tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14037472733608632412024-03-04T22:04:28.354-06:00The Demented CheerleaderRandom strangeness delivered with a smile.Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-23000855160738269162011-03-30T22:59:00.001-05:002011-03-30T22:59:42.919-05:00Lazybutt<div><p>I got this new phone. It's superfancy. Right now, this post is coming FROM THE PHONE HOLY SHIT BRO. It's a heady feeling. Tonight I spent the better part of two movies downloading a bunch of apps for the phone. All hail the phone. I got one that takes pictures and makes them look like shitty old polaroids. Progress! Another that figures out restaurant tips for me. Bad at math! Another that turns the camera flash into a kickbutt flashlight. Actually kinda useful!</p>
<p>Soon, our phones will be able to produce food and wipe our asses, and render all human contact obsolete. I don't need to visit gramma, when there's a Virtual Granny app for that!*</p>
<p>All hail the phone.</p>
<p>*not an actual app...yet</p>
</div>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-26217223106842041212010-07-30T23:14:00.002-05:002010-07-30T23:19:20.335-05:00Hay guize!<span style="font-family: verdana;">I am proud to have made my first post over at WildClaw Theatre's <a href="http://wildclawbloodradio.blogspot.com/">Blood Radio</a>. It's a happenin' hub for all things horror: not just film, but stage productions (something WildClaw simply excels at), books, art, events (mostly in the Chicago area, heads up on that, but also horror conventions and gatherings) and a host of other great schtuffs. So get yo' ass over there and check it out, and don't just do it because I'm the newest contributor to the site!*<br /><br />*but you better, or I'll bust up your face.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-14683627493191953432010-07-28T22:21:00.002-05:002010-07-28T22:24:36.877-05:00Confessions of a Job-Seeker, Two<span style="font-family:verdana;">There is a numerical threshold of tolerance that one person can handle for watching consecutive episodes of "The Golden Girls." That number is three. After that, you are ready to strange Blanche.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-88482659640390712952010-07-27T11:05:00.001-05:002010-07-27T11:11:01.180-05:00Confessions of a Job-Seeker, One<span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm apparently a pretty big fan of children's programming when I don't have a job. But I will kill the first Wiggle I see in person.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-40888974423125225732010-06-04T22:28:00.010-05:002010-06-05T10:02:59.246-05:00A Length of Rope<span style="font-family:verdana;">Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 thriller <span style="font-style: italic;">Rope</span> is one of his most curious films: the murder happens right at the beginning, so there's no whodunit aspect. The killers are obviously hiding something; their actions scream suspicion, although it's difficult to judge them as being anything but suspicious, since we know they did it. The biggest draw of the film is that Hitchcock attempted to make it seem as though <span style="font-style: italic;">Rope</span> was filmed in one continuous, real-time shot, a trick that might have worked save for a handful of cuts and awkward shots that go into a close-up of a character's back, and then reverse out.<br /><br />Awkward is actually a good word for <span style="font-style: italic;">Rope</span>. The film doesn't work very well as a real thriller, and it's hard to buy nice-guy everyman Jimmy Stewart as a believer in the art of murder. Even the gimmick of the continuous shot falls a bit flat, making the whole film seem too stagey. To be fair, it was Hitchcock's intent to make the film seem more like a stage production than a typical Hollywood production, but this works slightly against the film's favor rather than for it.<br /><br />It's a stiff film. You can definitely sense the tight choreography the actors had to perform in filming ten minute takes around an enormous, constantly moving camera and set. Stewart, as Rupert Cadell, is quite out of his element here, and his performance shows how uncomfortable he seemed with the role of the killers' former headmaster, who inadvertently sells them on the idea of murder. He plays the part more detective than anything, and his turn at the end when he finds what his teachings have brought about seems far too abrupt to be believable.<br /><br />John Dall as Brandon, the braggart of the two killers, overplays his hand quite a bit here. Everything about him screams "HE DID IT," which is kind of the point. He clearly wants to show off his perfect murder; although he tries very hard to keep calm, he's positively giddy with excitement. However, it's difficult to watch the other characters seem so oblivious. Not to mention, the character is pretty much an asshole. He isn't likable in any respect, not even possessing the charm so many of the other characters attribute to him.