We all have those moments. Moments we'd love to rewind and do again, with much more finesse and a lot less stupidity. Subtract those things we do without thinking that make other people think, "What the hell were they thinking?" Basically, we'd like not to look foolish.
Although I know I'm not the only who does these things, I do tend to do them in front of other people. You see, making a silly mistake when no one else is there to catch it doesn't really mean anything. Making it in front of your boyfriend or entire family, well, then you never hear the end of it.
Take an hour ago for example. C and I went through the drive-through at Burger King, and our total came to $14.76. Now, for some reason, I gave the girl $20.06, thinking I'd get back $.30 for change. Well, I was right about that, but the girl looked at me confused, wondering why I had given her a nickel since, getting that kind of change back, I'd be getting a nickel in return. And of course, I couldn't grasp that concept immediately until I thought about it for an extra two seconds. "Ohhh, yeah you're right. That was pretty dumb," I said. C just laughed and I tried to laugh it off too, but doing that in front of other people is never a fun feeling. And all I needed to do was think about it for an extra two seconds before the dumb move occurred.
But that's only a small brain fart in comparison to other blowouts I've had in my lifetime. There were some doozies when I was a reporter. In one article, I wrote about the town appointing a new building inspector, and all they were waiting for was the CORI check to come through and he would be hired. This was the first time I'd seen the abbreviation for the background check, so instead of asking the selectmen what it stood for, I figured I would just Google it. Well, Google comes up with many fine answers to one question, so the first one that came up at that time was a contracting institute. It fit well with the subject so that's what went into the article. Of course, the next day I got an email from the institution (they did daily Internet checks on how often their company is featured in online items) wondering why they were mentioned in an article about a town building inspector. Needless to say I felt like a huge dork, apologized for the error, and told them it might have been a cut and paste fiasco. Oops.
But the best one so far has been my birthday two or three years ago (it was so traumatizing I've almost blocked it out). :) My entire family came to Worcester to take me out for a birthday lunch at Vinny T's. When we got to the parking lot I parked next to my parents. C and I sat in the car for a second while I waited for my mom to open her car door so we wouldn't bang doors. But she was writing in her travel journal, so I decided to get out before she did. Now, this would've been a smart move had I not still had the keys in the ignition and the motor running. Doors locked, I slammed my door shut.
Shit.
Thankfully my mom had a wire coat hanger in the trunk, as they had a suitcase for their trip up that weekend. So my handy brother-in-law shimmied it down the other side of the door and was able to unlock it, allowing me to properly turn off my car. But the damage was done- a typical DER moment, and not just in a public parking lot, but with my family waiting for me to have lunch. Priceless.
Unfortunately, it's these situations that tend to make the best stories, and are fair fodder for razzing on people. But it's all in the way you handle them that can turn them from embarrassing to just plain funny, and something you can laugh about whenever it comes up. And trust me, they might come up quite often!
Thankfully for me, I've had plenty of practice. :)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Just As Good the Second Time Around
I took my friend for his birthday to see The Dark Knight this weekend, since his girlfriend had no interest in seeing it and just about everyone else we know had seen it. A group of 4 of us (three of which had seen the movie, including me) drove to the theater to see if it would be just as enjoyable the second time as it was the first time.
It was.
Now, obviously there are differences in your movie experience when you see a movie for the second time. You know what the action sequences are, you know who lives and who dies, and you know how it ends. But with this movie, watching the action sequences was still really cool, I still jumped during one scene where a dead body hits a glass window (and I knew it was coming- doh!), and the ending is still fantastic. It's not quite the same heart palpitating catharsis, but it's still pretty damn good.
One of the reasons for this is the intelligent character development. It really is exciting to watch the Joker and Batman go up against each other, whether in a fight or just in the interrogation room. The performances are that outstanding. And the script has so many great one-liners, allowing the dialogue to flow smoothly from one scene to the next. My favorite? "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Poetry.
So basically, this movie kicks ass and just keeps on kicking. :)
It was.
Now, obviously there are differences in your movie experience when you see a movie for the second time. You know what the action sequences are, you know who lives and who dies, and you know how it ends. But with this movie, watching the action sequences was still really cool, I still jumped during one scene where a dead body hits a glass window (and I knew it was coming- doh!), and the ending is still fantastic. It's not quite the same heart palpitating catharsis, but it's still pretty damn good.
