Being Football Royalty isn't Enough for Some People

Boo on working on a Friday night but yay for the work get-together at the bar afterwords.  Work outings are usually a good time and this one should be pretty massive.  I'm not really sure what to write about right now; I honestly just wanted to get something down before work because I assumed that later tonight I wouldn't be writing.  Here we go pressures on and what can I produce...I've got nothing.  Oh, I cooked dinner last night, let's discuss it shall we. 

I arrived home last night around 6:30 pm only to discover that there was no cooked food in the house and my mom was upstairs busy with whatever it is she does.  Naturally I was a little peeved but once I calmed down I decided it was time I made some dinner.  So I defrosted a couple of large chicken breasts, soaked them in olive oil and a herb and spice infusion and then sauteed them in a skillet.  I also made one of my patented salads, this one consisting of lettuce, tomato, carrots, and avocados, seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.  Wait there's more.  In order to complete the well balanced meal I made penne in a pesto sauce.  Not bad right?  I thought it was pretty tasty for a spur-of moment meal and my mama agreed.  I was shocked that she actually ate my food because she's usually a picky eater.  Great success overall, which could be a bad thing because now she may expect me to cook more often.  No bueno, next time I'll have to burn the kitchen down so she never relies on me for any type of cooking.

I've really wanted to get all up into The Girl Who Played with Fire but I haven't had the time.  Saturday may be the day.  I'm feeling an early morning workout followed by breakast and then a Starbucks outing so that I can knock out some reading.  I'm hooked on a new drug and it's called Larsson, Stieg Larsson to be exact.  I'm obsessed with his books and I just want to finish them and then see the movies now.  Christmas is too far away for the American Dragon Tattoo movie.  Fun fact though, I did some research into the American version and found out an interesting fact about the girl who will be playing Lisbeth, Rooney Mara.  First of all she's Kate Mara's sister and I've always been a fan of Kate Mara ever since I first saw her on Nip/Tuck.  Second of all her name Rooney Mara represents two of the most famous football owning family in the NFL.  Her family represents a merger of the Rooney's, who have always owned the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Mara's, who have always owned the New York Giants.  What a family to be a part of.  I always knew I loved Kate Mara for a reason and now I know why, because she's football royalty.  Eventhough I hate the Giants with a passion and shit all over them (with my words not literally) at every instance you can't deny the tremendous and profound effect that the Maras have had on the NFL.  In short, now I'm even more in love with Kate Mara, and her sister Rooney (what an awesome name), and I'm even more excited for the new Girl with a Dragon Tattoo movie coming out in December.  Let me find a picture of the Mara girls. 

Kate's on the right and Rooney's on the left.  Not only are they football royalty but they're also gorgeous.  Some people just have all of the luck don't they.  I'm not hating, just saying, if one of them (or both) wants to join me for drinks or dinner I wouldn't object.  I'd prefer Kate but I'm not picky. 

I'm Going to hit you...With a Lawsuit...?

Yeah, yesterday a customer literally said those words to one of the manager's from work.  And what spawned such a ridiculous reaction you ask?  The customer's wife was sitting on a table reading a book.  For those of you who have forgotten, tables are not the appropriate furniture for sitting; chairs and stools are for sitting.  Even sitting in the floor is ok, but not sitting on a table, especially a table that has books or is supposed to have books on it.  So anyway my manager told the lady that she couldn't sit on the table and what does she do?  Runs and tells her hubby.  This guy then walks up to my manager and says, 'I'm going to hit you.'  At that moment my manager thought, 'awesome.'  My manager is a good sized guy who could certainly hold his own in a fight so in his mind he thought, 'bring it.'  As my manager was gearing up for a round of fisticuffs, the guy expanded on his threat by saying ,'I'm going to hit you with a lawsuit.'

I think it's hilarious how so often in this country people's answers to disputes are law suits.  I'll sure you for this and I'll sue you for that, so ridiculous.  I mean who really has the time and effort to go to a lawyer, have them file a claim, and then take a day off of work to go to court from some miniscule issue that may result in a tiny payout that would most likely be less than a normal day's salary.  It just bothers me how instead of just stopping and talking out a dispute people have to draw it out to point the court proceedings are necessary.  Or how about this rude main line man and wife:  just walk away.  Ok, so a retail manager asked you not to do something and you disagree.  You have every right to, it's ok, now how about you just walk away and go home.

