The Week That Was

While many spent the last days of November with family and thinking thoughtful notions, these are some other events that were going on at the same time.

Black Friday Is Going Down, Down, Down

All of the commercials broadcasting deals and the mass amounts of news coverage would lead you to think differently, but in reality, shopping at stores in person the day after Thanksgiving was down by 7% from last year.

Was that because people crowded stores on Thanksgiving day instead? Maybe, but online shopping is also surging. According to NPR, compared to the previous year, Amazon showed a 24% increase in shopping on their site over Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Why go out and face the crowds if you can shop in the comfort of your pajamas? Oh, I guess people do that out in public too.

The Force Is Teased

According to the internet, people are losing their minds over the new clips of the Star Wars franchise resurrection.

The 1:30 teaser doesn't show much, but the quality of the effects sure looks great. Most loved it, but there are of course already people complaining about anything and everything. They know that come December 2015, they're still going to fork over their money, right?

Remarkable Rescue

Be aware of snow plows, is the lesson we all can learn after two boys were trapped in a pile of snow on Wednesday.

The kids were building an igloo, as is required for all children to do when it snows.  While the boys were constructing their fort, a snow plow came along and buried them in. After seven hours, thankfully, someone saw a shovel near the pile and guessed that the kids could be inside. Their igloo structure managed to save enough breathing room, but just barely.

Both were hospitalized and are now doing well. They were warm and inside, hopefully in time to celebrate the holiday with their families, who must be feeling especially thankful this year.


No Indictment For Officer Wilson
Earlier this week the grand jury in St. Louis, MO. decided against indicting Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown.

Since then, just as the media was hyping, protests happened in both Ferguson and St. Louis, as well as in most large cities around the country.

Why this will never be officially sorted out, and why neither side will be happy, is that there is conflicting evidence and differing eye witness reports all surrounding the events that leads to the sad death of a young man.

To add fuel to the fire, CNN has been investigating one of the men who did the autopsy on Brown. And then the The Washington Post reported that the  physical evidence does match the testimony given by Wilson. It's just a mess.

Through it all, in a just world, we can only hope that the grand jury did their best with the evidence they were given. Although, this is hardly the last we have heard about this case.

Big Win

Seahawks fans will know what I mean when I say that the game on Thanksgiving felt just like the Super Bowl did nearly a year ago.

It both cases there was a ton of hype where it was consistently being said that the other team would easily trample the Hawks come game day.

What ended up happening is the exact opposite. Just like when they faced the Broncos in the biggest NFL game last season, mistakes from the other team and effective team work from the Hawks helped them win another major game. It was a big show against their rivals, the 49ers, in prime time. The game was perfectly set up to begin as everyone was rolling onto their couches stuffed from gorging on turkey and all the fixin's.

Normally my family watches movies post Thanksgiving dinner, but this year, with the Seahawks winning, it was a fantastic end to the day.

Grumpy Cat, Grumpy Cat, What Are They Feeding You?

Lifetime made a movie about Grumpy Cat. She was voiced by Aubrey Plaza. That is all.

Oh, and also, with only watching about 15-minutes of it, I can say it's unexpectedly funny. Mostly due to Plaza in the voice acting role of a lifetime.

  

30 Days Of Posts

I did it! Once I hit publish, this will mark the end of producing one post every day for the entire month!

It's a small goal, but I almost quit numerous times. When I got frustrated with wireless connectivity issues slowing me down or I didn't know what to write, I thought about just not posting. Who would notice?

Good thing my perseverance side decided to ignore that little voice telling me to stop, because now I can celebrate making it to the end without cheating.

I'll just be over here high-fiving myself like a goof and possibly treating myself to some fragrances. Oh yeah, as a mini celebration I also couldn't help making that quick video featuring my adorable light activated toys. Someday I'll get to posting some better videos, but for now that dancing pumpkin sums up my attitude right now.

Take it from this gal, sticking to goals may be hard, but it feels really f'ing great when it's all over. The question now - what to strive for next?



Until next time.

The Week That Was...

Any period of time that is leading up to a holiday always knows how to drag on endlessly. This is the first Sunday in awhile that I'm not sad to see end. The weekend being over is sweetened by an upcoming short work week. Hooray!

While the country collectively perused their Pinterest boards and planned what to chow down on over Thanksgiving, this is what else was going down in the world.

Ham and Turkey

Watching itty bitty hands grabbing a little pumpkin pie and a wee turkey and gobbling it down is all anyone could want this Thanksgiving.

