to know what happens, beginning to end, by just seeing the trailer. I hate it, but I also love it despite myself. It's also the reason romantic comedies are not masterpieces pretty much ever. They are just the same movie with the actors changed.

I'm just pissed off that we're having a surge of incredibly flawed and crazy women being the protagonists. And I know that they want us to feel good because we all already KNOW we're flawed and crazy and these movies are telling us that SOME MAN will find and love us despite that. But it also tells us that men have the answers and are generous beings and whatever. And some men are incredibly generous and patient. I just don't think we should be socializing women to lose all the power we even have. 

And I just have to mention, because it makes me CRAZY, that I bet no one can name ONE movie where the woman was the real pursuer. The closest you get is the woman secretly trying to make the MAN pursue her. And maybe I shouldn't get so upset about it, but women seeking what they want just comes off as incredibly desperate. All of the classic movies that you love: Say Anything. If a WOMAN stood outside of the window, it would be a different movie. It would be Fatal Attraction. But The Notebook. Notting Hill. 10 Things I Hate About You. Even my favorites: Titanic. When Harry Met Sally. Moulin Rouge. The Princess Bride. I mean... you can't name ONE movie where the woman pursues. The only one that I can think of is My Best Friend's Wedding... and she DOES look crazy (but we forgive her because she's so cool and attractive) and she doesn't even GET the guy. It's like the only romantic comedy that turns out that way. 

I mean honestly, IIII don't even want to watch a movie where the woman pursues. I can't think of a way that I could possibly enjoy that movie. And THAT bums me out even more. 

I Want to Literally CONSUME Celebrity Mole

I'm so thankful to netflix for allowing me to stop buying so many movies... but recently I rented Celebrity Mole, which is the ACTUAL first show that I ever watched loyally every week. BUUUT to be fair it only had 6 episodes. So... it wasn't that long of a commitment. (When I say the ACTUAL first, I mean that I usually tell people that I never watched a show loyally every week before The Office... but like I said, this was only 6 weeks and that's like.. 24.)

But in case you don't know what The Mole is, it's a game in which a group of people all participate in games and stuff to win money, but one person is trying to sabotage the group and lose the group's money without everyone figuring out who they are-- they're the mole. And then they all take a quiz about who they think the mole is. The questions are like "what color shorts was the mole wearing in the cliff diving game?" or something like that. And then whoever gets the least right answers has to leave. 

So anyway, I LOOOVED celebrity mole. The celebrities were Kathy Griffin (first thing I ever saw her in), Erik von Detton (obsessed with him at the time. He was in Brink and The Princess Diaries), Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects and now really religious Baldwin brother), Corbin Bernsen (I'm not sure... some sort of Law and Order or something), Michael Boatman (Spin City), Frederique Van Der Wal (Victoria's Secret model), and Kim Coles (In Living Color). 

So it isn't so mysterious that I loved the show when I saw it in 2003. What IS mysterious is that I felt the need, out of the 200 movies that I want to see on netflix, to rent out. I got all 3 disks of this like... Z-list celebrity show to watch AGAIN! And what is perhaps stranger... I LOOOOOVED it! I was laughing more than like... any other movie! And the thing is... sometimes I just want to ABSORB things. Sometimes I watch things and I literally... this isn't a joke or even an exaggeration... feel pain AS I watch them because I know I have to part with it. Or even that at some point I'm not ever going to watch it again. I feel literal pain from it. I used to go to the local catholic high school shows... like musicals... with my cousin a lot in 6th and 7th grade... and it was TORTURE for me because I'd be so upset that I couldn't watch it again. And I'd spend all of my money... or powers of persuasion... trying to get another $8 and a ride so I could go again. But I would just get more upset because then it's even LESS likely I'll see it a third time. I would write terrible little limericks about my misery. And even now, at 21, I still feel pain sometimes when I watch things. Because I want to ABSORB it into my body and have it forever. And honestly, I'm not sure anyone else could even sit through this damn show, but ... I can't help what I love. 

