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We're about to go see "The Host". I wasn't that thrilled about it but then I just saw the trailer online, and it looks GOOOOOOD. Movie Fun! Now I can't wait!!!!

So we got to the airport okay, and had a nice lunch there and a good time just talking and waiting for our flight. We got on the plane, and the pilot announced that there was a lot of turbulence on the way to Vegas. I hate turbulence.

It was really bad turbulence. And it lasted the entire flight (1 hour). Scott sat with his eyes closed the whole way. I decided I was brave enough to have a window seat this time. Ai yi yi. I was glad it wasn't like this when I took the kids because I was really scared of the flight then.

When we finally landed Scott said that was the worst flight he had ever been on. Bear in mind Scott has flown his whole life, including back and forth to China. So yes, it was bad. The flight attendants were freaking out, Ya'll.

We get to Vegas and it was PACKED. The line for a taxi snaked all around the building and back and forth again. We finally get a taxi and check in, and our room on the 25th floor was very nice. Smaller than at the Venetian (where you only get suites) but at least as nice, and a lovely view out our window. Scott was already in an irritated mood from the flight and the lines we had to stand in, so we decided to go to an early dinner.

Thank goodness we went early. There were 20 people standing in line for "The Buffet at The Bellagio", and the bill for the two of us was $75. However, the food was excellent. Truly gourmet food, of any kind imaginable including sushi bar, and Scott and I ate up. We did eat our money's worth, and had a good time there. Also, our waitress was very nice and flirted up a storm with Scott. Which... from 4 year old girls to 50 year old women, Scott was the girl magnet this weekend.

When we left the restaurant, there was a line of over 100 people snaking all around the casino. We were glad we went early, because we never would have stood in that line.

We rested in the room for 20 minutes, then went down to the show. It was incredible and beautiful, of course. I'm telling you, if you can get to Las Vegas, go see "O". It will be worth every penny.

We went back to our room at 10pm and looked over the room service menu while watching the water show out our window. It was nice and relaxing and we didn't have to go anywhere or be anywhere or stand in any lines. We read our books for awhile in front of the window, then went to bed.

We woke up early and took showers and got dressed. At 8am room service came with our breakfasts - eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, etc. - and we had a very relaxing morning eating in our room. We had decided the night before that since it was going to cost just as much as room service to eat anywhere in the hotel, and it would probably involve standing in line too, it would be worth it to pay room service price. And it was. We just relaxed until it was time to check out - we had to leave at 10am.

We checked out and then - of course - stood in an incredibly long line to get a taxi to the airport. And then, of course, there was a major traffic jam at the airport and we just sat there on the road. Our flight was leaving at 11:41am so I tried to stay calm, even though time was ticking by.

The cab finally drops us off and what do you know - major line to check our bag. Oh, but when I got in the line, it turned out that wasn't the end, that was just the corner - the end of the line snaked all up and down the street!!!!!

We get into the airport, run up the escalator and down the halls and... OOH, it's a PACKED MADHOUSE trying to check through the first point. Oh. My. God. There were easily two thousand people trying to get through. This is the same place I let Buffy wander around alone shopping when we left Vegas in January. The airport was EMPTY at our last vacation! So we stood in that line. Which then files you through the metal detector line, which of course is just as long because everyone has to go through it.

Time. Ticking. By.

And Scott has metal hip replacements.

We already knew he wasn't going to pass, we knew ahead of time, and leaving San Jose they just pulled him aside and gave him a full thrice over with the wand and a pat down and then a rub down. I teased him later that I had to pay extra for his ticket since it included a massage. But this time, we weren't really in any mood for this. The detector beeped when he went through, but instead of taking him aside immediately - they put him in this clear plexiglass closet with a giant red X on the side.

Man o man did I want to take a picture of him jailed in this clear box, but he was not in any mood for that. So we had to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, until some nerdy guy came over for the thrice over pat down massage. Scott was steaming when this was over.

We still had to wait for him to put his shoes back on and then run to our gate. We got there ten minutes before the plane was to leave and we were the last to board.

Then the pilot announced that while San Jose had clear skies and perfect weather, the wind in Las Vegas was going to make for "a choppy take-off". Yeah, that's like when the dentist tells you "there will be some discomfort."

Let's just say, it was choppy. To put it mildly. But the rest of the flight did go much smoother. As soon as we hit the green hills of San Jose I felt so happy. I have to say, Las Vegas is just not for me. I love my San Jose, and I love it even more after going to a place like, say, Las Vegas.

We happily got our no-wait taxi and went back to my work where we had left my car, and then went to lunch and home. We were pretty tired and I was just starting to get cranky I was so tired. But we were home.

Scott did enjoy the show, and we had a nice relaxing time this morning at the hotel, but overall the lines and crowds were not the happy-inducing vacation we usually like. But Scott did say this morning that he wouldn't mind coming back one day to see a different show if we did it just like we did - fly in, stay in the hotel the entire time, see the show, and go home. So I know his time there couldn't have been TOO bad.

