Mamma Mia: here I go again with a massive update
Nothing really of big interest happened this past week. Two and I were in PA last Tues to get his retainer replaced (again), so I finally picked up my black belt certificate from my old dojong while I was in town. MiniPlu finished her required 6 hours of professional driver's school (where they take you out in an actual car - she did the written stuff during the school year) and is now eagerly awaiting the arrival of her official permit in the mail. She is absolutely dying to drive EVERYWHERE and anywhere, as much as we'll let her. Karen, MiniPlu and I saw Mamma Mia II on Saturday (more on that below) and we finally had MiniPlu's belated family birthday dinner. I've been really struggling with my running lately, even on modest distances, so Will went out with me early Sunday morning to help encourage me to keep going. Otherwise, really just life as usual: garden, catching up online, errands, chores, etc etc.
Oh, and speaking of MiniPlu - the job she had lined up for her return from Europe, as a receptionist in a nail/waxing salon she and my SIL go to - seems to have fallen through. MiniPlu contacted the proprietor several times, including once in person, where she was told that the proprietor was waiting to hear from someone else before making up the schedule - and then we never heard anything after that. I'm guessing she had more help than she realized she'd have, and didn't need MiniPlu after all, but it's shitty she didn't just come out and say so. MiniPlu finally was coaxed to apply for two other positions this week, at Justice (pre-teen/tween clothing store) and Rita's Italian Ice, but since it's already mid-late July, who knows if anyone will really be hiring at this point. :(
On a cheerier note, Karen, MiniPlu and I all saw Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again on Saturday afternoon. MiniPlu was eager to come along, but I hadn't realized she had never seen the FIRST movie, nor did she realize that the music was written decades ago, with the movie being made to fit the songs, rather than the songs being written specifically for the movie. So, her enjoyment was somewhat dampened by lack of comprehension and bewilderment at some of the song choices (like Waterloo), as well as some threatening migraine symptoms. But Karen and I enjoyed it. I will say that the plot could probably be summed up in about four sentences, but that was also true for the first movie. Really, the movies exist to give beautiful people a chance to sing and dance in front of beautiful scenery and, honestly, I'm okay with that. (It's pretty much the reasoning behind the Pitch Perfect series, as well, especially the third movie.) It had been awhile since I'd seen the first movie - and even then, I'm not 100% sure I've seen it nonstop, all the way through - so I'd forgotten that Donna had married Sam, and a few other little details, but that didn't really impede my enjoyment. Lily James as the young Donna is gorgeous, bubbly and glorious in this movie, and the younger versions of her two best friends were spot-on in appearance and behavior, except for one tiny thing: The older and younger versions of the friends didn't have consistent eye colors. I know, it's a stupid thing to notice, and it's not like it really bothered me, but I noticed it anyway. Aside from that, though, they were perfectly cast. And the younger versions of Harry, Bill and Sam were all gorgeous, too - natch.
It did bother me that the 1979 settings and hairstyles - for everyone, including background characters - didn't consistently feel like the late 1970s. A lot of hair on both the men and women felt more modern or, at least, more modern than 1979, for instance. There were some cases where it felt like background characters were fairly spot-on, but I think it should have been more carefully done.
When we came home, Karen put in the first movie as a refresher, and although I didn't stay awake long enough to see the whole thing, it was enough for there to be some glaring differences. When first-movie Donna first lays eyes on the three men, she remembers them all from their super-duper-hippie days, whereas, in the second movie, the younger versions of all three men didn't look anything like hippies. Also, Harry was supposed to be a "headbanger" in the period when he first met Donna, but his younger self in MMII is just a musician, definitely not a headbanger. I felt like they should have stayed a little truer to the original story as laid out in the first movie, although - NGL - the non-hippie MMII versions of young Sam, Bill and Harry all made very nice eye-candy, and I'm not sure they would have if they'd been presented as the way Donna remembered them in the first movie. And, I think they had Harry be the third lover in the first movie, whereas he was the first lover in the second movie. They did at least keep some things true to the first movie, including that Sam had been engaged and went back to his fiancee, only to break it off and try to come back to Donna - but was dissuaded from pursuing her by somebody who said she'd gone off with Bill. Bill being into boats and being somewhat of a free spirit was definitely the same, as was Sam's artistic ability and the plan Donna had made with him about staying on the island forever.
