So this week has sucked! You have all been privy to my bitching about the hours I am putting in at work, but honestly, I hit 40 hours after I was at work about 90 minutes today...that is sad, even for me. Thank god I took tomorrow off! More about that in a minute...
In all these meetings I am in, I am sitting within view of many hunky and/or cute men. There are men from my own company, and men from a consulting firm. Some speak with accents (and I prefer that they do) and some are just pretty to look at. As Hugh Grant would say, I am this shallow!
The meetings have gone by pretty quickly; it is just the running around from meeting to meeting that really killed me yesterday. I had a 3 hour break from this project so I could meet about another project (outsourcing the last bit of call center folks). This project kills me as it means the end of having a lot of old friends here at work and I feel like I haven't really had the time to let this idea truly sink in. I think when these folks aren't here anymore that I will really dislike this place. It makes me want to cry.
When I went to this other meeting, I wasn't expecting to have Lex Luthor sitting across the table from me. I mean, don't get me wrong, but I have never really been attracted to bald men (expect on the big or small screen), but it was a pleasant surprise. So that meeting was cool and it ended up not being at all stressful as I was worried it might be so I sauntered down to the meeting on my other project, where there were no cute men yesterday…such a disappointment. At least I had some Lex time.
So this morning should prove to be interesting. I have no project meetings and can actually sit at my desk all day and get the work for my real job done. Nice thought, eh?
My boss seems to think that I am invincible and can do the work for 3 or 4 people and not crack under the pressure...the positive feedback I get is great, but I would like to be able to get home before 9pm and actually attend the screenings I have passes for. I would like to have a life outside of work and find someone fun to hang out with and I dunno...date!?
My boss is lucky right now that I don't march in his office and tell him to shove it and walk right out the door. I think about it multiple times daily and if I didn't work with such fabulous people who are sympathetic and see what I go through on a daily basis (plus my countdown clock on my monitor), I would have said some horrible things to him more than once in the last couple of weeks. Having a boss that doesn't trust you in the least is crap - especially when he continues to pile up the work on you and gives you a hard time when his own boss gives you kudos.
Byte me!
Off to work and another day of hell...I need to just walk around and look at the pretty men some more...and find the cute consultants and make them talk to me, just so I can listen! This will help me escape in my own world for a while
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Monday, July 25, 2005
Fred Has Lost His Touch (Movie Spoilers Ahead)
Hello, my name is Lindy and I am 32 and a Harry Potter addict...deal with it!
Let me fill you in on an interesting set of developments on the local Atlanta radio scene this past weekend. I listen to the morning show on 99X - I enjoy the show quite a bit - most days - but I mostly listen because a friend of mine is on it (Leslie has been previously praised on this blog quite a bit). Anyway, I listen to the show starting at 5:30 each morning until I get into work around 7:00 - sometimes 7:30, sometimes 8:00. Some days when Leslie isn't on, I will tune to NPR instead, depending on how entertaining the show may be.
So Friday, I'm driving into work and listening to the show. Leslie does her news brief and mentions some girl from Kansas or something who was disappointed in the ending of Harry Potter Book 6. 'Nuff said...move on. Not for Freddy Toucher - oh no! He has to start making fun of Harry Potter and this 13-year-old girl from middle-America. Anyway, some jackass caller says he read the book and threw it down at the end he was so upset with the ending. Leslie jumps in and says, don't ruin it! But no, not enough for Fred - before I realize it, he asks "What happens?". I hear 2 words. I can't turn off the radio fast enough - I even swerved the car. I decide to just switch the station, but I can't with the power off.
I turn the radio on soon enough to hear the cast talking about how the adults that read these books are parents of kids, but truly guys, many adults without kids read these because they are so entertaining! So I switch to NPR and let that be that.
I get home and get my mail and there is my Entertainment Weekly with Daniel Radcliffe on the cover. I start flipping through and find disclaimers warning of book spoilers, so I put the magazine under something heavy and move on. I spend all weekend avoiding any media so the ending cannot be ruined. All I know is someone dies, which the author had released a couple of months back. Crisis averted!
Day 4 of Pottergate and I am stupid enough to listen to 99X again this morning. They decide they are going to replay what happened on Friday so Harry Potter fans beware...then he says it...3 little words (and actually, Jimmy may have done that, but I cannot be sure). Before I could switch the channel, they blurt out (clearly on purpose) the 3 words that spoil the ending for me. I yelped as I could not get to the other room to turn off the radio fast enough...assholes!
So since it is ruined (I'm only 1/3 of the way through the book), I continue to listen. 2 blocks from work, Toucher is reading one of the 200+ nastygrams he got over this fiasco and reads "if you want to really piss off listeners, the culprit is..." So NPR it was, and will be until I complete the book.
Look, I do my best to support the station since they do keep me well supplied with movie passes and I only end up paying for half of my yearly flicks, but this time he went too far!
So Fred - let me just throw out a few for you:
The Crying Game - She's a MAN!
The Sixth Sense - Bruce Willis is really dead!
The Usual Suspects - Kevin Spacey is Keyser Soze
Fight Club - Ed Norton is really Tyler Durden!
Psycho - His mother is dead!
Vertigo - She was already dead and was being impersonated by a twin!
Gosford Park - The maid did it!
Presumed Innocent - The wife did it!
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back - Darth Vader is Luke's father!
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - Luke and Leia are siblings (ewww....they kissed)
Planet of the Apes - It's Earth!
Identity - All the people are in John Cusack's head - he's crazy!
Vanilla Sky - It's a dream!
