I love this movie! Bad Influence is so perverse, and so 1980s (even though it was released in 1990). Rob Lowe plays the completely decadent, amoral but impossibly seductive Alex -- not unlike the guy I spent the 1980s with in real life. Alex is the opposite of Sam Seaborn of The West Wing. This is a guy who scoffs at idealists, or perhaps sleeps with their wives. James Spader, of all people, is the "normal" one, Everyman, the stand-in for you and me. If you can get past the way most of the women are hidden beneath curly perms and impossibly large polyester shoulders, it's enjoyable in a very twisted way.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Look what I found ON DEMAND
I love this movie! Bad Influence is so perverse, and so 1980s (even though it was released in 1990). Rob Lowe plays the completely decadent, amoral but impossibly seductive Alex -- not unlike the guy I spent the 1980s with in real life. Alex is the opposite of Sam Seaborn of The West Wing. This is a guy who scoffs at idealists, or perhaps sleeps with their wives. James Spader, of all people, is the "normal" one, Everyman, the stand-in for you and me. If you can get past the way most of the women are hidden beneath curly perms and impossibly large polyester shoulders, it's enjoyable in a very twisted way.
Clean Me
Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.I bought an earring/jewelry display and organized my earrings and necklaces. Now that they're in one place (instead of on the bathroom sink, the nightstand, the coffee table, etc.) I can wear and enjoy them all -- and not buy anything else I don't need. This, I have learned, is one of the secrets of controlling my stuff.
Next up: my sunglasses.
First photo with the new camera
My new Kodak EasyShare M350 is indeed pretty easy to figure out. My big old tomcat, Joey, was a very patient model. If Tyra was here, she'd declare "curly paws" as his signature pose.
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing: The Oh My! Meme, Part One
1. The phone rings; who don't you want it to be? My kid sister. We never just chat, so I'm afraid it will be bad news about one of her children or our mother.
2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Yes. I'm a good girl.
3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? TALKER!
4. What was the last compliment that someone gave you? One of my coworkers said, "I told him (our boss) I just can't be as nice about things as you are."
5. Do you play the lottery? Yes.
6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, who would you want with you? I'm sticking with my celebrity answer from last month's Sunday Stealing -- Bill Clinton. As I said then, I think he'd be a riot to hang out with for a few hours. Plus, since he has Secret Service protection and his wife is Secretary of State, someone would come looking for us pronto.
7. Do you like to ride horses? Yes
8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Yes. It was the only thing that made Girl Scouting worthwhile.
9. What is your favorite party game? I don't think I have one ...
10. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was married, would you go for it? There's no sin in some delicious flirting.
11. When was the last time that you lied? I told the sales guy at Best Buy I was buying the camera on behalf of my siblings for our dad. Since he thought I wasn't making the purchase decision completely on my own, he wouldn't try to upsell me. I just want a little point-and-shoot job, you know?
12. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? Yes, and I have. As long as you treat one another's views with respect, it doesn't have to be a problem.
13. If you have a S/O, who pursued who? If not, do you like to pursue or be pursued? I'm more comfortable pursuing. I think it goes back to that Groucho Marx joke about not wanting to belong to any club that would have someone like me as a member.
14. Use six words to describe yourself. Pudgy. Loyal. Smart. Verbal. Sensitive. Independent.
15. Name a song that could make you cry? "Save the Best for Last." It so perfectly captured our relationship at the beginning. Unfortunately it ended badly, so that song tugs at my most tender heartstrings.
16. Are you pleased with your education? I wish I had more of it.
17. How do you feel about gun control? That it's sad we're still even having this conversation. We need to move away from this Old West mentality, where we're all armed and we settle our disputes in the streets with guns.
18. If your house was on fire, what thing would be the first thing you grabbed? Provided the cats are OK (and after all, they aren't "things"), I'd grab my wallet. Regardless of what happens next, I'll need ID and a credit card.
19. How often do you have a romantic weekend? So seldom, I don't remember.
20. Do you think more about the past, present or future? Future.
21. What was the last adult magazine that you have read? Penthouse.
22. What are you told about your eyes? That they are very pretty and very green.
23. How tall is just right? Height doesn't really matter to me. Maybe because I'm just 5'2.
24. Where is your dream house located? High above Michigan Avenue.
25. Do you have a secret fetish? No. Any suggestions?
26. Have you tried bourbon? If yes, what type? If bourbon is the booze that's in a mint julep, then yes.
27. Have you ever seen a male or female stripper? Yes. We took a road trip to see the male strippers at The Sugar Shack in Lake Geneva. They were dressed like Alladin (while they were dressed).
28. When was the last time you were at TGI Fridays? Years ago. The service isn't what it could be.
29. When was the last time you were at Church? More recently than I've been to TGI Fridays. It's a more pleasant experience.
30. Where was the furthest place you traveled today? It's dawn. The longest distance I have travelled is from the bedroom up the hall to the kitchen.
31. What was your favorite job? I worked in professional product development at Helene Curtis, writing the packaging and promotional materials. It was fun and I learned a ton about marketing
32. What condiments do you like at your BBQ? BBQ what? I like to add cinnamon to pork and beans. I put butter and salt on my corn on the cob. BBQ pork, beef and chicken don't require anything extra.
33. Bud is hosting Thursday Thunks this week. Will you play? I may. I may not. I'm wacky, madcap and devil-may-care that way.