Political Roundup

There is still plenty of drama to come out of D.C., even after the recent elections that caused a shake up in both the House and the Senate. President Obama took to the airwaves on Thursday night to announce an executive order he has planned that will make changes to our countries current immigration laws.

He voiced some very practical terms, acknowledging that there are a large amount of illegal people living in the US. It is senseless that the only plan is kicking them all out. They are here, so we've gotta make it work somehow. Republicans didn't see it that way, and controversy arises. Was everything Obama suggested a perfect plan? Or does it account for every situation? No and no. But at least it's something that is moving in the right direction.

Obama's speech was focused on the lack of voting done by congress in the last couple years, but the Senate was actually working on a bill this week. This vote was about the Keystone Pipeline.

Either I've been completely zoning out on this topic, or it came out of nowhere, because I had to do some research. SO, what is the keystone pipeline? It is a pipeline that already exists, running from Canada through the US to Oklahoma. The vote was to expand the pipeline to the gulf coast. Some say it would create jobs, the other side said it would harm the environment. That's always the debate, right? Either way, the senate voted the bill down. After the failure, it seems like this topic is dropped...for now at least.

The Life Of Nichols

I love him for the film, but Mike Nichols was way more than just the guy who directed The Graduate. When I wrote about him the day he passed away, I really only mentioned his other fine moments as a director. Frankly, that's because I only knew of him in that role.

All week through reading other features on the iconic man, I learned a lot about him. Before going behind the lens, in the late 50s and early 60s he could often be found doing comedy bits with Elaine May. They had three albums and would perform on late night shows, as well as tour around the country.

Most importantly, Nichols is one of the few that could illustriously say they had an EGOT! I wonder if he had a necklace that proclaimed his achievement?

Let's break down that EGOT -  

E: Emmy  for Best Directing of both Wit (2001) and Angels In America (2003).

G: Grammy  for Best Comedy Album, An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1961).

O: Oscar for Best Directing of The Graduate (1967).

T: Tony for...he won 9 times! Best Directing of Barefoot in the Park (1964), The Odd Couple (1965), Plaza Suite (1968), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1972), Annie (1977), The Real Thing (1984), Spamalot (2005), and Death of a Salesman (2012).

Holy cow amazingness.

The Big Bucks

Earlier this week, a Georgia O'Keefe painting sold for 44 million dollars. The piece, "Jimson Weed/White Flower No 1", set a record for the biggest sale for work done by a female artist.

It's gorgeous and all, but where would you hang this kind of expensive piece of work? More than likely it will end up locked up in a safe or in a museum, but it's just more fun to imagine the person who bought the painting hanging it in their hallway or bathroom like it's no big deal.

Top 'O The Box

Once again Katniss and the gang are dominating movie ticket sales. The Hunger Games 3 and 1/2, aka Mockingjay Pt. 1 came out this weekend and is on top of the box office with the largest movie opening of the year.

Reviews haven't been as stellar as the other installments, but really, what can you expect from chopping a book into two movies? Everybody just wants to know how it ends! The movie company doesn't mind - they'll just be rolling in their giant pile of moolah.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

As the coldest November morning since 1976 fell over the entire country last week, all 50 states dropped below freezing. Yes, even Hawaii and all those other places that are believed to have hot weather 365 days a year.

This was all part of the cold front that brought over seven feet of snow to the area of New York around Lake Erie. The snow storm made everyone aware of the possibility of "lake-effect snow", something I have never heard of. Excuse me while I put on my lab coat to explain the science: when cold air travels over long bodies of warmer water, vapors of water can be picked up. That water then freezes and is deposited as snow in the closest area surrounding the lake. Buffalo was the lucky winner this time around.

It has been devastating for that region of the country. At least thirteen people have been reported dead and many have found themselves trapped in their cars or in their homes. One such lucky group was the band Interpol, who live tweeted the storm while being stuck on I-90. They were there for at least 40 hours, but had booze and food to keep them warm.

We have learned a lesson today: always travel via a luxury bus loaded with snacks, as that will be the best place to ride out any emergency situation.

Ugly Christmas Tree

"If there was a squirrel right now looking for a place to live in the winter, it won't even go into the tree."

Folks in Reading, Pa. are acting just like you and your family at the time of year when everyone gathers to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Some like the bushier type, others strive for that perfect triangular shape, and some just want a tree with a little more character.

