Jami Brain Dumps From the Last Few Days

A few quick things from the last few days . . . At the park, Eddie's running around as usual while two girls, age 6-7ish, are on the big climbing thing. I hadn't been paying them much attention, as they conspired and giggled and climbed, but then they took over the swings next to where I was sitting and I heard one say to the other "This is the Ewok planet. Be careful, because we don't want to be captured by the Imperials!" Yay! My heart soared. The next generation of Girl Geeks. What possesses people to buy a car too big for them to drive? This morning, I watched as an older couple made at least 4 attempts to park their Chevy Suburban LT (a "car" approximately the size of my first apartment) in a normal parking space. After holding up the 20 or so cars who were trying to exit the parking lot, the driver pulled it mostly into the space so that they could get around him. Then, once the traffic cleared, his wife (I'm assuming) got out and made air traffic control signals/ blocked oncoming cars so that he could pull all the way out again, straighten out and finally pull all the way in. Here's a tip, folks, if it takes you two people to park your car, it's the wrong car for you. There is no reason these people need a car that size, unless they are lifetimes members of the Annoy the Humans club. I won a gift basket at Gymboree. This is not surprising, as it was a raffle and for most raffles I enter, if they are picking more than one or two tickets, I tend to win something. Not the huge things, but I do seem to win fairly often. It's one of the many perks of being me. The Husband is unusually lucky with cards. If you've seen Maverick, you know at the end where he needs the ace and sort of "thinks" it up to the top of the deck? I swear the Husband can do that. That's why we stick to board games. His voodoo doesn't work on dice, spinners or what-have-you.

Jami's Christmas Tree

I love the tree. It's short this year, but absolutely perfectly shaped. The lights are on it, as well as Darth Vader, Ralphie Wiggam, three ornaments with pictures of Eddie, two with Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, and all the other various Star Wars, Simpsons, and homemade by my mom and mother-in-law ornaments. There are angels, of course, and one on top. Our tree reflects our lives, from our "First Christmas Together" ornaments, to Joxer's puppy picture on Santa's lap, and, since I don't have an office, Black Santa. There's a teapot for me, and the Husband's Mario Lemieux. It's not going to be featured in Martha Stewart's Good Things Magazine, but it sure does make me smile.

Jami Needs More Movies to Look Forward To

I'm out of "I can't wait for . . ."! I guess the new Star Trek, sort of, but the Star Wars are done, the Spider-Mans are over (I think), the Simpsons is out. All the movies I couldn't wait to see, that I eagerly watched trailers of, read articles about or strenuous avoided spoilers for - I've seem 'em all. Oh, cruel fate, what shall I look forward to? I'll see Iron Man, but I haven't worked up a real excitement for it. Balls of Fury looks like it could be funny, or very bad, but I'm not lining up a sitter for opening weekend. The rest of the Harry Potters? Haven't even read book 6 yet, I'm afraid and the books are always better than the movie. So what's a girl to do? Isn't there anyone out there making a movie I can mark my calendar for?

Jami Goes to the Movies

I love going to the movies, but it's a love-hate kinda thing. I love the big dark theatre, the sound, the buttery popcorn and bucket of soda. I hate the usual things - the people who talk or use their cell phones, the actual commercials (not trailers, I love trailers), the fact that I can't pause the movie to take a potty break. But mostly I love movies. I love stories: hearing them, telling them, retelling them. Since the Husband doesn't work the traditional M-F 9-5, we get to go to the theatres at "off-times" like a Wednesday afternoon. We saw the third Pirates movie which I loved. Much better than 2, with nice complex plots and twists and a good ending, that could have been sappy and dumb, but instead was just right. Even better than a story is a story with a "just right" ending. Good movies can be totally ruined by a sucky ending, I'm talking to you Blazing Saddles and Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail. A movie's ending isn't just, well, when it ends, it's that last bite of sandwich you saved while eating your fries so that you can finish with the taste of sandwich in your mouth. The last Pirates movie, while not great overall, is still a fine example of a good ending. Great endings should both wrap up the story lines, yes, ALL of them, to some extent, don't just forget about something that wasn't going anywhere. If it was a red herring at least give us a clue to that effect. They don't need to end with "And we lived happily ever after" but there should be a hint of how the rest of eternity goes - even if you're planning a sequel, make this movie end. And a movie ending doesn't have to be happy. Just saying. I especially like if I don't see it coming. My favorite movie ending, at the moment, would have to be 40-Year-Old Virgin, which (if you haven't seen it, hope I'm not wrecking it for you) ends with a giant musical dance number to the Age of Aquarius. Sure didn't see that coming, but it fit the tone of the movie, it wrapped up what had been going on and it was just plain fun. Good ending. Return of the Jedi ends a trilogy very satisfactorily. Drop Dead Gorgeous perfectly wraps up a plot which I thought had painted itself into a no-win corner. Go see it, if you haven't, and be prepared to laugh so hard you have to pause it. To wrap up my post on movie endings, let me ask you - what movies end just right? Which took a sharp turn into wrong before the credits rolled?

Jami's Dream Weddings

Inspired by attending a wedding and this post by EDW, let me just say that I also need more weddings. I don't need more husbands, although in this post from almost a year ago, I discuss why I could use a few extra, without ditching the original. Along the lines of the Vegas wedding EDW mentioned, I wouldn't mind one on the Star Trek ride at the Las Vegas Hilton. I'm not that big of a geek, but it would be fun and they let you have the reception at Quark's bar where the drinks are both yummy and colorful. The last time we were there, we saw two couples tying the knot on the bridge of the Enterprise (separately, not at the same time). The first couple wore your basic wedding-garb, but the second couple sported their authentic-looking dress uniforms. I'd go for the dress ( I love a big fancy dress), but I'd let the wedding party wear unis if they want. There're also several other attractive and fun places in Sin City to throw a wedding, but that still seems like the most fun to me. Along the geekiness lines, the Husband and I half-jokingly discussed a Star Wars themed renewal of vows. I, of course, would be Princess Leia and he'd be my Han Solo. This would make my mom and dad Amidala and Vader, respectively, which would be worth the price of admission. My brother would make a fine Luke, although I'm not sure what costume M, my maid-of-honor would wear. The best man would obviously be Chewie, and fortunately the Husband's best friend is good and tall. I'd like another formal church wedding, because most of my friends now didn't know me when I got married. I rather enjoy being the center of attention, and I'd like to do it "right" again. After seeing several of my friends' wedding photos, I'd like a nice Hindu wedding. Now, I'm not Hindu, but I want the henna, the ornate wedding outfits, the wonderful traditions, the all-day party. I wouldn't even mind having it in India, which I'd like to visit someday, as long as we don't do it in the hot/rainy season. A friend of mine attended a wedding in India on a day it was over 100 degrees and the humidity was 85%. Too hot for dancing, IMO. I wouldn't mind a sunset beach wedding, followed by a bonfire on the beach. This would be a way less formal one, with a guitar player for music. I'd still like to get it catered, though, because I want to have a lovely table setting on the beach, and it's my wedding, after all. I recently learned that you can rent out the entire Pittsburgh Zoo for your event and this sounds like a good one, too. The aquarium would be a lovely setting for the ceremony, and how fun would that be? Who else has penguins at their wedding? I could probably come up with 15 or 20 more good ideas, but that'll do for now. Also, we wouldn't ak for or expect gifts, being that we've already got a house full of stuff, but I would insist on a bachelorette party. Aerie, you can throw mine, as long as you promise not to hire that same stripper.

Jami's Role Models

It takes a village to raise a woman as great as I am, to be sure. Of course, my mother is and was my biggest role model, but as a member of the TV generation, there are a couple of fictional characters I'd like to thank for some life lessons. Princess Leia Organa - Sure, every little girl wants to be a princess, but Leia wasn't the sitting around posing type. At a very young age, she led a rebellion against a vicious dictator. She stood up to torture, survived daring escapes, shot at enemies and led her troops into battle. I still remember watching Star Wars: A New Hope for probably the 100th time, maybe age 9 or 10 and realizing that when Alderaan exploded in front of her, Leia had just seen her home and family and all her friends blown up before her eyes, and yet, she didn't crumble, she fought. And she maintained her dignity, humor and charm. She opened her heart to new friends and a new love. Leia held her head high and kept her poise even in the toughest situations, but she wasn't hardened. Tough, beautiful, classy, smart. That's what Leia taught me. Part two tomorrow - The Husband wants a turn on the computer. I think Leia would let him have one.

Can't Be Just Me

So, one of the bulletin boards I visit has a thread each week where one posts photos of the "theme". This week the theme is the interior of our homes. Everyone has lovely, neat homes. I have a house that is decorated with geek delights and randomly placed toys - mostly Eddie's. Am I the only one who looks at her house and thinks it looks like it was decorated by a frat? I have the Madagascar penguins on the curio cabinet and cartoon character glasses inside of it. I have a chia pet and a lava lamp. Our "art" is frequently related to movies. I have more movies and books than small town libraries.
Yes, that's me and the Husband super-imposed in the cast of TNG, so what's your point?

Our Tree

Well, the tree's finally up. The first year we were married, by the time the tree decorations had all been placed, the Husband and I were no longer speaking. See, we both had a very clear idea what a Christmas tree should look like and the other was not cooperating (by which I mean, giving in and doing it my way). We got over it quickly, being newlyweds and all, but it remains a great marriage memory. Really! We giggle about it now. The following year, we each did half the tree, with a line right down the middle. But something happened, as our marriage went on, we accumulated less generic ornaments and the tree stopped being something that tried to match the picture in our head from childhood. Instead, we now have a tree so weird, it can only be ours. Our tree has (besides lights):

• Boba Fett (can't have a Christmas tree without Boba Fett), Princess Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, R2D2, several ewoks and a plethora of ships.
• Mario Lemieux
• Several "year" ornaments, 1996 (first Christmas together), 1997, 1999, 2002. The reason there aren't more is that I don't always find one for that year that I love.
• Ralphie Wiggum and Apu
• The adorable ones my mother-in-law made for us over several years
• A bunch from my childhood that my mom made
• A candy cane reindeer a child made for me when I was volunteering with the youth group
• 2 VeggieTales ornaments
• 2 pictures of Eddie
• 1 picture of the dog on Santa's lap
• A large African-American Santa who is supposed to be in my office, except, of course, I no longer have one. I love him. I call him Black Santa because I'm so creative. My cousin gave him to me for Dollar Gift Exchange Christmas.

So, the tree is up, and the tree is us. It's our life together, piece by piece, year by year. It's lit up and we're sitting in the dark enjoying its twinkling lights and admiring our joint accomplishment.

Three days 'til Christmas!