You know you’re old when…

I was at Toys R Us tonight buying some toys for ‘Toys for Tots’. It’s my annual ‘I can’t buy toys for me anymore, but I still like buying toys trip’. I remember hearing on the radio that they especially needed toys for 10-12 yr olds.

When I was wandering around the store, I noticed that I was actually reading the labels on the toys to see what age certain toys are for. You know who does that? Old people. Old people who doesn’t know what’s going on.

I know you don’t think this seems like a big deal. It might even seem like a good thing that I don’t know what 10-12 yr olds play with. Well it’s not. It’s just more proof that I’m old.

The only thing that made me happy was the fact that I could buy any toy in the toy store. A kid can’t do that.

Question for you to ponder

If you can choose 3 people, and those 3 people would choose the person you would marry, and you cannot object to their decision, who are the 3 people you would choose?

Please answer in the comments.

Pup’s Movie Corner

Today we will review the movie Hitman

Based on a video game (sheese, can people not get any original ideas here? I’ve got a script that’s ready. You just need to ask.), Hitman is definitely targeting a specific group of audience with this movie. The target group that likes lots of people getting shot, fancy clothing, and a very hot Russian girl.

There’s really not much to this movie. If you’ve seen the Bourne Identity, this is pretty much the exact same movie. The Hitman does dress better than Bourne though.

I know this is really not much of a review, but there really isn’t that much that stands out in this movie. There’s nothing there that hasn’t been done, or seen.

I would hope that if you decide to go see this movie, you’re not thinking that it would challenge your mind or this is a movie that will change the world or that this would be an Oscar contender. If you get all those thoughts out of your head and just expect a movie with a lot of people getting shot in flashy ways and a gorgeous Russian girl, then I think you’ll have a good time.

Rating: 3 Paws (out of 5)

Pup’s Movie Corner

Today we will review the movie Beowulf.

Based on a just a poem (albeit quite long), Hollywood managed to make this into a full length movie. To make things more interesting, they made a good part of the movie fully CGI. While it was interesting watching part of the movie completely in CGI and almost like a game, I went to the theaters to watch a movie, not to watch the intro to a game.

The movie itself was fine. The plot was simple enough. Men can’t resist the hotness that is Angelina Jolie and they’re pretty much cursed forever. I’m not quite sure how they got a PG-13 rating on this. Not that I’m complaining, but there was a lot of nudity going on (don’t worry ladies, there is male nudity too). Even if it’s supposed to be digital nudity, it was still nudity.

So here’s my problem with the movie. It doesn’t have that much to do with the movie itself. I have more of a problem with the idea of Beowulf as a ‘hero’. For in my mind, he is no hero at all and that kinda ruins the movie for me.

Beowulf fought for personal glory. He fought for the sake for fighting. He fought so that his legend would grow, so that there would be stories told about him. Everything he did was about him wanting to be glorified and show off that he’s better than others.

I understand that this problem is strictly my own issue. Beowulf is just not my idea of a hero. Sounds silly but a hero is a hero because they didn’t want to be a hero in the first place. Heroes are people who are put in or fall into a difficult situation and they perform above and beyond themselves and what others would have done. Heroes only fight when necessary and fight for a purpose/goal greater than themselves. That is the definition of a hero and the complete opposite of Beowulf.

Given the choice, a hero would never have wanted to be a hero. That’s what makes them so great. They rise when they have to, when no one else would. They rise to protect. They fight when necessary, but only as a last resort.

Perhaps I’m being too critical about this. I think most people will enjoy Beowulf. It’s a fun movie to watch with a very interesting obvert use of CGI and good special effects. However, I regard my idea of a hero quite highly. Beowulf contradicts every idea I have for a hero and I believe I was too caught up on that to enjoy the movie.

Rating: 2 Paws (out of 5)

Look what I just got...

I was at Target going to get batteries, some birthday cards and a new bottle of Mr. Clean. I love that Mr. Clean. Have I ever told you? It doesn't work any better than any of the other products, but I sure do like using Mr. Clean. I think I feel better cause I think he's there cleaning with me. It's more fun when you and Mr. Clean are cleaning and singing to songs on the radio. Ok, that might be TMI..

Anyway.

