Scout's Honor

If I were a boy scout I would have taken to heart the need to always be prepared. I'm just going to put it this way: I'm not a boy scout, but I am rockin' in the department of preperado. I interviewed at the OUSD today, and I think I did pretty well. So woot woot for that! Because of the possibility of my interview being a good thing (one never knows until one hears back from the panel) I will impart some boy scout knowledge to ye ol' readers.

Keep an unwrapped cough drop in your pocket during the ballet so you don't distract from the art, or just don't go to the ballet.

Make sure you have DSL to have quick internet surfing, or if you don't have DSL make sure you can figure out your neighbors passwords.

Be certain you always look good, or at least be around others who wear glasses to see and break their glasses before they can take a look at you.

Go to the Dentist every 4 to 6 months or just buy Crest Pro Health so you feel like you went to the Dentist even if you didn't.

Always wear clean underwear, or save time and don't wear any at all.

Don't mess with Texas, but if you do be sure to say "ya'll."

If you go to an interview expect 7 people to be sitting across from you. If you don't, you're just a fool.

Just call me Dumbledore, baby.

Nu3bers, Part 2

1 couple who I will envy for their purchase
2 excited people about a new apartment
4 more days until my first Open House
5 trips thus far to 1930 number 4
8 more hours in the Pearl
13 more days of Room 2
21 weeks passed by in this year
23 movies I've seen this year
38 days till Mike comes to visit
42 days until I get a new roomie
47 days until the next great movie
55 days until the next great book

Move, Move, Movies.

Well it's true. It's the end of the era of the Black Pearl. By that I mean Parker and I are getting our divorce this weekend and by tomorrow we will be out of each other's lives. I'm a little sad, but I have to say my new place is pretty awesome. I mean it is number 4, and there is a cupboard under the stairs. Sound familiar? Yup. I thought so. So that's the move, just as Rosie leaves The View, I leave the Pearl. How poetic.

Anyway I know I need to get to the real news on hand: The Movies. So let me get to it.

Shrek the Third was a little bit of a let down. Now I should stay positive first.... The animation was really good. I kept admiring the skin texture and the hair this time. It seems they have perfected their craft. So bravo to them for that area of their lives. As for the story line. Gosh! Who wrote this? George Lucas? I can't believe how cheesey this stuff was. Now I'm not saying I don't love GL, but we all know he tends to write rather corny stuff. Shrek was just trying to be too much. I think it should have stuck to the good roots of pop culture comedy and stayed away from deep struggles. Let's keep the theme of love me for who I am, rather than "will I be good enough." Gag me with a fork and call me a ogre.

Rice Cakes and a taste of Peanut Butter.






Sigh. I loved it, loved it. Now I have really gotten into this whole pirate lore, so I am slanted, but it was just right for me. I have been hearing word on the street a lot of people don't understand the plots and characters... But come on people. Watch 1 and 2 and you're fine. I just don't get what was so baffling. The CGI and other visuals were just perfect and the characters (for the most part--except Jack and Jones) were perfect.

Something was a bit over done and yet not done enough with Jack this time. I can't really put my finger on it, but I believe he took too much of a sub-role in the film. Also Jones was a little to sub for me too. Yes, we talked about him a lot, but he's so wonderful let's focus on him a lot, A LOT, more.

There were three, maybe only two, times when I was a little annoyed with the director and writers choices for the film. As to not give any spoilers I would just hint at the giant thing (totally an old horror film--STUPID). And the shoulder thing. What a joke, I mean does it really have to be that childish? Gersh.

Despite these flaws this movie went exactly where I wanted it to go. All the actors were hot and I give it a nice bowl of Spaghetti with a swish of Diet Coke. Yes, I know I love Disney and Pirates so go figure.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley

Ok maybe I am daft, but I didn't really get this movie. I tried. It was a winner from the Cannes. So there must be something I am missing but.... I just didn't like it.

Yes, I was struggling at the start to make sense of the ridiculously strong accents the Irishmen put on, but then once I was past the accents I kept wondering what was going on. I understood the plot (though it was one of the worst plots ever). I like historical drama these days, but they can't just stand on their own unless they are done with a careful eye. I believe what was lacking from this was an intimate story line. You know a good old Kate and Leo, Rose and Jack... I'm not asking for history to be rewritten I'm asking for a few driving characters here.