Let me fill you in on an interesting set of developments on the local Atlanta radio scene this past weekend. I listen to the morning show on 99X - I enjoy the show quite a bit - most days - but I mostly listen because a friend of mine is on it (Leslie has been previously praised on this blog quite a bit). Anyway, I listen to the show starting at 5:30 each morning until I get into work around 7:00 - sometimes 7:30, sometimes 8:00. Some days when Leslie isn't on, I will tune to NPR instead, depending on how entertaining the show may be.
So Friday, I'm driving into work and listening to the show. Leslie does her news brief and mentions some girl from Kansas or something who was disappointed in the ending of Harry Potter Book 6. 'Nuff said...move on. Not for Freddy Toucher - oh no! He has to start making fun of Harry Potter and this 13-year-old girl from middle-America. Anyway, some jackass caller says he read the book and threw it down at the end he was so upset with the ending. Leslie jumps in and says, don't ruin it! But no, not enough for Fred - before I realize it, he asks "What happens?". I hear 2 words. I can't turn off the radio fast enough - I even swerved the car. I decide to just switch the station, but I can't with the power off.
I turn the radio on soon enough to hear the cast talking about how the adults that read these books are parents of kids, but truly guys, many adults without kids read these because they are so entertaining! So I switch to NPR and let that be that.
I get home and get my mail and there is my Entertainment Weekly with Daniel Radcliffe on the cover. I start flipping through and find disclaimers warning of book spoilers, so I put the magazine under something heavy and move on. I spend all weekend avoiding any media so the ending cannot be ruined. All I know is someone dies, which the author had released a couple of months back. Crisis averted!
Day 4 of Pottergate and I am stupid enough to listen to 99X again this morning. They decide they are going to replay what happened on Friday so Harry Potter fans beware...then he says it...3 little words (and actually, Jimmy may have done that, but I cannot be sure). Before I could switch the channel, they blurt out (clearly on purpose) the 3 words that spoil the ending for me. I yelped as I could not get to the other room to turn off the radio fast enough...assholes!
So since it is ruined (I'm only 1/3 of the way through the book), I continue to listen. 2 blocks from work, Toucher is reading one of the 200+ nastygrams he got over this fiasco and reads "if you want to really piss off listeners, the culprit is..." So NPR it was, and will be until I complete the book.
Look, I do my best to support the station since they do keep me well supplied with movie passes and I only end up paying for half of my yearly flicks, but this time he went too far!
So Fred - let me just throw out a few for you:
The Crying Game - She's a MAN!
The Sixth Sense - Bruce Willis is really dead!
The Usual Suspects - Kevin Spacey is Keyser Soze
Fight Club - Ed Norton is really Tyler Durden!
Psycho - His mother is dead!
Vertigo - She was already dead and was being impersonated by a twin!
Gosford Park - The maid did it!
Presumed Innocent - The wife did it!
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back - Darth Vader is Luke's father!
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - Luke and Leia are siblings (ewww....they kissed)
Planet of the Apes - It's Earth!
Identity - All the people are in John Cusack's head - he's crazy!
Vanilla Sky - It's a dream!
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Divorced White Female Seeks a Box Office Success
Movie Review: Must Love Dogs
I have to say that romantic comedies still get me to the theatre, despite past flops that had me considering otherwise. This movie made me glad that I keep trying, even if my expectations are considerably low.
Let me start by saying that John Cusack still does a great job playing the romantic lead, even if that lead is as oddball as his Jake is. Diane Lane is equally enthralling as someone so vulnerable that she will even throw her rulebook out the window (even I have been there!)
So just a quickie review here - preschool teacher recently divorced is wallowing in self-pity has a family who meddles and a love life that is non-existent. Meanwhile across town, recently divorced boat craftsman seeks Doctor Zhivago loving female who is neurotic and off the wall just like him. Oh yeah - they both Must Log Dogs. Now, ladies and gentlemen, let the fun ensue!
This is a decent date movie with a few laughs and an almost too honest look at what the dating world is like out there, single or divorced. I was sufficiently entertained for close to 2 hours and it didn't feel like close to 2 hours. I wasn't sorry to spend the $7 and see this before most of the world - one less thing to get seen!
I have to say that romantic comedies still get me to the theatre, despite past flops that had me considering otherwise. This movie made me glad that I keep trying, even if my expectations are considerably low.
Let me start by saying that John Cusack still does a great job playing the romantic lead, even if that lead is as oddball as his Jake is. Diane Lane is equally enthralling as someone so vulnerable that she will even throw her rulebook out the window (even I have been there!)
So just a quickie review here - preschool teacher recently divorced is wallowing in self-pity has a family who meddles and a love life that is non-existent. Meanwhile across town, recently divorced boat craftsman seeks Doctor Zhivago loving female who is neurotic and off the wall just like him. Oh yeah - they both Must Log Dogs. Now, ladies and gentlemen, let the fun ensue!
This is a decent date movie with a few laughs and an almost too honest look at what the dating world is like out there, single or divorced. I was sufficiently entertained for close to 2 hours and it didn't feel like close to 2 hours. I wasn't sorry to spend the $7 and see this before most of the world - one less thing to get seen!
Friday, July 22, 2005
Surf's Up!
Yesterday was a full-day meeting on this major project I mentioned earlier in the week. Not that I mind an entire day away from my email, but now I am just 1 day behind in everything else.
I ended up having to give a presentation on all our tools and systems with no notice...the only positive was that cute boys were trapped in the room with me all day...I enjoy suffering when I am not alone and have something to look at! These meetings seemed productive, only time will tell.
Unfortunately, this meeting identified me as needing to be in today's all day meeting and a half day meeting on Monday (sigh).
Something I didn't mention as part of my movie-going experience on Wednesday was that I finally met some of the crazy people. By that I mean the group of Usual Suspects (US) Angie and I always saw at all the screenings - this is what happens when you don't take a partner in crime with you. So, it's all Angie's fault.
