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I will write an entry at another time, but I am really loving my television access - even more than the kids are actually, since they were really used to not having it and after the first day haven't really paid much attention to it.

I have specialized in the most non-quality TV programming possible. Hopefully I will O.D. on it soon, but in the meantime I am just fascinated with all the colorful images dancing on my screen.

The Surreal Life
~~~Tawny Kitaen, what happened to you??? Not that I ever liked you anyway, but... Yeeeesh.
~~~Steve Harwell, I always loved you, always was your #1 fan no matter what anyone said, and now you prove to be one of the only sane people in that house.
~~~Sherman Helmsley, I didn't realize you were still around. I'm glad you are. Kudos for taking this madness on.
~~~Alexis Arquette, I didn't know you existed, but you are hilarious. And better looking than Tawny.

Dr. 90210
~~~~~Except for the entirely too gross, too close closeups of the surgery, I am in love with this show and all its sad, pathetic patients.

Top Chef
~~~~~Food and drama. Better than monkeys.

America's Next Top Model
~~~~~If these are the most beautiful girls in America, then I need to apply for the next season.

American Idol
~~~~~AI, you are one of those shows that really lost its appeal as soon as I stopped watching it. You are a huge, gigantic waste of time. One episode watched, I won't watch any more this season.

My DVR is set to record so much trash in the next week and I cannot wait to watch it. So NoTorious, For Better or Worse, Hogan Knows Best... But also The L Word, Deadwood, Rescue Me...

And I get to watch a regular season of The Amazing Race for the first time EVER! And I can watch Survivor again!

Did ya'll know there's even a SOAP OPERA CHANNEL???

HAPPY FRIDAY

Essay written, check.
Sister LEAVING, check.
DVR busily recording non-quality programming, check.

Tomorrow is Swimming, and then it's off to Aptos for a REST.
Hallelujah!!!

If anyone would like to write a conclusion to this < insert swear words here > essay I would much appreciate it. It's due right now and I would like to print it out and turn it in, so let's have some help here...

Or they're upset about the exhibit showing Spears in a natural childbirth position when she reportedly underwent a Cesarean section.

What about the fact that this is NOT a natural childbirth position that I ever heard of, and that I don't know of any women who have given birth on a bear skin rug, and that it doesn't even remotely resemble Britney Spears...

...and that it really just looks like she's ready to take it in the behind?

I personally hate Britney Spears, but if I were her, I would be PISSED right now.

I heart the Direct TV man

The Direct TV man is here right now, and he is the CUTEST, most ADORABLE man I have ever seen. He looks JUST like Orlando Bloom but BETTER, and he's nice and sweet and I made him coffee and he was so happy and appreciative.

And because this house is all screwy (only one phone jack, in the kitchen) he has to spend a lot of time here this morning drilling holes and such. Coooool.

I think I'm going to keep him.

You will be happy and proud to know that I have studied and researched all evening for my English Lit midterm essay. I will research a bit more during lunch tomorrow, and start writing after work. The finishing touches should be put on Thursday morning, and I drive it over to the professor at lunch.

See? I can plan and do well without procrastinating. I think this essay will turn out pretty good.

Tuesday Update

So I did lots of work at work today, and took my supervisor on a ride to Starbucks in the new car (which I am learning to really love - it's such a happy color and is going to look so pretty at the beach!), and then decided to chuck Byron/Shelley/Keats and go for the essay on Jane Austen/Sir Walter Scott/Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. This is the essay the professor thinks I would be unable to pull off since I don't attend class. Of course that means it's the essay I want to do. But it's also the essay I think I can fake my way through the best.

Why so many poets in English Literature? Didn't they ever read books?

Did you know Percy Bysshe Shelley was the husband of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein? I didn't.

Tomorrow morning we get Direct TV hooked up in the house, bringing us into the 21st Century with that great invention, Television.

Tonight I go home and pretend I am not home when the sister calls.

Okay, it's about time to leave work.

Update!

I updated! It's a long one!

I just realized that my entries don't have time stamps on them.
Well, the essay was due at 11:55pm.
I typed my name on the document at 10:15pm.
I started typing the actual essay at 10:45pm.
I turned it in at 11:43pm.

It is true, I may not get an A.
But I bet I do.

You may throw rocks at me now

I did it. Turned in a 1000 word essay that I wrote in the last 45 minutes before deadline.

Scott warned me earlier this evening that if I went through with my plan to wait until the last second to begin the essay, and then manage to get an A for a grade, he doesn't want to hear about it.

Guess I won't be calling him tomorrow, heee.

(By the way, Stone Butch Blues, excellent book. Heartbreaking, but not with a sad ending. Read it.)

And now the difficult part - This semester's English Literature Class is probably one of the hardest classes in my entire school history so far. And I have an essay due Thursday morning on Keats, Shelley and Byron, which I haven't exactly studied yet. I am going to be busy the next three days.

I know, busy procrastinating probably, but busy nevertheless.

SuperStudent, AWAAAAYYYYYY

I have just started my essay that is due at 11:55pm.
Watch me finish it in 70 minutes flat.
Watch me get an A.

This is me, still not typing my essay.

And lastly...

Catie has informed me that she is in charge of deciding who is and is not a Super Star. And she has declared me to be a Super Star, and although I informed her she was wrong, she then explained to me how she is the Boss of all this, etc. etc.

So anyway, I'm thinking of sending out a memo at work. Because, you know, my coworkers have the right to know this information. I mean, I'm sure they will be surprised to know that they are working with a Super Star, and they'll probably want to show their appreciation with gifts and applause and stuff.

