Friday, May 30, 2008

Spellerrific

I'm absolutely loving the contestants in the National Spelling Bee. They're not only amazing spellers, but they're funny, too. Thoughts as I watch the program:
  • My favorite line : (after hearing audience laughter when the word was first announced) "numb nuts?" ...much more laughter.... (after he is advised to listen to the word again) "Ohhhh! Numnah!"
  • "Oh, Nietzschean!" (I'm sorry that she's out. She was funny. When she was reminded to look at the clock as she was running out of time, she said, "Yes, that's a very pretty clock.")
  • The gal with the curly hair had a hilarious look of happiness on her face when she knew the word, but asked for more hints anyway.
  • The Asian kid sounded like he was drugged or something, and I kept thinking that he wouldn't get the words, but he did just fine. Maybe hewas on Spellling Steroids.
  • I'm always amazed by the very gentle "ding" of the bell that signifies that the word was spelled wrong. It so politely tells them that their dream has just been squelched by one letter. Ah, memories of spelling "vacuum" with 2 "c"s and only one "u," and hearing the disappointment of my entire grade as I became only the Honorable Mention instead of the winner. I'll never forget that moment as long as I live. Go ahead. Ask me when I'm senile. I dare you.
  • So I'm trying to spell these obscure words without looking at the TV, and when I do look at the TV, I realize that I'm WAY off. Makes me kinda glad that I didn't win the school spelling bee, in order to avoid a humiliating experience on a larger scale.
  • ...although, hello, I spelled "Kulturkampf" correctly.
  • Yay, SAMIR!!!! From "numb nuts" to the end, you certainly deserve that "guerdon"!!! What a perfect word to end the bee.

The Rivalry is Born Again!

Yeee HAAAAAA!!!!!

It's going to be Lakers vs. Celtics for the NBA Championship title!

This is what I sooooooo wanted to happen.

Go, Lakers, GO!!!!

Kobe, Lamar, Derek, Luke, Pau, Sasha, Vlad, Jordan, Ronny, and the rest of the club: BELIEVE!!!!




from Lakers.com

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Rockapella promo DVD

Pella has updated their promotional material, so I think it belongs on this page, too. I mean, duh. It's PellaPushing!!!!

Oh, and....rumor has it that we're getting a new CD this year. Yeah, I know, it's been rumored before, but this is word from the sales department, apparently. Keep your fingers crossed!

Monday, May 26, 2008

DLR LotD 05/25/08

Disneyland Resort Line of the Day
Sunday, May 25, 2008

"This is on the house." -- Linda, at Small World Mall

Thursday, May 22, 2008

InJ IV

I wasn't able to go with some of my friends that watched the 12:01 a.m. showing of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," but I didn't want to wait much longer, so I saw the movie this afternoon as soon as I got back to town. While I was getting my concessions, someone that I sing with at church spotted me, so we ended up sitting by each other, which also ended up being in a row right below other people he knew, but didn't know were going to be there either. It was a 4:45 p.m. showing on a Thursday, so the theater wasn't quite full, but there were plenty of people there.

At first, I was worried that it would not live up to be as great as the other Indy movies, but as the movie went along, I was quite pleased with the result.

Comments:

Cate Blanchett is quite the formidable villain here. I loved the contrast of her eye color against the black hair. Not only is she smart, she's also quite the fighter, and WANTS TO KNOW. I'll let you all figure out exactly what she wants to know. Then maybe you can tell me. Did she just want to know absolutely everything in the universe? If so, then she's just nosy.

Shia LaBoeuf did a great job in his role, and I remember him talking about his acquired switchblade skills when he was on Late Night with David Letterman. (He also talked about his arrest at the Walgreen's, which was a hilarious story). At one point in the movie, I thought, "Shia is Tarzan?"

Karen Allen: Love her. Loved the way she smiled when Indy told her what was wrong with all of the other women. Loved all of her banter with him. I love banter like that.

Nice little touches of that particular crate, the nod to Star Wars, Brody and Henry, Sr., and the snake/rope.

Big mounds of huge ants are scary. Apparently, big scorpions are not supposed to be scary, though.

I wonder if "Death by Monkeys" is possible. Or if it was anyone's band name. Because maybe I'll steal it if it's not.

Harrison Ford: Still Indy. Still awesome. Still love him. I mean, hello, I even just love his silhouette!

Thank God for refrigerators.

I hope that you're all able to see this movie on the big screen, because you need to. Go. Go now. Before the prairie dogs see you. (What was up with those, anyway?!)

Monday, May 19, 2008

Alien Languages and White Blond Actors

So today, my sis-in-law and I decided to have fun after work, since she's staying at my place for a couple of days.