So I walked by the electronic section and there it was. I didn't believe it when I first saw it. I thought it was just for display. Then I saw a lady come up and ask to buy one. I started freaking a bit. There was 2 left in the display case. I tried to be calm and pick out my birthday cards, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept staring at the case with the Wii.

What do I do? What do I do? As you may or may not know, I'm not good with randomly spending money. Not that this would be random, but it was not in the plans for today. I was there for batteries, cards, and Mr. Clean. All of which I had coupons for. That's right. Coupons. Suck it.

Then I saw another dreaded thing. A guy with his daughter going up to the counter and asking to buy the Wii. OMG. They're going to run out before my eyes. I have no time to make the decision.

I made an executive decision. I went over there very hesistently. I asked for the Wii. The sales guy gave me a nodd of approval and said 'right on'. He seriously said that. Strangely, that made me feel a lot better.

Now I'm sitting here with a Wii. Part of me wants to hold it and sell it (the cheapest price on Amazon is $383), but part of me wants to bust it out and start playing it.

I think you guys all think this is a no brainer, but it's not for me. I know what is probably the right decision, but it's hard to do it. You don't need to tell me I'm crazy.

Guess I'll go and think about it...

Weekend Update

This weekend, at the expense of the annual They Might be Giants concert that I always attend, End of fall season Ultimate tournament, and some good football time, I went to San Antonio to hang out with some friends and attend the wedding of an old college friend.

- I finally went and saw the Alamo this trip. It had been eluding me all these times when I’ve been down there. It was very interesting as I’m a big fan of historical war sites. At the site there was someone who told the story of what happened at the Alamo and a lot of the history leading to it. The legend behind the Alamo was definitely more glamorous than what had actually happened. For example, the battle only took 90min. It wasn’t days of holding the fort as many movies would lead you to believe.

- Went to happy hour with my friend’s wife’s coworkers. Nothing like starting to drink at 3:30pm. I should work for that company. I found out some very interesting thing about one of the coworkers that I’ve met a few times before. So this coworker, who is quite attractive, like turning head attractive, knows Pi to the 20th digit or something. She also has a Pi tattoo and graduated with a Physics degree. Seriously, when does that happen? The mix of beauty AND a Geek.

- Not everything’s bigger in Texas. I had some of the most pathetic pours of Jack and Cokes ever. Nashville still wins for the best pours. I don’t think they even put coke in my drinks.

- This was the 3rd totally secular wedding ceremony that I’ve ever been to. I love it so much more than the religious weddings. They actually talked about and focused on how much the bride and groom loved each other without having some diversion to God or something silly. Seriously, take a back seat today. This is their day, not yours. Back the fuck off. It’s not always about you. FYI, I make this comment to religious PEOPLE, not to the actual ‘God’ cause I’m sure he/sure would be cool about just sitting back during the ceremony and dancing to ‘I want you to want me’ during the reception.

- If I ever get married, I would like to do the whole Have Nagila thing. That is some fun stuff.

- I had one of the most delicious appetizers ever. It was potato strings that wrapped around a shrimp and lightly fried. It was crispy on the outside with a soft shrimp on the inside. Yum!

- Thumbs up to the bridesmaids at this wedding. They all danced a lot, and danced very well. Very awesome.

- Everyone went back to the hotel for the after party. Now that was fun. They brought back all the left over alcohol so we can now pour my own. Good times ensued.

- The second amazing woman I met during this trip. This woman was hilarious. She too was very geeky in that she talked a lot of video games. She named her cats from Harry Potter. Somehow we got to throwing signs with our hands. She was trying to show me how to do the Vulcan hand sign which I cannot do to save my life. Then it lead to gang signs, which I cannot do as well. She finally said ‘You can’t do geek or gang! I can’t work with this!!’

- This same woman is rail thin. However, she has one of the biggest appetites I’ve ever seen. I can’t even describe to you how much she ate during the after party. She talked about how she has to eat every couple of hours. Her friends all confirmed this and actually said that she’s eating a little less now. That is crazy. All I know is that she has a very understanding boyfriend cause he has to keep the fridge stocked and cook her food all the time. Funny enough they live only about 5 miles from me. I’ll definitely have to give them a call.

- This wedding concludes the 2007 wedding season for me. Later, I’ll write about the 2nd one that I went to where a real life Sgt Pepper marching band appeared after the wedding ceremony. It was something to see. Definitely in the tops list for things I’ve seen at a wedding.