...and now I have to take Charleen to the doctor since she has rolled her eyes so hard they are stuck in the back of her head.

Friday - er, Monday Questions

Well, I remember being ready to get the Friday Questions from Meg when I got to work last Friday, but I just looked at Rachael's blog and realize that I totally forgot them. So I'm going to do them today. Better late than not at all, eh?

My next pet will be named... Lord, please no more pets.

This weekend I plan to... this coming weekend? Swim in a class that has a coach there to open the pool, go to Scott's house, rest from midterms. Well, there's one more after that.

Breakfast was... today it was a sausage/egg burritto from the cafeteria - but it was so huge I only ate half of it.

Last night at 8pm I was... frantically reading Stone Butch Blues so I could take my test before the 11:55pm due date, while Wallace & Gromit shorts were playing on TV.

I deal with stress by... Avoiding it. If I can't avoid it, I will shut down and become Robot Woman and just get done what needs to get done. The emotional collapse can come later.

I forgot... to bring my professor's phone number to work so I can call her and get the essay assignment that is due Thursday.

P.S.

You can add to that list from this weekend: The swim coach did not show up to class again.

That makes:
2 times in two weeks that we sat in the rain at 7am on a Saturday waiting for him
3 times in two months he has not showed up.
4 times in two months that I did not get to swim (because I missed one day when I was sick)
24 days since I've been in the pool.

I am not losing any weight this way folks.

Mini update

In the middle of midterms so I don't have time to write in the next few days. But here is a nutshell:

Drove the car all over and it's great and has thumbs up approval from the kids' friends who say "This is the coolest car EVER!"
Moved furniture out of my mother's house using the new car, and it holds a LOT.
Ordered Direct TV to be installed Wednesday morning.
Went to OSH and bought new gardening tools for Spike so his job is easier, and some birdbaths that are the cutest things EVER.
Bought Spike some very nice clothes and he is happy.
Both kids got haircuts at two different places and both of them hate them.
Turned in my test for Stone Butch Blues and got a 100% (approximately 2 minutes after finally finishing the book)
Now I have an essay due on the book by 11:55pm today. No, I have not started yet.
Another essay due Thursday - I have no idea even what it's supposed to be about yet.
Very important decision I'm debating:
Considering working part time when I hit University so I can finish degree in 3 years. There are many pros to this, and only one con: The money in the bank will lose value if I don't put it into a house right away. But the pros sort of outweigh this. We will see. I'll explain more later.

And finally:

Everyone go rent Everything is Illuminated right now.
Highly. Recommend.

The new addition to our family!

Side one

Side two

So today I buy a new car, and yesterday I got a lady in trouble.

It's all in the update.

Good Lord.

Excuse me while I put my cape on

So I leave work now, clone myself, and go to my college counseling appointment and register Buffy for high school (again).

Simultaneously.

I am SuperWoman.

The Brent Buckman Diet

Oh my God.
Oh... My... GOD.

This "diet"... makes me lightheaded just reading it... I can't believe this guy thinks this is even fit to post for the public to see...

A diet... consisting of.... bagels... and water??? Interspersed with "lots of high calorie foods"...

I'm sure, if you're highly obese, that this amount of calories and carbs truly will make you lose weight... just as eating only cupcakes and frosting for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack will make you lose weight... BUT!

But... did this guy ever hear of a vegetable? a fruit? NUTRITION????

I have to stop, my head is spinning, and I just have a lot of trouble believing this guy is as absolutely insane as he comes off on TV - and yet, now he shows himself to be insane even on the internet...

Brent, among all the internet FREAKS out there, you stand out as insane.

So I just accomplished quite a lot from my to-do list.

Called and rented a dumpster for this weekend, $296
Informed Spike that he will have to work this weekend
Called and left message with the lady who does my taxes
Called and made appointment for today at my auto insurance place
Called and made counseling appointment at school - and spoke to one of the rudest ladies EVER
Called and left message with the real estate agent - and almost started crying I was so upset by above rude lady combined with knowing I was calling to sell my parents' house.

If I can get through this week of preparation for my sister, and then get through next week while my sister is here, then it will be clear sailing after that. If she gets her shit out, I won't have to speak to her again.

I just have to look on the bright side, right? In less than two weeks I won't have to remember I ever had a sister.

Q&A Period

I received a good comment in my guestbook:

Why don't you donate your furniture to goodwill or something instead of renting a dumpster and throwing it out? reuse, recycle, provide for another family in the process...

And I have a good answer to that:

Because the furniture that is going out would not be accepted by the Goodwill. I don't know about your Goodwills, but in the Bay Area they are picky picky picky. The couch is threadbare and has holes. Goodwill won't touch it. Remember, this is furniture that was donated to US after the fire, and some of it even barely survived the fire and has sat in the garage for 3 years. It's all had quite a few lifetimes and shows it. It's dumpster material for sure. We have already donated and sold at garage sales over the last 3 years anything that can be saved. The rest is just junk that holds up the TV and is comfortable for us to sit on, but no one else wants it.

Believe me, we refuse to throw away anything. The Goodwill gets anything I can convince them to take. But when it comes to furniture there are very few places in the Bay Area that will take old, beat up things. And my house is now overflowing with this stuff. It has to go.

Pass the Tylenol

I woke up with a headache this morning.