Cillian Murphey scares me, and did an OK job as the rebel, but other than some good Irish talkin', drinkin' and fightin' I just didn't buy into this film. Oh the shame... At least the popcorn only cost me a buck.


Beans on toast for me.

Ode to My Life

So I pretty much was just sitting here and thought it was time for another blog. I know my blogging world is inconsistent to the masses, but there is rhyme and reason to what I do.... (pauses for a few minutes and tries to rationalize why one can't get online every day, or even every other day to blog) Well I tried, but no luck. Needless to say this is a disappointing time in the world... of movies that is.

I mean they release a "blockbuster movie" and now there's nothing. Nothing for us little folks to watch the next weekend. Sure we could go see Spiderman again, but shouldn't there be another BIG blockbuster released today. I'm just saying where is Shrek? Where is Pirates? Where is Potter? Where is Transformers? Honestly. So I cry, I wait and I beg... Loveme, loveme, say that you love me [movies] fool me, fool me, go on and fool me. I can't care 'bout anything but you.

Oy. My brain hurts.

How can you not want to see more...

Here she is being mad at me.
Gotta love the anger.

Ah, jeeze.

Well maybe I am overly sick (yes this is probably true) but for some reason I really liked this video of the two of us. We are totally ridiculous.

Well here we are...

NEXT

What is happening to me... dare I say it... Next was a surprisingly good movie. I was surprised to see Nicholas Cage in a movie where I didn't want to throw popcorn at the screen during 97% of the film. With this movie I only wanted to throw popcorn at him 15% of the time. So the statistics are improving.

The movie is a Sci-Fi, Superhero-esk movie filled with some good some and very good B-list actors. Jessica Biel and Jullianne Moore to name the two leading women. I thought the concept was good, and dare I say I thought the character Chris was a better superhero than some of the poor excuses for heroes in Spiderman 3. Speaking of which, what happened to the good old Spider Sense? Hum.

The music seems as though it was stolen from Ghostrider or some other Nicholas Cage movie I have seen. I couldn't place it but I am pretty sure it is an exact theft from a previous film.

I wouldn't rush out to see this film though, while the plot is good, and the twists are absolutely there (some simply delightful), this is a good Blockbuster date movie because of the silliness who is Nicholas Cage. However, if you happen to rank up some extra points with your Regal Crown Club Card, and you just so happen to have enough points to get a free movie ticket... then see this film.

Rice cakes and peanut butter with a tall glass of Diet Coke.

Wonderful Things

Wonderful things include:

Fauf
No plans for a Saturday
Mario Cart at the Coulters
Jon's lovely skin
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End with the sweet laugh
Harry Potter: OOTP Preview
Cassidy calling out "Michael! Uncle Michael!" this morning
Paula Deen's Georgia accent
Watching Katharine McPhee and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on the same show
Austen hanging up on me
Andrew and Michael going to the movies
Parker being truly excited to the depths of his soul on Thursday night
Going to the movies by myself this morning
Not showering on a Saturday
Free BBQ today
Watching HP1 at the Coulters
Spring days with a lovely SM Wind--Hooray!

Wonderful things. Simply delightful.

Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz Review:


I had no clue what to expect with this movie. So honestly if this blog is slanted--that is why.

So this movie was really funny. It was a good departure from the stereotypical movies I typically see. It is absolutely gory, filled with some naughty language, and extremely accurate in its depiction of ridiculous British people. Ok... Not really, because there is a total silly, hilarious, funny, laugh out loud scene where this movie goes from off the wall to totally insane. Needless to say I love a good laugh and I liked the atypical enjoyment of gore in a movie.

Good stuff. I have to say this movie is only for those with a twisted sense of humor and silliness.

Spaghetto atop a Rice Cake... Ok that sounds gross but really it is a big compliment because, let's face it I am merging two favorite foods together.

Spiderman 3: Some kind of a battle

Spiderman 3: The Battle Within...

