Ask Cardine: Part IX - Jawbreaker

The creative juices for blogging are not flowing, so I am doing something that I haven't done in a while: I am bringing back the Ask Cardine segment of this blog. Last time I asked for suggestions on what to write, Sarah provided me with a good list of random topics that I could address on this blog. I already addressed Echoes, so I am going to continue on with her list. I now give you "Jawbreaker."

I have self-assessed ADD. When I am in a class, a presentation, or a meeting, I am so easily distracted by just about anything. The other day I was in a sort of meeting. There was a slide presentation, and they used a visual effect that was supposed to imply various layers. It ended up looking something like this:

And this is what I thought:

That looks kind of like a jawbreaker. I like those ones with layers. What are they? Oh yeah, Gobstoppers. Mmmm... Gobstoppers. Gobstoppers are good, especially the chewy kind. Flaur is like a chewy Gobstopper because she has layers. Oh wait, the what are they talking about now?

Yeah, that is totally me in meetings. Does anyone else do that? Or are you just craving Chewy Gobstoppers now, like me?

Phases of Life

So, I don't know about you, but I totally go through phases in my life. It's like where I have a certain fad of hobbies or things that I like to do and spend quite a bit of time doing. In the past these phases have been things like tennis, staying up until all hours of the night, volleyball, lying in bed and watching TV/movies, golf, going to movies, reading, watching TV, eating out, riding a bicycle, hiking, workaholicking, traveling a few hours to a city and coming back in the same day, swimming at the pool, having dinner parties, going on cruises, etc. The weird thing is that I'm not sure what phase I'm in right now. I'm going through a little stint of belly dancing. Golf is kind of a phase for me right now. Playing the bass guitar is a little bit of a phase. But there is no extreme leader here. I think I'm going to figure out what phase I want to have and live it.

Do you go through phases?

What phase do you think I should have?

I mean, it's the summer, and I need this summer to have a title. Like, it should be "2009: The Summer of _______." What should it be?

Your Help, Please

So... I am going to move into a place and live alone for a while. I really hardly have any housewares, so I will probably gradually collect stuff over time. What I request from you, my readers, friends, family, stalkers, lurkers, anyone who is reading this, is a list of stuff. I would like you to provide lists of stuff in two categories: stuff you can't live without and stuff that you really don't need.

To help you out, let me provide for you a list of stuff that I either have or stuff that I am lucky enough to borrow for the time being:

- Bed
- Desk
- Bookcase
- Bedstand
- Plates/Bowls/Mugs
- Rubber scrapers/wooden spoons
- Dishtowels, washcloths
- A camping chair
- Basic Cleaning supplies (cleanser, sponges, etc)
- A vacuum
- Towels
- A sleeping bag
- Blankets
- A huge pillow
- Small TV/VCR/DVD
- Computer
- Microwave/dishwasher/fridge/washer and dryer

So, please, in your experience, tell me, what are some things you must have? Some stuff that you can live without?

Actors That I Generally Like

So, I already did that post where I talked about actors that are eye candy to me, actors I generally can't stand, actresses I generally can't stand, and actresses that I generally like, so now I am going to post the actors that I generally like. Here they are, in no particular order:

Alan Rickman is so versatile. He can totally play the villain, like Professor Snape, the Sheriff of Nottingham, or Hans Gruber. He can play a romantic, like Colonel Brandon, a straying husband (Love Actually), or a sarcastic comic. By Grabthar's hammer, he can do it all. And in each role, I enjoy how he portrays the character. Admit it; he's awesome.




Oh, Patrick Stewart. First, he has, pretty much, the best voice. I can listen to him talk all day. I know, I know... he hasn't been in a ton of stuff other than Star Trek or X-Men or whatever, but seriously, Patrick Stewart rules. I see him as a classical actor, an actor who can play on the stage. An actor who knoweth how to act. He just has a good ... screen presence. You know you want to love him. Make it so.




So, I guess Joaquin Phoenix isn't really going to act much anymore. I guess he has some demons that he needs to get out through music or whatever. Well, that's too bad. He was really good at acting. Seriously, his role in Gladiator as Commodus? Totally freaky. Amazingly evil. And he was so likeable in The Village and so talented in Walk the Line. ...at least for the 15 minutes I saw of that movie. Too bad for us. Sing away, Joaquin. Sing away.

(Are you rolling your eyes yet at my terrible humor?)




Alan Arkin is kind of like the forgotten child of the movie industries. It's not that he hasn't been in stuff because believe me, he has. No, it's that you probably don't even realize how much he's been in. First, he was insanely creepy in Wait Until Dark. I still jump everytime he jumps in that movie. Then he has had a lot of bit parts in other movies that you may remember, such as The Rocketeer or So I Married an Axe Murderer. And recently he was hilarious in Little Miss Sunshine. So, pay attention to Alan Arkin, the forgotten child. I think he's great, and it's not because of his brains or personality.




I KNOW. How can this be? I most definitely would not consider Jack Black to be a great actor. But you know what? He's hilarious. I can't help it. I like him. Even when he runs around being basically disgusting throughout the whole time in films such as, well, every film he's been in, he is so funny. He makes fantastic facial expressions and plays the dumbest characters, and I guess it just hits my funny bone. (Location: elbow area) In conclusion: fat loser who smells like body odor = lots of laughs from me.




I guess that all of America likes Will Smith just like me. From what I've noticed, if he's in a movie and no matter how terrible it really is, somehow it's still enjoyable because of Will Smith. I present for my evidence Hancock and The Pursuit of Happyness. They weren't really that great. In fact, I can't even remember the plot of The Pursuit of Happyness. I remember it being feel good-y, but ... meh. Oh, but Will Smith was in it, so it was great! See what I mean? For a complete list of movies that would have bombed without Will, click here. And the great thing is that he will probably continue to be great. The fat lady has absolutely not sung for Will.




Edward Norton is another one of those guys who is so versatile. When I look at him, I really see someone who should be ... well, more like his character in Keeping the Faith. But no, he can play Bruce Banner! Seriously! He can play all of these super cool characters in movies where you actually fear his cunning crafts. You think he's going to be normal and boring, and then all of a sudden he shocks you with his cleverness. He is really an illusionist.




Michael Caine is one of those actors that never seems to age. But not in a creepy way (like Leonardo: ew, yuck). Michael Cain was in the first Italian Job. You know, the one BEFORE the remake? (spoiler: old one = boring) It was made in the '60s! And you know what? He doesn't look THAT different! It works for him. And so does playing roles of intelligent advisor-type men. If I had to pick someone for the role of sideshow advisor, I'd pick him almost everytime (except Lost still needs Richard). I just don't believe that he's a dirty rotten scoundrel.

I hope you enjoyed my choices for this post! Do you agree/disagree? Who are some actors that you like?

I Made It!

Now is the time of year when people are so happy about accomplishing things, such as graduations with university degrees, etc. Well, I didn't graduate this year, but I am happy to have accomplished something that's pretty big for me. What did I do?

I sat through this entire movie without running screaming from the room:

This is a big step for me, alright?