Really it's just sad how poorly people in this country discuss and solve disputes.  A simple dispute such as this could be settles with a civilized conversation.  But who has those types of conversations anymore, especially on the main line.  For some reason most people think they are superior to their fellow man.  I don't know where this comes from, but especially on the main line people just feel like they are of higher class, and therefore more entitled and better people.  So naturally, better people don't need to apologize, admit that they may have been wrong, show any manners, or act kindly to their fellow insubordinates.  Instead, it's perfectly ok to go around and talk down to people, threatening them with legal action for a simple verbal misunderstanding.  Every day I work on the Main Line I can't stand it more.  Areas like the Main Line represent  everything that's wrong with this country.  The richest, most powerful people, get all of the tax breaks, bankrupt the economy, and then continue to live the high life and treat everyone else like crap.  I can't stand superiority and I can't stand rich snobby people.  So often I think that I never want to be rich because I'm afraid what massive sums of money will do to my personality.   I'm going on tangents which means bedtime.     

Oh wait, funny story from work today.  So this guy is in the fiction/literature section and asks where he can find books on J.R.R Tolkien (author, wrote Lord of the Rings series).  I direct the guy to science fiction and fantasy and he gives me this look like I completely offended him.  I think he said something like, 'Science fiction, what?'  Then my coworker chimed in that it was also a section on fantasy and he replied, 'Now that I can buy, but not the whole section.'  I was perplexed by this guy's reaction and I took a little while to process it.  Then I asked my coworker, 'I'm sorry but are orcs real?  What about elves or Hobbits?  Because as far as I know they're mythical creatures and therefore belong in the science fiction and fantasy section.'  I mean seriously guy, you want stories about orcs and goblins in regular fiction?  Sure they're well written, and I guess you could make the argument, but is it really something to get offended over.  I feel bad for this guys kids because you know he's totally the type of guy to dress up and drag them to comic-con against their will.  Oh well, it cracked me up for the rest of the day.  Ok now bedtime for real. 

Lisbeth Makes me Want a Motorcycle

I want to get a motorcycle; I've decided.  I've gone back and forth on what kind to get but I think I'm going to go back to what I always decided.  I want to get a naked bike, which is a cross between a cruiser and a sport bike.  I've always been a fan of Ducatis myself even though they are quite pricey, and in the end I accept the fact that I'll probably end up settling for a Honda or something less expensive.  Let's see if I can find a picture of the Bike I'd want.

I just think Ducati makes great looking bikes and I always wanted to have one some day.  We'll see how my future career and earning will fit into my necessity for a motorcycle. 

Then again, if a bike will be my primary mode of transportation than in the long run it would be way more cost effective.  A motorcycle is more fuel efficient and less expensive to buy in the first place.  Parking isn't an issue and you can weave through traffic jams during rush hour.  Win win for a single guy like me right?  But what about winter time, with snow, ice, and all of the nasty cold weather possibilities.  Well friends, I'm pretty sure that I'll be relocating to a much warmer climate that doesn't get too much snow or ice, if any, so I don't think winter weather will be a concern.  I've always wanted a motorcycle ever since I rode my bike everywhere in Middle and High School.  Haven't made it happen yet but I hope that in the future I'll be able to get a license and buy a motorcycle.  People say they're dangerous but guess what, life's dangerous.  I can't let the fear of a crash hold me back from something I've always wanted. 

Switching gears, I felt really nice leaving work today.  The whole second floor was a mess and I spent nearly my entire shift straightening up numerous sections so that they looked nice.  A few of the managers noticed all of my hard work when they went upstairs and thanked me for a job well done, and praised my effort.  In times like these it's nice to know that people still notice and appreciate hard work.  It's so easy to take the attitude of, 'Oh well, I'm getting laid off anyway in x number of weeks so who cares if I don't do any work.'  Trust me, that thought has run through my brain often throughout the past week at work.  And then my good old friend integrity comes back and gives me a kick in the ass to do something and actually earn the money that I'm being paid.  Work ethics are important, and are pretty difficult to develop.  I'm glad that mine is still intact during this dark time in my employment.  Oh how I'll miss you Borders.  What's wrong with society when a book store closes?  Yeah, not gonna tackle that one tonight; it could take a while and I've had a few late nights.  I'm off to start The Girl who Played with Fire.  Let's hope Larsson won't disappoint me with the second installment. 

P.S-Lisbeth's coolness/badassness is one of the main reasons why I rekindled my desire for a motorcycle. 