Still, I couldn't get over the crowds. This was the middle of the week, and when I took the kids in January it was over a three day weekend. There were NO crowds then, and no lines. I figured maybe January is just considered off season.

I came home and told Spike about the crowds. He had it pegged immediately, in two words.

"Spring break."

Duh. That's why *I* was there.

*****

It occurred to me this week that I have been in four different hotels on five different occasions in the last three months. Venetian - Las Vegas, Lovers Point Inn - Monterey, Marriott - San Jose (twice), and now The Bellagio - Las Vegas. I think that's a bit much, although it doesn't SEEM like I've been on so many vacations. That said, we are going back to Volcano on April 13. We could use some quiet relaxing time, and we're going. Heck, it's the cheapest vacation around anyway and we love it there.

Las Vegas just makes me feel a little like my soul is dieing when I'm there, like blackness is seeping into my heart. I know no other way to describe why it makes me so unhappy. I would be willing to go back for short trips though in order to see some shows. However, Volcano is a place that makes me happy, and recharges the soul, and we'll be making more trips back there.

That's it, that's my update. I have to get started on some homework for school now. I don't have any big projects, but small stuff still has to be turned in.

11:15pm
You would think that since I need to be up by 6am and working all the way until the minute I have to leave in a taxi with Scott to the airport that I would be in my room packing right now.

But then I would think that you probably don't know me very well.

Love,
Ms. Procrastination

WeeWorld

I found this on Meg's page, and I don't know if anyone else has a WeeWorld, but I made one and she is lonely, so ya'll need to get over there TO WEEWORLD and make one so you can keep me company.

The Great American Dream Vote

The Great American Dream Vote
Best Quotes of the evening:

Winning Quote:
"At least he has a girlfriend..."
Hee. I knew he was going to win when he said that.

Most Disgusting Quote:
With a bright, robotic smile pasted on her face: "There are many girls buried with my crowns on their heads."
Ew. I mean, MOTHER, does that not seem very odd to you???

Funniest Quote:
"I mean, we're talking Poultry Assisted Therapy here!"
"But are you going to serve chicken?"
"Well, SHORE!"

Spring Break Update

Spring Break has been spent picking up the house and watching TV.
Tomorrow: Las Vegas

This morning I took Spike to re-take his exam for his driving permit and this time he passed with flying colors. He's a very happy boy. Driving lessons won't start until April 21 though.

Buffy is grounded for bad grades and skipping class, so there's a lot of her around the house this week. heh.

So tomorrow I work until 11am, then Scott and I are flying to Las Vegas. We're going to check into the Bellagio and rest a bit, go eat dinner, and then go see... "O" again! WEEEEEE!!!!!!! Scott has never seen a Cirque du Soleil show and I convinced him to come to LV with me to go see it. He's going to love it. We're both very excited about the trip. We have a lakeview room so we can watch the Bellagio water show all evening. And we'll never have to leave our hotel so I can pretend I'm not even IN Las Vegas! (haha) Thursday we'll be up early like we usually are, probably get some coffee and a croissant or something, and then fly back home.

We'll be gone only 24 hours. Exciting, no?

Friday I go back to work and then off to Aptos to be with my Honey for the weekend. Yayyy, my favorite thing to do, even more than seeing "O".

At the moment I'm watching Hard Candy, which,......

HEEEEEEE. Awesome. This is quickly turning into my favorite movie EVAH.

7 hours into my Spring Break and I'm totally bored.

I think it's very nice that Britney came out of rehab just in time for my vacation, and really, if she would just go out partying tonight and like, I don't know, crash the Miss USA contest or run away to Vegas and get married to, say, Tommy Lee, or maybe she could give an exclusive interview to Entertainment Tonight where she makes it clear that it is she, SHE, who is the mother of Anna Nicole's baby...

Well then my Spring Break would be complete.

Also, just because my unusually-colored car appears to be parked across the street from Britney's house, I assure you I am just sitting here in my own kitchen and that MY car is parked in my own driveway. I don't really have time to stalk Britney myself, sorry.

Well, I do have a week I guess.
;-D

ZZZZzzzzzz......

I'm done, all done with midterms. I can barely keep my eyes open right now, I feel like I've been up for two days straight. I'm going to go home and sleep for a week.

I think I did fine on everything, but you never know with Spanish. I could have anywhere from an A to a C. I'll be happy with whatever, I did the best I can do.

Now I'm off to bed.

Midterms... almost... over...

Just finished my Sophocles essay, still have a Spanish essay to write and another Spanish midterm tomorrow.

I got an A in Archaeology
I am weak in in-class essays and I'm not happy with what I did for European Literature, However, I think my Sophocles essay is good enough for an A.
After I left Spanish today I realized I had made some silly errors - just silly ones but there were many, and it's going to lower my grade. Good thing I have lots of extra credit.
I hate my second Spanish class - it's too easy, but in that deceptively hard way, and it takes a lot of work for me to get an A. I don't have a good outlook for tomorrow's midterm.
Weight Training actually has a paper due on April 2. I have a feeling the paper is only expected to be a page long, but mine is going to be at least three.
;-)

The good news is it's only midterms, and I am pretty sure I'll still carve out A's in everything by end of semester. The bad news is I don't know quite how I'm going to manage another year of Spanish, and I need it to get my Masters, which I need to teach college. So I'm stuck.

