Monday, December 25, 2017

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EDITION

 That image pretty much sums it up ... I use to like the holidays and now I just want them to be over with!  One of the things I use to enjoy was playing card or board games growing up while all the adults played mahjong ... just don't do that anymore.  I guess also on top of working and this coughing that won't go away ... I guess I just want the season to go away instead!  But honestly the last few years I have really not liked this time of year at all.  The traffic and crowds, the terrible weather thanks to the global warming that many won't admit is real ... to just a crappy holiday.  So I am with you Mr. Scrooge and BAH, HUMBUG!!!  Ghost be dammed, they can keep their past, present and future.  Just get me to the next year so I can rinse and repeat it all again!

 Weekly Update:
Not a lot of going-ons this past week ... did some shopping for some personal stuff.  Got a new computer but the connection to the monitor has completely changed so had to order another part.  They also tricked me and changed the memory type so the plan of using my old memory into the new machine didn't work as they wouldn't fit.  Off by like a millimeter, well played Dell/Alienware, well played.  But I do like how its about half the size of my previous computer and when I opened it up everything is really packed in there!  I didn't want the liquid cooling but the chassis I originally ordered wasn't available so they upgraded me to this one.  Oh well, hope it last longer than my previous one.  Which I guess was a long time, at least 5 years so not to bad.

 At the movies:
The holidays are here and with some projections for tomorrow, looks like "Star Wars:  The Last Jedi" remains as #1 as projected.  Earning an estimated 64.5 mil brings it over 350 mil domestic cume for the first 10-days.  New at #2 is Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle with a sizable 50 mil to open.  Above expectations for this fun film.  New at #3 is Pitch Perfect 3 with 20.5 mil and almost right on target.  Another new one at #4 is The Greatest Showman with 13.2 mil which is well below expectations but with the award season, could sustain longer than most films.  Drop down to #5 is "Ferdinand" with 7 mil more and this bull has ran out of room.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
Two this holiday and no major surprises.  Up first at the #7 spot is Downsizing with only 4.6 mil.  Still below expectations but not really by much.  In at #9 is Father Figures with 3.2 mil and also below predictions, no surprise either.

Quote of the week:
"For it is in giving that we receive." - Francis of Assisi

Facts & Tips:
A snail can grow back a new eye if it loses one.

"Why can't you be happy for me and then go home and talk about me behind my back like a normal person?" - Maya Rudolph as Lillian in "Bridesmaids."

posted by McDuck @ 01:26 0 comments

Monday, December 18, 2017

I honestly can't tell if its really Winter or a mild Summer??  The nights are great, have to wear a medium to heavy jacket .. sometimes the heavy jacket gets to be way to warm after awhile but still, I like wearing a jacket.  The day ... I feel like I need to wear shorts because it gets in the mid to high 70's!  I think one day was 80 and all I wanted to do is stay inside.  Luckily I haven't had to turn on the AC again for this month yet ... but the forecast for the rest of this year is light Summer weather.  No rain ... no cloudy days ... just Sun and heat.  Some rain would have been nice, that is like our version of a white Christmas.  Oh but I guess we do get snow in the mountains that are only like 30 to 45 minutes away.  What is wrong people!!

 Weekly Update:
Had a chance to attend the premier for "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" which isn't a remake but kind of like a continuation of the original movie.  A bit of a modern twist and very different but does play into the fact that in the original film, the main character went missing into the game and we never knew what happened till the game came to present day.  This version sort of takes you to where he went inside the game and overall, it was just a fun popcorn style film.  I did enjoy and wouldn't mind seeing it again.  But, while at the premier, got to meet some of the younger cast:

 *Alex Wolff - he was portrayed by Dwayne Johnson and a cool guy.
*Ser'Darius Blain - portrayed by Kevin Hart and he was OK.
*Madison Iseman - portrayted by Jack Black and she was very sweet and nice.

 At the movies:
No question what the big movie was and exceeding expectations is Star Wars: The Last Jedi with a big 220.1 million opening.  Mixed reactions but a movie of this magnitude is review proof and continues the franchise along with story-line.  New at #2, and at a very distance 2nd is Ferdinand with 13.3 mil and right on predictions.  Drop down to #3 is "Coco" earning an extra 10 mil as it struggles to reach 200 mil and won't make it.  Holding ground at #4 is "Wonder" with 5.4 mil and surpasses 100 mil for this award contender film. Wrapping up the top 5 is "Justice League" with an extra 4.2 mil as this one comes to a quick close for the year.