<br /><br />The film's real highlight is Farley Granger as Phillip, who is much more fidgety and visibly upset than Brandon. However, he seems far more sympathetic, as we get the impression that he's so enamored of Brandon that he's been somewhat unwillingly caught up in this murderous game, even though he is the one who commits the actual deed. Indeed, the characters of Brandon and Phillip are based upon Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two University of Chicago students who murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks in what they thought was the "perfect crime," and who were also lovers.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rope</span> tones down much of the homosexual subtext of the original stage play, mostly to keep the Motion Picture Production Code authorities at bay. although it's still clear that Phillip and Brandon have a relationship that goes beyond friendship. Also toned down, to the point of being non-existent, is the fact that Cadell is also gay. Indeed, upon hearing that his character is gay, Stewart was surprised, much to screenwriter Arthur Laurents' delight.<br /><br />Something that was <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> to Laurents' delight, however, was the fact that Hitchcock made the decision to show the murder at the beginning of the film. The screenwriter had wanted much of the film's suspense to ride on the fact that the audience didn't know for sure if there was a body in the book-chest or not. It certainly would have given a far different tone to the film, and likely made the two killers far more intriguing characters, rather than them being just smug or pathetic.<br /><br />Overall, <span style="font-style: italic;">Rope</span> isn't the worst of Hitchcock's films, but it isn't one of his greatest either. It exists mostly as a curiosity, an exercise in form, with a few touches of his signature black humor throughout - the idea of celebrating a murder and serving a feast on the victim's coffin is darkly amusing - but overall, it's far too uneven to be considered a masterpiece.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-34426068128284763112010-04-13T21:10:00.000-05:002010-04-13T21:11:53.298-05:00Doubling Down: A KFC Adventure<span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, folks. Someone out there has to take one for the team, and why not me? Today's adventure is the Double Down from KFC.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I first heard about KFC's latest abomination a couple weeks ago, when they revealed that yes indeed they were legitimately going to be selling the sandwich made of two boneless chicken breast fillets, pepper jack cheese, two strips of bacon and something called the "Colonel's Sauce." Ew.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> In retrospect, I should have gotten just the sandwich, if one can call it that, and not the combo meal, which includes a drink and potato wedges. My problem with many combo meals is that I eat the fries first, because I hate cold fries. Mistake! Big mistake! This slip-up almost done me in.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> When I got home, I opened the box containing the abomination. There sat the Double Down, in a thin layer of grease. It looks like a dare. It smells like a dare. It tastes like the USA. Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is why you're fat. USA! USA! USA!</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The sandwich itself is tasty and meaty. It could actually use a little more cheese, because the pepper jack provides a spiciness to the overall package. Also, and this goes without saying, there could be a little more bacon. Two tiny strips get lost in all that chicken. Four strips would probably be perfect. The "Colonel's Sauce" is a complete mystery, and should probably remain that way. I can't tell if it adds anything or not.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The first couple bites were "handheld," but the sandwich is rather large and greasy, so sadly I had to resort to a knife and fork method. This doesn't take anything away from the experience, aside from having to use less napkins/paper towels. Knife and fork = better for the environment. Also, you get a better-looking cross section of the thing.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> About 3/4ths of the way through, I noticed a rumbling in my gut area, and had to pause to take an urgent bathroom break and have a personal double-down. After a walk around the apartment and a few more sips of Pepsi, it was back to the abomination.