Anyway, I hadn't remembered those MMI details at all when I was watching MMII, so those discrepencies were all things that bothered me afterwards, not during. In general, I'll say that the movie is fluffy and full of pretty things, and not exactly high art, but it's fun and if you liked the first one, you'll probably like the second one, too. :)
The following collection of random questions gacked from hamsterwoman:
Do you like shopping alone?
Definitely! I much prefer to take however much (or little) time I want in a store, without feeling either like I'm boring someone else, or having to take extra time on what THEY want. Shopping by myself is ME time, and I appreciate the peace and quiet - even if it's just the grocery store.
Does your best girlfriend have any talents that you don’t?
I don't have a best girlfriend. As for my best boy (man?) friend - he could, before he retired, perform surgery on feet, and I can't. :P
Have you ever written a song?
Nope.
Does anybody send you money in the mail for your birthday?
My aunt and uncle have been known to send me a birthday check sometimes.
Do you own any shirts that have a year on it?
Aside from one or two remaining race shirts, no. I actually avoid things with years on them, because I hate them - they're instantly dated and then it looks dumb to be wandering around with a shirt that says, for instance, "Disney World, 2012!"
What do you think about mullets?
Let the past die.
Would you rather date an actor or an athlete?
I'd rather date someone who was kind, funny and trustworthy. Their profession (or hobby) is not important. I mean, I guess I kind of married an athlete? He did weight lifting when I met him, then switched to running, now does stationary recumbent biking (with some weight lifting still thrown in now and then).
Who is your shortest friend?
Possibly
purpleink - I've never met her in person, but she's described herself as pretty tiny. *g*
Do you have any scratches on your cell phone?
On the case, maybe, but not the phone. That's what the case is for. :-P
What grade would you never want to repeat?
Aiyeee, this is a tough one. I don't remember much about my 4th grade teacher, not even her name, but I do remember even I, at 9 years old, could tell she had absolutely no control over the classroom. Like, I brought her in a bell - one of those you tap on the top and it dings, like at a service counter - from a game I had, in hopes she could use it to get the class's attention. It did not work. It was this class that prompted my mom to transfer me to another school the following year. Also, I was teased a lot in 4th grade because my hair was cut short (my mother had it cut in exasperation because I wasn't tending it properly) and I had to wear headgear - so my short hair poked through it in weird ways and made everything worse.
I wans't too keen on 7th grade either. I wasn't remotely into fashion or other trends, and was bullied for it by a particular couple of 8th grade girls. Plus, you know - junior high/middle school is just a miserable stage in life, in general.
Ninth grade would have been ok if not for a horrendous World Civ teacher I had in the second semester. He was so awful, and so unethical, we actually managed to get him fired with only 6 weeks left in the school year, and just had a long-term sub after that.
So, yeah, I wouldn't want to have to repeat any of those grades. :-P
When was the last time you blushed?
I have no idea. I don't feel like I'm really prone to blushing.
Who is one person you met and automatically didn’t like?
Donald Trump? Ok, so I haven't actually met him....
Do you know anybody who has a birthday in November?
Quite a few, actually: my FIL on Nov 1, and my childhood best friend on Nov 20th, plus my late grandfather on Nov 11 and my late MIL on Nov 19th.
Is there anything you need to buy at the store right now?
Cereal, fruit, eggs, and a bunch of other stuff but I haven't finished making the list yet.
Do you have any video game systems in your room? Which one(s)?
