When I started blogging in 2004, someone posted this meme. I’ve answered the same questions for over ten years now, and I like to keep up the tradition.
1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
Completed a Dungeon & Dragons 3.5 ed. campaign as the Dungeon Mistress
Sold a car (2000 Ford Taurus I inherited from my late Mother)
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions (NYR), and will you make more for next year?
I refer to NYRs as the Infinite Master To Do List, and yes, I made them. See the next blog entry for an accounting of what I’ve achieved in 2016, and what I hope to achieve in 2017.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, unless you count fictional characters.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
After I did the 2015 YIR meme, my husband’s last grandparent died (my Mother-in-Law’s Mother) the day after Christmas, and Grandma Fleming was one of many in my husband’s family who made me feel welcomed and very loved.
Although he wasn’t close to me personally, I think anyone on the planet who heard his music was affected by David Bowie. My personal favorite song was “Changes” because a quote from that song was used at the beginning of my favorite 80s teen film The Breakfast Club.
In June, my dear friend Elle Janet Plato committed suicide. She told me the year prior that she was transsexual, and knowing Janet’s wicked sense of humor, I didn’t know whether or not she was teasing me. Nor did it matter to me what her birth gender was vs. what her true gender was. After her death, I found out she was born male (named Larry) physically and underwent surgery. I still miss her.
5. What states or countries did you visit?
Illinois to visit the zoo that was the Ikea (which I learned this year is pronounced “ee-kay-ah”) warehouse store on a Sunday. Thank the Gods they are opening a store in Wisconsin sometime in the future. This time we actually bought something: a hutch for the kitchen and an entertainment center for the master bedroom. We’ve even put the hutch together and are using it.
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
The list is growing longer:
-More money: either a better paying job or (preferably) a winning lottery ticket for a big jackpot
-a better governor and legislature, which hopefully will occur in 2018 now that the courts are saying no to gerrymandering because one can prove how bad it is
7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 13, 2016: Celebrating 25 wonderful years of marriage to the World’s Greatest Husband.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
2106 was another year where my biggest achievements were surviving it and helping the World’s Greatest Husband survive, too.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not having the Mithril Party I wanted for our silver anniversary.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
In February, I caught a cold from the husband, who caught it from our son. The depression and anxiety has been rampant in Castle Curley, mainly affecting King Brian, but I’ve had my bouts, too. Especially in early November IYKWIM.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I bought several items to help organize our house, and anything that I actually put into use (such as the kitchen hutch) is a good thing.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Samantha Bee, Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and James Corden for their responses to the Orlando nightclub shooting.
Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton for their “When they go low, we go high.” responses to The Donald.
13. Whose behavior made you:
Appalled? Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, and unfortunately from Wisconsin (District 1), for his cowardly response to the Firearm Safety Legislation Sit-in and his part in the 2016 presidential campaign.
Depressed? Every single person who fired a gun and killed or injured people with it for whatever stupid reason
Appalled and Depressed? Everyone who voted for The Donald for president, or who voted for anyone but Hillary Clinton, because now we’re going to have two-four years of a lot of damage to undo after that moron and the other repugnican’ts get out of office.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying bills (medical, water bill for leaky toilet, furnace repair, etc.), buying needed items like a new microwave (when I broke the old one) and a dehumidifier for the basement, and items to organize our house.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our Mithril (Silver) Anniversary. I was hoping for a big party, but we settled for a very nice steak dinner.
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
“Bruises” by Train
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, and thanks to the elections, not going to be making more money anytime soon.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing my novel series.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Losing the lottery; playing games on my tablets.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Eve: With Prince Mekhi and the World’s Greatest Husband, then with the World’s Greatest In-Laws (mine!);
Day: With the World’s Greatest Husband (mine!) and our critters; We may go see a movie, but if we do, it won’t be Rogue One.
26th/my late mother’s birthday: Once again my brother Tom is on the ball about asking our siblings to get together in the Dells. Fran wants to go somewhere other than Moosejaw, and I agree. I only ask that we go somewhere that serves alcohol because it’s an evening with my siblings and their families. KnowwhatImean? Interestingly enough, they picked Monk’s, which I’ve been to locally and know that they serve copious amounts of alcohol.
21. With whom did you spend the most time on the phone?
I guess I could include texts on this one, so that would be Mekhi’s Bio-/Mom #1 Lisa. Early in the year when I drove her to a medical procedure, I referred to myself as “the closest thing she’s ever had to a sister.”
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Been in love with the same guy since 1989, and every day I love him more. Many days I truly am surprised that he still puts up with me. He still thinks he got the better end of the marriage deal; I know that I did. Seriously, that is one of the “fiercest arguments” in our marriage. ;} (I usually win when we compare in-laws because I definitely got the better deal there!)
Because of his severe depression and anxiety this year, Brian wondered why I was still with him. I honestly and sincerely reminded him of his being there for me during my tough times (loss of my parents, loss of my job and/or a job from hell, etc.) Plus, I love him so much that being there for him actually isn’t that difficult; I’m not going anywhere, and I will do all I can to help him feel better.
When one of my sisters-in-law was going through a tough time, she offered my brother the option of a divorce, which told me that she didn’t know as much as she thought she did about my brother and our family. We have fun with the good times; and when the hard times hit, as they will do, we build our bunkers around our loved ones and do our best to be there to care for them. That’s just the way our family always has been.
The hard part is knowing I can’t take away his pain or make him laugh as he does for me. One night, I actually made Brian smile when I said that I wished he had a spot on him like the white spot on our black cat Gleep, that we call her “sweetness button.” I said, I would press his “smile button” to make him happy and, well, smile.
23. How many one-night stands?
Because I am monogamous in my marriage, I only have one night stands in my dreams and with the strangest people/fictional characters (such as one of the instructors at my son’s dojo, who in real life is waaaay too skinny (and way too young) for my tastes). See #35 for further details.
24. What are your favorite TV program(s)?
Still love The Big Bang Theory as my current favorite, with the (about as believable but just as fun as a Bond film) Scorpion a close second. Now addicted to virtually all Marvel Cinematic Universe and Arrowverse TV shows. The DVR and the Netflix queue overfloweth, especially with episodes of Doctor Who.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Paul Ryan is a good start as he represents almost everything that is reprehensible about the modern Repugnican’t party. Also, every single person who voted for The Donald, and every single person who didn’t vote, or protest voted, and allowed The Donald to become our president-elect.
I no longer hate The Donald because he has done what I wish I could do: put a harsh magnifying glass in a sunbeam and show just how despicable the GOP has become. Now it is frying away after selling its soul to the extremists. I just wish that its demise was established on election day 2016. Now we have to wait another two to four years for it die.
26. What was the best book you read this year?
Staked by Kevin Hearne. It’s the eighth novel in his Iron Druid Chronicles, and I can’t wait for the ninth and final novel, especially because the two Irish wolfhounds are expecting puppies!
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The World’s Greatest husband keeps expanding my musical repertoire. This year it was the band Train and their album California 37, referring to the highway of the same name.
28. What did you want and get?
Can’t think of anything. 2016 was a bad year all around, and not just for the inhabitants of Castle Curley.
29. What did you want and not get?
More income; Bernie Sanders, or at least Hillary Clinton for president.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I have a hard time choosing between Deadpool and Captain America: Civil War. Both based on Marvel Comics, but only the second one is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Deadpool is considered part of the X-Men film series. The former was freaking hilarious, but the latter was extremely good and unexpectedly surprising.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Brian was out-of-town with a group of friends from high school. I told him to go because my birthday wasn’t a hallmark one, and we could go out anytime. Plus, I planned on doing a crafts weekend at home. (I didn’t do any.) See my blog entry for the day. I turned 28 for the twentieth time.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Impeaching The Donald or The Wanker.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
A colleague asked me if I had lost weight, to which I responded, “Nope, I just bought bigger clothes, but thank you for noticing.”