So I get there really early - I had no idea how the crowd and/or traffic would be, so I got there 2 hours before it was going to start - this is not unusual. Anyway, the only other person in line was this guy, Jeff, one of the US's. Since it is just 2 of us in line, the small talk began and it was all downhill from there. Don't get me wrong, Jeff is a nice guy, but it's all just weird. And here I was complaining about taking Ryan with me...again, I blame Angie...and she knows it.
As time dragged on, Jeff introduced me to a few other US's and they were nice enough - I think they thought of me the same Angie and I thought of them. The biggest difference here is they like to sit on the front row of the Stadium section, and I prefer a few rows back (whew).
I really need to find a permanent movie-buddy... one that isn't shopping screenplays in Hollywood. Yeah, yeah...poor pitiful me :)
I ended up having to give a presentation on all our tools and systems with no notice...the only positive was that cute boys were trapped in the room with me all day...I enjoy suffering when I am not alone and have something to look at! These meetings seemed productive, only time will tell.
Unfortunately, this meeting identified me as needing to be in today's all day meeting and a half day meeting on Monday (sigh).
Something I didn't mention as part of my movie-going experience on Wednesday was that I finally met some of the crazy people. By that I mean the group of Usual Suspects (US) Angie and I always saw at all the screenings - this is what happens when you don't take a partner in crime with you. So, it's all Angie's fault.
So I get there really early - I had no idea how the crowd and/or traffic would be, so I got there 2 hours before it was going to start - this is not unusual. Anyway, the only other person in line was this guy, Jeff, one of the US's. Since it is just 2 of us in line, the small talk began and it was all downhill from there. Don't get me wrong, Jeff is a nice guy, but it's all just weird. And here I was complaining about taking Ryan with me...again, I blame Angie...and she knows it.
As time dragged on, Jeff introduced me to a few other US's and they were nice enough - I think they thought of me the same Angie and I thought of them. The biggest difference here is they like to sit on the front row of the Stadium section, and I prefer a few rows back (whew).
I really need to find a permanent movie-buddy... one that isn't shopping screenplays in Hollywood. Yeah, yeah...poor pitiful me :)
Thursday, July 21, 2005
The Attire of the Clones
Movie Review: The Island
This movie must take place in a perpetual state of "before Labor Day." Apparently, our future is full of clones wearing fancy white jumpsuits with Nike shoes - but if they look like Ewan McGregor.
Where to begin...the premise of this movie is that in 14 years, the rich and elite of the future can purchase a clone of themselves to be created in case they need organ transplants as an insurance policy...ewww creepy. The trick is, the clones have to idea what their purpose is. They live in this highly controlled world, or should I say bunker, being told they are the only survivors of a fatally contaminated Earth, where they have an ultimate goal of getting to The Island where they can live free, in the only remaining pathogen-free environment.
The action in this movie was somewhat enjoyable, but the sci-fi side was a little much. This movie boiled down to a few great moments surrounded by filler materials including some of the most insulting product placement I have ever seen...Scarlet Johansson plays a clone of her Calvin Klein persona??? C'mon Hollywood, couldn't you have shot some of your own material instead of making us look at the already overused print and TV ads for Eternity? I guess this way Calvin Klein PAID you and therefore it cost you nothing to include it, eh? There were some other obvious placements, but they weren't nearly as annoying.
Ewan did shine for one part of the movie when he got to play against...wait for it...HIMSELF! But overall, I think this movie played the role of "if we aren't careful, this could be come a reality." Basically, this is not that much of a stretch of raising our clones to standby for a liver or kidney should we want to live forever, but personally I would rather we spent money on finding cures instead of ways to cheat death with no regard for the moral consequences.
What humors me most about this entire experience is that the least used actor in this movie, Michael Clarke Duncan (who admits he worked only 2 days and is on screen for maybe 7 minutes total), is doing the press tour of talk shows and I have yet to see the stars scheduled for anything.
Save your $8 to $10 and pop this one in your Netflix queue today so you don't forget about it as soon as it leaves the theatres for oblivion. However, if you just want a couple of hours of mindless entertainment, or to get out of the rain and you have seen everything else, feel free to waste the time.
This movie must take place in a perpetual state of "before Labor Day." Apparently, our future is full of clones wearing fancy white jumpsuits with Nike shoes - but if they look like Ewan McGregor.
Where to begin...the premise of this movie is that in 14 years, the rich and elite of the future can purchase a clone of themselves to be created in case they need organ transplants as an insurance policy...ewww creepy. The trick is, the clones have to idea what their purpose is. They live in this highly controlled world, or should I say bunker, being told they are the only survivors of a fatally contaminated Earth, where they have an ultimate goal of getting to The Island where they can live free, in the only remaining pathogen-free environment.
The action in this movie was somewhat enjoyable, but the sci-fi side was a little much. This movie boiled down to a few great moments surrounded by filler materials including some of the most insulting product placement I have ever seen...Scarlet Johansson plays a clone of her Calvin Klein persona??? C'mon Hollywood, couldn't you have shot some of your own material instead of making us look at the already overused print and TV ads for Eternity? I guess this way Calvin Klein PAID you and therefore it cost you nothing to include it, eh? There were some other obvious placements, but they weren't nearly as annoying.
Ewan did shine for one part of the movie when he got to play against...wait for it...HIMSELF! But overall, I think this movie played the role of "if we aren't careful, this could be come a reality." Basically, this is not that much of a stretch of raising our clones to standby for a liver or kidney should we want to live forever, but personally I would rather we spent money on finding cures instead of ways to cheat death with no regard for the moral consequences.
