Movie Junkies

The Dark Knight
I'm not sure this was the right time for Hoop and I to see this movie. Although it was brilliantly filmed and written, it was DARK. Think "The Crow" dark. But don't let that stop you from seeing it. I guarantee it will have you cringing, gasping, laughing, and wanting to quote it later. "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Hoop and I gave this movie four out of five sporks.

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
The movie was entertaining. I don't feel like we wasted our money; but I don't think we'll be buying it on DVD either. The plot was loose at best, and downright unengaging at its worst. What saved the film was the excellent effects and eye candy. Those golden robots were bad ass. On a separate note, did anyone else think the voice of Abe Sapien sounded like David Pierce from "Frasier"? Yeah, um, me neither. Hoop and I gave this movie three out of five sporks.

Hancock
A lot of people have complained that the storyline of this movie wasn't what they thought it would be. Oh wah. Personally, I like the little twist they threw in. I like that's it not just another superhero movie. I'm telling you this because it's NOT a spoiler. It's a suggestion. If you leave your expectations behind, you're going to enjoy this movie just fine. Oof a rhyme. Hoop and I gave this movie three out of five sporks.

Wall-E
Let me just start by saying that I'm bias. I heart Wall-E in a big way. I liked him even before I saw the movie. I do impressions of his voice. I almost bought a pack of Wall-E stickers yesterday because I'm a 25 year old kid. I gave this movie five out of five sporks. Hoop, on the other hand, only gave it three out of five. He DID like the way they portrayed humans though. I heard him chuckle more than a few times. So maybe we should change his vote to four. Three and a half?

Get Smart
Hoop doesn't technically know that I saw this movie. He thought my Mom and I were going to see "Sex In The City". But we got there late and this movie had the next showing. I didn't exactly complain. I'd really wanted to see this one anyway. I grew up on "Get Smart" reruns. I was not disappointed. Steve Carell plays an excellent Maxwell Smart. I like that he added his own edge to the character and that Max wasn't as dumb as he'd been on the TV series. Anne Hathaway was hot. The age difference between the two wasn't as creepy as I thought it would be. Overall, it was a really cute and funny movie. Go see it with a date. Four out of five sporks.

P.S. Tune in tomorrow for the anniversary of the day Hoop discovered this blog!

Weekly Words Challenge 44!

The words for this week (and last) were Sign and Graffiti.

How did you interpret them?

Sign
Saturday, Hoop and I drove up on a slow moving minivan with a bumper sticker that said, "I STILL Support Bush". To which I replied (via window sign)-


A cute note on the door of a down town shop-


Graffiti

Hoop and I drove all around our town looking for graffiti and found NONE! We saw a bunch of places where they'd covered it up, some fresh looking. I know I should be happy about this. No graffiti is a good thing, right? Oddly, it just made me blue. Where's the creativity? I swear we live in Stepford.

(Random Picture)

Pink Tree Flowers


The words for next week are:
Temporary
and
Permanent

If you haven't joined the fun yet, go here for details. Don't forget, we also have a Flickr group now for easy shareability. Plus, you get to find out the new words at least an hour earlier. Happy snapping!

Daily Etsy Pick:
Meet The Sporks Decal
Silkscreened Votives
Vampixie (I love the description)

WTF Etsy?:
Boys Will Be Blockheads
Trailer Trash Meat Tray
Cross-Stitch Pimply Faced Teen (Thanks Katie!)

My Secret Stash

I'm feeling generous today. ;)

Book Closeouts-
I get itchy palms every time I hear Barnes and Nobles is having a sale. So imagine my reaction when I clicked on this site and saw that most of the books were 50-70% off! The catch, they're all older titles. But for people who read a lot or have kids, the publish date shouldn't matter. Check it out, they have "Peter Pan" for $2.49.

Ped Shed-
Get your pet's flea and Heartguard medication without the hassle of going to the vet! Most of the time you can get it for less, too. It's legal because it ships from Australia. My family and I have been using this site's services for years without complaint.

Endless-
They may not have the best prices, but they offer pictures of almost any brand you can imagine, from every angle and in all colors. I like to check out the product here before purchasing it elsewhere. And if you DO decide to buy from this site, they offer free overnight delivery!