I also was measured again for a bra-fitting because I’ve gained so much weight. Now I’m a 44-46 DDD. Still need to buy more bras and other undergarments.
34. What kept you sane?
Brian asked me how I keep my spirits up, especially when I helped him deal with his depression and anxiety. I sent him “linkage” e-mails: stuff from I Can Haz Cheezburger and other like sites, to make him smile a little. I said to him, “This is why I’ve downloaded about half the Internet.” Plus, I’ve spent a lifetime dealing with these conditions way before my diagnoses and prognoses, so I have developed a lifetime of coping techniques.
Of course, our puppies and kitties help.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still fancy Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. Granted, he’s 36 years older than the first time I had a crush on him, but so am I. ;}
However, in August I had a dream that I was at a gaming convention, and as I was crisscrossing the various secret passage ways of the convention center and its hotels, I came across a skinny-dipping Jack Black. Before he climbed out of the pool, the landline rang and woke me up.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Voter rights, and electing Bernie Sanders and Russ Feingold. :(
37. Whom did you miss?
My late father (“Poppy”), my late Grandmother-in-Law Fleming, Elle Janet Plato (see #4).
38. Who was the best new person you met?
The only person I can think of is my son’s fifth-grade teacher, Ms. Wolter.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:
“I’m sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It’s just been too intelligent to come here.” – Arthur C. Clarke
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
These bruises make for better conversation
Loses the vibe that separates
It’s good to let you in again
You’re not alone in how you’ve been
Everybody loses, everybody loses, everybody loses
We all got bruises, We all got bruises, We all got bruises.
(See #16 above.)
-----
First Blog Titles Month by Month 2016:
January: Which Blog? I’ve Lost Count
February: What can I do today to achieve my goals?
March: Movies, Geekdom, and Race
April: The Fish is in the Tree…
May: Another Fine Mother’s Day
June: A Preacher Walks into a Grocery Store...
July: The Drunken Smiley Face in the Sky
August: Framily
September: Catching Up: Birthday 2016
October: Corn Maze – Football Nap
November: Meme
December: Lori’s Year In Review: 2016
Blessed Be,
-Lori
“Communication technologies are necessary, but not sufficient, for us humans to get along with each other.” – Arthur C. Clarke
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
The Drunken Smiley Face in the Sky
Two more wonderful trips to Summerfest.
Opening Day
The World’s Greatest Husband (WGH) and I attended the opening day of Summerfest on Wednesday, July 29. We took off work early and had a great time, despite the Milwaukee County Transit System soaking us for both a parking fee AND a bus fare. Not good. We dipped into the last of our savings to have enough cash for the day, and shelling out $17 in travel expenses was a terrible way to start.
Fortunately, we had a wonderful time. After picking up a late lunch in the international food vendors section, we strolled down the lakeshore path until we reached the Tiki Hut, where less-established artists perform. We enjoyed Dan Rodriguez’s concert and bought his latest CD. For the uninitiated, Rodriguez’s song “When You Come Home” is featured in the Budweiser “Friends Are Waiting” Commercial (scroll down until you find the video link). He also has a beautiful rendition of “Stand By Me” (same page, a little higher). Rodriguez, as usual, sang his song “Duluth” with his wife (they wrote “Duluth” on their honeymoon; guess where they went?), and this year they included their four-month old son Oak.
Of course the food and drink are expensive; Summerfest is a closed venue and carry-ins are prohibited. I just buy a ($4.50) bottle of water, then refill it at the bubblers. As I was doing this, I noticed the young lady at the next bubbler struggling to get a drink while holding her long hair out of the way and talking on her cell phone all at the same time. Unfortunately, she failed her DEX roll.
As experienced Summerfest attendees, we know that the best way to insure a good seat for a 10:00 pm show is to be there by 4:00 pm and stay there, taking turns as needed for food/beverage/bathroom breaks. Plus, we don’t like to stand through the show as others do, and positioned ourselves at the top of a set of bleachers with an excellent and unobstructed view.
Because it is an outdoor venue, Summerfest allows smoking in most areas, including the amphitheater where we were seated. An extremely inebriated gent in front of me was behaving like an active chimney; something I couldn’t tolerate as an ex-smoker, so I whispered to him, “Could you please refrain from smoking, or go somewhere else to smoke? I’m breathing for two (with appropriate belly pat).” Worked like the proverbial charm. When the gent went to buy more beer, he didn’t return for quite some time; and when he did return, he admitted that he got lost. Yep, very drunk. His companions assured me he was not the designated driver. No, I’m not pregnant, but the drunk didn’t need to know that.
Two of the acts prior to the one we wanted to see were terrible. I know the singer is bad when even my tone-deaf ears start hurting, However a third group was so good that Brian already purchased one of their CDs. In between acts, while the roadies reset the stage, I took out my tablet to read my Kindle app. At 9:30 pm, Summerfest treated its guests to an incredible and lengthy (half-hour) fireworks show that included a few smiley faces meant to represent the Summerfest logo. One of them exploded upside-down, so we dubbed it “The Drunken Smiley Face in the Sky.”
Our chosen headliner for the evening was none other than “Weird Al” Yankovic. To celebrate our third wedding anniversary, Brian and I attended Yankovic’s concert at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison when he was on tour promoting his Alapalooza album. Twenty-two years later, Yankovic is on tour promoting Mandatory Fun. He opened the show by singing “Tacky” based on “Happy” by Pharrell, and for over an hour, Yankovic entertained us with many songs from his repertoire. At one point, Yankovic grabbed his accordion and said, “I’m sure I don’t have to ask this, but Milwaukee, are you ready to polka?!” The crowd went nuts; the polka is Wisconsin’s official state dance. Seriously. Yankovic not only played “Now That’s What I Call Polka!”, his chosen polka medley from Mandatory Fun, but the mega screen upstage played videos of the songs he covered. When I saw Miley Cyrus swinging from a “Wrecking Ball” onscreen, I laughed so loud, I was afraid of disturbing the drunken party seated in front of me. I couldn’t stop laughing as Yankovic also covered “Gangnam Style” by Psy, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, and “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams, among others.
The mega screen came in handy because Al and his band made several costume changes in between songs throughout the set. As they left the stage, clips were shown from The Weird Al Show, Al TV, and shows in which he appeared (such as The Simpsons) or was mentioned (How I Met Your Mother). Sometimes a video would segue into a song performance, as Al literally segwayed onto the stage to sing “White and Nerdy.”
Although I kept my vow to sing publicly only at sporting events (because even professional singers have trouble with “The Star Spangled Banner”) or in a house of worship (the Gods gave me this horrible singing voice, They should have put up with it), I did break the vow for Al’s encore: “The Saga Begins,” which combines three of my fandoms: “Weird Al,” Star Wars, and “American Pie.” Plus “Yoda.”
Good Karma, Perfect Day
On our way to Summerfest on Saturday, July 9th, we stopped at our favorite McDonald’s for some lunch. We were behind a car with two adorable dogs in the back and an Afghanistan War Veteran license plate. My habit is to thank veterans whenever I can, so I said to Brian that I wished we were ahead of the car so that we could pay for his lunch. Well, the veteran’s window was open, so Brian shouted to him that we would pay for his lunch. When the veteran approached the pay window, the cashier looked at us to confirm, which we of course did, and passed the veteran on. When the cashier asked why we were doing this, we pointed to the license plate, and he understood. So we started the day with perfect weather and very good karma.
