It’s summer blockbuster time and my list of must-see movies is longer than I can ever remember it being. Check out this list of upcoming blockbusters… The Dark Knight, Hancock, Iron Man, Get Smart, The Hulk, Step Brothers, and The X-Files:I Want To Believe. Talk about a comic book lovers dream lineup. Yet, amidst all of the ridiculous comedies, cartoons for the kiddies, and cgi-bloated action flicks, there stands one movie that I’m saddened to find somewhat overlooked and forgotten… Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. As a child of the 80s, the Indiana Jones movies have always been one of my favorite movie trilogies, and when I saw the fourth one announced, I have to admit I might have pee-squirted.

Unlike your typical action blockbuster heroes, Indiana Jones has no real super powers, but with a name like Indiana, who needs help. On the surface, he’s a professor of history and archeology, but in reality, he’s a war-medal toting adventurer who knows more than any human should and can hold his own in a fight against anyone or thing. Yeah, he’s a real bad ass. (Why didn’t I have teachers like him in college?!?!) Beyond the plot lines that make you want to study history, quirky gags, and classic one-liners, this franchise is full of heavy hitters: John Williams (musical score), Steven Spielberg (director), George Lucas(producer), and Harrison Ford (swoon-factor). Needless to say, I went into it with high expectations.

I had already seen Kingdom of the Crystal Skull once when Cory (captain of all things movie-related) and I decided to go last Saturday. I knew from the start that taking such a cinema purist with standards as high as his might not end well, and if you read his review of the movie, I was right. However, just because he walked away feeling disappointed doesn’t mean I did, but then again, I’m easy to please. Movies for me have always been about entertainment. If I walk out of the theater and have laughed, cried, or been able to escape reality for two hours, then I’m a happy girl. It’s not that I don’t care about the technical elements of movie-making or whether or not a movie has a strong plot, great actors, or mind-blowing special effects, it’s just that I extend a bit more grace to films that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside or take me on a journey outside of the norm. Don’t get me wrong, some of my favorite movies are those that have made me truly ponder my place in this world and struck a deep chord within me, but most of those movies are enjoyed within the comfort of my home and not with three hundred strangers on a Saturday afternoon.

So back to the fictional Indy. Should you go and see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Yeah, I would highly recommend it as a way to beat the heat and forget the real world if just for two hours.  I thoroughly enjoyed it both times I saw it but also didn’t go in looking for flaws.  While there’s no denying on the screen that Ford has aged in the past nineteen years, he still most of his own stunts and isn’t trying to fool movie-goers into believing he’s still young. No, this is Indy two decades later, and it’s nice to see our hero has aged gracefully.  Indy’s old love Marion makes a return and even Shia LeBeouf makes a positive plot contribution.  I really don’t want to say much more because I would hate to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it, and I really hope you do.  I’m sure it’ll make you want to go back and watch the original three just as I did.

For our monthly special kids’ event we took the neighborhood kids bowling today. It was the first time most of them had been, and we had a blast. They were so enthusiastic and excited! I got my butt kicked by the other two adults, but as competitive as I am, I’m not that upset. One of them was on a high school bowling team, and the other bowls at least twice a week. At least, none of the kids beat me. I might have cried, and I wish I was joking about that.
svgallery=bowling

Yeah, I’m a few days behind in blogging, but the posts are almost completed and ready to publish. It’s just that I’ve have my favorite munchkins a bunch this weekend and with a 9 month old, it’s hard to write. Plus, I spent time doing things like this. What a doll….

After six months, I still love my new phone. I love having a touchscreen. I love making my own ringtones. But, what I REALLY love is that my inbox can now hold 200 text messages, so I can save all of the ones that make me laugh, smile and feel loved. As I was doing my monthly inbox cleanup today, I thought I’d share my top 10 text messages I found. Be afraid. Be very afraid

10) I miss you, Princess Sparkles.

09) Just got through security, and there is a man drinking a beer at the airport bar at 6:30 am. Bad ass.

08) I’m at Beall’s, and we’re getting Rick-Rolled. I was singing and dancing, and then Dad punched me.

07) This computer has the program “iPMS” on it… i’ve always wondered when they were gonna digitize that.

