There's always time for Titanic

So, many thanks to mah friends at The Video Strip at 3307 S. Archer (off 33rd/Wood St. and Archer)who just had their 17th anniversary and celebrated by giving us customers an amazing deal on DVD/game rentals. Remember the old days when you trekked to the local video shop to pick out a game or a movie and pick up some accoutrements (IE: junk food!!!)? I indulged in renting the Blu-Ray version of Titanic...and it was glorious but not as sharp and crisp as I thought it would be like how it looked on HBO...must be the Über cable technology they have that gives us the HD experience we know and love today.

Anyway, I once again...after about 25 times....watched Titanic.

So this now makes....26 times.

Yeah, yeah yeah.. back off, man. I know! So, here's the woman who's scrambling around to figure out when the Notre Dame football game was on, wondering when NHL's lockout will end, being asked by both male and female friends/family what the score is for the World Series and here she is; making a huge deal out of a "chick flick," period film that cost (to film) close to the Gross National Income of the United States.

But thanks to Joe and his wonderful shop w/a 17 cent per movie/game rental...how can I resist? So, I indulged...dove right in head first and got all soaked up into Titanic...no pun intended. I absorbed it, relished it, tasted it with as many senses and just soaked into it until my brain and fingers got pruny.

Yes, I know; it's trite, it's a chick flick, Rose resembled me at that time, it's visual and mental masterbation with the CGI effects, the costumes are amazing, James Horner's music is mesmerizing, I make costumes, I'm mad for period films especially Edwardian/Victorian era, I'm a history nerd and a sucker for a good love story; Good grief I still get goosebumps from the ubiquitous sound of Celine belting out "You're hear...there's nothing I fear....!" No, I am not tired of "My Heart Will Go On,"

....so "bleh."

As I watched knowing what happened at the end I checked out the deleted scenes, which in my opinion should have been kept in the film I was again, still mesmirized. The part where Rose is running to jump off the back of Titanic? The precursor of that scene was important as she went on about how her society expected her to be. She goes into her stateroom after dinner and called for her lady-in-waiting to help her undress. She thus became frustrated with her life and showed us she was frustrated with the woman she had become; unable to undress herself much less do anything else but what society expected her to do; marry a rich man who will decorate her to his liking, have her eat, drink, think and read what he says and just...live.

There were so many scenes that should have been in the movie, then again the movie would have been a good four hours long.

So what?

Do an intermission type of thing like "Gone w/the Wind" and "Giant," etc.... We need more classic epic films for our era. We spend ridiculous amounts of money at the box office because the bloody box office pays ridiculous amounts of money to the actors so if we want to watch a movie, we either suck it up, go to a matinee or get in on a Groupon/Living Social deal...OR RENT FROM YOUR LOCAL DVD/VIDEO/GAME SHOP. A movie nowadays is only as good as it's box office intake...which in my opinion is manure!

It seems that Titanic is one of the last (well, as of late in my opinion) of the great epic films that not only women can relate to but men as well. As I sat watching Titanic back in the day when it was out for a while as we (me and my husband) wanted to see "Good Will Hunting" but relented for Titanic because Good Will was sold out; we took in the amazing graphics which my husband appreciated and I took in the story of Rose.

(SPOILER ALERT! OK, what rock do you live under if you've not seen Titanic?)

The over-privileged, "poor little rich girl" story who comes out of the foof and fluff to become her own woman....on her own made a small yet important impact on me even then. Even I at the tender age of.....nevermind (well over 21, btw) saw that anything can be accomplished. Despite it was "just a movie" it still moved me to think this adorable old lady yakking about her memories about being on the Titanic, talking about one of the most erotic moments of her life and the images of her and her accomplishments on her nightstand as she slept one last time AFTER she tossed the diamond back into the ocean resonated with me. It was a gentle reminder that what a good friend of mine said is absolutely true; the world IS my oyster.

Now lemmie find that pearl!

Or in this case, the "Heart of the Ocean."

Oooooh JEEEEEESH! More feckin' taxes?

