Monday, December 30, 2019

Holiday Edition

 This past Wednesday was Christmas Day and in the last 5 year tradition, I basically worked.  That used to be my old tradition back in the 90's when I worked for the movie theatre.  I would work pretty much every holiday and it was SO BUSY because what does everyone do after they have eaten lots of food and opened presents?  Go to the movies!  I remember one year, the theatre was on the third floor of a mall and our box office was right underneath. As we were preparing the concession stand and getting ready to open ... I heard a loud noise in the mall and as you can imagine, things basically echo when everything is closed but your theatre.  So I go out to the railing to see what the noise was ... it was a line at our box office that was over 200 people long and growing as more and more were coming into the mall.  Of course I knew they were only here for us since everything was closed!  That day was SO long but I will always remember it.
Weekly Update:
This past week was pretty uneventful for a holiday week.  Had to work and then I slept and ate, slept and ate, rinse and repeat.  Just not a fan of the holidays anymore, in fact I never look forward to them like I used to.  I have become Scrooge and I am fine with that actually.  The holidays can and are expensive so I am on board with Scrooge (of the McDuck variety) because what do you get in return but more  expenses and in our current economic climate right now, we need to save all the money we can.  Nearly four years ago we were heading into prosperous times and now, nothing but debt and high taxes are in the future to pay for that debt which has over quadrupled in short 3 to 4 years.  What is sad about the economy is that it takes a decade to cut it in half but a year or two to triple (if not more) it!  So nay to Christmas ... Bah Humbug!

 At the movies:
No surprises at the box office as "Star Wars: The Rise of  Skywalker" maintains the #1 spot but with a pretty hefty drop.  It earns another 72 million and a domestic cume of 361 mil.  Should get to 400 shortly after the New Year.  Going up in gross is "Jumanji: The Next Level" at #2 with an extra 35.3 mil and close to 200 mil cume!  It gained 33% from last week to this week.  New at #3 is Little Women with 16.5 mil to open and close to expectations.  Holding on to the #4 spot is "Frozen 2" with 16.5 mil as it passes 400 mil cume and will definitely fall short of 500.  New and rounding off the top 5 is Spies in Disguise with 13.2 mil and slightly below expectations.

 Quote of the week:
"Wonder is the feeling of the philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder." - Plato

 Facts & Tips:
A player was once ejected from an MLB game for sleeping during the game.

 "Rivers of blood can never bring peace." - Kelly Hu as The Sorceress in "The Scorpion King."

posted by McDuck @ 02:23 0 comments

Monday, December 23, 2019

We were supposed to get some rain this past weekend but ... nothing.  Not surprised but it promises to have some next week.  Which for Southern California, that means a "white" Christmas when it rains!  Since we don't get snow (except in the mountains), rain is our equivalent of that. So, we shall see in the next day or two if that happens or will it be just another boring sunny day here but a bit chilly?  Even our cold isn't that cold as it should be.  I was able to wear my shorts and t-shirt with no jacket because the temperature was low, the sun was bright and warm out.

 Weekly Update:
Earlier this week I woke up and it felt and sounded like something in my ear.  Every time I moved my jaw (or like a yawn), I could hear something like it was moving when I moved.  I tried using a q-tip and then later this Chinese ear scoop thing and though I could hear it being touched by these, I couldn't get it.  I tried water and once it tried, I could hear it again.  It was bugging me!  So I went to the doctor's in the morning and nothing was available till that night.  Ok, I'll come back ... during the day I didn't do much but I did fall asleep with that one particular year on the cushion.  Once I got back to see the doctor ... nothing.  I guess whatever was in there fell out.  I did sound like when I have a piece of wax in there but I can always get it out but this one ... I couldn't get it!!!  That was a waste of $20 (for the office visit).

