Rock of Ages - The Movie

Worst. Movie. Ever.  Seriously.  Worse than that awful bend-the-bullet Angelina Jolie movie, worse than Dirty Dancing Havana Nights. Worst movie ever.  So much awfulness I don't even know where to begin.

For the record, I did enjoy the musical.  It wasn't high-art; but it was a fun walk down memory lane and as a bonus I made a new friend who also walked Sunset Boulevard in the 80s.  Win-Win.

The movie, however,  GOD-AWFUL.  Despite the warnings issues by everyone who reviewed it, I was still not prepared for the reality of this mess.  The opening sequence bad. The collective first ten minutes were so horrific I would have walked out if I hadn't been so curious about Tom Cruise - Rock Star.

The reviewers are correct, he is the best thing about the movie, by far.  Although, that's not saying much.  Tom was good and maybe that is was pisses me off so much.  Tom seemed to be going somewhere with his portrayal of Stacee Jaxx.  There was a possibility of a decent, maybe even good movie there.  But even Tom Cruise cannot fight a poorly developed (completely undeveloped) plot, caricatures instead of characters, a frantic musical mash up and choreography so bad it belonged in a spoof of the movie.

Yes, Tom Cruise makes a very convincing Rock Star and his voice sounded great.  However, it is not worth subjecting yourself to the rest of this schlock.

Although, to be fair, I left before it was over.  Start time changed and I had to pick the dogs up from the adoption center.  Maybe it got better....but I seriously doubt it.

Neglect

ne·glect

verb (used with object)

1.

to pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard orslight: The public neglected his genius for many years.

2.

to be remiss in the care or treatment of: to neglect one'sfamily; to neglect one's appearance.

3.

to omit, through indifference or carelessness: to neglect toreply to an invitation.

4.

to fail to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.): toneglect the household chores.

5.

to fail to take or use: to neglect no precaution.

According to Dictionary.com

Yes, I have been neglecting this blog.  It's very sad...at least to me.  However, I am cautiously optimistic that the craziness of the first part of the year has been at least partially tamed, so I'm taking another shot.   


Thanks for sticking with me.

New Year's Resolutions: The Reckoning

The 2011 resolutions.

• Identify areas of personal focus by January 15; delegate and/or relinquish everything else by February 28.
• Create concrete plans with milestones and deadlines for each areas of focus by February 15
• Embrace budgeting – Create a workable, comprehensive budget by January 31 with short and long-term goals and stick to it. Track expenses weekly against goals
• Lose 13 lbs by February 1 eating healthfully and hitting the gym a minimum of five times per week and maintaining the weight and lifestyle 85% of 2011 (gotta have some wiggle room)

I am going to check back in on these monthly rather than waiting to read the list again for the first time in late December. Hopefully, with slightly better results.

Well, hmmm, on the surface, it seems like a bit fat FAIL.

But that wouldn't tell the whole story.

While I can't say I've completely restored balance to my life, I have narrowed my focus a bit and am headed in the right direction.

Concrete plans.  Okay, that may be a big fat fail, but I'm okay with it.  There's always next year.

Embrace budgeting...well not so much. But, again, things are improving. I did walk away from the makeup counter, without apologies, after discovering that the object of my desire was $200.

Lose 13 lbs.  Nope.  While, right now, I'm only trying to lose 12 lbs, I'm still far from goal and unable to wear most of what's in my closet.  I have gotten back to working out regularly, minus the  two weeks while I fought a stupid cold, so at least that's something.

As for checking in, well, I don't have to tell you that didn't happen.

 

Fourth Time's The Charm

That's four visits to two different municipal offices in an attempt to transfer the title of my shiny new Rav4 into my name.  A couple of points you may want to take note of, just in case your find yourself buying a car outside of a dealership.

1. You have 20 business days to transfer a title in the state of Texas.  (Transfer the title and pay the sales tax.)  If you take longer than 20 business days, the state of Texas gets a teeny, tiny bit cranky.
2. You do not go to the same place to transfer a title that you do to get a copy of a title.  Two very different places.
3. If the car you are purchasing is older than a couple of years, you need proof that it has passed an emissions test within 60 days of the title transfer, at least in Harris county.
4. You pay sales tax on the value of the car, not the sales price.  Not normally an issue and, to be honest, I wasn't terribly shocked by this, but I've never been so grateful to not have had time to go shopping.

