Built Ford Tough

I got to spend last night with my favorite people: J., George Clooney, and Harrison Ford. While waiting for the feature presentation at the movies last night (which starred George Clooney- well kinda), I saw a preview for Harrison Ford's upcoming movie!

Ford and I go way back, but I haven't been too impressed with his latest work.

I'm starting to go through withdrawls.

Let's see, there was "Hollywood Homicides" in 2003- . When the only role available for an actor like Ford is a cop partnering with Josh Hartnett to investigate the murder of a rap group, you know the film industry is experiencing a down season. I couldn't bring myself to watch this movie. I didn't want to tarnish my Indiana Jones-ish image of Ford. UGH!

In 2002 there was "K-19", which I never got around to seeing. . . Maybe I was going through a pacifist stage.

Then in 2000, he starred in "What Lies Beneath" which was good for a scary movie. It wasn't too gory- and it was creatively frightening. Hmm, one problem: Ford died. This is the only movie I have seen that he dies in. Not happy! Han Solo is immortal- don't people know this?!? Darn the foolish script writer who has the nerve to kill Harrison Ford, the prototype, the icon, the LEGEND!

1999 saw the release of "Random Hearts" , which could more accurately be called "A Random Fart in the Acting Career of Harrison Ford". BAD BAD BAD, CRY CRY CRY. This movie made me wonder what is wrong with the world. When the beloved actor of Indiana Jones takes a role in a movie this crappy- AY! it must be global warming.

In 1998 there was "Six Days Seven Nights"- an entertainingly funny and sweet movie. Yes, I enjoyed this film enough to purchase it used at a Blockbuster Video. I think one of the best parts is watching Ford be witty and sarcastic when he and his co-star are trapped on an island- his drunk scene is funny too. His co-star was less than enchanting though. She needed to wear a bra throughout the entire film. Each new outfit she pulled out made me wince. I also kept thinking, Ford is courting the woman who is f****ing Ellen! He needed a different person to bounce off of- hey, if they couldn't get anyone- I would have volunteered- YUM!

The world was forever changed with the debut of Ford's "Air Force One" in 1997. He was such a hero in this movie. He was the ideal President- manly, brave, smart, self-sacrificing, full of conviction and love for his family. I was determined that Ford needed to run for Office after this movie. I was prepared to be his campaign coordinator and pass out "Harrison Ford for Prez" bumper stickers. I would have enjoyed this movie even if Ford wasn't in it though. The "bad" guy character was very well constructed. This movie was politicaly intelligent for its time. During a period when ppl were stereo-typing terrorists- it showed us that terrorists are real people with real concerns- that they dont always act irrationally and that they aren't all "evil". This movie in a certain way forecasted real political events to come (9-11).

So, I have had to wait 7 long years for a quality Ford movie. If his next one "Firewall" does not deliver- then I will have to wait another 2 years before Indiana Jones 4 is released!!!

Harrison Ford, where are you? The world needs you!

Changing Hands

Last week I lost:

my keys

my debit card

my camera

This week I found:

my keys

my debit card

my camera

This week I lost:

my sanity

my priorities

my opportunity to heal

My cheeks burn, I'm exhausted, and I just want to hold him.

There's always next week for finding things.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy should visit my home

Ok, so I know it doesn't look like it here, but my dad is usually really particular about what he wears. It basically boils down to him being traditional and old-fashioned (also see: frugal, grinchy, picky, cheap).

Yesterday I asked my dad what he wanted for Christmas. This is the list I found on the counter when I came home from work. . .

Dress shirts- long sleeve
Penneys
size 16.5 x 35 only Stafford or Towncraft
white or light blue
I need 1 or 2 white and whatever
keep receipt.

There is so much wrong here. First of all, my dad is displaying his anal tendencies. He is anal about everything. Everything has to be convenient and perfect and done correctly the first time. Everything has to be exact, right down to the button. If its not practical- it should not exist. Secondly, he is risk averse. He sticks to what he knows works. We go to Fillipi's for lunch once a week and he gets the same Torpedo sandwich each time. I ask him how their pizza is - its an italian place. He doesn't know because all he has ever had in the three years he has eaten there is the same sandwich. Third- he asked for the receipt! Ok, its practical- but its a christmas gift! Fourth, the very fact that all he asked for was an item that he needed to carry out his functional purpose in life need no further explanation.

