If This Was Your Last Day
Last night a criminal killed the night manager at a cafe in the shopping center where I work. She resisted a robbery attempt and lost her life for it.
I happened to be working a few stores down. That could have been me or any of the amazing people I work with. She was 25 years old, just like me. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and coworkers.
Don’t ever take life for granted. Live happily and love with every part of yourself. If this were your last day because some asshole decided a few bucks was worth taking you from this world forever, would you look back and wish you had done things differently? Make every day count!
The Year of 50 Challenge for 2012
I finished my year of 50 challenge in the movie area 4 months early and I haven’t even come close with albums or books. Seeing how many movies I can go through in such a short period of time has taught me something about myself. I’m obsessed with movies. Although I can’t really say that doing this challenge taught me that because I knew it before, but…anywhoodles…
My New Year’s Resolution is going to be a new challenge for myself. I’m going to challenge myself to watch 100 new movies next year. By new, I mean movies that I have never seen before.
Anyone insane enough to take the challenge with me? It’s borderline insanity. This means I’m going to have to watch 8 to 9 new movies every month. And blog about them all. Doubt I’ll have time, but I would love to make the time!
The Year of 50 Challenge – Movies #33 through #41
11/04/2011
Filed under Entertainment, Movies, The Year of 50 Challenge
Tags: 50/50, Dracula, Footloose, Interview with a Vampire, Paranormal Activity 3, Real Steel, The Descent, The Three Musketeers 3D, What's Your Number?, Year of 50 Challenge
#33 – Dracula
Maybe it was because I was drunk watching it with friends and we were talking really loudly through the whole movie, but I didn’t think it was that great. I would give it another go because of the distractions going on when I watched it that first time. I thought it looked horrid though. Maybe we’ll count this as movie #32.5 and it can become #33 when I watch it again.
#34 – 50/50
Joseph Gordon Levitt is probably one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. The boy is insanely talented. His brilliant performance aside, the movie is a heartbreaking depiction of the struggles young cancer patients go through. I laughed. I cried. I loved it.
#35 – What’s You Number?
It’s a corny chick flick, but I liked it. Anna Faris can make even the most cliched script funny. The highlight of the movie for me was Chris Evans. He was funny and naked. That’s enough to make most girls satisfied.
#36 – Real Steel
Hugh Jackman overacts sometimes, but I think that’s pretty much the only downside to the film. It had a solid story, great special effects, and a good score. The ending is great because it’s really satisfying, but not overdone. It’s definitely worth a watch.
#37 – The Descent
If you have a fear of enclosed spaces, caves, darkness, crazy women, falling, and/or crazy zombies humanoids, don’t watch this movie because it will scare the shit out of you. I’m scared of going into caves, so I sat on the edge of my seat through the whole movie. The ending sucked, but I still walked away from the TV with chills.
#38 – Paranormal Activity 3
First of all, I didn’t watch the first two. I think that I should have because I would have better appreciated the story. I didn’t think it would matter, but now I see I was wrong. That being said, I got really sick of just sitting around and waiting for something to happen. It was annoying. The special effects were cool in places. The ending is one of the freakiest endings to movie I’ve seen in a while. The anticipation leading up to the end probably made it that much worse. I just don’t think it makes up for how sick of waiting I was by the time the ending rolled around.
#39 – The Three Musketeers 3D
I loved the special effects and the costumes. This is the first 3D movie I’ve seen in a long time that I actually think is worth paying the extra cash to see it in 3D. Other than that, the story was a little cheesy. And Milla Jovovich’s acting was so exaggerated it kind of got on my nerves.
#40 – Interview w/ a Vampire
Without a doubt it’s one of the best movies I’ve seen in a really long time. The entire cast performed very well and the story couldn’t have been more interesting. This is what vampire stories are SUPPOSED to be like. *cough*Twilight*cough.
