Yep.

Today I went to see "Bye Bye Man" mostly because I had the day off

and I just needed to get out again. AND, I wanted some professional

popcorn. This movie came out two days ago and I thought there would

be a LOT of folks in the huge theater. Nope. Myself and about eight

others. THAT is great.

Well, it is kind of true what they say about a few movies released in

January. Some of them are forgettable. Bye Bye Man was fun, but for

the most part... forgettable. No spoilers. I rate this movie about 4 out of 10

Silver Coins. Save your money, unless you want some professional popcorn.

Oh, and I can't believe that Faye "Bonnie Parker" Dunaway showed up in

this movie. In 1967 she was a superstar. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) was a

groundbreaking movie. You just do not know how things are going to go

sometimes. Anyway...

 

I got this swell Rogue One cup!

I also got a really pretty cool poster for FREEEEE.

I will post a picture of it after I put it in a frame.

This is a little silver skull pin that I am pretty sure I bought

at an American Civil War reenactment (of all places)

about 25 years ago.

Happy Friday the 13th from Lizzy Tex Borden.

~ January 13th, 2017 ~

Last year for my birthday I received a gift card for Walmart and

I finally used it today. I was on the fence for a long time about which

blu-ray version of the Star Wars episodes IV through VI I wanted

to buy. Today I just dove in and bought this.

If I understand right, these versions have the dreaded George Lucas

CGI etc. additions that are loathed by Star Wars fans. Truth be told, and

let's keep this on the down low for fear I might lose my Fan Card,

I prefer these versions, a lot.

So I am happy to add this to my collection. Now, let's get that

Rogue One Blu-ray on the shelves.

 I went to see a movie of the type I don't usually go to a theater

to see... Manchester by the Sea. For films of this type, kind

of artsy-crafty non-action shows, I will wait for them to come

to DVD or Blu-ray. They don't require a huge screen to appreciate.

But I wanted to get off the ranch for a while AND

it stars one of my favorites, Casey Affleck. 

This movie was pretty darn good. Drama drama drama and holy cow,

some pretty radical family love and loss stuff happens. A little more than

halfway through the movie I still didn't feel like I cared a lot about the characters,

then they dropped the heavy stuff on us and I realized I was wrong. I definitely

suggest it to rent or buy. I will be buying when it comes out on Blu-ray.

And this next thought goes out to the patrons of this movie, and so many others

I have seen... The credits, music or sounds at the end of the movie are still a PART

of the movie. Will you please treat it as such. Some of you REALLY know how

to screw up five minutes of reflection time that can sometimes be really nice.

Please exit the theater or enjoy the credits QUIETLY.

Sheesh you guys.

I found a place for Harley Quinn.

For some reason I really enjoy this figure.

This is what I bought at Comics-N-Stuff on Thursday. Apparently

these Millennium Falcons were to be had at Taco Bell circa 1996.

They came with a "rip cord" that would fit into a hole underneath

the Falcon to be yanked out causing some sort of gyroscope action.

My Falcon did not come with the rip cord. I am good with that.

I think it looks cool just sitting there on the stand. The MF is my

favorite Star Wars vehicle followed closely by Snowspeeders.

 In one of the last days of my 2017 Birthday Week Extravaganza,

I pretty much just did my weekly shopping over at Walmart.

I did pick up this Justin Moore CD. I like it.

I wanted to see Jurassic World when it was in theaters but the reviews

were less than exciting so I didn't. Then I wanted the Blu-ray but the

prices..... ug. In Walmart today they had the Limited Edition (not SO

limited I would say) tin Blu-ray for only $9.88. So this was the time.

I will probably watch this one in a day or two.

And of course.... Pizza!

Cannot have a birthday without the favorite food.

Oh, and these are the movies I bought at FYE the other day.

Sushi Girl (which I know nothing about), King Kong and

The Living Dead Girl which was suggested to me years ago,

but I only found it today. It is probably not good, but I am curious.

It's been a really great week. I have not had nearly this much time off

since I started my current job some twelve years ago.

Back to it soon.

Another Birthday Week adventure awaits. Today I left

El Rancho De La Tex and it was raining out. Everything

was clean and the air was crisp. Great start.

First stop today was Boot Barn. I love this place. I don't

think I have been here for about seven months. Today I

am playing. Lot's of great stuff in there. More great hats.

Do not need another hat right now. Great jackets too.

Mucho dinero.

Today I bought this fun wall decor. It looks like old

Route 66 stuff to me. Kitsch and cowboy. Works for me.

This is what I really went in for today. Saw it online and

decided this would be my choice for today.

A closer look. I like this. I would like to find a just perfect

horseshoe ring as well. Something a little more expensive.

Now I am going to head over to the mall. They have a few

stores I like to visit. A DVD/Blu-ray/CD store, the Comics-N-

Stuff store and a Disney store.

Oh man. This mall is under heavy duty construction.

Half the stores are boarded up...

...including the Disney Store. The entrance to TDS WAS on the

right there, where the white wall is now. Oh well, I did get a few

movies at the video store, and a little something at Comics-N-Stuff.

I went into the arcade and played a few skee-ball games. I like to

take all the tickets I win and tuck them away in a corner in hopes

that some little kid will find them.

It's just about time to go home now, except I don't want

too. It is a wonderfully rainy, rainy evening out.

 I think I will stay and see a movie.

Yeah, there is a movie theater right

next to these little restaurants.

My favorite movie theater: a Regal Theater.

Great colors in here. It turns out that this theater has seats that recline,

BIG seats that recline... Big LEATHER seats that recline, and tables

that fold in so you can put your snacks right in front of you. This is

insane. It is like being at somebody's home theater, but a HUGE home

theater. Anyway, I had a great time in there even though I was sitting in

a packed theater with a couple on my left and a couple on my right.

