I Hope There's Not a "Three-quel" in That Book...

Today's entertaining article is:

Top Ten Worst Hairdos in Film

It's snarky, so I liked it immediately, but what I really liked was the final entry. These two choice quotes tickled me the most:

"For weeks the spot for this entry stood empty on this list, with simply the words "Nicolas Cage, FILM TO BE DETERMINED LATER" holding its place."

and

"... we spent the whole film staring at the slug-like patch of weave at the very tip of the actor's forehead. Seriously, this isn't hair, it's a lid."

Robert and my college roommate, Nora, have hated Nicolas Cage for a long time. Me? I don't hate him but I'm not particularly drawn to his movies, either. I do agree, however, that he has horrific hair and teeth. Egads!

This article was particularly meaningful for me because I was just forced to sit through National Treasure: Book of Secrets a couple weekends ago. I saw the first NT in the theater, too, and Robert didn't like it. So, WHY did I have to suffer through the second one? Because Robert was convinced that the premise itself was promising enough that there was potential for the sequel to "get it right" and surpass its predecessor. (Plus, my brother-in-law wanted to see it and that just got Robert all hopped up about it.*) Did it? No. Not. At. All.

Anyway, the whole time I'm watching the movie, I'm mesmerized by Nic's faux hair and giant chompers. He really reminds me of Matt Dillon in There's Something About Mary ...; his teeth are HUGE! Like, helping-to-bring-wayward-ships-to-shore huge. Not as huge as Jay Mohr's (which are visible-from-space huge), but huge. You know when you watch cartoons and someone is flying through the air and then suddenly clamps their teeth into a wooden pole to stop from flying? Then they slide down said wooden pole, creating wood curls along the way? I kept expecting Nic to do the same thing as he was contemplating a jump from a platform in the golden city below Mount Rushmore. Seriously.

I also kept thinking, "His hair has got to be worse in this one than it was in the first movie!" It was atrocious; the front plugs are "grown" out way long than the rest of his hair and swept back for a perma-windblown look. I was convinced it had to have looked better three years ago. That is, until I saw the little video clip attached to the article. Then I perused some movie stills of the first National Treasure on IMDb.com and - whoa! The hair was the same ... but worse! It's highlighted in addition to the aforementioned hair horrors. Ugh. Very distracting. If his grappling hook teeth didn't stop him from falling, perhaps fashioning a makeshift parachute from his head fibers would have!

* In all fairness, my sister (Melanie), brother-in-law (Wade), Robert and I saw two movies that day and the other one wasn't any better. Because we knew we wanted to see NT2, we had to find a movie that fit into it's schedule and allowed us time for dinner. Unfortunately, 27 Dresses was it. Bleh!! Now, I love schmoopy stuff and I find a lot of, well, crap romantic and whatnot in movies but this was bad. Bad, bad, bad. If I don't find it schmoopy - definitely not a good sign! My sister didn't care for it, either, nor did Robert. Wade thought it was funny but ... he has really poor taste! (Sorry, Mel). It wasn't romantic, it wasn't funny, there was no chemistry bewteen the leads and it was waaaaaay too formulaic, even for me. So, while NT2 wasn't the only bad movie we saw that day, it also doesn't get a free pass as being 'tainted' by our lingering bad taste over Dresses. It was a bad movie all by itself.

The Germ is Felled Again

I don't think I've worked a full week thus far this month. Let's recap, shall we?

1.) The first week of January was a short week through no fault of my own - it was due to the New Year's holiday. Score!

2.) The following week I was out sick with a bug of some sort that nearly ruined my birthday festivities.

3.) The week of the 14th was shortened by a day-and-a-half due to a Thursday afternoon wedding. (I had requested Friday off, as well, because originally Robert and I thought we'd take the day to sleep in, since we weren't sure how late the wedding would run. Then Robert was "responsible" and went to work. Pbth!). Luckily, that time came out of my vacation pot. Woohoo!

4.) Last week was a short one for two reasons: (a) the MLK holiday; and (b) I started feeling sick on Wednesday night, resulting in a short day on Thursday and a sick day on Friday.

5.) Turns out, I have a sinus issue which has resulted in bronchitis and fluid in my ears. As such, I was out Monday and Tuesday of this week.

