Labor Day

After doing NOTHING yesterday, just hanging out with M and watching TV, I fell asleep on the couch a little after 9, then woke up around 3 and moved to bed,  then slept past 8 this morning. Our friend M does a lot of sleeping so he must be contagious!

I worked on cleaning up the kitchen. Mick's helpers had arrived early to help with yard projects. I have black eye peas and we have a random flower in the flower garden.

random white flower

Black eye peas

Although I did some housework, I decided to continue my rest and watched Zombieland and the Star Trek marathon.

Monument's Men

From my Goodreads summary:

I'm not great with history, dates, and places, but this is a good read. Even with my limitations, I found the history of the Monuments Men intriguing. Having seen movies like Schindler's List and visited WWII monuments in Italy, I found my stomach turning with some parts of the book, as I was able to visualize the atrocities described occasionally. I think this book is a definite must-read. It has been made into a movie and I'm curious to see how well it "translates" onto the screen.

It's my birthday. Weekend.

I started my birthday weekend with a pedicure. Blue toenails in August--perfect.

We went to Nourish with Mick's family. With the exception of the Celiac among them, I think they kind of hate it. The service was pretty terrible--we were there over two hours--but I loved the food. And I got dessert. But the kids couldn't have soda so that wasn't a good start. He liked the burger and she liked the sweet potato fries. There was unhappiness and anxiety about the time everything took. My husband says the food is okay but he got something that had vegetables and seaweed in it so he said it's like eating at home but I haven't picked out the stuff he won't eat. Yeah, he doesn't like it because he wants to eat "bad" when he goes out.

I guess next time I'll take them somewhere more mainstream like Outback. Sigh.

Sunday, we went with friends to see 2 Guns--my boy Denzel! After, we went to Carrabbas. It's not open for lunch during the week but apparently it is on the weekend. They have a gluten free menu but not any g/f pasta. However, something rare happened: I can have the soup that's always on the menu. They just leave out the pasta.

YES, it was good!

Then I had salmon with salsa and veggies. And the veggies had a bunch of garlic (looks kind of like cheese, right? I was kinda freaking out but it really was garlic.) That's a pretty good lunch.

And they didn't skimp on the veggies.

Later, at home, I had a pint of ice cream to celebrate. I should NOT have done that.

So many movies, so little time.

I am not a Twilight fan and I kept running across this comparison on Pinterest. After all the hype, we had to watch Hunger Games. (Who can be a Twilight fan if they watched Lost Boys and Queen of the Damned type vampire movies back in the day? Seriously.) While I thought Hunger Games was crazy unbelievable, I really liked it. My husband was too distracted by his opinion that that could never happen so he didn't like it as much. Maybe I was distracted by my love of seeing a chic kick ass so I liked it too much. Whatever--she kicks ass. You go girl. And can you kick Bella's ass while you're at it?

I watched 21 Jump Street on TV back in the day; my husband apparently did not. I almost fell over laughing when Holly Robinson showed up in the movie version of 21 Jump Street; he had no idea who she was. I let him know I was waiting for Johnny Depp to show up and he was still mystified. And when Johnny showed up, it was awesome. I liked it more than he did, so maybe it's a retro thing. (That means I'm old, y'all.)

A friend recommended Dale and Tucker vs evil. It was a spoof horror movie and it was pretty funny, although seriously predictable and gory and silly and unbelievable.

When we saw the trailer for God Bless America, we knew we had to see it. It was hilarious, in the vein of Office Space or Idiocracy. See it. Unless you're old; the old people said it's "different" which is old people speak for WTF. At 2:08, that's just awesometastic. Don't lie, you know you have thought about doing it!

We also saw Raid Redemption. It was so terrible, I'm not even giving any more information. 

Domos and dads and Depp

A friend of mine posts the funniest photos of domos with captions. I couldn't believe how large this domo is! He seems kind of angry about being stuck behind the glass with Spongbob's starfish friend.

I felt more bendy today than I have in quite a while. And I managed to get some decent (for me) bowling scores. Yes, I'm back to left-handed bowling.

141 isn't my high score, but close!

