laceybear

30 in 30 crashed and burned pretty bad, huh?
I've been stressed since September because things look awful at the Point. He's losing approximately 40 hours biweekly and lucky to even be working. This means that the comfortable life we had when we moved here is no more. Losing that much income is painful. We're paying the bills and after that we only have about enough to put gas in the cars, buy formula and diapers, and go to Aldi for groceries. If not for Aldi, we'd be eating ramen and mac and cheese all day, every day. I'm looking for work. I interviewed at a place yesterday and I'm really hoping I get it, but I won't know anything until Tuesday at the earliest. I hate to abandon staying at home with the girls, it breaks my heart, but if I don't go back to work really fucking soon, there will be no birthday presents or cake for me or Alice, no 1st birthday party for Alice, and no Christmas for any of us. I feel so stupid for leaving my job. I'm a little mad at Forrest for encouraging me to do so. He couldn't predict the future, but he sure as hell knew how volatile and vindictive the Russian owner of the company was. He could have given me that head's up. If I'd had known, I'd never had left my job. As it stands, it's a pain to get back into Hopkins, and furthermore, with the relocation of the department, it won't necessarily be worth getting back in due to the super increased parking fees and commute times, in addition to the neccesity of getting a whole new work wardrobe because they're changing the dress code. So I've got my fingers crossed for this family owned place in White Marsh where I interviewed yesterday. The benefits were fabulous, the people I met were nice, and best of all, I'd only need a few new pieces for my wardrobe to accomodate their dress code.
I have to get out of this awful despair...I can't eat anything without intense stomach pain that results in vomiting (the lone exception is oatmeal and plain cold cereals), and I'm so down I feel like I have to claw my way up just to reach the ground. I feel like a failure of a parent. Material things aren't everything, but when you can't afford a bare-bones birthday party for your almost one-year old, you feel like an asshole. And that's where I'm at. I feel like I'm failing at life. I really need to get back to work.

www.imdb.com/title/tt1279935/

Why I chose this movie: I wanted to watch a comedy and I love Tina Fey and Steve Carrell

Analysis/Impression: Since this is relatively new, I won't say too much about the plot. The basic set up is a married couple who are afraid that their marriage is getting too routine and that they may be losing the "spark". They decide to forgo the usual friday night spot in lieu of some class in NYC. Hijinks ensue when they are mistaken for another couple.
I felt like the premise was good, because after being married for a time, and especially when the kids come, most people don't have grand romantic gestures as part of the routine, which can lead to insecurity, sometimes fleeting, sometimes not. Fey and Carrell are likable and believable as a couple. She's the control-freak super-mom, he's the straight-laced but slightly doofy dad. Seeing these two characters out of their element led to some funny scenes.

What most caught my attention: The hilarious lines. The banter between Fey and Carrell is silly a lot of the time. A good silly, not a disappointing silly. I've had to stop myself from saying "zip your vagina" because it's not really something I want Lia repeating. Here's an amusing scene:




Overall: 4/5: For a comedy, very good. Not something I have to own, but something that could stand up to repeated viewings.

www.imdb.com/title/tt1232207/

Why I chose this:
I really like Michael Moore movies, and hadn't watched this one yet.

Analysis/Impression:
I liked this but it was totally depressing. Michael Moore always has a way of saying really smart, really insightful things that are totally ignored by America in general. I think the reason behind this is because his films are kitschy, and so many people dislike him that when his films reach audiences, he's preaching to the choir. I happen to like the kitsch because I'm a weirdo and I don't think that you have to be totally serious even if you're dealing with a very serious subject, so the interspersed comedic bits break the monotony of gloom that the subject would otherwise inspire. Moore also has a habit of pulling silly stunts, showing up places that he knows he's not welcome, and making an ass of himself. This ongoing theme in his movies wore a little thin in this one. No, Michael, GM isn't going to let you in. We've been through this, haven't we?
Essentially he is is calling the proletariat to arms in this film. I agree that if the working class does not rise up to fight against the greed at the top, we're all in for a really abysmal future.

What most caught my attention:
At the end of the film he talks about FDR's second bill of rights which were never made part of the constitution. My question? Why the fuck not? FDR felt every citizen of the country had a RIGHT to:

• A job that provided a decent living for you and your family
• Freedom from unfair competition and monopolies
• Affordable and adequate housing
• Medical care
• Education
• To be able to be secure in retirement

These things aren't radical...they're basic human rights. It's been over 65 years since he proposed this, and no one has bothered to actually make these constitutional rights. I guess they were too busy playing golf or some shit...

Overall: 4/5. Good but not perfect. Moore's really got to add some new bits to his lineup.

I'm giving myself a project. My life for the last two months has revolved around nap-times, meal-times, and everyone else's needs but my own. I am not complaining, I love being a housewife, but I worry that without any actual intellectual stimulation, my brain will atrophy and I'll become a mombie.