My third trip, first to the correct location, was where I discovered the little emissions test gem. My fourth visit went without a hitch and I did manage to get everything taken care of and the penalties for being five months late weren't too steep.

So now, it's all official. Five months from the start of this little adventure,  I have a shiny new 2008 Rav4.

The Countdown Is On

Yes, that is the plaintive sound of taps you hear playing in the background.  It won't be long now. 

Soon, it will be time to say goodbye to my little purple phone.  I've been joking for months that one of these days I'm going to flip open my phone and the top half is going to keep on going.  Sadly, that isn't so funny anymore as a crack has appeared in the hinge....and its growing.

So, I'm shopping for cases for my not-yet-purchased iPhone4s.

I guess this post should really be called "Stalking My iPhone Part 5".

Shopping Misadventures

Misadventures is really a misnomer.  Other than two run ins with rather nasty women, both vehicle related, I had a pretty good experience on my frantic shopping marathon yesterday.  Considering I essentially started my Christmas shopping at 2:00 p.m. yesterday, things went exceptionally well.

I didn't have a long list and I thought I had a pretty simple list.  With one exception, this turned out to be the case.  But, that was one heck of an exception.  I visited no fewer than ten stores and three shopping centers, including the Galleria, in search of this particular item and still ended up empty handed.  I was, ultimately, successful, but only after about an hour of quality time with Google.

Yesterday was completely crazy but mission accomplished with no casualties.  Don't get me wrong, everywhere was super crowded, but people we nice, sales people were friendly and helpful and even the parking lots weren't horrible.

I also witnessed marketing at its finest on my late night trip to the Galleria.  Heading out I came upon hundreds of people lining up in front of the Westin's parking garage. At first I thought this was Occupy the Galleria, but no, it turns out that people started lining up on Tuesday to purchase SHOES?!? Sorry, I don't get it.

As for the vehicle issues.   Apparently I am a b*tch because I attempted to explain to a woman, screaming at me to get out of her way, that she was, in fact, attempting to drive the wrong way down a one way (which is why there wasn't room for two cars, duh!).  AND I am evil because I pointed out to the neighbor's home health aide that she had parked in my driveway.  Actually, she hadn't so much parked in my driveway as parked sideways in both my driveway and my neighbor's driveway.  I wasn't really impressed with her "I just had to run back in and get my cell phone" excuse and when I failed to comment on it, I got a nasty "Happy Holidays".  To which I responded, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas."  Look lady, I'm tired, I have to pee and you are prohibiting me for parking my car, so now I'm blocking traffic. I don't think pointing out that you're blocking my driveway, in the hopes you'll never do it again, is out of line.

No Longer Keeping Up With the Kardashians

Yeah, I know.  Admitting to watching this nonsense in the first place is a bit much.

I'm not sure what it was about this crazy family who mother built an empire on her daughter's sex tape (ewww), but for some reason, I got sucked into the mayhem.  It all seemed pretty harmless.

Apparently, my tipping point is fake-baiting Justin Bieber fans through your twitter feed to get them to unknowingly vote for your brother on Dancing With the Stars.

You can get more details on exactly what happened here, from someone who doesn't appear bothered in the least by it.

So, bye-bye Kim K and the rest of 'em (except Khloe & Lamar - I still like them)

Stalking My iPhone - Part Three

Yes, those are angels you hear singing the Hallelujah chorus. (What, that's only in my head?)

The universe was listening....

That is the Wall Street Journal tweeting about Sprint getting the iPhone5.

It's no secret that part of my dithering over the iPhone vs. Android question is my long-term relationship with Sprint. I hear lots of people complaining about AT&T and Verizon. I have never had trouble with Sprint's coverage. Well, except for that dead spot in my former office in the Galleria, but I did sit right behind a huge column.

As much as I really wanted an iPhone, I LOVE Sprint. Aside from the time they called me once a week trying to give me a new phone, but I wasn't eligible for the phone I wanted. But, that's another story.

Now, there's no problem. My long wait was worth it. I get the best of both worlds - the phone I want and I get to keep my carrier.

Don't believe me, check this out.

Where My Head Spins Around

While I am not a subscriber, I am a big fan of The Economist. I'd subscribe, but even when I was spending a fair amount of time on planes, I still couldn't keep up. I do follow them on Twitter, so I catch some info. I'm still mulling over the article comparing the response of the governments of Iceland and Greece to the economic crisis and the very different results. (hint, maybe the Euro wasn't the greatest idea ever)

Anyway, imagine my distress when I caught The Economist, that bastion of erudite examination of global politics and policy, quoting Britney Spears....