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> All in all, it took about an hour to complete the Double Down, which is about what I expected. There was no way for me to plow into a sandwich of this magnitude. I feel pretty good about completing it, but that may be calling the putt early. If you don't hear from me tomorrow, call the authorities. I love you all, and it's been a wild ride.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peace.</span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-63664622181359340082010-02-08T16:55:00.005-06:002010-02-08T17:25:30.269-06:00Avatar, Precious, Glory Holes, Lucifer: totally random thoughts, yo!<span style="font-family: verdana;">1. There are two movies out now that have generated a lot of buzz from critics and audiences alike: Avatar and Precious. I have no interest in either film. Avatar appears to be all gimmick, all visual and no story. I don't feel like investing that much time in a movie that isn't going to bother telling me a good story. I am not so easily dazzled by your supposedly stunning visuals. Also, I'm irritated by all the awards it is receiving. Really, guys? Best Picture nomination to a movie that is basically Pocahontas with giant Smurfs?<br /><br />Precious looks to me to be just another story about a beat-down fat girl, all wrapped up in a stereotypical view of life in the inner city. It seems to be the kind of movie white people go see to feel better about themselves, terribly manipulative and overly miserable. I'm glad that there's a movie out there with a protagonist that we've never seen before, but Precious looks to be too over the top for my taste. Isn't this the kind of thing I could see on Lifetime, if Lifetime bothered to make movies that had black people in them?<br /><br />2. Duncan Donuts has a contest to create a new donut. I propose the Glory Hole Donut, white frosting with red and blue sprinkles, and a picture of Sarah Palin on each one. Haha, political humor is funny. :|<br /><br />3. I've been thinking a lot about Lucifer lately. His name means light-bearer, and he was known as the Morning Star. He apparently loved God so much that he refused to bow down before God's creation, Man. For this he was cast into the pit. How arrogant is Man to look at Lucifer as evil, when he loved God above all else? Should Man not do the same as Lucifer? Weird, weird thoughts...<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-40448340002201946192010-01-28T15:52:00.002-06:002010-01-28T16:00:57.729-06:00IT'S TAX SEASON RAGE TIME.<span style="font-family: verdana;">RAGE MOTHERFUCKERS.<br /><br />I am confuse. How does someone without gainful employment (not working, not getting unemployment, not getting SSI or food stamps - NADA) and currently living at the local Econo Lodge (no shit) get a refund anticipation loan check of over $3600? This is something that has always bothered me about working for this place, among countless other things: how does this happen? WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS?<br /><br />I want to call some of these places and ask them just how a customer can get that much money. Because I am pissed. Because I am JEALOUS.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-14845684356422790932010-01-12T13:20:00.002-06:002010-01-12T13:59:40.856-06:00This doesn't feel real<span style="font-family: verdana;">This morning brought the news that one of my fellow horror gals passed away yesterday afternoon, after struggling with a failing liver. It's starting to sink in now, but it still doesn't feel quite real. Maybe it's because I never got to meet her face-to-face. We talked over email and Skype and IMDb's horror boards, where we met. That doesn't make her any less of a friend.<br /><br />I'm angry. Angry that there wasn't enough time to meet 'in real life.' Angry that it didn't seem like she was given a fair shake. Angry that there's nothing to do about it now. It isn't fucking fair. It isn't fair to anyone who knew her, whether it was just online or in the flesh.<br /><br />More than that, I'm sad. I'm sorry for her family and friends. This is a crushing blow to IMDb's horror community, to the horror chicks on FB, and to everyone who knew her, even if we couldn't meet her.<br /><br />Rest in peace, in true peace, Sunny Jennifer. Love always.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-43135368413434401982010-01-07T10:50:00.000-06:002010-01-07T14:40:51.200-06:00Rock Band Obsession<span style="font-family: verdana;">It's getting serious. I gotta talk about it all the time. I'm still playing at the 'Easy' level, but I'm so addicted to playing the drums, I do it every night. I got a band started on there called Bitchsnatch, but it's just me and an ever-revolving lineup of singers and guitarists. So far, Bitchsnatch has conquered Chicago (our hometown) and New York, and now we're working on Boston.