What humors me most about this entire experience is that the least used actor in this movie, Michael Clarke Duncan (who admits he worked only 2 days and is on screen for maybe 7 minutes total), is doing the press tour of talk shows and I have yet to see the stars scheduled for anything.
Save your $8 to $10 and pop this one in your Netflix queue today so you don't forget about it as soon as it leaves the theatres for oblivion. However, if you just want a couple of hours of mindless entertainment, or to get out of the rain and you have seen everything else, feel free to waste the time.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
The View From the Back
This post will be short and sweet since my day today is completely booked...I have one open 30 minute slot, but knowing my luck, it we be filled before lunchtime.
Yesterday was world's biggest and most useless kick-off meeting of a project ever. We did get a free lunch and I did get to leave the building for a few hours (never a bad thing). However, the rest of the meeting was just a rehash of previous meetings and a complete snooze-fest.
The only redeeming quality this meeting had, was the view. We were at a local hotel in one of their ballroom/conference rooms and it was set up with like 12 tables. My team and I (being such good strategists) picked one on the far side of the room and in the middle (so we weren't avoiding the front, but not being nerds by being in the front).
Did I mention there are some very yummy men on this project - some of them work for us, and some work as consultants, but there seemed to be a memo that the cute ones should sit in the table smack-dab in the middle of the room. This accomplished two things - 1 - I could zone out looking at this table, yet it looked like I was consentrating hard on the meeting and 2 - I could just stare and be stealthy about it. Some days, my job doesn't suck :)
Anyway, I think we all agreed that this meeting was not what we were expecting at all and we now have like 10 more of these through the next week and a half...can I go on vacation, please??? Otherwise, assign me to "surfer-boy" and he can keep me interested in this project :D
Yesterday was world's biggest and most useless kick-off meeting of a project ever. We did get a free lunch and I did get to leave the building for a few hours (never a bad thing). However, the rest of the meeting was just a rehash of previous meetings and a complete snooze-fest.
The only redeeming quality this meeting had, was the view. We were at a local hotel in one of their ballroom/conference rooms and it was set up with like 12 tables. My team and I (being such good strategists) picked one on the far side of the room and in the middle (so we weren't avoiding the front, but not being nerds by being in the front).
Did I mention there are some very yummy men on this project - some of them work for us, and some work as consultants, but there seemed to be a memo that the cute ones should sit in the table smack-dab in the middle of the room. This accomplished two things - 1 - I could zone out looking at this table, yet it looked like I was consentrating hard on the meeting and 2 - I could just stare and be stealthy about it. Some days, my job doesn't suck :)
Anyway, I think we all agreed that this meeting was not what we were expecting at all and we now have like 10 more of these through the next week and a half...can I go on vacation, please??? Otherwise, assign me to "surfer-boy" and he can keep me interested in this project :D
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Rule #7: Rated-R Makes for a Better Movie
Movie Review: Wedding Crashers
What can I say except that combine Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson with an R-Rating and some good, old fashioned nudity and raunchy jokes and you have yourself a hit!
Not since the original American Pie has there been such a flick that marries humor and a little bit of a love story to make something so funny and entertaining as Crashers.
The premise of this flick is that two best friends, Jeremy (Vaughn) and John (Wilson) spend their evenings and weekends crashing strangers' weddings in order to pick up (and bed) hot, single, vulnerable chicks - c'mon ladies, you know we all get stirred up at weddings and keep our eyes out for eligible men!). The go to every kind of wedding and follow some simple rules (I lost count, but it sounds like there are over 100 of them).
Basically, if you act like a wallflower you are more likely going to look out of place than if you make an ass out of yourself and be a spectacle. Well, they certainly succeed - all the way to Treasury Secretary Cleary's (adeptly played by Christopher Walken) summer home for the weekend.
The quite Kennedy-esque family has a couple of single daughters ripe for the picking. One is a crazy and obsessed girl who has latched onto Jeremy much to his dismay and the other has her head on straight but is marrying the wrong guy. Of course, John is ready for the challenge, but this time, he has really fallen in love with the prey.
The daughters, played by Isla Fisher and Rachel McAdams, keep up with the true match-made-in-heaven couple Vaughn and Wilson. Fisher plays crazy well, and she and Vaughn created some of the funniest moments in the film (handjobs at the dinner table and slapping him one minute and then straddling him the next). McAdams and Wilson have a great chemistry as well, but it isn't hard to root for Wilson to win the girl when they make her fiancé world's biggest, sleaziest, maniacal ass (well overplayed by hunky Bradley Cooper from "Alias" fame.
Take the time, go to the theatre and see this movie if you are looking for some laughs - even the 70+ old guy sitting next to me was laughing throughout the film. This movie makes me want to take Owen Wilson home with me once again.
Someone quick, sign these two up for another movie...while the iron is HOT!
What can I say except that combine Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson with an R-Rating and some good, old fashioned nudity and raunchy jokes and you have yourself a hit!
Not since the original American Pie has there been such a flick that marries humor and a little bit of a love story to make something so funny and entertaining as Crashers.
The premise of this flick is that two best friends, Jeremy (Vaughn) and John (Wilson) spend their evenings and weekends crashing strangers' weddings in order to pick up (and bed) hot, single, vulnerable chicks - c'mon ladies, you know we all get stirred up at weddings and keep our eyes out for eligible men!). The go to every kind of wedding and follow some simple rules (I lost count, but it sounds like there are over 100 of them).
Basically, if you act like a wallflower you are more likely going to look out of place than if you make an ass out of yourself and be a spectacle. Well, they certainly succeed - all the way to Treasury Secretary Cleary's (adeptly played by Christopher Walken) summer home for the weekend.