After bowling, we went with friends to Arriba so I could eat before going out with family. I had fajitas and brought my own chips to go with the salsa. We left and met family at Red Lobster. I know that sounds a little crazy but I literally cannot eat anything at (as my friend J calls it) Dead Lobster. When I looked at their allergen menu, I realized that they must get all their food pre-prepared and it's all cooked in soybean oil. That's quite a bummer because this part of the family LOVES Red Lobster for every occasion. We tried to reassure them that it was fine, we were there for the company, don't worry about the food part of it. We'll see what happens next time. I was kind of impressed that my husband ate with me at Arriba and just had a drink at Red Lobster. I thought it was pretty cool of him to stand by me that way, even if he was just eating what he wanted.

We watched part of Rango after lunch/dinner. I thought it was pretty cute. Depp makes a good cartoon character. It seems like a really good kid movie.

Avenged and heard

We decided to go to the movies to use a gift card we've had for a while. Mick asked if I wanted to see Avengers in IMAX 3D and I was all in. It sounds like a few friends were invited but couldn't go, and I was relieved and nervous that we might actually have a date night all alone. It hasn't happened in quite a while.

The movie was very good. I think it would be good without the 3D as well.  Since there was only one IMAX showing, we went to dinner after. We decided to go to Yardhouse; I know I can eat there but I didn't have my "list" with me. I asked the waiter about the dish I sort of recall ordering last time and he decided to get the manager for me. Yes! I approve! In the meantime, he brought me a skinny margarita since it's just tequila and lime juice. Oh, yeah, I approve that too, although it could have used some salt. I got the shrimp rice bowl without the sauce, and the Thai basil sauce on the side. It was very good. I took about half home.

I took the opportunity to talk to Mick about the issues I've been having, making sure to say this is how I feel rather than making it more black and white accusations or whatever. I let him know that I used to feel like he was on my side and I would really like to feel that way again. He loves this house and I let him know that I want to feel that way but don't even feel safe here. I need stability and am only feeling uncertainty and lack of control. He said he is on my side.

I also asked him if he could stand up for me when someone says something dick-ish to me. He thought that he was being more supportive by letting it go rather than bringing more attention to me in that situation. The best part is that he wasn't even thinking about the time I was, so now I'm wondering how many dick-ish things have been said that I didn't hear, or maybe I just ignored something because I've heard so much attitude. I was impressed that he had noticed and had made a conscious decision to address it the way he thought was appropriate. I let him know that I can see what he's saying but I also find it a little humiliating that my health isn't taken more seriously.

He doesn't really understand all I expressed but he will be on my side and that's all I ask. He is trying to wrap his head around what he needs to do and how it can be easier on other people involved, too.

At least I don't turn into an enormous green rage monster.

Bad attitude

I haven't felt well for a couple days, but seem to be feeling better today.  I was super tired since we stayed up late smoking ribs.  Mick wasn't done with them until around 5, but I went to bed earlier.  Based on our conversation and his awesomeness, he had been careful about cross-contamination, starting with the rubs and sauces and the placement of the ribs in the smoking rack.  He labeled each rack of ribs when they were done so that I would know if I could have them or not.  All of the ribs got a rub, either spicy or not, which were all safe for me.  Two stayed dry and four had sauce: one Masterpiece (not safe; also not good in my opinion--let's blame that on my Texas blood), one with a sauce that he picked up at the BBQ Fest recently (not safe), one that I picked up (safe), and one that I made.

After our limited sleep, we went bowling and I took my right handed ball, the yellow ball that I love but stopped using because my right shoulder has been giving me trouble.  I couldn't bowl left-handed since my left thumb is still bandaged from the other day when I tried to slice it with a mandolin.  I did okay, but had trouble figuring out where my starting point and mark were.

The girls decided to leave a little early for a Total Wine run; they wanted to try to make this blueberry lemon drop-ish drink that A had recently.  We got a few things and headed to the house.

We checked out the garden and picked out some lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, celery, cilantro and parsley for the salad and guacamole, and mint for the tea.  Some of my tomatoes are finally getting normal sized and I have an artichoke developing on my humongous artichoke plant.  I have started watering the second garden now when I can, so maybe it will fill in.

While we were prepping in the kitchen, Mick, a couple of his relatives, and his friends arrived.