We can all agree though that if the branches are already falling off, that's not a good sign. This is why the people of Reading are upset with the 50-foot spruce the city decided to put up this year. Besides branches falling off, it does look like the tree has had a hard life, now featuring many thinning limbs.

At first this story seems ridiculous - don't these people know the real meaning of Christmas? Those kids in Charlie Brown land turned a slumped over stick into the perfect tree, because, after-all, everything in life is just how you decide to look at it.

But if the town wants to raise money for something better, all the power to 'em. It is a little sad looking.


Until next time.

The Week That Was...

Hello there again you old so-and-so! We've all come back together again to regale in a fresh batch of current events.

As is always expected, it's been another bonkers week out in the world. Without any further ado, let's indulge in those special idiosyncrasies that will forever make the last seven days unlike any other week that could happen this year.

"Shawl We Dance"

Earlier this week all of the news outlets were talking about women's accessories like it was an episode of Project Runway. "Vlad, please utilize the Piperlime accessory wall tastefully."

Vladimir Putin did not listen to Tim Gunn, instead deciding to ruffle some feathers and show his gentlemanly side at the APEC summit, which was being held in China over the past week. (It was also the same place where Obama got picked on for being twinsies with another leader.)

Putin decided to get a little friendly and placed a shawl around the shoulders of Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan. This did not go over very well - the media in China quickly censored his grand act of gallantry.

Was he really concerned for Ms. Liyuan's chilled shoulders? Or was he schmoozing like no one has ever schmoozed before? 

Guess what, he's single ladies! For now anyway...

Top Of The Box

What sounds like something entirely implausible happened over the weekend - Dumb and Dumber To was a huge success!

It was the number one movie of the weekend, making 38.1 million dollars.The critics roughly ripped it to shreds, but they also don't really respect the original as a comedy classic either (it's a generational thing). None of that matters when fans show up to spend loads of dough on a sequel to a twenty-year-old movie.

To be honest, I couldn't be happier for Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey. If this flick bombed it could have been something they wouldn't be able to shake for years, or ever. I may rent this eventually, purely for the extreme commitment that Daniels and Carrey throw into their wacky characters.The story doesn't look like it will top the original, but when these guys are all in, at least they can make most of the viewing experience enjoyable.

Don't Mess With Bossypants

I don't even want to even give any more attention to this, but alas, it can't be avoided.

There is a certain lady, I will call her "she who shall not be named", that spent some time trying to break the internet recently. Everyone has seen the pictures, but this publicity stunt hasn't ended yet.

Now, somehow Tina Fey has been dragged into this mess, for something she wrote in 2011. Part of her book Bossypants mentions "she who shall not be named" in a segment about female body image. Many media outlets are posting the quotes from her book because it is timely,. Ha ha, let's all laugh because Fey is being satirical and fun.

Oh, no, that's NOT what everyone is thinking?

What made me horrified was the large amount of postings showing up in my Facebook feed and tons of comments posted in articles by those who took Fey's words literally. For examples, just peruse any of the articles, or maybe your Facebook friends went a little ragey too. 

Y'all, she's a smart comedian, let's move on. There are more important things in the world. Which leads to...

Mission Accomplished

Philae, the king of all space probes right now, has landed on a comet! The baby of the European Space Agency, spent over 10 years up amongst the stars trying to catch up to the comet, officially making its landing earlier this week.

Merely the journey should be fascinating enough, but the actual purpose of the mission is where things get real interesting. Could comets hold the origin story of life itself? That is what Philae is hoping to dig up in samples. Basically NBD. Although, it hasn't all been completely smooth orbiting, specifically since the probe landed with a few bumps, causing it to be in a location that is more difficult to have solar rays charge its battery pack.

Oh, and just so it's clear, I definitely imagine Philae as Wall E, putting samples in his little red cooler and buzzing around to the tunes of Hello Dolly. 

BRRRR It's Cold In Here

That line likely was uttered by of mostly everyone in the US this week. We saw bitter cold combined with bright sunny skies in Washington. Weather that makes for quite gorgeous conditions.

Not to sound braggy or anything since the rest of the country faced much worse over the last seven days. Many states in the country saw their first snow and colder than usual temps. Some places were up to 25 degrees lower than normal.

It has it be that El Nino, or something, that is still messing up all the weather patterns.

All Eyes On Adult Swim

"Too Many Cooks" is the whimsical video dujour. From news sites to podcasts to general banter to think pieces, anyone who is a crazy anyone was recommending this video that was first seen on Adult Swim before the internet took it under its wing.