One of the reasons for this is the intelligent character development. It really is exciting to watch the Joker and Batman go up against each other, whether in a fight or just in the interrogation room. The performances are that outstanding. And the script has so many great one-liners, allowing the dialogue to flow smoothly from one scene to the next. My favorite? "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Poetry.
So basically, this movie kicks ass and just keeps on kicking. :)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
I Made It!
Well folks, I finally made it to the Worcester Art Museum today. It only took me all weekend, in which I didn't do much of anything, but the important thing is I went! :)
It was a great trip. I went by myself which was actually a very enjoyable experience. Normally I like to go to museums with other people to discuss the art, but today I got to take everything in with quiet reflection. One thing I appreciated about the museum's set up is that they have fairly detailed note cards for almost all of their pieces, and a placard on the wall at the beginning of each room and genre to describe where the art had originated.
When you enter the museum from the Salisbury Street side, there is one of many beautifully preserved mosaics on the floor. These mosaics come from an excavation in Antioch in the 1930s. Some are on the floor and others hang on the walls throughout the museum.
The first floor consists of Asian, Egyptian, Roman, and Medieval artwork and artifacts. The Asian section is usually one of my favorites and this was no exception. I love the painted folding dividers, and if I ever have a house big enough I would love to have one of those dividers as decoration. The landscapes are often very detailed and breathtaking, but the one I enjoyed the most was of a dragon's head. The swift wavy brushstrokes made it a very fluid picture, and the lighting contrast made it look as if it was coming out of the painting. Very cool.
There is also a recreation of a 12th century chapel house which is very impressive, seeing as they had to piece it together. It's fairly dark and ominously quiet, but the stone architecture brings you back to a time of small monasteries where men gathered to discuss how to serve the community in their religious endeavors.
The second floor has European and Contemporary art. I only remember a lot of religious depictions from this floor, some of which is very beautiful, but others are more simplistic and rather boring to me. I can only look at so many images of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus before the effect starts to wear off- same with the saints and apostles.
The third floor houses American artwork, most of which is done by local artists. There's an early painting of Worcester, possibly the earliest known painting of the city, which is very expansive and beautiful. It's amazing to see any city or town that was mostly hills and pastures in its original form, before civilization took over and molded it into a modern-day society.
I also enjoyed several individual pieces on this floor. One was called, "Portrait of My Daughters" by Frank W. Benson, done in 1907. In it he paints his three daughters sitting outside enjoying a lovely summer day. It reminded me of my two sisters, and how we're able to visit with each other more frequently since we live in the same area. But the painting also has a slight nostalgic feel to it as well, since two of the three sisters are older (which is also similar to my sisters, who are 7 and 8 years older than I am). The painter, who paints this as the father, almost seems sad to see his children growing older, shown by the eldest who is lost in her own thoughts. She faces away from the viewer and is looking down, not at her sisters, while the other two have their attention focused on a basket of flowers. It's as if these moments, though enjoyable with his daughters, are becoming few and far between as they get older.
Another painting I thought was beautiful was one of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his daughter, Edith, by George Peter Alexander Healy. According to museum notes, the painting was done after the death of Longfellow's wife, and his expression is one of longing and quiet despair. To contrast that, Edith, in a very pretty dress, holds her father and looks into his eyes as if to say, "We will now have to enjoy the remaining time we have together." It was very moving for such a simple pose.
All in all it was a a very interesting visit to end my long weekend, and I did plenty of walking to fulfill my exercise regimen. :)
It was a great trip. I went by myself which was actually a very enjoyable experience. Normally I like to go to museums with other people to discuss the art, but today I got to take everything in with quiet reflection. One thing I appreciated about the museum's set up is that they have fairly detailed note cards for almost all of their pieces, and a placard on the wall at the beginning of each room and genre to describe where the art had originated.
When you enter the museum from the Salisbury Street side, there is one of many beautifully preserved mosaics on the floor. These mosaics come from an excavation in Antioch in the 1930s. Some are on the floor and others hang on the walls throughout the museum.
