Stuff I Think About: La Mission Opens a Flood of Memories

Stuff I Think About: La Mission Opens a Flood of Memories: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1200272/ Last night my sister and I watched LaMission and it brought back memories of my youth and my fat...

Crying Over Moneyball

 So, I went to see Moneyball last night and I was just delighted. I had seen some reviews where people said it was too long and there were not enough scenes of actual ball play but, come on, that's not what this movie is about. Moneyball is about the inner workings of the team. What goes on behind the scenes, trying to gain ball players on a budget. I walked out of that movie with a fire burning in my heart. Burning with the love for my city and my team. I also now have a rekindled love and respect for Brad Pitt. This, to me was a love letter to the city of Oakland and The Oakland A's. Pitt told NY Magazine It was a story he was obsessed with. "I saw it as a story about justice," he said. "How is a team with a $40 million payroll going to compete with a team with a $140 million payroll and another $100 million in reserves? Any talent they grow is going to get poached by the rich teams. That became really interesting to me."
 I loved seeing the inside of the clubhouse. And witnessing the politics Beane and Brand had to power through and the tricks he had to pull out of his hat to get what he wanted was exciting...at least it was for me :). Jonah Hill as Peter Brand is delightful as always playing the fish thrust out of water into knew and uncomfortable situations. But, as usual,he is sweet and endearing. You gotta love him.
 Anyway, as I was saying, I walked out of this movie full of smiles, completely thrilled with what I had just seen, and feeling that every Oakland resident and A's fan should watch this movie so that they can remember what it used to be like. To regain the thrill of the game and the pride for our city and team we ALL used to have. I think alot of people have lost it. I have always known the Bay Area to be loyal to our teams, ALL of our teams. Remember the jerseys and hats that had both the A's and the Giants on them? We gotta get that back. We have to keep them here and we have to show them more love. I accept my fault in not attending any games this season OR last season. I don't have a jersey or a hat anymore(such a bad fan). I do love them though and always will. 
 I was telling my Mom and a friend about the movie and actually burst into tears when describing the beautiful shots of the Coliseum and surrounding warehouse and dock areas. I am so used to these movies showing only the bad parts of Oakland, making us out to be an undesirable city. Credit to the cinematographer Wally Pfister for those beautiful shots. I felt silly crying but, my friend said it showed the passion I have for my team and my hometown and it's true. I truly disslike the way our city and teams are portrayed in the media. Like Billy Beane said "There are rich teams and there are poor teams, then there's fifty-feet of crap, and then there's us."
 I  have to give credit to Billy Beane for doing what he did, Michael Lewis for writing the book, and Brad Pitt for getting the movie made. 
                                                           Thank you Thank you Thank you

Marjorie Main

Just finished watching Tish (1942) starring Marjorie Main. I have always loved her movies but, had never seen this one. This one is different from the others. In the Ma and Pa Kettle movies, she was always wild and boisterous. Funny and loveable always. In Tish, she shows a sad vulnerable side that affected me I think because I'd never seen her in that light.
 Tish is a movie about three busybodies Main, Zasu Pitts, and Aline MacMahon. Tish(Main) a boisterous cussing woman, tries to get her nephew together with Cora, a woman who lives in a boarding house with Aggie(Pitts) and Lizzie(MacMahon) but, the two realize that they are each in love with someone else. As the movie progresses, Tish ends up with a baby she tries to pass off as her own. By the end, she has lost her spark and has become quiet and withdrawn from disappointments and keeping secrets.
 I love this because you can see the progression of the character and it tears at your heart to seesuch a thing happen to her. I almost cried at the end. I can be such a baby sometimes :) So, if you love Marjorie Main as I do and you've never seen this movie, you should check it out.

SOOOO OVER IT!!!