But the even better news is that Spring Break starts immediately after I finish my midterm and turn in my essays tomorrow. That means a week of no school and 24 hours in Vegas with Scott and cleaning the house with the kids and lots of sitting on the couch watching Judge Judy in peace.

Y muchos mirando de television y peliculas en espanol, y leyendo libros y revistas en espanol.

But we'll concentrate on BREAK for now.

Plus... this spanish essay isn't writing itself.

Okay, I want John R. AND Clyde Drexler to win. Actually, I just want them both to come over for dinner and drinks, and you know those two would get along. And so goes my imaginary world where I actually invite people over and cook for them and the people I invite just happen to be from Cheers and the NBA.

Cliff!!!!

I am watching Dancing With the Stars for the first time ever (on tape of course because I certainly wasn't watching it last night) and I have to say I'm going to be rooting for John Ratzenberger the whole way. Hmmm, I may even have to actually vote.

Even better, all my work is pretty much done as of this Friday. Then there is a week of vacation from school, and lo and behold... none of my professors have assigned projects!!! I have a one pager for Archaeology, but I can get that done in a day. So I am really looking forward to my week off (and a trip to Vegas with Scott too).

This week I just have to turn in:
Tuesday: Mucha tarea para Espanol
Wednesday: Midterm Paper for Kinesiology due
Thursday: Midterm Exam for Espanol
Friday: 8 page essay on Antigone's desire for kleos before her death,
and a Midterm Exam for my other Espanol class

See? perfectly do-able.

Never Mind

Essays are flowing nicely now, and I just have to get my Spanish homework done (Surprise! 6 pages I didn't know about! oops!) and I'll be back on track. One thing at a time, and as long as this essay is flowing, all will be well.

Whew! Disaster averted!

SchooooOOOOOOLLLLL AAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!!!

I'm in the middle of midterms and I swear my teachers are all trying to kill me.

Or at the very least give me a nervous breakdown.

Except for my archaeology professor, because I already have an A in that class.....
:-D

But the rest... WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
:-(

There is an old lady walking around the Aptos Starbucks where I am sitting...

Wearing a tank top, no bra, and a completely sheer skirt.

And nothing else.

No underwear.

A sheer skirt.

Completely.

See-through.

Ugh.

School!!!

100% on my Archaeology Review paper! WOOOOO!!!! Now I have a solid A average in that class again.

We are honestly relieved it's finally done. I have been furiously typing up a research paper for Archaeology since Sunday afternoon. We elected to skip the final movie, which none of us were really interested in (and heard was not that great), but did go to the After Party. I sat with a lovely couple who talked film and movies with me for two hours. The conversation eventually progressed to Spike's film career and looking at pictures of their grandson. Good times - no, really! But then, Spike and his friend left the building to get some fresh air - and the bouncer wouldn't let them back in because they are only 16. HEH. Eventually I got their voicemail that they were trapped outside, but instead of rescuing them I told them it really was time to get home. Back we went, and I was up until 1:30am typing my paper.

This morning the cat got me up to let her outside, and when I hopped back into bed I saw the clock - 7:00am!!!!!!!! I have to be in Weight Training at 7:30!! I actually did set my clocks ahead for daylight savings, but then I FORGOT TO SET MY ALARM!!! DUH! and DOH!

So I hear Monster Camp won an audience award for Best Documentary, which thrills me to no end. And Blood Car also won an award. The actual awards are not listed yet, so I don't have the complete set of them.

These were my very favorites of the festival:

The Namesake
Outsourced
Monster Camp
Blood Car
You Are Here
Full Grown Men

The Namesake should be in theaters any day now, so you can all see that. And You Are Here was picked up and should be out in the next year. I would bet big money that you'll soon be seeing Outsourced and Blood Car too. Keep your eyes open, because they were really great films. I don't know if Monster Camp will ever get to theaters but if it makes DVD you HAVE to see it.

I am no longer sure how many films I saw this year, but it was quite a lot, close to 30. I am amazed when I talk to people who saw FORTY movies. I think that if I had no job and no school... I still could not watch forty movies in 12 days. That's insane. And you quickly feel like a mole with a very flat butt. And a tummy overfilled with popcorn. But we had a very good time, and the great movies we saw definitely made the bad ones worth it. And speaking of bad films - the Shorts Programs were very disappointing this year.

But I was thrilled that CatieCake came to the festival with her wonderful Hubby, I was thrilled that we were able to bring the kids' friends with us and that they had such a good time they brought more friends with them. I was SO SO SO SO thrilled to see fellow students in the ticket line, especially when I found out that they had come because they had seen all the Cinequest cards I had left around the English Department. I also left some for Monster Camp in the geeky breakroom at work, and most of them disappeared, so who knows how many people came to Cinequest because of me? I'll definitely grab more cards next year and pass them around.

