Afternoon at the Movies: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

So, remember yesterday (well now it's the day before yesterday because I didn't finish this post last night when I was supposed to) when I blogged about being concerned about our arrival time to the theater? And how we left because we didn't want to risk getting sucky seats? Let's just say, if we would have known that the first 40-45 minutes were close to craptastic, we may have gone on in. lol It wasn't all bad but damn a lot of the mess was excessive and unnecessary. Even the parents, who were hilarious to me in the first one, went overboard. I think the characters and how they were portrayed were so well accepted in the first movie, the higher ups decided to amp it up. It was overkill. Truth be told, I almost took a cat nap but I held out and they finally started to bring the action. The action sequences got to be really busy at times but I did still enjoy watching.

Freaky, I agree that the twins were annoying as hell. I really didn't care for them at all or the fact that they (the "black" autobots) talked ghetto. They did that with the one Ving Rhames voiced in the first one too. I see how it is Hollywood....or how it's always been. *RME* I also wish they would have encorporated the motorcycle bots into the storyline more. I liked their potential but really didn't get a chance to experience much of it. I also liked the inclusion of the elderly Decepticon (he and that cane had me rollin) and Agent Simmons again. The character he played helped make the first Transformers IMO.

All and all, the 2nd round was not what I was expecting. It had some pluses and minuses. Would I recommend you go see it? I won't say no but I won't tell you to go rush out and see it either.

AR Gal rates this: B-

EPIC FAIL

Last matinee showing time for Transformers: 4:45 pm

Needed to leave the house no later than 4:15 to have enough time to drive over, get popcorn/drinks and find good seats

Departure time: 4:30 (CP time reigns surpreme)

Arrival time: 4:40

The parking lot was FULL, I wanted my snacks and I knew I'd be pissed if I didn't get a good seat.

Decision to try again tomorrow: 2 seconds.

We didn't even get out of the car. Instead, we just drove around town for a bit, rented a movie and came back home. We will try for one of the matinees again tomorrow. lol Some of you may be asking, why not just try a night showing. We rarely go at night to the movies. Both theaters in this town are raggedy as hell and I really have issues with paying over $5-5.50 to watch films there. Maybe once they build the new one they've been talking about FOREVER I'll reconsider.

OMG....OMG....OMG....

Michael Jackson is DEAD!!!! I am in complete and utter shock right now.

Updated

Okay, I've stopped crying long enough to post THE BADDEST video ever made in remembrance of a legend lost

Michael Jackson - Remember The Time
Uploaded by hushhush112. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

I never could get that damn dance down.

Z says I'm wrong and this was THE BEST AND BADDEST video ever made



Either way the man was le-gen-da-ry......and he will be missed.

YouTube Foolishness: Sanctuary Edition

I.just.can't.

Why They Crying?

Please excuse the poor grammar of the title but that's what always goes through my head when stuff like this happens. Better yet, excuse the use of poor grammar of any post at anytime during the past, present, or future.

Of course you all know about the job layoffs (I know, way to keep beating a dead horse right?). With that comes A LOT of emotions, I understand that. What I don't understand is what people who are being reassigned to different positions within the company are crying for. We had this little mini-welcome/send-off thing with a few people in our department for folks that were coming, going, or being reassigned. After it we wrapped up, a few of us (that were trying to avoid work) were standing around chatting. So we're talking (laughing as a matter of fact) then all of a sudden the AA on our team starts crying. I just looked. So someone asked her what was wrong and she said she was just sad about going to a different floor, she's gonna miss us...blah blah blah. I just kept looking. I just really couldn't muster up any emotion other than wanting to laugh (don't worry I didn't). Sue me. My thing is, hey you still have a job. It may not be what you want but at least you have the security of continuous income and benefits until you find something else (if you choose to find something else). The folks that got the boot can't say the same. She's not the only person that does it though. Another lady came over to my desk and told me about her reassignment and started to cry. I politely told her to get away from my desk until she composed herself because I wasn't about to watch her cry about not losing a job. Hey, I'm nothing if not honest.

A few of my friends told me I'm mean. Whatever, she needed to hear it hell. Z told me he agrees and that's why me love him long time. It's not that I'm heartless and I can certainly understand their disappointment (because I've had it happen to me before (layoffs and internal reassignments due to cutbacks), I just don't get the waterworks. Maybe RehDog can help me understand why they must cry.

I think it's safe to say I'm hooked................

..............at least for now.

In an effort to expand my reality tv viewing (as if I needed yet another show to watch), I have been become somewhat addicted to House Hunters on HGTV (in addition to My First Place, lol). I love watching as the families view the housing options and trying to guess which home out of the 3 shown that they will pick. I also like to seeing the difference in the type of home you get for the same amount of money in different areas. Sometimes the difference is vast.