I am very much like my dad when it comes to many things- high level of motivation, work-aholic, always likes to stay busy, wacky sense of humor, Lubovich nose/eyes. But when it comes to function- we are complete opposites. I am typically: laidback, spontaneous, whimsical, sentimental, quixotic, big picture as opposed to "detail" oriented. My most commonly spoken phrases are "it'll work out", "look, sparkly!", "eh, don't worry" and "I need chocolate".

My reply to his "wish list" (more like "wish you would acquire the true spirit of Christmas-list") was. . .

Santa doesn't keep receipts.
Santa says Daddy will like whatever Santa's elves make.

For years we have been working on my dad's fashion sense. I think between my sister and I that we can bring a little metrosexuality into his life. I invision that he will be wearing some trendy striped colored shirts in the near future with matching power ties. Hey, its better than a wand and tiara for department head meetings!

But I guess you can never fully take closet tradegy out of the lives of the fashion impaired.

Chicagsnow

Chicago in the winter is beautiful. Today I am missing the snow angels, anonymous "butt imprints" I used to make in my neighbors' yards, and the occasional drive-by snowball throwing.
Last winter I forced my roomate Jessica to parade in the fresh falling snow with me. We threw off all inhibitions and acted like children again.

I love: the way numb cheeks thaw in a heated apartment, watching snow fall on the street below from the comfort of our living room love seat, the refreshing feeling of snowdampened hair as I pull off my cotton snowcap.

ME

Until college, I led the sheltered life of a Bainbridge Islander. On the island, I developed the local, home-grown sense of suffocation from surreality that plague those who yearn for a connection to the real world.

My childhood: running through spirinklers on sunny green lawns, stomping in puddles in ladybug boots along my long private driveway, constant love and attention from my stay-at-home mom (who only threatened to belt whip us out of love), saving the world from Shredder with my ninja turtle skillz.

In highschool, being a ninja turtle got a little old. I began my pursuit for the Truth amongst my many crushes on boys, spending every afternoon competatively running around in circles, and eating up everything I was fed in my classes.

I ran away from paradise and sought refuge in Chicago for a taste of reality. I lived the life of a big-city girl. I navigated the streets of Rogers Park and its homeless population with daring and bravery. I became an experienced user of mass transportation through many sketchy adventures on the "el" and by frequently utilizing Chicago's luxurious (cough*) public bus matrix. I can describe taking the el as a $2.50 round trip urban safari, where the local inhabitants can be observed up close in their natural environment- crowded days it can also function as a handson urban "petting safari"- not so cool.

By the end of my three years in Chicago, I was one of the locals. I grew accustomed to seeing a White Hen located on each street corner, and the multitude of unkept, crusty men who prey on young adults. I became desensitized to poverty, homelessness, hearing gunshots fired next door, cold windy winters, street-flooding summers, e-coli infested Lake Michigan beaches, and (gasp!) snow that sticks to the ground.

Now I have graduated and am suffering from the pleasant mild shock of rural beauy overload. I have moved back home in order to spread my experience of enlightenment (for example, it CAN snow in March, pizza does taste better with a deep dish crust, wow- people in Wisconsin really Do wear cheese hats)- a decision represented well in Socrates' cave analogy. I'm getting used to drinking alcoholic beverages from something other than red plastic cups, paying over $2.50 for a gallon of gas, and sacrificing some of my wild college living and freedoms for free room and board at the bed and breakfast that is my parents home.

I am getting accustomed to the real working world with my first full-time position ever. I am involved in Public Affairs for a regional Housing Authority and local Redevelopment Agency. I have stumbled upon some startling realizations: in the working world, you don't get a month off for the Christmas (sorry, Holiday) Season. You can't put off projects until the night before they are due. You have to answer your cell phone- even when its someone you dont like. You don't get to buy cool new books each semster. There are no CLIFF notes for real life.

I no longer feel like I am living in between class and library hours. My entire day is full of what I call "living". With my full time, best ever boyfriend, I still manage to find time for work, filling out law school application and spending time with family. My life is full to the max but I feel like I am on the right track and I love it. I love the pacific northwest with a passion, but am beginning to miss Chicago- it is also proving difficult to keep the passion in my long distance relationship with my partner in crime and roomate.

Sometimes I feel like my adventures contain all the ingredients for a successful comedic sitcom. For that very reason, I have started this blog. I have just upgraded my already high nerd status.