It's amazing what 800mg of IBuProfin can do

You go from feeling like you got run over by a truck to being able to function like a semi-normal person again.

Mamma Mia!

On a completely different vein than Batman, I went to see Mamma Mia on Saturday.
I laughed so hard! I really liked it, but as a warning, its very cheesy. But it knows it, which somehow makes it ok.
It was very enjoyable. And Parker called it 'rad'.
I did spend the entire movie trying to figure out where I had seen the actor who played Rosie. In case any of you were wondering, she plays Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter films.
I think I will buy this film when it comes out, the scene during the credits was totally worth it in and of itself.

Batman

Christian Bale is hot!
Just thought I'd share that.
Anyway, I went to see this movie today. Because I've been looking forward to it for a long time. I was afraid it might be a little too . . . dark, gruesome,something to that effect, but I made it through just fine. Of course, that could be because of all the conditioning Parker has put me through (I still have nightmares about that guy with the ice pick).
I was pleasantly surprised that it was worth all the hype. I've been to so many movies, especially sequels, that just don't live up to their advertising. The Dark Knight totally did. And I loved the way they used the idea of Knight or night. It was cool.
My reaction at the end of the film "That was freakin' awesome!!"

There were a few flaws, it was by no means perfect. Still, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Aaron Eckhart.

Funny story. So Molasses Man didn't want to see Batman. Sure, fine, whatever, I'll just find someone else to see the movie. So I do, I ask my friend Movieguy, who was in my ward back when I roomed with Scully and Parker in the house and is in my ward again and works for the city, so he has Fridays off. (We always go to matinees on Friday) On Wednesday, Molasses Man says we can go to Batman. Something about doing something that I want to do that he doesn't that will make me feel like he's supportive or something. I pretty much try to talk him out of it without saying that I am already going to the movie. We decided we were going to play games. Like board games people. So he calls me right during the credits of the movie. Like I am going to answer when I'm with another guy. He text messages me to see if we can meet earlier, sure, fine. I finally check my voice mail, and guess what? He got tickets to see Batman. My first date dropped me off at work and my second date is picking me up from work and both dates are seeing Batman. Though, honestly, I can't complain. I am really excited to see it again!
I have never seen the same movie in the theater twice in one day. Never.

The difference between boys and girls

I went to my sister's house today to visit Bugman, considering I haven't spent that much time with him. I wanted to know if he wanted to come to work with me. I work at a game store, a board game store. We also sell miniatures and card games - like Magic, WOW, and Yu-Gi-Oh. I thought he would love to come down to the store and hang out, lots of boys do it all the time. Oh no, not him. Instead, he is going to play Halo all day long. I realized that there is no way I can influence him. He doesn't value my opinion. Well, I mean, what do you expect from a 14 year old boy?

But compare that to my little sister. She is 16 now. I think it was last year that she and I flew to my grandparents, who live in the middle of nowhere Nevada, and spent a week with them. Granted she didn't say much, but if I said, Let's go for a walk, she at least accompanied me. And she listened. I told her that if she did whatever my mom said, that mom would give her anything she wanted. And she followed my advice! I was completely floored when I found out she admired and respected me and listened to what I said.

Yeah, that doesn't go for my little brother. Don't bug him, he just wants to learn things the hard way. Brazil Boy is like that too. I wonder how far this difference goes? I always tried to learn from other people's mistakes so I didn't have repeat them.

I wonder if this is the rule or the exception? Or just different personality types?

The Bugman

Still job hunting.
Still hanging out with Molasses Man.
Oh, my brother, Bugman, is in town for the week, until my dad can come back through and pick him up. I forgot how little I have in common with fourteen year old boys. We were walking back to my house from my sister's and I was trying to find something we had in common so that we could do stuff together. I have books and movies at my house that he can go through. I was looking for something a little more interactive, so I asked him if he liked hiking. (Lots of guys like outdoorsy stuff, I thought that was a sure bet). No, he hates walking, he has bad hips and knees (how is it possible to have bad anything at fourteen! [unless your diagnosed with something]). He likes motorized vehicles. Because I can afford fourwheelers and motorcycles in my situation in life. So finally I asked him what he likes to do. Eat and play video games. Well, that's great. He can't even cook what he likes, so like I'm going to cook for him.
And, we went to a movie for one of my friend's birthday and then I took them out to Rumbi Grill. Guess what he orders? Mac and cheese! I paid four bucks for something I can make for under a dollar!! Yeah, I'm not taking him out to eat again. I can be considered a picky eater, but to not even try anything? That is one of my biggest pet peeves. Oh well. His loss!

But I am going to see Batman on Friday! I picked up the tickets today!

I also got my oil changed. My car is already running better! It makes me feel much better.

Blah

This is how I am feeling right now. After my shower last night, I started to feel a little empty. I thought it was because Molasses Man is still taking a long time to decide he actually wants to "date" me. However, when I woke up at four thirty in the morning (not by choice) I still didn't feel good, and then when I got up at eight thirty, I realized that my stomach hurt. I didn't eat breakfast until about ten and since then I've only had string cheese and a go-gurt. And its dinner time. I packed a dinner and a lunch, but I just can't bring myself to eat it. It's not really like a cramp or nausea, but just a slight uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. It pretty much just makes me want to go to bed for an extended period of time.

In other news, I am working on applying for teaching jobs by the university, but as I have only really started this week, no news on that front yet. Hopefully that will all work out well!!

July 4th

So I was really busy on Friday. I wore myself out. My landlady and I were going to camp out on the parade route the night before. I got there after my date. My landlady and her two oldest kids (9 and 7) were already there. After about fifteen minutes of scooter gangs driving up and down the road honking their horns and the police cars pulling people over, I turned to my landlady and said "People aren't going to be sleeping until at least two." So being the party poopers that we are, we took the kids home and slept in our own beds. We got up early the next morning and I got to sit at our spot to make sure no one moved our stuff before the parade started.
However, I did get to see the balloons.

After the balloons I got to watch the Freedom Run runners run past us. I kept watching for people I knew. I saw a few.

Here is a picture of us getting ready to watch the parade.


This was part of the pre parade. I think it speaks for itself.


I loved this float.


After the parade, I went with a couple of friends to volunteer at a museum that was having a Colonial Days festival. I got to greet people in a colonial costume. After that, I picked up drinks and went to a barbecue. After the BBQ, we went to a field to watch the fireworks with some friends.

And it took me two days to get enough sleep after that.