Why? Could be because my sister is bringing her ill-behaved family to stay at my mother's house next week and are going to finally be packing up their stuff and leaving?

The leaving part is good, because hopefully I'll never have to see them again after that. But the staying part is bad, because:

A) I have to worry about what they're packing up and/or selling
B) I have to clean up the house when they're gone.

According to my aunt they left the house in a shambles the last time and she cleaned it herself. I need to sell this house next month, I cannot spend time cleaning juice out of the carpet and peanut butter off the walls. This is not an exageration.

Also, this means that this weekend will be spent cleaning out our own house and bringing everything we need out of my mother's house before they get here. I don't want what was supposed to be mine getting ruined by those dreadful children. Or "accidentally" getting packed up.

So this weekend I have to:
A) purchase a car (because I have to sell the Prius ASAP)
B) rent a dumpster and fill with furniture from my house
C) rent a truck and move furniture from my mother's house to mine

Fun Fun Fun.

Why couldn't I have a normal sister instead of an evil, spiteful, selfish bitch? This entire thing could have gone so much more smoothly and less stressful.

Oh, and to add even more to that list from yesterday, I also have to do my taxes AND the estate's taxes. So yeah.

Movies for YOU this time

I've been having a good week with Netflix this week, so I thought I'd share some movies you really can see today.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" I loved. I only rented it because we're studying Oscar Wilde in school and I wasn't really expecting anything of the movie, but I loved it so much I'm looking forward to studying Wilde now. It was hysterical, plus - Rupert Everett and Colin Firth. Does anything else need to be said?

"The Transporter" I know I may be the last person on earth to see this movie, but if you didn't see it yet, GO SEE IT!!! I loved every single second of this movie, I have the sequel on the way, and I have a new crush.

"Hudsucker Proxy" I had heard some good things about it so I tried it. I don't think this one is for everyone, and the ending was almost... too hokey to believe, but I liked the rest of the movie enough to go with it. I mean, if you're going to cheat with an ending... I guess you can get away with it if you have a good movie behind it. ANYWAY - I loved it. However, you have to be into that old 40's style movie, almost a broadway musical without the singing kind of thing. It's hard for me to describe it, but anyway - I liked it.

And finally, last night I watched "White Oleander" and was blown away. I can't believe I never saw this one before, it was SO GOOD. But also depressing, very very depressing, and sad... And Michelle Pfeiffer plays an evil bitch who needs to be put away for life, but Alison Lohman is one of the best actresses Ever.

And now I go get more coffee.

Wow, there is HUGE thunder outside, and lightning, and the lights at work even went off for a few seconds.

Happy First Day of Spring, eh?

So don't forget: Thank You for Smoking comes out this weekend in limited release, I've seen it, and it's really good.
Tomorrow is Walkout on HBO. I saw it, you should definitely see it too.

And that's it for now.

Friday

Went to the high school yesterday to register Buffy for next year, and if you remember two years ago when I registered Spike, it required the collection and presentation of the following documents:

Drivers License
PGE Bill
An additional bill with address
DMV registration
Taxes with W2
Signed letter from landlord
School transcripts
Birth Certificate
Immunization records

We were given two days to collect all this information. Anyone who has all this info at this very moment without having to run around town and/or get things faxed, raise your hand.

So the hours of registration were 3pm to 7:30pm. We arrived at 6pm. There were people in line who had taken off work early and had been waiting since 4:30.

At 6:30 they informed everyone still in line that they had run out of time, the doors were closing, and we could come back next week at 3pm.

I wasn't that upset for myself because I hadn't been able to collect every document and we'd only been in line for 1/2 hour. But I did miss my planned day at the gym. And several other parents who had taken time off work and had been there for two hours were irate.

And they should be. Supposedly the best school in the district, this school consistently pisses me off, is always disorganized and never returns phone calls. This just makes me really mad.

So at least two of you have heard of Parkour, and it seems you have the same reaction I did.

It is so totally cool. And even cooler to see your 15 year old son doing these incredible athletic feats.

It is also so totally obviously dangerous. Especially when it's your 15 year old son doing it.

And I did feel conflicted about this. I want to say "WOW Spike, that's INCREDIBLE! I can't believe you scaled that 3-story building! I can't believe how you swung from the roof-tops like that!"

And then I also want to say "Are you out of your MIND??? I FORBID you to do this!!!!"

I did tell him I wanted to set two rules: No jumping off second story buildings (I saw him on tape jumping from a one-story roof), and no jumping roof to roof, which is featured in many of the internet videos.

And from here, as a parent, all I can do is cross my fingers and hope he stays safe.

I need to double my insurance coverage now

So Spike is now involved in something called Le Parkour.

Has anyone out there heard of this insane "sport"?

I originally understood from Spike that it involved running, and jumping over fences, and he even mentioned climbing buildings.

But my fifteen year old son isn't climbing buildings, right?

He just showed me a video of himself last night. It involved him climbing up the wall of a three story building, via the drain pipe. I saw video of him hanging off the edge of roofs and basically climbing walls spider-man style. The boy's arms must be strong, I'll tell you that. And he's good, I gotta give him that too.

I mean, I don't know many people who can climb up a three story wall in less than 10 seconds...

But... BUT... !!!!!

According to the internet, this is the new big thing. Please someone tell me if you've even HEARD of this???

God, SHUT UP Annie Proulx.

In this article the Pulitzer Prize-Winner actually changes the name of the film Crash to Trash (wow, that took imagination!), and refers to the Academy voters as "heffalumps". She also blasts them for giving best actor to Philip Seymour Hoffman. It appears she's livid because Brokeback Mountain didn't win every single award it was nominated for.