The first floor consists of Asian, Egyptian, Roman, and Medieval artwork and artifacts. The Asian section is usually one of my favorites and this was no exception. I love the painted folding dividers, and if I ever have a house big enough I would love to have one of those dividers as decoration. The landscapes are often very detailed and breathtaking, but the one I enjoyed the most was of a dragon's head. The swift wavy brushstrokes made it a very fluid picture, and the lighting contrast made it look as if it was coming out of the painting. Very cool.
There is also a recreation of a 12th century chapel house which is very impressive, seeing as they had to piece it together. It's fairly dark and ominously quiet, but the stone architecture brings you back to a time of small monasteries where men gathered to discuss how to serve the community in their religious endeavors.
The second floor has European and Contemporary art. I only remember a lot of religious depictions from this floor, some of which is very beautiful, but others are more simplistic and rather boring to me. I can only look at so many images of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus before the effect starts to wear off- same with the saints and apostles.
The third floor houses American artwork, most of which is done by local artists. There's an early painting of Worcester, possibly the earliest known painting of the city, which is very expansive and beautiful. It's amazing to see any city or town that was mostly hills and pastures in its original form, before civilization took over and molded it into a modern-day society.
I also enjoyed several individual pieces on this floor. One was called, "Portrait of My Daughters" by Frank W. Benson, done in 1907. In it he paints his three daughters sitting outside enjoying a lovely summer day. It reminded me of my two sisters, and how we're able to visit with each other more frequently since we live in the same area. But the painting also has a slight nostalgic feel to it as well, since two of the three sisters are older (which is also similar to my sisters, who are 7 and 8 years older than I am). The painter, who paints this as the father, almost seems sad to see his children growing older, shown by the eldest who is lost in her own thoughts. She faces away from the viewer and is looking down, not at her sisters, while the other two have their attention focused on a basket of flowers. It's as if these moments, though enjoyable with his daughters, are becoming few and far between as they get older.
Another painting I thought was beautiful was one of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his daughter, Edith, by George Peter Alexander Healy. According to museum notes, the painting was done after the death of Longfellow's wife, and his expression is one of longing and quiet despair. To contrast that, Edith, in a very pretty dress, holds her father and looks into his eyes as if to say, "We will now have to enjoy the remaining time we have together." It was very moving for such a simple pose.
All in all it was a a very interesting visit to end my long weekend, and I did plenty of walking to fulfill my exercise regimen. :)
Exercise, Schmexercise
I should be exercising right now. C and I just finished watching coverage of the Olympics and we're not doing anything in particular together. I thought I would blog since I need to get back into the habit of writing every day (and because it only involves me sitting in a chair writing whatever comes to mind). But exercising requires a bit more effort, something I only do in fits and spurts.
It's just the actual starting to exercise thing that gets me. Once I'm in a routine I'm pretty good at keeping up with it. But if I've spent most of my day sleeping, eating and watching TV (which I did on this lazy Saturday), it's hard to suddenly want to get up and get all sweaty while exerting way more effort than I have all week.
I have been trying to watch what I eat, simply because I'm the heaviest I've ever been right now. And keeping track of what I eat helps tremendously on that front. But if I want the weight loss to be more complete (and a bit faster seeing as I'm hardly losing any right now!) then I need to get off my butt and move around some more.
But it's pretty late right now. I'll do it tomorrow, when I have all day to put it off again. :)
It's just the actual starting to exercise thing that gets me. Once I'm in a routine I'm pretty good at keeping up with it. But if I've spent most of my day sleeping, eating and watching TV (which I did on this lazy Saturday), it's hard to suddenly want to get up and get all sweaty while exerting way more effort than I have all week.
I have been trying to watch what I eat, simply because I'm the heaviest I've ever been right now. And keeping track of what I eat helps tremendously on that front. But if I want the weight loss to be more complete (and a bit faster seeing as I'm hardly losing any right now!) then I need to get off my butt and move around some more.
But it's pretty late right now. I'll do it tomorrow, when I have all day to put it off again. :)
Friday, August 8, 2008
A Day Off
There are few things better than a day off from work (except for maybe a week or two off from work). :) I took today off because A) it's Friday and who doesn't like long weekends? B) I worked 5 hours of overtime last week and needed a break from proofing, and C) I have enough time off to plan at least one day off a month so, why not? It's good to have those days of rest to get your spirits back up for the next week of daily grindage.
