Sunday, March 25, 2007

Can't Hollywood Even Make A Decent Action Flick Anymore?

My long suffering husband will sit through the occasional chick-flick with me, but, lest I abuse his good nature, I'm always on the lookout for action/adventure movies that we can both enjoy. I was hoping that Mark Wahlberg's new film Shooter would work for us. Alas, according to Libertas, this film goes deep into moonbat territory and never finds its way out. The movie sounds like a nightmare, but, at least the review was entertaining.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Another Thing I'll Never Live Down

Yikes. My twin nieces' 3rd birthday party was today. Alas, I thought it was next week. Since we were already late when they called to see where we were, I just sent Brian and Mia rushing out the door. I wish I could say this was the first time I've done something like this, but....

At least it gave me the opportunity to watch this fascinating video that Bookworm posted about the nihilism inherent on the left today. Good stuff. I suppose it's a little narcissistic, but I always enjoy hearing conversion (to conservativism) stories that mirror mine and Evan Sayet tells one at the beginning of this video.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Suburban Redneck In Training?

Is it possible to raise a red neck in the middle of suburbia? Because I think I'm doing it. When Mia hears Hillbilly Deluxe (Brooks and Dunn), she comes running to dance. At first I wasn't concerned. It is an easy song to dance to. But then she said she likes it because there are monster trucks in the video. Monster Trucks? Excuse me? What? My 5 year old girl likes monster trucks? I blame her father. Their special thing to do every Friday is watch "Trick My Truck."

Sunday, March 04, 2007

The Core Program

In my perpetual quest to get my act together, I discovered a book called The Core Program by Peggy Brill. She's a physical therapist and has designed this program to cure women of their various aches and pains.

I'd been walking on the treadmill 3 times a week for a few months and I hadn't lost an ounce. I stopped gaining so I guess that's something. But I also had debilitating headaches, felt achy and couldn't sleep.

I've been doing these Core Program exercises for about a month with great results. I feel much less achy, sleep better and have only gotten one mild headache instead of my weekly bout of violent pain.

The exercises are pretty easy to learn and pretty easy to do. You can increase the intensity as you go along. I've always had a hard time finding an exercise program that wouldn't injure one of my weak spots. So far so good with this one.

And an additional benefit: I've lost 5 lbs, 2 inches from my hips and I am fitting back into a smaller clothing size. Not a small size, mind you, but a smaller size at least.

Just thought I'd throw this out there for anyone with back or neck problems.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Is My Give A Damn Busted?

Remember that song from a year or two back about the girl whose man had treated her so badly that he broke her ability to give a damn about him? Cute song, but is it becoming a lifestyle for me?

The drummer I blogged about a few weeks back took a three week break from drumming. I thought his parents had finally decided to show a little courtesy towards their neighbors. More likely he just sprained a wrist because he started drumming again on Monday. The next day he drummed for about 30-45 minutes after school. Well, about 5:15 he started up again. I declared to myself that I had shared my last evening with that little s**t and called the cops on him without a second thought. My give a damn is definitely busted in regards to these neighbors. In January, it took three months of 2-3 daily drumming sessions, 6-7 days a week to drive me to calling the cops. In February, it took three sessions over two days.

Then today at school I had another shockingly (for me) assertive moment. Normally, the parents just wait in line and pull forward as the teachers get the kids out of the cars, but today I had to run inside to take care of a few things. There are two parking spaces near the door for this eventuality. There is a narrow spot in the parking lot where the line snakes through, but two cars can just pass. At least they can pass if some moron in a giant SUV isn't parked smack dab in the middle of the road. So in the few seconds it took me to drive up, I had to decide if I would 1) wait 5 minutes for the teachers to start the drop off procedure so the moron would move forward and I could finally get around, or 2) somehow convince genius girl to get out of my way.

I can guarantee that last year (maybe even last month), I would have waited. But today, I stopped about 4 car lengths behind her, rolled down my window and gave a little honk. When she rolled down her window I asked her (politely, I swear) to scoot over as I needed to get through.

She: I'm in line.
Me: I know, but I need to get through.
She: blah blah there's a line.
Me: I'm not waiting for the drop off. I need. to get. through.
She: Well, I don't know what you want me to do.
Me: (slightly less polite) Well, back up and scoot over so I can get through .

She eventually did this and I went about my business.

I know these aren't earth shaking incidents for normal people. But for a stereotypical doormat like myself? Deciding that a peaceful evening for myself is more important than anything some little punk could have going on? Calling on the police to do my bidding? Confronting someone with a request (a demand really) that they do something for my convenience?

Completely foreign territory.