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A thousand words for “tired”

I’m not sure I’ve been this tired in a while. I’ve just come off a three-day weekend with my six-year-old niece and I’m totally wiped out and broke.

We went to Chuckee Cheese (ugh). We went to the lakefront (it was 40 degrees and windy), we walked around, we went to the Field Museum, we saw dinosaurs, we ate Chinese food on State St. with my sister – Kelly. We bought books, we rode the “el” and we ate Mexican food. We did facials, we read the books, we watched cartoons and we (okay, she) ate a giant pancake covered in whipped cream.

Okay, Deeps and I ate Mexican food, Lex at french fries. She also loudly proclaimed that the food was "nasty" even though it wasn't. And since we were regulars at the restaurant, I found myself apologizing to several people and leaving a 30% tip.

And I guess I could expand on the whole Chinese food thing, we ate Chinese and she at mac & cheese. A six-year-old child from Central Indiana should be a little more hip to food beyond the basic starches. I don’t think she ate anything that wasn’t starch now that I think about it. I don’t think she ate any vegetables.

I guess that makes me a bad weekend parent. Figures.

I also swore in the car, but not as much as I usually do. I think I failed this weekend’s experiment. However, Deeps however got an A+.

Now I rest. Later I will blog.

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By: Alyssa | Sunday, May 19, 2002 at Sunday, May 19, 2002 | |  

Water, water everywhere
This morning the TV was still on “Court TV” when I turned it on. Apparently Deeps was watching “Homicide” in the wee hours. Anyway, in the wee hours after daybreak, Court TV shows “The Hour of Power.” I have to admit that I watched for a bit mostly because I know I haven’t blogged for a week and it would be easy fodder.

I was right. Apparently the people at Oral Roberts University need $1MM to redirect a creek (that looks more like a drainage ditch) and rebuild a bridge to prevent future flooding of some building on the campus. Apparently we the people of TV land need to pray for the insurance company because they’ve deemed it necessary to cancel the University’s flood insurance policy after a flood did many dollars in damage.

Oh and we should pray for 800 people to pay $1000 so they can put their name on the bridge to mark their donation – the donation of course will help pay for the new bridge’s construction.

I think this is all weird. I’m not linking to any of these people – if you want to find out how to give I’m afraid you’ll have to do your own search.

I just enjoyed watching the guy in a suit (not Oral himself) walk around and map out the changes in the landscape, kinda like that landscape guy on HGTV. I might have been confused about whether or not it was one of those garden makeover shows – if not for the flashing 800 number where a Visa or MasterCard donation could ensure my spot in heaven. Or at least my name on a bridge.

Atwitter
Babies are tough – but I’m starting to think baby showers are tougher. We’re holding my sister’s shower in a few weeks and I’m not sure we’re going to pull it off. First, no one is officially hosting it – which is a huge problem when organizing. I’m supposed to help plan it but the chief coordinator is no where to be seen and I think I’m going to be roped into cooking. Gads!

And to top it all off, after a prolonged period of serious negotiation, I’m flying to NJ immediately after the shower to attend an engagement party that my future in-laws are hosting. I think it’ll be okay – as long as I can say nice things to myself.

Apparently I’m not the only one who worries about showers – there’s a list of dos and don’ts every shower attendee should follow. And of course the obligatory questions to someone who probably aspires to be like Martha.

Spider-man, Spider-man pt. 2
I’ve been thinking about Spider-man. I have to admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed. But, I’ll live. Anyway, as for Sam Raimi’s distinct visual style – I can describe it like something that floats along just under the surface of the water and pops up from time to time to remind you that he’s there.

The opening credits are strongly reminiscent of Raimi’s opening sequences in both Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness (both are fine films). And the scene where Peter Parker wracks his brains to develop his Spidey costume is like – I’ll call it an homage – to the scene where Ash builds a catapult in Army of Darkness. It’s just a few things – the swinging through the canyons, the unexpected splat in the wall – a la Bruce Campbell -- made me laugh.