There's a PS3 (AND a PS4) as well as a Wii in the living room, but it's been awhile since any of them were used. Or rather, the PS systems are sometimes used to play movies, but not recently for games.
Is it true that you hurt the ones you love the most?
Probably, because the ones we love are the ones who care the most and are most easily hurt by our carelessness.
What monster would you be most afraid to have in your closet?
Any that was out to hurt me or the ones I love.
Did you do anything productive today?
I made chocolate chip zucchini bread (note to self: more cinnamon) and cleaned up afterwards.
How do you usually wear your hair?
Loose, or in a ponytail. Occasionally in a half-up style using a single barrette in the back, or I'll put it up in a bun with a claw clip thing to keep it out of my wait.
What movie coming out do you really want to see?
How to Train Your Dragon 3 - but unfortunately I have to wait until March for that. Feels like an eternity.
Is your skin tone lighter or darker than your Mom’s?
Darker, thanks to my dad's heritage.
What is the best thing about the beach?
Wave jumping if the water isn't too rough. Snorkling if there's something interesting to actually look at. The sound of the waves.
Have you ever done another person’s make-up?
I don't think so? MiniPlu is probably more capable than I am, lol.
Do you get snow days off of school/work?
Yep.
Have you ever spied on your neighbor?
Can't say that I have.
Do you think they’ve ever spied on you?
Hopefully not deliberately, and only because I forgot I could be seen through windows or something.
What color eyes does the last person you kissed have?
Light blue.
When was the last time it rained?
Today.
Honestly, do you double dip?
If I'm the only one using it, probably. If I'm sharing the dip, I might turn the item around and dip the non-chomped part to dip a second time - does that count?
What color is your birthstone?
Ruby red.
Do you save your old school work?
Not anymore - except maybe an anthology of middle-school school poetry where I had a poem accepted.
What is one thing you don’t like sharing?
I dunno ... toothbrushes?
Where on your body would you NEVER get a piercing?
It's easier to say where I would get a piercing, namely: ears (which I've already done). Although I suppose I'm not really against navel or small nose piercings, either, even though I'm not keen on one, myself. Pretty much anywhere else? ICK.
Do you ‘dress to impress’?
Only for job interviews.
Which Adam Sandler movie do you like the most?
I don't think I've seen any Adam Sandler movie, ever.
Who was one of your first celebrity crushes?
Oddly enough, Jenna Elfman - I really never had celebrity crushes until I was an adult.
Did your parents ever read stories to you before bed?
Not reliably, but yes, sometimes. But my grandfather would always tell a made-up serial story before bed. Always.
Would you be considered more of a teacher’s pet or a class clown?
Teacher's pet.
Do you have any family members who are mean to you for no reason?
No, but I have a couple of cousins who seem to have a dislike of Will for reasons neither he nor I can fathom, and it pisses me off.
Have you disappointed anybody recently?
Two, when I wouldn't rush him right off to the store when he wanted something today.
Have you ever been hit on through text message?
Text messaging only existed after I was happily married. Unless you count slyly suggestive texts (but not truly sexting) from my husband?
What color are your nails painted right now?
I just took off the periwinkle blue I had on my toes, maybe two nights ago. It had been on there a couple of weeks and was chipping and such. I do plan to repaint the toes soon, not sure with what, but I do keep my toes pretty regularly painted in warm weather. I almost never bother painting my fingernails because it chips off almost immediately with all the stuff I use my hands for.
Do you have to do any yard work?
I need to deadhead the roses and there's a constant battle against weeds and several plants (tomatoes, strawberries and cantaloupe) that are trying to take over the universe.
What’s worse, ignorance or stupidity?
Depends on whether it's willful ignorance or not, I guess? Stupidity can't really be "fixed" but ignorance can - as long as the person is open to being educated. Unfortunately, that's often not the case.
When was the last time you had ice cream? What kind was it?
This evening: I had vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of both caramel and chocolate sauces on top.