Even the people ON the show would judge me for loving it so much. But I do. And, in my opinion, celebrity shows are nicer... because there isn't so much animosity. They are having more fun. There's less at stake. Plus you can think about the things you already know about them. And if you love them, you get to learn new things... and lord knows I love to hear my celebs talk... it's the essence of my obsession with late night TV. 

ANYWAY, in other news, I decided to make both chicken parm AND breaded chicken and use that as my food for the rest of the time. I did burn the chicken parm... in fact, it's really a glorified pasta dish for me because I don't think I did it right. The issue is that I think the changes I make are just going to cater to me more... but maybe I don't have a good sense of what's ruining the meal and what isn't. But the breaded chicken was better this time because I took Caroline's advice and poured melted butter over it before I cooked it. Wise. 

Today I got from netflix

1. the third DVD to said 2003 game of Celebrity Mole.

2. a stand up DVD of David Cross

and 3. Sophie's Choice

Very eclectic. 

Quest for The God Delusion

Yesterday was interesting. 

I feel obligated to say something about Michael Jackson, although I'm not sure what. I was shocked he died. I hope they come out with the music he was working on. I was surprised and interested at how many people remembered how obsessed I was with him from like... 7th-8th grade. I don't want to be archaic and anti-technology sounding, because I really don't think I am, and I certainly don't want to be, but when Matt and Elena and I were watching stuff on the news, the phrase "heart felt tweets" came up a few times... ...I mean... how heart felt can 160 characters of thought be... about a guy you didn't even know? I just think it seems like we've redefined what "heart felt" means. "I'm sad he died- Thriller was awesome"... it just seems rude. But conversely, I don't know what I could have expected... and I'm kind of being a pretentious douche for remarking on it. And surely it's worse that it strikes me as upsetting and rude when referring to Michael Jackson when there are about a jillion ruder tweets and sentiments going out about the protesters in Iran and other worldly and more life-altering events. So...

Regardless, I do think that he would have continued to make some more quality music. I hope his children are left with the profit of high last record sales instead of enormous debt, which I believe is their current situation, although I'm not positive. Although surely no one will love them as much as their father did and that's really unfortunate. 

The other day, when I was watching random youtube things, Anne Coulter came across the screen and she's almost impossible to not watch, which annoyingly is why she's famous. So I was watching her on The View etc and I feel like she's one of the only people that I'd never want to meet for fear of LITERALLY punching her in the face. And I've never hit anyone in my life. And I never want to. But she's FUCKING INSANE! / I can hardly even believe that SHE believes what she's saying and that's even MORE annoying. And maybe it's because I've never really listened to Rush Limbaugh so... maybe I'd hate him too. But at least with people like Bill O'Reilly... he can be annoyingly stubborn (and so too can the left be for sure) but at least he has an argument. At least you could talk to him and in the end agree to disagree. But she's just a fucking irrational bitch and the MOST annoying part is that she's clearly intelligent and educated... so it's completely COMPLETELY unacceptable. She watches what happens, she knows the facts, and she's still insane. What I'm saying is that I think Bill O'Reilly would hate Anne Coulter, although I don't know for sure. 

So, remembering that she did these debates with Bill Maher in New York, I decided to look up Anne Coulter and Bill Maher, expecting to receive a little atonement on the matter. But nay!! To my shock, Bill Maher wouldn't let his audience boo at her, and while he obviously didn't agree with what she was saying, he just CHUCKLED and moved on to different questions. And he called her his friend. 

Now, on the one hand, I know he doesn't want to be hypocritical and I admire that. In his film Religulous he emphasized the point, not that religion is insane necessarily, but that you can't know. He doesn't know and YOU don't know. And that's pretty admirable. So I understand that he pisses people off by being too liberal and therefore he's trying to defend stating your beliefs at the risk of pissing people off by allowing Anne Coulter to speak. I get it and it's admirable. 