We saved ourselves some money (and a lot of aggravation) by parking in a different lot and still riding the bus to Summerfest with a pre-paid fare. When we arrived, most of the stages hosted a battle of the bands from various School of Rock franchises across the nation. These kids were wicked-talented, singing songs from Guns N Roses, Led Zeppelin, and Stevie Wonder, among others.
Mercifully all of the groups we wanted to see that day performed at the BMO Harris Pavilion, which is no smoking due to its roof, so we camped there from about 3:30 pm on. I never heard of Sigmund Snopek, nor that he used to open for the Violent Femmes (go figure; both are from Milwaukee), but I loved his music, the way he encouraged the audience to sing (calling us the Wisconsin Tavernacle Choir), and the fact that he had a painter on stage creating art as he created art. Nice touch.
Howard Jones gave a brief but beautiful performance (with a keytar and other techno instruments that I couldn’t name). Then OMD played, including my favorite “If You Leave” from the Pretty In Pink soundtrack. I love me my 80s soundtracks, and I admit it: I sang along. Mercifully the guy sitting next to me (not my Brian, other side) was wearing earplugs. Throughout the evening, Mr. Earplugs watched a movie on his smartphone, and I looked it up at work this week from what little I saw: Resident Evil: Apocalypse starring the talented and beautiful Milla Jovovich.
Despite our fabulous bleacher seats behind and above the more formal theater seats, I noticed a very bad design flaw of the pavilion and its handicap accessible seats. We sat in a place where we always would be able to see the stage, even if the patrons in front of us stood. The accessible seats were the back row of the theater seats, and people using that row either had to stand or have no view. I noticed one young couple left, which is rather sad because the gentlemen, whose right leg ended at the knee, had the bearing of a veteran. I must remember to write Summerfest about this.
When the headliner Bare Naked Ladies took the stage, I noticed that the lead singer Ed Robertson seemed to change guitars (electric, acoustic, mandolin, and banjo) after every song. I don’t know why he needed so many stringed instruments, but I guess that’s just a musician thing. Again I broke my vow when they played many of their songs that I know so well: “If I Had $1,000,000,” “The Old Apartment”, and especially “History of Everything,” the theme song from my favorite sitcom The Big Bang Theory. For the encore, Robertson switched places with the drummer Tyler Stewart, who also is a talented front man, as well as looking extremely huggable (that means attractive in my parlance).
As we left Summerfest, casually walking along its lakeshore path because we were not in a hurry, Brian turned to me and said that the day was perfect (touch wood), and “happy anniversary.” No, we couldn’t afford a big party, but we did have a wonderful time together. I hugged him and honestly told him how much I love him.
The only bad thing that could have occurred at that point was if our car was towed from where we extra-legally parked it. However, we weren’t the only Summerfest attendees to do that, so they couldn’t tow us all. Finally at home, we crawled into bed and didn’t get up until an hour or so before hosting our regular RPG.
Next year (for Summerfest’s 50th anniversary), we want to take our friend Brian Stewart.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
Droz: “What’s this? You’re wearing the shirt of the band you’re going to see? Don’t be that guy!” – PCU written by Adam Leff and Zak Penn Brian and I saw a lot of people being ‘that guy.’
Opening Day
The World’s Greatest Husband (WGH) and I attended the opening day of Summerfest on Wednesday, July 29. We took off work early and had a great time, despite the Milwaukee County Transit System soaking us for both a parking fee AND a bus fare. Not good. We dipped into the last of our savings to have enough cash for the day, and shelling out $17 in travel expenses was a terrible way to start.
Fortunately, we had a wonderful time. After picking up a late lunch in the international food vendors section, we strolled down the lakeshore path until we reached the Tiki Hut, where less-established artists perform. We enjoyed Dan Rodriguez’s concert and bought his latest CD. For the uninitiated, Rodriguez’s song “When You Come Home” is featured in the Budweiser “Friends Are Waiting” Commercial (scroll down until you find the video link). He also has a beautiful rendition of “Stand By Me” (same page, a little higher). Rodriguez, as usual, sang his song “Duluth” with his wife (they wrote “Duluth” on their honeymoon; guess where they went?), and this year they included their four-month old son Oak.
Of course the food and drink are expensive; Summerfest is a closed venue and carry-ins are prohibited. I just buy a ($4.50) bottle of water, then refill it at the bubblers. As I was doing this, I noticed the young lady at the next bubbler struggling to get a drink while holding her long hair out of the way and talking on her cell phone all at the same time. Unfortunately, she failed her DEX roll.
As experienced Summerfest attendees, we know that the best way to insure a good seat for a 10:00 pm show is to be there by 4:00 pm and stay there, taking turns as needed for food/beverage/bathroom breaks. Plus, we don’t like to stand through the show as others do, and positioned ourselves at the top of a set of bleachers with an excellent and unobstructed view.
Because it is an outdoor venue, Summerfest allows smoking in most areas, including the amphitheater where we were seated. An extremely inebriated gent in front of me was behaving like an active chimney; something I couldn’t tolerate as an ex-smoker, so I whispered to him, “Could you please refrain from smoking, or go somewhere else to smoke? I’m breathing for two (with appropriate belly pat).” Worked like the proverbial charm. When the gent went to buy more beer, he didn’t return for quite some time; and when he did return, he admitted that he got lost. Yep, very drunk. His companions assured me he was not the designated driver. No, I’m not pregnant, but the drunk didn’t need to know that.
Two of the acts prior to the one we wanted to see were terrible. I know the singer is bad when even my tone-deaf ears start hurting, However a third group was so good that Brian already purchased one of their CDs. In between acts, while the roadies reset the stage, I took out my tablet to read my Kindle app. At 9:30 pm, Summerfest treated its guests to an incredible and lengthy (half-hour) fireworks show that included a few smiley faces meant to represent the Summerfest logo. One of them exploded upside-down, so we dubbed it “The Drunken Smiley Face in the Sky.”
Our chosen headliner for the evening was none other than “Weird Al” Yankovic. To celebrate our third wedding anniversary, Brian and I attended Yankovic’s concert at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison when he was on tour promoting his Alapalooza album. Twenty-two years later, Yankovic is on tour promoting Mandatory Fun. He opened the show by singing “Tacky” based on “Happy” by Pharrell, and for over an hour, Yankovic entertained us with many songs from his repertoire. At one point, Yankovic grabbed his accordion and said, “I’m sure I don’t have to ask this, but Milwaukee, are you ready to polka?!” The crowd went nuts; the polka is Wisconsin’s official state dance. Seriously. Yankovic not only played “Now That’s What I Call Polka!”, his chosen polka medley from Mandatory Fun, but the mega screen upstage played videos of the songs he covered. When I saw Miley Cyrus swinging from a “Wrecking Ball” onscreen, I laughed so loud, I was afraid of disturbing the drunken party seated in front of me. I couldn’t stop laughing as Yankovic also covered “Gangnam Style” by Psy, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, and “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams, among others.
The mega screen came in handy because Al and his band made several costume changes in between songs throughout the set. As they left the stage, clips were shown from The Weird Al Show, Al TV, and shows in which he appeared (such as The Simpsons) or was mentioned (How I Met Your Mother). Sometimes a video would segue into a song performance, as Al literally segwayed onto the stage to sing “White and Nerdy.”
Although I kept my vow to sing publicly only at sporting events (because even professional singers have trouble with “The Star Spangled Banner”) or in a house of worship (the Gods gave me this horrible singing voice, They should have put up with it), I did break the vow for Al’s encore: “The Saga Begins,” which combines three of my fandoms: “Weird Al,” Star Wars, and “American Pie.” Plus “Yoda.”
