Work in Progress

8 Years Ago Today ...

maxwell441@aol.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:12:27 GMT

I [heart] vampires

My Omig-d-I'm-a-geek Weekend VII

maxwell441@aol.com — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:32:57 GMT

Quote of the Day:
"Booth is a sniper so he only needs one sperm Straight shot!" - Hart Hanson

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Got a good tip in the morning that the WB booth was passing out Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Bags. We ran through the exhibition floor and got the elusive bags. We were sweaty and out of breath but already we felt our Comic Con experience was complete. Continued to browse the floor getting freebies, including foam Vulcan hands, the obligatory DC pins and Dark Horse Buffy bags.

Waited in line for Hall H for a Disney panel but gave up on it so that I could get into Ballroom 20 for Bones, Dollhouse, Joss and TV Guide panel. At first it looked like we weren't going to be able to get in line for 20 because this one event staffer was telling us they capped the line, but then another event staff let us in line! We waited outside in the mother of all switch backs and finally got inside just at the 24 panel started. Tara and I stayed in there for the next 4 hours.

David Boreanaz couldn't be there because his wife is about to pop out another kid, so it was just Emily and Hart but it was still enjoyable. Then Joss came out and screened the unseen Dollhouse which was really good and then a panel followed. Finally, a TV Guide panel on Sci Fi on TV. John Cho, the 2 guys from Big Bang Theory, Zachary Levi, Rebecca Romjin and Scott Wolf were present (all for their various shows). Chuck was clearly the most popular one. Zachary Levi was pretty funny.

Outside the Con at the end of the day, I was with Jobin and Tara and I spotted Zachary Levi walking by. I didn't even try to be subtle and pointed my phaser gun shouting, "Zach Levi, Chuck! Over there! Get a picture! Go!" Both Jobin got a picture. It was pretty awesome.

I can safely say this was a perfect Comic Con day

Never Gonna Happen Again

maxwell441@aol.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:50:18 GMT

There were 2 cool times today:

12:34.56 07/08/09

and

4:05.06 07/08/09

ENGAGEMENT!!

maxwell441@aol.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:09:18 GMT

Spent all of last night celebrating Jobin's engagement! It was one of the most exciting yet nervous events I've attended and I was just an observer!

Jon rented out a theater and played a specially made video for Robin while the guests sneaked into the back of the theater. Afterward we ate dinner and celebrated at Beechwood in Venice.

Now I have to lose weight for the wedding. No way we will be looking at their wedding pictures for the rest of our lives and I'm not looking fabulous.

It was a run by posting

maxwell441@aol.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:26:49 GMT

saw 17 Again and loved it.

Zac Efron is totally underrated as an actor.

I laughed by ass off and was thoroughly impressed with his ability to carry the film.

Excellent non-teen movie.

It's June Already?

maxwell441@aol.com — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:15:22 GMT

Quote of the Month:
"Caesar!!" random audience member at the Greek Theater
"That's Roman ..." - Bret and Jermaine, Flight of the Conchords

It was like I disappeared since April. I think journaling has lost it's appeal. sigh

Think catching up will have to be in more then one post. I can't remember everything I want to say and I'm too tired to type a lot.

Movies:
Star Trek was freakin' awesome. Definitely revamping the franchise, and definitely a JJ Abrams film. It had his trademarks all over it! I thoroughly enjoyed even with all the nit picky things only a true Star Trek fan will nit pick at. I'm down for a sequel.

Angels and Demons better then Da Vinci Code. They handled all the talky exposition stuff better and I think they did a better job of translating book to screen. They left out all the right stuff and you didn't lose anything from the story. I enjoyed it.

Wolverine Hugh Jackman is awesome and he plays Wolverine awesomely. Can say so much for the filmmakers. I think Jon was the one who said the movie was like a guy told another guy a story about Wolverine, who told another guy, who told another guy who thought it would make a good movie, so he told another guy and they made a movie. Actions sequences were cool, needed work on pacing and dialogue. Also when the hell are these comic book movies going to learn too many chefs spoil the soup or whatever. STOP JAMMING CHARACTERS DOWN OUR THROATS! I love Gambit, one of my fav characters and Taylor Kitsch did a fine job playing him but not enough! Such a throw away character in the film. It could have been ANY mutant. The whole thing could have been better.

