Exorcised my excess pounds twice this week by way of running/jogging. My head-case-worker (out patient therapist of sorts) who happens to be an aspiring health guru advised 3x or more a week. I walked to the video store that happens to be located roughly within my neighborhood since I had a free movie coupon and rented DEAD MAN WALKING (1996), which I have not seen and have no excuses thereof.
Me and my Mom had a nice villa time at historic downtown Cape Girardeau, starting with Cup & Cork, and ending with a failed attempt to smash the windows of an antique store. Damn communist businessman, who do they think they are shoving their charity cases in the American consumers' face like that? They're closed b/c it's Memorial Day weekend??!!!!! LISTEN UP SMALL TIME PAWNEES: CONSUMERISM IS NOT YOURS TO MODERATE! I mean, I know they own the store and they have a right to a evening/night off, but for crying out loud, they sell junk that nobody has any real need for. If they're going to thrive on the illness of people not having any sense of priority in their life, then why not go all the way? I guess they might be struggling awful much with the economy the way it is, so they can't hire very many if any cashiers to keep the place in operation while death takes a holiday...
So we did the only sensible thing we could - we went to Menard's and did a second round of pesticide shopping. We'll still need to do a 3rd round, b/c flea foggin'bombs are too expensive for us at the moment, as we are laying out the last of our money for the month. My mom found some wasp killer that claims to kill on contact. I found a wasp tucked in between the outer and inner pannels of one of the basement windows. The window, the outer end, was partly broken to shikinzzit, and so I just broke off some more of it and the wasp came flying out. Thankfully it either didn't notice me to an extent where it saw a desire/need to beat the wisp out of me OR (perhaps this isn't in line with realism, idk, I'm no entomologist[wow, I got the spelling right on try1--yee!]) it was thankful for its release and knew who was due for thanks. Now I have something other than a flimsy piece of plastic to protect myself with when the wasp REALLY IS inside the building. The real crazy supernatural freaky deaky thing is it only cost $0.97 (plus MO sales tax).
Dinner for tonight was a Wal-Mart "Steak Over". It was a decent amount of steak for $9, but a far cry from the best steak I've ever had. If I can ever afford to go to an actual steakhouse I'm sure I might even have had a better steak AGAIN. I rarely order steak tho. A lot of the time it tastes like pork chops, much like the one I had tonight - all chewwy with little to no tenderness. And I don't bother complaining at a restaurant. I'll tell them if I need something in addition to what I'm getting, but for food I ordered and had to wait 30 minutes to eat, I'm not going to taste it, wait for the waiter to ask how it is or give me the opportunity to tell them, and then wait for it to be modified with the HOPE that it turns out OK the second time.
I ordered Men At Work's pop-masterpiece BUSINESS AS USUAL on May 16th from BetterWorldBooks via the Amazon Marketplace. Still waiting for its arrival, which won't be until Tuesday at the earlist. God Almighty, PLEASE let it show up on Tuesday!!! I don't even know what my problem is. If I want to listen to it I can go to Grooveshark or subscribe to Rdio when I get a few bucks...only downside to that is my energy hoggin 'computer needs to be on, and I'm strongly opposed to having my computer on while I sleep, which is kinda what I bought it for, since it goes good with the pre-slumber state of mind. I feel bad enough my old school "standard" def TV is on most nights while I sleep --my energy bill would be wonderously reduced if the TV had an off timer that I could activate and maybe there is one somewhere within the TV's chips but my Gramma, who gave the TV to me when my Dynex LCD died out, does not know where the remote is or if it ever had one.
Hoping my sister can pay for half of my mother's birthday present, to be ordered no later than July 2nd. Her b-day is several days after that, but without the $20 off coupon code there is no way in heck I can afford it. It's just clothing, which I admit she probably has too much of b/c she buys everything on clearance that isn't ugly if she happens to have a few bucks, but it occurred to me while I was talking to my Gramma a couple weeks back that as disgusted as I am with the mind-blowing profitiability of the clothing industry that I really do not own enough clothes. I mean, wow; I sound like a transvestite right about now, but I really do feel like I wear the same shirt every other day. I prolly don't need a whole closet full of 'em, but I could use about 5 more shirts and a few pairs of shorts. I have shorts but they really accentuate the short in shorts. I mean, they're not daisy dukes or whatever, but they look like soccer shorts. Fat sickos like me do not need to be wearing soccer shorts. Nor do I need to be reminded of all the mocking laughter circa high school pertaining to the shade of white that my legs are
My ideal pants would be these ones that Hot Topic had back in 2002 that I could not afford then and still cannot afford. I don't remember what they looked like in any significant detail. I remember they were frippin' HUGE and black, and thus probably NOT appropriate for the current season & the days immediately most likely ahead. I think I actually have plenty of pants, I just need to get off the damm computer and get 'em washed when they start getting low in availability. I also need a belt that doesn't stick; it's actually my Mom's belt; a chore to put on like all belts, but an even bigger chore to take off b/c whereas it should be a smooth glide, the belt keeps getting caught on the loops. I need to get a belt. The cheapest one that Wal-Mart had circa 2005 was $10 and it lasted less than a year.
