CoolerLunch

Beginning now, I will start to bring my lunch to work in a cooler. Or a brown bag. Or in Tupperware. Whatever. My point is to save money. Here's a sample of what I eat:

Pollo Loco: $7.54

Subway (w/ employee discount): $6.75

Jack's: $13.84

A daily lunch averages out to about $9.38

A week, that's $46.88

A work month...that's about $215!!!

Netflix: The Visitor

OK. I watched my first movie from Netflix. 

I wasn't sure how good it would be, but The Visitor turned out to be really watchable movie. And by watchable I don't mean it's just "edible." Flies are edible. This movie is a full course meal. I mean, this movie tells a really good story about doing what you love and perils we face when we lose loved ones. Losing them to the law or procedure. I don't want to spoil it. So, watch to movie to see what I mean about losing.

Today, in the Sacramento Bee, the paper's movie critic wrote about the top movies for 2008. Guess what movie made the list? Guess where it landed? Read why she made The Visitor her No. 1 film. 

Off for my next movie. 

Netflix begins

I just signed up for Netflix. I'm pretty stoked about it. When I watch movies, they're either movies I know I'll likely enjoy or movies I know I'll enjoy (like, a highly anticipated movie, e.g. Dark Knight). With Netflix, I think I'll be able to cast a wider net and maybe enjoy movies I never expected to enjoy.

Here's my queue: 1. The Visitor; 2. Memento; 3. Fight Club; 4. The Machinist; 5. Stay; 6. Western Philosophy; 7. Traitor; 8. Into the Wind.

I put The Visitor as No.1 because I almost rented at Blockbuster a few weeks ago (Elyssa wanted to watch). But, we decided to buy some movies instead. I heard Memento is a good movie with some philosophical themes...Anyway, I'll let you know how I like them once in awhile - even if they are so 1999 (Fight Club).

"W"

I went to go watch "W" last night with my girlfriend.

The movie is a bit long, but if accurate, it paints an interesting sketch of our president. I know, I know: many hate Bush. I do not.

I'm not here to give a movie review (don't know how). I'm here to say that the movie corroborated what I already believe. That is, Bush is a good man with good intentions. But, unfortunately, he took the wrong road and surrounded himself with bad people when he made his decisions.

As a result, Bush is seen as the president who lied. Bush is seen as the president who F'd America's standing in the world. His approval ratings are in the gutter and he's not being used to help fellow John McCain win the highest office in the land (I like when politicians say 'land').

The movie also reveals a story of Bush refusing to live in the shadow of his father and brother. Bush was determine to do what he wanted. Bush fought. Bush is an stubborn idealist who, I believe, sincerely wanted to make positive, revolutionary change for the world. In the end though, in the 9th inning with one out to go, Bush might have missed the world's chance and dropped that seemingly easy fly ball.

The movie is average - I'm not telling you to go see it now. But, for the one who loves politics, it's worth watching. All I'm really trying to say is that Bush isn't THAT bad.

2nd saturday

I went to secondsaturday this week and I can't remember it being more busy.

Elyssa and I went - she never been. This is the first thing that we saw and listened to as I found parking at 21/L. Others like Cody and Rios found parking like 20 miles away. Strange. Anyway, here's the sweet music we heard:


After this, we walked around and saw a magician with balls. I recored one act but nothing really happened. So, I ended up deleting it and moved on. But, to his credit, he was pretty good and attracted a nice crowd. Hudini was pretty funny, too.

Up the street was this band:

Little to my surprise, we ran into Cody, who was taping the band above. They were interesting.... lyricists....something about "if I don't go to hell when I die,  I MIGHT go to heaven."

It was a real pleasure, as a die-hard Sacramentan, walking the streets of midtown. I felt like I was in a movie, walking in a scene that the world should see. Everyone was in his or her place, be it singing, dancing, performing, gathering, drinking, loving, showcasing. Whatever. The entire ethos just meshed. I was reminded of a poem by Longfellow, here are two stanzas:

"All are architects of Fate,

Working in these walls of Time;

Some with massive deeds and great,

Some with ornaments of rhyme. 

Nothing useless is, or low;

Each thing in its place is best;

And what seems but idle show

Strengthens and supports the rest."

I saw tons of familiar faces. But the best faces were of course Elyssa and Hornet friends. We got together and walked around and huddled around Kevin's photography. He had some nice things up. We had some drinks. We had some food. And, some good laughs. 

As I'm writing this blog, I'm having a hard time uploading video! It pisses me off. So, now I'm going to imovie to resave my video. Anyway.

I had several drinks last night. I feel like this blog is all over the place and not really going anywhere - I'm sorry. Maybe it's too hard to express what really happened last night. It was just good stuff. 

Good like this art: 

OK, I think I'll leave this alone. Today I'm not feeling the blog. 

I haven't blogged for a weeks

I haven't blogged for a weeks. I'm sorry.

Nieces visit

I couldn't be more happy today. After more than a year I saw my beautiful nieces - all four of them.

Mariana, 13, Alyssa, 12, Marissa, 12, and Stella (jr) is 4. The older girls are a bit shy right now. But, they couldn't stop laughing as we ate our chicken dinner at home. I never tasted better chicken - at it wasn't because of the taste of the chicken, but because of the company.

We all had our nice baked chicken, macaroni salad, potato salad and sweet dinner rolls. We chatted and I caught up with my sister in law. See, my brother is no longer here with us. So, since he died nearly 5 years ago, Stella and my nieces moved to Oregon. It's about a 10 hour drive.

So, today they came over and had food. Then, we went out side and enjoyed the beautiful weather. We talked about all types of stuff. And little Stella got into the fountain part of our pool. She's way too cute!

While outside, we gave our dog Sonny some treats. We tossed them in the air, and Sonny caught them in his mouth. Boy, was he excited.

After about a good 2 hours at home, we went to my aunt's all together. She hadn't seen the girls in ages, too. We had a good time there and had some ice cream. I didn't mention this, but we also had ice cream at my house after dinner. It didn't matter, we had some more. For a moment, we all dismissed our vows to eat healthy and ate plenty of ice cream and brownies. Children make you forget about the mundane.

You know what they say about children? Especially when you have your own? There's just this inseparable love and connection with them and their innocence. All your troubles and grunts are forgotten when they smile. You don't think about work or issues or anything. Children are truly special, especially when you are related to them. For the first time in a long time I felt like an uncle. I truly loved being around them and hearing what they had to say.

Tuti (Stella jr.) really melted my heart. She is so compassionate, intelligent and charming. And cute She gave us all equal time. My mom spent time with her. I spent time with her. She really is all encompassing. At my aunt's house we spent time listening to my iPod. She learned how to use all the buttons so fast! She was controlling the music with ease. Skip, skip, skip. Finally, we got to some linkin park. She took the earplug I was using and put it into her ear. She couldn't stop laughing and smiling. When I asked her if I could listen with her after a minute, she didn't hesitate. She gave me the ear bud and we rocked out together.

As we were leaving my aunt's house. I was saying good bye to my nieces. As I talked, Tuti clenched onto my left leg and sat on my foot. I already had given her hug. I immediately gave her another.

I learned somethin today. Maybe learn is the wrong word. I experienced something beautiful and was reminded how special family is. I remember how much love there is. And beautiful that is. I sincerely wish I can see them everyday. But, they live really far. I'm going to miss them. But, I will see them one more time before they leave. I can't wait.

My friend Jose asked me how the rest of my day was, I was like 'I don't even know, all that I really cared for was seeing my nieces and their smiles.'

I can't wait to see their smiles, again.