Good Karma, Perfect Day
On our way to Summerfest on Saturday, July 9th, we stopped at our favorite McDonald’s for some lunch. We were behind a car with two adorable dogs in the back and an Afghanistan War Veteran license plate. My habit is to thank veterans whenever I can, so I said to Brian that I wished we were ahead of the car so that we could pay for his lunch. Well, the veteran’s window was open, so Brian shouted to him that we would pay for his lunch. When the veteran approached the pay window, the cashier looked at us to confirm, which we of course did, and passed the veteran on. When the cashier asked why we were doing this, we pointed to the license plate, and he understood. So we started the day with perfect weather and very good karma.
We saved ourselves some money (and a lot of aggravation) by parking in a different lot and still riding the bus to Summerfest with a pre-paid fare. When we arrived, most of the stages hosted a battle of the bands from various School of Rock franchises across the nation. These kids were wicked-talented, singing songs from Guns N Roses, Led Zeppelin, and Stevie Wonder, among others.
Mercifully all of the groups we wanted to see that day performed at the BMO Harris Pavilion, which is no smoking due to its roof, so we camped there from about 3:30 pm on. I never heard of Sigmund Snopek, nor that he used to open for the Violent Femmes (go figure; both are from Milwaukee), but I loved his music, the way he encouraged the audience to sing (calling us the Wisconsin Tavernacle Choir), and the fact that he had a painter on stage creating art as he created art. Nice touch.
Howard Jones gave a brief but beautiful performance (with a keytar and other techno instruments that I couldn’t name). Then OMD played, including my favorite “If You Leave” from the Pretty In Pink soundtrack. I love me my 80s soundtracks, and I admit it: I sang along. Mercifully the guy sitting next to me (not my Brian, other side) was wearing earplugs. Throughout the evening, Mr. Earplugs watched a movie on his smartphone, and I looked it up at work this week from what little I saw: Resident Evil: Apocalypse starring the talented and beautiful Milla Jovovich.
Despite our fabulous bleacher seats behind and above the more formal theater seats, I noticed a very bad design flaw of the pavilion and its handicap accessible seats. We sat in a place where we always would be able to see the stage, even if the patrons in front of us stood. The accessible seats were the back row of the theater seats, and people using that row either had to stand or have no view. I noticed one young couple left, which is rather sad because the gentlemen, whose right leg ended at the knee, had the bearing of a veteran. I must remember to write Summerfest about this.
When the headliner Bare Naked Ladies took the stage, I noticed that the lead singer Ed Robertson seemed to change guitars (electric, acoustic, mandolin, and banjo) after every song. I don’t know why he needed so many stringed instruments, but I guess that’s just a musician thing. Again I broke my vow when they played many of their songs that I know so well: “If I Had $1,000,000,” “The Old Apartment”, and especially “History of Everything,” the theme song from my favorite sitcom The Big Bang Theory. For the encore, Robertson switched places with the drummer Tyler Stewart, who also is a talented front man, as well as looking extremely huggable (that means attractive in my parlance).
As we left Summerfest, casually walking along its lakeshore path because we were not in a hurry, Brian turned to me and said that the day was perfect (touch wood), and “happy anniversary.” No, we couldn’t afford a big party, but we did have a wonderful time together. I hugged him and honestly told him how much I love him.
The only bad thing that could have occurred at that point was if our car was towed from where we extra-legally parked it. However, we weren’t the only Summerfest attendees to do that, so they couldn’t tow us all. Finally at home, we crawled into bed and didn’t get up until an hour or so before hosting our regular RPG.
Next year (for Summerfest’s 50th anniversary), we want to take our friend Brian Stewart.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
Droz: “What’s this? You’re wearing the shirt of the band you’re going to see? Don’t be that guy!” – PCU written by Adam Leff and Zak Penn Brian and I saw a lot of people being ‘that guy.’
Friday, June 24, 2016
Castle Curley Update
Near the end of 2015, I created a list called the “Castle Curley Home Organization and Improvements List”, hoping that in lieu of improvements that the WGH and I cannot afford, at least organizing the house would make it functional and save us resources of money and time in that we could find what we need instead of having to buy new stuff, we could eat at home rather than going out most nights, and we wouldn’t have to spend our weekends and other days off cleaning house. I hoped that we could have this organization done with minimal costs by the end of the year.
Reality loves to laugh at any plans I make.
While Brian and I move faster than the glacial pace of state government, it’s not by much. We already modified the plans to state that the first floor will be done by the end of the year, with the second floor done in 2017, the (finished) attic in 2018, and the (unfinished, so storage only) basement in 2019.
We really hoped to renovate the house, and I’ve been waiting for the last eleven years since we moved into this 1902 Victorian home to either win the lottery, write a best seller, and/or receive a significant raise at work. At the rate all three of these are going, they are in order of likelihood of happening. If I’d been smart, we would have started this organization project back in 2005; then I could have spent more time working on creativity (novel and crafts, specifically) and Delazan Enterprises, my home business.
We did make an effort on the house organization over the Memorial Day (MD) weekend, despite the fact that we spent almost all of Friday in bed (sleeping, felt wonderful). Mekhi did forge a path from the door to his bed in his bedroom, but not the big cleanout that I hoped he and Brian would do that day. I really can’t complain about the mess in my ten-year-old’s bedroom considering it matches the cleanliness – or lack thereof – of my bedroom at that same age; my adult bedroom isn’t much cleaner.
The biggest project completed MD weekend was the assembly of the hutch we bought at Ikea (pronounced ɪˈkeːˈa) earlier in the year. Actually it’s a secretary with a matching cabinet on top, but it’s far more functional than the pub table and chairs that it replaced in our kitchen. The table was a clutter magnet, and I hate barstool height chairs. Brian and I only snipped at each other a few times in the process, both losing our tempers at least once each. After about four hours (felt like forty), we have a beautiful hutch that I already started organizing with snacks for Mekhi, treats for the critters, and my two favorite cookbooks. The handled baskets that I purchased (and started using in the freezer and refrigerator) help this endeavor, plus providing storage for the unused baskets to get them off the counter.
We didn’t remove the ugly and stained brown carpet from the study MD weekend, but we did go to see Captain America: Civil War for some positive mental health and to keep up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Brian said the movie followed the comic book reasonably well; I loved the unexpected, yet very pleasant surprises the movie’s plot made. Fight scenes (which I usually find very boring) were good, too.
This coming weekend, we have no RPG; just Mekhi’s karate lesson, Janet’s memorial to attend and a few errands to run. The following weekend will be our annual Independence Day Party, so Brian and I will be cleaning and organizing. Wednesday night we hauled our seldom-used treadmill to the curb, and we don’t have anything else super-heavy that needs to be moved from the study before we take out the carpet. A lot of stuff in there will be thrown out.
I also hope we finish organizing the kitchen this weekend. Of the eleven drawers, three will continue their current uses (silverware, linens, and hand-held appliances), and I’ve gone through one of the junk drawers and now store the pot lids in there since our new stove doesn’t have as much storage as the older one. Although, now we have room next to the stove for a small organizer that we’ve purchased and hope to assemble this weekend, in which we plan to store more items that used to be on or in the stove, as well as large utensils that are in a carousel on the counter (that Brian hates because it takes up so much counter space). We also need to set up a drinking fountain for all the critters and a special timed/measured feeding dish for the dogs.
After living in this house for eleven years, I finally looked into the huge cupboard high up in the half-bath just off the kitchen. Basically it was empty, so now we store for seldom-used items for entertaining (like the football-shaped chip and dip bowl). Some of the “stuff” in the drawers may find their way into that cupboard or into the basement for other long-term storage.