The real clincher for the stuff my Mom wants is I deduced that knitting accessories are not a priority for her b/c she spends very little time knitting. I know she likes music, but she has a wall full of CDs that she never listens to. She also LOVES food. So: I was going to get her some sugar free chocolate that is currently on her Amazon wish list. She says she wants the clothing more than the chocolate. She's a chocolate addict who wants clothing more than chocolate? OK then.
If my sister can't pay for half, I do think I just barely have enough to pay for the whole thing, which serves me right if I need to do that since I'm the only one who completely blew off Mother's Day. My grandfather sent her $50 and my sister's (soon2BX-)husband has leeched her dry but she still managed to scrounge up $20 for Mother's Day + $7 for a super-grand Mother's Day greeting card.
Anyhoo...I have very little on my wishlist, if you can believe it. There's a couple movies I'd like to buy sooner or later as they are not available for rent. There's a rare (ltd ed) DVD from 2012 that's already out of print, of a film from 1969 called CHANGES that might or might not be up my alley. And David Cronenberg's RABID (1977). I do like pretty much all of Cronenberg's earlyish films. SHIVERS (1975), THE BROOD (1979), SCANNERS (1981), VIDEODROME (1982), THE FLY (1986), and probably some that I've forgotten. I think eXistenZ (1999) is probably his WORST film, and I don't care much for COSMOPOLIS (2012), and the people raving about how A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (2004) is a contemplative analysis of the nature of violence must be on LSD; the only thing in the film that resonates as a meaningful examination of violence's nature is the aspect of the film where Mortensen's character and his wife are squalling and his wife insists that he is [insert dramatic damnation] even after he so eloqently voices his defense for his actions. And that's stretching it; being piaaed off at somebody is not generally considered violence. The sad but ultimately true fact of life is that the most effective way to retaliate in a life or death situation is to fight by the enemy's playbook. Mortensen's character **MIGHT** have been overly drastic in his method of ending the reign of terror in his diner, but he didn't ask for that reign of terror ane he certainly didn't ask for his life-of-crime past to come calling. The film was indeed interesting, but ultimately had nothing to offer aside from that. I also didn't care much for A DANGEROUS METHOD (2011), but then again I've grown rather impatient with movies in general. I might try to watch it again....
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
My apologies Tobe
I don't know how I did that. It is now fixed as of a few seconds prior to typing this sentence, but I forgot to include it initially, so who knows what other freakin' great films I forgot to include?
Oh, I didn't forget to include FORREST GUMP. I just didn't put it in there, because even though its a very moving film, I tend to look back on it with confusion, wondering "what the heck is that movie about anyway?" I suppose it's more about innocence in an age that was so clearly not innocent; perhaps speaking to the hopes and dreams of those who particpated and lived through the social and inner rioting that blasted through cities and families and individual human beings from 1965-1975 and lived on as more of a vibration afterward that never stopped and that most never noticed after spending so many years entrenched in a tug-of-war for free speech and democracy.
But I Really don't know what the film means to most people, as I am not most people and I'm a little crazy if that wasn't already obvious. I certainly don't know what if anything the writer(s) of the film were trying to convey. Winston Groom's novel, from the little bit I've read regarding it, seems to be more of a satire of some kind rather than a profound tearjerker...at least that was what one of the pro-critics thought of the novel, per the "PRAISE FOR FORREST GUMP" excerpts on the back of one of the editions I either bought or borrowed from the library. So I'm pretty sure the writer of the film was using the book as a blueprint with little regard to what Mr. Groom had in mind when he wrote it, however obvious it may or may not have been to anyone who read it. An Amazon reviewer spoke of the line "Life is like a box of chocolates..." as "re-working" of a line in the book which states "Being an idiot is no box of chocolates", which, to me, sounds rather condescending, and the first few lines of the book (the only part I read for myself) seem rather mean-spirited, although that may have been me just trying to put context to a book that I hadn't read enough of to really have any idea what the context was.