Sunshine Cleaning the new movie from the Little Miss Sunshine people. Not what I was expecting. I thought it would be more of a comedy then it was. It was even more drama filled/darker then LIttle Miss Sunshine. And it ended on a weird note. I really expected another 10-15 minutes out of the movie but no the screen went black and the credits rolled.

I'm Sailing Away

maxwell441@aol.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:30:58 GMT

Last day of my Mediterranean Cruise. I'm sad to see it go.

Right now we are at sea on our way to Barcelona. Today was my busiest day onboard. We did 2 trivia challenges, Bingo, watched a cake decorating demo, a towel folding demo, played shuffle board and mini golf. The day's not even over yet.

Met a really nice young couple from Florida today during trivia. I've seen them around the ship but haven't talked to them before. The girl is a carbon copy of me. I wish we had gotten to know each other BEFORE the last day.

Also just want to let you know, Jenny and I won the trivia challenge yesterday and we got baseball caps and a gold medal! I'm wearing it right now, proudly, so everyone can see. Awesome.

Gtg, paying for time and have to get ready for dinner!

T-Minus 40 minutes

maxwell441@aol.com — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:49:50 GMT

I leave for the airport in 40 minutes.

AHHHHHHHHH!

I haven't really felt all that excited until right now.

I have nothing to do but wait.

See ya later.

It Must Be My Birthday

maxwell441@aol.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:54:38 GMT

Yay! It's my birthday!

I know I'm really not that old, but I still can't stop thinking that after 26 years, so much time as passed and I still haven't accomplished as much as I could have.

It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in the cafeteria in elementary school talking with my friends about how we couldn't wait to be 18.

Saturday had my birthday celebration parts 1 and 2. First, had lunch with my family at Pizzeria Mozza. It was delicious and I got to have my new favorite cheese burrata .... mmmm burrata.

That night I went to the Alibi Room with Tara, Jamie, Alex, Rebecca, Casandra, Jobin and their friends Shirit and Steve for Kogi BBQ. Everyone loved it I'm happy to say. Next we caravaned to Diddy Riese for ice cream sandwiches!

Today, the actual day of my birthday, Jenny and I went to Disneyland so I could collect my $69 birthday fun card. To our surprise Disneyland was so freakin' crowded! All the lines were 30 minutes or more. We hardly went on any rides because we didn't want to wait in line. We mostly window shopped picking out potential items to buy. I eventually got a cute hoodie, a reusable shopping bag and a beach towel (there was a deal going on for that) and Jenny got a t-shirt. It was so nice to go shopping at Disneyland and not care about the price. I think I might be addicted.

Jamie and Alex showed up later that evening and we went on a few more rides and had dinner. During dinner, we sat an eatery that a piano for Ragtime live music. While we sat there, this old man kept talking to the pianiast. Then the old man sat down and starting playing ragtime music ... better then the Disneyland employee. Then they start taking turns and then they both sit down together and start playing together. It was like a Ragtime music showdown duel. It was pretty awesome ... up until the old man turned to some young ladies walking by and asked, "You girls play?" while he wiggled his finger. Creepy.

We went on Storybook Land ride since Alex has never been on it and we pressured him. While in line they told us that if we were lucky enough to be on a boat during the fireworks then they stop the boats and watch the fireworks on the canal. Jamie and I were practically jumping up and down hoping we made it onto a boat and we totally did! It was a great way to see the fire works. We right between the fireworks they shoot off from Toontown and the ones they shoot off in front of the castle. It was pretty awesome.

I come home tired from Disneyland, excited that I am going to watch the new Lost episode I taped only to discover it some how recorded in Spanish. WTF! Poop.

Besides how crowded it was today I enjoyed it. It was a good day.

not prepared

maxwell441@aol.com — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:23:00 GMT

In 2 weeks I leave for my cruise and I'm not prepared at all. I don't even know what I should be doing.

I don't think it's hit me that I am going yet.

It Used to be My All Time Favorite Show

maxwell441@aol.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:12:20 GMT

George Clooney as Doug Ross just appeared on my TV screen. My 11 year old self just jumped for joy.

I can't stop smiling

And he's wearing a wedding ring! Him and Carol got married! Holla!

Totally Day o' Fun

maxwell441@aol.com — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:59:26 GMT

Went to see the musical RENT with Jamie. My third time seeing it, her first. Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal (original Mark and Roger) starred. They were both really good. I had a huge smile on my face for the entire first half because I was so happy to see them live preforming RENT. I don't care it's 12 years since the debut, it was still full of awesomeness.