#41 – Footloose
I didn’t see the original. My cousin saw this remake with me and said that it followed the first one very closely. I didn’t matter to me. I had fun watching it without comparing it to it’s parent. It made me want to get up and dance! It had it’s cheesy moments, but movies like this do.
The Year of 50 Challenge – Albums – Blink 182, Hugh Laurie, LMFAO, and more
10/11/2011
Filed under Albums, Entertainment, The Year of 50 Challenge
Tags: Blink 182, Hugh Laurie, Jay-Z, Kanye West, LMFAO, Matt Nathanson, Simple Plan, Year of 50 Challenge
Here a quick recap of some of the new albums I’ve checked out in my quest to listen to 50 new albums this year.
Album #12 – Simple Plan’s Get Your Heart On!
I’ve been a Simple Plan fan since day one. This album really shows a lot of musical growth that I haven’t heard in previous albums. That excites me a lot! Lyrically, it’s about the same as their previous efforts. No real growth there, but they never really struggled in the lyric department anyway. I enjoyed it a lot overall, but I think you I have to like this kind of light punk rock in order to appreciate it. If you are a Plan fan, you’ll love it. Download: “Can’t Keep My Hands Off You” because it’s the best track on the album (IMO), and “Anywhere Else But Here” if you liked “Addicted” from their first record.
Album #13 – LMFAO’s Sorry For Party Rocking
I hate to say it, but I’m losing patience for this kind of electro-pop. I loved it before EVERYONE started doing it. I used to be a GoGo dancer, so I pride myself on having sharp robot ears (meaning that I can separate the good electronic music from the stuff that’s just shit). LMFAO’s “Sorry for Party Rocking” has good and bad moments. The good moments certainly make up for the bad ones though. And even the bad ones aren’t that bad. For a commercialize dance record, it’s pretty tight. Download: “Sorry for Party Rocking” if you like dubstep. “Sexy and I Know It” if you liked “Party Rock”.
Album #14 – Matt Nathanson’s Modern Love
It’s a little poppier than Jack Johnson, but not quite as pop as Maroon 5 or OneRepublic. It’s a happy medium somewhere in the middle, and it’s good. Some of the lyrics are kind of juvenile, but you get that with just about any pop album. I’d recommend it if you like pop music. If not, skip it. Download: “Room at the End of the World” if you like pop ballads. “Queen of (K)nots” because it’s the best song on the album, with “Kept” finishing in a close second place.
Album #15 – Hugh Laurie’s Let Them Talk
I think I had the same reaction as the rest of the planet when I heard the Hugh Laurie had put out a blues record. Really? I decided to give it a whirl though because I love blues music and I love Hugh Laurie. It’s not a bad first record. Musically, I think it gets kind of messy and boring in places, but it’s a good album overall. I still can’t wrap my head around the idea that it’s him singing because it sounds NOTHING like his speaking voice. Not that everyone’s singing voice sounds the same as their speaking voice. It’s still weird though. Download: “After You’ve Gone” and “Let Them Talk” because they’re the two best songs on the record. Don’t think that the rest of the album will be as good though. These are huge peaks in an album of highs and lows.
Album #16 – Blink 182′s Neighborhoods
Man, I couldn’t have been more excited to listen to this album. I’ve been a huge Blink fan since I was a teenager. Look at the site name for crying out loud! Jenrose182 has been my username for everything for years. Anywhoodles, this album is a career best for them IMO opinion. Their earlier albums were more musical than lyrical. The albums falling in the middle of their career were more lyrically grand. Their last album before going on hiatus was a great mix of the two. Neighborhoods is an even more perfect mix of musical genius and great lyrics. I have a great appreciation for any album that I can put on, completely ignore the lyrics, and still have a great time listening to it. This is one of those records. GOD I’m glad to have them back on the scene! Wanna hear my only complaint? They get a little F-word happy throughout the album, but that’s just my opinion. I don’t like stuff like that when it’s in excess. Download: “Ghost on the Dancefloor”, “After Midnight”, and “Snake Charmer” just to entice yourself to buy the album because the whole thing is great!