I am so over it!! Please stop bugging me! I do not want to take care of you or carry you through life! I helped you at first because I thought you needed it but, it seems to me now that you are just using me. I understand the idea of service but, you should be happy or feel that you are doing something good right? So, me being of service to you is not a good thing because I just feel anger and remorse. So, do not be surprised when I stop helping you or when I disappear completely...without a trace. I will leave and not tell you where I am going and I will change all of my contact info so that you have no way of getting a hold of me. So, get your act together....I'm over it!

Must Be Why I'm Single HA!

  So, what tends to come up around me and dating is that I don’t do or say the right things around guys I’m interested in or who seem to be interested in me. Here’s my thing. I am me, that’s who I am. Why should I worry about what I say or do when I’m around said guy? Seriously, if I alter my personality in any way and snag the guy, what’s going to happen down the road if it becomes serious?

  Check it out. I burp and fart and I like it! Well, I don’t really like the farting if it’s smelly but, farting is funny right!? And I do enjoy a good burp contest. That’s just who I am I can’t help it. I try to be myself around everybody. I don’t like makeup, I can’t wear heels comfortably anymore and I love to be comfortable so, being cute is not a priority. If a guy still likes me after all that then, good for him. He has a chance. I really don’t like this whole GET THAT MAN attitude that has been drilled into our female brains almost from birth. We should not be taught to play games to snag a man. Now, sorry guys but, I have noticed that there are simple things a woman can do to get you, men can be simple. It’s not your fault, you can’t help it. We women have our weaknesses too. I personally feel like an idiot doing those things, but I do believe I’ve missed out on some opportunities. I like to believe it was for the best.

  So, anyway, I know in my heart when that perfect guy comes, he will come for me, I will not have to chase him and he will love me for who I am.  I don’t run for busses, why should I run after a guy.

Woman on Woman Hate

                                                                Woman on Woman Hate

  

   I woke up this morning wondering why it is that we as women must hate on each other. Backstabbers that’s what they are. They smile in each other’s faces, hug and tell each other “You look great!” and then turn and tell someone else “Man, did you see that outfit she was wearing!?”. Why does this happen? Where did it come from? I think it is such a horrible thing! Why do they feel the need to remain friends with someone they really don’t like? So they can get ammo to use on them later? To make THEM feel better? I don’t get it. I've had people in my life like this and at some point I had to decide, are they making my life better or worse? How do I feel when I’m with them? I had to let them go.

   I don’t want to hang out with those types. They cause anger and distrust. They cause stress. Three things I do not want in my life. I watch these shows on tv and they make me sick. I can’t stand all that drama! But, I guess people like to watch grown women act like spoiled children. Because of these women(not the ones on tv), we can’t trust each other. I get stinkeye from random women on the street who think I want their men! Excuse me! Just because I glanced in your direction does not mean I am gonna try and steal your man! First of all, why would I want to be that woman? I wouldn’t want some random crazed woman showin up at my door tryin to kill me! Come on!! Second of all 9x’s out of 10 that guy is not cute and I was probably fascinated by his FABULOUS outfit! NOT!!!  Anyway, jealousy and distrust is a horrible thing and it is keeping lots of women from being true friends. I would really like to be able to tell someone something and have them believe it. Because when I tell you something, you best believe it, ‘cause unless I’m joking with you, I swear to tell the truth and nothing but, the truth. Besides, I’m a really bad liar. If I lie to you then that should be a clue that I don’t give a rat’s patooty about you! Hahahahahaha! Anyway, I’ve lost my train of thought. I think I’ve skidded off track.

    All I really want to say is…ladies get your act together! Be honest and true to each other or stay away. To those out there who are completely and totally fake, just know that at some point you will end up alone because no one will want to deal with your b.s. anymore. The only thing you’re good for is boozing it up and false flattery and, that gets old eventually.

                                     

                                 EXFOLIATE THOSE FAKE FRIENDS AND FRENEMIES LADIES!!

                                                               You will fell so much better.

