CHRISTMAS EDITION
Well it was Christmas on Friday and no rain. Raining on Christmas Eve and day for us is our version of a white Christmas. I was hoping for some rain but instead it was bright, sunny and about 70 degrees, but stayed just below that I think. So it was still cold but still not compared to the East Coast or the Midwest. But I drove around a little both Christmas Eve and Day (but at night), it was good seeing all kinds of lights every where. I do enjoy seeing a well organized and thought out theme house with lights. The ones where they just put the lights up on everything and every where clearly looks like a light explosion of a mess and simply not too attractive. But the ones where it almost tells a story or each area is coordinated some how, those are the ones that stand out. I would imagine after the first year of doing lights like that, it becomes pretty easy and each year you can add a little something to expand and build upon it. But that is just me. I did not put up lights since the association I live in took down my hooks under my roof ledge (not sure what the call the lip around the roof's base) when they repainted. It was so quick and easy to put them up each year and without them being seen. Oh well.
Weekly Update:
So this past week I did a lot of driving around for some reason. I am not sure if it was for shopping or for random things but it just felt like a lot of driving. I had to go out to Lakewood a day and then to Huntington Beach ... it wasn't for parties or anything, just driving around town. I know some of it was errands but the rest is kind of a blur. Maybe it was the holidays and it all sort of merged together for me. Sometimes I do like driving just because, maybe it is therapeutic? But you see different places and things you normally would not I suppose. I do hate those dumb drivers though you are too slow or do not use their turn signals. Who are racing and zipping in and out of cars or are crossing into your lane but are mostly in their own for a mile. We need more extensive road testing when it comes to the DMV I think but then again would it help that much considering how many drivers are out there in Southern California alone??
At the movies:
As predicted and expected, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" holds on to the #1 spot and likely will through the New Year at least. It earns an easy 153.5 mil which is only a way below-average drop of 38% from the previous week. The film has now surpassed the 500 mil domestic mark being open for only 11 days. It also just passed the 1 billion world-wide mark as well and on track to be the biggest box office gross. A bit of a surprise at #2 is Daddy's Home which the ranking is not the surprise but the gross is. Coming in with 38.8 mil for the holiday and well above expectations. New at #3 is Joy with 17.5 mil and right around expectations for this film. Holding on to the #4 spot is "Sisters" earning an extra 13.9 mil and simply hanging on. rounding off the top 5 is "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip" with another 12.7 mil.
New movies that did not make the top 5:
Two wide releases this week, up first is Concussion coming in at #6 with only 11 mil and not too far off expectations. Showing up at #8 is the remake of Point Break and earning 10.2 mil, again about expectations, could have done a bit better but certain remakes should not happen ... this was one of them.
Quote of the week:
"After all is said and done, more is said then done." - Aesop
Facts & Tips:
The term rookies comes from a Civil War term, reckie, which was short for recruit.
"No, you have two guns. You're not sorry. You're in charge." - Meg Foster as Holly in "They Live."
Christmas is quickly approaching and it is starting to get cold again. A white Christmas for Southern California is having rain so right now we are suppose to get some for Thursday but unsure about Friday which his Christmas Day. Some rain would be great, of course we desperately need it. I remember one year, way way WAY back when I was still in either Elementary or Jr. High, we had a hail store for about 10 minutes. They were the size of about a quarter and you can hear it hitting the car when we drove around. It was very cool at the time and the closest we ever had a snow day. Not that it would snow enough for us to not go to school but a day of just having snow but in hail form. So that was exciting ... decades ago.
Weekly Update:
Spent most of this week working on a special project for work that is being more time consuming than planned. It is a fun project overall but when calls or e-mails come up that I need to address immediately, throws a small wrench into the cogs. I'll manage fine but my biggest worry is that the event I am working on turns out good and everyone is happy. It is a big event, for almost 500 people (I have planned for bigger ones) but what makes this more difficult is the budget size. Also the level of expectation is low (for me) but I will just go with the flow on that one. But the bottom line is all have a good time ... if that happens, or the majority at least, then great!
