Nov
5
You know what grinds my gears?
Birth control commercials. Specifically Nuva Ring. Why? Well first there’s that annoying song “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday … Everyday!” It’s impossible to not sing along. I catch myself humming that tune often, too. Get out of my head!
Second, the newest commercial features girlfriends sitting around watching the commercial when one asks the others if they’d consider using it. Then she launches into a sales pitch. Who talks like that?! If someone asked me about birth control I wouldn’t start discussing the levels of hormones as if I’m reading from the pamphlet it comes with.
If you discuss hormones with your gal pals, that’s fine. But this commercial (and others like it) freak me out a bit. I can’t explain it.
Don’t judge me.
(Side note: This is not meant to discourage anyone from using the product. I’m very happy with Nuva Ring, I just think the commercial is silly.)
Blame the lack of sleep.
Nov
1
Hello from Texas!
My dad is driving and I thought I’d take some time to share with you a very important lesson I learned recently. If you’re going to move across the country, fly, don’t drive.
But where’s my sense of adventure? I left it at the start of Oklahoma, which I’ve now dubbed Nebraska The Sequel. Texas isn’t any better either – I’m talking to you Amarillo! Yeah, I messed with Texas, what of it?!
When you underestimate travel time and potty breaks and overestimate the capacity of your gas tank, you quickly realize that driving sucks.
And where the hell are the rest stops?! We drove 300 miles without one and my bladder doesn’t take kindly to poor landscaping and geographical planning.
Anyway, in case you’re keeping track I left Chicago around 5 pm Saturday and should be in LA around 6-7 am Monday. We’ll see!
P.S. Don’t start a cross-country trip on Halloween night. I assumed every driver was out to kill me. I stopped for no one.
1 people like this post.
Oct
30
Warning: There ARE spoilers in this post. If you plan on seeing the movie, don’t read!
When I was younger I had a ghost club. Nothing really happened with the club, but I would go “investigate” supposedly haunted locations and document my findings (nothing.) Of course I could go hunt ghosts, but the idea of playing hide & go seek in the dark terrified me. I’ve always had an interest in the paranormal. I wouldn’t say I’m a believer, but I am open to the possibility. I’m a skeptic first – meaning I try finding the science or smoke and mirrors behind the activity first. That doesn’t mean that I won’t call my shower curtain a demon if it moves by itself.
When I heard about Paranormal Activity, I had no idea what the big deal was. I hadn’t seen the preview, I just heard it was an extremely scary movie. After watching the preview, co-workers were convinced they did not want to see it, but me? I was anxious! Seeing people scream and hide in their seats only made me more interested. I kept saying, “It’s not real!” I had to see how this movie was causing people to have a physical reaction in their seats.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a movie that has actually scared me, but I will admit that Paranormal Activity proved that the less you see, the more creeped out you get. The movie is supposed to be a home movie created by Micah and Katie. Think Blair Witch meets Cloverfield except without the seizure-inducing shaky camera. They’ve been experiencing, wait for it… paranormal activity for a while and Micah wanted to capture it on tape. It started out pretty slow, but as Micah kept provoking it, the attacks started getting more intense.
The movie instilled just the right amount of fear. It attacked your senses. You heard the footsteps and you saw the footprints in the powder, but you couldn’t see what was causing it. There was no music with startling booms, bangs or bings, but there were loud pounding sounds caused by the “demon.”
It started getting really disturbing when you saw how it was affecting Katie. The time stamp on the camera would show her standing near the side of the bed for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night. Her lack of expression and movement were enough to give me goosebumps. Once I knew she was officially possessed I started getting really creeped out. For whatever reason I don’t like seeing faces of possessed people and I knew before the end of the movie we’d have a close-up. I did not see the end coming. It’s easy to forget that this isn’t real. I won’t give away the ending, but it was probably the scariest part of the movie for me.