Hum. The Battle Within. We'll get back to this statement in a momeent. As for the overall picture of this picture I have to say it was borderline Batman Forever (those of you who can't keep that franchise straight, it's the one with Carrey as the Riddler), and the most campy and over-the-top of all three of the movies.

I won't give away as much as my first grade little friend did after listening to a spoiler on the radio... But I have to say something about the ending of the movie-- totally predictable. Giant monster-esk creatures who don't read as well as your regular Goblins or Ocs.

The graphics were sweet in parts of the movie. I have never been a fan of the swinging Spiderman shots over NYC, but there was something better to this movie: SAND. It was kinda amazing. Gotta love the use of sand. I have a theory they looked at water when they were mimicking the movement of the sand.

Ok but the whole two, three, possibly four villains is just silly. You can have sub-characters who are jerk-a-ronies going, but please two villains is MORE than enough. Let's cut out the whole need to make it BIGGER than the last one. Let's just stick with the need for a good script which hooks movie goers, and big action scenes which hook in the big bucks.

The Battle Within was not a very good show. IT needed more depth to it. The whole struggle of wanting to be powerful could have been a movie on its own, but no... Let's pack it in there for the masses. Urg.

I have to say I sound totally negative on this--as negative as the critics on Mary Jane on Broadway, but still. I liked it ok. I would say don't rush for this one.

It was a let down. So I give it rice cakes, no peanut butter, and absolutely no Diet Coke.

My Friend

Ohh here are the long lost pictures of our journey...

Jeremy and I went to the Land of Disney on the Pirates 40th Anniversary

Delightful.

The Namesake

The Namesake

Ok before I thrash on this movie I’d have to say I loved, loved, loved the mom in the movie. She had this timeless grace about her and I really liked her. I’d like to see her as a leading lady, or at least the lovely neighbor next-door in more mainstream movies.

Ok, the young actor just bugs me like none other! I can’t stand him. He pouts and is just a goob-nut. I don’t like him. Ok that said the film itself was just ok. It seemed like it would have been more than it was, but, it was just good. Honestly, I don’t have much to say about it. It was OK, not good, not great… Eh.

Rice Cakes with no Peanut Butter and just a glass of Water

Meet the Robinson

Meet the Robinsons

Well I have to say I pretty much love this movie. It was an array of madness and silliness, which ranged from Monty Python antics to Back to the Future Drama. I’m just saying it was a great film to sit down with the Fauf and laugh hysterically with her. I nearly peed my pants at one point—honest.

But I do have to say this movie probably isn’t for the masses. The humor is a little offbeat and would probably be best appreciated by odd third graders or teachers and parents who really “get” kids. The animation is good, and the characters are classic, however I have to say it isn’t Nemo status nor is it as amazingly stylized as Incredibles. So I’d say rent this one, perhaps have a few lemon drops with it and you’ll giggle like schoolgirls at their first dance.

Peanut Butter and Rice Cakes with a tall glass of Diet Coke

Numb3rs

You know Stranger Than Fiction started out with numbers, so I decided today called for a day of numbers and blogging on such things:

2. The number of rehearsal sites which I am torn between.

3. The number of trips I have spent cleaning out my class and my office. Oy!

15. The number of days I have left to complete my taxes. Ay!

21. The number of students I have this year in room 2.

42. The number of minutes I slept past the alarm clock today.

80. The number of minutes I spend at school without kids to teach during school hours (aka Recess).

98. The number of days until I get married.

133. The number of days Orcutt School District has been in session.

280. The number or minutes I spend teaching each day.

300. Still a movie which resonates in my soul.

5 years, 9 months, and 12 days. The duration for which I worked at the Children's Center.

2039. I believe this is the time I worked at the Center in days. Ey!

Anyway, those are the numbers of the day. Enjoy. Hope they show up for your lotto, if not, just figure them to be some curse which will put you on a Science Fiction Island where a giant beast roams around and stuff.

Oh my gosh. My life is all about contrasts. Check it out:

I love living like a bachelor, but I can't wait until I am with my Fauf for the rest of my life.

All I can think about is July because of the wedding, but today all I can think about is Harry Potter in July.

