Monday, July 25, 2016

So so hot ... yep, Summer time for sure and with that, fires.  Every day and now almost every night, I've had the AC on or on auto but it keeps going off.  Not going to enjoy this electric bill but with the Summer program I am part of, it is less than it could be.  I hope by the time the program is over, the heat will be gone!  But with such heat and dryness, the fires start up.  So sad because most of them are either on purpose by an arsonist or something flicking a cigarette bud out their car window.  The current ones are really far away but they are so huge I can see the plum of smoke over the hills and one day I thought it was later in the day than it was because of the shadow it casts.  This is both crazy and part of the season we have here in SoCali.

 Weekly Update:
So on Saturday night I had some Domino's and ate their garlic bites.  Nothing else, just those because they filled me up.  I think I ate about 10 of them, they are bite-sized things and just heavy in olive oil (so I think) and garlic.  Later that night into Sunday morning, around 2AM, my stomach starts to feel really funny.  I wasn't sure what was going on, made a few trips to the bathroom thinking I may need to go.  Grab some cold water and sipped a bit and then all of a sudden it hit me and it was vomit city all night long.  I must have gone 5 or 6 times and had no control.  Or at least enough control to get to the bathroom except once but by then I grabbed the dog water bowl and had it next to me.  I have never been so violently ill before and the next morning I couldn't move.  My joints and body were so weak, I couldn't do a thing.  My back ached and stomach was upset but at least the vomiting was over.

 At the movies:
Where no man has gone before ... Star Trek Beyond takes top honors this weekend with a decent 59.6 million, fairly close to expectations.  Word of mouth is good on this film and it should carry it possibly close to 200 mil.  Drop down to #2 is "The Secret Lives of Pets" with another 29.3 mil and now just over 250 mil.  Strong way to break 300 plus at this rate.  Coming in at #3 is "Lights Out" with 21.6 mil which was also close to expectations.  Big drop to #4 is "Ghostbusters" with another 21.6 mil and creeping up to 100 mil cume.  It should reach it but not much further past it unfortunately.  Rounding off the top 5 is Ice Age: Collision Course with 21 mil and almost exactly on predictions.  Not much to say on this film as it feels this franchise has played out long ago but they will recover nicely in the home entertainment market as they all do.

 Quote of the week:
"Talent does what it can; genius does what it must." - Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

 Facts & Tips:
The state of Tennessee was originally called Franklin.

"You can't keep a kid from growing up. All a 13-year-old boy wants is a 13-year-old girl. And I sure don't know how to build one of those." - Robert Loggia as MacMillan in "Big."

posted by McDuck @ 03:12 0 comments

Monday, July 18, 2016

The daily heat continues but the nights continue to stay cool!!  Been having to run the AC more and more so I hope this Summer Program I am on with SCE does in fact save some money to compensate for it.  I tried joining this other program with this company that basically sells back your energy that you do not use to SCE Edison and you get like a penny a kilowatt saved.  The problem is you can't have both programs and SCE's Summer Program can possibly save me around $300 to $400 but the other program can be up to $300 over a year.  So its a gamble but I think I would rather stick to the Summer program because that is almost a guaranteed savings than a possible savings.

 Weekly Update:
Pokemon Go ... this game is both amazing and a phenomenon!  I have never seen so many people outside, gathering and hearing the stories of strangers talking with each other!  When has this ever happened in the last few years let alone decades?  This has surpassed Twitter users and you know people are playing by either the bluish hue from their phone or just walking around with their phone looking down.  Chances are they are playing and I see people standing around these check points and  you know they are playing because before, these areas were deserted just a few weeks ago.  You do hear some terrible stories of accidents and attacks but one of them really is kind of dumb.  One guy was walking in a rough neighborhood park and was stabbed because he was looking at his phone.  Later you find out it was 12:30 AM and they were by themselves ... I am sure that would have happened regardless and I am sure it was an unfortunate muggy but because he was playing a game, they blame the game.  The first thing the game reminds you every time you log in is be aware of your surroundings and he clearly did not.  But aside from that, always go in groups or if you see others playing, join up and make a bigger group.  Safety in numbers and more fun to be had.  And who knows, you may make some new friends.

 At the movies:
Holding on to #1 is "The Secret Life of Pets" with another 50.6 million and now just over 200 mil domestic cume.  Still great word-of-mouth and reviews should reach 300 with no problems.  New at #2 is Ghostbusters with 46 mil and not a bad opening despite mixed reactions.  Should be able to hit 100 mil cume with that opening.  Holding at #3 is "The Legend of Tarzan" with another 11.1 mil and was able to break 100 mil cume.  Dropping down to #4 is "Finding Dory" with another 11 mil and looks like it will be shy of 500 mil as it makes its way to 450 mil currently.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" with another 7.5 mil and this adventure is quickly coming to an end.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week as The Infiltrator comes in at #8 with only 5.3 mil and fairly close to expectations.