Now that I have used up all my sick time, (and then some), I am back at work. Happy happy, joy joy. I am on antibiotics now, though, so I should feel better very soon. I hope.

I just want to take a nap! Mew. :o(

Christina's Shower

Christina had her (California) wedding shower on December 29th and I was lucky enough to be both invited and able to attend. I've been to Christina's house dozens of times over the years but never really paid any attention to the actual address; when I saw the shower was being held at a residence on her street, I assumed it was at her (parents') house. Luckily for me, just as I was about to make my way to the front door, I saw a woman with a large present being shooed across the street. Turns out, the Trouts' neighbor was throwing the shower ... whoops. Still, I made it in time and it was very nice. I didn't know anyone there but Christina and her mom, (though I had met Emily's mother and Christina's sister-in-law once or twice before), but her mom is always fun to talk to - and she took a bullet for me and let me steal her seat during the meal so I could sit with Christina and Emily's mom. Yay! A sweet gesture that was much appreciated! I also scored two prizes during the shower so, all in all, not too shabby for me. :o)


(Christina won't like this photo, but it's the only one Robert OK'd)

Afterward, I helped lug all of Chrissie's loot across the street and wound up staying for, oh, 6 or 7 more hours. I have always enjoyed hanging out with the Trouts and Chrissie's fiance, Rob, is very easy-going, too, so the time just flew by. I called up Robert and he brought over our Wii guitar for a little Guitar Hero III battle. Jim (Christina's brother) kicked my ass but at least I was better than Christina ... I have to be better than someone!! Sheesh. We played other Wii games, too, and I'm sure I beat Chrissie at least a few times - I distinctly remember her lippy tantrum face right before she made us switch games.
It was great to have a chance to catch up with Chrissie and her family - she's definitely someone that I don't talk too terribly often but when I do, it's as though I haven't been away. Unfortunately, Robert and I won't be able to attend her wedding, as it's in Long Island at the end of March, but hopefully she sends me lots of pictures!

Flight of the Hamsters

Surprise! I have again been perusing the Web for interesting tidbits and came across this site, courtesy of EW.com:

http://www.digyourowngrave.com/flight-of-the-hamsters/

And it is super addicting!! The only bummer is that you can't ever completely mute the game - you can turn off the background song but not the hamster wheel squeaks or hamster squeals. I usually listen to music at my desk so I either have to have no sound at all or my boss will be confused as to why paperwork now sounds so fun ...

It took me a few tries to get the hang of it and I'm still not too skilled but it is a fun way to pass the time. Totally one of those "Let me just try one more time ..." games where you wind up playing for a good half hour longer than you meant to!

Lasagna Cat

Just as an addendum to yesterday's post - if you click on the Lasagna Cat link, you'll be able to check out all of his/her videos. I thought this was obvious but after watching Robert read the blog yesterday, I understand that it may not be (then again, I don't want to insult any of you by implying that you may be as dopey as Robert!). The videos are really quite odd but also strangely addicting ... though I haven't found one that I like as much as Eyes Without a Face, yet.

On a completely different note ...

I came across this article on Amy Winehouse's hair yesterday on DailyMail.co.uk and thought it was mildly interesting. This morning it was retitled: "Amy, you need Rehairb" which cracked. me. up! I don't know why - maybe I'm still sleepy. Anyway, it's an article chronicling her hair's (literal) ups and downs. It's a good time-killing read; I recommend it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=508747&in_page_id=1879

Doodle-y Doo ...

Soooooooo ... the system is down at my office right now and I have little (read: nothing) to do. As such, I took the opportunity to surf the Web and see what was available to make me look busy. I came across this video on EW.com:



Apparently, Lasagna Cat is a user who regularly takes unfunny Garfield strips and makes them into random music videos. Very weird, but oddly entertaining, don't you think?!