That being said, she is an ASSHOLE and doesn't have consideration for ANYONE but her specific demographic (if it's not just an act... and if it IS an act, it's pretty much WORSE because she's being so fucking irresponsible!!!! in order to incense people and sell books!!!).  It's VERY important to acknowledge that YOU might be wrong. True knowledge is knowing that you know NOTHING. But on the other hand, I think it's important to take a stand... because otherwise you're passively watching everything happen and feeling self-important that you are wisely acknowledging that any direction COULD be the right one, however unlikely that is.

*Note: When I say "right," I do believe that there is no "right" and "wrong," which I feel inclined to clarify. But for the purpose of this, since I don't want to be back stepping and clarifying all day long, let's just say there is a better or "right" path to take. 

So after watching the disaster with Bill Maher, I decided to watch someone who I think DOES take a stand on things while still acknowledging that, as a scientist, he knows that you can't be absolutely certain about anything. And that man is Richard Dawkins. After watching him do a half-hour presentation at Ted Talks, which I believe I've watched before, but I've watched many of his things before, I decided that I finally want to read his book called The God Delusion. 

So after asking the only person I thought might have it (Elena-- she didn't have it. Although she does love Richard Dawkins, which I knew) I decided I may go on a mission to find it. 

Interestingly, the next day I woke up at 10:40am ready to go (after a night of fun with Katherine, returned from New Zealand). So I decided to first go to the bank and see what's going on with my debit card, which is expiring this month but I haven't gotten a new one. And I thought, if I'm going to the bank, I might as well visit Caroline at Temptations if she's working. So I text her to see if she's working and my phone won't let me after several attempts and turning my phone off and on etc. Whatever, I tend to not worry about broken technology until 48 hours after discovering the issue because I usually believe it will solve itself (BTW, itunes problem solved). 

So I go to the bank and learn that they sent me a new card on May 18th, obviously to my PA home, where my mom tells me it never came. So I end up ordering a new card and he asks me where I want it sent. After confirming that the address where the card will be mailed won't affect the address they have marked as my permanent address, I tell them to send it to this apartment. Although I FORGOT that my name isn't on the box, so it was very lucky that I mentioned it was a sublet and HE thought enough to realize my name isn't on the box. So... hopefully it works out. But I had to get money out of the bank because I won't have a card for about a week. 

So then I decide to call Caroline to see if she's working and my phone tells me that it's been temporarily disconnected. Well THAT'S bad. So first I go and get a sandwich at Temptations. Caroline WAS there but it was crowded so she couldn't chat. Then I called my mom from a pay phone to tell her about my phone. She told me she'd take care of it after she was done with a patient. Then I called Elena to tell her I didn't have a phone right now and that I'd call her later and she should answer if she gets another call from an unknown number (we were planning on hanging out later).

So I made my way to the Boston Public Library because I wanted to get a library card... and get The God Delusion. So I get there and it turns out that you can't get a library card unless you have an ID FROM Boston. I told her that I was a resident and that I had a student ID and everything. But she wouldn't let me get one! It definitely makes sense. After all, they have to hold you accountable for the books and it's not like you would give them your credit card number or something. Still, it bummed me out. I left dejected. 

BUT while I was on the T going back home, I realized that this is probably going to a be a problem when I get my license. What address am I going to put on my license if I get it in MA? I considered the library fiasco a blessing in disguise because now I see that I should probably get my license in PA. 

ANYWAY, I made my way back to BU and decided that I should try the Mugar library (the main BU one) for the book.  So I look it up and they DO have it but it isn't due back until AUGUST 10th! I didn't even know you could take books out for that long! So I leave thinking... I guess God DOES exist because he clearly doesn't want me to have this book! Right after I leave, my mom calls me and tells me that my phone is reconnected. I was about to tell her about the license thing, but she had to go to her patient. I was really surprised and pleased that she placed my phone as a priority, because I certainly didn't. But she seemed really concerned that I was in Boston without a phone. Very nice.