Mick started putting the ribs on cookies sheets to go in the oven.  His friend wrote down which ribs were which.  I thought that was really cool, so I said "thanks for keeping me safe."  Someone said something softly about "can you eat them since they will be in the same oven?"  I didn't say anything to him, but I really think I should have.  The problem is that I wouldn't have said what I should have said.  So instead, I whispered to my friend that I could NOT believe that he said that.  And I held the rest inside.

We were chopping veggies and making drinks and all that kitchen stuff, and then we ate, all of us around the table.

Mick packaged the leftover ribs, some for us and some for the helpers who had purchased half of them for us to smoke.

I watched "Say Anything" with my friends and Mick watched some WWE movie that was apparently really, really bad with everyone else.  I haven't seen "Say Anything" in a long time and I guess even then it was probably just parts.  It has some good parts; it's not a great movie but I love it.  (Later, after everyone left, Mick and I watched Hot Tub Time Machine and it was not great but better than expected.)

It was pretty hot, so I was surprised at how much time relative spent with the garden, but grateful that he did it, as I wouldn't be able to and I don't know that Mick would.

At the end of the day, Mick said that he was really disappointed with my bad attitude.  Yeah, we got to it.  In addition, he was upset that I had said something to my friends that he didn't think was appropriate, repeated something that we had talked about.  He couldn't remember what but I'm pretty sure I know what after thinking about it a little.  He made a hypothetical suggestion that really floored me and I definitely repeated it.  I'm always a little surprised when he doesn't want me to repeat something to friends when he repeats everything to his friends unless I specifically say, don't repeat this.  And my very late recognition of this issue has caused some issues between me and them over time that are likely not fixable.  And now I have a bad attitude.

I have a bad attitude because I don't want to get sick from eating something made in my own house.  (Like it's not bad enough that I get sick so much when I eat elsewhere.)  I have a bad attitude for lots of reasons.

Is admitting it the first step?  Yes, I have a bad attitude.  I'm upset, emotional, angry, and I don't know how to get out of this place.  This is not who I want to be.  This is not how I want to be.  I would never want someone to think that I am that person, the person with a bad attitude.  But I am.  I am that person.  I am that person with the bad attitude.

Movie night. Or movie day. Wait. Movie weekend.

Over the course of this weekend, we saw Moneyball, Transformers (whichever one is most recent)Drive, and Meloncholia.  That's not the order we saw them in but the order I liked them in.  See Moneyball, maybe Transformers.  Stop there!

Super Size Me

We finally watched Super Size Me.  It was released in 2004, so it's interesting to see how things have changed.  And how they haven't. 

In the documentary, Morgan Spurlock documents his 30 day challenge--he eats McDonalds.  Only.  Three times a day.  Anytime the McDonalds employee asked if he wanted to supersize it, he said yes; he did not supersize at any other time.  He starts off with medical evaluations and he's in good health.  As the doctors monitor him, there comes a point where my husband says "why doesn't he just stop?"  Morgan talks about the marketing and health issues and it is a very interesting film, even after all this time.  Although they deny it was due to the film's premier at Sundance, McDonalds stopped their supersize campaign shortly afterwards.

There are a lot of interesting facts throughout the movie.  At the end, the movie explains that he gained almost 25 pounds; it took him 5 months to lose 20 pounds, and 9 months to lose the rest.  There are criticisms of the movie's methodology, but I think his point was made.  Americans eat at McDonalds (and other fast food restaurants) much more than a nutritionist would recommend.  The criticism suggesting that he ate more calories than a typical eater seems disingenious to me.  I really don't see "the McDonalds public" counting calories or considering any nutritional content at these restaurants.  There is sugar in almost every food product they sell--and we're addicted.  America loves it.

Personally, I rarely go to McDonalds.  I like some of their food when I go.  But I know that it's not healthy.  It doesn't make me feel good.  I don't look at anything on their menu and think that it's any healthier than anything else.  The salads have more calories than the burgers, the dressings and ketchup have high fructose corn syrup, the grilled chicken somehow ends up worse than the breaded.  I find that I'm better off just accepting that it's a treat, for the rare times I end up there.

Super 8

Delorean. In Chandler, AZ.

We went with our friends to dinner (and dessert--a very tall piece of red velvet cake) at Kona, where we saw a Delorean.  Wow, I thought I was stuck in the 80s, but there was a guy taking his own photo at different angles with the car.  Move away from the flux capacitor, dude.