Oh, and the dude at the end of the video? Jim Davis. I had time to look it up. I'm nice like that. ;o)

4th Strike

This week sucks. I have been sick all week - my birthday week!! Actually, I received a small reprieve on Tuesday so that was fortunate. I did feel well enough to go to work that day and go out for my annual family birthday dinner. But, Monday - sick. Wednesday - really sick. Thursday - better, but still sick. I'm at work today and feeling better, thank goodness, but I'm almost always sick to some degree on my birthday. It's just a bad time of year for me, I guess; plus, I seem to get sick if you look at me sideways! Back when I used to work at the law firm, one of the secretaries called me "The Germ." (1) Because I was very often sick, (either with a minor cold, the flu (twice) or conjunctivitis (once)), during my 4-year tenure; and (2) if anyone in the office was sick, I'd invariably catch it. I really was, (and still am, apparently), a giant germ, I guess.

The point of my sick rambling, you may ask? Well, Robert told me Tuesday night that, while he would like to have planned something for this coming weekend to celebrate my birthday, schedules being what they are meant that we would be celebrating next weekend instead. I was bummed but glad he told me in advance ... if I'd been thinking all week long, (as I undoubtedly would), that I was going to have some fantastical party only to come up with bupkus, I would indeed have been a wee bit miffed. Just a wee bit. :o) Fast forward to Wednesday night, when I was miserable and feeling generally rotten, and I said to Robert "I am so glad we're not doing anything for my birthday this weekend - I feel awful!" His response? Giant, unblinking saucer-eyes and a look that clearly stated I'd ruined a 4th surprise. SCORE! I don't know what's planned but I do wish I would quit ruining things for myself!!!!! I suck! Mew.

My birthday Oreo cheesecake

The only good thing about this week is that I did feel better on Tuesday and was able to celebrate my big day to its fullest, complete with birthday singing and lots of presents. Actually, maybe I was unwell ... I never let restaurant people sing Happy Birthday!! It did make me feel more birthday-ish, though, so it wasn't a bad thing after all.

Me, Robert, Wade, Melanie & my parents

You Say It's Your Birthday

Yes, today is my birthday - along with Elvis, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, David Bowie and Stephen Hawking, to name a few. I am the ripe old of age of 28, an age set firmly in "adult-ville" but an age I definitely don't feel! Bleh. I really relished those 10 weeks when Robert and I were the same age ...

Robert and I have started an annoying birthday tradition of guessing each other's surprises. For his last birthday, I bought Robert tickets to a couple of concerts and a book that he'd been reading but which had 80 pages missing out of its center for some reason. He'd said at the time that he didn't like the book enough to buy a new one but he was far enough along that he was annoyed he wouldn't know what happened. So, as a joke, I bought him a used copy. Weeks go by, the book is deposited in some desolate corner of our house and I'm thinking I'm in good shape. A week before his birthday, I see him reading it.

Me: What the heck are you doing? I thought you weren't reading that anymore.
Robert: Well, I'm going to try to finish it and just see if it makes any sense, even without the 80 pages.
Me: Don't do that!!!! You might be getting a copy someday soon, you moron! Happy birthday. Jerk.
Later that same week he tells me he wants to buy tickets to the Band of Horses concert - he'd just seen tickets on some site he was visiting. I had bought tickets two months prior.
Me: Really? Band of Horses? When?
Robert: Day after Thanksgiving. You like them, right?
Me: Eh ... I guess. But I might not want to go out the day after Thanksgiving - you know, Black Friday, the hustle and bustle. I might want to veg out. Plus, we should save our money.
Robert: No, no, no - we need to do things we enjoy, blah blah blah. (This from a man who won't spend $2 on spring rolls because I don't eat them all!)

Needless to say, I had to tell him I'd bought tickets because he was like a dog with a bone and wouldn't give it up! This is the birthday card I made him:


Now it's my turn. I'm supposed to think of some place to go with my family for my annual birthday dinner. I'm thinking Claim Jumper - we get take out from there from time to time, it's a good place for a group and my brother-in-law really likes it, too. Robert says, "Hmm ... is there somewhere else you might like to go?" Crap. When's the last time I ate at Claim Jumper? January 2007 in Puyallup, WA! Why would I pick it now? Because, apparently, he's planned some surprise to-do for me at Claim Jumper and I like ruined surprises. Yay me. So, I decide to pick a new restaurant. I ask Robert for suggestions; he says there was somewhere he wanted to take me and I say, "Shh! Don't tell me! We'll go on a date later this week for my birthday." Good save, I think. The next day, after much hemming and hawing, I decide on Cheesecake Factory. I really like the food but it's a place where I rarely eat in the restaurant itself because it's always so crowded so this is a good opportunity to force myself to go. I ask Robert if 8:00 in Pleasanton is OK - he replies, in his squeaky voice, "Sure!" Squeaky voice = problem, so I ask him if he's sure. "Of course!" Turns out, that's where he was going to take me on our date. Niiiiiiiice. That's 2 surprises ruined.