We really had a great time, and having the hotel to sleep in made the weekends even more fun. I made it through school, but it did hurt a little. When I finish this post you probably won't hear from me for quite awhile as I catch up. Thanks to everyone who emailed and commented and especially to all those who took a chance and came to Cinequest.

And now I hit the bed. I'll see ya'll in class.

Today we woke up and the sun was shining SO BRIGHTLY through the hotel window and I felt really relaxed and didn't feel like rushing to see another movie. I just wanted to drink coffee in my room, do my archaeology research on my computer, and go have breakfast when the kids woke up. And that's what we did. Today was 80 degrees outside and I really couldn't see spending the day inside a dark theater. So the kids went off to a birthday party (that was turning into a pool party) and I cam home to do my archaeology project. Tonight (in an hour actually) we're leaving to see the Closing Movie and party, but I really don't even want to do that. I would totally skip it if Spike didn't really really want to go. It's always like this after 12 days of film festival - as much as you want to continue seeing movies that you'll never get another chance to see... you still want to have your life with sunshine and quiet and a nice comfy couch. And kitties in your lap.

If I'm lucky, Spike will say we can skip the movie and go to the after party only. But we'll see how that goes. As it is, I have no idea how I'm going to finish this Archaeology paper by 5pm tomorrow.

But we sure did have fun the last 12 days!

Goodness, today was a good one for movies.

I brought the kids to see You Are Here even though I already saw it. I loved it just as much the second time around, maybe even more. The kids both loved it too. It's definitely in my Top Five from the Festival.

Then Spike brought us and a few of his friends to see Blood Car. The movie was advertised as a comedy and Spike told me it was a comedy. But when I visited that website and saw the trailer, I saw an extremely bloody horror film. Spike just kind of chuckled, re-confirmed that it was a comedy, and said that the trailer just showed every single bloody scene. I can't say I believed him.

The movie was great. The movie could easily become a cult classic in the Evil Dead style. It was awesome - and not that bloody, although there certainly was blood, but it was not scary in any way, not really gross (most of the violence is completely off camera), and very very very funny. I was cracking up the whole time - but it was also GOOD. And remember sweet little Anna Chlumsky, from My Girl? She co-stars in it - and she's still sweet and very pretty.

I really do recommend this movie - now, it's not for everyone, but it is a great campy cult-like horror film ~~ if you like the Evil Dead movies you would totally appreciate this film.

Then I saw A Dog's Breakfast. This was a hilarious movie about a man who doesn't like his sister's new fiance, then believes the fiance is trying to kill the sister, so the man tries to kill the fiance. Got it so far? Well, he doesn't succeed. Because the fiance kills himself when he accidently falls off a ladder. Man has a guilty conscience and tries to hide the body. But the damn dog keeps dragging it back to the house. And on and on and on. It was very funny and very well acted, and gave an open nod to "The Tell Tale Heart". Also, if you watch Stargate Atlantis - you may find yourself confused. Every character in the movie is from Stargate Atlantis.

And finally, Trained in the Ways of Men. This documentary went over the background and case of Gwen Araujo, a transgendered teen from the Bay Area who was brutally beaten and strangled by four men who were surprised to discover she was a biological male. It was truly heartbreaking, and I was glad I brought both my kids and one of Spike's friends with me. Both of my kids loved it, and the friend (a male) said it "freaked him out". I asked him why, and he said "It just gave me a whole lot to think about." Which is exactly what it should do. There was just no way to come away from this movie thinking that Gwen a) had no right to call herself a female, or b) deserved what happened to her. Much of the story was told through interviews with Gwen's mother, her family, and all the attorneys involved in the case. Gwen's mother was in the theater and got a standing ovation. The theater itself was completely packed.

It was a very well done documentary and an important story that deserves to be told - I am sure it will be picked up by some television station and shown in that manner - you should all see it when it comes out.

Now I am getting ready for bed, and the kids are still at the theater getting ready for Long Pigs - I think it sounds disgusting, but teens are teens. If they want nightmares, let 'em.

And tomorrow ends this marathon of movies - I'm pretty ready for that!

Cinequest - Saturday

On this, the last weekend of Cinequest, we are going to see:

You Are Here ... I am taking both kids to see it because I think they'll love it.

Blood Car ... I'm taking Buffy to see it, and she'll probably love it, but I swear if it's not a comedy my son is going to be SORRY.

A Dog's Breakfast ... I had thought about seeing this one earlier but saw something else instead. They've added another showing and word seems to be good, so we're taking advantage of the extra show today.

Trained in the Ways of Men ... a Documentary on the murder of Gwen Araujo, the transgendered teen who was killed a couple years ago not too far away from us. Most people in our area remember the murder well and I anticipate the theater to be packed.

Tomorrow:

Animated Shorts
Documentary Shorts
The Closing Movie and Party

So I was driving home today and lots of police cars were whizzing past with their sirens blasting, and they just kept on passing me heading in the direction of my house. I thought of calling Buffy to make sure that she and her friend, who had stayed home for 15 minutes alone, had not done something like blow the house to smithereens while I was gone, but decided that probably it wasn't my house they were going to.