06) Bullets do not kill. The 4th grade band concerts do.

05) I need you to work on getting me some corporate sponsors for my blog.

04) Zac says one of my spiritual gifts is me telling him how good he is. He likes for me to compliment him on everything he does.

03) Keep your boobs on the table:) haha

02) I can has chinese food?

And finally…

01) No it’s ok:) You want me to wear my catwoman suit and come live with you?  Cause I will.

There’s a reason they say, “breaking up is hard to do.” Break-ups are ugly, emotional messes that leave each party picking sides. How do you interact with that person again? How do you divide common property and things you gave to each other? Is it acceptable to hack/stalk their MySpace? Burn their effigy in public? Date their best friend? Someone needs to author a wikipedia page for us web junkies explaining what’s acceptable and not.

No, no, no. I’ve haven’t recently broken up with anyone. I’m not finding heartbreak solace on my blog. Instead, I’m referring to a break-up that wasn’t even mine. One where I was the common property… a friend to both. I was just a casualty in the atomic cloud of romantic destruction, and as their love disintegrated, I found myself having to make the choice between my friend who was in the wrong and her boyfriend who was in the right.

I’m not likening my pain to theirs, but losing him as a friend sucked if for no other reason than the fact he had awesome musical taste and recommended many awesome albums I would have never discovered without his guidance. Bands like Anberlin, Copeland, Anadivine, and Acceptance now have a home on my hard drive, playlists, and iPods because of our musical exchange.

This Thursday’s musical choice is one of my favorite albums (and one of the last) he recommended to me. ¡Policia!: A Tribute to the Police is the perfect marriage of a band I love and cover songs that pay respect to the artist while finding a sound of their own. I could go on and on about how I love the simplicity of “Every Breath You Take” or distorted guitar of “Roxanne”, but instead, I’ll do as he would have and let you experience it for yourself. Here’s to the collateral damage of break-ups and the musical ties that survive.

Brandston – King Of Pain: “There’s a butterfly trapped in a spider’s web. (That`s my soul up there.)”

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Fall Out Boy – Roxanne: “I know my mind is made up. So put away your make up.”

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Anadivine – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic: “I resolve to call her up a thousand times a day. And ask her if she’ll marry me in some old fashioned way.”

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Watashi Wa – Message In A Bottle: “Walked out this morning, don’t believe what I saw. Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore. Seems I’m not alone at being alone. Hundred billion castaways, looking for a home.”

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Copeland – Every Breath You Take: “Oh, cant you see you belong to me. How my poor heart aches with every step you take.”

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Click To Continue Reading…

I’m guessing you have no idea what this is or where it’s located, but yesterday as I was enjoying a mug of hot Mint Magic tea from the Campus Coffee Bean here in Flag, I discovered this rare gem in the Ladies’ Powder Room. (No, I wasn’t drinking my tea in the bathroom.  I had just had enough tea that I had to use the bathroom.  Sorry, TMI.) What is it, you might ask. Well, it’s a “Surf and Sip” internet kiosk, of course. So just in case you need to check your email or facebook account while you tinkle, you can. That simple fact makes the world a-ok to me.

I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but I woke up yesterday with a runny nose and (hot but) scratchy voice. I survived work, apartment hunting, and our monthly CaresTeam meeting to come home, curl up in bed hoping to fall asleep to the sounds of snarky Anthony Bourdain in Argentina. (Must be why I dreamed of head cheese and lamb intestines. Hmmmm.)  Maybe it’s the change in weather or my stress level or one of the germ-carrying children who surround me that led me to this place where my eyes are red and my nose is both clogged and a faucet.

As I tried to rest and relax last night, I just kept thinking of my friend’s child who used to ask him mom when he was sick if she would “pachu me” translated to “you pat me.”  I seriously needed a pachuing last night.  While I’m not sounding much better today, I’m no where near as exhausted as I was yesterday which is a relief.  I’ve been drinking hot tea all morning and using one of my dad’s favorite tricks… shoving Vick’s Vapor Rub up your nose.  Until at the advisement of a co-worker I read the warning label on the Vick’s.  Oops!  Guess I’m going to have a head cold and die of huffing menthol.  Good. To. Know.