Seriously? Who in the city of Chicago is truly going to benefit from all these taxes being thrust upon us working schmoes? Toni Preckwinkle, our "beloved" Cook County Board President is now proposing of raising taxes on the following:

Ciggies: (Again? Seriously? She wants it up an extra dollar. Toni states, "As the leading provider of public health services in our region; I believe if you choose to smoke, you should have a hand in paying for the healthcare consequences of your decisions." Ciggies are currently anywhere from $11-12.50 a pack. Eeeee! I am quitting to save moolah for Dr. Perricone stuff!

Guns: $25 firearm tax. OK, then.

Bullets: and extra nickle a bullet, so if you buy a pack of 20 bullets, it's an extra buck.

That's just a few she has in mind.

I actually voted for her; and mind you these are just proposals, but they are a bit of a pain as we smokers and working schmoes who pack heat to protect our loved ones and our home aren't too thrilled about this.

And on top of Preckwinkle's taxes, Gov. Pat Quinn wants to raise ciggie tax....ANOTHER dollar.

I guess they need to find a way to replace all the money former gov. and current jailbird Blago lost, spent, mishandled, used, etc... thus making the state of Illinois the laughing stock of the USA.

OK, now be nice and please stop laughing at my state, aka "The Land of Lincoln." Now if you'll forgive me as sign off to go to sleep to get some rest for my 20 minute drive to Indiana to purchase a $12 pack of ciggies for $7.

What to do in the south 'burbs of Chicago....?

You know, I'm terribly fascinated those big "things to do in the City of Chicago" websites hardly have anything near our 'hood (our 'hood being Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Brighton Park, Garfield Ridge, etc.... It's pretty much South Loop, Loop, Bronzeville, Near Northside, Gold Coast, River North and of course Lincoln Park/Lakeview/Andersonville/Ravenswood/Roscoe Village ad nauseum. As if up north is the only place to get a good meal but if you venture down south you're not to be disappointed at the fact you'll find a great place with decent prices to grab a few beers that won't cost you your gas/CTA moolah for the week. Something nearby us as well is what we look for and know of and out south in the 'burbs as we venture out south more often then up north.

Just less congested...and less expensive.

So a very good friend of mine has set up a bit of a website that focuses on the south 'burbs of ChiTown; IE, I355 to the west.. Kedzie to the east.. I55 to the north and route 30 to the west (directions indicated above are from ChiTown, btw), Burbank, Bridgeview, Palos Hills, Palos Heights, Oak Lawn, Lemont, Lockport, Homer Glenn, Orland Hills, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Mokena, Burr Ridge, Willow Springs, Summit to name a few. He's got the skinny on the haps for after hours and then some; listings of great eats w/great deals as well, so when you get a chance and want to find something to do, IE, a place to eat, listen to a good band and find some discounts as well, check THIS LINK HERE for more details.

As trite as it may sound, there IS lots to do on the south side and the southern 'burbs. If you can't figure it out or can't find something, check out Dave's site above and just ask....

I promised you I'd post the newest contest!

Wanna win a 25 thousand bones kitchen make-over? Check this out, yo!

It's via Facebook w/International Delights:

LINK FOR CONTEST HERE

Follow direct-sheeeones, "like" ID, and play their little reindeer games to qualify and find out what your "ideal" International Delights flavor is based on a quiz they provide...very scientific and whatnot...(cough cough). You may also score a coupon or two!

I won something!

HEY! I just won a free bag of Lays chips, a chip clip....aaaaaaaand a $50 Visa gift card from Lays! Woooooot!!! Very exciting! You think they liked either my Dark Chocolate Bacon and Himalayan Salt chips or Sour Cream Chive and Garlic chips?

I entered via facebook Lay's "Do us a Flavor" contest which gave out daily prizes with you suggesting flavors for the next chip.

I know, I'm sorry I didn't post the info re: the contest. I got busy w/various stuff and barely had a week to enter myself. I promise next time there's a contest online I'll hollar at y'all. Here's the link for the LAY'S info of the contest where you can sign up for an email reminder to let you know what the three finalist flavors are as well as obtain a free coupon emailed to you for a $1. off chips. Buy those chips at a BOGO sale and get a dollar off? Excellent deal!