I didn’t scream or cry like the people in the previews, but I did hide my eyes a couple times (especially at the end.) I was totally sucked in and enjoyed every minute. I was nervous about sleeping alone that night. I was told by a few people that the movie wasn’t bad, but the night after was terrifying. There were a few times I would wake up and think about the ending and feel a small chill, but honestly I slept pretty well.
Would I see it again? Yes. If you have an open mind and you want to be scared, I recommend checking out Paranormal Activity. It has the suspense that so many other films lack. If you’re looking for gore and Hollywood horror, go see Saw VI.
1 people like this post.
Oct
28
Do you ever recall a memory that makes you wonder if it really happened or if you dreamt it? That happens to me more and more lately. I also sometimes find myself thinking about something, only to ask who ever I’m around if I said it out loud or if it remained in my head. Is this a sign of what’s to come in the future? Who knows.
The reason I ask this is because I had a memory yesterday and I can’t remember if I did it or made it up. I was driving past some hills and noticing the yellow, red and orange leaves cluttering the grass. I thought to myself that it would be so much fun to drag my feet through them and throw them up in the air. This sparked a memory: Driving to the forest preserves with my mom, grandpa and cousins to not only play in the leaves, but to rake them up, put them in garbage bags and bring them home with us. I can only assume we did this because at the time, the tree that now stands in my grandparents’ yard wasn’t there.
Then I thought to myself how weird it must have seemed to anyone else in the area around us. How would I feel if I saw some people bringing home bags of leaves? What would I think?
Then I remembered that my cousins and I would create large circles with the leaves and call them hamster cages.
So I ask you, dear blog, if this really happened or if I made this up. More importantly, am I a nature thief?
(Still to come: A Paranormal Activity Review)
Oct
25
Oct
23
I figured I would wrap up this week of Vegas posts with a story about being single. Cue the cheers!
I spent three days in Vegas and in that short time I learned that it’s difficult being single in the City of Sin. I mean really single. No boyfriend, no FWB, no group of high-energized, pushed-up cleavage, short-skirted friends. (I had Matt, but he doesn’t look good in heels – sorry.)
Saturday night I ate dinner alone. I travel a lot and usually have no problem sitting down by myself to enjoy a meal. This time the hostess seemed to want to make my single status known to the entire restaurant. It’s possible she was starting her version of The Bachelorette, but I highly doubt it. When it was my turn to step up to the podium I held up one finger signaling that I only needed a table for one. She replied with “two?” “No, just one.” The look in her eyes when she put down the second menu was that of Bambi who just found out his mother had been shot. I shrugged it off an enjoyed my dinner, eavesdropping on other people’s conversations.
On Sunday I explored the strip alone and found myself at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden (I promise you it’s family friendly.) In order to enter the garden, you walk through the dolphin cove (eee flipper!) and through a photo booth of sorts. I couldn’t walk across the booth because another couple was having their photo taken. Now the following conversation may have taken place in my head, but I’m sure it was implied:
Photo Guy: Just you? (Which really meant “I know it’s just you because you have that sad look in your eye, but I just wanted to ask to really drive the point home and crush any remaining bit of hope.)
Me: Yep, just me! (I will cut you.)
Photo Guy: Do you want your picture taken? (I’m only asking because it’s my job… and because I plan on printing a copy out for myself so I can add it to my collage of single women in family places.)
Me: No, I’m good, thanks. (Seriously, cut. your. face.)
Photo Guy: Okay, lets wait for this couple to finish and you can walk through. (Give me a moment to send this couple to the extra special magical garden for people in love. You can wait here before you crush their spirits and suck the will to live from their hearts. Leper.)
Me: Great. (I hope a dolphin eats you.)
So that conversation may or may not have been heard by the people behind me, but the photo guy and I will always remember the time he nearly made me cry in the dolphin cove.
Moral of this story: (1) I need to feel better about punching people and (2) I need to stay out of my own head (but it’s GREAT for blog fodder!)
Do you have any fun “I’m single!” stories? Share in the comments!
2 people like this post.