The quite Kennedy-esque family has a couple of single daughters ripe for the picking. One is a crazy and obsessed girl who has latched onto Jeremy much to his dismay and the other has her head on straight but is marrying the wrong guy. Of course, John is ready for the challenge, but this time, he has really fallen in love with the prey.
The daughters, played by Isla Fisher and Rachel McAdams, keep up with the true match-made-in-heaven couple Vaughn and Wilson. Fisher plays crazy well, and she and Vaughn created some of the funniest moments in the film (handjobs at the dinner table and slapping him one minute and then straddling him the next). McAdams and Wilson have a great chemistry as well, but it isn't hard to root for Wilson to win the girl when they make her fiancé world's biggest, sleaziest, maniacal ass (well overplayed by hunky Bradley Cooper from "Alias" fame.
Take the time, go to the theatre and see this movie if you are looking for some laughs - even the 70+ old guy sitting next to me was laughing throughout the film. This movie makes me want to take Owen Wilson home with me once again.
Someone quick, sign these two up for another movie...while the iron is HOT!
Friday, July 15, 2005
Sweets for the Maladjusted?
Movie Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
This is one of those movies I have been waiting for, for quite a long time now. It's safe to say that my hopes were up and I had a very good chance of being let down. Well, I'm happy to say that I left the theatre quite content.
First, I loved the book by Roald Dahl, and I really enjoyed the original movie version, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, however, Johnny Depp really gave life to Willy Wonka in all his creepiness and this movie gave us insight as to why he is the way he is.
I was expecting this movie to be more different from the original movie, but in truth, while the story was very similar, this movie did a much better job bringing out the feelings in me that the book did. Bravo Tim Burton. I will say that the "demise" of the 4 rotten kids - Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee, and Violet Beauregarde - played out much more creatively on screen this go-round. However, a lot of that can be attributed to today's technology. Violet's transformation into a giant blueberry was one of the movie's best moments!
The sets were amazing and were not green-screened. I felt like I was there, in the midst of this incredible wonderland of a chocolate factory. Burton paints an extraordinary picture that cannot be outdone once again!
I will say that this movie was a bit saccharine, but so was the original...the rotten kids get their due and Charlie, the boy who cares more about his family than himself, receives the greatest gift of all. Okay, beat me over the head with a shovel - but I didn't mind as much as I usually do.
I do have to give props to Deep Roy. Most of you are thinking...who? But he has done everything from dressing up as a Jawa to being a circus performer in Burton's Big Fish. Most of you will probably recognize him when you see him, but half of his credits are as a stuntman, not an actor.
Mr. Roy plays the Oompa Loompas - not just one, and not one who is then replicated by the magic of the movies, but over 165 Oompa Loompas shot separately. It sounds like he worked harder on this movie than anyone. He was magnificent and personally, I feel he should get a nomination (but I know that won't happen). He is well worth the $8 ticket.
If you loved the book and enjoyed the first movie – this is a must-see flick. If you have never read the book, this is the perfect time to sit down (after you finish Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and read a children’s book.
This is one of those movies I have been waiting for, for quite a long time now. It's safe to say that my hopes were up and I had a very good chance of being let down. Well, I'm happy to say that I left the theatre quite content.
First, I loved the book by Roald Dahl, and I really enjoyed the original movie version, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, however, Johnny Depp really gave life to Willy Wonka in all his creepiness and this movie gave us insight as to why he is the way he is.
I was expecting this movie to be more different from the original movie, but in truth, while the story was very similar, this movie did a much better job bringing out the feelings in me that the book did. Bravo Tim Burton. I will say that the "demise" of the 4 rotten kids - Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee, and Violet Beauregarde - played out much more creatively on screen this go-round. However, a lot of that can be attributed to today's technology. Violet's transformation into a giant blueberry was one of the movie's best moments!
The sets were amazing and were not green-screened. I felt like I was there, in the midst of this incredible wonderland of a chocolate factory. Burton paints an extraordinary picture that cannot be outdone once again!
I will say that this movie was a bit saccharine, but so was the original...the rotten kids get their due and Charlie, the boy who cares more about his family than himself, receives the greatest gift of all. Okay, beat me over the head with a shovel - but I didn't mind as much as I usually do.
I do have to give props to Deep Roy. Most of you are thinking...who? But he has done everything from dressing up as a Jawa to being a circus performer in Burton's Big Fish. Most of you will probably recognize him when you see him, but half of his credits are as a stuntman, not an actor.
Mr. Roy plays the Oompa Loompas - not just one, and not one who is then replicated by the magic of the movies, but over 165 Oompa Loompas shot separately. It sounds like he worked harder on this movie than anyone. He was magnificent and personally, I feel he should get a nomination (but I know that won't happen). He is well worth the $8 ticket.
If you loved the book and enjoyed the first movie – this is a must-see flick. If you have never read the book, this is the perfect time to sit down (after you finish Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and read a children’s book.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Makin' Turtle Tracks
I'm an odd duck normally. You never know what I will enjoy from one day to the next. I'm pretty opened minded and enjoy most things, but certain items (like art), I just have to be in the mood to go see. I love art - don't get me wrong - but I don't have a lot of down time, so usually I don't spend it in museums. Now, when the art comes to me, it is a lot easier. And who knew that such art would be in the form of 5-foot-tall fiberglass turtles??? Let me explain...
Atlanta is a big city, but more so, we have lots of outlying suburbs considered to be part of Atlanta (most of these are OTP - outside the perimeter). Sandy Springs is one of these suburbs...soon to be its own city!
I basically grew up in Sandy Springs from the time I was 8 until I was 20-something and my parents continue to live there. SS has been trying for many years to be made into its own city, and they finally won this battle this past June.