Quote of the week:
"When one must, one can." - Charlotte Whitton

Facts & Tips:
Horses can't vomit.

 "It was your Nixon rattle." - Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton from the TV series "Family Ties."

posted by McDuck @ 00:30 0 comments

Monday, July 11, 2016

So the heat returns!  I guess it is not as bad as it has been in the past but you can feel the heat!  What is really nice is at night it drops down to the 60's so I can sleep with the windows open and that is really nice.  I have had many Summers where you have to run the AC at night or simply be miserable.  Weather is weird, I don't get it a lot and surprised we do not have more energy efficient AC units that may recycle water through it or something.  Or have built in solar panels because areas that require it must get a lot of sun.  They should have it charge during the day when its not being used and then expend that energy first before it kicks into the grid.  But I guess that would make too much sense and cost people less.

 Weekly Update:
I am very sleepy.  So I only drive to an office twice a week but I find myself drifting in sleepy time while driving.  That can't be good, right?  But luckily the distance from home to work is about 5 miles or so.  The morning seems fine though but coming home is when it really hits.  I hate to drink too much caffeine because it may not work immediately but when trying to go to sleep at night, I stay up!  I thought with my early morning wake-up time, my body would adjust but most of the time I still can't fall asleep before midnight to 1AM.  And during the night I tend to wake up every couple of hours for one reason or another.  I do take a nap once awhile but what is wierd is somethings I think I slept for an hour or more but it turns out it was only for about 5 minutes.

 At the movies:
Huge surprise as The Secret Life of Pets blows the doors open with 103.2 million for this weekend.  Good reactions to the film should help it get close to 400 mil.  Small drop but maintains #2 is "The Legend of Tarzan" with another 20.6 mil and looks like it will reach the 100 mil mark.  Big drop to #3 is "Finding Dory" with another 20.4 mil and just north of 400 mil now.  New at #4 is Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates for 16.6 mil and just shy of expectations.  Not the big R-rated comedy for the Summer we were looking for.  Rounding off the top 5 is "The Purge: Election Year" with another 11.7 mil.

 Quote of the week:
"If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable." - Lucius Annaens Seneca

 Facts & Tips:
The soil on Mars is rust color because it's full of rust.

 "That's not Robin Hood, that's Ronald Reagan." - Michael Gross as Steven Keaton from the TV Series "Family Ties."

posted by McDuck @ 01:06 0 comments

Monday, July 04, 2016

4th of July Edition

 Safe and Sane, Fireworks and more ... but what about the poor animals?  Fireworks are fun and all but they freak the animals out.  My poor Orion was shaking all weekend long and he also had a thundershirt on which is suppose to calm him.  It does in general but so many poppers were going off, it was too much for him.  I should go in the closet and hang out with him for a couple of hours so it filters even more of the noise out for him.  But this is the case with all animals so I hope everyone keeps an eye on them tonight when the festivities start going off ... watch your animals, keep them indoors and maybe close all the windows and doors to reduce the sounds for them.  I even put the TV on a bit louder for them too.

 Weekly Update:
What did I do this week?  Nothing but work work work ... and some work.  OH, I did have a frosty from Wendy's and to be honest, I do not remember having one before.  I am sure I must have but it I got a medium and when I received it I thought this was pretty small.  But when I started to eat it (because drinking it through a straw is impossible), it was so filling and great!  I don't get brain freeze but I get the chest pains from the extreme cold and boy did I get those.  But this little tasty treat in a cup is not only delicious but filled me up fast and it was only a medium.  I am not sure if I can handle a large if that was the case.

 At the movies:
No surprise as "Finding Dory" stays afloat at the #1 spot for the 3rd week-in-a-row with another 41.9 million.  Brings its domestic total close to 400 mil cume and should get that in the next week or so.  Still on a pretty good track to potentially reach 500 mil domestic.  New at #2 is The Legend of Tarzan with 38.1 mil, and close to expectations.  Also new at #3 is The Purge: Election Year earning 30.8 mil and slightly above expectations.  New at #4 is The BFG with 19.6 mil and almost right on expectations!!  A pretty predictable weekend!  Rounding off the top 5 is "Independence Day: Resurgence" with another 16.5 mil as it struggles to break 100 mil domestic.

 Quote of the week:
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." - Mark Twain

 Facts & Tips:
Cats have 2 sets of vocal chords; one for purring and one for meowing.

 "Okay, let's hear it. We trashed the Avedon, the Luau Lounge - what's our beef with 'Feelings'?" - Beau Bridges as Frank Baker in "The Fabulous Baker Boys."

posted by McDuck @ 01:46 0 comments