At the movies:
The games continue at the box office for the 4th week in a row! Holding on to #1 for one more week is "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2" with another 11.3 million and will come up short to 300 mil cume in the end. New at #2 is In the Heart of the Sea with 11 mil to open and will likely fall pretty fast. Hanging on to the #3 spot is "The Good Dinosaur" with an extra 10.5 mil as it climbs its way to 100 mil cume and should get it by Christmas time. Holding on to #4 is "Creed" with 10.1 mil and should get to 100 mil cume at some point as well. Rounding off the top 5 is "Krampus" with 8 mil and quickly disappearing from the picture.
Quote of the week:
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." - Charles Dickens
Facts & Tips:
Chewing gum while peeling onions will prevent you from crying.
"Don't move, dirtbag!" - Marion Ramsey as Cadet Laverne Hooks in "Police Academy."
It got hot again!? What in the world just happened? We were having such awesome Winter weather and then we go back to being Summer again at least during the day. It was in the mid 80's again and the nights were very chilly at around 60 but still, this sucks. No rain but some clouds and I see the mountains off in the distance received some snow. That is good but we need some of that downfall over here too. But the big thing, why is not cold during the day? I am back to shorts and short sleeve shorts ... OK, I may not have changed but I would normally wear a jacket but it was too hot for that! I hope it does change soon ... very very soon.
Weekly Update:
I wonder how certain people survive in this world. I see so many people wondering around, not even paying attention to their surroundings. Not that there is anything to see but just to be aware. It is a true thing that texting while doing anything else like walking near traffic or driving is so dangerous. The biggest area you see things like this is in mall parking lots or busy store parking lots. They walk in the middle of the aisle of the road, cars are coming at them and behind them. Just plain dumb and they can easily get hit if the driver is not paying attention and they could be looking behind them or to the sides. Someone walking has better control of this and it just amazes me.
At the movies:
Still holding on to the #1 spot for the 3rd week in a row is "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2" with another 18.6 million and a cume just over 225 mil domestic box office. Unlikely it will reach 300 but should pass 250 with no problems. At #2 is Krampus with 16 mil and right about expectations. General pre-opening had it much lower but had it in the teens and that is what it did. Drop to #3 is "Creed" with an extra 15.5 mil and could have some legs to reach past 100 mil. Bigger drop to #4 is "The Good Dinosaur" with another 15.5 mil and will probably go extinct in the next week or two from the top 5. Rounding off the top 5 is "Spectre" with 5.4 mil more as it crawls its way to a potential 200 mil cume.
New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week as The Letters with just under 1,000 screens comes in at #15 and earning just shy of 1 mil. This is more of an award type of film with a very limited appeal. This will fade pretty fast though with the per screen average being tremendously low.
Quote of the week:
"Live is but thought." - Sara Teasdale
Facts & Tips:
The number 1 or the word One appears on the dollar bill 16 times.
"I bet you really gotta watch where you step in a game called 'Hero's Doodie'! What did ya get the medal for? Wiping? I hope you washed your hands after you handled that medal!" - Sarah Silverman as Vanellope von Schweetz in "Wreck-It Ralph."
Well it was Christmas on Friday and no rain. Raining on Christmas Eve and day for us is our version of a white Christmas. I was hoping for some rain but instead it was bright, sunny and about 70 degrees, but stayed just below that I think. So it was still cold but still not compared to the East Coast or the Midwest. But I drove around a little both Christmas Eve and Day (but at night), it was good seeing all kinds of lights every where. I do enjoy seeing a well organized and thought out theme house with lights. The ones where they just put the lights up on everything and every where clearly looks like a light explosion of a mess and simply not too attractive. But the ones where it almost tells a story or each area is coordinated some how, those are the ones that stand out. I would imagine after the first year of doing lights like that, it becomes pretty easy and each year you can add a little something to expand and build upon it. But that is just me. I did not put up lights since the association I live in took down my hooks under my roof ledge (not sure what the call the lip around the roof's base) when they repainted. It was so quick and easy to put them up each year and without them being seen. Oh well.
Weekly Update:
At the movies:
Facts & Tips:
