Showing posts with label Wednesday Rants and Raves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wednesday Rants and Raves. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday Rant and Rave: Winter Wonderland

If I could sum up this week so far, it would be that I love and hate winter right now.

I knew it was coming for several days. Bryan Busby informed me so. Kansas City was about to get hit with the first real snowfall of the season. I had mixed feelings about this information. Last year, my fellow area residents and I suffered through the ENTIRE winter with snow. We all were tired of driving in it, shoveling it, and, for some, were developing bad cases of cabin fever. I had great animosity for the weather that NEVER seemed to want to go away. It was wonderful to see the snow finally melt around St. Patrick's Day.

We escaped having a white Christmas in Kansas City. Well, we had a flurry two days before, but it melted very quickly. I personally believed that we would have a minimal snow season. I might still be right, but I will have to wait until the end of the season before I can start gloating, lol.

It started to snow very late Sunday night/ early Monday morning. I remember the last report I listened to predicted 4 to 6 inches. I went to bed noticing about an inch on the ground. I woke up seeing six inches, and it was still snowing. I thought I was going to to hate it, just like I did last winter, but I surprised myself and was excited to go outside and play in the snow with my son.

After lunch on Monday, we did just that.


We made snow angels, threw snowballs, and attempted to build a snowman (which is when you have the idea but never actually get around to it besides a mountain of snow). I felt like a kid again. I also decided to shovel the driveway. It took me a couple hours, but I got most of it done by myself. The rest was done by my next door neighbor, who used his snow blower.


(You can tell where I shoveled and where my neighbor used his nifty machine.)

So Monday was a blast and ended with some delicious hot chocolate.

Enter Tuesday.

My kiddo had no school again. It was a LOT colder. I walked my kid over to the neighbor's house and experienced a wind so fierce it burned against my cheeks. Ugh, the harshness of winter. Then I had to go to work. My Mom takes my Jeep on days like this since it has 4 wheel drive (that and she doesn't want to risk wrecking her car, a Thunderbird). So I had the pleasure of driving my Dad's Chevy truck, with rear wheel drive.

I get stuck in the neighborhood. After a few reverse/drive reverse/drive maneuvers, I get out and move on. I fishtail a couple times, but very minimal. I must state that winter used to be my favorite season. That is, until I got my drivers license. Attempting to drive in this weather is not exactly comforting to me. I feel like I am on edge out of fear that I am going to skid on ice or spin out. I keep those feelings inside though... anyone that drives with me wouldn't notice that about me (an inside glimpse of me, oh my!). I make it to work fine, and drive home with less problems than I did going to work.

Today.... third day in a row that school is cancelled. At this rate, my kid won't be at school at all this week (his school had an in service day scheduled this Friday, so no school for the kiddos anyway). So now I get to entertain my son once again. However, with the really cold temperatures and wind chill, I can't let him play in the snow. He seems to be fine with that for now, since he is happily playing with toys in his room.

I just hope cabin fever doesn't set in this week... crankiness isn't an enjoyable thing to deal with.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Wednesday Rant: The Unoriginality of Hollywood

As a movie watcher, I get enthralled in so many things: cinematography, symbolism, and the talents each actor brings to their character. One thing that I hold in the highest regards when watching movies is the storyline. I love getting wrapped up in a great story in a film. The more unique of a story, the better! However, in the land of Hollywood, repeating story lines is a common occurrence. Sure, they will change the location or the occupation of the characters, but when you break things down, all you see is the same exact story rehashed for a new audience. It saddens me at times that the rehashing happens more often that I would like to see. After going through my movie collection, I came up with several reused story lines.



Reused Storyline #1: A small town girl moves to the big city. She is seeking out her dream job and goes through a few obstacles along the way, which includes finding romance.

-42nd Street (Allentown, PA to NYC)
-Coyote Ugly (South Amboy, NJ to NYC)
-Burlesque (Iowa to Los Angeles, CA) <~~~ I haven't seen this, but it's pretty obvious based on the previews alone
-Center Stage (Jodi: Indiana to NYC)

Reused Storyline #2: A situation happens where two people who hate each other are partnered up to solve a problem. By the end of the film, they become friends.

-Wild Wild West
-The Fast and the Furious (also Fast and Furious)
-Toy Story
-Shanghai Noon
-Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
-Step Brothers
-Men in Black
-All About the Benjamins
-Remember the Titans
-Star Trek

Reused Storyline #2.5: (See previous storyline) By the end of the film, they become a couple.

-The Ugly Truth
-Miss Congeniality
-What Women Want
-National Treasure
-No Reservations
-What Happens in Vegas

Reused Storyline #3: Hotshot from a big city ends up stranded in a small town. After a period of time, he becomes accustomed to the lifestyle. After returning to the big city, they eventually realize they fell in love with the town and make it their new home.

-Doc Hollywood
-Disney/ Pixar Cars

Reused Storyline #4: Best friends are on a mission to get something. Along the way, they come across several strange situations (and people) until they finally reach what they were looking for.

-Fanboys (watch Star Wars Episode One before it hits theaters)
-Dude Where's My Car? (find the missing car)
-Dumb and Dumber (return briefcase to a woman)
-Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (locating a White Castle)

Reused Storyline #5: A company's CEO has passed away or is stepping down. In order to keep the company within the family, a relative has to step up and take responsibility.

-Tommy Boy
-Mr. Deeds
-Richie Rich
-Billy Madison

Reused Storyline #6: A couple breaks up, leaving the woman jaded and alone. After a period of time goes by, she gets out of a rut and rediscovers herself. Then something happens where the couple is reunited and is together once more.

-Sex and the City: The Movie
-The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Reused Storyline #7: The main character lives in present day and partway into the movie, ends up in an alternate universe which they see their lives lived out completely different than what they were accustomed to. Toward the end, they appreciate the life they had beforehand and somehow order is restored.

-Shrek: The Final Chapter
-Back to the Future Part 2
-13 Going on 30

So, as you can see, there has been a lot of unoriginality in movie making. Please note that of all the movie I have listed, none of them are in my Top 10 favorite movies of all time. Like I said earlier, the movies with great story lines are the ones I generally like the most. If you are curious as to which movies made my coveted BEST list... you can either ask me or wait until March, when that subject is tackled in a new 30 day challenge. :-)