Get over it, Ms.Proulx. Brokeback Mountain was a good movie, it was a GREAT movie, but the best movie of all time in the entire universe it was NOT. Complain about losing while showing solid evidence if you like, but why would an award winning WRITER choose to complain with a childish tantrum? Shame on you.

After sitting in theaters for 2-8 hours a day for 12 days straight, even Spike was begging to go to the gym with me. We cannot wait to get back. We refused to take the escalator the last couple days in order to get some sort of exercise. It was the stairs for us! My first day back at the gym will be Thursday - I'll probably take Spike along on Saturday. Really cannot wait!

And thanks for being patient

I know these haven't been the most interesting posts these last 12 days, but it made me feel good when I found out that actually quite a few of you were taking notes for your own festivals, or were inspired to attend one some day. If you luck out with the movies (90% of this years movies were great) you can have a lot of fun. And even though you can't share these movies with your friends because they'll never see them - it's still fun to see some incredible films that no one else will get to see.

Then again - you all have the chance to see the following:

Thank You for Smoking (in theaters on March 17)
Edmond (Netflix Wait list)
Walkout (HBO March 18)
Water (Netflix Wait list)

And I forbid you all to rent The Ape.

And Cinequest... is OVER!

I can honestly say you won't see me in any movie theater any time soon, and the Cinequest volunteers looked like they are ready to go home and sleep for a week... but we had a fantastic time this weekend.

We saw "Puzzlehead" which was good in that slow, dull foreign film kind of way - it was a USA film, which was funny, but it was good. Nothing to crow about, but it wasn't bad.

THEN... we got to see Edward James Olmos. And we thought we were going to see a PREVIEW of his latest movie, but we actually got to see the entire movie... "Walkout", oh gosh this movie was SO GOOD, and it's bringing tears to my eyes just thinking about it again. And the good news for you? It will be on HBO March 18 - and if you have HBO you should see it. Also - it stars Michael Pena, AGAIN, this guy is all over the place now, eh? And of the three films I've seen him in, this is his very very best. After the movie they brought out Edward James Olmos and his son Bodie (cutie pie) for an interview. Fabulous fabulous. I brought Spike there for a reason, and it was fulfilled. First of all, Walkout was a movie about the chicano school walkouts in 1968 in East LA - and all of Spike's grandparents on his father's side were living in E.LA at the time. So this is his history. And Mr.Olmos said something that hit home with a lot of people there - "Education is the one thing they can't take away from you. When your mind is educated, it's educated. They can't take that away."

That was by far the best movie of Cinequest, and the best time I had there. And Spike and I were front and center row. Too bad our cameras suck, heh.

Finally, time for the awards. All my favorites won!!!
Best Animated Short: John & Michael
Best Student Short: Son Up
Best Documentary: ANDREW JENKS, ROOM 335
Best Feature Film: A tie between "A Gold Bracelet" and "A Columbia"

Then it was the closing movie, "Water" by Deepa Mehta, and that was fabulous. Colorful, sad, uplifting, emotional. The whole thing. I'm sure this will be in theaters at least in limited distribution, and for sure it will be on Netflix eventually so you should all put this on your list.

And then... PARTY PARTY PARTY!!! At Blakes Bar and Grill, food food food, wine-soda-coffee, music, dancing, directors and actors all over the place - Spike and I had a blast. I spent a lot of time speaking to the director and actors of Freedom State, and it looks like at the very least there will be DVDs available on the website, so keep your eye on it.

So that's the end. As much fun as we had, Spike and I are glad it's over. Spike is glad he can go do whatever he wants to now, or nothing at all - I'm looking forward to a homemade meal and some couch sitting time. We're ready for a rest.

This year Cinequest was by far 100 times better than any I had gone to before. Our passes were worth every dime spent, and we got our money's worth out of them. I personally saw 17 movies and went to two parties, Spike saw 21 movies and went to three parties. We have t-shirts, dvds, posters and a great Cinequest bag. Met some fabulous people and are pretty well acquanted with downtown now. At 11pm we said our goodbyes and went home to bed.

Good bye 2nd & 3rd Street parking garage.
Good bye Camera 12 Theaters.
Good bye Nathan.
Good bye crazy Jason.
Good bye Starbucks.
Good bye beautiful California Theater.
Good bye Calliope Man who never stops playing.

See ya next year!

Just checking through some other GOOD movies we saw this year...

Thank You for Smoking, Edmond and Water are all on the waiting list at netflix. I know Thank You for Smoking is actually going to be in theaters in a couple weeks. If you don't catch any of these in theaters, definitely put them on your Wait list at netflix.

But stay away from The Ape.

NOT recommending

I just discovered that The Ape - that horrid horrid film I saw Friday evening, is available on Netflix.

Do NOT rent this movie. And if you refuse to listen to me and do it anyway? Don't say I didn't warn you.

Stink. Er.

Cinequest

I am ready to never see the inside of a movie theater for a long long long while.

"Edmond" was a pretty great movie, but it didn't take long before it became very clear why this was on the film festival circuit and not in theaters... Based on David Mamet's play of the same name, the racial undertones... I'm sorry, the racial overtones.... let's cut to the chase here, Edmond is a racist. And as he is kicking the living bejeesus out of a black pimp, throwing the n-word all over the place, I wondered how this would go over in a theater in East San Jose. I mean... I wouldn't want to be there... And in the interviews after, William H. Macy and Stuart Gordon (the director) told of several times during play productions when fights had broken out. No kidding. I wonder why. This wasn't a "Crash" type movie, it was just a movie about a racist, and it was terribly difficult to watch... and yet it strangely worked.