Anyway, I decide to walk to Barnes and Noble, KNOWING that I shouldn't buy it there because I shouldn't use all of my funds, but not being able to resist SEEING how much it will cost. On my way to the Barnes and Noble, I come across Sonya. Among other things, she tells me that SHE has the book and that I can borrow it (although I'm almost positive that that will never happen). But she also suggests I try the used book stores around before I go for Barnes and Noble. So I decided that I WOULD go to the only used book store that I've been to. So I go in and realize I have no idea what section it would be in. Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist so I thought it might be in the science section. Checked and no. So I thought... maybe the religion section. Nay. So I think POSSIBLY the literary criticism section... it's a stretch but maybe it's considered a criticism of the Bible. Finally I decided to just ASK the guy... although I felt REALLY weird about it... which is something Richard Dawkins discusses... how atheists feel judged and awkward and avoid the matter completely. In fact, I honestly feel childish even SAYING the word "atheist"... kind of in the same way that I feel like a southern republican when I say the word "America" or how I feel... just silly saying the word "terrorist." Terrorists are scary, I do love America, and I am an atheist. But... the words, to me, have extra connotations than I would prefer they don't have. 

ANYWAY, he did NOT seem to think I was being childish and he knew exactly what book I was talking about. He said he had one a few days ago but that he was pretty sure it was gone (science section, btw). He told me that they get them in all the time but that they're pretty popular and leave just as quickly. Then he chuckled and said too bad I wasn't looking for Gladwell. I'm not incredibly well read and didn't understand his inside joke. But, whatever relation to The God Delusion this "Gladwell" had, I wanted to know. So I asked him to show me. He pointed out The Tipping Point and Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. 

I looked at The Tipping Point first because.. that's what he handed to me. It said The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. National bestseller. "A fascinating book that makes you see the world in a different way." - Fortune. Sold. I also bought the book The Art of Watching Films. 

Then I went BACK to Temptations because it was so close and it was like... 2 hours later, not lunch time, and would be inevitably less busy. I bought a Dr. Pepper and chatted with Caroline for like.. a minute. Although I STILL hadn't found time to eat the sandwich that I bought a few hours ago.

Then, because it was such a nice day, and I had my sandwich and some books,  I thought I should find a nice place to read and eat and be merry. I got a few free glasses of water from the GSU and was GOING to park on the BU beach (not an actual beach... just a grassy place that vaguely sounds like a beach because it's next to a highway... more pleasant than it sounds) but then I saw the river and decided that I would go to the esplanade instead. 

When I sat down, I realized my mom had called me back, which I wasn't expecting her to do. I told her the issue with the license and she made the... I don't want to be rude... but incredibly foolish recommendation to get the license in New York, where I'm learning and getting the permit. How could that make it better? I questioned? I don't have ANY address there. She told me I could use grandpa's address... but that's insane because then I'd be LIVING in MA, I'd be registered to vote and have my credit card stuff and ... my permanent address in PA, but I'd mysteriously have a New York state drivers license? That's pretty dumb. But she was very adamant on me NOT getting it in PA... I don't know why although I secretly suspect it's because she doesn't want to deal with it or she doesn't want me to come home. Both upsetting thoughts.. and probably rude that that's what I'm thinking. Anyway, she said that I'm living in MA so THAT'S where I should get it since THAT'S where I'll be driving. But I told her I am potentially only going to be here for like... 4 more months because my tentative plan is to go to LA. And, I didn't tell her this because it didn't occur to me until later, but I'll pretty much NEVER drive in MA because ... I obviously don't have a car here. So it's almost the MOST absurd to get the license in MA. 

Nevertheless, I think I'm going to call the DMV and explain and see what they recommend. Although I hope that they are pleasant because when people are mean or sound irritated that I am asking questions, I get nervous and my goal instantly switches from wanting information to wanting to get off the phone as soon as possible. Inevitably, I do not gain the information that I called seeking. Maybe I'll see if they have an email address first. 

After my conversation with my mom, I started reading The Tipping Point, which is so full of interesting information that I can't possibly relay it to you. Maybe later. But I ended up reading it from like... 3pm to 6pm or something like that and I briefly considered that I might need some sunscreen, but I decided that the sun was no longer highest in the sky, I didn't want to go all the way home to get some (far) because I'd never come back, and I didn't want to buy any when I already have some at home. Not shockingly, I DID get burned. But not severely and today it's not red anymore. Plus, even though next time I'll bring sunscreen, I'm pleased that I got sun so that I can convert some of my vitamin D. 