And speaking of random, today I saw a real estate sign in front of a house, proclaiming it to be "Pre-owned certified" which was just ... WTF? I'm assuming the "certified" means it's had some sort of inspection already, or perhaps comes with a warranty of some sort. But why the "pre-owned"? I think it's pretty much a given that, unless it was obviously new construction, ALL homes are pre-owned! And this house was very clearly older construction, decades old, which makes the "pre-owned" kind of a DUH thing to say. O_o
Oh, and speaking of MiniPlu - the job she had lined up for her return from Europe, as a receptionist in a nail/waxing salon she and my SIL go to - seems to have fallen through. MiniPlu contacted the proprietor several times, including once in person, where she was told that the proprietor was waiting to hear from someone else before making up the schedule - and then we never heard anything after that. I'm guessing she had more help than she realized she'd have, and didn't need MiniPlu after all, but it's shitty she didn't just come out and say so. MiniPlu finally was coaxed to apply for two other positions this week, at Justice (pre-teen/tween clothing store) and Rita's Italian Ice, but since it's already mid-late July, who knows if anyone will really be hiring at this point. :(
On a cheerier note, Karen, MiniPlu and I all saw Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again on Saturday afternoon. MiniPlu was eager to come along, but I hadn't realized she had never seen the FIRST movie, nor did she realize that the music was written decades ago, with the movie being made to fit the songs, rather than the songs being written specifically for the movie. So, her enjoyment was somewhat dampened by lack of comprehension and bewilderment at some of the song choices (like Waterloo), as well as some threatening migraine symptoms. But Karen and I enjoyed it. I will say that the plot could probably be summed up in about four sentences, but that was also true for the first movie. Really, the movies exist to give beautiful people a chance to sing and dance in front of beautiful scenery and, honestly, I'm okay with that. (It's pretty much the reasoning behind the Pitch Perfect series, as well, especially the third movie.) It had been awhile since I'd seen the first movie - and even then, I'm not 100% sure I've seen it nonstop, all the way through - so I'd forgotten that Donna had married Sam, and a few other little details, but that didn't really impede my enjoyment. Lily James as the young Donna is gorgeous, bubbly and glorious in this movie, and the younger versions of her two best friends were spot-on in appearance and behavior, except for one tiny thing: The older and younger versions of the friends didn't have consistent eye colors. I know, it's a stupid thing to notice, and it's not like it really bothered me, but I noticed it anyway. Aside from that, though, they were perfectly cast. And the younger versions of Harry, Bill and Sam were all gorgeous, too - natch.
It did bother me that the 1979 settings and hairstyles - for everyone, including background characters - didn't consistently feel like the late 1970s. A lot of hair on both the men and women felt more modern or, at least, more modern than 1979, for instance. There were some cases where it felt like background characters were fairly spot-on, but I think it should have been more carefully done.
When we came home, Karen put in the first movie as a refresher, and although I didn't stay awake long enough to see the whole thing, it was enough for there to be some glaring differences. When first-movie Donna first lays eyes on the three men, she remembers them all from their super-duper-hippie days, whereas, in the second movie, the younger versions of all three men didn't look anything like hippies. Also, Harry was supposed to be a "headbanger" in the period when he first met Donna, but his younger self in MMII is just a musician, definitely not a headbanger. I felt like they should have stayed a little truer to the original story as laid out in the first movie, although - NGL - the non-hippie MMII versions of young Sam, Bill and Harry all made very nice eye-candy, and I'm not sure they would have if they'd been presented as the way Donna remembered them in the first movie. And, I think they had Harry be the third lover in the first movie, whereas he was the first lover in the second movie. They did at least keep some things true to the first movie, including that Sam had been engaged and went back to his fiancee, only to break it off and try to come back to Donna - but was dissuaded from pursuing her by somebody who said she'd gone off with Bill. Bill being into boats and being somewhat of a free spirit was definitely the same, as was Sam's artistic ability and the plan Donna had made with him about staying on the island forever.
