Thursday, May 27, 2010

Avatar (The Movie)

I forgot to mention that I have finally watched Avatar. It was extremely predictable. Except for the great graphics, it was only a so-so movie. I think the pre-release hype is what has been responsible for the movie's popularity and high ratings. I honestly believe that, if you take away the special effects, this movie wouldn't have made near as much money as it has.

When it first came out I joked that it was basically the story of Pocahontas set in the future in a science-fiction world. I still feel that way (except that the Na'vi are the winners, whereas the indigenous "Americans" were the losers).

I gave the movie three out of five stars on Netflix, which is the lowest "liked it" rating. (Two stars is "didn't like it" and one star is "hated it.") It was worth the time to watch, but if you don't see it, you really aren't missing much, in my humble opinion.

Lost Series Finale and More!

First, let's get this out of the way. I'm having a muscle twitch inside my right ear. Normally little twitches like that are tolerable, but this one is in my ear, and so it makes noise, and so it's driving me slowly insane. It's been happening on and off for three days. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting rid of it?

Okay, now, on to the Lost Series Finale. First I was disappointed. Then I realized that that was because I apparently hadn't paid enough attention to what one of the characters said in one of the final scenes. (It may have been the final scene. I forget.) After I watched the episode I went to the newsgroup alt.tv.lost, as usual, to read what others were saying about the finale. Thank goodness someone there was more observant and smarter than I! Now I'm not disappointed. Not as much, anyway. I had my idea of what I wanted to see in the final scene, but that didn't happen, and I'm okay with that. I still believe that Lost was the best show ever, and I plan to re-watch the entire series now that I apparently have all the answers I'm going to get.

Central Texas is having warmer-than-usual spring temperatures, and I'm trying my damnedest to keep the air conditioner off. That has been made easier by the fact that it's not working. But I have a small window A/C that I was using once the outside temps hit the 90's. It cools the bedroom to a tolerable temperature. It doesn't clear the humidity as much as the main A/C, though, and that's not good. I've decided that, as long as I'm unemployed, and therefore don't need to leave the house much (i.e. shower), I'm not going to call the repair man until I'm close to dying.

Interesting thing about the A/C: I was doing all right without it for awhile. Then it got hot outside and I turned it on. I'd been using it for a few days when I turned it off, with fear looming of my next electricity bill. I spent yesterday without the A/C running, but with outside temps still in the low 90's, and I was okay. I actually felt a bit more comfortable than I had with the A/C running. So I have even more incentive for keeping the A/C turned off.

My house is infested with fleas and they're driving me nuts, too (in addition to the inner ear twitch. If I should stop blogging it will be because I've been committed). I am doing all I can to keep them under control. (I'll never completely eliminate them what with having three dogs and several cats, and living in central Texas.) Yesterday I washed several throw rugs and vacuumed the bigger rug in my bedroom. I'm washing sheets and blankets more often than usual. I'm treating the dogs and cats with flea killers. I'm using sprays that are designed to kill fleas and eggs on the furniture. Still, I'm tempted to move someplace where it's cold - really cold - during the winter. Someplace where the outdoor fleas actually die due to the low temps.

That's all for now from the cave. Not much going on in the life of a Hermit-in-Training.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Good Days and Bad Days

I've been having some good days lately. Much better than the even-more-tired-than-usual that I was feeling in my last post. I'm pretty sure I can attribute that to the junk food I was eating, because I felt better after I ate a couple of normal meals - you know, with vegetables and stuff. I don't eat a lot of vegetables, but I eat even less junk (fast) food. That doesn't mean I'll stop eating junk food. I'll just drink a can of V8 juice with it, or do something like that.

Speaking of "junk food," I want to mention that I bought one of those Wal-Mart pizzas that they sell in their deli. You take them home and cook them yourself. I'd bought them before and wasn't very impressed, but this time I bought the "ultimate meat" style and I have to give them credit - it was great! I'll definitely be buying that item again. I'll make a salad or something to go with it, since it has no vegetables. Or I'll drink some V8 juice! I should mention that I sprinkled some garlic powder and oregano over the pizza before I baked it. That might have made it taste better. Or not.

The humidity has arrived in central Texas. Damn. I'm trying to keep the air conditioner off for as long as possible, but I confess that I've already had it on a little bit. I figured out my threshold is about 90 degrees outside before the AC has to come on! Once I win the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes I'll move to a less humid climate!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Tuesday Morning

I've been a lot more tired than usual this past week, but I've been eating a lot of junk/fast food, too. So maybe that's why. I've become quite fond of Sonic's new (is it?) SuperSonic Cheesburger. We don't have a lot of choices where I live. It's a small town. So this cheeseburger is very welcome, as far as I'm concerned. I used to love their grilled chicken sandwich, then they changed to a wheat bun. Sorry, but it just doesn't taste right to me.

Went to visit my prison pen-pal, Walt, on Sunday. It's about a 3.5 hour drive each way. It was good to see him, and he always appreciates a visit. They are non-contact visits, of course, because we aren't related. We have the glass between us and have to use the phone/intercom to talk. On the way back my friend, Vanessa, and I stopped for an early dinner at a buffet restaurant. We ate way too much, but it was sooooooo good. If you ever find yourself in Fairfield, Texas, make sure you stop for lunch or dinner at Sam's Restaurant. And make sure you're hungry when you get there! I was so stuffed and so tired after eating that I was pretty quiet for the ride home.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

I forgot something.

I said I had pizza. I took advantage of Pizza Hut's "any pizza for $10" deal. I ordered online. Tell me what's wrong with this picture:
Do you see it? There, where it says "Order Subtotal." That's right -- THIRTEEN dollars -- for a "ten dollar pizza." What the hell?!!

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. But I really wanted pizza!

I should write something.

I haven't felt very creative lately. Just haven't felt much like writing anything.

Friday was payday, so I've been overeating! On Friday I had pizza. On Saturday I went out for a burger and onion rings. Yum. When you're poor you can't do that very often. And I don't even do it every payday. I just decided to be different this payday.

Been working outdoors a bit. Mowed the front lawn. Started to mow the back lawn, but it was too wet. Haven't got back out there yet, but I will. Climbed up on the roof and cut some tree branches that were too low. And one or two that were starting to get too close to the satellite dish.

The humidity was way up on Friday, but a cold front came through and knocked it back down. It will be here to stay soon enough. Until then I'm keeping my windows open and the air conditioner off.

Watched "The Blind Side" on DVD yesterday. It was quite good. I've been on the computer less and watching TV/movies more lately. Don't know why for sure. I'm just not enjoying my computer as much as I used to. I wonder if it has anything to do with the absence of a long-time internet friend. Maybe.

That's all for now.