Recent Movie Reviews

Lots to catch up on!!! First, last weekend, Clark and I saw Bottle Shock. It's a cute, feel-good movie about the competition in 1976 where Napa Valley wines beat out French wines in a blind tasting. The side story about the family involved was a little cheesy, but the music was good and I loved Alan Rickman. If you love wine and Napa valley, you'll love the movie. Otherwise, you'd probably just think it's okay. So, this hovers somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.

This past weekend Kurt and I saw two movies. The first was Tropic Thunder. I thought it was pretty funny and it gets 4 stars. Some people think it's offensive and too politically incorrect. But I think they're being too sensitive. Robert Downey, Jr. was hilarious as an Australian actor who died his skin to play a black actor. Jack Black plays a drug-addicted comedian trying to act in a different type of movie. And Ben Stiller is a fading action star. The humor was crude and sometimes the plot seemed longer than it needed to be, but overall, I'd go out and see it.

What I wouldn't see is Star Wars: The Clone Wars. We saw it because we're gullible geeks. But it was really just another way for George Lucas to capitalize on an idea that ran out of steam many years ago. It was so horrible. And Jabba the Hutt has a gay drag queen for an uncle. Who knew? Literally - that bad! Don't see it....ever. No stars given.

Massage class

I realized I had yet to blog about my massage class last weekend. It was in Sports Massage and focused on frequent issues athletes have and how you can do pre and post event massage as well as maintenance massage in the off-season. It was a great class overall and I learned a lot which will hopefully help my cyclists and runners that come to me on an regular basis. It was all very practical and not too "new age" so I liked it a lot. Most of it could be done clothed or not, which is good because it means I can incorporate some of it into shiatsu if I want too.

What I will say about massage classes that I've taken is there always seems to be certain "types" in every one. I mean, obviously massage attracts a certain type of person but seriously, it's like every class has the same cast of characters including:

• The skinny, shaved head white guy who is very flakey and can't seem to follow along with what the instructor is saying, preferring instead to just do the same massage techniques they always do.
• The female student who seems to be an expert in the subject matter already so why they are in the class is a mystery to me. They enjoy constantly expanding on what the instructor is saying to prove to everyone that they are smart and knowledgeable. This woman is usually shorter and stocky.
• The Asian women who can hardly speak English, but who are usually very nice and try hard. I just always pray they aren't learning to then go use their skills in the downtown "gentlemen's spas".
  
• The super beefy gay guy on steroids who insists on taking his shirt off whenever he can. "Time to massage feet and ankles". "Wait, let me take my shirt off".
• The former dancer who is constantly displaying her contortionist skills with weird stretches and postures whenever the instructor is lecturing.
• The person (male or female) who always tries to trip up the instructor by asking difficult questions or pointing out right away if they misspoke. This person's motivation for doing so is unknown.
• On the flip side, the person who asks the simplest questions just to look smart. Well, they don't really ask questions, they comment or make "connections" that all of us already know, but they just like to hear the instructor say "That's correct."
• And finally, the person who just loves massage so much that they continue to work on their partner throughout breaks and into lunch when everyone else is done just because they are such a "giver".

Who am I? I guess I'm the one that always sits in judgment of all these other folks :-)

Fire! Fire!

So, this past Friday night at 1:15 in the morning, the fire alarm for the building went off. When I first heard it, I thought I was back in the dorms. So, I threw on some clothes, got the fire alarm keys, went upstairs and found that some people had burnt some food and set off the alarm so I silenced it. Of course, the fire department still came and I had to meet them but they didn't stay long when they found out what it was.

Here's what gets me. Who's cooking food at 1:15 in the morning? And these people that were, get this, have done this same thing before. In my time here the fire alarm has gone off twice, both times set off by these folks. More importantly, they didn't even apologize when i went up there. The guy just looked at me with this dumb face, said nothing, and went back into his apartment. His wife was trying to fan the smoke detector with a pillow. I told her it was too late, she stopped and went back in too. No "sorry for waking you up". No explanation of any sort. Also, hardly anyone else in the building came out of their apartments. Two people out of 28 units came out to check. The rest didn't. Now, some probably weren't home but still, I think in the event of a real fire, these people might just stay in side and burn up. I'm not sure.

And in other building news, there was more dog poop on the roof today. I'm not touching it.

That is all. I will update you on my latest movie and the massage class in my next post.

The Best Laid Plans

Well, because I had a massage class scheduled for Friday to Sunday of this weekend, I decided to take Wednesday and Thursday off to get some things done and maybe even find time to relax - crazy I know! Well, let's just say that things didn't quite go according to plan....and for those of you who really know me....you know how upset I get when things DON'T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN!