Oct
21
I have a gambling problem. I know. I hate that it took a trip to Vegas for me to figure that out, but it was bound to happen. Don’t worry, I’m not addicted to the sounds, lights and crazy smells of the casino. I have the complete opposite problem: I hate it. And I suck.
At first I was completely mesmerized by the lights and sounds inside the casino. “Ooo bright, shiny, loud things! It sounds like winning!” Yeah I was sucked in… until I sat down to play. I was nervous. I’ve never gambled before unless you count Nintendo Blackjack. Oh, and then there’s that one time where I won a card game on a train ride to Detroit. I was 10. I didn’t know what was going on. Plus I’m pretty sure I bought a troll with my winnings – a Minnesota Vikings troll none the less. I KNOW! Anyway…
So I sit down by the nickel slots because lets face it, I can’t afford to risk it. I play a dollar and manage to win $2.70. Convinced that I’m going to lose that, I cash out (I know) and walk over to the money machines. The woman on the other side was cashing out $1,000 and making sure to count each hundred. So I decided to count my change. All seventy cents. I had more time to kill so I sat back down and played my $2.70. I lost. I had $.15 left and I couldn’t play anymore. I didn’t have anymore dollar bills and I didn’t want to put a $20 into a nickel slot, so I cashed out… at $.15. Hot damn.
Later I used my ticket to hide the gum I was chewing for the previous two hours. Best $.15 ever spent.
By Sunday I hated being there. I wasn’t looking forward to walking around different casinos and watching people win money. The smells were starting to get obnoxious and the sounds were overwhelming. People kept getting in my way and the carpet made me dizzy. Needless to say I don’t think I’ll be spending much time inside casinos any time soon.
Morals of this story: (1) Don’t leave me alone in Vegas. (2) Someone teach me how to gamble. (3) And for the love of jeebus will someone show me where I can get a giant cup of alcohol?!
2 people like this post.
Oct
19
(click on photos for source)
I was looking forward to going to Vegas for many reasons. It was my first time setting foot outside of the Vegas airport. I was able to add another post card to my collection. It was the first time I could attend Blog World Expo. But I think the thing I looked forward to the most was seeing Beatles LOVE. I’ve always wanted to see a Cirque du Soleil performance so when I found out that I could review LOVE I wasted no time requesting my tickets.
The Mirage had an entire section decked out in Beatles paraphernalia. They had everything from a LOVE-themed motorcycle, to Beatles Rock Band and Beatles slot machines. Don’t get me started on the gift shop. If I could afford to spend $40 on a t-shirt I’d probably have 9 of them to stuff into my bag. Needless to say I was excited before even stepping foot into the theater. As a Beatles fan I already expected to love this performance, but I wasn’t expected to be blown away. At one point I was actually brought to tears.
The colors were vibrant and the music was fantastic. They couldn’t have chosen better songs to include with the acts. The acrobats, dancers and character actors were magnificent. I was effortlessly pulled into another world and time. I told Matt afterward that I nearly forgot where we were – and honestly, Vegas is a pretty hard place to forget. I particularly connected with “Gnik Nus, Something” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” The pieces were moving, the music was perfect and the emotion the dancers exuded was palpable. It doesn’t hurt that the male dancer in “Something” was god’s gift to my eyes. (As an anatomy fan I found myself very pleased he was shirtless. Don’t judge me!)
Some of the acrobats and stunts were just mind blowing. I found myself holding my breath a few times as the dancers bounced carelessly and effortlessly around the stage. I can’t imagine the amount of control it took to be able to maneuver around everything. The wires, lights, props, other dancers… it was insane!
Obviously all of the hard work paid off in the end. It was an incredible experience that I would love to be a part of again. There is so much going on at any given moment that I am sure, without a doubt, that I missed something. Even if you’re not a Beatles fan I think you’ll enjoy the show. You don’t have to know the songs to appreciate the beauty of it all. If you ever have a chance to see LOVE, do it!
Thank you so much to @jessberlin and @cirque for losing myself in this truly amazing show.
P.S. I’m so going to see this again!
Getting My Geek On At:
