The Frat Pack and Such

The movie choices this week were Meet the Fockers and Ocean's 12. JM and I thoroughly enjoyed Meet the Fockers, though I don't think it was as good as the first. People had told me that it rivaled Meet the Parents, but I really don't agree. It definitely lived up the the hype, but it wasn't as good. Maybe I was just tired.
One of the best parts of the movie was the horn on the RV. I need it for my car! Life is not complete until you have a horn that plays Puff the Magic Dragon. I also liked Owen Wilson's cameo and I can't believe that no one had told me about it. Like my brother-in-law letting it slip about the Frat Packers' cameos in Anchorman. I was very happy when I when I saw Owen. JM was surprised that I got so excited over an actor that wasn't Vince Vaughn. What can I say, I love all the Frat Pack guys, not just VV.
Speaking of Vince Vaughn (I find myself saying that a lot), he and Owen are going to be on Ellen on Thursday promoting The Wedding Crashers. Crazy since the movie doesn't come out until July, but hey I will take all the Vince I can get!
I find the whole "Frat Pack" concept very cool. I read an article on Christine's site from the New York Times (http://www.vince-vaughn.com/archives/2005_03.htm scroll down the March 26th) about them and their new way of doing comedy in Hollywood. Basically, the guys, their managers, producers, and a few directors (under their own production companies like Stiller's Red Hour) come up with a concept, write the script, get all their friends to be in it, then do table readings to sell it to the studios. The studios don't have to do a whole lot except buy the movies. VV had a quote that wasn't necessarily in reference to this idea, but it goes along the same lines. He said that a lot of comedies are made because studios are trying to figure out what people will think is funny rather than because they are actually funny. I think that's where the Frat Pack's success lies, they have a good eye for what is funny. The Dodgeball commentary goes into the difficult process of shopping the movie and how a lot of studios thought that no one would want to see a movie about dodgeball. It's a perfect example of how the Frat Pack understands comedy so much better than the studio big wigs. I'd be interested to know what you all think about the whole thing. Let me know.

R is All Grows Up

I have been so busy working lately that I haven't had time to post. Work is also pretty boring, so there hasn't been much to talk about. I did get some exciting news from the boy I babysit for. For those of you who don't know, R is three and is the smartest, cutest kid in the whole world. He has been potty trained for quite some time now, but he had some issues doing "number 2" on the toilet. Yesterday his mom called me and put R on the phone. He triumphantly told me that he had made poo on the potty and that he got a new bounce around for all his efforts. He also regretfully informed me that he went out on the deck with no shoes and got a splinter in his foot. He was the most talkative he has ever been on the phone. I know you all must think I am nuts, but I am excited for him. What can I say, I love him!

Starsky & Hutch Easter Egg

So I got the best tip from the Vince Vaughn Discusion Forum today. There is the best Easter Egg on the Starsky and Hutch DVD with VV doing a "bit for the kids." He is all decked out in his little 70s getup, mustache and all, and plays Brady Bunch trivia with a security guard. You can get to it by scrolling right once you're on the special features menu. The large star will turn orange and then you hit enter. Check it out, it's great. I am absolutely stoked about this revelation! *sigh* I heart him.

Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer

I watched Almost Famous last night with JM. He had not seen it and it is definitely his type of movie. Especially with all the Zepplin. I hadn't seen it in a long time, even though I got the DVD for Christmas. I got to see one of my favorite scenes of all time. When the band is sitting on the bus after having a huge fight. They're all sitting in an awkward hungover silence until they all start singing Tiny Dancer. It's great. And Kate Hudson is so good in that movie. It makes me wonder what ever happened to her. She is adorable in her romantic comedies, but she is much too good of an actress to just be adorable. The scene where her character is "introduced" to Russel and she gets tears in her eyes....it says so much about their history without saying anything about their history. It's just great acting in my opinion, feel free to disagree.
Saturday night, I went out with some friends. We had good times- we drank, saw a real life pirate at UDF, made a video game character dance like a tramp, and watched an entirely different kind of movie. We even made up a new friend--Cheddar Melt the Walrus! It makes me giggle and think "Ewwww." Good times....good times.....