Today is June 8th, 2008. Thirty-nine days from now my roommate will officially have moved out of our apartment. Fifty-four days from now I have to be completely moved out. In less than eight weeks, I will no longer be a CaresTeam. This apartment that has survived a fire, four Thanksgiving dinners and haunted houses, countless events, thousands of baked cookies, hundreds of children running in and out, and two of the most diverse roommates ever put together will no longer be home to me, and to be 100% honest, I’m scared to death. I am 26 years-old (27 in 18 days) and have never lived alone. Heck, I’ve never been alone for more than a week at a time in the apartment. I’m a social butterfly. What am I going to do without kids in my living room watching Hannah Montana? Who will I be if I’m not a CaresTeam? What will I do without this purpose that has propelled me for the past 49 months? To you these may seem like silly, irrational questions, but they’ve haunted me for the past month. I’ve fallen in love with my neighbors and their kids, and no longer being a part of their everyday life seems impossible and heart-breaking.

With time running out, I have been apartment hunting for the past few weeks, and holy crap, is it expensive to live alone! In the past week I’ve contact 19 apartment complexes in town and only three of them have availability before September 1st. Of those three, one starts at $875/month for a 1 bedroom ($1225 for a 2 bedroom), and the other doesn’t have a single positive review online out of 23 online. I’ve looked at houses for rent but don’t really want to pay $1400 a month to live 20 minutes outside of Flagstaff and don’t know of anyone I could room with to split rent. I’ve considered the possibility of just renting a room, but have you seen my house?!? I have more kitchen and cooking supplies than most married women. You have to to do the things we’ve done. I’ve even scoured CraigsList and the local newspaper and have come up empty-handed until today.

Ever had a thought that rests in the back of your mind that you dismiss until out-of-the-blue you realize what a great plan it was. There’s an apartment complex in town that two separate friends of mine have lived in at different times. It’s tucked away close to campus and isn’t comprised of massive buildings but instead mobile home-like structures that contain both a 1 and 2 bedroom apartment. Not many people know of this complex and because it doesn’t have its own website I didn’t come across it as I did my online apartment research. Then as I was pondering emergency plans like living in my office or commuting from a nearby town, I remembered these particular apartments andhow cute and private the area was and how both of my friends appeared to have liked living there. So I called them both and asked for their honest opinion, grabbed one of my most honest friends, and went to tour the models.

From start to finish, I was impressed with what this complex offered. Gone were the gimmicks and hidden strings attached. Unlike most massive complexes, I would only share one wall with a neighbor and would have parking directly outside of my door. The floor plan was open without being cavernous or overwhelming, and there was tons of cabinet and storage space. After looking at both the 1 and 2 bedroom models and asking the leasing agent every question I could come up with, I decided I preferred the 2 bedroom apartment and walked away feeling positive about the experience and opportunity to live there. Now, I just have to apply.

Despite how awesome this place sounds and was, I want to be sure that this is the right place for me. So I’ve decided to wait until the end of the week to apply. Why? Well, because if I truly believe that God has this whole situation under control, then I want to take a few days to pray about my decision. I don’t want to act rashly and make a desperate decision based upon relief at finding a place that is not the right place. Currently, they have five 2 bedroom apartments available so I have no really worry that by this time next week, the apartment I’m praying over will be gone. I’m sure part of me is waiting patiently for guidance because a large part of who I am is praying for a miracle. Praying that this season in my life isn’t over and that I’m not being asked to step away from something I so desperately love. I guess, soon enough, I’ll know and then I’ll be begging you to help me move. So if prayer is something you put faith in, pray for me. I could use it.

Finally, Flagstaff has a truly awesome grocery shopping experience. Since I moved here eight years ago I’ve wondered why a Trader Joe’s or some other organic/natural/whole feeds market hasn’t ventured into Flagstaff, but with the opening our our brand-spanking new New Frontiers, our cries have finally been answered. Early in the week, Lauren and I popped into to look around and find something for dinner and ended up just wandering the aisles. Gorgeous produce, make your own peanut and almond butter stands, a huge selection of meats and cheeses, a soup and salad bar, a bakery, coffee bar, a sandwich and panini bar, AND a sushi chef are just the extras that go along with their standard organic foods and health care products. This could easily become my new favorite shopping spot in town.