In April, a new exhibit was revealed called The Town Turtles of Sandy Springs. Basically, this is our answer to The Trail of Painted Ponies and The Cow Parade. Why the turtle? Well, my brother and I would love to think that this is because Sandy Springs was the home to the greatest music store of all time - Turtle's - but alas, the turtle is the town mascot since apparently the turtle is indigenous to Sandy Springs.
So 75 artists got together to design and paint turtles and businesses got to buy them to display them for 6 months at the low, low price of $5000. The turtles are scattered all over Sandy Springs.
It was really fun in the beginning, finding them in random places and pointing them out, but now it has become a mission for me...and I am up to 58 spotted.
This is how lame I am - I am driving around with a map and list of turtles in my car and checking them off as I find them. I am also driving home convoluted ways to see if I can get 2 or 3 checked off. My next mission, is to drive around and get pictures of them...yes, I am a big NERD! There is a little girl, she is 4 or 5, I think, who just got her picture taken with the 75th turtle - and this made the Sandy Springs newspaper...okay, maybe I'm not a nerd, maybe I'm just a kid at heart!
Here is the sad part - kids are destroying the art. Turtles have been kidnapped and thrown in the lake, set on fire, painted on, and damaged by pranksters who will someday end up in prison or on the streets - people suck! They have had to put together a Turtle Hospital to cart the turtles off to for restoration and repair...what is this world coming to?
This instills a sense of community and it's just plain fun...what is wrong with that, I ask you?
Anyway, if you get the chance, and are in Georgia, drive around Sandy Springs and see the turtles on display - they are fun for the whole family!
Atlanta is a big city, but more so, we have lots of outlying suburbs considered to be part of Atlanta (most of these are OTP - outside the perimeter). Sandy Springs is one of these suburbs...soon to be its own city!
I basically grew up in Sandy Springs from the time I was 8 until I was 20-something and my parents continue to live there. SS has been trying for many years to be made into its own city, and they finally won this battle this past June.
In April, a new exhibit was revealed called The Town Turtles of Sandy Springs. Basically, this is our answer to The Trail of Painted Ponies and The Cow Parade. Why the turtle? Well, my brother and I would love to think that this is because Sandy Springs was the home to the greatest music store of all time - Turtle's - but alas, the turtle is the town mascot since apparently the turtle is indigenous to Sandy Springs.
So 75 artists got together to design and paint turtles and businesses got to buy them to display them for 6 months at the low, low price of $5000. The turtles are scattered all over Sandy Springs.
It was really fun in the beginning, finding them in random places and pointing them out, but now it has become a mission for me...and I am up to 58 spotted.
This is how lame I am - I am driving around with a map and list of turtles in my car and checking them off as I find them. I am also driving home convoluted ways to see if I can get 2 or 3 checked off. My next mission, is to drive around and get pictures of them...yes, I am a big NERD! There is a little girl, she is 4 or 5, I think, who just got her picture taken with the 75th turtle - and this made the Sandy Springs newspaper...okay, maybe I'm not a nerd, maybe I'm just a kid at heart!
Here is the sad part - kids are destroying the art. Turtles have been kidnapped and thrown in the lake, set on fire, painted on, and damaged by pranksters who will someday end up in prison or on the streets - people suck! They have had to put together a Turtle Hospital to cart the turtles off to for restoration and repair...what is this world coming to?
This instills a sense of community and it's just plain fun...what is wrong with that, I ask you?
Anyway, if you get the chance, and are in Georgia, drive around Sandy Springs and see the turtles on display - they are fun for the whole family!
Monday, July 11, 2005
Behold the Wrath of Dennis
Not many people named Dennis in the world tend to leave such a path of destruction. It was one thing to name a storm Cindy (and then she totally wipes out Atlanta Motor Speedway - she must have lost many relationships to NASCAR and/or Indy racing)., but Dennis - that really instills no fear.
Well - times, they are a-changin.
The weather has arrived, and while many are evacuating homes and sitting out the storms, according to our CEO, another system is gaining speed ready to hit our coastline once again...and not only that, but Dennis - who is causing the current damage - isn't even a storm anymore...he is a Tropical Depression...go figure.
So here we are - middle of July, and its wet and stormy and has only just begun. So, I did a little digging to find out what other silly names we have coming for the rest of the storms this year (each year, the World Meteorological Organization picks 21 names for the year (names are used on a six-year rotation) - every so often a year is bad enough that they have to start over at A). I'm sure you are wondering why such cool letters as Q and X are skipped...well, duh!? How many different names can you come up with that start with Q and X?
For 2005 (drum roll please), here are the Atlantic Tropical Storm names...
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katrina
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rita
Stan
Tammy
Vince
Wilma
Wow - I'm shaking in my boots. I enjoy the rain, but I hate the destruction. People rained out of house and home. Devastation of entire cities - who is gonna create the device that sends hurricanes back out to sea, or at least that shielding device that does not allow them to touch down on shore? Where are all the geniuses when you need them?
Maybe someone needs to make a movie about such a device before anyone gets the idea to build one...
On a personal note - tonight is supposed to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, I am so ill, I cannot stop hurling and I have a killer migraine to go alone with it. Currently, I am biding my time until Mike gets into work so I don't feel so guilty about going home and getting into bed...even the big boss, who got on the elevator with me this morning, looked at me like I was dying...I tried smiling through the pain, but he saw right through me. Of course my boss is on vacation, which adds another layer of guilt (and oh, did I mention that Vanessa is sick and not here either?).
So odds are, my passes will go to waste and I will go home and pass out for 18 hours...at least 2 of the 4 will be used with no problem.
Well - times, they are a-changin.