And I got closer to my neighborhood and I could see where all the cops had stopped, right in the street around the shopping center where our Starbucks is. There were about 15 cop cars all blocking the northbound lane, and two fire engines and an ambulance and I could see a white car. There were cops in the street everywhere so we all had to drive extra slow past the accident. So I see the white car, which doesn't really look smashed, and some really upset looking people sitting on a curb talking to some cops, but I couldn't see any other car...

And then I saw the blanket

In the street

The yellow tarb just lieing in the street with an upturned hand sticking out one side.

It was pretty obvious that someone had run across that freakin road (speed limit 40mph) in the dark, and gotten hit by the white car. I looked in the parking lot and saw about twenty teens in a crowd looking FREAKED, and adult bystanders everywhere, also looking freaked, and I saw the yellow blanket, and got sick to my stomach and reached for my cell phone.

Buffy and her friend were indeed at my house, and I knew Spike was far far away - but that's our shopping center, that's where I spend a great deal of my life studying at Starbucks, that's where the kids hang out at McDonalds, that's where Scott and I eat at two different restaurants, that's our drug store and our bank and our bakery. That's where all the kids hang out. There was a good chance it was someone we knew, and I didn't like the size of the teenage crowd - I just kept thinking please please please don't let it be a kid.

After getting home and telling Buffy what happened I had to drive right past it again to drive her friend home, and after Buffy asked, decided to run to Starbucks really quickly to get something. Buffy really wanted to see what happened so I gave her 30 seconds to get her fill. I didn't want her to think it was appropriate to stare at things like that, but I didn't think it would hurt her to get a dose of life's reality - something Buffy just does not have.

She came back and said she heard it was a lady from the retirement care center across the street. One of the residents had come to identify the body, and was crying that she had told the lady not to cross there.

Why an old lady would decide to cross San Felipe Road in the dark, much less EVER, when there's a lighted intersection 50 feet further down, I will never understand.

I was glad it wasn't a kid, I was glad it wasn't someone my kids knew. I'm glad it's not someone who works at the shopping center, who I might know. I'm really really sorry for the lady and her family, and I probably feel even worse for the poor girls who hit her with their car. I fill sick to my stomache all day long if I hit a bird or small animal in my car, I can't imagine hitting and killing an actual person.

So that's what happened today. I didn't go to Cinequest because I needed to do my Archaeology paper (on Otzi, the frozen man from the Italian alps - exciting, no?) and we'll be there all weekend.

For gosh sakes everyone drive safely and DON'T CROSS A FAST ROAD IN THE DARK.

We saw two Great movies today - Me, my daughter and her friend (a boy).

First:
The Curiosity of Chance

This is a teenage movie set in the 80's in the John Hughes vein - but with a gay character as the star. Although slow to start out (it is missing the quick and snappy dialogue of John Hughes' films) it quickly gets up to pace and is hilarious and poignant at the same time, without ever being sad. The three teens I brought went CRAZY over this film and gave it a standing ovation. Truthfully, gay teens don't get to see mirror images of themselves on film like this - oh yes, you have the serious films, and the gay porn, but you don't get just happy, fun, gay teenage movies. My three teens were just dieing for more and wouldn't stop talking about it until the next movie started.
It wasn't just for teens though, and it appeared that the audience who was mostly older adults also loved it.

Outsourced
I loved this movie probably more than the Opening Night movie. It's about an American who is told his entire department is being outsourced to India - and now he has to go train all the replacements. The movie laughed at the natives he meets, laughed at their customs, and then turned around and laughed right back at America twice as hard. It was very well done and funny too. We had to leave when it ended so I didn't hear if it had been bought yet - but it was a movie that looks straight out of a studio, and is ready for a theater with no flaws that I can think of. I thought it was perfect, and if you get any chance to see it, I do recommend - you must!

Tomorrow my plan is: Maskot and Midnight Clear. That plan may change, but so it is for now.

Quien Soy?

Today in Spanish the professor taped names of famous people on our back and we had to guess who we were by talking to classmates who could see the description.

My classmate told me, "Eres una cantante, y muy loca..." (You are a female singer, very crazy...)

Me: Britney Spears.

Her: YES!

Me: Dammit.

Today is the first time this Cinequest that I HATED a movie.

American Losers

We were supposed to see Making It Right but we got our Starbucks snacks first and then realized it was playing at the SJ Rep where they don't allow food. So we made a quick change to this one instead. Big mistake.

