Revisiting Classic 80's Flicks

Recently, I decided to watch some 80's cult classics off Netflix. Both titles, The Breakfast Club and Say Anything, are movies that I was sure I had watched. Or at least I thought I had seen enough parts of it to make the whole. I was wrong.

I had the gist of The Breakfast Club. I may have even watched it at one time, but my recent viewing made me feel like it was the first time. Sure, I knew how it would end, but how do you get from point A to point B? A serious of hijinx, personal revelations and jerks making fun of those they view as lesser human beings. This movie definitely deserves its status as a classic.

I had a very different experience with Say Anything. I actually hadn't seen much of this movie at all. I think I may have previously watched two scenes from the whole movie. All I knew was that John Cusak stands across the street from his love and holds a boom box above his head. Iconic! I didn't know that wasn't actually the end of the movie. I also didn't know SPOILER ALERT the love interest ends up giving the infamous pen back to her father, the same man who suggested she give it to Cusak to break things off. Mind blown!

While I do not think Say Anything is as memorable The Breakfast Club, both were very fun picks for a less than busy weekend. It got me thinking I should brush up on, or watch for the first time, other classic 80's films. What's next... Pretty in Pink? St. Elmo's Fire? I'm sure I'll come up with something good.

Oh, BTW I didn't see A Christmas Story until I was 32. Yes, only two years ago. That may be a topic to get into a different day, on a different post.

Movie review: Begin Again

Directed by: John Carney
Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine

Rating: C-

Every thing was going fine and well until the scene where Ruffalo and Knightley spent hours roaming the city at night listening to each others play lists. The scenes were corny and I am not fond of the sexual tension between the two. I found myself cheering against them and silently chanting "no, no, go home." I don't think this is what was supposed to happen to viewers watching the movie.

A Ruffalo- Knightley romantic pairing is a creepy thought. His character in the movie could have been her character's father. Plus, there's the whole odd separation between Ruffalo and his wife. I would much rather cheer for them to get back together, even after hearing the sad story of why they weren't together.

The other part of the problem is that I don't like Knightley. I don't think she is a believable actress. She plays roles with a bitchy flair and is always huffy about one thing or another. Her character in this movie was likable, but I wasn't really rooting for her. She does her own vocal work in the movie, which is commendable. I heard that she never wants to go through the process again because she found it embarrassing. I find that revolting. It's fake and I tend to think she is a narcissist.

Adam Levine's foray into screen acting happened. That is all I can say about it. He was good enough. He wasn't bad. It was as I would hope to see. Nothing spectacular, but I guess in that right he did great in the supporting role. He didn't detract from the lead actors or the storyline. Although, his creepy facial hair came close to becoming a distraction. Just say no to furriness.

I did like the end. Knightley's character saw her song performed, realized she didn't need or want her old relationship, and trumped a record company. A win-win for the character. It is definitely a happy ending.

I guess I had a lot to say about this one. That doesn't necessarily mean I have judged it favorably. My impression of the movie was tainted by a few bad scenes and it is ultimately forgettable. I give this movie a C- and would not recommend it to anyone. I do not regret seeing it, but I wouldn't do it again if I were able to travel back in time and begin again (ha, pun intended).

My awesome disengage philosophy

When in doubt, disengage. This is a good piece of advice when dealing with situations that seem to be a no-win. And no, I am not talking about disengaging when you're expected to complete a work project or to disengage when people are counting on you to hold up your end of responsibilities.

My disengage philosophy comes in handy when dealing with unpleasant social situations. That creepy guy won't stop texting you? Disengage. That acquaintance on FaceBook keeps trolling all of your posts or publicly fighting with you in comment space? Disengage. That person at work who always seems to hit your buttons? Disengage.

Often these people are just looking to get a rise out of you. Or, they will use any opportunity that is presented to further annoy you. These people want to keep the conflict (or simple exchange) going so they can try to best you in whatever way benefits them the most.

I once worked with a man who would say things he knew I would find controversial just to see what I had to say. We'll call him Bob. At first, I would let Bob's comments get to me and I would react. This would start a time consuming and mood disrupting debate. No one needs that at work. Unless you are very bored, in which case you should probably see your manager and ask for more work. Once I realized Bob was negatively affecting my mood daily, I decided to cut it off. Instead of responding rudely or ignoring Bob, I tapered off my availability. I would concentrate heavily on work whenever he was around and appear as though I shouldn’t be interrupted. Sure, this earned comments questioning why I was suddenly so hard at work all the time and not taking any breaks, not being social, etc. However, eventually Bob's habit of stopping by to bother me ended. I was more peaceful and I had more time to get my work done. Interestingly enough, his name is not Bob. I cannot remember what it is, yet I allowed him to alter my moods so significantly.