<br /><br />I need more local friends who can play guitar to join my band, or to start a new band. As much as I love pounding away on those drums, it's more fun to show off those MAD DRUMMING SKILLZ with other people around.<br /><br />Anyhow, a typical set list goes as such: a little Elvis Costello, either Paramore or Panic At The Disco, something challenging like that Chop Suey song, and always close it with "Livin' On A Prayer." ALWAYS. It's good times.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-81202612914701077502010-01-06T16:54:00.003-06:002010-01-06T17:18:26.742-06:00Froooo-eee...POP*<span style="font-family: verdana;">Man. I've lost some weight lately. I won't list sizes because people will say "are you complaining? I'd love to lose weight like that/be that size again," when I'm not even complaining, I'm just saying. ANYWAY. I dropped two (or three, I don't know how it goes) sizes in around a year, maybe less. I don't bother weighing myself so I don't know when it started to happen. The point is, part of me kind of worries about it, because while I don't think I changed my diet much, there must be something different going on. I think it's because I'm cutting back on boredom eating. If I'm sitting down and watching TV or a movie, I feel like I should have something to eat. I could have had a huge meal beforehand, but it's that theater reflex kicking in, saying, "you want some popcorn," or "wouldn't ice cream sound great?"<br /><br />TANGENT: I've also recently developed something of a lactose intolerance, which fucking sucks, because I love ice cream and milk. I suppose it's time to get those lactaid pills or whatever. In fact, discovering this makes me crave ice cream even more, which is totally fucking annoying. END TANGENT.<br /><br />So I cut out the boredom eating. But still I wonder, is that all there is? Someone made a joke about a tapeworm and I think back to the time I ate that raw beef** and wonder some more. But still. I'm not complaining, especially because I'm back into pants that I was wearing in college. I feel healthy, and I like that I shed the pounds I never wanted to begin with, but still...how did it happen?<br /><br />* title has no relevance to post, it's just a phrase that's been stuck in my head all damn day.<br /><br />** That didn't happen. But still...tapeworm?<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-53385388806187147372010-01-05T15:31:00.003-06:002010-01-05T15:56:13.809-06:00One Lovely Blog!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aFzMNHcaJ4a-j5AKUsdGJA3dvRqGyca58linbQjkYuitU-KaYCoy7lDmFl25Ic8YMjyiRdyLkasj5mJuBtVHvxWxiNM2kUGHQFcliVPoT8hehT3DuaFiDebmeeHpdyYbPr_suBODmyV3/s1600-h/OneLovelyBlog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aFzMNHcaJ4a-j5AKUsdGJA3dvRqGyca58linbQjkYuitU-KaYCoy7lDmFl25Ic8YMjyiRdyLkasj5mJuBtVHvxWxiNM2kUGHQFcliVPoT8hehT3DuaFiDebmeeHpdyYbPr_suBODmyV3/s200/OneLovelyBlog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423374316191685794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Man, here's a kick in the pants: I found out today that I've been awarded the 'One Lovely Blog' award by Brian Soloman, who runs the totally kick-ass <a href="http://thevaultofhorror.blogspot.com/">Vault of Horror</a>. The award is sort of like a pay-it-forward award, in that you can in turn pass it along to a fellow blogger or bloggers. NEAT! So, I got that going for me. Thanks B-Sol, you are a Righteous Dude! Now, if I can only figure out how to post the award along the side...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I'm going to pass along the award to a new project I've been involved with, <a href="http://dreamsinthebitchhouse.wordpress.com/">Dreams in the Bitch House</a>. It's all about horror, all written by women who love horror. We've done some podcasts, too, so check those out as well!<br /><br />In other news, I haven't updated this thing since September, so here's a rundown of Crap That's Happened:<br /><br />I am still gainfully employed. Same shitty job. It's getting even more tedious, though. I think the whole payday loan business is just eating at my brains like a hungry zombie. Morally, I can't swing it much more, and basically I'm just filling a spot here until my lease runs up. Then it's the sweet taste of freedom!<br /><br />All major holidays, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's were pleasant and filled with friends, family and loved ones. No major injuries; well done, everyone.