34. Do you look like your mom or dad? Actually no. My parents and my two sisters are all dark eyed and tan easily. I'm green eyed and very pale. I used to think I was adopted.
35. Who was the last person that you showered with (it's okay to leave out the name)? Does a bath count?
1. The phone rings; who don't you want it to be? My kid sister. We never just chat, so I'm afraid it will be bad news about one of her children or our mother.
2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Yes. I'm a good girl.
3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? TALKER!
4. What was the last compliment that someone gave you? One of my coworkers said, "I told him (our boss) I just can't be as nice about things as you are."
5. Do you play the lottery? Yes.
6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, who would you want with you? I'm sticking with my celebrity answer from last month's Sunday Stealing -- Bill Clinton. As I said then, I think he'd be a riot to hang out with for a few hours. Plus, since he has Secret Service protection and his wife is Secretary of State, someone would come looking for us pronto.
7. Do you like to ride horses? Yes
8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Yes. It was the only thing that made Girl Scouting worthwhile.
9. What is your favorite party game? I don't think I have one ...
10. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was married, would you go for it? There's no sin in some delicious flirting.
11. When was the last time that you lied? I told the sales guy at Best Buy I was buying the camera on behalf of my siblings for our dad. Since he thought I wasn't making the purchase decision completely on my own, he wouldn't try to upsell me. I just want a little point-and-shoot job, you know?
12. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? Yes, and I have. As long as you treat one another's views with respect, it doesn't have to be a problem.
13. If you have a S/O, who pursued who? If not, do you like to pursue or be pursued? I'm more comfortable pursuing. I think it goes back to that Groucho Marx joke about not wanting to belong to any club that would have someone like me as a member.
14. Use six words to describe yourself. Pudgy. Loyal. Smart. Verbal. Sensitive. Independent.
15. Name a song that could make you cry? "Save the Best for Last." It so perfectly captured our relationship at the beginning. Unfortunately it ended badly, so that song tugs at my most tender heartstrings.
16. Are you pleased with your education? I wish I had more of it.
17. How do you feel about gun control? That it's sad we're still even having this conversation. We need to move away from this Old West mentality, where we're all armed and we settle our disputes in the streets with guns.
18. If your house was on fire, what thing would be the first thing you grabbed? Provided the cats are OK (and after all, they aren't "things"), I'd grab my wallet. Regardless of what happens next, I'll need ID and a credit card.
19. How often do you have a romantic weekend? So seldom, I don't remember.
20. Do you think more about the past, present or future? Future.
21. What was the last adult magazine that you have read? Penthouse.
22. What are you told about your eyes? That they are very pretty and very green.
23. How tall is just right? Height doesn't really matter to me. Maybe because I'm just 5'2.
24. Where is your dream house located? High above Michigan Avenue.
25. Do you have a secret fetish? No. Any suggestions?
26. Have you tried bourbon? If yes, what type? If bourbon is the booze that's in a mint julep, then yes.
27. Have you ever seen a male or female stripper? Yes. We took a road trip to see the male strippers at The Sugar Shack in Lake Geneva. They were dressed like Alladin (while they were dressed).
28. When was the last time you were at TGI Fridays? Years ago. The service isn't what it could be.
29. When was the last time you were at Church? More recently than I've been to TGI Fridays. It's a more pleasant experience.
30. Where was the furthest place you traveled today? It's dawn. The longest distance I have travelled is from the bedroom up the hall to the kitchen.
31. What was your favorite job? I worked in professional product development at Helene Curtis, writing the packaging and promotional materials. It was fun and I learned a ton about marketing
32. What condiments do you like at your BBQ? BBQ what? I like to add cinnamon to pork and beans. I put butter and salt on my corn on the cob. BBQ pork, beef and chicken don't require anything extra.
33. Bud is hosting Thursday Thunks this week. Will you play? I may. I may not. I'm wacky, madcap and devil-may-care that way.
34. Do you look like your mom or dad? Actually no. My parents and my two sisters are all dark eyed and tan easily. I'm green eyed and very pale. I used to think I was adopted.
35. Who was the last person that you showered with (it's okay to leave out the name)? Does a bath count?
Well, I didn't hate it ...
But I was very disappointed in it. Sex and the City 2, that is.The boondoggle to Dubai is every bit the distraction as I feared it would be. Carrie's enduring love for Manhattan is so much a part of her character that something vital is missing. The slapstick hijinks are silly and insulting -- both to Middle Eastern culture and my intelligence. Samantha has become such a caricature that she's lost her humanity.
But it has it's moments -- my favorite is when Miranda gets Charlotte plastered, comparing notes on their lives as mothers. These are two characters that don't get much one-on-one time, and besides, friendship has always been at the heart of the SATC saga.
I also came away with new respect for Chris Noth and Cynthia Nixon. They alone are consistently authentic, even as the situations their characters find themselves in become more other worldly.
Clean Me
Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.A day of actually DOING what I say I'm GONNA DO to get my life in order. I finally took that sweater set (that's been just sitting atop the dirty clothes hamper) to the dry cleaner, along with two winter coats. This is something I've been telling myself I'm GONNA DO for two weeks now. I began a new bag for Goodwill and also dropped another bag of bags (yes, I know, my bag fetish is ridiculous) at Kohl's for recycling before I went to Best Buy to get my new camera.