So, my plan was to go to the Worcester Art Museum since I've lived within walking distance of it for almost 3 years now and have never been! C has been a number of times, so I figured while he was meeting with his advisor in the afternoon, I would walk down and check it out. Well, it turns out that last night we spent 5 hours watching and playing video games with our upstairs neighbors, and didn't get home until 6 am. This meant I didn't wake up until 3:30 pm. By the time I got dressed and went to Dunkin Donuts to get breakfast, er, lunch, it was 4 pm. And when we finished eating it was about 4:30 pm. The museum closes at 5 pm. Oops!
But that's the great thing about long weekends- even when you miss a day of activity, you've still got two more days of freedom. :)
So for the rest of the day I plan to watch the Red Sox game, Stargate Atlantis (I'm actually home to watch it- yay!), and maybe some reading in bed. Although the way things have been going we may end up in another video game crackfest until the wee hours of the morning. But that's okay, because I still have an entire weekend to enjoy.
So, my plan was to go to the Worcester Art Museum since I've lived within walking distance of it for almost 3 years now and have never been! C has been a number of times, so I figured while he was meeting with his advisor in the afternoon, I would walk down and check it out. Well, it turns out that last night we spent 5 hours watching and playing video games with our upstairs neighbors, and didn't get home until 6 am. This meant I didn't wake up until 3:30 pm. By the time I got dressed and went to Dunkin Donuts to get breakfast, er, lunch, it was 4 pm. And when we finished eating it was about 4:30 pm. The museum closes at 5 pm. Oops!
But that's the great thing about long weekends- even when you miss a day of activity, you've still got two more days of freedom. :)
So for the rest of the day I plan to watch the Red Sox game, Stargate Atlantis (I'm actually home to watch it- yay!), and maybe some reading in bed. Although the way things have been going we may end up in another video game crackfest until the wee hours of the morning. But that's okay, because I still have an entire weekend to enjoy.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Crummy Mummy
Last weekend C and I went to see the third installment of the Mummy trilogy, which really should've remained one movie, seeing as the first one was the only really good one. This one was so blah that I don't even remember the movie's subtitle (something about a tomb I think?). It was okay and somewhat cool to see on the big screen, but I would rather have waited for it to come out on DVD then spend $13. Oh yes, we paid that much because the showing we went to was in the "Director's Hall," which meant we got to reserve our leather-clad seats before going into the theater. And that was it. Three extra bucks for that, and it's not even like the theater was that crowded! And leather seats? Whoop-de-doo. Now if there was a massage mechanism... :)
Anyway, you go into the movie thinking that with a bad guy like Jet Li, you're gonna get some bad-ass kung fu fight scenes. Unfortunately, that feeling changes to disappointment as you walk out of the theater because there really aren't any. There's a short one in the beginning with an assassin, then there's a sword fight with him and Michelle Yeoh where you wish they had done their own choreography rather than follow the bland moves given to them. And of course, there's the final battle between Li and Brendan Fraser, lead man, where you wonder how, after getting his ass beat by some crazy kung fu moves, the white guy suddenly overpowers the martial arts master with something as simple as a couple of head butts.
Even the characters were fairly weak, especially the main ones which is never good for a movie. Rachel Weisz doesn't even come back as the wife for this one, and the new chick just doesn't hold her own, as herself or as part of the O'Connell team. Their son, Alex, is a cocky S.O.B. who's only enjoyable half the time. And even Fraser is given these paltry lines that make him look more like a schmuck than an experienced hero and slayer of mummies. The only guy who completely fell back into the usual routine is the guy who plays the brother (whose name I can never remember). He still has the funny one-liners and is constantly startled by anything and everything, making him the most fun character in the movie.
At least the storyline was different from the other two, bringing us to a different land with a new mummy. I just wish there was a better script (this one was more cutesy than anything else) and more colorful action scenes. Normally for action movies I feel like the fights drag on too long, but for this movie I wish they had given us more, quantity and quality.
The first movie will always remain the best one, simply because it is funny, charming, and action-packed. The second one C and I couldn't even remember that well, so I'm assuming we weren't that impressed by it!
And hopefully, with this movie out of the way, they will put the mummy series back in its rightful place- buried.