Love and Dating

This is a long one so, bear with me. I babble and have wandering thoughts :)
 Ok, I personally feel that we should go back to dating like they did back in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Back when my parents  were young, teens and young adults would date more than one guy or girl at a time. Somewhere along the way people started committing almost immediately. Now, instead of having 2 or more options, we saddle ourselves with one. We set our sights on each relationship being “The One”, setting ourselves up for failure.

  Unfortunately, I think women do it more than men. A lot of us are raised with the belief that we must find the perfect guy, get married, and have children to be successful. If we don’t do it by a certain age, we are looked at as failures. I know some things have changed but, even if you say “I have made a conscience decision not to get married”, I think people still secretly view you as a failure in love. They can’t believe you actually mean it but, that’s another subject. Anyway, we have these ideas imbedded in our brains from an early age. Stupid princess fantasies! Oh where is my Prince?! Why doesn’t that he like me!? Can’t he see how awesome I am!? He can’t!? So, then I must not be as awesome as I thought I was! All these people who reassure me and tell me I’m beautiful and smart must be lying to make me feel better because the guys just aren’t seeing it and I’m still single!

  Man! What a load of crap we pump into ourselves! I have had to reboot my heart and brain so that I can understand that that’s not how it really works. All of those ideas are a bunch of CRAP!!!! Everyone is working their way towards a goal. Be it a career, love, or both. Some people are never meant to find love, and if that’s what my destiny is then so be it. It’s kind of a sad prospect but, if I can have some mini relationships along the way then, I think I can deal with that. If by some chance I find him, the man to call my own, then it will be a pleasant surprise. But, I have decided the search for love is one stress I don’t need in my life. It is keeping from my life goals. I allowed the search for love to cloud my vision and take me off track but, I’m back! I can now focus on what I really need to do with my life. I’m not alone in this. I have come across quite a few women and, some men who have been knocked off track with this love obsession. We all have to understand, love will come to you. If you actively search for it, you may just accept anyone and think “This is it! I have found him(her)!” and lead yourself down a path you were not meant to go on. Well, chalk it up as a learning experience when it ends ‘cause, it probably will.

 Now guys I believe are taught to try everything and move on. The next big thing is around the corner so, get what you can out of this one while you can! I know it doesn’t pertain to ALL men. I do know quite a few men who don’t think that way but, friends, family, in a relationship and gay so, what are ya gonna do.  Anyway, I believe men are taught (when the time is right) to hunt and gather. Stalk the prey, gather the resources and, toss the carcass without even a look back. Treat that carcass(woman) like Sodom and Gommorah, if you look back, you will be turned into a pillar of salt! Therefore, I feel they can bounce from woman to woman like a honeybee, gathering nectar from each one until he finds that perfect flower where he can rest and gather honey for the rest of his life. Meanwhile, the other flowers are left to wither and die without even a backwards glance from Mr. Honeybee. He is happy and content with what he’s found so, why look back?

Okay, so here’s what I think. We should all date multiple people at once. NOT have sex with everybody! Just date. Really open your mind and be aware of each person and how he(she) is. Don’t cloud your mind with fantasies and expectations. If you are not interested, move on but, please be courteous enough to at least say “I’m sorry, I’m just not feelin it” or “I’m feeling this other person and I don’t want to lead you on anymore”. That’s it simple as that. And on to the next one. If someone you are dating stops contacting you for whatever reason and does not return your phone calls, move on. I know it’s hard ‘cause we all want answers but, sometimes it’s best just to let it go. Some people just can’t vocalize their feelings. They don’t want to hurt you, they don’t care and have forgotten about you, or they feel if they don’t say anything, they can come back to you later and pick up where you left off.