Thanks Home Depot for digging your customers!

No pun intended as...well, I had a gardening issue.

I've heard horror stories and had personal experiences w/workers at Home Depot (my husband worked for a while there on the grave yard shift...and hated it on so many levels). Alas, I digress. This is more of a consumer issue.

With THAT out of your mind I can now inform you of a bit of a mishap. I purchased three blueberry bushes from HD back in spring...now they're grown quite a bit but the berries on them do not resemble blueberries. I thought they were huckleberries and a friend of mine who is quite the amazing gardener told me to be cautious as they may be a bit more toxic.

Which they were.

Turns out after taking the above noted precautions not as seriously initially since I ate a berry and did not have explosive and scary bodily functions, I made it a point to inform the Home Depot gardening department about my weird blueberries via email and sending along pictures; they are indeed black nightshade. ???? Somehow my blueberry bush morphed into this scary weed that is prevalent in our region (our region being the midwest) and was under the guise of being a type of blueberry. So, now I was asked repeatedly how I had planted the bushes and I explained I pulled EVERYTHING out prior to planting and made a huge hole; big enough to plant my family but they behaved well and I had no need for that hole aside from our new residents, the Bleue Berries.

So with my little scare and concern I was expeditious in not only giving info re: weird blueberries, but I was not treated like a chump as most corporations do; IE, repeatedly ask annoying, condescending questions as if you can't find your butt with two hands, but they too were expeditious in returning emails and phone calls as well.

But I did speak to the manager of the nursery who handles most of Home Depot's plants and not only was I informed of the nightshade and that I should get rid of them immediately, but am getting a credit of blueberry plants I actually plant now as the autumn is actually a better time to plant berries in the midwest (well, anywhere from what I read as well) according to the nursery manager.

Now who woulda thunk on both counts, IE, having such a nice and quick response to my problem and amazing gardening tips and advice? Now I have much more respect for the corporate section of Home Depot with their kind and generous offer, the timely manner in which this was handled and the wonderful advice that I took notes of for future reference; it's all good!

I'm very excited about my new blueberries, about the bevy of info Home Depot's reps gave me, and the fact that they treated me with respect. I actually cannot wait to dig out the icky Nightshades and plant up my berries which I hope will grow beautifully by next September.

Well, let me get my plants first, then I'll REALLY sing Home Depot praises and probably dig on Joey Logano even more-so (Tony Stewart is my guy and I was a bit disappointed when he left Home Depot).

Now, let me get an application to apply at a Home Depot.....snicker.....no, not really.

Get your heart into shape and start now!

So, I've just been to the doctor thanks to the many people in my life affected by high cholesterol and heart disease...and they're all under the age of 50!

My cousin just died about a month ago w/almost 100 percent blockage in several heart arteries, a friend of mine? Exact same thing. Another friend of mine has heart disease caused by sleep apnea; under 45, My father died of a massive heart attack (4th one actually) UNDER 40, and my aunt at the age of 45; heart attack.

And despite your family screams, and begs and pleads with you to stop smoking...nothing resonates more when your family doctor of about 20 years hears your story about your family and friends' history; then he slowly turns around, gives you a pleading look and sincerely states:

"Please stop smoking."

Now, how many of you can actually say your doctor cares so much about you they'd do that? I hope most of you have that wonderful doctor/patient relationship.

Now with that family history in mind let me tell you; I've decided to start a crusade of sorts in this battle of heart disease. I am already a poster child for anti-aging unfortunately not along the lines of Suzanne Somers, but if I had the bread you can bet your bottom dollar I'd be right there with her getting all that therapy and alternative medical treatment. I am anal about keeping my skin and hair as moisterized has humanly possible, I don't have any wrinkles except for a bit of tiny forehead lines that have been slowly been disappearing. I find the moisterize, moisterize, moisterize motto so true and I'm a product of this philosophy.

Time to apply it to my arteries.

Well, not the moisterize bit. I think I'll lay off the refined carbs, uber fats
and add more exercise in my lifestyle.