Anyway, I hadn't remembered those MMI details at all when I was watching MMII, so those discrepencies were all things that bothered me afterwards, not during. In general, I'll say that the movie is fluffy and full of pretty things, and not exactly high art, but it's fun and if you liked the first one, you'll probably like the second one, too. :)
The following collection of random questions gacked from hamsterwoman:
Do you like shopping alone?
Definitely! I much prefer to take however much (or little) time I want in a store, without feeling either like I'm boring someone else, or having to take extra time on what THEY want. Shopping by myself is ME time, and I appreciate the peace and quiet - even if it's just the grocery store.
Does your best girlfriend have any talents that you don’t?
I don't have a best girlfriend. As for my best boy (man?) friend - he could, before he retired, perform surgery on feet, and I can't. :P
Have you ever written a song?
Nope.
Does anybody send you money in the mail for your birthday?
My aunt and uncle have been known to send me a birthday check sometimes.
Do you own any shirts that have a year on it?
Aside from one or two remaining race shirts, no. I actually avoid things with years on them, because I hate them - they're instantly dated and then it looks dumb to be wandering around with a shirt that says, for instance, "Disney World, 2012!"
What do you think about mullets?
Let the past die.
Would you rather date an actor or an athlete?
I'd rather date someone who was kind, funny and trustworthy. Their profession (or hobby) is not important. I mean, I guess I kind of married an athlete? He did weight lifting when I met him, then switched to running, now does stationary recumbent biking (with some weight lifting still thrown in now and then).
Who is your shortest friend?
Possibly
purpleink - I've never met her in person, but she's described herself as pretty tiny. *g*
Do you have any scratches on your cell phone?
On the case, maybe, but not the phone. That's what the case is for. :-P
What grade would you never want to repeat?
Aiyeee, this is a tough one. I don't remember much about my 4th grade teacher, not even her name, but I do remember even I, at 9 years old, could tell she had absolutely no control over the classroom. Like, I brought her in a bell - one of those you tap on the top and it dings, like at a service counter - from a game I had, in hopes she could use it to get the class's attention. It did not work. It was this class that prompted my mom to transfer me to another school the following year. Also, I was teased a lot in 4th grade because my hair was cut short (my mother had it cut in exasperation because I wasn't tending it properly) and I had to wear headgear - so my short hair poked through it in weird ways and made everything worse.
I wans't too keen on 7th grade either. I wasn't remotely into fashion or other trends, and was bullied for it by a particular couple of 8th grade girls. Plus, you know - junior high/middle school is just a miserable stage in life, in general.
Ninth grade would have been ok if not for a horrendous World Civ teacher I had in the second semester. He was so awful, and so unethical, we actually managed to get him fired with only 6 weeks left in the school year, and just had a long-term sub after that.
So, yeah, I wouldn't want to have to repeat any of those grades. :-P
When was the last time you blushed?
I have no idea. I don't feel like I'm really prone to blushing.
Who is one person you met and automatically didn’t like?
Donald Trump? Ok, so I haven't actually met him....
Do you know anybody who has a birthday in November?
Quite a few, actually: my FIL on Nov 1, and my childhood best friend on Nov 20th, plus my late grandfather on Nov 11 and my late MIL on Nov 19th.
Is there anything you need to buy at the store right now?
Cereal, fruit, eggs, and a bunch of other stuff but I haven't finished making the list yet.
Do you have any video game systems in your room? Which one(s)?
There's a PS3 (AND a PS4) as well as a Wii in the living room, but it's been awhile since any of them were used. Or rather, the PS systems are sometimes used to play movies, but not recently for games.
Is it true that you hurt the ones you love the most?
Probably, because the ones we love are the ones who care the most and are most easily hurt by our carelessness.
What monster would you be most afraid to have in your closet?
Any that was out to hurt me or the ones I love.
Did you do anything productive today?