Take for instance the episode I watched today. A lady was looking to purchase her first home and ended up finding a bank owned property that came in at around $150k (it was about $50k less than all other places she had been looking at). The thing that got me is that these were all condo/apartment-ish type places that had less than 900 sq. ft. The apartment I had before we moved into this place had that much room and rent was only $450/mth. Anyhoo, that got me to thinking about how much bang for the buck you could get in this area for the same $150k pricetag. You could get a super nice 3 (maybe 4) newer bedroom home with a bit more than double the square footage for that price. Living in Arkansas does sometimes have it's perks I suppose. :)

Now back to the show, one thing I do notice that I absolutely cannot stand is the random dumb comments people make. For example, they are looking around the house and step into a bedroom that's painted purple with flowers also painted on the wall....obviously a little girl's room. Or say they walk into the den/living room/great room and there is wallpaper. It just really slays me that they choose to fuss about something that could easily changed with an invention called ummmmm PAINT! lol It never fails. Now granted sometimes their complaints are warranted but I would think that when you are looking to purchase are home it's just expected that there will be things that you will need and/or want to change to fit your taste and lifestyle.

Even with that slight annoyance, I still thoroughly enjoy watching. I think this is due to the fact that I'm getting a bad itch to purchase my first home. Now that I know my job is intact (for now anyway), it is really something I'm seriously considering. Only time will tell. :)

Now, I'm off to watch The Fashion Show.

I guessed I should have checked my page more often......

MySpace lays off hundreds

The social networking thing is cool and I totally get the point of it but honestly it bores me. I only check my myspace account about once/month. Yeah I know...what's the point in having it then? At this point I don't have any idea. lol I started my page around the end of 2007. If they would have paid me a $1 for every time I checked it back then, I'd be rich bitch (toots the horn).....well at least well off. lol The novelty of it all wore off on me fairly quickly. I remember one of my friends asking me (probably a year after I created my account) why hadn't I responded to their myspace message. My response: Don't you have my phone number? lol I'm such a smart ass.

Now I do have one for Ning only because my sister set up a page for us for our family reunion this summer. Ask me the last time I was on it? When ARGal you ask? When I set up the account. lol

I've gotten several requests via email for me to setup a facebook account/page/whatever. Now I've been told it's totally different from myspace...much better, yada yada yada. I have no doubt they are correct. Who knows, maybe I will be persuaded enough to start one eventually but for now......no dice. And don't even ask me about twitter.....ain't.gonna.happen. lol

Maybe I should go check my myspace page now to help save a job.

FIGHT, FIGHT!!!

If you can't sit still and watch the entire thing, make sure you fast foward to ohhhhh about minute mark 4:12 to see the lady wearing the yellow shirt. Be sure you pay special attention to her hairline.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=6858547

Sorry about the link. The embed thing wouldn't work.

Either your in or your out...............................

This week has been a rough one work wise. Layoffs started this past Monday. We've known about them since around ohhhhhhhhhhhh March sometime. I know classy huh? We just didn't know who would be affected. Now that it's all coming out in the wash, it ain't purty. Having to wait has kinda been like a slow work death of sorts. Even though we really weren't supposed to find out that early (gotta love people who leave classified information lying around on printers, lol), the wait has been both a good and bad thing. Good because it at least gave people time to start the job search; bad because is morale has been low.

This week I've seen crying people, pissed people, depressed lookin people, trying to keep an upbeat attitude people, still trying to work through the storm people, I don't give a phuck people, it is what it is people....you get the drift. I fall in the last description. As far as me....so far so good. There's still tomorrow and Friday though so who knows. Our Admin. Asst. came to me a few weeks ago and told me (even though she wasn't supposed to) that her position had been eliminated but that she was offered another position in the company. A lady that works a couple of desks back from me eluded to the same thing today and started to cry. I consoled her but told her to dry her eyes because at the end of the day YOU still have a check coming in and for that you should be happy. You don't have to worry about what the future holds for you, the rest of us can't say the same right now.

My boss has been one of those still trying to work through the storm people. She's a special (ed) chick to put it mildly. As much as she irks my last nerve somedays, I think working with her in this position has (potentially) saved me from the cut.....this time. My spidey senses tell me this is not the last of this though.............

What I'll be watching tomorrow night.......

then this

with a dash of this Monday night


Bridezillas can't get here soon enough. Get a load of this stupid ass trollop (edited) flip out over what looks like a Sam's Club sheetcake. I can't wait!! lol



I've been addicted to Army Wives since the show first came a couple of years back. The only thing I hate is that you have to wait so long between seasons because they only show it during the summer months. Bummer. Like many of the other shows I like(d) that also have large gaps in between seasons, (Big Love, The Wire (RIP...that show should STILL be on the air, United States of Tara, The L Word (RIP), The #1 Ladies Detective Agency), it is SO worth the wait.