Shortcuts / Eversave
Free grocery coupons!

P.S. The poem Chris' military buddy claimed to have written when he was in the 8th grade was none other than "The Dash" by Linda Ellis, quite possibly the most infamous Internet poem EVER.

A Sporkful Of Sugar

Daily Hoop Conversation:
(On the plane)
Tink: Is this seat taken?
Business Woman: No.
Tink: Mind if I-?
BW: Go right ahead.
Tink: Thanks! I promise I don't bite.
Hoop: But she DOES lie a little bit.

Hoop Quote Of The Day:
(While passing an "Adam & Eve" adult store)
We should open a gay version and call it "Adam & Steve"!

Around The Water Cooler:
Receptionist: That applicant was jumpier than a one-legged cricket!
Tink: Did you really just say that?
Receptionist: What, you've never heard that before?
Tink: Nope, and now that I have, I think I need to move.

Random Conversation:
Funeral Speaker: And now I would like to read a poem that I wrote in 8th grade...
Family Friend: Who is this schmuck?
Tink: One of Chris' military buddies. He didn't really write that poem. I've gotten that same one in an email at least ten times.
Family Friend: Oh my God, I have too! Should we stop him?
Tink: At a funeral? I think that would probably be against etiquette.
Family Friend: It might break the tension.
Tink: True.
Family Friend: You get his legs.

Moving On

It still feels surreal.

If I concentrate on other things, I can almost pretend it didn't happen.

Almost.

Of all the dangerous things Chris was involved in... I mean, he was going to Iraq next spring. We just never expected something to happen to him 45 minutes from home. I guess you never know. Hoop and I were finishing up a serious conversation when we got the phone call. I'll never forget that moment, not as long as I live. We had just decided to start doing certain things that would make our lives easier; we'd agreed on setting a few wheels into motion. In a second it all seemed so unimportant. Who cared about commutes or crappy jobs? Who cared about wedding deadlines and plans for the weekend? Chris was dead.

I can still feel the pit, somewhere between my ribs, where the pain flared up when I heard those words. It was like someone had poked a hole in me. I wanted to run from it, but it was attached to me. Every time I looked at Hoop, touched him or thought of him, the hole ached. He was in so much pain and there was nothing I could do. No comfort was big enough. No promise worthy enough. My own hurt was like nothing I'd ever experienced before, and to think that it dwarfed in comparison to whatever he was feeling... I'd do anything to ensure he never felt that kind of pain again.

The funeral was beautiful. Chris' entire platoon showed up and then gave him an honorary gun salute. The only florist in town ran out of flowers and plants trying to meet the demand for all the condolences people were trying to send. Hoop and Bob took the shovels from the gravediggers in the end and refused to let anyone else bury our dearest friend. I think Chris would have been touched... and amused. The casket was blue with pink sparkles and adorned with gigantic crosses. Bleh. We sat in the pew discussing all the ways we wished we could fix it. Like maybe painting it black with a couple of large guns on top.

For those interested, the articles on the accident can be found here and here. He was on the phone when it happened. The poor girl he was talking to will probably need extensive therapy. But fortunately, it appears that he died on impact and felt no pain. It was also a blessing that his 4-year old son had gone home four days earlier with Hoop's other brother, who had also been visiting. We're currently petitioning for custody of him. In fact, Hoop and I can think of nothing else that would make us happier. I really think we could give him a good life. But the subject isn't being discussed just yet. So say a prayer, OK?

Thanks to everyone who commented, emailed, and offered love/support/donations. I can't express to you how much that meant to us! Hoop and I read and reread every one of them. No donations are necessary though. Chris had some life insurance policies and Hoop's Dad has assured us that the little guy will be well provided for. That said, I'm going to try and not discuss the subject on here anymore. It was difficult enough coming back, not knowing what to say or where to begin. I need a break. I need the laughter of friends. So forgive me if I just try to carry on, at least until the hole closes some.