<br /><br />I GOT ROCK BAND FUCK YEAH. Now I can play the drums to my heart's content, neighbors be damned. I think I got the easy level pretty much under my thumb, now it's a matter of tackling medium. That shit is tricky, so much love to real drummers who can hit the footpedal, toms, and cymbals at the same time. Also, when I was learning some of the songs, I'm pretty sure I heard Bun E. Carlos and Neal Peart spinning in their graves.* Oof.<br /><br />In a related note, I have an XBox 360 now. What does one do with that besides play ROCK BAND? I don't know. I don't have a dick to put in it, so I guess me and the XBox are at an impasse until further notice.<br /><br />Welp, I guess that's it for now. I am on <a href="http://twitter.com/pplsfrontjudea">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tubetopjustice">Facebook</a>, so you can find me there. Be sure to let me know how you found me, otherwise I'll probably reject your fool ass from being a friend.<br /><br />* JOKE. They aren't dead as of this writing.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-78382240477804685432009-09-29T14:02:00.003-05:002009-09-29T14:11:30.014-05:00Rant about dumbfuck people who don't listen<span style="font-family: verdana;">I am sick and tired of people who do not listen when I speak. When I tell you the four requirements to take out a loan, don't give me three of them and expect that I'll give you the loan on the understanding that you'll bring me that fourth piece of information when you feel like it. That is not how this works.<br /><br />Also, when I ask you to provide further information for me to process your loan, you can either comply politely, or get the fuck out. The more attitude you give me, the less willing I am to help you. If your bank statement shows that your account has been overdrawn for more than 60 days straight, I am going to need a letter or document from the bank showing that your account is still open. Most banks can close your account if it has been overdrawn for 30 days straight, so I'm just ensuring that you are not trying to take out a loan on an account that is closed and that I cannot collect on should it get sent to the bank.<br /><br />If I ask for something and say that you need to have it with you to originate a loan, you better have it with you. Don't sass me, don't say you'll provide it later, don't give me any fucking attitude about it, or I will find a way to turn you down for this loan. I don't have to play nice if you won't do me the same courtesy.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-63427658445235652762009-09-19T20:08:00.002-05:002009-09-19T20:32:10.961-05:00I've been on a major Peter Gabriel kick of late<span style="font-family: verdana;">There are few performers to whom I can listen to their entire body of work over and over. One is, of course, The Beatles. Everyone loves The Beatles, sometimes to the point where everyone hates them, if that makes sense. Another is Genesis, which leads me to my latest musical obsession: Peter Gabriel. I've been obsessed for a while, don't get me wrong. When I was a kid, like a lot of people, I really dug "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time," probably because the videos were just so iconic and back then music and videos went hand in hand.<br /><br />But in college, I picked up Shaking The Tree, which is one of Gabriel's greatest hits compilations. One of the first songs that struck me on the CD was "San Jacinto." It absolutely haunted me; it's a song that resonates as both quite simple yet alarmingly complex. "Red Rain," "Mercy Street," and the chilling "Family Snapshot" also captured my interest. At that time, his albums were being remastered and re-released on CD, so I grabbed them when I could. A whole new musical world was opened to me. I even used his song about Steven Biko in a class presentation about South Africa and apartheid.<br /><br />I also credit my love of Gabriel, and of early Genesis, to my friend Matt. He was incredibly generous and gave me copies of every Genesis CD from the Gabriel years. He also took me to see a Genesis tribute band called The Musical Box, when they performed in entirety The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. It was intense and thrilling, although I recall the drive home being long and exhausting. But it was another door opening to me.<br /><br />I finally got around to uploading all my Gabriel CDs to iTunes, revisiting them after a few years. His first album still has shades of his work with Genesis tinging the edges, but it shows a wide variety of styles. His second album is not as accessible, which may be partially due to the album's producer, Robert Fripp of King Crimson. It's a lot of weird. But on his third album, he completely comes into his own. It's cohesion in audible form. His fourth, known as Security in the U.S., works very well as a follow-up to the previous album. So, his most commercially recognizable record, may sound like a sell-out to some fans, but it has some highlights aside from the singles. Us is a harder album to enjoy from start to finish, probably just for serious fans only (like his second album). Up is remarkably good and marks a return to his earlier sound.