If it makes it to the big screen, find a way to watch it. But be safe, heh.

The 48 Hour Film Project was not as good as last year, and I slept through most of the second half.

And now we go see... (Final Day! Final Day! Hurray!) The O Tapes or Soundman, Puzzlehead, Interview with Edward James Olmos, and the closing movie Water by Deepa Mehta. I can't wait to see it, first of all I loved Bollywood Holllywood, and also it appears there was quite a controversy over the film.

First of all, my body is starting to wear down. There's really only so much time you can spend in a dark theater - hours every day, day after day, night after night, still go to work, living on quick food and Starbucks... before you start getting sick. I'm hoping I can hold through tomorrow evening, the end of Cinequest.

Yesterday was not a good day for movies.

The short "Bunny" was bad. Basically it was about a spoiled rotten little girl who screamed the entire time because she lost her stuffed rabbit, and her stupid stupid mother who drove around all night looking for it. I'm sorry but Kid, you're bunny's GONE, it's GONE it's DEAD you're not getting your damn bunny back, now shut the hell up and go to sleep.

The full length featuer, "Zooey", was good. About a prostitue who's not only hooked on heroine, but she's married and her husband drives her to work. Heh. And a true story. So you know there was no good ending to that. But though it was a disturbing story, the movie was good. Not great, as the actors were not the best. I mean, they were good, but the girl who played Zooey wasn't up to what needed to be done here. But we all liked it.

The next short, Project Huxley, was great at the beginning and end... but then the entire middle chunk was the puppet monkey dressed for Shakespeare and doing Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech. Okay, that? was boring. With a capital B.

And the next movie, The Ape, good god give me back those two hours of my life. Many people walked out during the film, but I'm a sucker and kept hoping the movie would be saved somehow... but then I fell asleep... and when I woke up they were doing the same damn scene... and it went on forever.... and the movie never ended....
And it sucked.

On top of that, there was an assistant, some fat old RUDE lady, who was berating one of the Cinequest volunteers about making sure everything was done right, and there better be a projectionist in the house (and DUH, yeah lady, it's a THEATER see, and there's a projectionist RIGHT THERE) and then kept yelling RUDELY at her about making sure the sound was right blah blah blah and you know what? She was yelling at a volunteer. In front of the audience. This volunteer lady didn't have to be here all 12 days, but she was, every single night, with no pay, just helping out. As for the RUDE LADY, that movie would have been better if the sound had been turned all the way down so we could just fall asleep.

Right now we're on our way to see "Edmond" with William H. Macy, followed by meeting Willian H. Macy, and then three hours of the 48 hour film project.

I know you've all been dieing to hear the latest update on movies you'll probably never get the chance to see, but until Sunday this is my life, and this is my blog, so just deal with it.
:-D
But remember: Clerks, Garden State, Napolean Dynamite and many others, all started out on the film festival circuit, so you never know.

Last night we saw Freedom State and hit the jackpot again. This one along with "A Columbia" I think have the best chance for the big screen. Although you know I am in love with "Andrew Jenks, Room 335" I don't know if it will make the big screen. It should at least be on cable, and the DVD should be available. It's too good to not let people see.

Anyway, Freedom State. Shot beautifully, and the characters were played by such likeable people. You just didn't want it to end because you were in love with watching these "crazy" people in their adventures. And a real message of love and living happily. Again, the director comes out and he's all of 16 years old. Okay, he can't possibly BE 16, but he certainly looked it. I am amazed that so many good movies are being made by kids who can't be out of their early 20's. Anyway, view the trailer and keep your eye out for this one because I think it may make it.

The only criticism - it was slow in the very beginning, and it was almost too quirky - but everyone I spoke with agreed that the movie itself was so good that we didn't care about the quirky parts we didn't understand - we loved watching it anyway.

Dirty Mary, the short before this was okay. It had a great plot and was pretty hysterical, but again, editing. No one wants to listen to the drunk girl screeching at the bar, and no one wants to listen to so much screeching on screen either. If the screetching was cut down, the rest of the movie was pretty F-ing hilarious. And if you're a girl and ever wore your stained granny panties and neglected shaving your legs to assure you didn't bring a guy home after a date, then you would totally love this short.

Tonight: Zooey preceded by a short called Bunny, which appears to be directed by a woman who's worked on several Tarantino films.
And after that we watch The Ape, written directed and starred in by James Franco, who you may recognize from Freaks and Geeks or Spiderman. This is preceded by the short "Project Huxley", which is a movie about a stuffed monkey, and you can't miss with that, eh?

Happy Friday - Let's DANCE

"Eighteen years, Eighteen years,
She got one of your kids
Got you for eighteen years...!"

*waves hands in air, dances all around her cube*

Tonight's movie: Freedom State
(visit the page, you can view the trailer)

I think this one will be good, it's about a housewife who checks herself into a crazy house to learn how to be more crazy herself. Then the patients hijack a bus and go on an unauthorized field trip to find the edge of the world.

Sounds good, eh?

And the short preceding that film is Dirty Mary, which looks... um... interesting... !!

Malibue International Film Festival

Anyone live near Malibu?

Andrew Jenks, Room 335 has just been admitted to the festival. Go see it if you can!