Anyway, you go into the movie thinking that with a bad guy like Jet Li, you're gonna get some bad-ass kung fu fight scenes. Unfortunately, that feeling changes to disappointment as you walk out of the theater because there really aren't any. There's a short one in the beginning with an assassin, then there's a sword fight with him and Michelle Yeoh where you wish they had done their own choreography rather than follow the bland moves given to them. And of course, there's the final battle between Li and Brendan Fraser, lead man, where you wonder how, after getting his ass beat by some crazy kung fu moves, the white guy suddenly overpowers the martial arts master with something as simple as a couple of head butts.
Even the characters were fairly weak, especially the main ones which is never good for a movie. Rachel Weisz doesn't even come back as the wife for this one, and the new chick just doesn't hold her own, as herself or as part of the O'Connell team. Their son, Alex, is a cocky S.O.B. who's only enjoyable half the time. And even Fraser is given these paltry lines that make him look more like a schmuck than an experienced hero and slayer of mummies. The only guy who completely fell back into the usual routine is the guy who plays the brother (whose name I can never remember). He still has the funny one-liners and is constantly startled by anything and everything, making him the most fun character in the movie.
At least the storyline was different from the other two, bringing us to a different land with a new mummy. I just wish there was a better script (this one was more cutesy than anything else) and more colorful action scenes. Normally for action movies I feel like the fights drag on too long, but for this movie I wish they had given us more, quantity and quality.
The first movie will always remain the best one, simply because it is funny, charming, and action-packed. The second one C and I couldn't even remember that well, so I'm assuming we weren't that impressed by it!
And hopefully, with this movie out of the way, they will put the mummy series back in its rightful place- buried.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Mawwiage, that bwessed awangement, that dweam within a dweam
Ok, so I have to continue on this relationship thing because I got a comment on my last blog that asked, "But would you marry him?" I assume he's asking about C and our "realistic relationship." :) So I guess it's time for me to tell the whole world, no, I would not marry him.
Now, before you inhale heavily out of shock, as in, why would you stay with him if you're not going to marry him, let me say that I don't intend on marrying anyone, nor does C intend on getting married. We both agreed that it would be enough to just be together, stay committed to each other without a ring, ceremony, or piece of paper.
C is not a big proponent of marriage. He views it as unnecessary and more of a legal and financial institution, which I think is partly true. He's seen many divorces happen around him and he's seen what a couple has to go through to end a marriage. There's not a lot of divorce in my family, which I think has influenced my views on marriage. While I don't plan on getting married myself, I certainly understand why other people want to get married. I can see the love and romance in a wedding ceremony, even if some are shrouded in religious overtones. And declaring that love in front of the other people you love, I think, can be a rather sacred thing.
I just don't particularly feel like doing it myself.
And don't worry, we don't plan on having kids either. I think both of us are fairly content right now living in an apartment, not having any major responsibilities beyond work and school, and having an open schedule to do things on the fly. I get my child exposure from my nieces, where I get to hang out with them in small doses, and then give them right back to their parents. That's a great arrangement for me! :)
So there it is, no marriage and no kids, but hopefully, a lifetime spent together.
Now, before you inhale heavily out of shock, as in, why would you stay with him if you're not going to marry him, let me say that I don't intend on marrying anyone, nor does C intend on getting married. We both agreed that it would be enough to just be together, stay committed to each other without a ring, ceremony, or piece of paper.
C is not a big proponent of marriage. He views it as unnecessary and more of a legal and financial institution, which I think is partly true. He's seen many divorces happen around him and he's seen what a couple has to go through to end a marriage. There's not a lot of divorce in my family, which I think has influenced my views on marriage. While I don't plan on getting married myself, I certainly understand why other people want to get married. I can see the love and romance in a wedding ceremony, even if some are shrouded in religious overtones. And declaring that love in front of the other people you love, I think, can be a rather sacred thing.
I just don't particularly feel like doing it myself.
And don't worry, we don't plan on having kids either. I think both of us are fairly content right now living in an apartment, not having any major responsibilities beyond work and school, and having an open schedule to do things on the fly. I get my child exposure from my nieces, where I get to hang out with them in small doses, and then give them right back to their parents. That's a great arrangement for me! :)
So there it is, no marriage and no kids, but hopefully, a lifetime spent together.
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