Meat and Seafood selection

Hot Foods, Soup, and Salad Bar

Cheese Counter

Every once in a while my familial insomnia gene rears its ugly head, and I find myself lying awake for hours each night when I should be sleeping. No matter how exhausted I am I find myself pondering the state of my world and compiling countless lists of things that must be done in the next rotation of the earth. Lately, my cerebral obsession has been the millions of things that need to be done by July 31st to officially move out of the apartment I’ve called home for the past four years. However, thanks to a late night channel surfing escapade I’ve discover one of my all-time favorite shows and secret joy is now on the Fine Living Network each night at midnight.

Four years ago as I was preparing for college graduation, I stumbled upon the show Iron Chef on the Food Network and immediately became enthralled by this cooking sensation. The formula for this show is simple. A challenger who has made a name for themselves somewhere in the world challenges one of Japan’s Iron Chefs to a 60 minute battle in Kitchen Stadium where both competitors have to make 5 dishes featuring a secret ingredient chosen by the Liberace-wannabe Chairman Kaga to be judged by Japanese celebrities. Originally filled in Japanese, the English voice-overs make the show feel like a cross between MXC, Julia Child, and the World Wrestling Federation. Ingredients like roe and foie gras that result in dishes like trout ice cream and truffle sake add to the marvel of entertainment anomaly.

In recent years, the Food Network has created their own versions of the Iron Chefs. The American Iron Chefs include chef all-stars like Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, Wolfgang Puck, Masaharu Morimoto, and Mario Batali with food trivia genius (and my personal favorite Food Network star) Alton Brown as the omniscient show host.  Unlike the original, ICA focuses more on the battle and education its viewers and less on the theatrics of television. However, despite the number of food celebs on this American version, I still prefer its Eastern counterpart.

Either way, the simple fact is there’s just something about this show that both entertains and lulls me to sleep.  For the past week and a half, I’ve turned it on with a racing mind and not even made it to the end to watch the final judging.  I’ve even considered taping it so I can play it earlier and be asleep before 12:45am.
Well, it’s almost time for Chairman Kaga to read me my Iron Chef bedtime story.  Goodnight and in the words of the chairman, “Allez Cuisine!”

Game 1 goes to the Celtics. One down… three to go. If you didn’t see the game, I have two words for you: Paul Pierce. What a warrior!!! Hearing the crowd erupt as he came back into the game gave me chills. (Thank goodness for dvr.) Did you also catch the new Bird-Magic commercial? “Rivalries are born…” I can’t wait for game two on Sunday. On a lighter note, check out Chris Bosh’s NBA Finals segment on Leno. This kid cracks me up.

My music post is actually going to happen tomorrow or Saturday this week. Why? Well, because my day went a bit like this…

• 5:00 am: Woke with a migraine (I love you, Excedrin)
• 10:00 am: Finally drag myself to work to find that everything is broken at new office.
• 1:00 pm: Go to old office. Fight with Japanese laptop. Stay at work til 5.
• 5:05 pm: Start grilling at BBQ for 50 neighbors. Grill 50 hamburgers and 80 hot dogs in next two hours. (Might have met my twin who was visting his mom from NYC. Loves Steely Dan AND talking about sports. ) Clean up after BBQ.
• 9:00 pm: Go to Ian’s to play RockBand and bake cookies. Officially, rolled my first d20.
• 11:50 pm: Made homemade guacamole for Erica’s graduation BBQ tomorrow.
• 11:55 pm:  Blog before collapsing into bed.

Until then I leave you with two things: My first pic of RockBand and Cory rockin’ out.

Not sure why but it took the self-control of a thousand men to not change the work to workee.

Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?
Just a cage of rib bones and some other various parts.
So it’s fairly simple to cut right through the mess,
And to stop the muscle that makes us confess.

And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys. Click To Continue Reading…

I had the girls all day Saturday, and as we headed to the movie theatre I noticed M was singing to every song on the radio. I let J film the whole show.  This is one of the many reasons I adore these girls and spending time with them.  How can you not have the time of your life when they’re your entertainment?!?  They are too cute for their own good.