Then, last night, Robert tells me he has to get up early for an early meeting. Some international phone call he has to make at 7:30, so he'll be up by 6. Very early (and somewhat odd - he usually makes those calls from home so he doesn't have to get up early, but he doesn't want to charge international rates on our line, he says) but OK. I ask him to wake me up when he leaves because I want to get up early and treat myself to a Lloyd's donut. I'm supposed to be up by 7 everyday, but rarely am - I'm almost always late. Anyway, he wakes me up at 6:30 and I groggily kiss him goodbye and roll over. I can't fall back asleep, however, as I've been restless since 5:30 and know I'll have to get up soon. So, at 7, I get up. As I open the bedroom door, I see the front door is open. Scared the crap out of me! Turns out, Robert had been planning to go to Lloyd's all along to buy me a donut and was all stressed out when I'd mentioned I was going to do it myself. So, he woke up early, bought the donuts and some tulips and was going to have everything arranged and waiting for me when I got up. At 7:30. Like I have been the past 3 weeks. But, no, today I thought I'd get up on time and ruin a 3rd surprise. Love it! This totally sucks.

On a more cheerful note, here are some photos of me at my birthday lunch this afternoon. My very good friend at work, Gladys, treated me to lunch and it was lovely. I'm also friends with her daughter, Karina, who's a student at CSUEB and she was happily also available to join us.

The dude in the photos is our waiter - his name tag says 'Jermey' but I'm going to assume it's a misprint and that his name is really Jeremy. I hope. He had on a BOATLOAD of cologne; so much so that my left sweater sleeve has effused Eau de "Germy" all day!

Red Grange

I have been working on a project for my parents - transferring all our old home movies from VHS to DVD. While doing so, I came across a few of my old school projects and one in particular that is my favorite - my 1920's video. Made during my junior year of high school, it was a history project that reported on all important events during the 1920s (duh). It's quite a humorous video but it's also about 45 minutes long, so I cut out one of my favorite parts for your enjoyment: an outtake of Robert as Red Grange. Harold (Red) Grange is considered one of, if not the, best college football players of all time. He was also nicknamed the 'Galloping Ghost,' which is why Robert is wearing a sheet and riding a stick pony. (We actually got an A on the project, believe it or not. Viewed in its entirety, the video really does make sense, I promise!)

Hola!

Hello, all!

As it says in my profile, Robert has been bugging me to start a blog for quite some time now. Why, I'm not exactly sure, but it may be worth it just to shut him up! :o) The title includes both Robert and I but I'm pretty sure I'll be the main contributor to the site ... but I just felt bad leaving him off. Plus, Biji would be very upset and, since he's at war, it's a small gesture that will make him happy. More than likely, I will use the blog to not only update you on Robert's and my life but also to post entertainment info I find interesting at the time. You're all excited, I know!

Robert and I are still together, as I'm sure you've inferred by now. :o) November was our 10 year anniversary and we celebrated by going to Hawaii. I will try to post some photos from that trip soon, though most of you have seen them already, I'm sure. We bought a condo and have been living together for about 2 years, now. I am currently working at Cal State East Bay in the Financial Aid department (after a long tenure at an intellectual property law firm) and Robert is a PR manager at Robert Half International. He's been there a little over 5 years, now, and has moved up the ranks quite swiftly. A lot of his articles wind up on Yahoo! or MSN.com, so keep your eyes peeled - the articles are usually about resumes, interviews or other career-related topics and more often than not he gets a byline. I am very, very proud ... of course! I'm not sure what either of us will wind up doing as a long-term career path, but things seem to be running smoothly enough for now.


That's it for now, I suppose. I'm not sure how often I will check in here, but I like those that post often, so I will do my best to do the same.