 At the movies:
The rise of Star Wars takes the box office crown but ... not as good as expected.  Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker earns 175.5 million for it's debut, well below expectations but it appears the reviews did do some damage to the repeat or opening weekend crowds.  Reviews are medium to poor on this film but the die-hard fans and the mediocre fans will still see it before the year-end.  Dropping down to #2 is "Jumanji: The Next Level" with 26.1 mil as it just now hits the 100 mil cume mark.  A very quiet purr at #3 is Cats with only 6.5 mil and also below expectations but for this, not surprising.  Critics are burning their eyes out on this while general crowds are saying "not that bad."  An actual re-edit is coming out in theatres as soon as today with enhanced special effects as that was one of the breaking points of this film ... right, fix the special effects to make those who saw it come see it again.  Big drop down to #4 is "Frozen 2" with another 6.1 mil as it continues the climb to 400 mil cume and obtainable before the year is out but will be close!  Rounding off the top 5 is "Knives Out" with another 6.1 mil as it get's very close to 100 mil cume.

 Quote of the week:
"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." - Mother Teresa

 Facts & Tips:
Baseball hits that bounced over the fence were considered home runs until the 1930's.

 "Oleg, what are you doing here?  And you put the 'oh no' in Kimono." - Beth Behrs as Caorline Channing in the TV series "2 Broke Girls."

posted by McDuck @ 01:56 0 comments

Monday, December 16, 2019

So this was pretty neat.  Earlier this week when I was driving into the office in the morning, a fog rolled in on the way there.  I left the house and it was clear (but a little dark because the sun was just coming up) and as it got brighter, I drove right into a fog.  On my way to work there is one route that can be just a straight shot and I took that most of the way.  As I approached the fog, I could see where I was just about to enter it and then I was in it!  I can't remember that happening before and it was pretty cool.  The picture is not reflective of of the actual fog but gives you an idea, hey I was driving!

 Weekly Update:
On Thursday night I went to this nice event at The Anaheim Hotel.  Now the hotel has been operated by the current company for about 3 years but the location itself has been around for decades.  What was odd is when walking around the property, going to see some rooms, it had the feeling of like walking through an apartment complex.  Some of the rooms even had enclosed patios so I am wondering if this used to be apartments way back when!  The pool is huge and there was a club house next to it which a lot of apartment complexes have!  The newly remodeled rooms were nice and I would stay in one but yeah, the exterior is ... not very hotel like to me.

 At the movies:
Game on!  A new #1 takes the crown this week as Jumanji: The Next Level earns a hefty 60.1 million to open.  Above most expectations but word-of-mouth isn't mind blowing for this last installment of the franchise compared to it's predecessor.  Right now look for it to cap around 300 mil domestic.  Slight drop to #2 is "Frozen 2" with another 19.2 mil and gaining on that 400 mil mark but will still need more time.  Holding on to the #3 spot is "Knives Out" with 9.3 mil as it crawls to reach 100 mil cume but still on track to end around there.  New at #4 is Richard Jewell with only 5 mil to open.  Major disappointment at the box office for this one but still an award contender nonetheless.  And rounding up the top 5 is Black Christmas with only 4.4 mil in it's debut.  Also below expectations but not by much in comparison to Jewell.

 Quote of the week:
"Nothing can have value without being an object of utility." - Karl Marx



 Facts & Tips:
The most home runs ever recorded in an MLB season is 73.

 "You are more beautiful than Cinderella! You smell like pine needles, and have a face like sunshine!" Ellie Kemper as Becca in "Bridesmaids."

posted by McDuck @ 01:47 0 comments

Monday, December 09, 2019

More rain?!  Well, just a little bit more.  Had some more rainy days which was nice but very little water dropped.  It did keep things nice and cloudy, almost dark that I had to turn on the lights for a bit and it was only around 3PM.  I mean this is what makes it feel like Winter here, cloud and rain!  We are getting some really nice cold weather too which adds a VERY nice touch!  Our weather has been very Winter-like for here.  Days are about 70 tops and nights low 50's so I can wear my jackets!  I have so many but never get to wear them.  Oh I need to remember to change them up each time I go to the office!
Weekly Update:
What the heck went on this week?  Nothing, absolutely nothing.  If something happened this week, I sure do not remember it and hence not worth remembering!  I know I didn't get enough sleep because I never do.  And I know I didn't go any where because I would remember that ... or would I?  I think I just really veg'd out this week and it was gone just like that.  I am a pretty boring guy, this proves it!  So don't look to me for something exciting!