I’ll let you know how what progress we make over the weekend, but understand that our plan for this evening is to go to bed not long after arriving home.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
“Every time I make a plan, God laughs at me.” – Jason Isaacs
Reality loves to laugh at any plans I make.
While Brian and I move faster than the glacial pace of state government, it’s not by much. We already modified the plans to state that the first floor will be done by the end of the year, with the second floor done in 2017, the (finished) attic in 2018, and the (unfinished, so storage only) basement in 2019.
We really hoped to renovate the house, and I’ve been waiting for the last eleven years since we moved into this 1902 Victorian home to either win the lottery, write a best seller, and/or receive a significant raise at work. At the rate all three of these are going, they are in order of likelihood of happening. If I’d been smart, we would have started this organization project back in 2005; then I could have spent more time working on creativity (novel and crafts, specifically) and Delazan Enterprises, my home business.
We did make an effort on the house organization over the Memorial Day (MD) weekend, despite the fact that we spent almost all of Friday in bed (sleeping, felt wonderful). Mekhi did forge a path from the door to his bed in his bedroom, but not the big cleanout that I hoped he and Brian would do that day. I really can’t complain about the mess in my ten-year-old’s bedroom considering it matches the cleanliness – or lack thereof – of my bedroom at that same age; my adult bedroom isn’t much cleaner.
The biggest project completed MD weekend was the assembly of the hutch we bought at Ikea (pronounced ɪˈkeːˈa) earlier in the year. Actually it’s a secretary with a matching cabinet on top, but it’s far more functional than the pub table and chairs that it replaced in our kitchen. The table was a clutter magnet, and I hate barstool height chairs. Brian and I only snipped at each other a few times in the process, both losing our tempers at least once each. After about four hours (felt like forty), we have a beautiful hutch that I already started organizing with snacks for Mekhi, treats for the critters, and my two favorite cookbooks. The handled baskets that I purchased (and started using in the freezer and refrigerator) help this endeavor, plus providing storage for the unused baskets to get them off the counter.
We didn’t remove the ugly and stained brown carpet from the study MD weekend, but we did go to see Captain America: Civil War for some positive mental health and to keep up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Brian said the movie followed the comic book reasonably well; I loved the unexpected, yet very pleasant surprises the movie’s plot made. Fight scenes (which I usually find very boring) were good, too.
This coming weekend, we have no RPG; just Mekhi’s karate lesson, Janet’s memorial to attend and a few errands to run. The following weekend will be our annual Independence Day Party, so Brian and I will be cleaning and organizing. Wednesday night we hauled our seldom-used treadmill to the curb, and we don’t have anything else super-heavy that needs to be moved from the study before we take out the carpet. A lot of stuff in there will be thrown out.
I also hope we finish organizing the kitchen this weekend. Of the eleven drawers, three will continue their current uses (silverware, linens, and hand-held appliances), and I’ve gone through one of the junk drawers and now store the pot lids in there since our new stove doesn’t have as much storage as the older one. Although, now we have room next to the stove for a small organizer that we’ve purchased and hope to assemble this weekend, in which we plan to store more items that used to be on or in the stove, as well as large utensils that are in a carousel on the counter (that Brian hates because it takes up so much counter space). We also need to set up a drinking fountain for all the critters and a special timed/measured feeding dish for the dogs.
After living in this house for eleven years, I finally looked into the huge cupboard high up in the half-bath just off the kitchen. Basically it was empty, so now we store for seldom-used items for entertaining (like the football-shaped chip and dip bowl). Some of the “stuff” in the drawers may find their way into that cupboard or into the basement for other long-term storage.
I’ll let you know how what progress we make over the weekend, but understand that our plan for this evening is to go to bed not long after arriving home.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
“Every time I make a plan, God laughs at me.” – Jason Isaacs
Monday, March 21, 2016
Which Fandom?
I have the Green Bay Packers (GBP) logo tattooed on my left wrist, and when I was out with my Best Friend Betsy RN MSN and her daughter Samm, we discussed future tats that we all three want. Betsy has a lovely hybrid bird/flower image on her back that represents her three children. Her conservative prick of a husband hates it, but it’s her body and her money. Betsy wants something on her leg, but I don’t remember the details. Samm will have to wait another year until she is 18, but I imagine her tattoo will be something to do with one of her many fandoms.
Samm is a very kewl teenager: she does cosplay at conventions such as Geek Kon and Comic Con; She knows her Doctors Who; and she is a member of her high school’s Strategy Games Club, which was called the Chess Club back in the day when Betsy made me join so she wouldn’t be the only female (FTR: I am a horrible chess player). Samm may also be one of the few people on the planet who is paler than I am. With my Irish-German heritage, I make pasty-white Brits look tan.
Not too long after my first tattoo, I decided that I would like more. A friend of mine is deathly allergic to nuts, so she has the MedicAlert (MA) logo tattooed on her arm. I’d like that, too, but additionally, I’d also like my MA diagnoses (epilepsy and hypertension) and my ID # in addition to the MA toll-free number tattooed on my wrist. The logo would be on the back of my left wrist, with the information on the inside, but in the same line as the current GBP logo.
Because I tried to commit suicide when I was fifteen, Brian suggested another tattoo: a semicolon. Project Semicolon is for survivors of suicide (one’s own attempt(s) or the success of a loved one), mental illness, and self-harm. “The semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” As a wannabe writer, I like that philosophy, so I will add a semicolon tattoo to my left wrist.
The final tattoo that I need to decide upon is fandom; the main problem is which fandom. Do I choose the sci-fi/fantasy books I loved as a child and still love to this day? Do I choose the Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo or the Star Trek: the Next Generation insignia? What about a die for the many board and roleplaying games I’ve enjoyed over the years, and if so, should the die be a D6 or a D20? Plus, I’ve enjoyed many video and computer games over the years; should I choose a Triforce or a Tetris piece or even Ms. Pac-Man?
I guess I’ve known all along that I would go with my original fandom: Star Wars, which I first saw when I was ten. Now I just need to figure out how to pay for all the tattoos I want.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
“When the designs are chosen with care, tattoos have a power and magic all their own. They decorate the body but they also enhance the soul.” — Michelle Delio
Samm is a very kewl teenager: she does cosplay at conventions such as Geek Kon and Comic Con; She knows her Doctors Who; and she is a member of her high school’s Strategy Games Club, which was called the Chess Club back in the day when Betsy made me join so she wouldn’t be the only female (FTR: I am a horrible chess player). Samm may also be one of the few people on the planet who is paler than I am. With my Irish-German heritage, I make pasty-white Brits look tan.
Not too long after my first tattoo, I decided that I would like more. A friend of mine is deathly allergic to nuts, so she has the MedicAlert (MA) logo tattooed on her arm. I’d like that, too, but additionally, I’d also like my MA diagnoses (epilepsy and hypertension) and my ID # in addition to the MA toll-free number tattooed on my wrist. The logo would be on the back of my left wrist, with the information on the inside, but in the same line as the current GBP logo.
Because I tried to commit suicide when I was fifteen, Brian suggested another tattoo: a semicolon. Project Semicolon is for survivors of suicide (one’s own attempt(s) or the success of a loved one), mental illness, and self-harm. “The semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” As a wannabe writer, I like that philosophy, so I will add a semicolon tattoo to my left wrist.
The final tattoo that I need to decide upon is fandom; the main problem is which fandom. Do I choose the sci-fi/fantasy books I loved as a child and still love to this day? Do I choose the Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo or the Star Trek: the Next Generation insignia? What about a die for the many board and roleplaying games I’ve enjoyed over the years, and if so, should the die be a D6 or a D20? Plus, I’ve enjoyed many video and computer games over the years; should I choose a Triforce or a Tetris piece or even Ms. Pac-Man?