AHHH LOVE! That’s it for now! I will most likely revisit this subject at a later date because I obviously have some opinions on it. J

Sopa Dreams

So, I just whipped together another one of my  self appraising glorious soups. My Mom and I are sick and I wanted to make a chicken soup. So, I was gonna drag myself out of bed and head down to the store to pick up what  I need when a little voice inside me said “Hey! You have got some good stuff in the fridge, just use that stuff. At that, I started having visions of what was gong to go in the pot. So, I shuffled into the kitchen and went to work.
  I realized today that I get great joy out of cooking but, an even bigger joy is creating something of your own. Pulling stuff out the refrigerator and cabinets, chopping and blending, and throwing them all in the pot. Taking that first taste and thinking, “what else does this need?”, and also knowing when to back off. I got to that point and was like what what what? Then there was that voice again saying “back off, that’s enough, just let it cook. You’ll see, it will all come together in the end.” And it did boy howdy!

A PEAK INTO MY MIND

                                                                A PEAK INTO MY MIND
  Alright so,  I have finally decided to just go ahead and write down my thoughts and observations. In the past I have kept these things to myself but, as the years have worn on I have been letting loose on a few lucky/unlucky? chosen ones.  Now, I GIVE IT TO THE WORRRLLDD!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA hahaha a-ahem. Where was I? okay, let’s start with my views on work and where I should be in life, or where people think I should be on life. So, we grow up with this idea that we are supposed to graduate from high school and go straight on to college and get married, find a job, have kids and live happily everafter. It’s all a crock of caca. Not everyone is destined to live this life but, because it’s what society instills in us, if you stray from that line there is something wrong with you. You are viewed as a loser, a slacker. People look at you with pity and constantly ask you, “Have you found a job yet? Well, what is it you want to do?”. Before I would answer “I don’t know, I’m not really sure what I want to get into” There are suggestions of jobs or going back to school to learn a new trade, all of which fills me with dread. I have recently decided to answer truthfully. “ What I want to do. If I could do exactly what I want in my life? It would be to paint and draw and read and create. ALL DAY. Not everyday though because, I have to go out and have fun. If I can’t do that I would just die. I think that’s why my marriage failed and I became so depressed. My husband constantly criticized my work which caused me to put the pens, pencils, and paintbrushes away. At least while he was around. I had unfinished drawings and paintings following me around for 5years. Some of them I lost, some of them I finally finished after we split. I have found it is one of the hardest most depressing things in the world to have someone you love not support you in your dream or even just your hobby. People, you should never tell a loved one that their dream or hobby is stupid and useless. Even if you don’t think it’s very good. If it makes them happy, have at it! Let them go. It makes them happy, it brings them joy which in turn will make you happy. I became depressed because my dreams and aspirations were dashed at every turn. I mean yeah I have my friends and family telling me how beautiful my work is but, then I hear, “So what ya gonna do with your life cuz you know you can’t make a decent living doing this right?” (Black cloud covers head). So, I take jobs to make money but, they don’t last long for one reason or another but, mostly because I just don’t belong in the workplace. I know that now. I am not meant to get up and the crack of dawn and waste my time making money for other people only to be treated with disrespect and no appreciation. Not saying that all of my jobs have been like that, just most of them. I have become depressed and stressed trying to find my niche in life. What vocation should I aspire to? I think it over constantly and really, there is nothing I want more to do then paint and draw and create. Thinking about having a regular 9-5 puts me in a pit of that word again. I literally get heart palpitations just thinking about it. Ok so, then I have to go back to school to learn graphic arts so I can make money creating logos and print ads? Boring! I need to be inspired! I need beauty in my life! I have decided to chuck some boring arse sand colored plates that a roommate left (sorry girl) cuz I just can’t eat off of dull. I just can’t do it! It makes my whole eating experience depressing! There’s that word again. Have you ever noticed how happy people are when  they are doing exactly what they want? That’s what I want. Starting today, well actually yesterday. I am changing my surroundings as a start to my new life. More color, more music because I lost that too.
  So, people, I hope this makes some sort of sense. I guess my message is, don’t force someone who has a dream to live up to your dreams for them. Let them live their life. Even if you see them having a hard time. Just be there to support them. Give them a little boost, show them you love them and then move on. If they need help they will ask. Unless they’re like me then you do have to ask but, don’t push the issue because we will run. We will disappear one day and you won’t know what happened. Just know that everyone has their own life to live. You can’t live it for them just as you wouldn’t want someone else living your life and making your decisions.
                     THAT IS ALL. I HAVE SPOKEN! Boy, that was easier than I thought

