Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Movie Versions of Books

It seems like every movie put out these days is unoriginal and taken from a book. I’ll admit to watching movies without reading the book first. But in that case, I feel like if I read the book first, I’m going to be disappointed when I see the movie.
In such an instance, one of my friends commented on the recent hit, Twilight. She read the book first and then saw the movie. She said she pictured the main girl, Bella to be more awkward in the movie as she was in the book.
One of the things with reading is you get to imagine what happens rather than someone describing a scene in one certain way.
With reading a book, the author gives such detail that allows a reader to be creative and come up with their own little world inside their head.Another thing with creating images, when seeing a movie after reading the book, the viewer can sometimes get lost in the movie version and forget what they had imagined from the book.
I know when I read some of the Harry Potter books, I had certain images that developed in my mind from the book, but after I saw the movies, it sort of distorted my mental images.
Also, some books are over 500 pages long. If movies adapted the plot page by page, it would be well over 3 hours long. Why else is the third Lord of the Rings movie was about 3 hours long? It was because they had to condense almost 500 pages into a reasonable length for a movie. But with that, you lose vital information to a story you normally wouldn’t know if you watched the movie version.
And even when movies use most the book, they add their own spin to it and put scenes in a movie that weren’t even in the book.
Take for instance The Count of Monte Cristo. I have never gotten around to finishing the actual book, but I know enough about the differences between the movie and the book. The movie completely destroys the book from the way people die to Dantes having a son by Mercedes, which he never did in the book.
Although I have seen movies where I have not read the book, I know well enough that 99% of the time, the story written is better than the story perceived on film.

Etiquette Part 3 - The Grocery Store

The other day, I decided I wanted my favorite sandwich for lunch: the Papa's Club. But I decided I didn't want to go to Papa's to get it. So, I want to Hy-Vee to get the supplies. All I needed was tomato, lettuce, and bacon because I had all the other ingredients at home. And I realize those ingredients make a sandwich on their own, but it's not a BLT...anyway...Here is the list of things I bought: 2 bags of pre-made salad, a tomato, croutons, and bacon; that is five items.

Like in almost every grocery store and/or department store, there is at least one checkout lane for 10/12/20 items or less. At Hy-Vee there is one check-out lane for 12 items or less divided for 2 cashiers. They had one open, but I didn't really care because I can have the patience for someone with 12 items or less ahead of me. So, I took my 5 items to the proper lane, stopped, looked, and walked away angry.

I bet you can't guess why. Why would someone be angry and go to a different lane for 5 items? I'll tell you why.

Some FUCKING DOUCHE BAG who thinks he can get away with about 50 items in the the fucking express aisle.

Seriously? Are you that much of an ass hole that you can make people who have 5 items wait for your 50 items in the fucking express aisle? Can you not read the damn sign above that says in clear English 12 items or less? And even if you didn't see it, can't you see the others in line only have like a handful of items?But you should know what the first lane is for. Isn't it kind of taboo to not have the express aisle be the very first aisle? You NEVER see the express aisle 5 or 6 lanes in, do you? NO. It's called common knowledge and courtesy that you go to a regular aisle with your damn 50 items.

PS: It just makes you look like a total tool bag too in that aisle anyway.

Regardless of how irritated I was at this idiot, my sandwich was delicious. =]

No Fronts

I would be lying if I said there wasn't anything about him that I miss.
I want what we had before the pain, before the arguments, before the distance, and before the hidden demeanours.
But dwelling on the good times of the past disallows me to look ahead to the future.
Maybe he'll remain in it.
Maybe he won't.
Whatever the fates allow, I'm willing to deal with.
I'm willing to surrender my heart to someone worth sacrificing it to.
Someone who I can trust and should trust to cradel my heart with nothing but faith, hope, and love to give.
Not someone who puts on a front just to impress me for that first month and then reveal Mr. Hyde.
I want the good and the bad of someone who's worth it and will deal with my good and bad.
I don't want him.
I want what we had.
I want it in someone who wants it with me.
I want someone like that for the rest of my life.
I'm not saying I want it now, but someday.

One day at work, this very old couple came in. It was fairly busy and we had a bit of a wait to have anymore seating. They contemplated if that were going to wait, but they decided to leave. As they were leaving, they grabbed each other's hand and walked out the door.
It was the sweetest thing to see a couple that was probably in the 80's that still held hands. That's the first initial move to showing someone you like them and they're still doing it after the many years they've been together.
That just proves to me my views on universal love and how timeless it really is.
I want that timeless love. I want it without games and without lies.
Love has no boundries.
Love has no limits.
Love has no fronts.

In His Hands

Maybe you'll understand one day
That nothing in life is going to go your way
It's in His hands now because I let it be
Because I know He knows what's best for me
It's going to be hard, but nothing is easy
And everything that comes my way won't please me
But I have faith that someday it'll be fine
And it will be worth all the times I cry
And the times I think I can't go on
And the times where I thought everything went wrong
And those time where I was too foolish and completely insane
That with each choice I made caused myself pain
But I know being strong now will have its rewards
Because I let my life story be told by the Lord

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Tony and Maria

I watched West Side Story today.

I love that movie.

And/or the musical.

And I love the song "Somewhere"

Why can't I have that?

Why can't I have what Tony and Maria have?

FML I just want to be in love already!! AHH!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Revamp

PS I WROTE WAAAY LONG AGO.