But given the fact that I'm not really planning on watching the film again anytime soon, which is more b/c of the fact that I remember almost everything about it more so than any idealogical criticisisms I might have, so I think my criticisms regarding the movie have more to do with boredom; I can't watch the movie so therefore I have to have make up the movie in my mind which, in this case, really doesn't benefit the movie b/c the movie is like a visit to a foreign land, but once you come back home to the life you've spent x years living, the sensation of being there is gone with nothing to revive it, and you end up with an increasingly distorted memory of it, which leads to half truths and innacurate assumptions. Maybe that's not the average experience, idk...but anyway...
So I'll probably add FORREST GUMP to the list once I'm done writing this.
But there's really no reason to have excluded THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. It's a highly effective and artfully executed film that is so simple in nature that there is nothing to falsely remember in it or question the meaning of.
Oh, I didn't forget to include FORREST GUMP. I just didn't put it in there, because even though its a very moving film, I tend to look back on it with confusion, wondering "what the heck is that movie about anyway?" I suppose it's more about innocence in an age that was so clearly not innocent; perhaps speaking to the hopes and dreams of those who particpated and lived through the social and inner rioting that blasted through cities and families and individual human beings from 1965-1975 and lived on as more of a vibration afterward that never stopped and that most never noticed after spending so many years entrenched in a tug-of-war for free speech and democracy.
But I Really don't know what the film means to most people, as I am not most people and I'm a little crazy if that wasn't already obvious. I certainly don't know what if anything the writer(s) of the film were trying to convey. Winston Groom's novel, from the little bit I've read regarding it, seems to be more of a satire of some kind rather than a profound tearjerker...at least that was what one of the pro-critics thought of the novel, per the "PRAISE FOR FORREST GUMP" excerpts on the back of one of the editions I either bought or borrowed from the library. So I'm pretty sure the writer of the film was using the book as a blueprint with little regard to what Mr. Groom had in mind when he wrote it, however obvious it may or may not have been to anyone who read it. An Amazon reviewer spoke of the line "Life is like a box of chocolates..." as "re-working" of a line in the book which states "Being an idiot is no box of chocolates", which, to me, sounds rather condescending, and the first few lines of the book (the only part I read for myself) seem rather mean-spirited, although that may have been me just trying to put context to a book that I hadn't read enough of to really have any idea what the context was.
But given the fact that I'm not really planning on watching the film again anytime soon, which is more b/c of the fact that I remember almost everything about it more so than any idealogical criticisisms I might have, so I think my criticisms regarding the movie have more to do with boredom; I can't watch the movie so therefore I have to have make up the movie in my mind which, in this case, really doesn't benefit the movie b/c the movie is like a visit to a foreign land, but once you come back home to the life you've spent x years living, the sensation of being there is gone with nothing to revive it, and you end up with an increasingly distorted memory of it, which leads to half truths and innacurate assumptions. Maybe that's not the average experience, idk...but anyway...
So I'll probably add FORREST GUMP to the list once I'm done writing this.
But there's really no reason to have excluded THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. It's a highly effective and artfully executed film that is so simple in nature that there is nothing to falsely remember in it or question the meaning of.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
My Favorite Movies
Someone asked me if my favorite movie was GHOSTBUSTERS, seeing as I was wearing a shirt with the GB logo. It's hard to answer. It's a movie that I grew up with, been watching it since the age of one(?), and it's easy to re-watch after all these years.
But is that the definition of one's favorite movie? It's not what I would consider THE BEST MOVIE, or even "one of" the best movies. It's perfect fodder for those whose minds wander, but I really don't find much comic relief in it and I'm not moved within by it.
THE BEST MOVIES
Being There (1979)
Candyman (1992)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Dolores Claiborne (1995)
End Of Days (1999)
Forrest Gump (1994)
The Green Mile (1999)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Heathers (1989)
Hellraiser (1987)
Liar Liar (1997)
nowhere (1997)
Requiem For A Dream (2000)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Taxi Driver (1976)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
But is that the definition of one's favorite movie? It's not what I would consider THE BEST MOVIE, or even "one of" the best movies. It's perfect fodder for those whose minds wander, but I really don't find much comic relief in it and I'm not moved within by it.