Someone had told me about this traveling Korean BBQ truck that goes around LA serving cheap but really good tacos and people stand in block long lines to buy them. Jon found out the truck goes to a local Culver City ex-dive bar that's been completely redone to a chic lounge; Alibi Room. (Side note: Alibi Room used to be an icky icky bar that Robert Downey Jr went to before he was arrested in CC). I looked into his Kogi Korean BBQ and found that the Alibi Room serves it in house so we went there and ordered tacos and french fries. Omg, it was delicious. Totally would go back in a heartbeat.

For dessert we drove to Westchester to this crepe place we always go to and instead of our usual ice cream crepes we shared a Tiramsu crepe and it was TO DIE FOR! It's what I am going to get from now also.

Also, Jamie had her CD collection with her so I ripped a handful of her CDs and burned her a few of my own because that's what friends do ~~Alex~~ that's what friends do

Ye Old Kings Head

maxwell441@aol.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:15:24 GMT

Went out tonight with Robin and Jon and some of their friends to King's Head Pub in Santa Monica. Every Wednesday is a trivia night. We were team Naked Ninja. I had fun. We came in 5th I believe which isn't too bad. We had a group of 7 the winners had a group of 15, so it was unbalanced. I'm pretty impressed with my knowledge but also embarrassed that I didn't get few. I would totally do it again.

I have a list of about 10 things I need to talk about but I am dead tired and I have to work tomorrow.

Did you know Matthias replaced Judas?

Lost

maxwell441@aol.com — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:50:42 GMT

JIN!!!!

First young Rousseau and then Jin! AHHHH! Love it!

Loved that they made you think it was Claire's mom behind the lawyer but then it wasn't!

Ben is still fucking awesome.

Why are they giving Sawyer the "Jack" treatment? They are just making someone in the background that whines and complains and makes me not like him.

So Locke told Sun that Jin's alive and she's trying to get back to the island?

"Thank you G-d! ---- I take it back!"

Miles is totally Hanso's son! He's the baby from the season opener.

What's going on with Sun? She want to kill Ben? Does she really forgive Kate? Does she blame Jack as well?

Fickle, Fickle Man

maxwell441@aol.com — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:27:05 GMT

Even though I know Anne Boylen was found guilty for treason and dies and I can't watch it happen on the The Tudors. It is just awful! Seeing Henry get manipulated into believing she cheated on him and that she used witchcraft to seduce him. Believing that Elizabeth might not be his daughter. Innocent men dying, Anne's ladies in waiting confessing. No one will stand up for her! The one person who does decides not to last minute! Ugh! So aggravating!

I just want it to be different.

Harry Potterberg

maxwell441@aol.com — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:33:20 GMT

At Monday Night School/Akiba High this semester I am teaching a Jewish blogging class. I showed my kids different kinds of blogs, how people use themes and interest and about the types of things people post. They enjoyed looking at various blogs, but when I tried to get them to come up with something they could blog about they came up blank.

I used my example of finding out Daniel Radcliffe is Jewish and how that's something I find interesting and worth a blog post, which I have already done. Adding to the previous post, just read an interview with Dan Rad and he was asked about being Jewish:

Your mother is Jewish. Do you identify as Jewish yourself?

Absolutely. I really do. My dad is Northern Irish and my mum is Jewish. That’s working blood. Though I am not religious in the least, I am very proud to be Jewish.

Totally awesome.

Even before this Jewish revelation, I've been more intrigued with Daniel Radcliffe. It's reached a new level.

maxwell441@aol.com — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:34:06 GMT

Daniel Radcliffe is half Jewish (non-practicing).

Harry Potter is a member of the tribe. That makes me happy

New Show Alert

maxwell441@aol.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:29:06 GMT

Jamie mentioned she was watching The Tudors and I've been interested in seeing it for a while so I thought I'd try it.

Omg, I love it, I want to watch it all at once.

Henry Cavill is so hot.

Nominees

maxwell441@aol.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:53:25 GMT

Um ... I really wanted The Dark Knight to get at least Best Adapted Screenplay. So that's a bummer.

For Best Picture, the only movies I think deserve to win are Milk and Slumdog Millionaire

Richard Jenkins for The Visitor? That's so cool.

I don't care how great Anne Hathaway was, or Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet better win.

Michael Shannon for Best Supporting? He was really good in Revolutionary Road. I enjoyed his scenes a lot.

ROBERT DOWNEY JR.! That's so cool. That's SO COOL! I laughed out loud.

