We made our registry appointment for the Hecht's in Bowie Town Center (a new shopping center about 15 minutes from our house). The women in the registry department were so rude and lazy. They barely wanted to help us. Basically, she took my name and handed me the scan gun.
John and I had a difficult time finding a china pattern in the price range we wanted... and we weren't sure what to do. Finally, we decided to go with a more expensive setting because it was the only one we agreed on.
So we go to scan it and can't even find a box with the placesetting in it. We found one plate. So I go to one of the useless "bridal consultants" and ask for help. They can't find it either. So, I say, how am I supposed to expect my guests to buy this, if I can't even find one to scan. She blinks at me.
Next I say, what about your Annapolis store? Do they have it? She finally gets her act together to call and they have it. Instead of taking the sku number she wrote down, I tell them we're going to that store to register.
That was THE smartest move. The entire time we were in the Bowie Hecht's we were curious why we needed to make an appointment if the "bridal consultants" barely spoke and couldn't answer any questions. At the Annapolis store we had a perfect experience. The woman took us step by step through picking the china, stemware and flatware. She set the setting in front of us so we could see it all together. Then she broke down the additional pieces and when we were done, she gave us the gun and set us free in the home store.
We had a ball. It took forever, so we got overwhelmed and didn't register for too many things. But, we were so glad we went to a new store that actually provided assistance and advice.
Today, Robyn and I booked our 15-day Hawaii Honeymoon. Woo Hoo! Too bad we have to wait until next year to actually go.
Well... this weekend Robyn and I saw Pirates of the Caribbean with our friend Sharon. We weren't sure what to expect from this one, since the previews weren't very telling. Actaully, I had pretty high hopes because it was an unknown to me.
And, I'm glad to say that we all enjoyed it very much. It payed homage to the Disney ride in places, which tickled me, since I've been on that ride many times. The movie was funny, swashbuckling, adventurous, and about all I'd want in a Summer movie. Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow was great. He was kinda weird, but it was great. (apparently Depp modelled the character after Rocker Keith Richards). Not sure what else to say about this movie except that I highly recommend it.
This is only loosely related to our wedding planning. But, we signed up for swimming lessons yesterday. We'll be taking them at a community college, since private lessons are so expensive.
Hopefully, after the lessons are over, we'll be able to go snorkeling in Hawaii. It's been years since I've done more than get into a pool and jump around. I had lessons as a child, but it must not be like riding a bike because I don't remember how. Therefore, I can't get into water that's over my head. Being only 4'11"... that's not very deep water that I can stand up in.
I know everyone wakes up on the wrong side of the bed once in a while. You look at the clock, you look at the bed. You look at the glaring unforgiving beast that is your clock and you look at the soft warm welcoming arms that are your bed...
And a voice in your head softly whispers go back to sleep...
I started to listen to that voice this morning and at the last minute, an attack of conscience pulled me away and I rushed to get ready for work afterall. So I rush to the MARC train station only to discover that the 6:59 train was cancelled. So the next train isn't far off, 7:12, not so bad, right?
Wrong. A new schedule has changed the 7:12 train to 7:19. What time does that train show up? 7:30. So I get on the very late train and I'm sitting there politely reading my book when a suspicious feeling settles over me... where's my purse?
Where IS my purse? AT HOME! I'm on the train to DC and my purse is at home. No money. No Metro fare card. Nothing. So I tell the woman I'd been talking to at the train station that I was going to have ride the train right back home because I'd forgotten my purse.
Well, now comes the truly bright spot in my dark morning. This woman offers to loan me money and a spare fare card. But, that's not all. The woman next to her, whom I don't know at all hands me a Metro fare card with OVER $17 on it. I tried to give it back, but she insisted that I take it. She was so sweet! So, there are still nice/generous people in the world. It's a shame I'm so shocked and amazed when I come across them.
The new season of Big Brother started last night. I know, I just can't seem to stay away from these reality shows. I have to admit, this season's twist has me shouting out like season 3's Dani: SCANDALOUS!
Five of the 13 big brother houseguests were surprised on the first night with the news that their ex boyfriend or girlfriend would be living with them on the show. So that makes ten people with a prior relationship in the competition. Three people got off easy. I wonder if they'll do better than the ten folks struggling with their exes on the scene...
The idea of potentially spending three months with an ex is just the worst torture I can think of. Sure, not everyone hates their ex-loves, but I sure do hate most of mine. I think I would definitely exit stage left if I found myself in that postion.
Now, that I've appropriately expressed my moral outrage I can say that this twist will make it WAY fascinating to watch. Here is some built in potential for violence or sex. I would never instigate a train wreck, but if one takes place right before my eyes, I wouldn't turn away.
So, now I'm sitting back to watch the train wreck that is sure to be season 4 of Big Brother.
Okay, John talked about the theater shows we saw over the holiday weekend, these are my thoughts on the rentals we watched.
How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days
I didn't rush out to see this when it was in the theaters because I thought it might be a bit painful to watch Kate torture Mathew, and I wasn't entirely wrong. At times I wondered if a woman could really live with herself after treating another person to some of the antics in this movie. But, it wasn't as bad as I thought and ultimately gave me the requisite warm fuzzies. Plus Mathew takes his shirt off quite a bit. Okay, John, you didn't read that.
The Transporter
Depite the fact that John kept wanting to call this movie the Trainspotter, it wasn't bad for a B movie. I'd seen none of the actors before, but they were pretty good and the action was just fine. Even the thin plot managed not to fall apart. So, not a bad way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Deliver Us From Eva
I didn't know about this movie when it hit the big screen but it's all over Blockbuster, so I gave it a try. It was difficult to watch at first because the main character Eva gives Attila the Hun look sweet. Really, they made her a major beyotch! And when her brother's-in-law were plotting to get her out of their hair, I would have cheerfully suggested murder. But L.L. Cool J. saves the day and really made this movie watchable. I'm all for movies with a happy-ending, so if you're interested, give it a try.
After the disaster that Charlie's Angels 2 turned out to be, I'd wondered if I would be suckered into ever seeing a sequel again.
Well of course I would be. Nothing like the promise of more of a good thing. That's what a sequel is supposed to be. The RETURN of something that I liked before. In that spirit, Robyn and I saw TWO movies today and here's what I thought:
T3: Rise of the Machines
I had low expectations for this movie. I mean what else could they do with this franchise? And how old does Arnold look these days? Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The movie entertained me. It's not a cult classic like the first movie or a groundbreaking, looks-what's-new in sci-fi action movies like T2, but it entertained. The new kid playing John Conner was more than acceptable for more. (That other kid annoyed me quite a bit anyway). Arnold looked good. Hollywood and Steroids can do wonders I guess. The action was.. well ACTION. The humor was there and not laborous as I thought it might have been. The new Terminatrix was an interesting twist, but her "character" was lifeless, but what do you expect from a cybernetic organism? The can't all say, "Hasta La Vista, Baby" and "Tell it to the Hand". Bottom line, it's good, but this should be it.
Now on to Legally Blonde 2.
I was REALLY worried about this one. The first movie was very funny, but would this be a Charlie's Angels where they just accentuated to the nth degree the parts of the first movie in the sequel. Well, in a way, "Yes", but they were more sucessful in making it enjoyable. Must be the fact that Reese Witherspoon is more likeable than the vacuous Cameron Diaz. There were moments in this movie that made me cringe because the storyline wasn't as compelling as the first, but deep down, I like Elle Woods so it was easier to allow the moments of sequelity in this movie. And the intern dance number? I'll just pretend that never happened. Bottom line, it's okay, but PLEASE no more.