The weather has arrived, and while many are evacuating homes and sitting out the storms, according to our CEO, another system is gaining speed ready to hit our coastline once again...and not only that, but Dennis - who is causing the current damage - isn't even a storm anymore...he is a Tropical Depression...go figure.
So here we are - middle of July, and its wet and stormy and has only just begun. So, I did a little digging to find out what other silly names we have coming for the rest of the storms this year (each year, the World Meteorological Organization picks 21 names for the year (names are used on a six-year rotation) - every so often a year is bad enough that they have to start over at A). I'm sure you are wondering why such cool letters as Q and X are skipped...well, duh!? How many different names can you come up with that start with Q and X?
For 2005 (drum roll please), here are the Atlantic Tropical Storm names...
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katrina
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rita
Stan
Tammy
Vince
Wilma
Wow - I'm shaking in my boots. I enjoy the rain, but I hate the destruction. People rained out of house and home. Devastation of entire cities - who is gonna create the device that sends hurricanes back out to sea, or at least that shielding device that does not allow them to touch down on shore? Where are all the geniuses when you need them?
Maybe someone needs to make a movie about such a device before anyone gets the idea to build one...
On a personal note - tonight is supposed to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, I am so ill, I cannot stop hurling and I have a killer migraine to go alone with it. Currently, I am biding my time until Mike gets into work so I don't feel so guilty about going home and getting into bed...even the big boss, who got on the elevator with me this morning, looked at me like I was dying...I tried smiling through the pain, but he saw right through me. Of course my boss is on vacation, which adds another layer of guilt (and oh, did I mention that Vanessa is sick and not here either?).
So odds are, my passes will go to waste and I will go home and pass out for 18 hours...at least 2 of the 4 will be used with no problem.
Friday, July 08, 2005
The End of an Era...The Beginning of a Pain in my Arse
Yesterday was a blow to the heart strings...but somehow, I guess I should have expected it.
Lay offs - the worst part of any job, I think. At least this time, I'm not the Manager of 60-some-odd of these folks having to motivate until the end of the job. Personally, a nice severance package should be enough for some people, but I know how hard it can be to muster the effort when you know the company is letting you go.
Last time this happened, I was one of the ones being let go, but I was lucky enough to find a new job - and some of these folks will be that lucky too. We have a lot of great resources who just got burnt-out where they are now. (There are the ones who haven't cared about anything more than a paycheck for some time now and are probably thrilled to get a package like this).
Things like this are inevitable in this day and age and unfortunately, its the cost of doing business in 2005. So why am I complaining?
Well, my job keeps expanding...and expanding. Yet, it is just me handling all of CS and yet there are seven people handling TS. Look, we are laying off some good people - let me hire a couple of them (3 would be fabulous, but I can live with 2). But no - just one - and even then, they won't report to me, so CS still won't be their main focus....HELP ME!
I feel sorry for my friends losing their jobs yet here I am, still employed, and bitching about my job. But truly - I have no time in my day each day. I haven't eaten lunch this week because I have no time. Things just keep piling up and I am working 10 hours a day just trying to tread water. Oh yeah, did I mention I am now traveling to the Philippines again because of this? Big shocker! Okay Lindy, just drop everything that was deathly important last week and now spend every waking hour preparing for 10 new challenges...thanks.
While I appreciate the confidence, I need help. And not only help, but more time (and preferably an office so I can actually get work done. At the very least I need Violet's "purple bubble" (as Maggie calls it) force-field to keep the little stuff off my desk and give me 8 hours of isolation and complete quiet so I can concentrate and get some things accomplished. ARGH.
At least now, it is Friday. Two days off that I truly need to survive my current state - and I don't have anyone to truly vent to anymore. Somehow this job got a lot harder in the last 3 or 4 months - who knew that losing a best friend would impact every aspect of my life...certainly not me.
Out of respect, I won't be posting my days remaining to sabbatical until after September, but it cannot come fast enough! Did I mention that not only is one of my co-workers going on Maternity Leave, but the other one is leaving to go to another job...I'm the only Senior Manager left to handle 3 lines of business - oh goody! Someone get me a Valium....quick!
Lay offs - the worst part of any job, I think. At least this time, I'm not the Manager of 60-some-odd of these folks having to motivate until the end of the job. Personally, a nice severance package should be enough for some people, but I know how hard it can be to muster the effort when you know the company is letting you go.
Last time this happened, I was one of the ones being let go, but I was lucky enough to find a new job - and some of these folks will be that lucky too. We have a lot of great resources who just got burnt-out where they are now. (There are the ones who haven't cared about anything more than a paycheck for some time now and are probably thrilled to get a package like this).
Things like this are inevitable in this day and age and unfortunately, its the cost of doing business in 2005. So why am I complaining?
Well, my job keeps expanding...and expanding. Yet, it is just me handling all of CS and yet there are seven people handling TS. Look, we are laying off some good people - let me hire a couple of them (3 would be fabulous, but I can live with 2). But no - just one - and even then, they won't report to me, so CS still won't be their main focus....HELP ME!
I feel sorry for my friends losing their jobs yet here I am, still employed, and bitching about my job. But truly - I have no time in my day each day. I haven't eaten lunch this week because I have no time. Things just keep piling up and I am working 10 hours a day just trying to tread water. Oh yeah, did I mention I am now traveling to the Philippines again because of this? Big shocker! Okay Lindy, just drop everything that was deathly important last week and now spend every waking hour preparing for 10 new challenges...thanks.
While I appreciate the confidence, I need help. And not only help, but more time (and preferably an office so I can actually get work done. At the very least I need Violet's "purple bubble" (as Maggie calls it) force-field to keep the little stuff off my desk and give me 8 hours of isolation and complete quiet so I can concentrate and get some things accomplished. ARGH.