I guess I’ve known all along that I would go with my original fandom: Star Wars, which I first saw when I was ten. Now I just need to figure out how to pay for all the tattoos I want.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
“When the designs are chosen with care, tattoos have a power and magic all their own. They decorate the body but they also enhance the soul.” — Michelle Delio
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Movies, Geekdom, and Race
…yes, with an Oxford Comma (thank you, Weird Al)
Deadpool
Brian (the World’s Greatest Husband) and I rarely go to a theater to see movies because 1. they’re expensive; 2. not a lot we want to see; 3. we’re getting old, so staying out late is harder; and 4. a lot is available in alternate formats: Netflix, Amazon Video, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.
Being geeks on multiple levels, we thoroughly have enjoyed the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offerings. We’ve seen almost all the films to date, and we DVR or subscribe to the various television series (in addition to the DC Comics TV series). We have a lot of TV to watch.
So last Friday we took a mental health day (We both suffer from anxiety and depression, and we work for the State of Wisconsin; need I say more?), and after a blissful day of desperately-needed sleep, we went to see Deadpool, which despite being based on a Marvel comic, is not part of the MCU.
Janet, from our gaming group, had seen the movie and highly recommended it because the eponymous character’s hilarious sarcasm, foul language, and breaking the fourth wall are so much like her own personality. Ryan Reynolds, who is trying the Marvel Universe after his unsuccessful foray into the DC Universe, was spot-on in his portrayal, and the self-referential Easter Eggs were wonderfully abundant.
Deadpool gives plenty of eye-candy for all with plenty of shots of Reynolds’ naked bod and bum, as well as the beautiful body of the talented Morena Baccarin – well known to geeks from her days aboard Serenity, as well as her role on Gotham, based on the Batman DC Comics. Stan Lee also makes his traditional cameo. The real scene-stealer is Leslie Uggams, notable mostly for her role as Kizzy from the phenomenal TV series Roots, who plays Blind Al and perfectly matches the sarcasm and wit of the titular character.
Trust me, if you have an ounce of comic book geekdom, you’ll want to see this movie.
Race
Sunday night was the 88th Oscars Ceremony, mercifully hosted by Chris Rock. I say mercifully because of the criticism regarding the lack of diversity in the nominees of the major Oscar categories. While watching Rock’s opening monologue, I wondered if he had been hired before or after the nominees were announced because his opening monologue dealt as beautifully with the race controversy as Billy Crystal’s solo opening sequence for Oscar 62 made up for the terrible opening number from Oscar 61 (FTR: Rock was hired before the nominees were announced.).
Starting with Rock’s opening monologue, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS or just the “Academy”) seemed to take a mea culpa attitude with a humorous bent; as in, Yes, we need more awards going to African-American actors, and we are addressing that issue; but for now, let’s enjoy a good show. Plus, the “Black History Month Minute: Oscars Edition” was beyond funny on so many levels.
Of course, the African-American community wasn’t the only one complaining; Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, and other under-represented populations also bemoaned their lack of representation. What all these demographics forget, and Chris Rock did a beautiful job reminding them, is that the problem isn’t with the Academy; it’s with the movie industry. Rock’s opening monologue included a story about a Hollywood fundraiser he attended, which included a grip and grin with President Obama. Rock said, “I’m like, ‘Mr. President, you see all these writers and producers and actors? They don’t hire black people, and they’re the nicest, white people on earth! They’re liberals! Cheese!’”
I agree with Rock that Hollywood is racist and needs to look outside its stereotypes and clichés. A shining example of the way things ought to be is George Romero and the lead actor he chose for Night of the Living Dead: Duane Jones, who was a theater thespian and acting professor. When Romero hired Jones, and mind you this was 1968, the director said Jones “simply gave the best audition.” One would think that Hollywood would be more enlightened in the third millennium, but this is the community so out of fresh ideas that even Spielberg is doing remakes.
Rock said, “We want black actors to get the same opportunities as white actors.” He and Hollywood need to include other under-represented populations: those with dwarfism, actresses who are older and/or larger than the Hollywood stereotype, people with varying abilities physically and cognitively, etc.; as well as people of different ethnicities, including African-Americans.
As an aside note, I have one issue with the term African-American: I know of an actress who was born in South Africa, faced hardships there, then eventually immigrated to the US with her mother to start a new life. The woman now has dual citizenship, thus being truly “African-American,” but cannot state that as her ethnicity because of the color of her skin. The actress is Charlize Theron.
While I was watching the show, my son Mekhi (who is African-American by skin color, as well as ethnicity) came downstairs and asked for a bedtime snack. After telling him that a popsicle is not suitable for bedtime (I allowed cheese and pretzels), I told him about the Oscars and all that I’ve mentioned in this blog – including the Night of the Living Dead story. He agreed that is the way it ought to be. He’s studying the Civil Rights Movement in school, and I think the story of the Oscars would be an excellent lesson in how much further we need to go as a country before “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all…are created equal.” Yes, even Thomas Jefferson needs to be updated, and I think he would agree.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
“This year, in the In Memoriam package, it’s just going to be black people that were shot by the cops on their way to the movies.” – Chris Rock
Deadpool
Brian (the World’s Greatest Husband) and I rarely go to a theater to see movies because 1. they’re expensive; 2. not a lot we want to see; 3. we’re getting old, so staying out late is harder; and 4. a lot is available in alternate formats: Netflix, Amazon Video, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.
Being geeks on multiple levels, we thoroughly have enjoyed the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offerings. We’ve seen almost all the films to date, and we DVR or subscribe to the various television series (in addition to the DC Comics TV series). We have a lot of TV to watch.
So last Friday we took a mental health day (We both suffer from anxiety and depression, and we work for the State of Wisconsin; need I say more?), and after a blissful day of desperately-needed sleep, we went to see Deadpool, which despite being based on a Marvel comic, is not part of the MCU.
Janet, from our gaming group, had seen the movie and highly recommended it because the eponymous character’s hilarious sarcasm, foul language, and breaking the fourth wall are so much like her own personality. Ryan Reynolds, who is trying the Marvel Universe after his unsuccessful foray into the DC Universe, was spot-on in his portrayal, and the self-referential Easter Eggs were wonderfully abundant.
Deadpool gives plenty of eye-candy for all with plenty of shots of Reynolds’ naked bod and bum, as well as the beautiful body of the talented Morena Baccarin – well known to geeks from her days aboard Serenity, as well as her role on Gotham, based on the Batman DC Comics. Stan Lee also makes his traditional cameo. The real scene-stealer is Leslie Uggams, notable mostly for her role as Kizzy from the phenomenal TV series Roots, who plays Blind Al and perfectly matches the sarcasm and wit of the titular character.
Trust me, if you have an ounce of comic book geekdom, you’ll want to see this movie.
Race
Sunday night was the 88th Oscars Ceremony, mercifully hosted by Chris Rock. I say mercifully because of the criticism regarding the lack of diversity in the nominees of the major Oscar categories. While watching Rock’s opening monologue, I wondered if he had been hired before or after the nominees were announced because his opening monologue dealt as beautifully with the race controversy as Billy Crystal’s solo opening sequence for Oscar 62 made up for the terrible opening number from Oscar 61 (FTR: Rock was hired before the nominees were announced.).
Starting with Rock’s opening monologue, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS or just the “Academy”) seemed to take a mea culpa attitude with a humorous bent; as in, Yes, we need more awards going to African-American actors, and we are addressing that issue; but for now, let’s enjoy a good show. Plus, the “Black History Month Minute: Oscars Edition” was beyond funny on so many levels.