We decided to go to a Japanese restaurant by my house, so that we could get some Boba afterward, which is a couple of doors away from the restaurant. At the Japanese places, there were 2 babies, of about the same age, on different sides of the room. One baby had a high-pitched short scream, which we figured out must have been her way of talking. The other baby observed this behavior for awhile, then started to do his own little scream, on pitch with the other baby. It was almost as if they were talking to each other in some kind of alien baby language. At one point, they were even making gargling sounds at the same time, and V said that they sounded like Chewbacca. They really ARE aliens, then!



So after the aliens went back to their home planets, and we were done with our own meals, we went to Aloha Boba to enjoy their yummy libations before going to the movies for a viewing of "Iron Man." Now, you all know that I loved this movie (if you've read my blog from the first viewing), and since V hadn't seen it yet, and I was quite willing to see it again, we decided on the Fe Dude. I had thought that she would love the movie anyway, considering the fact that she studies robotics and stuff like that, and I was quite right. Our conversation after the movie, though, was what made the evening hilarious (oh, and the stories that I told her from my doctor friend, which, I'm sorry, cannot be repeated here).



Can you tell the difference between these actors? If so, who are they, and what movies were they in?






If you read in the credits of "Iron Man" that Jeff Bridges was in the movie, would you tell me that it was actually Jeff Daniels?

...

V did.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

I'm watching "Snakes On A Plane" right now...yes, voluntarily...because I just want to see Sam Jackson say his famous line...and because sometimes I like to waste time/money on stupid things.

Anyway, it reminds me that I meant to blog about my last flight home from Sacto. The folks at SWA are known for having fun, and this flight was no exception.

As we were boarding the plane, I overheard the pilot saying to a passenger, "First flight? Mine, too!" I think he's been on Star Tours.

The flight attendant spiel was funny, too, and I heard some lines that I hadn't before.
"We'd like to welcome you to flight number...aah, who cares? We're flying to Ontario, so it really doesn't matter what number flight it is, that's where you're going."
"We ask that you pay attention to the flight attendants as we describe the safety features. If you don't listen, you're on your own."
Life vests: "Just remember, it's 'kick, paddle, paddle, kick, paddle, paddle."
Oxygen masks: "Put your masks on before helping anyone else who needs assistance, like your children...or husbands..."
"...and do not push your Call Attendant Light, as it is actually an Ejection button."

Due to the heat, or possibly due to it being the pilot's first flight, our descent was shaky, but we made it safely home.

Update: OMG, this movie is terrible! But I'm still sitting here, waiting for him to say that line...

WitWi Carmen Sandiego clips from 1st season

Welcome back to the year that Rockapella was first introduced to the kids at PBS (and to the Bro and me)!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Gooey Goodness

Last week, a couple of my friends and I went to The Melting Pot in Old Town Pasadena.

We had never been there before, so it was a brand new experience for all of us. We joked that we hadn't had a new experience together in a very long time. (We've been friends since elementary/junior high school).

We were seated by the window, so we had a nice second-story view of Colorado Blvd. Our server explained to us that there are no stoves in the kitchen, as all of their cooking is done at the individual tables. We decided on "The Big Night Out," which included 4 courses for a fixed price. We noted that the dinners were designed for 2 people, but the server advised that the 3rd could be added for an adjusted price.

Each course required a selection: cheese combination for appetizers, type of salad, a base for the main dish, and chocolate type for dessert. I wasn't too much in the mood for cheese because I had eaten a lot at the office's Cinco de Mayo lunch, but I said that I needed to have a lot of say in the chocolate choice. My friends indulged me, as they were raring to go for that cheese. :)

Our cheese choice was the Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue. I'm not a bleu cheese fan, but since it had "a hint of sherry" in it, I obliged. The server made sure to place the bleu cheese in the middle of the pot, so that I could just take cheese from the sides of the pot. She placed the cheeses, one by one, into the pot, letting each cheese type melt before adding the next one. We had broccoli, cauliflower, apples and cubes of different bread types to dip into the fondue. I was perfectly fine with eating our items without cheese, but I did try the cheese a few times and did enjoy it until some of the bleu cheese got blended into mine, and I didn't want anymore. My friends, however, enjoyed every moment of the cheese, and even saved the rest of it when the server was ready to start cooking again.

Our next course was the salad. I had the Tropical Salad, which is currently the featured salad on the menu. The mango added a nice, fruity touch to the tangy salad, which had a nice, light citrus dressing. The coconut-encrusted cashews were delish, as they didn't have too much of a coconut taste. Having had so much heavy food earlier in the day, I was delighted to have such a yummy salad, and enjoyed every bite.