<br /><br />Right now I'm listening to his live album from 1982. I would have loved to have seen him perform back then. He is one of those rare artists who sounds as good on stage as he does in the studio. A lot of people pass him off as just another artist from the 1980s, but his music is timeless to me. It sounds just as fresh as it probably did to people listening for the first time in the late 1970s and early 1980s. If people ever ask me for music recommendations, I tell them they have to own his third album. It's the perfect launch into a remarkable musical artist.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-91801931155306274192009-08-25T15:14:00.002-05:002009-08-25T15:18:09.854-05:00Wisdom from alt.slack<pre style="font-family: verdana;" wrap="">"I like friends who have enough respect for me to keep their goddamned distance."<br /><br />That comes from Rev. Susie The Floozie's ex-husband.<br /><br />I like that. A lot.<br /></pre>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-772375380905092342009-08-10T15:01:00.002-05:002009-08-10T15:04:41.979-05:00Good news bad news<span style="font-family: verdana;">The good news: the bite splint I have to get to prevent me from grinding my teeth down to nothing at night while I sleep is only going to cost me $134 instead of the $400 I originally thought.<br /><br />The bad news: my car needed $800 more worth of repairs, this time to replace the struts entirely, as well as the rear brakes and some other minor tweaking. This on top of $700 from fixing the HVAC system and the power steering just over a month ago. I don't think the car is worth $1500, but I can't afford a new car payment at the time. Too bad it doesn't qualify for that government trade-in program, or I'd be all over that like flies on rice.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-55441105498374409212009-08-06T17:08:00.002-05:002009-08-06T17:11:43.726-05:00R.I.P. John Hughes<span style="font-family: verdana;">So part of my formative years is gone. John Hughes, writer-director of such 1980s classics as The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (among so many others) has died of a heart attack. I will definitely be honoring his memory tonight by watching one of my favorite films he wrote, Uncle Buck.<br /><br />Rest in peace, Mr. Hughes. Thanks for having a lot more understanding of teenagers and their social structures and how outcast they could feel within those structures than anyone else in modern entertainment. It really meant a lot.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-9244024710569535532009-07-30T11:36:00.002-05:002009-07-30T12:03:45.540-05:00I sleep a lot<span style="font-family: verdana;">The last two evenings, I've come home from work and slept for two and three hours. That wouldn't be so bad if I were home at five in the evening, but I get home around seven. Sleeping until ten, just to go to bed an hour later, doesn't seem quite healthy to me. The last time I did this, that I can remember, is when I was a teenager. I would come home from school at about three, sleep until seven, eat dinner, then go back to bed about an hour later. But teenagers need more sleep, because they are growing and changing.<br /><br />Anyhow...it's just weird. If I plan on napping, I think I better set an alarm.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-63032501604485066132009-07-28T12:13:00.003-05:002009-07-28T12:29:17.116-05:00Three strange things I've recently remembered<span style="font-family: verdana;">One: I once went to a house party for Arbonne, and the girl who was selling the products told us that we should all be having three poops a day because each time we eat, it should push the previous meal out of our bodies. Thankfully, two medical professionals were on the scene to correct this poor girl.<br /><br />Two: A former schoolmate of mine went missing shortly after we were out of high school. I think they found his body days later. It was as if he'd gone out walking along the creek, in the woods, and just died.<br /><br />Three: My brother and I videotaped the neighbor kid and his friends smashing up some electronics in the driveway. While this alone wasn't particularly funny, the fact that we were listening to Genesis' "No Son Of Mine" and that their movements seemed to sync up with the song made it hilarious.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-10110289274393354422009-07-24T14:35:00.001-05:002009-07-24T14:37:20.154-05:00Twitter<span style="font-family:verdana;">Lord save me, I started an account with Twitter. Username: <a href="http://twitter.com/pplsfrontjudea">pplsfrontjudea</a>. I don't even know what I'll be doing with it, but there you are.