Wednesday started out pretty lazy. I knew I had a lot of time since I didn't have a client until 6:30 PM. So, I got up and sent off some e-mails and decided I was going to order cable and internet through comcast. I figured it was time to rejoin the modern world again. So, first I cancelled my ATT internet via the phone. You would think this would be simple, but it literally took almost 30 minutes. I was on the phone with this southern woman who just kept saying, "I have to put in a few more codes". She must have said this ten times. Shouldn't there just be one code that says "cancel service". I couldn't figure it out. Of course, they try to convince you to stay so I had to lie and said I was moving to an apartment where they were already hookedup with service, just because I didn't want to have to deal with the sales pitch. So, now it's 10:30 AM.

I went online to order comcast and after filling out all the order information and my preferred dates for installation, I was connected to a "Live Chat Representative" to complete my order and schedule my installation. This person was the slowest typer ever. It took 5 minutes for him to get out Hi - How are you? Anyway, after talking with him for while, and giving him even more information, I was told I couldn't order online and had to go to the comcast store which is down in Potrero Hill (not close for non-San Franciscans). I then asked him if I would need to place a new order there or would they have my information. Five minutes later, he typed back that I would have to place a new order. I was so frustrated. That was 45 minutes of my time wasted. It's now 11:15 and I decide to eat lunch (I know it's early but I was hungry!).

While making my lunch, I had a person call to see if they could schedule a massage. I figured I could move some of my errands back a day if I scheduled him for 4:30. It was inconvenient but I still had time to clean the building and go to the gym and get there and I could use the money.

Okay, this is getting long - abbreviated version - stupid person moving furniture out in the building without telling me and they left a complete mess and damage so it took longer to finish up in the building. Got to the gym - power outage - couldn't work out but hadn't showered, so had to head to another gym where I had enough time only to do 30 minutes of cardio, shower, and dash to my 4:30 who I had squeezed in only to find he was paying with a gift certificate (CURSES!) so I squeezed him in for no money. Other client was fine and then I went and watched the Olympics with Clark, Larisa, and Justin - that was the best part of the day.

Thursday - more plans including my postponed ones from the day before. All were thwarted by a dreaded MIGRAINE! I could feel it coming right after I put my laundry in. So, I had a horrible 5 hours of taking hot showers and still feeling cold, using the toilet in more than one fashion, and scampering in the dark like a roach (or a Gremlin) because the light was too bright. I felt better around 1 so ate something and went to the gym only to have it return so I headed back home and napped for a few hours until it mostly went away. Then I felt sorry for myself and pouty so I watched Superbad (FUNNY!) and because Netflix has been screwed up and I didn't have anything else here, I watched the full length cartoon movie where He-Man finds She-Ra on youtube. Don't ask me why. I also drank a Capri-sun while I did it. Maybe I felt like being 8 again.

Anyway, that's the report from the last 2 days. Not what I had planned for sure. Oh, and I was still so frustrated with Comcast that I called ATT and cancelled my cancellation (it only took about 38 "codes").

I'm Really Bad at This

So, the whole idea was that I would post regularly to this, but I'm finding it's harder and harder to do. I'm going to try...so here it is....another "WEEK IN REVIEW"!

Last week was pretty standard for the most part. Work and clients and vacuuming, etc. But we did go see Dolly Parton! Kurt and my friends Brian, Travis, and Jay all went. She was amazing! Here's the complete set list:

Two Doors Down / Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That? / Jolene / Thank God I’m a Country Girl / I’m Little But I’m Loud / Backwoods Barbie / Drives Me Crazy / Shattered Image / Coat of Many Colors / Only Dreamin’ / Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show (into gospel medley) / (Intermission) / Baby I’m Burning / Better Get to Livin’ / Shinola / Do I Ever Cross Your Mind / Little Sparrow / Here You Come Again / Islands in the Stream / 9 to 5 / I Will Always Love You / Jesus and Gravity

She danced and joked and told stories. She actually did make you feel like she was only performing for you. Very impressive and it makes me love her even more!

What else happened last week? Let's see.....work mostly. I was supposed to have a reflexology class over the weekend but it was cancelled due to low enrollment. I managed to squeeze in a couple clients instead though, so that was good.

The opening ceremonies of the Olympics were great if you missed them. Very impressive. But they did spend 300 million dollars on them, so they better be. The big controversy now is that the little 7 year old who "sang" the Chinese National Anthem actually didn't. She was lip-syncing to a recording sung by another little girl who was deemed too "ugly" by the Chinese officials to represent their country. Eeek! Poor little girl. But overall, they were quite a site to see. Saturday night we went to not one, but two drag shows. I got my fill for the year....of that and alcohol. I was quite hung over on Sunday.

I also worked out my legs on Saturday and they still hurt today. I've been hobbling around all week because they are so sore. I don't know what I did, but let me tell you that massaging four clients (two each the last two nights) on these wobbly legs was harder than you might think. Now my lower back is killing me!

I baked yummy scones last week for work. It was such an easy recipe from Alton Brown on Food Network. I would definitely make them again. I made a batch of cranberry ones and chocolate chip ones. And I swear, it was almost as easy as making something from a box mix.