Yeah, I may be traumatized for life.

The Countdown Begins

That's September 7, in case you have any questions.

30 days and counting....iPhone here I come. Can Words With Friends be far behind

Where's Ashton?

It's a key in lock, big deal, right?

Not exactly. It's a key STUCK in a lock.

Let's back to the (sort of) beginning.

I locked myself out of the house at 5:30 a.m. Friday morning. (Big THANK YOU to Trix for bringing my spare key over). So, Sunday I set out to Home Depot to buy an idiot-proof door knob. Sadly, they do not carry idiot-proof door knobs at Home Depot. But, I decided to get a few more extra keys...one for the gym bag, one for a neighbor, etc, while I did a wider search for an idiot-proof door knob. Easy-breezy, right? (ha!) Not so fast; when I tested the key, it got stuck in the lock. STUCK.

So, after work today I took the key, in the door knob, back to Home Depot where the very nice man gave me a new door knob keyed to my existing house key and three new keys. So, I go home to install the new door knob. One (minor) problem. I couldn't open the door without the old door knob, which the nice man kept to return in the place of the new door knob they gave me. So, I had to go back to Home Depot to get my old door knob.

The nice man wasn't so nice at this point. First he looked at me like I was an idiot when I told him I couldn't get the door open without the old door knob and said "you have to change the switch plate." Um, dude, I can't change the switch plate if I CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR." (Side note, I managed to not loose my cool at all, even offered to bring the old door knob back this weekend.) He was very concerned that he wouldn't have anything to return to his vendor in place of the door knob he gave me. After I offered to bring it back, he just threw up his hands and walked away telling me to keep it. I'm impressed with myself for not loosing my cool since I think he may have forgotten that Home Depot CAUSED my problem.

Then when I get home to try to install the door knob, I discover that my foster, Buffy, has decided to redecorate the spare room with what was my Gone With The Wind Poster, glass and all. So, rearrange dogs, clean up glass, install new door knob...the fun never ends.

So, I ask again, WHERE IS ASHTON (Kutcher)? Surely, I'm being punk'd.

Four Legged Alarm Clocks

Unfortunately, I have yet to teach the dogs the difference between Sunday and say, Tuesday. So, sometime between 5:00 - 5:30 a.m., they're ready to get up. Despite all my efforts, bribes and various configurations, Kara and Buffy (current foster) outside, Petey inside, Petey outside, Kara and Buffy in the bedroom, everybody back in their respective beds, etc., the best I get is some fitful dozing, until I give up and just get up. Which means, I'm usually up and around no later than 6:30 a.m. (regardless of what time I go to bed.) It's rather aggravating and don't think I haven't thought about a Benadryl cocktail for the household, (thought about it...haven't done it.) but short of some Bose headphones, I'm out of luck....and sleepy.

On the upside, this beautiful Sunday morning, by 9:30 a.m. I had hit the car wash, gone to Home Depot, gassed up the car, gone to the gym and run into Whole Foods for a few things. Woo hoo! Now, if I just had time to take a nap.

Found Time

Yesterday I found some time. (Does it get anything better than that?) An evening meeting was cancelled leaving me with approximately an hour and a half of time I didn't have to spend in a meeting. Subtract the twenty or so minutes I spent emailing the information I planned to distribute at the meeting and I still had over an hour "free".

So, what did I do? Take a bubble bath, read a magazine, watch TV, mindlessly surf the web? Nope. I made coleslaw. Why? I didn't plan to use my magic free time to make coleslaw, but I had the stuff and I wanted some coleslaw for dinner tonight (Buffalo Chicken Sliders...yum!) So, I made coleslaw.

The real question is, if I had known that was the only extra time I would have, would I have still made coleslaw?

Yeah, probably not.

Stalking My iPhone

Yep, it's finally time to join the party. I am going to get an iPhone. But, I am waiting for the iPhone 5. (The fragile nature of the iPhone 4 coupled with my innate clumsiness would not be a good combination.)

So, now I wait...and stalk my new phone. For instance, the Wall Street Journal tweeted this today:

@wsj: Apple has ordered key components of a next-generation iPhone to be launched in the third quarter. Details: http://on.wsj.com/qG2QoR

Followed the link..damn straight.

They're ordering parts, people. It's coming. Woo hoo!!

The next question is, of course, are the rumours of a Sprint version, true? (Fingers crossed!)