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-36026734399512892642009-07-24T10:13:00.005-05:002009-07-24T11:51:21.735-05:00Inalienable<span style="font-family: verdana;">I long for a day when all we need to discuss are human rights. I know this is a pipe dream, but I wish we were in a world where we didn't have to specify between groups of people, but rather where we could say "you are a human, so you deserve to be happy, healthy and safe" and that would be all. The world is a rainbow and there is so much diversity to be recognized, but at the core we are all flesh and blood and we all deserve equal treatment. It shouldn't matter what shade your skin is, or what your body looks like, or who you sleep with or fall in love with, or what your bank account balance is, or who you are on the inside or the outside. We are all breathing, alive, human.<br /><br />Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness. It can't be any clearer than that.<br /><br />The long road in working towards this goal is still ahead of us. There are so many challenges to face. It isn't going to be easy to get to this place, and we probably won't see it in our lifetime. But that doesn't mean anyone should give up trying. The easiest way to start is to look at every person you encounter as just that: a person. Not as a black person or a white person but a person. Not as a gay person or a straight person. Not as rich or poor, heavy or thin, even male or female. That doesn't mean to forget or cast aside that part of the person, but to look at them primarily as a fellow human, no greater or lesser than you.<br /><br />I know this all sounds terribly naive. It is. But it's something I think about every now and then. I like the idea of breaking down boxes and compartments and getting everyone on the same level. I hope this also isn't taken as a "let's remove everything special and unique about ourselves and become faceless drones" message, either. I'm just thinking of a place where people aren't judged on their looks or their status, but on their hearts and deeds.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-39459222069982584892009-07-23T19:38:00.002-05:002009-07-23T20:03:27.524-05:00Eating habits die hard<span style="font-family: verdana;">I have terrible eating habits. Simply atrocious. It's always been this way for me, though. I was a picky eater as a child. Then it was discovered that I have problems with hypoglycemia, which means that I'll likely become a diabetic. I've never been one to follow the 'three meals a day' plan; rather, I prefer to pick and nibble throughout the day, which has actually become a recommended way to eat (I think the standard is six small meals). But what I choose to eat is usually just awful. Today, for example, I had the following:<br /><br />One blueberry toaster waffle<br />A banana<br />Two paper coffee filters worth of cheesy poofs<br />Three or four small cups of crapple (cranberry apple) juice<br />Pretzel snaps dipped in extra chunky peanut butter<br />44 oz. frozen cappuccino from the gas station<br /><br />Later on, I'll probably end up having a bowl of salad and an apple. It doesn't sound completely terrible, but it just doesn't seem that healthy to me. This is actually the best I've eaten in a while, so bad example.<br /><br />Many days, I end up eating nothing for breakfast, having a late lunch consisting of a Banquet frozen dinner and then maybe a pop tart for dinner. Emphasis on 'maybe,' there. This is probably the worst thing I can do for my body. I know I have to change it up, but I get stuck in food ruts and find it hard to get out of them. Like with the Banquet meals; they're ten-for-ten most of the time, so it's easy to buy a bunch of them to have for lunches, and it's easier than dealing with leftovers (when and if I ever have them).<br /><br />I'm not much of a cook at this point, although if I just put some effort into it, I could be. I even have easy-to-follow cookbooks, one of which is totally suited towards someone like me. It's a five-ingredient cookbook, meaning all the recipes only have five or less ingredients to them. And all the ingredients are easy to find in your average supermarket. I just don't know what my problem is.