Cinequest

Still on a roll with the good movies...

We all three decided to see In a Day and it was a very good, fluffy-happy romantic movie with a happy ending. This can be a nice break when you're O.D.ing on independant films. It wasn't the most fantastic movie in the world, but it was very watchable and enjoyable, and more important, the writing was incredible. It was dialogue driven - it focused on two main characters who just talked to each other throughout the entire film, and it was really well written. So while this particular movie was not a 10, I think the writer is going to do really well in the future.

And then we all stayed up to watch the special added viewing of "A Columbia", and we are all three SO GLAD that we did - even Buffy was in love with the movie. We didn't get home until midnight, and it was worth it. The star (and hot guy) of the show was actually Terrence Bergeron, not writer/director Ryan Byrne, but Ryan co-starred in it and Buffy elected him to be the hottest. Those two are very very lucky they weren't hit over the head and stuffed into our trunk to be brought home with us. It was truly an incredible movie, about two guys who take a trip to Columbia and have adventures and fall in love - it was a lot like Swingers, and also like that movie it was based on a true story.

Surprise of the night - the main character in the movie was suffering from Crohn's disease - that's what my mother had, and it was her birthday yesterday. SPOILER -- the main character dies from it in the end and so that was pretty traumatic, but it really worked in the movie and I really loved it. Yeah, it made me cry, but I got over it, and I loved it.

So then during the Q&A period after, we found out that Terrence - the incredibly HOT but also incredibly fantastic actor - this was his first real acting gig. And then... Ryan... picked up a camera for the first time 3 years ago. Those two men are definitely the Vince Vaugn/Jon Favreau of their generation and you should look out for them in the future. Especially Terrence, because... *drool*

Most hilarious part of the night - Ryan explaining that he didn't really recommend flying to a foreign country where you did not speak the language to try to shoot your first ever film. But Ryan and Terrence? You guys did a fabulous job. GET YOUR DAMN WEBSITE UP! This is Silicon Valley! If you have a website we will promote you to the world!!!! (Darn slacker kids!)

"Buffy, you want to see two movies tonight?"

"No."

"Well, pleeeeease? It looks really good!"

"MOM! I'm a growing girl and I need my SLEEP!"

"We'll be home by 11... (tiny lie)"

"NO MOM."

"Please? I'll let you sleep with your head on my shoulder."

"NO!"

"I'll buy you an ice cream."

"Okay."

Cinequest

Tonight Spike is going to see Shark in the Head
And Buffy and I will go see one of two (we haven't decided yet):
On the Other Side (Al Otro Lado) or In a Day

THEN,
Spike and I are going to try to talk Buffy into staying for one more, a special additional showing of "A Columbia" which we were invited to see by the movie's writer and star Ryan Byrne - the hottest guy I have seen in San Jose (or anywhere else) in a long long time. Therefore, I want to see the movie. Heh.

March 8, 1944

Today is my mom's birthday.
So Happy Birthday Mom.
We miss you and love you, lots and lots and lots and lots.

Swimming

I was asked how long it takes me to do 50 laps...

It takes me around an hour, sometimes 50 minutes. Keep in mind this is using a lot of different strokes, and that I can rest as often as I like. Typical assignment will be something like:

8 laps warmup
8 laps freestyle/breastroke alternating
8 laps with kickboard
8 laps with blocks (arms only, no kicking)
8 laps backstroke
8 laps freestyle
8 laps cooldown

So this takes around an hour. I'm going to ask him to put up an assignment totalling the 72 laps (1 mile) because as long as it's written down I know I can do it - also it's easier to keep track of what I've done when I'm following the board.

Anyway, that's my swimming!

More Cinequest

I spoke with several people last night who had also seen "Gods and Gays" and they were all in agreement -
TOO LONG, NOT EDITED PROPERLY, NO CONTRASTING VIEWPOINT.

I just got madder and madder after watching the movie, not just because I wasted 2 hours of my life in that theater, but because she had such a great idea and did nothing with it.

In other news, Buffy has agreed to volunteer at the Assisted Living Center by our house. So I will call today. Really, volunteering there is just the least I can do to thank Andrew for making this movie.

PRODUCERS! SOMEONE! BUY HIS MOVIE AND DISTRIBUTE IT!!!

Cinequest

Last night we saw the Animated Shorts with Scott.
As usual there were great films and bad films, but overall they were great.

One (Mysterious Geographical Explorations of Jasper Morello) was nominated for an Academy Award this year but didn't win. That one was the kids' and Scott's favorite.

Speaking of Oscars, another nominated short we got to see last year, which again, was the kids' favorite then.

Anyway, they were all really really good and again I wish there was a way you could see some of these. Just to give the tiniest bit of publicity to them, my favorites were:
John & Michael (A very tender love story about two men with Down syndrome (animation) 11 minutes)
Bingo
The Legend of the Scarecrow (The life of a scarecrow changes radically when he decides to become friends with a bird.)
Maestro
Fumi and the Bad Luck Foot
And I also really enjoyed "The Boy Who Feeds Cats" - dir. Craig and Andrea Brookes

By the way, if you're going to make a creepy movie about a scary doll baby who sucks on its arm and generally gives the audience the heeby jeebies, maybe don't make it TWENTY FREAKIN MINUTES LONG because honestly? Your movie sucked. Spike and I both agreed we spent the entire movie wishing the baby would just GET EATEN ALREADY so the movie would finally end.