Lost

maxwell441@aol.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:59:38 GMT

This show makes my head hurt ... a lot. So many thoughts get into my brain and I can't put them together fast enough.

This whole time travel thing is blowing my mind! The possible storylines are limitless.

Cruising

maxwell441@aol.com — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:53:59 GMT

My sister and I just booked a Mediterranean Cruise

AHHHHHH!

Here are the places we're going:

Barcelona
Sicily
Athens
Rhodes
Cyprus
Egypt
Malta

Insane, right?

Buh Bye Bush Continued

maxwell441@aol.com — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:42:31 GMT

It's finally here.

It's like a dream come true.

It's all happening ...

The commentator just said, "And Bush will not longer be the President" and I got really excited.

I'm so excited the country will be having all the sex

Shiny and New

maxwell441@aol.com — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:09:32 GMT

I GOT A MACBOOK!!!

This post is coming from my brand spanking new MacBook. I got a freakin' Mac!

It's name is Steeeve. It's my best friend.

Buh Bye Bush

maxwell441@aol.com — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:07:02 GMT

Just a few more days now until the end of the Bush Presidency. I feel like I can take a big sigh of relief for the first time in 8 years. However, even though I am extremely happy, giddy even, I will miss the jokes and the parodies and just the simple fact that you don't have to make a joke about Bush, he does all the work for us.

Perfect Example:

When We Look to the Stars, We're Going HOME!

maxwell441@aol.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:39:37 GMT

Last week hung out with Rebecca. We went walking and went to coffee and just chilled. I finally met Rebecca's parents' new dog, Truffles. It is an adorable dog and very sweet.

Had lunch with Brenda and Paul in downtown Culver City. I should probably hang out with Brenda more.

Went with Paul and Rebecca to downtown LA for a monthly art walk. We walked around the area, went into a few galleries and walked through a few jewelry stores. Even though the art walk is from 12pm-10pm, things really don't get started until around 6pm. That's when the free food and drink comes out, but that's right around the time what we left. There's only so much you can do in downtown before you get really bored.

Last Saturday, Jamie drove up and we went to the Griffith Park Observatory. It was Jamie's first time ever and my first time since they reopened. I love the Observatory. Probably my favorite spot in LA. We saw all the new exhibits and saw their 2 shows in the newly renovated planetarium. The narrator for both shows, Beverly, was freakin' awesome. She had this weird thing going on when she talked, pronouncing each syllable, especially words that ended in -tion. It was the highlight of the trip. Beverly made the show.

After the Observatory, we went to 101 Coffee Shop. The sandwiches came with BOTH regular and sweet potato fries. Genius. Then we drove the span of LA and went shopping which I haven't done in forever. I miss shopping.

That night we went to The Abbey for Jamie's friend Pedro's boyfriend's birthday. Gonna shorten that to Michael's birthday. We had to pay for parking which pissed me off. We got their early enough to find parking but didn't find any. Poop. The music was so loud at The Abbey and of course I had to talk, and I strained to make people hear me. I almost lost my voice. Almost. Just once I would like to totally lose my voice. I want to have an excuse not to talk. Especially on Sunday or Monday or Tuesday. However, no matter how much I talk/yell/scream, it might get scratchy but give me a nights rest and it'll be fine.

Sunday was the first Sunday School back from break. Almost lost my voice by the end, but it was that in between stage where my throat just hurt, it didn't totally go away. That night I met Jamie, Pedro and Michael at Disneyland so Michael could spend his celebratory $69. I can't wait for my birthday to spend my money. Free money from Disneyland is a dream.

Saw some movies too.
Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Way too fucking long. It took FOREVER for Benjamin Button to get younger and turn into Brad Pitt. Way too long. I don't love it like a lot of people but I didn't hate it. It was well made. The story had it's moments. Rent it.

Rachel Getting Married: I thought it was really good. Emotional and sometimes overly dramatic but I thought felt very really. I honestly forgot they actors were acting, they did a great job portraying their characters. I enjoyed it. Almost made me cry a few times. Oh and I saw the movie with Ron Rifkin (aka Sloane from Alias) sitting behind me. I even rode an elevator with him.

Revolutionary Road: Good movie, great acting. Not as depressing as I thought but still very somber movie. I enjoyed it. I love Kate Winslet, I think she's my favorite actress. She deserves all the awards she's nominated for.

The Reader: Again, I [heart] Kate Winslet. I totally want to be her. This movie was good too. Lots of nakedness.