Clocking in at over 11 minutes, it's a video that demands more attention than the usual popular internet clip. So far, over three million people have taken that challenge and spent a little extra time just to check out what is so buzzworthy.

I could explain what happens in the video, but why not just watch some wacky. Just a bit of intrigue for those you have yet to see it: some of those viewers/ mega appreciators are getting really obsessed with tracking the creepy bearded killer. He is real spooky. Interest piqued?


Until next time.

The Week That Was...

The year 2014 as we know it is quickly coming to a close. This whole time change in November doesn't help things either. Even though the days are the same length, those deep, dark winter nights start much earlier in the day. Around these parts, the sun is down by 4:30 pm and everyone just wants to crawl into bed.

Since no begging or pleading makes the progression of days slow down, we all just have to do our best. Much of the time it feels like everything is whirling by unnoticed. It is especially unnerving when I can't even remember what I had for dinner the night before. One way to help manage the madness is take a step back and think about what happened that day or week or month.

This week of November 3rd  was all about freaking out in regards to the midterm elections, highly anticipated movie releases, and for some reason, spicy sauces.

Just A Bi-Partisan 2014 Election Statement

Those that are now in control of the house, this is directed at you. Simply, prove America wrong. Do something. Work. Pass legislation that is going to have a positive impact on everyone in this country. That's all.

Also, in more hilarious news, the future of "Clay Aiken Congressman" is no more. He  lost his election in North Carolina. Alas, it was the only time I wanted him to win anything. He needed to bring in Olivia Pope to be his gladiator.

 No Need To Add To Perfection

Buzz. Woody. Jessie. Mr. Potato Head. Mr. Pricklepants.

All of the toys from the Toy Story movies have become part of our lives. When the third and (supposedly) final movie came to the last scenes, all of us fans had prepared ourselves for the end. Even though it was nearly impossible to maintain composure while watching a group of inanimate objects/friends hold hands while heading into the abyss. Don't look at me - I'm getting teary just thinking about it. Ahh, I'm such a woman.

In the last few minutes of the movie, Andy said farewell to his childhood friends and they all watched him leave for college from the porch of their new home. It was as sad as that lady who had to choose one of her children to live in Sophie's Choice, but it was perfect. We were all saying goodbye. The three movies could have lived on as a wonderful trilogy, wrapped up in an exemplary bow for all of time.

Then there was an announcement this week. I may be the only one not excited to hear that Toy Story 4 is in the works.

Another movie just doesn't seem necessary. However, as an uber Pixar fan, it is hard to not get behind everything they create. Maybe there are more stories to tell with those characters. It won't sully the past three movies, but when you get used to something being over, it makes it more difficult to care.

Historic Anniversary

On this day 25-years-ago, the Berlin Wall was just beginning to be ripped down. All I was thinking about today was - what would it be like to have your life regulated to such an extreme and how did such a thing last for so long?

It is all a reminder of what kinds of terrible oppression has happened. It never works. World leaders will hopefully think of our past and in current crises find a way to settle differences without hindering the life of innocent civilians.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, David Hasselhoff is big in Germany because he personally defeated the communists. 

Popular Sauces? 

People get mocked for hiding ranch dressing or extra seasoning packets in their purse, so why is it now "cool" to carry sriracha everywhere? It's a cute bottle, I'll give y'all that much.

Another, much better question - how did a sauce become trendy? It's just a hot sauce people. Sure it's delicious on things - so is salsa and other stuff. Stop talking about it. And please stop turning the product into Halloween costumes.

Interstellar Disappointment?

After all the teaser trailers and endless build up over the last year, Christopher Nolan's latest premiered this weekend to less than a, dare I say, stellar reception. Most surprising of all Interstellar came in second at the box office. This will not be a repeat of Dark Knight caliber domination. Big Hero 6 does have that cute, squishy robot, so I see why some people chose that movie instead.

Having not actually seen Interstellar yet, I can only speak to the general reviews. Most of the reaction is mixed, with more people noting the film is partially fantastic and bad. What worries me is one overall statement that seems to be shared - the premise gets too lost in unintelligible pseudo-science "mumbo jumbo". As in, it doesn't make sense. I hated Inception for the same reason.

Either way, McConaughey in space - I was / still am on board and will be seeing it soon. Although, I will say my excitement about the movie has dwindled.

P.S. See Nightcrawler if you are feeling the need to check out a great, exciting movie in the theater. The rest of the Oscar bait movies I see this year will be judged against that one.

Until next time.