Other than scary freaky doll baby though, the shorts were great.

"Perhaps the most explosive technological trend over the past two years has been blogging. As a matter of fact, it's been reported that the number of blogs during that time has grown from 100,000 to 4.8 million-with no end to this growth in sight."

This quote (from a technical book about RSS feeds) really highlights the changes in blogging over the years - and journal writing too. It is not what it used to be and never will be again. One the one hand, I'm pretty proud that I was one of the first, on the other hand, I mourn the writing that I can no longer do because it truly is so much more in the public eye now.

Cinequest

Well, a bad movie was bound to be found eventually, my luck was running way too well - I'm just surprised it was this movie.

"Gods and Gays" really sucked.

It's not that the movie was so horrible, but good it wasn't. It was like a lesson on how to NOT make a documentary.

I mean... Editing. I think you learn this in Movie Making 101. And English 101. Edit the damn interviews, we don't need to hear every word. And... Viewpoint. Show some different ones. This movie would have been much more powerful if we could have heard some of the hateful things that "Christians" say directly from their mouths. Teach the audience something. I learned nothing. Spike learned nothing. Not to mention, there is SO MUCH FOOTAGE available of the horrible things gays and lesbians have gone through in the name of Christianity - why was all this left out? Only a few soundless clips of Reverend Phe1ps protesters - nothing emotional, nothing powerful or horrifying or anything to make you feel. Explain what Exodus and Life Source are - spokespeople from these organizations were interviewed, I have no idea what these organizations are.

The first hour of the movie I just felt that it was too esoteric for the average audience - there was nothing of value in this film to anyone unless you were a gay or lesbian. And the only offering it had to them is just being able to hear other gays and lesbians talk about the same thing they also must have gone through. But I wonder if the gay and lesbian couples in this theater (which was packed) got anything out of it themselves. It was just kind of dull. I was really really curious what the majority actually thought after seeing this. All the people around me were stretching, putting on jackets and checking their watches that last 30 minutes, so I don't think I am alone.

It felt like the quality of a Public Access TV Show from early Saturday morning. After an hour of the movie I thought if this had been on TV I would have already changed the channel. At that point I would have rated it 7 out of 10 stars. By the time it finallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllly ended it was down to a 5 or 6. This showing was sold out and there was a huge line of people who didn't get in. There's another showing Friday at 9:30 and they added another on Saturday morning. I wonder if those shows are going to be packed after word gets out from this audience.

Dear Movie-Maker,
You had some really interesting people that you interviewed. Jason Stuart and both pastors were fantastic. But editing should be your friend. Show different viewpoints. Teach the audience something. Show the other side - Especially with a subject like this where the other side can be so incredibly insulting and hipocritical. You had a great theme. But you didn't fly with it.

I went home very upset at the waste of my time, and the wasted effort of this film.
I could be wrong, it could be everyone else in the theater loved it. But I kind of think they probably agree with me, it could have been so much better.
So yeah. I don't recommend it.

So I swam 50 laps Saturday morning (37 degrees again!) but mostly fooled around. I could have easily done 72 (1 mile) but I goofed off too much and had to leave for Cinequest. Next Saturday I plan to buckle down and get the entire thing done.

It's only been a week without running (while we've been at Cinequest) but I really miss it. I was happy to see that I've only gained half a pound - yes it's a gain, but a gain after sitting in a theater all week and eating popcorn and cappuccinos. Actually I was happy to see the scale still tipped down at that almost-lost-8-pounds section. I just have to get through one more week of movies, then I can hit the gym. Unfortunately, that won't be this weekend as I'll be in the theater all day every day then.

I was up to running and using the elliptical for 90 minutes when I stopped. That is a great feeling. Not of accomplishment, although there's that too, but the feeling you get when you can run for any amount over 30 minutes is really great. If you can run for an hour, you don't want to ever stop. Even at 90 minutes I only stopped because of time constraints.

The other good thing is I was scratching my back, over my shoulder, and there was this big lump there at the top between my neck and my shoulder, and for a second I was wondering "What the heck is THAT?" and then I realized...

It's my muscle. Hee. and Hurray!

So, just one more week of theater popcorn and hot dogs and Starbucks Marble Mocha Macchiattos, swim my mile on Saturday, and hit the gym next week. I only need to drop 1.5 pounds to get to the next 10 pound section - those are always great goals to hit, haha.

Random Movie Comments

Tonight we're going to see "Gods & Gays" at Cinequest. Buffy is bringing a friend. Spike screwed around today and knows he should be grounded from Cinequest for the night, but he also knows I want him to see the movie so he probably gets to go. Darn smart kids.

I'm still glad "Crash" won the Oscar, no matter what the news says. Brokeback Mountain was a really good movie, and it was a very well made movie, and Ang Lee got an Oscar for directing it. But just because it is a "groundbreaking" movie, and just because it made us all cry and was a fantastic love story, that does not mean it was the best movie. And giving the Oscar to another film does not mean the US is against gay films (there are many other things that prove the US is against gays and gay films, but giving the oscar to Crash is not one of them). I honestly don't understand the backlash I keep reading about Crash, that it's an undeserving film. I've watched that movie over and over again and I still enjoy it. I'm not going to apologize for this, I think Crash deserved that Oscar absolutely.

I still can't stop thinking about how great "Andrew Jenks, Room 335" was, and what an impossible shame it is that most people won't see it. He says they have spoken to HBO and some other options, but have not heard back yet. I am so disappointed that the kids didn't get to see it. I want a dvd so damn badly. I will just keep an eye on his website and blog, and hope that I soon see he has finally sold the movie or is selling dvds.