This is what the blurb about the movie says:
American Losers chronicles the lives of two New Yorkers on the fringe. Kimberle is a member of an aspiring band who moved away from the Bible Belt to spread her wings and give her dream a living chance in the glow of big city lights. Kevin is a shut-in of sorts on the threshold of jump starting his life after a series of stumbles. He lives in the woods north of New York City and has returned to school after initially dropping out of high school over 20-years-ago. By society’s norms, they are “losers”, but through Ada Bligaard Søby’s lens they become larger than life heroes—wise, humorous, slightly manic individuals just trying to grab their piece of the American pie.
But that's not what it was about. They were both the most annoying people EVER, people I would never choose to be friends with, but I was stuck with them for an hour of my life.
The girl was an aspiring rock star, yes. She also had racked up thousands of dollars of credit card bills that she no longer even opens. She seemed quite proud of that. And the debt wasn't from things like food, or diapers, or electric bills ... No, she got a new credit card and went to go buy a new pair of boots - and she was going to limit herself to spending $1200. For a pair of boots. Because she wanted enough to also buy makeup and pantyhose. Okay, that? Is stealing. She has no way to pay that money back and no desire to pay it back and no intent to pay it back. Yes, she is indeed an American Loser. And although she was never shown using drugs and I don't think she was - she had the brain cells of a long time user.
The man was a barely functioning genius. You see these people all over school, students who are indeed geniuses, of the type that live in their own world and can't seem to adapt to ours. It's difficult for them to make friends because they have no social skills. You never see them as professors because they don't have the attention span or discipline to correct papers. In his case, I wouldn't call him a loser - he was going to school and doing well and seemed to have some way to pay his bills. Or at least he wasn't advertising that he wasn't paying them. I don't fault him his genius or his eccentricities, but I wouldn't spend a lot of time with him.
And yet there I was stuck with the two of them for an hour.
Thank gosh it was only an hour long.

I can't recommend this movie in any way. Neither one of the characters was a "larger than life hero" in any way at all. All three teenagers I brought with me agreed it was a wasted hour of their lives.

However, the short before it, "Marrying God", was absolutely incredible. So you could always go in, see the short, and then leave to see another movie. That's what I would recommend.

WAAAAAAAAHHH

88% on my Archaeology midterm!!!!!!!!

:-(

Cinequesting has many reviews up now and from the movies that I have also seen the reviews are pretty right on. So if you're attending Cinequest you should check out that blog also!

ONE LAST THING !

So Buffy met Catie today (I think they've met before), and it was just like the commercial for that cruise ship where they go searching for that lost thing... the smile on their daugher's face. Can I say that Buffy has been bordering on getting murdered (by me) since last week, and today she was barely allowed to come to the movies, and is barely speaking to me (nor I to her), but boy when she saw Catie she just SMIIIIIIILED like there was no tomorrow. Of course, Catie gave us cupcakes this weekend and Buffy ate more than her share so that made her happy too, but it would be nice to have a nice daughter every once in awhile!!!
Yeah, I know, I have a few more years to go before I see that smile directed at ME. Stupid teenagers.
>:-(

Archaeology

And finally, I have a midterm tomorrow that I am cramming for at this very minute. Outlook is not good at the moment.

CatieCake says every time I worry about school I always manage an A. Well, I'm probably going to get an A+++++++++ this time then.
;-)

Film Count...

That makes fifteen movies/programs since Wednesday, and including shorts I have seen 39 films since Wednesday. Overall this year has been even better than last year.

Cinequest - Tuesday

Dimension - I gave this a "Good" rating. My daughter gave it "Excellent". It was an awesome idea (God gives you the chance to change any three inches of your life - three inches taller, thinner, "longer", some people chose a 3 inch stack of $100 bills, some made life saving changes) but it was halfway poorly executed. By this I mean that the first half of the movie was ALL OVER THE PLACE. So many people walked out of the theater, and I thought that was kind of strange because trust me, I've seen much worse movies. But halfway through Cinequest we lose interest in waiting through bad movies. Anyway - it was all over the place, and too slow, and the sound was not great. But the second half he pulled it all together, the ideas and themes came through, and then it became a totally awesome movie. It was also poorly filmed - almost every student film I've ever seen has been much better quality than this.

That said, the Director was there for questions, and again I was surprised by his age but this time for a different reason - he was older than I am. It turns out he had this idea on his last day of college, but went on to become an environmental engineer. After ten years of that he became a bartender. Then he finally decided to make this movie. The sound problems were due to them not knowing what they were doing - it was truly a do-it-yourself film school in the making. So we're talking no real film school, twenty years of doing non-creative things, and then a sudden desire to make this film that gives a great message.

It really was a great idea, and like I said my daughter gave it an excellent. But I could not in good conscience, given the other truly excellent movies I have seen at Cinequest, ignore the fact that the first half of the movie was really bad. And the quality and other problems. So I give him a "Good" and wish this guy well (I truly do) and hope he comes out with some more great stuff in the future. Given that this is his first film, I would definitely go see his next ones.

I am happy to report that we are NOT going to Cinequest tonight. There's this little midterm in Archaeology on Wednesday that I thought was NEXT week (oops) and a pretty long story (Lysistrata) that must be read by Wednesday, and Spanish homework that is due tomorrow. Also, we are tired. I am exhausted, personally. So one day off, and the rest of the week's schedule won't be a problem.

So ya'll are on your own. Have fun!

We saw:

Bigga Than Ben - Very good.
The Doorman - Hilarious.
Urban Explorers - Very interesting documentary.

But I'm too tired to write at the moment, so I'll fill you in tomorrow. Right now it's off to bed.

Cinequest - Saturday

This was a very great, fun day, with so many good movies and lots of old friends to watch them with.

