Friday the 13th: It's Boyfriend's Best Thing

No, he's not superstitious, he just really loves the Friday the 13th movies.

I'm not going to even try to write about them because horror movies are NOT my best things and I pretty much avoid them.  But for those of you who are interested, the first and sixth installments are playing tonight at the Vista theater in Hollywood.  More info here:  http://www.creaturefeatures.com/2011/12/friday-the-13th-screening/

Have fun!

Random Video Wednesday: IMBT

This is quite possibly the funniest video I have ever seen:

Alana, Age 6, Best Beauty Pageant Kid, Ever | Break.com

I shared it on FB yesterday and surprisingly it got no responses.  No comments, no likes, nada.  But I did separately share it with one friend of mine who I knew would appreciate it.  She agreed that it was hilarious, re-posted and her friends loved it.  So at least I know it wasn't just me.

I love that it's "Extreme Couponing" and "Toddlers & Tiaras" combined.  I love the way Alana talks.  I love how much she loves her belly.  I especially love that the camera crew can't even keep it together.

Here's the extended version from YouTube in case you want just a little bit more Alana or were just too lazy (no judgement!) to follow the link:

That is all I have for today - it's a slow week, what can I say?

HAPPY FRIDAY!!! It's EVRYONE'S best thing! (1/6 Edition)

First:  A huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! to my roomie Aaron (who will probably never read this).

Me & Aaron - probably at least 4 or 5 years ago

Second:  IT'S BAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!  America's favorite Guidos & Guidettes and the inspiration for this blog returned to TV last night.  Did you watch?  Did you catch these gems from PaulyD and The Situation?:

"I'm tanorexic!"
"I just have unbelievable genetics."

Truth be told, it wasn't the most exciting or interesting episode.  The most surprising part was that they picked up *right* where we left off with them departing from Italy and returning directly to the shore house.  No wonder the break seemed so short.  But frankly I'm getting tired of Mike starting fake drama - who gives a sh*t at this point whether or not he hooked up with Snooki?  Let's move on please.  I just hope Vinny doesn't leave for good - the show just won't be the same!

image source: mtv.com

Third:  Has anyone out there been watching the HBO* Sports Documentary Series "24/7Road to the Winter Classic"?  The last of four episodes aired last night and I just want to say how much I enjoyed it.  The series follows the two teams who have been selected to play in the NHL Winter Classic - an outdoor hockey game played on New Year's Day (or in this year's case, the day after) - in the weeks leading up to it.

image source: projects.accessatlanta.com

Boyfriend first got me into the show last year (in it's first season) when it featured the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals.  As you know, he's a huge Pens fan and was understandably very excited for both the show and the Winter Classic.  I didn't expect to like it, but the storytelling - both the stories themselves and the "how on earth did they get those shots??" moments (I'm referring primarily to camera, but also to hockey) - just sucked me in.  Since Boyfriend had managed to get tickets to the Winter Classic (being played at the Steelers' stadium in Pittsburgh), and since I was driving down from Cleveland to go with him, I was extra invested.

This year featured the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers - two teams I knew NOTHING about, but now can name at least 5-10 of the players & coaches off the top of my head.  Once again I was sucked in by the superb storytelling, only this time I didn't have any biases going in.

image source: tonightshealthyscratches.com

My favorite moment over the four episodes was probably when my new crush, Rangers Center Brian Boyle, dressed up as Buddy the Elf (see left) for the Rangers Christmas party.  They used the soundbite of him yelling out "SANTAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!  I KNOW HIM!!!" at least twice, which made me very happy (I love that movie so much).  The show also followed him to his family's Christmas dinner where we met his TWELVE siblings!!  And then of course my least favorite moment was when they showed him making out with his date(? hopefully not girlfriend?) on NYE.  Vom.

I'm dying to know what they shoot on, as it looks f*cking amazing.  The interviews in particular are lit SO WELL - huge props to the DP and camera teams on this show.  I'm also dying to know how many crews there are and how the producers map out when to shoot and who to follow.

By the way, I'm not the only one who finds the show fascinating.  Check out this write-up in the New York Times, this write-up on ESPN.com, and this write-up on NHL.com (who I guess kind of have to like it, but whatever).  The bottom line, as ESPN puts it, "For a fan of the game at any level, the HBO experience gives us the game shot through a completely different prism.  At its best, the HBO series continues to tell us hockey stories in terrifically unique ways and show us things that even those of us intimately involved in the game don’t see."

If you missed the series and want to see what all the fuss is about, sign on to HBOGo - there are a few short, promo-y videos and the full Episode 1.  The rest of the episodes will undoubtedly be added soon.  Trust me, you won't regret it.

*An an employee of HBO I am required to say: These are my own views and they donʼt necessarily reflect the views of HBO.

Last:  I leave you with this incredible selection of photographs - hopefully it will put a smile on your face as we break for our first weekend of 2012.  My favorite is below.

Happy Friday Y'all!!

Kicking Bad & Initiating Good Habits: [Hoping Will Become] My [New] Best Things

image source: thegloss.com

Everyone has a nervous habit or two, right?  Well, being the generally anxious person I am, I have lots of them.  The worst one is probably my tendency to pick my lips when I'm stressed (primarily) or bored (secondarily).  My dentist recently yelled at me for doing it, saying that I'm "lacerating" them.  While that word is a bit dramatic, the picking does occasionally get to the point where my lips end up bleeding (which can't be good).  A lot of the time I'm not even fully aware that I'm doing it.  At the end of my dentist appointment, when we were talking about other bad habits of mine (back to those in second), she actually swatted my hand away as I subconsciously reached up to start picking.  Oy vey.

Coincidentally (or not?) two of my other very bad habits (well, one is a bad habit, the other is the lack-thereof of a GOOD habit) also have resulted in damage to my mouth (hence the extended wrist-slapping from the dentist): I grind my teeth and I don't floss as regularly as I should.  The grinding I'm not sure I actually have much control over (other than trying to stop right away when I feel myself doing it during waking hours [I can't exactly walk around with my mouth guard in all day, can I?]), but the flossing officially needs to be stepped up.

Seeing as we are now 4 days into 2012, I'm hereby making resolutions to curb the picking and amp up the flossing this year.

HOW I will be able to stop picking after 20 odd years of doing it I'm not entirely sure.  Some basic google searching has taught me that it is a pretty common OCD behaviour in the vein of Trichotillomania, and therefore therapies used to treat manifestations of OCD are often suggested.  The first step is identifying WHY and WHEN.  Answer: see above (though this is boiling it down to the very basics).  The second step is to learn alternate coping strategies including "instruction in competing motor responses that actually prevent you from picking - for example, keeping your hands busy by holding and squeezing a rubber ball whenever you feel the urge to pick at your skin."  A supportive/sympathetic friend recently gave me a large packet of information from the OCD center of LA to read over, which I will begin to tackle tonight.

As for the flossing, I have already been making a concerted effort to floss every day.  Over the holiday break I missed a couple days, but I've been really trying.  I think it will be easier for me to pick up this new good habit than to stop the bad one.  We'll see how it all goes.

If anyone has any suggestions, stories, or words of wisdom in this department, please comment below - I could really use the encouragement!

Also, what are your resolutions for 2012?  I've seen this list popping up on the interwebs if you need some inspiration...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Looking forward to sharing many more Best Things with you in 2012!