So much room that it was fine.

And one more thing... When you buy your ticket at the box office, you

choose your seat from a chart, so your seat is your seat. Your seat

number is printed on your ticket. Unreal.

They serve alcohol in there as well.

I am not really thrilled about that.

The movie I saw was "Passengers" with Jennifer Lawrence and

Chris Pratt. That Chris, I am liking him more and more. The movie was

pretty good, kept me engaged, but nothing to write home about although

I will probably buy it when it comes out on Blu-ray. I give it about

6.5 out of 10 hibernation pods.

The movie let out just before 10 PM and I have about a 40 minute

drive back to El Rancho, so I guess it's time. Another great day.

Home again home again.

My Birthday Week continues! This is a great week. I've never

done this before. After running a few errands I went over to the

Family Christian Store as they sent a 40% off coupon to me for

my birthday. I made a small purchase there and then found myself

here at Barnes & Noble...

...searching for a couple of hours through the CDs and movies.

I ran across this Jim Nabors CD. I am sure most people (if ANY

people remember anymore) know Jim from his role as Gomer Pyle

on the Andy Griffith show and the TV show Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

But Jim is also a singer. My mom tells me that when I was young,

my dad (who always seemed to do a lot of stuff sans mom and I)

would go to The Horn, a club on Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica

and Jim would be doing his thing in there. When I see his CDs,

that is what always comes to my mind. I never went to The Horn

when I was older.

 

A year later, I am still trying to come to grips with this.

Hey! I found a Kenny G CD that I don't have! Now I have it!

Got to have Kenny.

A Harley Quinn coin bank in the clearance

section for six dollars! I have her now too!

Rob Roy for five dollars. I saw this movie a looooong time ago and

I think I enjoyed it. Time to find out if I remember right.

I paid for my stuff and on way out, right by the door was an older woman

that I had not noticed on my way in. I said hi to her and we struck up a

conversation. She was standing at a table that had a few books on it and

a large framed old photograph of folks standing in front of some boxcars.

Doris Martin was one of the young girls in that photo and they were on their way

to Auschwitz. Ms. Martin is a Holocaust survivor. She was at B & N selling

her book titled "Kiss Every Step". We talked for a while and there was no way

that I was going to leave Barnes & Noble without her book. I cannot even

imagine... What she and her family have been through...

Strength I will never know. Doris Martin is a delight.

More tomorrow. Early day coming up.

Stuff to do today! I got into my car and found that a bee was

about to hitch a ride to town on my windshield.

The last time this happened, the little feller rode pretty near

all nineteen miles to town with me. I had felt bad about taking

him away from all his friends and besides, we need all the

bees around here we can get, so I gave this guy the

windshield wiper treatment and off he flew.

First stop, yep.... favorite place. Coincidentally, while

I was taking this picture....

....a bee landed on my finger. I jumped and he jumped and I

took a picture of the side of a car. I had no idea

until I got the picture home....

....that the guy was in the frame. A split second ago

he was up on my finger. I wonder, could this be the same...
Naw, couldn't be. This must just be Bee Day.

Anyway.... Rogue One! I've been waiting for this. With

popcorn, Diet Coke and 3D glasses in hand, I'm a' goin' in.

All I'm going to say is, Rogue One was GREAT. If you are a

Star Wars fan, it is a must see. I rate the first half of this movie

8.5 Death Star Plans, and the second half, 10 Death Star Plans.

So overall.... TEN DEATH STAR PLANS. I now cannot

WAIT for it to come out on Blu-ray so I can watch it a few

more times. To me, an outstanding "Star Wars" movie.

I was so excited after seeing this movie I went against my

better judgment and a promise to myself that I would not

do this and I went over to Toys "R" Us to see if there was

something Rogue One I could buy to remember the day.

I found nothing that was worthy of Rogue One, but I did

find a good sale on two die cast helmets with stands. Kylo

Ren's helmet and Poe Dameron's helmet from The Force

Awakens. Didn't need, should not have purchased,

but I am ten.

One more thing for today. I walked by a Baskin-Robbins

ice cream store and thought "What the hay,

it is just after the holidays....

....I have not been to a Baskin-Robbins for more years than

a lot of folks have been alive, and I am betting they have

egg nog ice cream."

Yes, yes they did. And it was good. Beyond good.

Got to get back to El Rancho De La Tex for now.

More birthday week doin's for tomorrow.

I cannot believe all this time I have off.

It feels.... weird, but good.

- Prologue -

I requested a couple of days off for my birthday this week and

they gave them to me. And to my surprise they cut back on hours

this week after the holidays and I was given a BONANZA of time

off. I have more than a few days. I have at least one or two things

planned for every single day. FUN things for the most part.

No wasted time off here.

 

Today I made a drive over to Temecula California to visit their mall.

Years ago I used to go to this mall every once in a while to...

 

...buy a Coke, sit in the food court for hours, people watch and

listen to the sounds. I did that today and listened to my iPod. Busy

today. I had forgotten that everybody had today off. I thought school

would be back in session and folks would be heading into work.

Not so...

I also spent some time admiring the Lucky Coin I bought in one of

the shops. It will reside in the bottom of my purse to be seen perhaps

once every few weeks when I clean out the change. Don't judge.

Later, on my way out of the mall...

...I stopped back into the Disney Store to buy a die cast Stormtrooper

that I was thinking about buying. This guy is awesome. He will live

at home next to my die cast Darth Vader. "Look sir, droids..."

The sun is going down and it looks a little stormy. Time to head on

home. I have more plans for tomorrow and I have to get up early.

~ Happy New Year 2017 ~