Spike and I started out with Shorts #1/Mirror Mirror, and those were FANTASTIC. I loved them all - all except one very short one that was, you guessed it, French. It was very short though, so I could forgive them. Also, being infested by skinheads is a funny idea, but it doesn't play well for 15 entire minutes. Every other movie was AWESOME though.

Full Grown Men. We all liked this movie a lot. Everyone who saw it really liked it, it just wasn't what we expected. I think probably because Alan Cumming is listed in the cast along with Amy Sedaris who is even showed in the ad for it. So everyone was expecting something really funny. And it was more of a very thoughtful, sweet and troubling, journey into adulthood for this man who should have grown up years before. I think everyone really loved it and recommend it, we all just had to take a step back and think about it first. When you are expecting a comedy and instead get handed something semi-serious, it takes a moment to re-evaluate the film.

All the Days Before Tomorrow. This was a really great movie that involved a lot of talking and I was reeeeeeally tired. I sat next to the writer/director's mother and she was very proud of her boy. But I was just too tired to really love the movie. Spike said he thought it was great, so you should go by his approval - I thought it was good, just too tired to enjoy it. Also, Alexandra Holden was in the theater, and she is way way way beautiful in real life. She was just adorable.

MONSTER CAMP. I am putting this one in Bold and CAPITALS because if you go to Cinequest you should see this movie. It's not the best movie there by far, but it is the movie that I enjoyed the most - and it seems everyone in the theater really loved it too. It's a documentary about people who LARP - or who Live Action Role Play. You can watch the trailer HERE.
It was hilarious, but it was great too. I went there to laugh at the silly nerds, but you can't help but come away from it thinking - So what? So they have a hobby that gets them out of the house, it's no different really from me being addicted to school, or my family being addicted to movies, or others being addicted to football. At the same time, Cullen shows a few players who maybe need to put a little more reality into their lives - two players are in their fifth year of being a Senior in High School. Actually, this was one of my favorite conversations in the movie:
Player #1: He's just jealous because I have more time to play World of Warcraft.
Player #2: That's because I have a JOB.
Player #1: Yeah, but you don't have a LIFE.
Player #2: That's because I have a JOB.
Cullen Hoback is the director of Monster Camp, and last year he brought his film Freedom State to Cinequest. You can see the preview for that film here - but it doesn't do the film justice. At any rate - if you can get to Cinequest or Seattle Internation Film Festival in May or June, or Swansea Bay Film Festival when it comes out, try to see this movie.

Spike also saw Seven and a Half and Blood Car, and he loved them both. Blood Car is actually a COMEDY, which I had not realized. I am going to try to see it next Saturday.

So after all those movies, Spike went to see Shorts #6/Mindbenders and I went to the Marriott and crashed since it was after midnight.

Today was FUN FUN FUN.
I saw two great movies and two okay movies. Yes, I changed my schedule and was able to fit in FOUR movies today. My old boss Jim was there too, the one who used to loan me his Cinequest passes when I couldn't afford them myself. Now I joke with him that my name is above his on the contributor list. But he and his wife were at the last film with me and we had a good time chatting about what we saw. So let's get this started. I'll go from worst to best.

Not Good: Imitation: It wasn't horrible, it just wasn't great. It was slow, confusing, irritating sometimes, and left you with no one to root for. Plus, WRONG ENDING. If this is on your list and there's something else you want to see, skip this one. It wasn't as bad as the French short film, it just wasn't really good.

Good: Mas Que Nada en el Mundo (More than Anything in the World):
This movie was really really good, it just wasn't something that made you feel good about the world when you left. Single mother who isn't really taking very good care of her daughter, but it is obvious that the mother does love her. The girl who plays the daughter however was FANTASTIC. That girl could act rings around Abigail Breslin AND Dakota Fanning, and she's gorgeous too. I wish she was American so she could be in more movies I could see. The movie is unfinished: there are no end credits, the sound editing has not been done, and the one scene that required special effects still had the green screen visible so there was no special effect. It was kind of funny, but you knew what was supposed to be there and sometimes this happens for Film Festival movies. I didn't think the ending was terribly realistic - the daughter only THINKS she fixed everything, so really nothing was changed. If you don't mind seeing a very mildly disturbing film that has incredible actors (mamma, daughter and her friend), I do recommend this one.

Best Foreign Film of the Day: Courthouse on the Horseback I loved this film. I'm going to take the description right out of the Cinequest site: Winner of the prestigious Horizons Award at the Venice Film Festival, and based on a true story, Liu Jie directs the story of an old circuit court judge, whose dispensation of justice for the various squabbles and transgressions he finds are reminiscent of Mark Twain in both their fairness and humor. I thought it was great, it was a very nice surprise and the first really good film I saw so far. This is the kind of festival film the rest of the world really misses out on - a nice quiet foreign film (from China) that is really really great.