Lastly, I hung out with Matt and Elena, mostly watching stuff about Michael Jackson (which I found out through texts while I was on the esplanade). Also, after listening to my tale, Elena told me that at the BU library they can recall books for you OR they can order the book for you from another library. ALSO she said that if you go to the Boston Public Library, you can get a library card if you just show proof of address. I just need to bring in my student ID and a piece of mail. I'm a little upset that the lady didn't tell me that. After all, I kind of expect people who work at a library to be friendly. Maybe thats presumptuous, but... I don't care! Plus Matt made some delicious chicken parmesan, which made me jealous of the skills... and full. And he gave me the leftovers, which I ate instantly upon going home. 

And you know what ELSE I did instantly upon getting home right before 12pm? I fell asleep. MIRACLE!

Today I think I'm going to buy a pot at Good Will because I think I'm going to attempt to make stew again and then ladle it into tupperware instead of just putting the pot in the fridge... which inevitably disgusts me 2 days later. It worked with the rosemary chicken. I JUST finished it today... it's the miracle of tupperware meals. 

Surely that's the worst part about being only responsible for yourself. If you have a family, you make a meal and then at most you have leftovers for the next day only. Usually you don't have full meal leftovers. But if you're alone, you make meals for the week. 

(Just so you know, if you stick this text into a document, 1 inch margins, size 12, times new roman... it's almost a full 5 pages long. Because I'm the most long-winded person I know.)

Daily Show on Iran

I highly recommend watching these segments that The Daily Show did in Iran. Very interesting (and obviously funny). 

(For real. Please feel guilt-tripped into doing it. )

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Lazy and Tolerant

My solitude is becoming so much of a blessing that I'm not sure I'll be able to regularly mingle with people that I less-than-adore in the future. My guilt has miraculously completely vanished without a trace because apparently I only need to get one thing done per... period of time... and that shall be driving. Done. 

So, yesterday I was in my room, doing whatever, and at some point I realized that no one had really contacted me in over a day which is kind of weird. Usually I get a few texts per day. So it crossed my mind that I hadn't heard from anyone, but I lazily just thought the solitude was taking it's toll. As we've all learned time and time again, if you refuse to go anywhere, people stop inviting you places. Still, I didn't give too much thought to it. Although I'm sure if 56 hours went by, I'd be beside myself with grief. 

ANYWAY

Then I start noticing that my phone was kind of lighting up every few minutes, but no activity was happening. Again, it wasn't too conscious of a thought, so I dismissed it as being broken and continued with my movie. 

Eventually Matt called me and asked where I was. He told me he'd been texting me for 2 days but that I hadn't responded. I almost instantly understood that my phone was full and was no longer accepting messages, which was pretty funny. Although Matt told me he was really concerned because if anything HAD happened to me, I don't live with anyone and I don't have a job so no one would really know. He told me he looked at my blog to see if I'd updated and THAT'S how he knew I was alive. Weird. 

Anyway, I fixed the tub situation! I don't know why I thought Draino was $12 because it was actually $6. I was INCREDIBLY skeptical, mostly because I'd just used unclogger fluid before and if that one made no difference, why would another brand work? But it DID!! And I can literally SEE the water drain. It's amazing how much you appreciate things that are fixed. Like when you have a cold and then FINALLY it's gone and you can breathe out of both nostrils again?! That's awesome. 