Situations that warrant disengagement come in all forms in all aspects of life. The irritators come in more shapes and sizes than described. It may even be a negative friend who is holding you back with negativity. The first step is identifying these situations and deciding when to draw the line. Your life will be much happier for it when you’ve decided to let yourself be happy.

Now is the time for coats!

Now is the time to buy your winter coat. Seriously. And if you reside in a warm climate, I am not talking to you. Just move on.

You can find some of the best deals on winter coats in the summer, just a couple months before things start to turn cooler. Sure, the latest lines are not out yet, but if you have a keen eye you can judge what will be in style and go for it at discounted prices.

I still have coats (from years ago) that people comment on every time I wear. They marvel at how cute or sharp. I giggle on the inside because my timeless, classic outerwear was purchased for 20% to 40% off tag price.

Retailers know no one is thinking about the winter in July and August. We’re thinking about stretching our last summer days and getting ready to go back to school. However, I grew up in a state where our minds are always on the winter to come. Summer is short. Autumn is celebrated. Winter is cold and dark. And spring is bitter and cruel. Wisconsinites are often like squirrels, always preparing for winter. Storing our food, gathering and preparing.

So, start shopping now! Demand is low and deals are abound! Plan ahead and don’t wait until the cold months are among us and you don’t have time to search and shop for the right protection.

Mortified by my diary

I recently watched a documentary called “Mortified” and the idea is brilliant. The stage production by the same name has seen great success because it humanizes everyone and makes people feel like they are not alone in their awkward adolescent experiences. Mortified features regular people who read excerpts from their teenage diaries. The things that we thought we so important then seem trivial and silly now. Certain ideas that flowed in and out of our heads could now be viewed as signs of things to come. Most of all, the fact that the participants are on stage is a testament to the fact that they got through those emotional episodes, even though the situations seemed like the end of the world at times. 

It appeared to be a cleansing process for those who read about their lives. These people have stripped away all pretense to show themselves in a very vulnerable state. This process also gives clarity to those who are watching. They can laugh with the stories and then at themselves after drawing the comparisons. After all, we all like to think about how different we are, but ultimately we go through the issues and have similar concerns as we come into age.

This documentary makes me wish I had kept a journal in these early formative years. Although, I think reading my musings now would be mind numbingly boring. I was a creative and imaginative kid but I didn’t get into much trouble of any sort and my acts of rebellion would make most people the same age roll their eyes. I think I would find wisdom in my writings as they would shed light on the person I was and the person I wanted to become.

Finding the right Halloween costume

I have been thinking long and hard about a Halloween costume for this year’s festivities. For my entire adult life I have been a fan of coming up with clever, homemade ideas for costume parties and the such. I have wish lists that it seems I never get to use. There is always something preventing me from bringing my ideas to life. Once it was my schedule and time restraints on making the costume. Another time I was unemployed and didn’t have the money I would need to make a costume (actually I decided not to spend any money on a costume). 

I recently had the idea to make a cheese dust fairy costume. This seems like the perfect fit for me, a gal who loves cheese dusted snack foods. Plus, it gives me an excuse to make a tutu. So, my idea is to make that tutu, spray paint a wand orange, and carry around a bag of Cheetos to eat throughout the night. Sounds like I should be the envy of all around.

I do not see anything standing in my way. I have the time and the money. Now, I just need to get started on a concrete plan, and if I don’t start making the plan now (making the plan, not executing the plan) then time will sneak by and it will soon be too late. Look forward to pictures in the future!

Just for fun, I thought I’d list some of the more interesting costume ideas I’ve had and that I’ve done. I won’t be upset if anyone uses these because I’ve either done it or should have by now.

•        She sells sea shells by the sea shore
•        Flu bug
•       West Nile virus
•       A sleepy child
•        Firecracker
•        Queen of clubs
•        Bulimic ballerina

DIY: Swanky new work table

Wow! This was a big project. I had seen a Pinterest post a while back showing a craft table made from a couple of book cases. I decided I could and should do this. I recently moved and since I have a new space and I am without my old rickety desk, this project would be a great use of the resources I already have and a great space saver for my office area.

It has been years since I’ve had a proper space to layout my craft and art projects. Okay, I don’t think I’ve ever had a “proper” space for this. It is something I have been wanting, and I am reminded of my lack of a workspace every time I print photos and lay them out to dry over my kitchen countertops because that is the only available flat space I had. It had also been years since I had a dining room table. Now, this work table covers both needs.