We headed to the movie theater and decided to see Super 8.  I had seen the trailer but my husband had no idea what it was about and our friends were just happy to be out and seeing a movie without their kids.  I have a huge celebrity crush on Kyle Chandler (of Friday Night Lights fame), who is in it along with a very talented group of young actors.  We all thought it was a good movie, with a kind of Goonies vibe, but an updated and sci-fi story line.

As the credits start to roll, the guy in front of us is talking to his daughter and her friend (maybe they were both his daughters), probably junior high age.  My husband (he's so smart and knows me so well) tells us after the guy leaves that he told his daughter "I let you pick the movie and this is the crap you pick?"  She was rubbing her eyes as they left--probably crying.  Okay, first of all, it was not a crappy movie.  Second, most parents and kids have different taste in pretty much everything.  Wait till she drags his stupid ass to a Justin Bieber concert.  Third, who does that to their kid?  And I would have totally said that to him; that is why my husband is such a smart guy--way to avoid a scene.  But wait, there's more.

So the credits are rolling and the BEST part of the movie is during the credits.  That jerk totally made those kids miss the BEST part of the movie.  It's the kind of movie I would not usually see in the theater, but I would see.  It made me want to see the Goonies again.

Date night

We went to the IMAX 3D Avatar showing with 3 couples. Good movie. Then we went over to Yardhouse for some beer and grub. Yum. Good times!

Sicko

I finally watched a Michael Moore movie. I know I went into it skeptical, and of course, I may have a different perspective than many. However, he did NOT sell me on his opinion, and trust me, that "documentary" was his opinion. He wants to show the worst cases in the US and then show the easier cases in other countries. He doesn't ask about so many things that he should but thinks he is making his case anyway.

I'm not saying he's completely wrong; I'm sure if I could stomach watching it again, I would find something I agreed with. But, I don't think of Mr. Moore when I consider preventive care!

By comparing someone who lost his fingertips to someone who cut off his fingers and had them reattached, I feel he loses credibility. I knew someone who cut off a fingertip; who wants to go through getting that tiny flap of skin sewn on rather than stitched up? Maybe I'm naive; well, we know I am, but...

And then to show that insurance companies in the US don't cover experimental treatments but not show that other countries make similar decisions is irresponsible. Many countries do not provide certain medications for MS because they are "experimental" although they have been used for years for that purpose. Or they aren't approved because they are not a cure or do not treat a specific symptom. Don't worry that the medication can slow MS progression....

And the whole thing with drugs in Cuba being VERY cheap compared to the US--first of all, don't they get their supplies from China, the country that's trying to kill us, our children and our pets? Secondly, when are we going to stop letting pharmaceuticals advertise? Oh, wait, they lobby, we can't. There you go, there's something where I agree with Mr. Moore.

This morning, after seeing this movie last night, I stopped to get gas. At every pump, there was a sign of either a donut or a breakfast sandwich on a pretzel. Mr. Moore wants to point out how everyone else lives longer than us, and wants to attribute it to their superior health care coverage. I think that is so misplaced. It is obviously more to do about out advertising and lifestyle. Sure the French eat, but they also live a more active life and eat differently than we do. They savor their meals and drinks; we eat in our cars and in front of the TV, which is blasting us with photos of Blizzards and Double Whoppers. I don't think that has anything to do with the way health care is paid for. The closest I can come to agreement on this issue is that their government paid for vacations and lighter work weeks probably give them less stress, thereby decreasing health issues.

He also discounts the many sources of national and state health care systems already in place. No one (including illegal immigrants) gets turned away at the ER; that's why there is a long wait for non-critical care. Low income earners in every state have assistance available. In addition, there are low cost clinics in every state of the nation. Mr. Moore should spend a little more time educating people how to get the available resources and a little less telling us how bad we have it.

Anniversary--11 years

We went to see Terminator and Star Trek with Mike, Kate, Angelo, and Alex--a triple date. We had dinner between the movies at BJ's at Park West off Northern and 101. It was great to see Alex especially as I rarely see her. Great movies! Well, Terminator was a little cheesy towards the end, but I'm loving Star Trek. A and A have been married 17 years. In addition, Matt and Holly just celebrated 11 years and Ryan and Debbie are at 12. What a fabulous group of friends we have. Like he says in Marley and Me, Mend it don't end it!