I'm pretty sure that tolerance and laid-back-ed-ness comes directly from laziness. I'm SURE a less tolerant or laid back person wouldn't have been able to STAND the tub and would have instantly found a way to get it clean. But... I didn't care until I thought I was going to have some people other than me USING the tub, and that's when I got things done. But the same thing happens to me all the time. This is going to make me seem RIDICULOUS but I'll tell anyway. I've had my windows open constantly for a while but I keep the shades down (for the naked time, obvs). Well the weather hasn't been too great and while I enjoy the cold, the wind keeps flapping the shade in a disconcerting manner. Sometimes when I'm asleep I wake up startled because the shade sounds like it's someone sitting across the room. Despite this, I haven't closed the window. For no other reason than it didn't seem worth it. I mean... I didn't consciously think "Should I close the window? Nah. Not worth it." But still, somewhere in my brain, I decided that to get up, cross the room and close the window was too much effort to expel on solving the problems of startled awakenings and shade flapping. And it's the same way with the tub. Somewhere in my mind, it was okay that the tub was disgusting because it wasn't worth the effort of fixing it.  I don't know what this says about me, if it says anything at all. I'm just saying, it's what I've noticed. 

Anyway, I also did my scrapbook today, which was lovely. And I like to watch things I don't have to concentrate on while I do other things so I chose to watch movies I'd already seen. The first was Ghostbusters. Awesome movie. Really. And then I watched Enchanted, which is also amazing. Both are, in my opinion, SUPER solid movies for the whole family. Like... they aren't crap even though they're blockbusters. People really tried on them. But they aren't serious. I do have to specifically point out, although I've said it a million times, that Amy Adams in Enchanted is AMAZING! Her AND James Marsden. They're great because they play it without a HINT of sarcasm. And they obviously thought that movie through completely because the movie tells you, yes, believe in fairytales and happy endings. And be kind to people. And some things and people look bad but they aren't. But also, Amy Adams saves the day, she gets her own job, a princess fashion designer, which makes perfect sense since she makes her clothes in the whole movie, and she learns that you need to get to know people, which is different from some other princess movies. But they do it without ANY sarcasm. I think it's awesome. 

And, actually I DO also have to specifically mention that Ghostbusters, to me, is amazing because it doesn't take itself TOO seriously, but they still thought it out. It's funny, but it's a complete story and all of the elements of the world are explained. They didn't just think it was cool that people catch ghosts. Everyone has a personality, they have a good explanation, they have a beginning, middle, and end. Perfect. 

Also, before I watched Cashback yesterday, I watched Just One of the Guys, which is an 80s movie where a girl dresses like a guy to write an article. I don't even need to tell you it was terrible.... but it's the perfect terrible movie because it has all the elements that really piss me off... because the writer just didn't THINK! This girl decides that people don't take her seriously because she's a girl. She chops of all her hair and dresses like a boy (NO montage or anything. We didn't see her go to a stylist and awkwardly say what haircut she wanted. We didn't see her try on her brothers clothes. Am I to assume this was easy?). Then she goes to another school and acts like a boy. How did she enroll in this school? How is she just MISSING her other school? This girl has a schedule and everything. And I do NOT think I'm being picky. These are HUGE questions. And THEN she goes to the prom with the only friend who knows and her jerk boyfriend comes because he demanded to know where she was from her brother, and she exposes that she's a girl, and her knew friend that she's now in love with is really upset because she lied to him but eventually he sees the light... blah blah blah blah. BUUUUT they didn't even explain the article she wrote. They just say it was ABOUT being like a boy and the teacher goes "you really like that guy, huh?" But like... they didn't even start OUT the article. What could it have possibly been about? What did she DISCOVER while being a boy that would make the article interesting? You know the writer didn't even know. And that's the problem. The writer needs to know EVERYTHING otherwise there is no validity. Otherwise I can't suspend my belief. AAAAAND ALSO the main guy was apparently obsessed with James Brown. Like... when you went into his room, there were ONLY James Brown posters. And she was like "let's listen" and he was like "no because when I listen to James I have to dance and I can't do that in front of other people." And it never came up again!!!! How could that not come up again?! I NEEDED to see him dance like James Brown. Why did they even put that in there??!

The reason I didn't write that yesterday is because I didn't want to ruin the purity of the Cashback promotion. 

Also ELENA IS BACK!

32 Seconds

Got the new Run Lola Run disk. I'd missed exactly 32 seconds! I made them re-ship me the movie for 32 seconds! I needed it! Very good.