I'm pretty excited (obviously) about the new show Nurse Jackie. The previews looked interesting, to say the least, and Edie Falco is a good actress so I'm pretty sure it will not disappoint. I'm just happy that some really good tv is coming my way. While I am a reality show tv fiend (as evidenced by Bridezillas, lol) it's always nice to have shows in the mix that involve an actual plot and excellent acting.

What shows are you looking forward to this summer?

Riddle Me This...............

I usually see this ad several times during the day on the web and the same question always pops in my head. Why should I be compelled to purchase this product when the end result is showcased inside a set of charbroiled lips? I can't focus on the whiteness of it all because of those things.


For the record (and for my own sanity), I have chosen to overlook the white/butter popcorn tooth color comparison.

Jon and Kate plus her haircut

I don't care one way or another about the fiasco that is Jon and Kate but I saw a lady at Wal-Mart today with that dreadful Kate haircut and just about hollered. Sorry I didn't have time to whip out the trusty camera phone. She was gone before I could even think about taking it out of my pocket. Damn power shoppers!! *growls* Anyway, me thinks this is well on its way to becoming the 21st century version of the Rachel hairdo that was deemed popular for the (white) ladies back in the mid-nineties. I saw this clip online just a few moments ago......it's the cherry on top of a good laugh.

Jon & Kate ...Plus my Hate
Uploaded by fluffybunnykins666 - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

4 calls and 1 voicemail message................

..................is a pretty good indication that someone really needs to talk with about something important. Well that is unless you're my sister and you do all of the above to just say what's up.

One of my friends (Trisha) put in the work trying to get in touch with me this evening to tell me about another of our friends (Laci). Laci, Trisha, and I (just for the record these names have been made up to protect the innocent and ig'nant) met during college. Trisha and I met my very first day and I met Laci either the same day or the next. We were tighter than panty hose two sizes small during our time in college and developed our own little clique. During our time in school we had some F-U-N! Fast forward to about 1998 and Laci drops out of college. Trisha did too eventually but I wasn't sure if it was at the same time but that's neither here nor there. Laci moves back to her hometown and gets married to her high school sweetheart. Soon after they one have kid then another and then get divorced a few years after that. Laci moves back to central AR, becomes an LPN and is doing well for herself as a now single mom. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately depending on how you look at) Laci liked to indulge in the comforts of Mary Jane quite often, got randomly drugged tested and lost her job AND her nursing license. Can you say BUMMER?! Not too much longer after that Laci meets some random cat,they fall in love quickly, and are inseparable. If I recall correctly this was around 2002/2003.

They end up moving in together, living life, making it work yada yada yada and ended up getting married last year. Everything seemed to be going fine...well except for the fact that he didn't like working the type of job that required you having taxes taken out of your paycheck. You know what that means. Anyway, so random cat gets busted as does Laci at their house during some kind of stakeout.....I know *sigh* Laci gets off on probation but random cat has to do some time as he had a prior record. She seemed to be doing farely well when I would talk with her. I think her side-piece that she met about a month after helped with that......I know *sighs again*

Normally Laci would send text messages like crazy, you know those retarded ones people forward (and that I canNOT stand!!). Trisha and I noticed that we hadn't been receiving texts from Laci at all. I asked Trisha if she had spoken with her lately and she said no. Hmmmmmm I thought, somethings wrong. Trisha agreed especially seeing as she had received calls from Laci's landlord and the furniture rental place asking her whereabouts (she didn't even know that she had given them her name and number as a reference. Don't you just hate that?) I asked Trisha if she had spoken with Laci's mom (they usually stay in pretty good contact since Laci and Trisha are from the same hometown) and she said no but she would reach out to her because like I said.....no text message from Laci (at least once/week) was just strange. Well today I get 4 calls and 1 voicemail message from Trisha. She informs me that something was wrong....Laci been locked up dawg! *exasperated sigh* She gives me the rundown about how it all came to pass. Turns out Laci didn't pass her piss test when she went to her scheduled PO visit. They locked her up for 4 or 5 days for violating the terms of parole and she is now in rehab. She's been there for about 3 weeks now and will remain for the next 30 days.

SIDENOTE: I'm watching Chelsea Lately (love her) and Mayim Bialak (aka Blossom) is on and she has two kids! Who knew?!