I followed a well-planned process that I tweaked along the way. I painted my two short bookcases black and papered the back board with patterned sheets of paper. I also painted the wood on my two stools black. Although this took a long time (due to my lack of work space and having to paint everything piece by piece, one at a time), it was the easy part of the project.  I had drawn up the plan and was good with it, but I kept second-guessing myself. Would it be sturdy enough? Would the tabletop slide off? Would it end up looking flimsy and cheap?

At first, I only thought I would need my dad’s help to cut tabletop down to size. However, his ideas and perfectionism led me to craft a sturdy, well-made top. He and I worked on the gluing, screwing, priming, and sanding. Then it was up to me. He didn't send me off into the woods without a stick though. I went off with a drill and instructions.

While the next phase of my creation didn’t take too long, it was the most difficult. I had to anchor the tabletop to the bookcases, sand off the primer, and then paint it with the chalkboard paint I purchased for this occasion. Man am I glad it is finished.

I had doubts about this project a number of times during the process, but the end result is exactly what I was hoping for. It looks great. The unit looks even better when I stand back and see how much more organized my space is and how much easier it will be for me to store and find my supplies.

 

My first week as a MOOC student

After my first week of my MOOC course I am satisfied. The classwork for week one did not take a great amount of time to complete, which is good because if it had I likely would not have continued with the class. The learning platform has an intuitive layout that makes navigating through the class syllabus effortless. I even learned a thing or two from the recorded lectures. I am looking forward to spending a little time this week navigating this learning process.

I wasn’t sure how much work I would be required to do. Even though there are three levels of participation and the work I decided to do is said to equal only one hour a week, I wondered how accurate this assessment was. I found the work for the basic level to be easy and not require too much additional mind work to comprehend the topic. The subject matter was clear.

I recommend MOOCs to anyone who is a life long learner and is not necessarily looking to earn a degree. The courses are perfect to supplement knowledge and satisfy curiosity. However, a single course will likely not help someone get ahead in their job search or career change. The certification that is available simply states that you have completed the course; it is a certificate kind of like one you would get for participating in a spelling bee. Plus, you have to pay for it. 

If I had one word of advice for those who are considering enrolling in a MOOC or have just enrolled, it would be that you can expect to do a little additional work that first week acquainting yourself with the syllabus and the chat forum. None of this additional work was laborious, but it might have come as an unpleasant surprise if I had been pressed for time.

I will update my MOOC experience if and when I run into anything that is surprising and/or my opinion of the educational tool changes. No news is good news in this case, I guess. 

Movie review: World War Z

World War Z
Directed by: Marc Forster
Starring: Brad Pitt

Rating: B+

I admit, I saw this movie first in the theaters last summer and I loved it. Okay, it wasn't love, but I liked it a lot more than I like most science fiction. I enjoyed the continuous action and that the camera didn't dwell on any gore, it stayed with the action and kept moving. The movie wasn't bloody or terribly gross. For me, the movie felt like more of a mystery that had to be solved than a movie about zombies. I followed along with the main character as he attempted to piece together the clues from the disastrous outbreak that were available. In the end, the hero saves the day. He not only figured out the weak spot for these creatures that were trying to obliterate all of humanity, but he also succeeded in triumphing over the zombies through testing his hypothesis (out of necessity granted) and proving himself right, essentially saving the world. I love movies that I classify as "down with the bad guy" and this isn't a typical entry in this category but it does fit the bill. The underdog wins out in the end.

The reason I decided to blog on this topic is that I have heard many negative reviews of this movie upon its release on Netflix. There can be many hypotheses on the reason, but I think the poor opinions have a lot to do with what we, as a culture, have become accustom to in our media consumption. Shows like Walking Dead have conditioned us to not only tolerate gratuitous gore, but to expect it. Then, when a movie or show falls short we react negatively. This same reaction is seen if a movie doesn't have enough action or extreme stunts. I have found myself yelling at the television during an episode of 24, where's the action Jack? Where's the body count? We like to see our media push the limits and always do more. We expect this instead of wanting producers and directors to push the limits on quality or creativity.

So yes, I thought World War Z was a great movie. There was a strong, dramatic, and suspenseful story line. There were moments, like a cell phone ringing at a very inopportune time, that make you cringe with familiarity. Who hasn't accidentally bumped an object that started a chain reaction of noise while trying to be sneaky and quiet? I strongly recommend this movie as I feel it is highly entertaining.