Album #17 – Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne
I’m a fan of both of these artists, but I think they lose a little bit of their magic when they’re together. Don’t get me wrong. This is a great album, and some of the tracks are career bests for the both of them. I just feel like their styles are so different that I just spend the whole album thinking about which of them is the better rapper. However I realize that this is just my opinion. I recognize that it’s a great album. Download: “Welcome to the Jungle”, and my favorite track “Niggas in Paris”.
The Year of 50 Challenge – Movies #19 through #32
10/06/2011
Filed under Entertainment, Movies, The Year of 50 Challenge
Tags: Buried, Carriers, Children of the Corn, Columbiana, Contagion, Cowboys and Aliens, Crazy Stupid Love, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Fright Night, Insidious, Kick Ass, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The Change Up, The Debt, Year of 50
I’m blowing through the movies a lot faster than I thought I would. I guess that’s a good thing though. It leaves me time to catch up on albums and reading material when I’m finished.
#19 – Crazy Stupid Love
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. Steve Carrell’s subtle performance should be applauded. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were hilarious too. It’s just such a brilliantly written story too. And those are so hard to find these days.
#20 – The Change Up
If it weren’t for Jason Bateman, it would have been complete garbage. He was hilarious, but that’s about it.
#21 – Cowboys and Aliens
It was a lot different than I thought it would be. I expected a better story, but it wasn’t a bad film. Olivia Wilde’s character was kind of weird.
#22 – Buried
Don’t watch this film if you have anxiety issues. You’ll be hyperventilating ten minutes in. Ryan Reynolds gives an incredible performance. For a film that only takes place in a coffin, it’s really well done. The ending is frustrating. I’m not sure if it was meant to prove a point or not. If it was, then I didn’t get it.
#23 – Fright Night
What fun! It was much better than I expected. Colin and Anton were both great. I love Anton though. He’s such a promising young talent. Don’t go into this one expecting lots of horror and gore though. It’s PG13 for a reason. It’s not super scary.
#24 – Diary of Wimpy Kid
If I had been 12 I would have gone bananas for this one. I liked it now and I’m 24! It was too funny. I want to see the sequel now.
#25 – Columbiana
An intense thriller with a lot of plot holes. Zoe Saldana is a badass. We get it. However, she can’t carry a flat story.
#26 – Carriers
TERRIBLE movie. Completely pointless. Straight to DVD for a reason. Well acted, but terrible in just about every other way.
#27 – Insidious
More funny than scary. I know a lot of people that said they were frightened by it, but I just laughed. The story had potential and it was creepy in the beginning, but it just got dumb towards the end.
#28 – The Debt
It’s a very well made film, but I had some questions in the end that never got answered. Jessica Chastain and Sam Worthington were great, but I will echo the thought that actors can’t carry a film.
#29 – Contagion
It’s a well made film. The transitions between shots and the subtlety in a lot of it is really well done. There’s ZERO story here though. They tried to develop characters throughout, but it’s not done well enough. The only characters that you even give a crap about are Matt Damon’s character and his character’s daughter. That’s not enough to keep people interested.
#30 – Kick Ass
Hit Girl was my favorite part of the movie. She was hilarious. It was a good movie. Much better than I expected.
#31 – Children of the Corn
For an 80s Stephen King based horror flick, it was actually really good! I was creeped out. You have to detach yourself from the crappy special effects though to have a good time. We’re so spoiled by good special effects, aren’t we?
#32 – Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
LOVED it. Although if you’re not really into video games, you probably won’t get the humor at all. It’s a really creative, well made film.
Bored @ work
I just added the wordpress app to my phone which means I’ll probably blog a lot more often.
I’m bored at work. Couldn’t you tell? We’re so slow. What’s the point of showing movies at 10am on a Friday?
What Job Should I Have?