According to Laci's mom, she's been giving her hell in the counseling sessions and is mad at the world. Hell I would too if my life was spinning out of control but hey....she got herself into this predicament. There are so many questions running through my head. The main one being why, but she's my friend and I know her so I can pretty much answer that question. It just really baffles me that she would risk it knowing she has two kids to raise. Now she's put even more of a burden on herself and her mother. I'm just hoping that once this stage of her life has passed that she is able to get herself and life together.

Chrisette Michelle...........

I'm loving (almost) every song on her new album!! One of my e-buddies told me that she sings like she just smoked a pack of Newports. lol I beg to differ but I lubs her still. Take a listen and judge for yourself.


Epiphany

CONGRATULATIONS...........

.......to American Idol Kris Allen.

As I was watching the AI finale tonight, it dawned on me that I never blogged about this guy. He has put this little town we live in on the map....probably not but you get my drift.

I was on the phone with my friend as the results were announced. How surprised was I when I heard his name? I didn't watch the show every week, never voted, and if I may continue to be honest....didn't think he really would win. I guess he and his supporters made a fool out of me. At any rate, it's still pretty cool.

Where have all the cowboys gone?

So I watched “The Game” Friday and was thrown off by how, for lack of a better word, random the show has become. I don’t watch it that often so seeing how all the story lines from this season played out was interesting to say the least. And is Principle Greer dating the dude that played Kenny on “Soul Food”? I can’t recall the actual character names. I think Kenny dude is cute. I would so date him if I weren’t taken…..and if he lived in AR. *giggles*

To those that don't watch, I'll give a rundown of the scene I'm referring to. Mel (girl)and Derwin (boy) are about to get married when Derwin gets a call from the chick that is pregnant with his kid. He answers and she tells him that she is in labor with their child. He wants to stay but his bride, Mel, tells him to go to the hospital. Mel ends up waiting at the hospital for the baby to be born and she and Derwin are later married in the hospital chapel.

Anyway, so I’m watching the wedding scene with Mel and Derwin’s dumb tails. Why was this fool at his wedding with his cell phone on (not even on vibrate but full outdoor ringer mode)? WHY did he answer the phone (let alone look to see who was callin)? WHY did he leave that girl at the altar? Yeah, yeah I know his ex was about to berf his baby and yeah yeah I know Mel told him to go but still…..just a mess all over. Both of the characters are idiots that deserve one another…and rightfully so.

Sidenote: Seeing Mel’s mother slap Derwin silly tickled me to pieces.

Anyway, so I’m sitting and watching Mel at the hospital waiting for her almost so close she can taste it husband to come give her the news about the baby. Then I think, could I do that? Could that be me? In two short words, HELL.NO. The birth of a child is an important event, no doubt, but seriously…what would a few more minutes difference have made for them to at least finish the ceremony THEN leave? I would have been more apt to be supportive once I had that ring on my finger and been pronounced man and wife.

To those that watched, what about you guys? If placed in the same predicament, could you? Would you?

Tasha Mack, that's the name …it just came to me!

There she is......

.........Miss Landmine.....





Find other Ms. (insert random pageant name here) beauties here.

Precious

I heard Tyler Perry talking about this movie sometime last year on the Steve Harvey morning show. While Tyler was pumping it up, he mentioned that Monique was one of the actors and that her performance was Oscar bound (or something like that). I choked on my drink. Then he said Mariah (Carey) was in it too. Hearing that and the mention of the movie name, "Precious", made me laugh as visions of a Glitter-esque performance danced in my head. After watching this trailer, I vow to no longer talk bad 'bout Mrs. Cannon or Mrs. Monique. This movie looks good as hell and I will be there to see it.

Take a looksie.

MAKE.IT.STOP!!!

Afternoon at the Movies: Star Trek

I've been wanting to see this since they started advertising for it. Most people that knew me when I was younger find this odd since I never really watched the series much growing up. The same goes for Transformers. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a REALLY good movie preview. Often times the preview turns out to be the best parts rolled into 2 minutes but in this instance (and with Transformers) that was untrue. This movie was AWESOME!!

Not really having much to compare it to (other than memories of the characters), I went in with an open mind. Speaking of, the cast is perfect. They were great at catching the essence of the original characters without making it seem like bad imitations. Whatever group of people that held the responsibility of casting these folks really did a great job The addition of the original Spock was a nice added touch as well. I think that helped to add a bit of nostalgia for all the true trekkies.

Sidenote: I thought Leonard Nimoy was dead.

Sidenote squared: How the hell did Tyler Perry manage to get a cameo in this joint?

I'll keep it brief and just say that this is a great, GREAT movie! Even if you never liked Star Trek, the storyline, special effects, characters, etc are enough, IMO, to make it worth your time and your dime. :)

AR Gal rates this: 5 U.S.S Starship Enterprises