The project involves daily posting here (that hasn't happened in years) after viewing a movie. There's a backlog of movies that I need to see for whatever reason. It may be due to the fact that it is referenced frequently in pop-culture, I wanted to see it and I know what happens but never got around to slogging through it, or that I bought it and just haven't sat down to watch it yet (Inglourious Basterds is the prime example of this). The rules are pretty simple:

• I can not have seen this movie from start to finish prior to watching.
• I have to pay full attention to the movie.
• One movie per day for all of September.
• Once I've seen the movie, I will discuss it in a post.

I can't promise that there will be no spoilers, however, I will take into account the age and cultural revelance of the movie when deciding how to approach the post about the movie. If it's old and everyone has seen it but me, then I feel that it's fine to discuss major plot points. If it's recent, I'll try to keep it vague.

I don't have a definitve list yet, but there are a few that are definite "must watch"-es. Inglourious Basterds being chief among those. Forrest bought the damn thing for me on the day it came out, and here it is almost nine months later, and I haven't gotten past the opening scene in which the Nazis visit the French farmhouse. If you have any suggestions, please comment. I'm open to a great deal, even total crap.

This will be fun, I think.

Asked by neolunaangel 

1. What do you miss the most about being 17?
17 was really a tumultuous time for me. I do miss going to school sometimes...17 is weird because you have to prepare for your adult life without being entirely sure who you want to be as an adult. I wanted to be a journalist at 17, but now, it's pretty good that didn't pan out. I'd be unemployed with little chance for re-employment in the field. I miss spending time with Liz.

2. What do you like the most about being a grown-up?
Doing what I want. If I feel like eating ice cream for breakfast no one tells me no. There's a fine line between doing what you want and being irresponsible, but I like the little indulgences. Also owning a car and driving. It is so much more awesome than I ever dreamed, and I wish I hadn't procrastinated so long in getting my license.

3. If you wrote a biography what would you title it?
Working title? The Girl with the Most Cake.

4. When did you feel the least like yourself?
When I'm actually arguing with someone. I don't really do arguements. I am opinionated but believe that people are entitled to be the same. I normally take the "never shall the twain meet" stance. There's no real point in trying to change someone's mind, especially when it comes to the biggies...politics and religion. Once in a great while I have to argue with someone, and I'm just not into it. I hate that I have to do it.

5. What gives you hope?
It's cliche, but my kids. I see the wonder the world inspires in their eyes and it helps me to be less jaded.

Once, yes. Years ago, in high school, I was walking into French class and this big, fat asshole was blocking my way, thinking he was hilarious. He would not let me in the door. I moved his arm so I could enter the classroom, and he pushed me. Unfortunately, my boyfriend at the time was in there. So I'm stuck between my boyfriend and this big, fat, asshole, trying to prevent an altercation. They're screaming at each other, and I'm screaming at my boyfriend to let it go, that he's not worth it. Then big, fat, asshole throws a punch at him that lands on me and fractures my cheekbone. I was furious. I turned around and punched him in the mouth. I'd never done anything like that before and I haven't since, but there was primal, animal fury that just jumped into me when he hit me. The hit ended the whole mess. My french teacher (who was on hall duty during the ordeal) sent him to the office, and the rest of the class who had witnessed it was just blown away. I was congratulated and marveled over for the rest of the period. I had a nasty bruise on my face from the fracture, but I had seriously changed the way people percieved me. It was strange. I will never regret popping that jerk in the mouth. He started the mess, and I finished it. And there's nothing quite so satisfying as stomping the shit out of some 16-year old's machismo. Being punched in the mouth by a girl can do that.

Though I totally thought I'd just have a mother's day picture for this year with just Alice because Lia was so not cooperating, Jen (the photographer) totally came through. I cannot wait to get my prints. Both of my babies in one perfect shot...awesome.
I really can't say enough nice things about her, so if you need pics done, and you're in the baltimore area, contact her!

http://www.jensnyderphotography.com/

If you pay attention to me on facebook, you'll know that Forrest's grandmother died last week. The funeral stuff is all out of the way, and although it's sad, it's better. She was not living a life that was worth living at the end. She had very bad dementia and her physical health was failing.
An unexpected benefit from her passing? I get to quit my job. Seriously. We were advised yesterday that we could move into her house and just keep up on the property taxes (like $1800 a year) and homeowners insurance (something like $400 a year). That's less than we're paying for two months of rent now, but it's for an entire year. Sure the house is smaller than I'd like, but I get to stay home with the babies, and for that I'll deal.
Me? A stay at home mom? In a few very short months, it will be a reality...
The present, however, has me ill as hell with the cold/allergy/whatever the hell it is mess that has me up all night coughing. I've been sick for the last 3 weeks or so. I'm giving in this afternoon and going to Patient First. If I don't I think Forrest is going to drag me there by my hair.

My life revolves around everyone else's needs but my own. I'm too grumpy to elaborate, but I had a terrible, awful, shitty day, and it's not even five yet.