09/09/2011
Filed under Contemplative, Personal Goals
Tags: job advice, job search, self help, self realization, service industry, skill
As I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching in effort to find a path for my future, I have come to accept a few truths about myself.
1. I need a stable source of income to stay sane. I’m not the kind of person that can live from paycheck to paycheck. I can’t work on commission alone. I have to have a steady stream of income flowing in. There is nothing in this world that stresses me out more than not having enough money. I want a job that pays me a good enough salary for me to live comfortably without concern for paying my bills.
2. I don’t want to work in the service industry. I’m not good at kissing ass to keep people happy. I’ve worked service industry jobs for over 8 years and I hatehatehate dealing with rude, selfish people who just want to yell at you for the sake of yelling at you. I’m not very good at keeping calm in situations like that. I get into arguments with customers sometimes when I refuse to give them something for free just because they thought the auditorium smelled like B.O., the movie started a minute late, the popcorn was too salty, etc. I’m that manager that tells them that maybe they should bathe and they wouldn’t smell B.O., or maybe they should shut up and wait a second for the projector to start, or maybe if they weren’t fat, diabetic cows with high cholesterol trying too eat a large, butter-covered tub of popcorn by themselves then the salt wouldn’t be an issue. Yep. Not cut out for the service industry.
3. I want a job that requires the use of some sort of skill. The happiest I’ve ever been at work occured when I was a projection manager. I loved working on the machines. I know it’s weird for a girl to say this, but I used to come home, look at my grease covered hands, and smile to myself. I felt like I had accomplished something. I’m a very task oriented person and I love working with my hands, so naturally that would appeal to me. Maybe I should a mechanic. Or a computer engineer. Or something like that.
4. I want a job that provides exciting challenges. I don’t want to just sit at a desk and do the same thing every second of every day. If that were the case, I would use my comfortable salary to buy a nice, shiny gun and shoot myself in the face.
5. I want a job involved with the flow/reception of information. The way that people take in information on a daily basis is fascinating to me. Whether it’s reading a newspaper, hacking R5 DVDs online, or talking gossip from friend to friend, the way that we relay information has always intrigued me. Having said that, I don’t want to be a journalist because that requires being obnoxiously intrusive and I’m not that kind of person.
Now that I have realized these few things about myself, it’s time for you to give me some suggestions on what to do for a living. I’m going back to school soon. Suggestions for fields of study?
What to do?
So this has pretty much become a blog of nothing but The Year of 50 Challenge. Maybe I should just make a blog completely dedicated to that. What do you think?
The Year of 50 Challenge – Movies #6 through #18
08/02/2011
Filed under Entertainment, Movies, The Year of 50 Challenge
Tags: Bad Teacher, bridesmaids, Captain America, friends with benefits, Grandma's Boy, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Horrible Bosses, limitless, The Book of Eli, The Fighter, The Green Lantern, The Hangover, the year of 50 challenge, Winnie the Pooh
I’ve seen a lot of films this summer. Some were great. Some were not so fantastic. Here’s a quick recap:
#6 – Limitless
Bradley Cooper is an amazingly talented actor. The cinematography and directing is spot on. There were a few questions left unanswered, but overall it was an enjoyable film.
#7 – Bridesmaids
Everyone hyped this one up a lot before I saw it. I think that made my expectations a little too high. I thought it should have been funnier. I saw it a second time and liked it a lot more. I’m not sure if you would have had much of a movie if you took out the crude humor. I love the entire cast, especially Melissa McCarthy.
#8 – The Hangover Part 2
The plot is almost exactly the same as the first. Some people didn’t like that. However, my opinion is that you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken if you can continue to make it work! I thought it was just as funny as the first.
#9 – The Book of Eli
After the movie ended, I turned to my boyfriend and said, “I feel like I need to rethink the way I live my life.” It was a profound story with an incredible ending. The cast was amazing and the director couldn’t have molded a more perfect story. Kudos to Atticus Ross for the great score as well.