 At the movies:
It's still cold up at the top!  For it's third week, "Frozen 2" continues to dominate the box office with another 34.7 million.  Now with a cume of just over 300 mil, on course to hit 400 by the end of the year hopefully.  Holding at #2 is "Knives Out" with 14.2 mil extra and it will be a struggle to hit 100 mil on this one.  Holding at #3 is "Ford v. Ferrari" with 6.5 mil and just shy of 100 mil!  It should get there but it might take an extra 2 weeks to do so.  Also holding on to #4 is "Queen & Slim" with 6.5 mil extra as well.  Rounding off the top 5 is "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" with 5.2 mil and continues it's award buzz.

 New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just the one release ... in at #14, Playmobil: The Movie earns an extremely disappointing 670,000 at the box office.  That is less than $300 per screen ... that has to be a new record or in the top 5 of worst openings ever.  I expect this film will lose mass screen counts before the week is even over for some more Frozen.

Quote of the week:
"A good husband makes a good wife." - John Florio

Facts & Tips:
The highest batting average ever recorded in an MLB season is .440.

"When Michael takes on the world, the world always loses." - Dominic Purcell as Lincoln "Linc" Burrow in the TV series "Prison Break."

posted by McDuck @ 01:55 0 comments

Monday, December 02, 2019

RAIN!!!  It was a holiday miracle!  For Thanksgiving we had a lot of rain and it was oh so glorious! It really poured a few times on Thursday and could hear it hit hard and stayed dark all day.  I do love this weather and want to stay in and just do nothing.  I hope this means more rain like this to come but it was only here for a couple of days.  We need this water, badly.  The last few years of water is not enough since our drought is really bad.  Also since we don't get snow here, this is our version of a Winter and close enough for me.

 Weekly Update:
This was Thanksgiving week and I didn't do much but work.  It was a very gloomy week and nothing going on.  Plus it kind of felt odd with Thanksgiving being the last week of November, now Christmas is right around the corner, a week earlier.  For the last few years I would get a honey-baked ham from Honeybaked Ham, was starting to be a holiday tradition but ... not this year.  They are pretty expensive however do last me for about a week of meals with ham and sandwiches.  It is very delicious but then when I break down the cost per sandwich, it is a fair price on the side of above average cost.  But with certain expenses this year and a pretty massive reduction in my paychecks since the fiscal year, I skipped it and went cold turkey ... haha get it because no ham and it's thanksg... oh never mind!  Maybe next year I will start up the tradition again but at that point, is it a tradition any longer since you skip a year or even two?  I guess it isn't so it will not be a thing.  Just yea or nay if I get a ham.  I miss having traditions but what can you do.
At the movies:
The crown is still on ice as "Frozen 2" holds top honors for a 2nd week in a row and earning an extra 85.3 million!  It now has a 10-day total just shy of 300 mil and could get that mid-week.  KNew at #2 is Knives Out with 27 mil to open but had a 5-day total of 41.7 mil.  Below expectations but still a solid number and the box office needed it.  Drop to #3 is "Ford v. Ferrari" with 13.2 mil extra as it struggles to reach 100 mil cume and uncertain if it will.  Holding at #4 is "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" with 11.8 mil and this neighborhood is shrinking.  Rounding off the top 5 is Queen & Slim with 11.7 mil to open and well below expectations.

 Quote of the week:
Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other." - Euripides

 Facts & Tips:
MLB has not had a lefty play catcher since 1989.

 "Soon Crassus will give command! And we shall face his legions in open battle! We stand in the shadow of greater might! As their Republic cast across the lives of every man, every woman, and every child condemned to the darkness of slavery! Forced to toil and suffer, so that those of coin and position can see their fortunes grow beyond need or purpose!  Let us teach them, that all who draw breath are of equal worth! And that those that seek to place heel upon the throat of liberty will fall to the cry of freedom!" - Liam McIntyre as Spartacus in the series "Spartacus."

posted by McDuck @ 03:16 0 comments