Alignment

Achieving success is pretty simple. Align your actions with your goals and viola - success.

So, why is it so hard? Why is it that despite my top two goals right being losing weight and sticking to a budget does one little thing keep tripping me up...EVERYDAY!

So, what is my scary, all-powerful nemesis?

Yep, the infamous Starbucks latte. $3.25 each. One a day, six days a week...that's $78 a month.

130 empty calories a day. (Hey, at least it's nonfat milk)

Foiled by the Starbucks a three minute walk from my cube.

Not tomorrow!! Tomorrow, I will be stronger than the latte!

Again?!? Really?

It's happened AGAIN. What is the deal people? Why do I keep running into talented, but flaky hairdressers???

I called to make an appointment for a long overdue haircut only to discover my hairdresser doesn't work at the salon anymore. Of course, they claim not to know where she went. (Whatever!) But, the fact remains, she has my contact info, so she could have let me know where she went and I, more than likely, would have followed her. (It's not automatic, the fairy god colorist works at Salon A, and I'm not giving her up. Hell, she couldn't get rid of me if tried. I'd hire a private detective and turn up on her doorstep. But, that's a colorist. )

Anywhoo, I digress. I've got an appointment with a new chick next Saturday. Since it was the colorist who brought me to this salon, getting a great haircut was icing on the cake, I'm hoping lightening strikes twice.

Spam Sushi

Yep, you read that correctly. Spam sushi. The Spam, was, in fact, cooked. But it was dressed up like sushi and sitting on rice.

I went to a Hawaiian restaurant this weekend (Did you know that Hawaiians eat more Spam than anyone else in the world? Yeah, me neither.) and this was on the menu as Spam musubi. Have to confess - I actually like Spam and the musubi was yummy.

Oh Me of Little Faith

In an attempt to cook more and eat more healthfully I pulled a recipe from the latest issue of SELF, but when it came time to actually make dinner I took a good look at the it and was not excited...at all:

Cook 4 oz of flank steak in 1 tsp of olive oil, transfer to plate, saute 2 cups of red cabbage, 1/2 cup of sliced carrots in 1 tsp of olive oil until tender, transfer veggies to plate, drizzle with 1 tsp of sesame oil and 1 tbsp of low-sodium soy sauce.

I was not terribly enthusiastic, where was the flavor? the seasoning? Shouldn't I be marinating the steak? But, it was late and I was hungry, so I just went with it. {Full disclosures, I did toss the veggies with a little rice vinegar between pan and plate.} It was delicious. Color me shocked. And stuffed.

Tiny Triumphs

My theme for 2010 was "Doing Things Differently" and I've had modest success over the year. I have fallen into old patterns more than I’d like to admin but I did smash an old, extremely self-destructive, pattern to bits last week.

I had an quasi-professional holiday party right after work and ran my hose pretty extensively during the day making a stop for a new pair a necessity. Fortunately, there was a lingerie shop right across the street, so easy, breezy, right? Ha! Yes, I did know that this was a high end shop, but I still wasn’t expecting the $58 price tag staring back at me from the back of one pair of black pantyhose.

Now, the old me would have done one of two things, made up an excuse or just put them on a credit card because I wouldn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t afford whatever overpriced item was in question. (even if that, in fact, was the truth). However, without blinking an eye, I handed the package back to the nice sales girl and when she looked at me questioningly I replied without a hint of embarrassment that I did not need $58 pantyhose, thank you very much and blew out of there without a backward glance. It felt pretty good, actually. There’s nothing to say I won’t regress, but I’m feeling pretty good at the moment.

The real kicker came a little later when I ran the new hose I picked up at Ann Taylor while I was putting them on – boy am I glad I hadn’t paid $58 for those things. So, my bare legs and unspanxed thighs (I have no problem going bare-legged, but if I don’t have hose on, trust me, I’m wearing spanx under that skirt) went to the party and I doubt anyone noticed (but me).

{Seriously, $58 for a pair of pantyhose???}

My Nemesis

I have a confession to make. I have a serious thing for grocery store brownie bites loaded with grocery story frosting. YUM. I could (and have) made myself sick eating these things. I seriously cannot get enough of them. So, in the midst of yet another serious attempt to eat well and reclaim the contents of my closet, what appears in the kitchen at the office today? Yep, you guessed it..... a whole plate of Halloween brownie bites. So far, I resisted, but they'll still be there tomorrow....