#10 – The Green Lantern
I read so many bad reviews of the film that I expected it to suck. It exceeded my expectations because it didn’t suck like they said it would. I think the story was too rushed, but that’s really my only complaint. It was entertaining.
#11 – Grandma’s Boy
It was funny. Corny, but funny. That’s really all you can say.
#12 – Bad Teacher
The dry humping scene pretty much steals the movie. Jason Segel is pretty funny too. Cameron Diaz does best in roles like this. I didn’t like the fact that you still kind of hated her by the end. Nobody really wants to see someone they hate get everything they want.
#13 – The Fighter
Talk about an amazing cast! Amy Adams and Christian Bale were both amazing. The story is a good one too. I hate that it took me so long to watch it. There definitely should have been more award recognition for this one.
#14 – Horrible Bosses
I think this is one of my favorite movies that’s come out this year. Everyone can relate to the story because everyone has had that one boss that they just couldn’t stand. The plot wasn’t predictable. Every cast member delivered tons of laughs. I think the MVP award for the film has to go to Jennifer Aniston and Charlie Day, but the rest of the crew is incredible too. If you haven’t seen it, go now.
#15 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Another one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. Of course, I’m biased because I love the books. I just loved how true to the book it was. The action was an amazing change from Part 1. I cried several times (during Snape’s memory, while Harry was walking to the forest, when Ron was leaning over the dead body, etc.). It’s an amazing finish to an epic film series.
#16 – Winnie the Pooh
LOVED it. I laughed and giggled like a 5 year old. The chalkboard scene is my favorite!
#17 – Friends with Benefits
I didn’t see No Strings Attached, so I don’t know exactly how FWB compares. However, I do know that Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis are a hilarious pair. I laughed the whole way through. Even the serious parts at the end were great. Woody Harrelson may have stolen the show a little though. He was the best part.
#18 – Captain America
I thought the movie is good, but there were a lot of things they could have explained better. Luckily, I had my comic book savvy brother with me to explain it all. If he hadn’t been there, I never would have understood the significance of the energy cube and why Stark wanted it (among other things). Good movie though.
The Year of 50 Challenge – Albums #8 – #11
07/26/2011
Filed under Albums, Entertainment, The Year of 50 Challenge
Tags: bon iver, David Cook, owl city, tedeschi trucks band, this loud morning, Year of 50 Challenge
Since I don’t have the internet in my apartment right now, I’ve been falling behind with blogging about the albums/movies/reading I’ve been checking out. Here’s a quick recap of the albums I’ve listened to recently:
David Cook’s This Loud Morning –>Thumbs way up for his sophomore effort. I love the album’s concept. You fall asleep and enter a dream world only to be sharply woken to a not-so-pleasant reality. This idea is rounded out very well by the opening track “Circadian” and closed just as appropriately by ending track “Rapid Eye Movement”. My favorite tracks somewhere in the middle are “Paper Heart” and “The Last Goodbye”.
Bon Iver’s Bon Iver –> Thumbs somewhere in the middle for this one. It’s halfway up and halfway down. (That’s what she said.) The music is beautiful, but I can’t understand the lyrics half the time. My favorite track is “Minnesota, WI”.
Owl City’s All Things Bright and Beautiful –>I have to give this one a thumbs down. It’s not that it was really bad or anything. The tracks are individually not so bad. However the album is exactly the same as his first. If you’ve heard that, then you’ve heard this new album. We don’t need a total reinvention, but SOMETHING different or new would be nice. Well…I guess there was a duet which is kind of new. Not enough though.
Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Revelator –> Thumbs way up for this one. This may be one of the best albums I’ve heard this year. I don’t think there’s one bad track on it. My favorite tracks are “Midnight in Harlem”, “Bound for Glory”, and “Until You Remember”. You could download any of them, but this album is worth the money. Go buy it.