I made chocolate chip zucchini bread (note to self: more cinnamon) and cleaned up afterwards.
How do you usually wear your hair?
Loose, or in a ponytail. Occasionally in a half-up style using a single barrette in the back, or I'll put it up in a bun with a claw clip thing to keep it out of my wait.
What movie coming out do you really want to see?
How to Train Your Dragon 3 - but unfortunately I have to wait until March for that. Feels like an eternity.
Is your skin tone lighter or darker than your Mom’s?
Darker, thanks to my dad's heritage.
What is the best thing about the beach?
Wave jumping if the water isn't too rough. Snorkling if there's something interesting to actually look at. The sound of the waves.
Have you ever done another person’s make-up?
I don't think so? MiniPlu is probably more capable than I am, lol.
Do you get snow days off of school/work?
Yep.
Have you ever spied on your neighbor?
Can't say that I have.
Do you think they’ve ever spied on you?
Hopefully not deliberately, and only because I forgot I could be seen through windows or something.
What color eyes does the last person you kissed have?
Light blue.
When was the last time it rained?
Today.
Honestly, do you double dip?
If I'm the only one using it, probably. If I'm sharing the dip, I might turn the item around and dip the non-chomped part to dip a second time - does that count?
What color is your birthstone?
Ruby red.
Do you save your old school work?
Not anymore - except maybe an anthology of middle-school school poetry where I had a poem accepted.
What is one thing you don’t like sharing?
I dunno ... toothbrushes?
Where on your body would you NEVER get a piercing?
It's easier to say where I would get a piercing, namely: ears (which I've already done). Although I suppose I'm not really against navel or small nose piercings, either, even though I'm not keen on one, myself. Pretty much anywhere else? ICK.
Do you ‘dress to impress’?
Only for job interviews.
Which Adam Sandler movie do you like the most?
I don't think I've seen any Adam Sandler movie, ever.
Who was one of your first celebrity crushes?
Oddly enough, Jenna Elfman - I really never had celebrity crushes until I was an adult.
Did your parents ever read stories to you before bed?
Not reliably, but yes, sometimes. But my grandfather would always tell a made-up serial story before bed. Always.
Would you be considered more of a teacher’s pet or a class clown?
Teacher's pet.
Do you have any family members who are mean to you for no reason?
No, but I have a couple of cousins who seem to have a dislike of Will for reasons neither he nor I can fathom, and it pisses me off.
Have you disappointed anybody recently?
Two, when I wouldn't rush him right off to the store when he wanted something today.
Have you ever been hit on through text message?
Text messaging only existed after I was happily married. Unless you count slyly suggestive texts (but not truly sexting) from my husband?
What color are your nails painted right now?
I just took off the periwinkle blue I had on my toes, maybe two nights ago. It had been on there a couple of weeks and was chipping and such. I do plan to repaint the toes soon, not sure with what, but I do keep my toes pretty regularly painted in warm weather. I almost never bother painting my fingernails because it chips off almost immediately with all the stuff I use my hands for.
Do you have to do any yard work?
I need to deadhead the roses and there's a constant battle against weeds and several plants (tomatoes, strawberries and cantaloupe) that are trying to take over the universe.
What’s worse, ignorance or stupidity?
Depends on whether it's willful ignorance or not, I guess? Stupidity can't really be "fixed" but ignorance can - as long as the person is open to being educated. Unfortunately, that's often not the case.
When was the last time you had ice cream? What kind was it?
This evening: I had vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of both caramel and chocolate sauces on top.
And speaking of random, today I saw a real estate sign in front of a house, proclaiming it to be "Pre-owned certified" which was just ... WTF? I'm assuming the "certified" means it's had some sort of inspection already, or perhaps comes with a warranty of some sort. But why the "pre-owned"? I think it's pretty much a given that, unless it was obviously new construction, ALL homes are pre-owned! And this house was very clearly older construction, decades old, which makes the "pre-owned" kind of a DUH thing to say. O_o