So we're in the middle of Lent. The 40 days and 40 nights before Easter where people of the Catholic faith are to fast. Other people tend to have exceptions to this rule by giving up sweets, swearing, etc. But Lent is another excuse for a New Years resolution. It shouldn't be about giving something up for vanity reasons, it should be for a new start for being a better person, inside and out too.

This year I've decided to first of all not give up something, but start doing something. I've been through a lot this year and I've struggles through many obstacles. Writing how I feel and looking to my mom and friends for advise can only get me so far. It's time to refocus my faith by coming closer to God. I've been to church once in the past 5 years (rough estimate) and I've forgotten where I've come from and how I was raised.

I've also decided that I need to be a more happy person. For me to be happy on the inside, I need to rid myself of the things that make me unhappy. And yes, this deals with my appearance. I'm not trying to convince you that I have poor self-esteem and a twisted body image, but I do. But part of that is because I don't feel good about myself because I don't take care of my body like I used to. Part of my revamping is getting back into a regular workout routine which I've started recently.

Another is taking care of my skin. To do that, I've been using medications and a three step program my mom gets me from Clinique. I've also cut back on tanning. But also with those things, I'm not going to achieve what I want by crappy eating habits. I've cut back on Double Stacks and 5 piece chicken nuggets from Wendy's, which will also save me money. So, I'm revamping my faith, my health, and next my mind set on other people.

A while back I was caught in a nasty, drama induced debacle and by my own fault. I've learned since that, talking shit about people isn't going to make you very many friends. I'm through dealing with drama that doesn't have to involve me because I have enough stress on my shoulders as it is. None of it will matter soon and it's just a waste of my time and my brain.

And I'm realizing also that I can be too quick to judge. I hate it when I'm judged without people getting to know me, so it's not fair that I do that same.

So, there you go - my three goals to be achieved during Lent and hopefully they'll last even after that.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Etiquette Part 2 - Driving

When it comes to sharing the road, there is a certain etiquette ALL drivers should know. For instance...

How hard is it to move your ENTIRE car into the turning lane so that I don't have to break and wait for you to fucking turn? I'm not expecting to have to break for you because you should be in the turning lane...PS I have severe road rage, it's fine.

The one thing about driving etiquette that bothers me the most, especially when I'm about to be late, or that I'm in a hurry doesn't really even deal with driving. It's the thing after driving: parking.

You know those yellow and white lines that are painted on the cement of roads and parking lots? Those are just decorations right? Oh, no? They're used for guidelines for drivers? Oh...OK. Then why don't some people know how to use them?

I hate stupid ass parkers. What makes people think they can take up 2 parking spots? Like your car isn't the only car that doesn't want to get dinged by another dumb driver? It's the chance you take by parking next to someone. Every time I see that I just want to go up to the car and put a dent in the door. They'll come out and think: That's impossible! I made a dick move and took up 2 spots just so that wouldn't happen!

What's even worse is people who park their whole car in one spot, but leave their left or right back tire in the next spot making it almost impossible to not park there unless you're driving a motorcycle. It's the people who don't want to seem like a complete ass by making it look like it was just an accidental bad parking job. And even if it was an accident, and you knew it, back the fuck out and fix it. It's not like you're gonna break your arm by shifting gears one more time.

When I see that happen, I'm the kind of person who enjoys squeezing their small car next to those people to prove to them they can't stop people from parking there. Yeah, it's kind of a dick move also, but I don't care.

Oh and what's the deal with parking in the winter? Since there is snow on the ground covering the lines, people seems to forget how to park. So, the lack of parking lines suddenly allows you to park three feet away from the car next to you?

Ugh, there is such a lack of people with driving etiquette...FML.

PS I could totally continue with driving speed/moving with the flow of traffic and other things that bug the shit out of me when I'm driving, but I don't want to get myself too worked up before bed. =]

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Etiquette Part 1 - Tipping Your Waiter

The other night, Marissa and I were talking about cheapos at works. No, I'm not talking about some new whole grain cereal, I'm talking about cheap people. Not just in general, but at restaurants particularly.

When having a dinner at a sit down restaurant, there is a certain etiquette one should know. Especially the restaurant I work at, which happens to be one of the ritziest in town, otherwise, expensive. So, those who come to have dinner have somewhat of a pre-disposed stereotype even before they order. If you come here to eat, you're expected to be prepared for a bill of at least $20 a person if you want a satisfying meal. If you're willing to pay that much on a meal, be prepared to spend the 15% gratuity for your server.

Most people who have a thick wallet do a good job at tipping. I've noticed, on the other hand, there are those who certainly do NOT know proper restaurant etiquette.

1 - Why the hell would you come to a restaurant of a pricey menu and not put down money for an actual meal? All you can afford is a salad? Really? You're going to spend $9 on a salad? Go to fucking McDonald's is you want to be cheap.

2 - Since you decided to not lay down that much money and get the damn salad, you'd think you could give your server a nice tip. But no, God forbid you spend more than $10 at a sit down restaurant. $1? Really? How pathetic.

I hate people who don't take into consideration that servers are getting paid with their tips. Reality check, tips aren't extra pocket money, it's part of their salary. People need to realize some manners and proper etiquette for restaurants.

Oh, and don't complain about the dimmed mood lighting at a fancy restaurant. It's for affect. It's not fucking Walmart.