Okay, let's let go the movie talk for a minute or so.

This is the first year that I have actually seen almost every movie nominated for an Academy award and it's one of those days that it really SUCKS to not have television.

However, I just got an email that Crash won best picture. And that makes me want to cry.
Okay, maybe I'm still emotional over "Andrew Jenks, Room 335" but I think Crash was awesome, and though I loved Brokeback Mountain, I think Crash was better. I'm just really happy - and surprised.

Cinequest

I have really lucked out this year, and the pass I paid for has been worth every dime.

The comedy shorts were ALL fantastic, and worth every minute.

Little Athens is a movie that belongs on the big screen - if you ever see it available, go see it. They were lucky enough to get some fantastic actors (Hurley from Lost, Michael Pena from Crash) before they became stars, DJ Qualls is in it, and every other actor is amazing. It was a "Crash" type story for teenagers and was about situations we have all gotten ourselves into. It was great.

But today was the best yet. "Andrew Jenks, Room 335" is a movie that needs to be available to everyone. It's a documentary about Andrew Jenks, a 19 year old who was allowed to check himself into an Assisted Living Center for a month and filmed his life there. He made friends with some incredible seniors, he introduces us to some truly wonderful people - and I don't think he even realizes what an incredible, caring person he himself is. I think he probably changed these seniors' lives as much as they changed his - and in return it will change your life too. I met him after the movie and just... good gosh this guy is amazing. I almost didn't go see it because of scheduling problems, but I feel so incredibly lucky to have been able to - I just wish the kids could have worked this one into their schedule. I offered to buy a dvd from Andrew, and as soon as they're available hopefully I'll have one.
Go to http://AndrewJenksRoom335.com and view the trailer. Wait for the entire thing to load. I'm tearing up just watching it now. Gosh I just wish there was some way for you all to SEE THIS FILM. And then go volunteer at an Assisted Living Facility. As for me, we have one within walking distance of our house and I'm calling tomorrow. It would make some great Community Service for Buffy, eh?

I am really really impressed this year. I'm not just having a fantastic time - these movies are some of the best I have seen.

Tonight I believe I'll go see the Comedy Shorts and also Little Athens (starring Jorge Garcia and DJ Qualls).
Fun Fun Fun!

Cinequest

So last night we didn't even get home until midnight. But it was gooood!!!!
We saw three hours of student short movies, and they were fantastic.
Very wierd seeing the movie makers come up on stage and realizing most of them were...
well, students.
Like 19, 20 years old. And they had made these fantastic films.
But the sad part is, no one will ever see these films. And there were some really good ones. So I hope lots of these kids make it and the world can see what else they can do.

The movie was really good and very funny. I believe it's having a limited release in theaters in a couple weeks, so if you get a chance you should see it. Buffy was thrilled to see that Adam Brody was in it, and I was thrilled to see Rob Lowe - and he was a hilarious character. Aaron Eckart was fantastic.

Party after was at a BAR. I called up Cinequest yesterday specifically to ask if it was an appropriate party to take a 14 year old girl to, not to mention a 15 year old boy, and they said YES. So we squeeze into the lounge which is pretty much standing room only, and I see a long table filled with buckets of bottles of beer, free for the taking. Waiters are cruising through the crowd, some with trays of little bits of food, but most with glasses of free wine. Lots and lots of wine. However, the kids did have a good time. There was a band, and an incredible amount of wealthy looking people that they loved looking at.

And then they found the chocolate fountain. Buffy definitely got her ticket's worth out of the fountain. There were strawberries, pretzels, eclairs, marshmallows and lady fingers to dip. Yummy. And a mess all over the place. We had little skewers of teriyaki steak, teeny tiny cheeseburgers and little... celery with salmon? or something?

I had no wine but I did pay $5 to get a coke and sprite for the kids. We left at 10:15. It would have been a great party if we were all three adults and no one had work or school the next morning. But the kids had fun and we all had some fun family time.

Tonight: Student Shorts at 8pm.

... at 2930 Aborn Square in San Jose, California

is STILL TAKING MONEY FROM MY ACCOUNT.

That's right, ANOTHER $96 has come out of my account, and when I just called them...

Gloria, the office manager, hung up on me.

So I now have a case # with the Better Business Bureau. Fuckers.

Fastest Grader in the West

My teacher already graded my paper!
My essay on Rubyfruit Jungle got a 96%, Hurray!

CINEQUEST!!!

Tonight is Opening Night and Gala!

"Thank You for Smoking" directed by Jason Reitman and starring Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Cameron Bright, Adam Brody, Sam Elliott, Katie Holmes, David Koechner, Rob Lowe, William H. Macy, J.K. Simmons, Robert Duvall. Party after, and sometimes (usually) the director or a star or two will be there. Next weekend we do get to meet William H. Macy at the premiere of his movie "Edmund" but I don't know if he'll be there tonight.

Spike and I are really excited - and Buffy is too cuz since she is grounded and all it looks like I have to purchase a $50 ticket and bring her. Dang kids. Heh. But I saw the trailer for this movie a few weeks ago, and it looks really good. I'm happy and I'm happy we have money to go do these things.

Still reading never-ending Orlando though...

I feel so much better now!
I turned in my essay last night and I think it's an A - super easy.
I don't have any other work other than reading due until March 26!
7 units is the easy life I tell you.

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