Watched the Swedish Version

So tonight I decided to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the Swedish version (as you probably deduced from my title).  The movie did a nice job portraying important events from the book onto the big screen.  A lot of the minute and sometimes entertaining details were left out, but in the end the movie did an effective job depicting the novel and adapting it to the big screen.  Certain parts were given more care than others and on numerous occasions the movie differed from the book.  This isn't something I'm used to with movies based on books; probably because Harry Potter is still fresh in my head and those movies rarely if ever strayed from Rowling's writing.  I don't want to give to much away for those of you who have not yet read the books or seen the movies (sorry I'm talking about Larsson now not Rowling), but the movie was entertaining. 

I think the parts were cast very well; except for one character in particular whose appearance differed fundamentally between the book and the movie.  I mean come on, is it that difficult to dye someone's hair brown.  When they're described as a brunette in a Scandinavian country it almost seems like that was done in an attempt to make the woman stick out.  Depicting her as a blonde takes away her character's uniqueness.  Anyway, I think the Blomkvist character was spot on and the girl who played Lisbeth did a great job.  The creeps were creepy and the actors did a nice job with their portrayals of Larsson's characters. 

That all being said I still think the movie missed on a number of points.  It felt rushed, the scenery was a little off, and Blomkvist's appeal to women wasn't touched upon at all.  I think an important part of the book was how nearly all of the women in the story felt attracted to him and/or fell for him in some way.  Hopefully the American version will play up his sex appeal, which I expect will happen because Daniel Craig will play his role.  Not to say that I find the man attractive, I don't really find any man attractive, I just feel that Blomkvist's effect on the women of the story should not be left out.  Subtitles are also annoying, so naturally the American-made version will be superior in that regard.  I love reading but not while I'm watching a movie.  I think it's important to take in all of the scenery and actions going on in the film.  Plus more money will go into the American version which usually produces a better movie.  But who knows, the Swedish authenticity of the original could supersede the superior financing and film-making of Hollywood.  Now I have this crazy fear that Hollywood is going to ruin the book with the new film due to come out around Christmas time.  Oh well, still a great book.  If you liked the book watch the Swedish version and generate your own opinion.  Mine in a nutshell:  I thought it was ok, didn't like how much it deviated from the book.  The Lisbeth character made the movie for me; if it wasn't for her excellent acting then I probably wouldn't have liked it.  Really looking forward to the new one and reading the next two books. 

Finished. Now, What Movie to Watch?

I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Excellent book, and now I'm excited to both see the movie and read the next book.  I'm facing a slight dilemma though with the movie:  Do I watch the Swedish version of the movie or wait for the American made version with Daniel Craig?  I think I'm just going to watch both and then decide which one I like better.  I first saw a trailer for the American version while at the movies to see X-Men: First Class.  I'm going to attempt to post the trailer.  What captivated me about the trailer was the musical score; so perfect for a chilling and gritty murder mystery.  Enjoy:

Finally Reading Stieg Larsson

I usually love the heat and the summer; just can't get enough of it, but lately the heat's really been bothering me.  Maybe because it's been really humid and I've been stuck in areas with insufficient air conditioning systems (my house and Borders).  Either way, this summer heat wave has really gotten to me; I've had headaches and just overall feelings of discomfort.  For the past couple of days I've been wishing for rain just to cool things off, and today I finally got the rain I've been hoping for.  It was so nice to finally have a day where I walked out of my house and wasn't instantly covered in sweat.  I even sat outside and read while it was thunder storming just so I could feel the cooler air and the mist from the rain.  Such an amazing feeling after all of this heat.  I think that I finally understand people who love thunderstorms. The cold air can be such a relief in the blistering summer temperatures.  You know what would have been perfect?  A frisbee session in the rain (not when there's thunder and lightning but while there was regular rain-no I'm not stupid if that's what you're thinking). 

Besides exercising and cutting the grass I spent most of my day reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  It's really good and I'm trying to finish it tonight so I can watch the movie on Netflix and then move onto the next book.  I'm really enjoying it and for those of you looking for a great read or an intriguing murder mystery I highly recommend this book.  I haven't wanted to put it down and I've put off other important tasks in my life such as writing just so I could nearly finish this book.  It's funny how when I find some form of media that captivates me I can't stop reading, watching, or playing it until I've finished or completed it.  I'm like this with books, TV series, and video games.  I just can't stop until I finish with such media.  For example, I read all of the Harry Potter books and saw all of the movies to date in a 3 week span.  At the time that was 7 books and six movies.  Yes you could say that I easily become obsessed with things.  I pray that such an obsession carries over to my writing when I start to crank out novels.  On that note, back to reading. 