Movies

As per my usual routine, I rented a few movies and watched them on my first night off. Unfortunately, I am out of Vince Vaughn movies to see (if anyone can find me a copy of Just Your Luck, let me know). I decided to get The Notebook and Closer. I was excited to see both of them, especially The Notebook since both Bruce and JoRo said it made them cry. I have to say that I was severly disappointed. It was a cute love story, but I just wasn't that moved by the whole thing.
Now Closer on the other hand, was great. I was a bit taken aback by the vulgarity of the language. I know what your thinking, it must have been pretty crazy to make an impression on me! I guess I just wasn't expecting it. But the movie has really been making me think ever since I finished it. I keep wondering why Alice never told Dan her real name, but was able to do so with Larry. The thought is still very incomplete.
I really really liked the movie though. It was actually kind of painful to watch parts of it. While both the Dan and Anna characters were coming clean to their respective partners, I totally understood the feelings in the conversations. I could relate to Alice not being able to understand how anyone could cheat. I also understood Larry's need to know details but still being revolted by them.
I think the most striking thing about the movie is actually a very small detail. When Alice and Dan meet, he confesses that he has a girlfriend named Ruth, yet he can't pull himself away. Obviously he leaves Ruth for Alice and then Alice for Anna, and Alice is surprised. I find so much truth in Dan's character. If a man is willing to cheat- to leave someone he loves, or once loved, for someone else, what's to say that he won't do it again. What makes one woman so special or so much better? Whose to say that another more special even better woman is going to come along. And the "other woman" seems to delude herself into thinking that now that he's with her, he'll stay put. Cheating is just not the answer. Never.

I Still Love You Jake Westbrook

So the Indians lost to the White Sox in the season opener, but for once you can't blame Cleveland's loss on their pitching! Jake Westbrook allowed just four hits in eight innings! Four hits! That is just awesome. He totally did his job, it was up to his offense to do the rest. Hopefully Jake's start is a sign of things to come this season. He's young and healthy and let's hope he doesn't play a Jaret Wright on us and start sucking for no reason. In any case, I am really feeling good about this season. Cleveland might have finally gotten their pitching together--let's hope.
As a side note, it's so odd seeing Randy Johnson as a Yankee. He beat up on the Red Sox, so I guess he's doing what the Yankees are paying him to do! Between the American League arms race and the steroid scandal, I am about ready to give up on baseball. Too bad I love the game too much. We'll have to see.

A Blog about Pogs

Good times were had tonight. It's so fun getting together with my friends- TW was in town and I hadn't seen SS or NZ for a while either. It was NZ that suggested that I blog (blog the hell out of it) about pogs. What can be more fun than cardboard cirlces? How about hitting cardboard cirlces with a heavier metal circle? Oh pogs, how I miss you!
I have the world's best friends, and I really hope they know just how cool they are. Only good friends allow you to obsess over Vince Vaughn, even to the brink of unhealthiness, but still laugh when you tell them that you bought a Dwight Yaokum record because he's Vince Vaughn's favorite artist. Only the truest friends will humor you into thinking that you might meet Vince Vaughn in New York City, or Las Vegas, or Cleveland. Great friends also get donuts with you when you get off of work at eight in the morning. I love you all!

Organ Donation

April is National Organ Donation and Transplantation Awareness month. This topic, as many know, is very near and dear to my heart. In June of 1998, an organ donor saved my father's life. Afer suffering from CPOD (chronic pulmonary obstruction disorder- emphysema and chronic bronchitis) for about five years, my father began a long process to become listed for a lung transplant. He was listed in late May of 1998 and about three short weeks later he received a call that a possilbe donor had been found. Dad received the donors left lung, which increased his lung function from about 20% to nearly 90%.
We don't know much about my dad's donor. He was killed near the Cincinnati area in a motorcycle accident and was just 16 years old. Donation is the most amazing thing to me. I think most people don't give donation much thought, and it's probably the last thing on their minds when standing in line at the BMV. Those who do make the decision to share their life probably don't realize all the good it can do. The families who are able to step away from their own grief and mourning and decide to donate a loved one's organs most likely know that they are doing something good, but I highly doubt if they know the true scope of it. Each recipient's life is extended. Their quality of life is heightened. Their families are able to have them in their lives just that much longer. My father has been able to see my high school and college graduation. He walked my sister down the aisle at her wedding. He celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary with my mom. But most importantly he has been able to live his life every day for the last seven years. Dad's donor and his family have given such a great gift to him and our family. I am forever grateful to them.
If you have not considered being an organ donor before, I hope that you will think about it this month. It is important to share your decision with your family; by talking about your wishes, your family will know what decision to make should they be placed in the situation. You can get more information at www.donatelife.net