I think Raimi wanted to have fun and I think he did. I just thought the film lost steam part way through (sometime after the confrontation between Parker and the carjacker). I didn’t see much of the same giddy joy or heart – but it was still an enjoyable flick. I’ll keep my hopes up for the sequel.

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By: Alyssa | Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at Tuesday, May 14, 2002 | |  

Sadness, thy name is sweeps
So the cable never came back - well it eventually came back late last night, well after Buffy had ended. Everyone I've talked to who watched said it was good, but no one taped it.

I'm coping. Instead of watching Buffy I read magazines. I am a little behind on my readings and since I have subscriptions, the magazines keep coming. I read Vanity Fair for a while (the May issue) and I'm struck by how annoying Dominick Dunne and Gore Vidal are. Are they even relevant anymore? I'm going to say...no.

Reading crappy missives from Vidal complaining about Dunne is not the way to spend an evening. Especially when there's a perfectly good episode of Buffy to watch.

Spider-man! Spider-man!
As today is Wednesday, it can only mean that it's Wednesday night at the movies! Tonight a slightly modified group (regular Deeps is out of town, so friend John stepped in) attended an early showing of Spider-man. I didn't have crazy high expectations, but I am a fan of Sam Raimi and I was excited to see what he could do. I thought the movie was okay. It started out with just the right cringe-worthy tone as you watch poor Peter Parker stumble through adolescence. And then there were the many visuals that are Raimi hallmarks. Despite what others may say, I think Raimi has a very distinct visual style (more on that tomorrow).

Anyway, I thought the film was okay. The CGI didn't look very good to me and I felt like some of the dialogue was a little corny. But I thought it was a perfectly fine summer, popcorn movie. And it was way better than Batman & Robin. And I think it was probably better than the X-men movie.

My friend Michael hated it completely and made sure I knew that for the rest of the evening. Sometimes you pick a winner, and sometimes you don't. After a string of questionable films, I think I'm going to have to see something very different next week.

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By: Alyssa | Wednesday, May 08, 2002 at Wednesday, May 08, 2002 | |  

The Cable! The Cable!
So, it's sweeps, which I've written about in the past. And I'm totally psyched to see a new (and allegedly really good) episode of Buffy. I've been struggly with the series all season and finally this show is going somewhere!

But, the cable is out and I'm missing it. Horrors!

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By: Alyssa | Tuesday, May 07, 2002 at Tuesday, May 07, 2002 | |  

Foodies vs. Chowhounds
I’m not so much a foodie as I am a semi-adventurous eater. I am also a semi-adventurous cook, but that’s a different entry. Deeps and I like to eat out of the house because our kitchen is too small and because we have a sea of culinary options to explore in Chicago.

I can’t say that I never eat fast food or fall back on no-brainer take-out, but I am fond of a few places that are total dives and border on creepy. You know – like the completely charmless Chinese place where it never occurs to them to offer chopsticks. There’s bad faux paneling on the walls and the lunch specials are like $4 – complete with rice, egg roll and soup? Or the place that makes really good nachos as long as the really good nacho guy is working – the guy with the mustache?

If any part of the above paragraph makes sense to you then I’d suggest visiting the Chowhound site. It’s chock full of interesting dining choices – suggestions, reviews, comments and there’s a good message board that accompanies it.

I make lists and sometimes I write letters
Dear ScottBrand:
I enjoy your Scott bathroom tissue products. I prefer to buy the tissue in packs of 12 but don’t usually buy the 12 pack because it doesn’t have a handle.

I think you should add a handle to your 12-pack of toilet tissue.


Dear Cornkob:
I noticed your license plate while I was driving around the Northshore today. Why on earth did you spend the additional $80 for a vanity license plate only to choose the term “Cornkob” for the entire world to see? I assume there is some special meaning to you – please share it with me.


Dear Olive Mountain:
I think you should go back to putting those toasted almond slivers on your rice pilaf. It’s much better with the nuts.