My life is totally slowing down as I leave Hancock, but the days seem to fly by with amazing speed.

I am excited about counseling, but I feel like Fauf and I can do it on our own.

I love the first grade, but I don't---well there's no contrast there gotta love it.

I love the new cover for Harry Potter, but I am a little sad it only features two dominant characters and very few clues.

Here it is:



I rest my case.

Shooter

So I am not totally sure what I loved about this viewing... Perhaps it was my dahling, dahling on my side. Perhaps it was Chet, the delightful leprechaun, sitting behind us. Or perhaps it was Chet's delightful father walking the wrong way to the bathroom. At any case this viewing experience was delightful.

A delightful movie viewing pretty much makes for a delightful film. I really enjoyed this picture. It was a simple story, classic in government deception and conspiracy theories. The story was easy to follow and Mark Wahlberg's character was built up to be the hero among heros. I am becoming a Michael Pena fan, after Babel and Crash I've kept my eye on the guy. This film Pena had a chance to flex the goofy sidekick role. He did very well in this capacity. However, with exception to the two previously mentioned, I thought the casting in this flick was a little sub-par in a few areas. I understand the Angel's in the Outfield star, Danny Glover, is a good actor but just ehhh. I have this theory with his part. I think the casting director says, "I want Morgan Freeman." and they say, "We can't get him, he's too expensive. We'll go broke." So the casting director says "Get Danny Glover on the phone."

Nevertheless this was a great action flick which wasn't overwhelming. There were the classic shoot em down, blow it up, car chase moments, but somehow I felt it was balanced with thoughtfulness and tempo. It never was a debacle like Triple X or so totally ridiculous like the lovable, but very "yeah right," James Bond flicks.

So, Marky Mark does another great performance, solid action film with only a few annoying characters. One last comment on this movie--I hope I don't make this sound more negative than it is--but the musical score was stupid. It tried to be this Firefly BBM type of music which just didn't fit. It was a nice attempt and was good, but didn't do anything for me.

Nevertheless again, hooray for good movies in March---so unexpected.

Rice Cakes and Peanut butter with a big glass of Diet Coke

Breach

So the other night Fauf and I went out to see the film Breach. You can always tell I think of a movie favorably when I call it a film. Last night she had the greatest idea for a "He Said, She Said" Movie Review team. Maybe our pseudonyms would be Mr. and Mrs. Smith. We could totally work it. I'm going to the SUN and SMTimes to ask them if they want us to write a column about it.

This movie was simple, had moderately good acting, a moderately good script, and moderately good plot. I think the overall feel was "OK." There weren't any stelar performances in this film, but there weren't any "bad" jobs. I left feeling pleased with the show, but in reality I could have done with a little more suspense. The few scenes where there was suspense sort of lacked suspense because of over run movie trailers where the end was shown.

Overall this movie was a Rice Cake with Peanut Butter film, because it was good, but not fully satisfying.

Get's rid of dirt and grime and grease in just a minute...

So I have been thinking about all the cleaning out I will be doing in the next two weeks and as a notorious messy person I shudder. However, the teacher inside of me is somewhat, surprisingly, organized. So I leap for joy to start a new like Sandra D and begin this cleaning process. Here is a list of the following places I will be cleaning:

1. J-12. I have three years worth of stuff packed in there. Mission: Find all the good stuff and leave the junk.

2. Office. I have this dumb office I hide all the papers I don't want to do. Mission: leave as much as possible in the office.

3. Trunk of Car: I have been carrying around a bunch of stuff in my trunk and this is just not functional. Mission: find a cabinet at the school which can house this stuff.

4. Room 2. Clean out the dust and the stacks of paper which I inherited from the previous teacher. Mission: Make it my own where allergies and headaches won't enter.

5. Laundry Baskets. I have some (somewhere) that are filled to the brim with laundry. The rest floats on the floor. I am like the phantom of the opera on the gondola, riding to my bed every night. Sadly mine is not a foggy ground, but a swamp of laundry. Mission: Talk Mrs. Hough into letting us move into the condo so I can do laundry and not live in a swamp of clothes.


Well that's my life. Call me Mr. Clean.