THE BEST MOVIES
Being There (1979)
Candyman (1992)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Dolores Claiborne (1995)
End Of Days (1999)
Forrest Gump (1994)
The Green Mile (1999)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Heathers (1989)
Hellraiser (1987)
Liar Liar (1997)
nowhere (1997)
Requiem For A Dream (2000)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Taxi Driver (1976)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Sister Christian
My sister is such a wreck; her low self-esteem etc. has driven her to near-suicide. She is the kindest person I know, which amazes me b/c I am so not. I am not one to volunteer my time in large qtys and I am quick to make certain I am exhonorated of any accusations that are flown my way. Which makes me wonder; is my sister trying to work her low-self esteem away by being ultra-nice, or are do the two traits operate as two seperate entities, independant of one another? I would ask her, but if she says the former, would I really be satisfied? It's a horror to think that all good deeds stem from tragedy or the potential thereof, at least in my opinion. Of course, I think it's a tragedy that mankind is wandering lost in this planet and, for the most part, will someday walk right into a bottomless bowl of pain and suffering that will never cease. One of these horrors is undeniably true, as evidenced in The Holy Bible and the secular evidence that backs it up. The other one might be, but I don't know; I ordered an NIV (Pew) Bible on Amazon a couple months back, but I've only read like 7 pages of Genesis and 6 pages of John. Last night I read about 8 pages of Clive Barker's THE INHUMAN CONDITION, which is soooo not The Bible...I tried to make the situation more acceptable by putting on the GHOSTBUSTERS ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM, which is the soundtrack album to a movie that isn't entirely biblical either, but, IMO, captures the essence of the horror genre of fictional storytelling without getting downright heathenistic, although its references to Peagan religious icons etc. can certainly cause a few eyebrows to go up. In the 1999 retrospective from the "Collector's Series" DVD, he says something about prophecies being fulfilled soon, but I don't know if he's talking about The Bible's prophecies or what, and if he is talking about biblical prophecies, I don't know if that necessarily makes him a Christian, but I don't even know if I technically classify as a Christian. As far as I am consciously aware, I do not know God, I do not bow to him, I don't love him, I don't even know everything he most likely wants me to know b/c I do not invest hardly any time reading his word, and I certainly don't sin any less than I used to. And I have not even been baptized, unless you count that time I was dunked in water at Cape Bible Chapel and then turned my back on The Holy Spirit and the accompanying scriptures. So what does it matter if I read THE INHUMAN CONDITION or not? And not only that, aside from Clive Barker's gutter-mind and homosexual lifestyle, I have no reason to believe that he's NOT a Christian. I did read awhile back that he spent some#of years coming to terms with his sexuality, but that may have been b/c he was raised by Christians or otherwise homophobic people and he inherited that sense of disgust that a lot of st8ts have for gay people.
Anyway, I guess my point is I'm not very knowledgable about what vs. whatnot, and I've been unwisely doing (too) little to change that.
But...um...maybe I had something else to say and forgot what it was....maybe I'll post it tomorrow.
SNIPS: My diet is not improving, at least not that I can tell, although I have been trying...if I hadn't eaten mediocre chocolate mousse yesterday, I **MIGHT** have been OK for that day, but whose to say my bananas that I ate today would not have disappeared early? And I'm kinda flunking on my exercise routine-assembly. I think I've gotten like 2? days of exercise this week, maybe tomorrow it'll go up to 3...My mom is hoping to be first in line, or somewhat close to the front of, to receive some much needed dental care from some gathering of dentistry for the orally hopeless who are hopelessly poor. Here's hoping she can be home before (or no later than?!!) noon and stay awake until about 5pm and maybe wake up around 7 or 8 the next day...without being in agony of biblical proportions from stress via waiting and her complicatedly delicate body that can't conform to one physical position for too long without pain being caused and of course the dental work itself.....and whatever else might cause her pain as a result of the visit.....I have a suspicion it's gonna be a grueling and bumpy next few days...
I still haven't figured out what I **MIGHT** have forgotten to add to this post. Whatever...
~JWC
Anyway, I guess my point is I'm not very knowledgable about what vs. whatnot, and I've been unwisely doing (too) little to change that.
But...um...maybe I had something else to say and forgot what it was....maybe I'll post it tomorrow.
SNIPS: My diet is not improving, at least not that I can tell, although I have been trying...if I hadn't eaten mediocre chocolate mousse yesterday, I **MIGHT** have been OK for that day, but whose to say my bananas that I ate today would not have disappeared early? And I'm kinda flunking on my exercise routine-assembly. I think I've gotten like 2? days of exercise this week, maybe tomorrow it'll go up to 3...My mom is hoping to be first in line, or somewhat close to the front of, to receive some much needed dental care from some gathering of dentistry for the orally hopeless who are hopelessly poor. Here's hoping she can be home before (or no later than?!!) noon and stay awake until about 5pm and maybe wake up around 7 or 8 the next day...without being in agony of biblical proportions from stress via waiting and her complicatedly delicate body that can't conform to one physical position for too long without pain being caused and of course the dental work itself.....and whatever else might cause her pain as a result of the visit.....I have a suspicion it's gonna be a grueling and bumpy next few days...
I still haven't figured out what I **MIGHT** have forgotten to add to this post. Whatever...
~JWC
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