 Quote of the week:
"From its brilliancy everything is illuminated." - Guru Nanak

 Facts & Tips:
Elephants can smell water up to 3 miles away.

 "Scusi, mi scusi." - Fred Armisen as Creepy Italian Guy in "Eurotrip."

posted by McDuck @ 01:16 0 comments

Monday, December 11, 2017

So I am still coughing, no surprise there but I saw a sign the other day about how you should cough!  It said to please cough on your arm or armpit and not in your hand(s).  I guess that makes sense because if you are touching things and you just coughed into your hands without washing them or using some kind of anti-bacterial spray/gel, you are spreading it around more.  So that is a good tip and I saw it on one little sign someplace where as it should be posted like every where!  Right next to the washing your hands sign in the bathroom.  Or maybe with a medical or medicine kit?!

 Weekly Update:
Had a chance to attend a fun event on Friday.  This coming Golden Globes is the 75th Anniversary so they held a special event at the Paramount Studio Lot (one of my favorites!).  It was a presentation of a special they will run before the Globes recapping the last 74 years but one thing that did bug me, it was 1/3 fashion.  I thought it should be more focuses on film, tv and music.  Fashion is fine but honestly it should just be a small 5 minute segment in this one hour special, not 30 minutes of it ... really took me out of the award element.  But it was still fun and managed to get a pic of one of the hosts:

 *Eric McCormack - of "Will & Grace" fame and a super nice guy.

 At the movies:
Just as expected, "Coco" win's the box office for a third week in a row with another 18.3 mil and now on a crawl to 200 mil domestic cume.  Unsure it will make it with the holiday coming up but possible.  Holding ground at #2 is "Justice League" with another 9.6 mil as it surpasses the 200 mil mark.  Doing well at #3 is "Wonder" with an extra 8.5 mil and it reaches the 100 mil cume mark as well for this award contender.  Climbing up to #4 is "The Disaster Artist" as it went wide this week and gets to 6.4 mil.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Thor: Ragnarok" with another 6.3 mil as it just makes the 300 mil cume mark!

New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this past weekend as Just Getting Started comes in at #10 with only 3.2 mil and pretty much expected.

Quote of the week:
"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." - William Blake

Facts & Tips:
In Texas, it is legal to kill Bigfoot if you ever find it.

 "I'm not supposed to be within two hundred feet of a school ... or a Chuck  E. Cheese." - Zach Galifianakis as Alan Garner in "The Hangover." 

posted by McDuck @ 01:15 0 comments

Monday, December 04, 2017

The weather is kind of warm again ... I don't like it!  This is not Winter by any stretch of the imagination.  Its like a pre-Summer kind of weather.  Not quiet Spring (because Spring would be cooler than this) but not quiet Summer because it isn't crazy hot.  People, the drought was never over and this will not help us with no rain and warm to hot temps.  People are crazy to think last year rains fixed us, not even close!  And its predicted to be 30% less of last year.  Right now its 100% less of last year.  Well, hopefully some rain soon will come ... hopefully but unlikely as forecast next show 70 to 80 still but can it at least be cold?  Pretend Winter?

 Weekly Update:
This cough feels like its getting worse.  I don't know what to do with it and I have seen the doctor at least twice.  Getting ridiculous and on constant syrups for night and day now.  I have this orange stuff that I take during the day because it doesn't make me drowsy.  Then at night I take classic Robitussin which does make me drowsy even though it doesn't mention it on the label.  I just want it to be gone already or at least maybe 4 times a day, I would be OK with that at least.  So far all of these claims for their product are all false!!  Tired of it, so so tired of it.

 At the movies:
The box office dipped this week but we normally would see this around this time of year and next week may be just as soft.  Holding on to #1 is "Coco" with another 26.1 mil and the film surpasses the 100 mil cume mark.  Currently on track to reach close to 200 domestic.  Holding on to #2 is "Justice League" with an extra 16.6 mil and just shy of 200 mil cume in its 3rd week.  Small drop at #3 is "Wonder" with 12.5 mil and looks like this heart-warming Academy run film will hit 100 mil domestic.  Big drop down to #4 is "Thor:Ragnorak" with 9.7 mil as its just shy of 300 mil and should get that before year-end.   Rounding off the top 5 is "Daddy's Home 2" with 7.5 mil and its fair for a holiday comedy.

 Quote of the week:
"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." - Mother Teresa

 Facts & Tips:
Blueberries are also called "star berries."

 "I am Groot" - Vin Diesel as Groot in "Guardians of the Galaxy."

posted by McDuck @ 04:20 0 comments