The 3rd Annual PB Contest was supposed to start tomorrow. Since I'm a bit behind, it has been postponed until August 1st. The Anniversary of the day Hoop discovered my blog is on July 25th. Arabella Day is on July 30th. The WWC has been extended one more week. I'll have my submissions and the new words posted next Tuesday, July 22nd. Thank you all for your patience. I'll make sure the goodies for the contest are extra good this year. Like maybe photo-cards and mixed CDs good. Ohhh yeahhh.

So, what did I miss in your world? Tell me something good.

It's Just Not Fair

Nash (Chris), Hoop's brother, died in a fatal car crash yesterday evening on the way home from our house. He was only 24. To say that we'll miss him is such a sad understatement. Chris was a really remarkable guy. He was funny and sweet, not a bad bone in his body. He was a single parent of a four year old little boy. He was Hoop's best friend. Chris had an interview with the sheriff's' department on a Monday, a life long dream almost to fruition. He was almost there. We were all so proud of him.

It's just not fair...

I don't know when I'll be back on. But know that you're in my thoughts and please keep Hoop's family in yours.

Much Love,
Tink

Bon voyage, June

June Hit Statistics:
1. The top referrers were Alien and Krista.
2. The most used search term was, "potato berries."
3. The most mature search term was, "butt flu."
4. The most bizarre search term was, "he did not have the friendly."
5. My favorite search term was "spork him Batman."
6. The highest hit post (204) was on June 4th, the day I got quoted on Blogtations.

30 Quirks For 30 Days:
1. I don't mind motorcycles... unless they're Harleys.
2. No one buys a Harley to go fast. They buy a Harley to drive 10 miles under the speed limit, taking up both lanes, during rush hour traffic.
3. They might as well buy a really fancy moped.
4. If it were acceptable, I would never wear shoes.
5. I love making sound effects. My new favorite is Wall-E's voice.
6. For me, falling in love with a book is remarkably similar to falling in love with a person.
7. In the beginning, it's impossible to eat or sleep with any frequency. My attention is focused almost to the point of infatuation.
8. I get my heart broken by books too. With a human, you can always hope for more. At the very least, you could Google them later to see what they're up to.
9. With books, it's done when it's done, regardless if you're ready. You'll never know what happened next. You'll never see those characters again.
10. I once stopped reading a book two chapters to the end because I knew the main character was going to die.
11. It was about Cleopatra. Silly, huh? I mean, I KNEW she was going to die from the beginning. But by the end of the book (900 pages later), I couldn't bear to read about her dying. I loved her too much.
12. I hate friendly competition.
13. The only time I like to compete is when something important is at stake.
14. Hoop's family is the exact opposite. They show that they love someone by making them look like an ass. Usually the game is poker. But they'll settle for Risk, putt-putt, horseshoes, video games, and hunting Easter eggs too.
15. My only defense is to lose faster. :)
16. At work, I'll only fix something if someone complains about it three times in six months. I call it my "Rule To Keep From Going Crazy".
17. I have 698 songs on my IPod.
18. I don't own any clothes that are yellow.
19. Sometimes I get scared that nothing remarkable is ever going to happen to me.
20. I love to air dry after a hot shower.
21. Nothing makes me fall asleep faster than a violent storm.
22. It makes me sad that no one from my family asks if I'm going to college anymore.
23. Sadder still, I've even stopped hoping that I will.
24. When I'm really bored, I like to type in random urls to see what kind of information they pull up.
25. When I was little my paternal Grandfather owned a goat named Billy. Billy liked to drink beer with my Grandpa on Sunday evenings.
26. One time Billy got a little too drunk and ended up in the pool.
27. My Grandpa, not knowing that goats could swim, tried to jump in after him. There was a scuffle and Grandpa got hurt.
28. That was the end of the beer drinking Billy goat. The family joke was that Grandpa sold him to the first person that could get him out.
29. But I never found out for sure.
30. Some days I love having an old house. I'm always finding "treasures" in the yard.
*31. Yesterday I found a little toy boat, half buried in the dirt behind the Buttonwood bush.
*32. Before that it was a tiny red car beneath the shed and a plastic dinosaur in the brush beside the fence.
*33. It makes me think back to the day we moved away from Indiana. I was eleven. I left a note in the corner of the basement that said, "Hi. I hope you love this house as much as we did."