At least now, it is Friday. Two days off that I truly need to survive my current state - and I don't have anyone to truly vent to anymore. Somehow this job got a lot harder in the last 3 or 4 months - who knew that losing a best friend would impact every aspect of my life...certainly not me.
Out of respect, I won't be posting my days remaining to sabbatical until after September, but it cannot come fast enough! Did I mention that not only is one of my co-workers going on Maternity Leave, but the other one is leaving to go to another job...I'm the only Senior Manager left to handle 3 lines of business - oh goody! Someone get me a Valium....quick!
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Light My Fire?
Movie Review: Fantastic Four
Well, Leslie strikes again. I'm not sure what I would do without her feeding my habit (while saving my bank account) and I hope I never have to find out. She is one of the coolest people I know and I consider her a dear friend...but one of these days I have to figure out how to repay her (or do something really nice that doesn't pale in comparison).
So tonight was another Marvel movie - and this was one that I grew up with...but let me tell you, the Human Torch wasn't exactly this hunky in the comic books. He can light my fire anytime, and I don't even know his name!
I have to admit, I went into this movie with really low expectations. I mean, I heard not-so-great things about it, and c'mon, the Marvel flicks are hit or miss most of the time (Spidey 1 and 2 - hits...Hulk - big miss). But look - it was free!
Now, I will admit that this movie makes fun of itself...a lot! There is some sappy love story elements and soap-like qualities to all the characters and overall, not as big a disappointment as I expected...that said - save your bucks and watch it on HBO or pop it in your Netflix queue.
The backstory was fabrication - these guys were not radiated by a space cloud to get their powers based on the emotions they were feeling at the time (I'm sorry, what emotion makes you stretchy, again?). What do 5 people do with their new super powers? Hide in a penthouse apartment and annoy each other a la Big Brother. Not only that, but their "powers" are used for cheap laughs that really don't further the story (let me use my stretchy arms to get toilet paper from the closet across the hall while on the crapper because, as a man, I was too lazy to handle it when I finished the last roll) - at least it's honest. Most men would probably use their powers for such a noble cause! And, of course, we have Jessica Alba playing Invisible Girl, so let's make sure to catch her naked a lot...ummmm ok? And the only way a hunky stone-man can get a girl is if she is blind?! C'mon Hollywood, are we that stupid?
That said, the effects were kind cool, and the couple of scenes of them using their powers for good were at least good enough to make us remember that these are Super Heros - but overall, this one fell short. I will say, it helps to dislike a movie less when you go in with such low expectations - at least I can't be disappointed. Next time, I think I'll just go see Batman Begins, again.
On a side-note, I had to find myself a new movie-going buddy so half of these passes don't go to waste. I will say that it is definately different (and weird), but at least he sits on the correct side of me. But somehow, it isn't really right. I will say, at least he doesn't talk through the movies. It's nice, but it seems to be causing a stir - and it really shouldn't be.
I do have something more to report - but I think I will save it for morning. But basically TPTB determined that we needed to lay off more employees. I understand why, but it saddens me. I've been there and while some people welcome the opportunity to leave, others just don't. More tomorrow.
Well, Leslie strikes again. I'm not sure what I would do without her feeding my habit (while saving my bank account) and I hope I never have to find out. She is one of the coolest people I know and I consider her a dear friend...but one of these days I have to figure out how to repay her (or do something really nice that doesn't pale in comparison).
So tonight was another Marvel movie - and this was one that I grew up with...but let me tell you, the Human Torch wasn't exactly this hunky in the comic books. He can light my fire anytime, and I don't even know his name!
I have to admit, I went into this movie with really low expectations. I mean, I heard not-so-great things about it, and c'mon, the Marvel flicks are hit or miss most of the time (Spidey 1 and 2 - hits...Hulk - big miss). But look - it was free!
Now, I will admit that this movie makes fun of itself...a lot! There is some sappy love story elements and soap-like qualities to all the characters and overall, not as big a disappointment as I expected...that said - save your bucks and watch it on HBO or pop it in your Netflix queue.
The backstory was fabrication - these guys were not radiated by a space cloud to get their powers based on the emotions they were feeling at the time (I'm sorry, what emotion makes you stretchy, again?). What do 5 people do with their new super powers? Hide in a penthouse apartment and annoy each other a la Big Brother. Not only that, but their "powers" are used for cheap laughs that really don't further the story (let me use my stretchy arms to get toilet paper from the closet across the hall while on the crapper because, as a man, I was too lazy to handle it when I finished the last roll) - at least it's honest. Most men would probably use their powers for such a noble cause! And, of course, we have Jessica Alba playing Invisible Girl, so let's make sure to catch her naked a lot...ummmm ok? And the only way a hunky stone-man can get a girl is if she is blind?! C'mon Hollywood, are we that stupid?
That said, the effects were kind cool, and the couple of scenes of them using their powers for good were at least good enough to make us remember that these are Super Heros - but overall, this one fell short. I will say, it helps to dislike a movie less when you go in with such low expectations - at least I can't be disappointed. Next time, I think I'll just go see Batman Begins, again.
On a side-note, I had to find myself a new movie-going buddy so half of these passes don't go to waste. I will say that it is definately different (and weird), but at least he sits on the correct side of me. But somehow, it isn't really right. I will say, at least he doesn't talk through the movies. It's nice, but it seems to be causing a stir - and it really shouldn't be.
I do have something more to report - but I think I will save it for morning. But basically TPTB determined that we needed to lay off more employees. I understand why, but it saddens me. I've been there and while some people welcome the opportunity to leave, others just don't. More tomorrow.
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