Best Film for a Fun Move Ride: You Are Here. This was a direct rip-off of "Go" complete with requisite British bloke, dangerous drug dealer, and the multiple view point. But it was a REALLY fun movie. I totally loved it and so did the whole audience. The good news is, this one will have at least a one week showing in LA and New York, which means it could be picked up cross-country and will at least go to video/DVD. So keep your eyes out for this one - or go see it if you're at Cinequest. It also had a great cast: Katie Cassidy, Bijou Phillips, Adam Campbell, Lauren German, Patrick Flueger, Chris Lowell, Danny Masterson, Michael Biehn

Word on the Street (In Line for the movies):

Bad: Hitler Meets Christ
The Pacific and Eddy

Good: The Doorman
Swedish Auto
The Prince of Soap
Tick Tock Lullaby
Rail Yard Blues

On my schedule for tomorrow:
Shorts #1: Mirror Mirror
Tick Tock Lullaby
Full Grown Men
Trouble with Romance
Monster Camp

I'm not sure I'll have internet access over the weekend so you may not hear from me until Sunday. But if I can get on, I'll post for ya'll.

More movies for today...

As long as I don't have a stroke watching the Dow Jones CRAAAAAAAASH I just made plans to go see one more movie tonight: You Are Here at 9:30pm
That will make three movies today, and a total of six in three days. I count Shorts Programs as 1 movie each, but if we broke them up into seperate films that makes 22 films in three days.

GRRRRRR!!!!!

We interrupt Cinequest posts to announce that this stupid crashing of the stock market is pissing me THE FUCK OFF. I don't like seeing my money disappear like that!

We return now to Movies Movies Movies.

I had to come back real quick because I just watched a trailer for a movie that Buffy and I plan to see next Thursday.

Curiosity of Chance

Click it, and enter for the trailer. We are DEFINITELY seeing that one. Awesome!

Cinequest Update for Thursday!

First of all, my friend Leslie tells me her cousin is the director of Full Grown Men and that we all should go see it. Full Grown Men was already on my calendar for Saturday at 3:45 - and there's a Star next to it so I know it's one I REALLY want to see. How could I not? It stars Alan Cumming! And Amy Sedaris! And Debbie Harry! ...So you should all go see it too!

Next - I saw CatieCake at Cinequest! and Hubby-Andy! We watched the Shorts Program #2. I can't say I was overjoyed at the films... half were really good, but half were bad, and the last French movie was REALLY REALLY BAD. Like PLEASE GOUGE MY EYES OUT AND STAB ME IN THE NECK TO PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY bad. My apologies to the filmmaker, but... No. It was torture.

But we did get to see a movie about a couple who are a perfect fit as he sniffs the chair she sits on and she punches him. Rewind and Repeat. Over and over. Yes, you had to be there. Plus, after the movie about the alcoholic mother, and the one with the old guy in the laundromat who dreamed about war while staring at a young mother, and the kid who fell out of the sky when he was four and then lived in a crackhouse where everyone lived unhappily after... The chair sniffing couple was GREAT.
OOH, so was Car Jacking Granny. I mean, the title says it all, right?
So if you're planning to go to Cinequest, I'm not really sure if I can recommend the program. The middle films were great, the first three were depressing (but not necessarily bad) and the last French film - well, the program is over at that point, so feel free to leave.

I also saw Shorts Program #8, the Mexican Shorts. This was also a 50/50 category. There was a boring scary movie, a boring cartoon, a pretty good movie about a snail regarding cancer and AIDs and how people are connected and consequences and so forth, another boring, boring, boring... Okay, then finally we get to La Leche y el Agua, a touching fairytale. Mexico does great fairytale movies, that's for sure. Then there was a great funny one called Vecinos. And finally Volver, Volver. This one was okay, then got a little boring... but had a great payoff at the end. So the program was not a total loss, but besides those 3-4 that I liked the others were just okay. At least I can say there was no tortuous French movie here (obviously).

Back to that French movie that I'm just not going to get over for a while... The entire thing was shot out of focus! So... bore us to tears with some drawn out nonsensical too politically deep story line that I never followed at any moment in the film, and then make sure to never quite hit that focus switch too. Death to French ferris wheels, that's what I have to say.

I just re-read this post and it obviously makes no sense at all if you haven't seen these movies. That's okay, "It's my blog and I'll blog if I want to." I just didn't have a lot to say about these shorts.

Tomorrow on the schedule: Mas Que Nada en el Mundo and All the Days Before Tomorrow. Both look really really good, and if you click on the link for All the Days you can see a trailer, which also looks really good. Starring Alexandra Holden, who I kind of like a lot. We shall see!

And now to bed so I can get to work nice and early. And watch movies later. And Catie should be able to verify that I was actually being a good girl and reading Medea when we found each other. I am being a good student!

Buffy Quote #1

After I picked her up from her dad's house this evening, where she had to stay because she is grounded:

"GAWD, (stepmother) is such a big fat BITCH. She (blah blah blah this and that whateverrrrr)!"

"So, are you saying she's a bigger bitch than me?"

".... No."

Buffy Quote #2

While standing in line for the Opening Night movie:
"Mom, you're not really going to actually READ THAT SCHOOL BOOK in line, right???"
"Yes, I'll be reading in line for the next two weeks."
"NERD!!!"

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