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-38108968297431459322009-07-23T14:27:00.002-05:002009-07-23T16:19:10.689-05:00On the topic of virginity<span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently, I posted a quiz result on Facebook that was based on the old slumber party game of Truth or Dare. The instructions were to either choose 'truth' or 'dare,' and then post the result on your profile. In your result are ten questions with the instruction to answer one of them truthfully in the post. The questions were your standard fare: do you have a crush on anyone, are you a bad kisser, have you ever farted in class, and so on. The last question was a fill-in-the-blank style where you could reveal any one truth about yourself that hadn't already been asked. I mistakenly answered the nine questions as truthfully as I could -- the bad kisser one threw me, because I've only kissed two people and neither of them said I was bad to my face, so I didn't know -- and on the tenth question I replied:<br /><br />"...*deep breath*...I'm a virgin..."<br /><br />It felt interesting to say it in a widespread public forum, and the responses I got were varied, from general surprise to "Dibs!" (which honestly cracked me up, since it was to be expected at some point, and the friend who said it is a sweet guy who means no harm) to "I'm a virgin, too." But the response that got me thinking the most was that virginity is bullshit. I agree to some extent. For myself, it doesn't matter anymore, although I sometimes wonder if I hold out much longer that the idea of what sex is in my mind will be far better than the actual act itself. I hope that made sense.<br /><br />Anyhow, for many people, the idea that virginity is bullshit does not hold true. It is still a relatively important concept, particularly to those who believe that sex should be saved for marriage. I certainly cannot discount that as invalid, because it is a truth for someone else. I don't necessarily believe in it, clearly, but I also can't claim that it's bullshit. The myth of virginity or the concept of it is going to be different for every person. However, for my friend who says that virginity is bullshit, that is a truth for her, and I also can't discount that.<br /><br />The whole point for me is this: I am a virgin. Is this a big deal? Not particularly. But it is a part of my life in some respect so it can't necessarily be thrown aside as just bullshit. It invokes a lot of questions about how I treat relationships and intimacy. The floor is now open for discussion.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-62484149329750312292009-07-23T10:27:00.003-05:002009-07-23T10:35:06.301-05:00It's Thursday! Not Wednesday!<span style="font-family: verdana;">I swear, sometimes I think I am stuck in some kind of time loop. Last week, on Wednesday at around 3:30 pm, I realized that it was actually Thursday, not Wednesday. It freaked me out for two reasons: one, I became incredibly disoriented; and two, I didn't find out it was Thursday until <span style="font-weight: bold;">3:30 pm</span>. 3:30 pm! The day is almost over at that point! I scrambled to think of how many times I'd told people it was Wednesday, only to have them wonder if I was feeling okay.<br /><br />And today, it happened again! On the drive to work, I was thinking, "I can't believe it's only Wednesday. This week sure seems awfully long," when I passed an air quality sign that said "Thursday's Air Quality: Green." I almost stopped the car on the highway. Again? Again?! Am I causing a time shift somehow? Or am I experiencing some sort of mental breakdown? I would hope that it isn't the latter, although if I suggest it's the former to people, they're going to assume it's the latter anyhow.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403747273360863241.post-69363622008446336182009-07-22T21:22:00.002-05:002009-07-22T21:32:34.096-05:00What is all the commotion?<span style="font-family: verdana;">Sometimes I think my upstairs neighbors like being loud just for the sake of being loud. It's not my thing. First of all, I live alone, so I don't have anyone to yell at/to. Second, I can take three steps without falling over or crashing into something. Okay, I don't know if that's exactly what they're doing up there, but it sure sounds like it. Third, when it's sexy time: a) it's just me so; b) it's not as bed-shakingly, floor squeakingly obnoxious.<br /><br />I just don't get it. These aren't huge apartments. You can't tell me that it's impossible for the person/people you're living with to hear you in another room if you use a normal speaking voice. And if the other person is hard of hearing, then you can't tell me it's too hard to get up and go to that person to speak to them. Oh wait, I guess it is, since it seems you have a serious equilibrium problem.<br /><br />And I'm not opposed to people having sex. But there are quiet hours here and they start around 10-10:30 pm. If you have the right to fuck like noisy animals, then I have the right to play 'Yakety Sax' at a similar volume level. Them's the rules.<br /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763388721864288377noreply@blogger.com0