Dear Saks:
Thanks for the excellent service I received in your Old Orchard store last week. OH wait, this is email so you probably can’t sense my sarcasm.

The sales woman was thoroughly attentive -- watching me like a hawk but never offering me any assistance as she trailed me around the women’s department. Thanks to her excellent service and attention I decided to spend my hard-earned dollars with your competition – Nordstrom.

I hope that she didn’t judge me to be a “non-customer” because I wasn’t wearing my mink stole and tiara while trudging around an outdoor mall in the rain.

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By: Alyssa | Sunday, May 05, 2002 at Sunday, May 05, 2002 | |  

Ad-tastic, part 2
It's amazing with 12 hours can do -- I found 2 different articles this morning (thanks Google!) about the Saudi ads I wrote about yesterday.

I think the Electronic Media story has the best information, but Nando does a very respectable job covering the story. I'm more interested in the EM story because of the comments by Ad execs about the nature of the ads. I agree that the ads are "tastefully done" as one anonymous exec says, but I think the overall message of the ads was really off-base.

Despite the "message" in the ad that it comes from the People of Saudi Arabia, the ad just doesn't read that way. It's overbearing and overblown - perhaps some daring agency can come up with something better?

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By: Alyssa | Friday, May 03, 2002 at Friday, May 03, 2002 | |  

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Graciously Reminds you...
That we’re all friends – Really!

So yesterday I was flipping around trying to catch a weather report before work – you know will it be rainy or rainy and cold – when I caught part of commercial during the Today show. (Don’t judge me too harshly.)

A black screen with some white type appeared and there was a voiceover. It was something about Saudi Arabia and terrorists with a weird implication. Then the rest of the quote filled in to reveal that the quote actually said that the Saudis are good friends and close allies of the US and that they’ve gone to great lengths to stamp out terrorism. The quote was attributed to Colin Powell. Then the voiceover admonishes Americans to stop listening to nasty gossip about our good friends and to remember to keep an open mind because that’s what the Kingdom would do for us.

Huh?

Okay – I’ve kept a lot of my political opinions to myself. And I’m not a war blogger, but I will comment on this ad from a media perspective. As a member of the media, I think this ad is weird and it’s really missed the mark.

First, the voiceover (which sounded a lot like Jay Thomas) was really condescending and patronizing. To admonish us now for listening to crazy talk is wrongheaded. There’s been a lot of news coverage for a lot of years about our sometimes rocky relationship with Saudi Arabia -- so why now? And why a quote that’s more than 5 months old? And why use such a paternalistic tone? I think I said that already but it’s worth noting.

I think a more effective strategy would have been to show the similarities between your average American and your average Saudi – do we have similar wishes and hopes? Are we afraid of the same things? Are we both willing to take steps to combat terror? Personalizing the message as a message from the people of Saudi Arabia instead of from the monarchy might have been a better way to go.

Or maybe a better strategy would have been to get your press secretary moving and do a more subtle campaign to build goodwill. Advertising on the Today show just puts you in the same class as a diaper commercial or that lame “Can you hear me now?” Verizon campaigns.

And stop using Times Roman – it’s too formal. And White type on Black is so 1988. The Crown Prince should fire his ad agency and ask for a refund. It may be one of the worst decisions for an ad since that disturbing commercial that ran during the Superbowl a few years back.

I haven’t read anything about the Saudi ad and no one I talked to saw it – or at least admits to watching the Today show. Anyway, please feel free to email me your thoughts about the ad – after all, I’m just one woman with a semi-political opinion.

Tomorrow we return to the usual fluffery and delusions of grandeur.

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By: Alyssa | Thursday, May 02, 2002 at Thursday, May 02, 2002 | |  

A picture is worth a thosand words
And since I don't have a thousand words, I've posted and updated a gallery of some photos I've taken recently with the much maligned "crappy digital camera."

I think she works great, but that's just me. More exciting bits to come later...

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By: Alyssa | Wednesday, May 01, 2002 at Wednesday, May 01, 2002 | |