Of course, the African-American community wasn’t the only one complaining; Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, and other under-represented populations also bemoaned their lack of representation. What all these demographics forget, and Chris Rock did a beautiful job reminding them, is that the problem isn’t with the Academy; it’s with the movie industry. Rock’s opening monologue included a story about a Hollywood fundraiser he attended, which included a grip and grin with President Obama. Rock said, “I’m like, ‘Mr. President, you see all these writers and producers and actors? They don’t hire black people, and they’re the nicest, white people on earth! They’re liberals! Cheese!’”
I agree with Rock that Hollywood is racist and needs to look outside its stereotypes and clichés. A shining example of the way things ought to be is George Romero and the lead actor he chose for Night of the Living Dead: Duane Jones, who was a theater thespian and acting professor. When Romero hired Jones, and mind you this was 1968, the director said Jones “simply gave the best audition.” One would think that Hollywood would be more enlightened in the third millennium, but this is the community so out of fresh ideas that even Spielberg is doing remakes.
Rock said, “We want black actors to get the same opportunities as white actors.” He and Hollywood need to include other under-represented populations: those with dwarfism, actresses who are older and/or larger than the Hollywood stereotype, people with varying abilities physically and cognitively, etc.; as well as people of different ethnicities, including African-Americans.
As an aside note, I have one issue with the term African-American: I know of an actress who was born in South Africa, faced hardships there, then eventually immigrated to the US with her mother to start a new life. The woman now has dual citizenship, thus being truly “African-American,” but cannot state that as her ethnicity because of the color of her skin. The actress is Charlize Theron.
While I was watching the show, my son Mekhi (who is African-American by skin color, as well as ethnicity) came downstairs and asked for a bedtime snack. After telling him that a popsicle is not suitable for bedtime (I allowed cheese and pretzels), I told him about the Oscars and all that I’ve mentioned in this blog – including the Night of the Living Dead story. He agreed that is the way it ought to be. He’s studying the Civil Rights Movement in school, and I think the story of the Oscars would be an excellent lesson in how much further we need to go as a country before “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all…are created equal.” Yes, even Thomas Jefferson needs to be updated, and I think he would agree.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
“This year, in the In Memoriam package, it’s just going to be black people that were shot by the cops on their way to the movies.” – Chris Rock
Monday, February 15, 2016
More Geekdom
I am a Geek on multiple levels, and here’s more proof:
• I saw PEBCAK on a license plate and laughed.
• I got the joke when I saw a toddler named Clark wearing a Superman logo t-shirt.
• When watching an episode of Sleepy Hollow, I made the World’s Greatest Husband (WGH) stop and rewind. Two characters were discussing artifacts in a museum, and one called an item “…a gift from King Phillip II of Spain to Elizabeth I.” “Wait a minute…no effing way!” Phil was Mary I’s husband, and Mary imprisoned her younger half-sister Elizabeth. I doubt Phil was inclined to give Elizabeth a gift.
• Very esoteric: saw a license plate that said TK42One; had to think a moment because somewhere in my brain I knew the reference. I actually was telling a story to the WGH (one he hadn’t heard before; miracle of miracles), and I stopped mid-sentence. When I finally remembered where I heard it, I laughed a lot. Then I had to finish the story and ask the WGH if he caught the reference. When he couldn’t place it, I said, “Would it help if I added ‘Why aren’t you at your post?’?”
Speaking of Star Wars (I will give ample warning for spoilers)
Brian and I went to see Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (VII) on Christmas Day, and as I said in my WordPress blog, answering the question: “What did you get really, really, really excited about? At the moment, I cannot think of anything. Not even Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (I am cautiously optimistic about Disney films.) Isn’t that sad?”
I have a love/hate relationship with Disney films. I grew up watching animated features such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, etc. I loved the live-action films such as Pollyanna, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Darby O’Gill and the Little People (with a singing Sean Connery). The combination of live-action and animation movies were fun too, such as Mary Poppins, Tron, and I saw Bedknobs and Broomsticks at a local drive-in.
When it comes to adaptations of literature, Disney either does phenomenal or terrible; I don’t see much in between. I personally enjoyed Popeye, and the comic-book reading WGH thought The Rocketeer was good, but I’m sure Victor Hugo is spinning in his grave over Disney’s animated musical adaption of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I never will forgive Disney for what they did to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; and even though they started well with my beloved Chronicles of Narnia, adaptations of the second and third books lacked the magic of the first film, and the fourth seems to be in development hell.
So when Disney acquired Lucasfilm, I was happy that the final trilogy would be made, but I also was worried about the production quality – not the special effects or even the cast, who all are fantastic; but the story, script, and execution were my main concerns.
I had cause to worry.
When I reviewed Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (III; the acronym ROTS was not a good sign), I said, “Lucas has said that he will not make the third and final trilogy in this saga, and I agree he shouldn’t unless he wishes to apologize to his fans. The only apology I would accept is if Lucas would write the final trilogy stories, then leave screenwriting and directing to someone else…” I thought J. J. Abrams, after his successful re-boot of the original Star Trek series in film, was a good choice, as he obviously has the qualifications; however, I’m not sure if Episode VII is what Lucas envisioned.
Okay, here’s where the spoilers start
Please don’t misunderstand. VII is a good film, but when the WGH and I discussed the film on a road trip to the Dells, we both agreed that it had the same plot as IV: A New Hope: a cute little droid has information that a rebel group needs to fight the evil dictatorial government. Along the way, the droid meets a helpful person deserted on a desert planet, who teams up with an unlikely ally; and they share adventures that include incredible flying through the galaxy, meeting with rogues, and an intergalactic bar of dubious clientele. Finally the good rebels must battle a planet-sized weapon (or in this case, a planet turned into a weapon) in order to survive to fight another day.
The casting was fantastic, but with the exception of Ford and Fisher (that woman still turns in one helluva performance!), I felt most of the cast were underused. For example:
Max von Sydow, whom I know for his roles as villains, is only in the movie for a few shining moments before his character is killed. I think the late Christopher Lee had more screen time in ROTS, and Peter Cushing – an actor of similar experience and caliber when he starred in IV – most certainly had a larger role as Grand Moff Tarkin.
Lupita Nyong’o is an Academy Award-winning actress of considerable skill and talent, plus she’s beautiful beyond belief; and Abrams has her voicing a CGI character.
While Andy Serkis is the definitive CGI/motion capture actor since his work with Peter Jackson, his character is confined to an oversized throne and an undersized part and isn’t very convincing as a powerful bad guy.
Of course, the tiniest role goes to my personal favorite: Mark Hamill (who thirty-six years after I fell in love with his tukhus still makes my fantasy list). Unfortunately he is relegated to nothing more than a non-speaking cameo. The character’s name has more screen-time in the opening crawl than Hamill does in the entire film. In fact the scene to walk up the island where Skywalker is hiding takes more screen time (or as the WGH put it, “and she’s walking, and walking, and walking…” á la MST3K).
The newbies cast as protagonists all turned in excellent performances, and I can’t wait to see how their characters develop, but I was less convinced by those portraying the members of the First Order. Adam Driver, playing the grandson of and wannabe badass like Darth Vader, seems too stiff and restrained in his role as main antagonist Kylo Ren (plus his ears and the expression on his mask-less face reminded me of one of my nephews). Domhnall Gleeson (son of the fabulously talented and handsome Brendan Gleeson), Gwendoline Christie, and all the others portraying officers and higher-ups in the First Order all seem too young to have climbed the chain-of-command so high, especially because Ren doesn’t seem to kill off the staff the way Vader did.