Betty Garrett

 I opened the paper today to find that Betty Garrett had died. Rest in Peace funny lady and thanks for the laughs.On The Town with Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin

 My Sister Eileen with Jack Lemmon and Janet Leigh

Sucky Movies

 So, so far I've only talked about movies I liked. Here are a couple of movies I did not enjoy.
Three Little Girls in Blue starring June Haver, Vivian Blaine, and Vera Ellen. TLGIB is a musical about three sisters from the country who go off to Atlantic City posing as an heiress and her staff in search of love and money. This movie is sugary sweet and buh-oring. The "You Make Me Feel So Young" fantasy dance sequence is almost creepy with all it's colors and playroom scenery.
Ladies in Love starring Loretta Young, Janet Gaynor, and Constance Bennet. LIL is about three young women in Budapest again in search of love. The story is more interesting than than Three Girls in Blue but, still not interesting enough for me I guess. Constance Bennet is Yoli lover to John who is in Budapest to find a wife but, will he marry her or Marie (Simone Simon) with her annoying coquetish voice and expressions hmmm? Loretta Young is Susie, the country girl in search of love and money. She falls for Karl but, will he marry her or another? Then there's Janet Gaynor as Martha who loves Dr. Rudi (Don Ameci) but, does he love her? Ahhh the drama of single ladies. boo hoo or is it yawn.

Scary Enough For Me

 I just finished watching Paranormal Entity directed by and starring Shane Van Dyke(grandson of Dick Van Dyke), Erin Marie Hogan, Fia Perera, and Norman Saleet.
 This movie is just another Paranormal Activity but, I have to admit I actually liked this one. It's almost a complete rip off of P.A. they just changed the characters around a bit and added an extra one.
 The premise is simply this. A video is found in the attic of a house a year after 2 murders occurred there and the surviving relatives have asked that this video be released so that everyone can witness the unexplained. Now it's not fantastic, I may never watch it again but, it's got some good jumpy bits. Made me laugh a few times. Mind you it has alot of the same stuff from P.A. but, there is also some new(used) stuff also. So, if you're bored and you're curious check this one out.  if you are a stickler for details, you'll have to put that aside and disregard the fact that there are no clothes in the closet or drawers and that the father's urn is in the basement instead of the main part of the house. Shhhh it doesn't matter, it's just a cheaply made movie.

Why I Love Old Movies

This clip is from Damsel in Distress with Fred Astaire, Gracie Allen and George Burns. This highlights one of the reasons I love old movies. The music and dancing. Some have tried over the years but, unfortunately you just can't capture what these movies had. The second is the innocence of the humor. Even though it is a man poking fun at a woman, there are others where the woman is the procrastinator.

Movies I've Recently Seen

 Here's another movie for ya. Rudo y Cursi written and directed by Carlos Cuaron.
 Rudo y Cursi stars Gael Garcia Bernal as Tatto and Diego Luna as Beto. Beto and Tatto are rival stepbrothers  working  on a banana plantation who are discovered by a futbol (soccer) scout. They are picked up by opposing  teams and their stars quickly rise. It is here that they pick up the nicknames Rudo(Luna) and Cursi(Garcia Bernal). Cursi later tries to follow his real dream to become a singer, that segment is chockfull of embarrassment. Rudo y Cursi is one of those "be careful what you wish for"," rise and fall of fortune" movies and I like it. This is a much lighter Luna/Garcia Bernal movie in comparison to Amores Perros and Y Tu Mama Tambien thank goodness. You can see everything coming cuz it's been done before but, it's got just the right amount of pain and comedy and brotherly love to keep you interested. There are two scenes I really like; Rudo arrives in Mexico City for the first time and is reunited with Cursi who then teaches him how to make Cup'o'Noodles. It's a quiet tender scene and funny as Cursi keeps Rudo from eating a freeze dried shrimp, and my favorite is Cursi's music video. I was laughing and covering my face as he sang and danced badly and gave face to the camera. I couldn't stop thinking of Dwayne Johnson in Be Cool.
 So, anyway, Garcia Bernal/Luna lovers, if you haven't seen this one, check it out.