The server then began to cook for the main dish. We had chosen the Coq au Vin, which, yes, included more wine, which was the last ingredient to be added to the pot. (Had I not been driving, I also would have ordered the Strawberry Basil Lemonade, but it had liquor, and the little sip I had from my friend's glass confirmed my thoughts that I'd probably order about 3 of them just for myself). The server requested that we only place cooked food on our plates (which had little sections in them), and to keep the raw food on the serving dish. She also advised us of the easy way to remember how long to keep the food inside the pot to cook it. "If it walks on land, it takes 3-4 minutes. If it doesn't walk on land, it takes 2 minutes." We had chosen the Fondue Fusion Selection, which included sirloin, lobster, pork, chicken, shrimp, ravioli, and vegetables. We didn't think that we'd be able to finish everything, but yup, we sure did! All of the food was quite good, and had been seasoned/marinated very well prior to bringing it to our table.

Then came the whole point of the meal, according to Sarah Michelle Gellar in "Simply Irrestible": DESSERT. We chose the "Flaming Turtle," which included the fun highlight of flambe. The dipping items included strawberries, cubes of pound cake, a slice of cheesecake, marshmallows, oreo-cookie covered marshmallows, cubes of rice krispy treats. The server advised us to place a slice of cheesecake and the pieces of pound cake on our plates and just spoon the chocolate over it, as they would not stay on our fondue forks. Mmmmmm..........on the fork, off the fork, who cares? It was ALL GOOD.

As you can see, we thoroughly enjoyed the food. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable. We also enjoyed the atmosphere, and I particularly loved the fanciness of the bathroom, what with the special towels with the company logo on them, and the beautiful fixtures. We had a great night, and plan on going to Girls' Night Out one of these days (last Tuesday of every month). We're even planning on getting one of my friends' husbands to drive us there, so that I can have my fill of that lemonade. :)

Monday, May 12, 2008

80's Lyrics Quiz

I got a 64 on this one. Then when I read the answers, I slapped myself in the head because I should have known the songs. Must have been because I was eating breakfast while taking the test. Or because I'm getting old and my memory's fading quickly. I like the sarcastic comments on the scoring page, too.

Enjoy.


Wednesday, May 7, 2008

DLR LotD 05/06/08

Disneyland Resort Line of the Day
Tuesday, May 6, 2008

"Would anyone like some fresh ground pepper?" -- Blind guy whom didn't see that we already had our own salt and pepper on the table, at Catal

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Monday, May 5, 2008

My Froot Loops Will Dry Your Tears

Yesterday, we celebrated my mom's birthday at Marie Callendar's Sunday Brunch.

We were thankful that they seated us way in the back, because nephew Brady has had a tendency of throwing tantrums in restaurants lately. He was OK this time, though. He kept going to other people's plates so that he could taste their food. V just asked him to stay at our table. I figured that maybe they were training him early to be a hobo, but whatever.

Another family with little kids sat at the table behind me, and a little girl, about 2 years old, started to cry. Brady looked over at their table with a look of concern on his face. Then he walked closer to their table, all the while watching the little girl. (I think her name was Cece). They finally let her walk around a little bit, and she walked toward Brady, whom was holding a little box of Froot Loops. He was quietly advised to share, and there he was, handing the little girl a Froot Loop, one at a time, as the tears still glistened on her chubby little cheeks. She proceeded to store them in her mouth, one at a time, packing them in like a chipmunk with nuts. She had stopped crying, and finally when she had her fill of cereal, gave Brady a big hug of thanks. Simultaneously, the females at both tables cried out, "Awwwww!!!!"

My nephew's going to be a great boyfriend someday.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Kentucky Derby

Horse races are not supposed to make me cry.

Especially when I go to church, and I have to hear about it again in church 2 hours later.

RIP, Eight Belles. I'll never forget this 2nd place finisher.

Congratulations, though, to the winner, Big Brown. Let's go for the Triple Crown! Hey, that rhymes. ;)

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Fe Dude

I saw "Iron Man" last night. I don't really do movie reviews, but here are my thoughts.

Robert Downey, Jr. is awesome, as he is in all his RDJ-ness. I didn't even recognize Jeff Bridges because of his lack of hair, but I finally figured it out when he spoke. He does a great job with his character. I think it must have something to do with "hair acting." Ask Johnny Depp about it. Then ask Johnny to call me. ;)

Oh, and the evil bald Afghani guy really should have worn a hat, or at least a scarf on his head! The dude is bald, his skin is burned, and he's standing out in the hot sun?! I guess that's supposed to make us think that he's too tough for sunscreen and head coverings, but it also shows me that he's not very smart. Actually, maybe he IS wearing sunscreen. But dude, you *need* a HAT!

What is it with Stan Lee and the characters with the initials "P.P."? Gwyneth Paltrow plays Pepper Potts, whom is Tony Stark's (RDJ) assistant.

Stan Lee's cameo. Gotta love it.

The special effects are awesome, and I want a computer like that in my house. Oh, and a robot or two to help me out a little bit.

I highly recommend this movie for all of you Superhero/Action Movie fans. I also recommend that you STAY UNTIL THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS DONE. ("Entire Movie" includes credits). You won't regret it, especially if you're a comics fan.