Am I too Picky About my Hair?

Today was a fun filled day.  I slept in late which I don't usually due and then I set out to take on the day.  First order of business was a haircut.  Now I don't know what it is about haircuts, but I think it's so hard to find a place that gives a good haircut.  My haircut is pretty simple, just a 1 1/2 on the sides and finger length on top with the sides blended into the top.  Nothing fancy, yet so often barbers and/or hair dressers manage to mess it up.  Maybe I'm too picky but I've found that more often I leave unsatisfied with my haircut.  Today the lady did a nice job, except for a row of stray hairs on the left side of my head, which I later had mommy dearest clip off for me.  But for the most part I'm usually very unsatisfied with my haircut.  For example, I got my haircut in Israel, told the guy exactly what I wanted and he butchered my head.  Certainly wasn't the first time and it probably won't be the last.  Overall I've found success at two places: one is in state college and the other is in htown but it ends up costing me between 30-40 dollars a cut.  So I've found this other place and they do a decent enough job, but still there's always a little something I'm not happy with.  Maybe I'm just too picky, I mean it's just hair right?  To me, it's just the fact that I have such a simple haircut yet it is so often messed up.  Am I alone in my struggles to find a good yet affordable haircut?  Leave thoughts.

Today I also started a new book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.  I'm probably the last person in the world to finally read this book, but that's how I usually am with trendy things.  Anyway it's pretty good so far, I'm about 170 pages in.  People have told me that it takes a little while to pick up and I can see that so far from my reading.  It's nice though because based on the recommendations of others and the foreshadowing by the author I know that things are really going to heat up. I spent a few hours in my trusty starbucks that I haven't been to in a little while.  I brought the computer as well, thought I might make some headway on the novel, but the book really captivated my attention.  No plans for tonight so I may very well continue on with my reading. 

After Starbucks I came home to workout, but before my workout I found out Amy Winehouse died.  Crazy right?  I mean she was notorious for drug and alcohol problems, but still always a shocker to hear of such a young celebrity meeting their end.  And at 27 too; that crazy age 27.  I'm not really superstitious but it's very peculiar how many famous celebrities have died at age 27.  Anyway I did my P90X chest and back today.  I was supposed to do an ab exercise after but my body was absolutely spent by the end of the chest and back workout.  I even had to take a slight break towards the end, and I knew the the ab workout on top of the 50 minute chest and back session would have been too much.  With fitness it's very important to listen to our bodies and know when we've had enough.  For instance, if you vomit during a workout, not a good sign.  It means you're pushing your body too hard and your body is telling you enough.  Same thing if  pass out of fall flat on your face while doing pushups or some other exercise.  It's really important to listen to your body, otherwise you could be seriously injured.  A friend of mine who's been doing a lot of yoga lately (7 days a week) told me that during a recent session she found that she could barely do one of the easier poses, which surprised her.  I told her that seven days a week is too much and that we all need a rest day.  Her body finally gave way and told her that she needed a break, and I'm glad to report that she heeded my advice.  For those of you who work out or are on the verge of beginning to workout make sure that you listen to your body, and don't push yourself to the point of physical injury or harm.  We weren't all born to be professional athletes and there's nothing wrong with that. 

Ok I know this is getting wordy, let me just finish up with a quick movie review.  Tonight I watched Kill the Irishman with Ray Stevenson and Christopher Walken.  If you like movies about organized crime I would recommend this film based on a true story about organized crime in Cleveland.  Lots of action with a well written plot and good acting to go along with it.  The movie did a fine job representing the clashes that occur when different members of organized crime communities fight over who will run the illegal businesses of a given city.  There are a couple pretty ladies in the film as well.  I'm a fan of Laura Ramsey who also appears in The Covenant, and She's the Man.  I'm not usually a fan of blondes but Ramsey is one of those women who could change my preference.  Let's see if I can find a nice picture...

Pretty right?  I tried to choose a picture of her not looking too done up.  When she has a lot of makeup on and her hair is pulled back she actually looks a lot like Christina Appelgate.  Anyway, pretty girl, good movie, definitely see Kill the Irishman.