The similarities between VII and IV were so much that during the main lightsaber battle, both the WGH and I were wondering if someone was going to lose a hand. Mercifully no one did.
My score for VII is B-/C+. In the words of Wil Wheaton in “The Opening Night Excitation” episode of The Big Bang Theory, “I liked that more than I thought I would.” but remember that my expectations were low before I saw the film. I knew that I was going to miss the old 20th Century Fox logo and fanfare, but I was glad they didn’t replace it with the Disney castle logo and “When you wish upon a star” music because that would not have felt right from the start.
Am I going to see the rest of the sequel trilogy? Of course. The WGH and I will continue our Jewish-like Christmas tradition of having Chinese food for dinner and going to see Episode VIII in 2017. I’ll even go see the ancillary series that Disney has planned in their attempt to cash in on this cow for as much as they can. My love-hate relationship with them continues ad nauseum.
Just don’t get me started on Disney’s sucky novelizations and “Journey to The Force Awakens” crap.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
“I’m just afraid I’ll disappoint you.” – WGH, on his 2015 Christmas gifts for me
“Sweetheart, the only one who can disappoint me on Christmas Day is J. J. Abrams.” – Me
• I saw PEBCAK on a license plate and laughed.
• I got the joke when I saw a toddler named Clark wearing a Superman logo t-shirt.
• When watching an episode of Sleepy Hollow, I made the World’s Greatest Husband (WGH) stop and rewind. Two characters were discussing artifacts in a museum, and one called an item “…a gift from King Phillip II of Spain to Elizabeth I.” “Wait a minute…no effing way!” Phil was Mary I’s husband, and Mary imprisoned her younger half-sister Elizabeth. I doubt Phil was inclined to give Elizabeth a gift.
• Very esoteric: saw a license plate that said TK42One; had to think a moment because somewhere in my brain I knew the reference. I actually was telling a story to the WGH (one he hadn’t heard before; miracle of miracles), and I stopped mid-sentence. When I finally remembered where I heard it, I laughed a lot. Then I had to finish the story and ask the WGH if he caught the reference. When he couldn’t place it, I said, “Would it help if I added ‘Why aren’t you at your post?’?”
Speaking of Star Wars (I will give ample warning for spoilers)
Brian and I went to see Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (VII) on Christmas Day, and as I said in my WordPress blog, answering the question: “What did you get really, really, really excited about? At the moment, I cannot think of anything. Not even Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (I am cautiously optimistic about Disney films.) Isn’t that sad?”
I have a love/hate relationship with Disney films. I grew up watching animated features such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, etc. I loved the live-action films such as Pollyanna, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Darby O’Gill and the Little People (with a singing Sean Connery). The combination of live-action and animation movies were fun too, such as Mary Poppins, Tron, and I saw Bedknobs and Broomsticks at a local drive-in.
When it comes to adaptations of literature, Disney either does phenomenal or terrible; I don’t see much in between. I personally enjoyed Popeye, and the comic-book reading WGH thought The Rocketeer was good, but I’m sure Victor Hugo is spinning in his grave over Disney’s animated musical adaption of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I never will forgive Disney for what they did to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; and even though they started well with my beloved Chronicles of Narnia, adaptations of the second and third books lacked the magic of the first film, and the fourth seems to be in development hell.
So when Disney acquired Lucasfilm, I was happy that the final trilogy would be made, but I also was worried about the production quality – not the special effects or even the cast, who all are fantastic; but the story, script, and execution were my main concerns.
I had cause to worry.
When I reviewed Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (III; the acronym ROTS was not a good sign), I said, “Lucas has said that he will not make the third and final trilogy in this saga, and I agree he shouldn’t unless he wishes to apologize to his fans. The only apology I would accept is if Lucas would write the final trilogy stories, then leave screenwriting and directing to someone else…” I thought J. J. Abrams, after his successful re-boot of the original Star Trek series in film, was a good choice, as he obviously has the qualifications; however, I’m not sure if Episode VII is what Lucas envisioned.
Okay, here’s where the spoilers start
Please don’t misunderstand. VII is a good film, but when the WGH and I discussed the film on a road trip to the Dells, we both agreed that it had the same plot as IV: A New Hope: a cute little droid has information that a rebel group needs to fight the evil dictatorial government. Along the way, the droid meets a helpful person deserted on a desert planet, who teams up with an unlikely ally; and they share adventures that include incredible flying through the galaxy, meeting with rogues, and an intergalactic bar of dubious clientele. Finally the good rebels must battle a planet-sized weapon (or in this case, a planet turned into a weapon) in order to survive to fight another day.
The casting was fantastic, but with the exception of Ford and Fisher (that woman still turns in one helluva performance!), I felt most of the cast were underused. For example:
Max von Sydow, whom I know for his roles as villains, is only in the movie for a few shining moments before his character is killed. I think the late Christopher Lee had more screen time in ROTS, and Peter Cushing – an actor of similar experience and caliber when he starred in IV – most certainly had a larger role as Grand Moff Tarkin.
Lupita Nyong’o is an Academy Award-winning actress of considerable skill and talent, plus she’s beautiful beyond belief; and Abrams has her voicing a CGI character.
While Andy Serkis is the definitive CGI/motion capture actor since his work with Peter Jackson, his character is confined to an oversized throne and an undersized part and isn’t very convincing as a powerful bad guy.
Of course, the tiniest role goes to my personal favorite: Mark Hamill (who thirty-six years after I fell in love with his tukhus still makes my fantasy list). Unfortunately he is relegated to nothing more than a non-speaking cameo. The character’s name has more screen-time in the opening crawl than Hamill does in the entire film. In fact the scene to walk up the island where Skywalker is hiding takes more screen time (or as the WGH put it, “and she’s walking, and walking, and walking…” á la MST3K).
The newbies cast as protagonists all turned in excellent performances, and I can’t wait to see how their characters develop, but I was less convinced by those portraying the members of the First Order. Adam Driver, playing the grandson of and wannabe badass like Darth Vader, seems too stiff and restrained in his role as main antagonist Kylo Ren (plus his ears and the expression on his mask-less face reminded me of one of my nephews). Domhnall Gleeson (son of the fabulously talented and handsome Brendan Gleeson), Gwendoline Christie, and all the others portraying officers and higher-ups in the First Order all seem too young to have climbed the chain-of-command so high, especially because Ren doesn’t seem to kill off the staff the way Vader did.
The similarities between VII and IV were so much that during the main lightsaber battle, both the WGH and I were wondering if someone was going to lose a hand. Mercifully no one did.
My score for VII is B-/C+. In the words of Wil Wheaton in “The Opening Night Excitation” episode of The Big Bang Theory, “I liked that more than I thought I would.” but remember that my expectations were low before I saw the film. I knew that I was going to miss the old 20th Century Fox logo and fanfare, but I was glad they didn’t replace it with the Disney castle logo and “When you wish upon a star” music because that would not have felt right from the start.
Am I going to see the rest of the sequel trilogy? Of course. The WGH and I will continue our Jewish-like Christmas tradition of having Chinese food for dinner and going to see Episode VIII in 2017. I’ll even go see the ancillary series that Disney has planned in their attempt to cash in on this cow for as much as they can. My love-hate relationship with them continues ad nauseum.
Just don’t get me started on Disney’s sucky novelizations and “Journey to The Force Awakens” crap.
Pog ma thoin!
-Lori
“I’m just afraid I’ll disappoint you.” – WGH, on his 2015 Christmas gifts for me
“Sweetheart, the only one who can disappoint me on Christmas Day is J. J. Abrams.” – Me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)