Movies I've Recently Seen

 DEVIL
Ok so, as usual, I've been watching more movies. Since I am currently unemployed this is what I do. I have come across quite a few old movies that I have never seen or even heard of. More to come about those later, right now here are a few movies I've seen recently. 1 old, 1 I never thought I'd watch and 1 I forgot about. Devil, The Shopworn Angel, and Frozen.
 Devil story by M. Night Shyamalan, directed by John Erik Dowdle, stars Jacob Vargas, Chris Messina, Bokeem Woodbine, Jenny O'Hara, Geoffrey Arend, Bojana Novakovic, and Logan Marshall-Green. I was interested in seeing it in theaters but, never got the chance so, when it was brought home from Redbox by my sister I was excited but, a little scared that it would be bad...real bad. Thank goodness I was wrong. 
 The movie opens with a dizzying upside-down view of a city then slides into the airduct of a building. My sister was like "Oh I'm gonna be sick!" I had to laugh. Anyway, Devil is about a group of strangers trapped in an elevator. Strange things start to happen and then, people start dying. Who's doing it? I'm not tellin'. Jacob Vargas is a security guard along with Matt Craven who can view everything via security cam. Vargas trys to convince Craven and la policia (the po-po) that this is all the work of the devil but, of course no one's listening, "When I was a child, my mother would tell me a story about how the Devil roams the Earth. Sometimes, she said, he would take human form so he could punish the damned Earth before claiming their souls. The ones he chose would be gathered together and tortured as he hid amongst them, pretending to be one of them. I always believed my mother was telling me an old wives' tale." 
 Anyway, I really liked this movie. If you don't like Shyamalan movies you might not like this one. But, I am a fan so, I am adding this to my collection.


FROZEN
 Frozen stars Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore, and Kevin Zegers. This movie is about three skiers trapped on a chair lift. When I started watching I was like "Same lame what are they gonna do movie" but, I have to admit, I got sucked in. Even with the questions of "Doesn't someone go around and check all the lifts before they close up and go home?" I let it go because it is after all just a movie. It is not a masterpiece of cinema. It is meant to make you tense and question every move they make. I got sucked in and, I liked it. It made me wonder, what I would do if I were in that situation. So, Frozen, movie I thought was going to suck balls was actually a pleasant surprise.


THE SHOPWORN ANGEL
 The Shopworn Angel is a Jimmy Stewart movie that I'd never seen or even heard of. It stars  Walter Pidgeon and Margaret Sullavan along with James Stewart. Stewart stars as a Texas soldier Pvt. Pettigrew circa WWI. He is a dreamer who likes to make things up when he can't have what he really wants. He meets actress Daisy Heath (Sullavan) and convinces her to pretend to be his girlfriend to save face amongst his fellow recruits. Walter Pidgeon is Sam Bailey, Daisy's real boyfriend who must play along at her request.
 This is a very sweet movie, Stewart as usual is charming and endearing. This is a remake of The Shopworn Angel 1928 starring Gary Cooper as Pettigrew and Nancy Carroll as Daisy. Haven't seen the 1928 one yet so, it is going on my must see list. So, if you are trying to see every movie made with James Stewart (as I am) then you should put The Shopworn Angel on your list.