The scones and the drag shows might have clued you in, but my plan to alter my diet by cutting out alcohol, cheese and fried things hasn't really worked. I'm going to try again though - we'll see. Last night, Kurt and I actually got a cheese plate as part of our dinner at a new place on Haight Street called Uva Enoteca. Eating cheese! With a fork! This is hardly eliminating cheese from my diet. But go there...it's good but pricey. It's all very small plate/sharing/charcuterie type stuff. But good.

In other big news, Kurt and I are going to visit my family in September for a long weekend. Virgin America was having a pretty good flight sale, so we jumped on it. Should be fun to visit the family. It was my birthday gift to Daisey (what better gift than to see me!). And speaking of Daisey....you better look out Alan O! You're on her S**T list for suggesting I get a motorcycle! How dare you suggest something so dangerous for her favorite son. Tsk, tsk!

That's all from here...for now! Will try to write more regularly.

The Weekend

This past weekend was a good one. Friday night, Kurt had a car for a work meeting that day so after work, we went to Target and Trader Joe's to do some shopping. We also moved the microwave from my office to his apartment. I never use it in my office and he needed one.

Saturday, we went to breakfast, the gym, and then to do a bit of shopping for Kurt's niece's birthday present. She's 8 and really into bugs and I think that's so cute - a budding entomologist! So, Kurt bought her a framed beetle (not of the John, Paul, Ringo, George variety) from a really interesting store on Valencia. This beetle was very colorful and different. The store has all sorts of "curiosities inspired by nature" according to their sign. I forget the name, but will try to find out and post it. I then had a client and later that night, we went and saw the Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. My score: 2 stars (didn't like it). Don't bother, people! I had not seen the previous two but generally, this was a simple story, acted poorly in parts, and with bad, bad dialogue. Still not as bad as the Happening, however.

Sunday, I watched a friend in the marathon, had brunch with other friends, went to the Chihuly exhibit at the DeYoung (highly recommended), and then Kurt and I had dinner with our friend Pablo. All in all, a good weekend, but because it was so packed it went by way too fast!

Should I Be Worried?

Those of you who have known me a long time, know that I have a rather vivid dreamlife. Well, I should say I used to at least in high school. In recent years, I've slept like a log and usually through the night....until the past two months or so. Now, it seems I have to pee a couple times, I wake up with really bad night sweats, and my crazy dreams are back.

Take last night for instance: I was on a Greyhound bus that stopped at my high school. But I didn't want to get off at the high school. I really needed to go to Hurlock (the local nearby town) but the bus driver wouldn't tell me if he would go or not. So, I had to get off and my friend Julie and I went inside the mall. (Now, there is no mall near my high school, but it was there in the dream). We wanted coffee and got in line. A woman way down the counter said she could take my order so I walked down there.....behind the counter....where I gave her my order of a cup of coffee and was scolded to go back around front. When I got around front, however, she did not have my coffee. Instead she was making me a grilled ham and cheese sandwich which I did not want. So, we left, and went to an outdoor auditorium to meet up with my good friend - Miley Cyrus. Well, she was my good friend in the dream. She was practicing for her upcoming Hannah Montana movie and the Jonas Brothers were her opening act. Now, my friend Julie was very upset because she too, was apparently an up and coming Disney singing sensation and didn't like that I was friends with the competition. So, I had them talk and they became friends and decided they would put out a holiday album together in December. Then I heard that there was another big event that was going to happen in Columbus Ohio the same time that Miley's concert was going to happen so I had to convince the city council to move it so they would not conflict. All I remember is that the city council was about 100 people all dressed in super puffy heavy down jackets because of course, Columbus is cold in July. Then I woke up....no wonder I'm tired in the mornings.

In other recent dreams:
As a contestant on Project Runway, I got to have a barbeque with Heidi Klum who told us our next challenge was to redesign the rooms in a house being flipped by a lesbian attorney with a bad haircut who lived in Newark, NJ (I think this was somehow all of Bravo's reality shows collapsed into one).

Lots of dreams about beaches and boardwalks...in San Francisco (of which there are very few in real life) and back home in Ocean City and Rehoboth.

What do you think? Can anyone interpret?

Look! No Training Wheels!

So, I rode my bike to work and back yesterday. It's the first time I've ridden my bike in probably 3 years! It was actually nice and fun, and certainly cut my commute time, but I don't know if I'll do it again or not. First, I was sweaty when I got to work and my hair was a mess. Secondly, I can only really do it when I'm going directly home after work which is rare. Usually I go to my massage office or to see someone for dinner, etc. I guess I could change when I got to work, but that kind of defeats the purpose of saving time by biking and my clothes would be wrinkly. However, I think I might try biking some in the morning before I vacuum, etc. I found that it was really good exercise and probably is better cardio for me than the precor at the gym. Plus, once I'm more used to riding my bike again, maybe I won't get so sweaty and can actually use it for work. Speaking of which, I have to get to it.