My friend and former co-worker Adam once accused me of not liking movies very much.

After the initial moment of indignation I felt, I realized that he was probably right.

“What?!” you exclaim. “Everyone likes movies! Not liking movies is like not liking music!”

Well, yes and no.

I do like some movies, but we are talking about a very narrow selection that almost exclusively falls into the following genres: animated, fantasy, sci-fi (as long as it isn’t Star Wars Episodes 1-3), Shakespearean comedies, musicals, and Jane Austen-era historical flicks. I like my cinematic experiences to be pure escapist experiences with happy endings. If I wanted bad news and a depressing denouement, I could just turn on the national news for free, which is why I won’t pay to see big budget dramas, disaster movies, horror movies, pure action flicks, artsy small-budget films, B-movie cult classics, biographies, war movies, dysfunctional family dramas, and Tarantino movies. I don’t care much for moronic comedies like the Naked Gun/Airplane/Hotshot movies either and cringe through what I call humiliation-based comedies that ride on the repeated embarrassment or debasement of one character to bring on the laughs.

When it comes to emotional upheavals, I prefer mine to come in print form.

Anyway, this whole train of thought was brought on by today’s company-subsidized movie outing to see King Kong at Disney-MGM. I went in with no expectations because I have no particular love for the KK story or genre and came out just thinking the movie was OK. The special effects were well-done, but really, there were moments where I felt like I was trapped in Matrix 2 during the endless fight scene on top of the semi-truck. Yes, yes, King Kong can kick ass, but could we puh-leeeeaaase get on with the plot now? If you are an animal lover, you might want to bring a Kleenex or two because there are a few tear-jerking moments (Hey, I always cry when a fuzzy-face dies; the Lion King always gets me). If you are prone to noise-induced headaches like me, you might also want to bring a pair of earplugs because there is a LOT of roaring, crashing, crunching, and more roaring (simian, reptilian, human, you name it) at top volume in this movie. It is Jurassic Park loud, and I did indeed have a raging migraine by the time I left after over three hours of giant monkeyshines.

Oh yeah–that’s the other thing. The movie is just a bit over three hours long. If you or your kiddies can’t make it through 187 minutes without hitting the restroom, I suggest that you go during the first hour when the movie is mostly (slooooowly) introducing you to the characters and nothing of import happens. Once hour number two begins, it is pretty much nonstop action until the end, and there isn’t much point to seeing this one if you miss out on the good bits.

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Nutrition: Training Day Menu
(SGX nutrition details omitted by request of trainer)

1: PWO Dextrose/whey shake
2: SGX PWO Meal
3: SGX Meal
4: 1 slice banana protein bread
5: SGX Meal
6: SGX Meal

Daily Supplements: multivitamin with iron, calcium 500 + D, 1 T. flaxseed oil or natural peanut butter

Water: 16 cups minimum

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Workout:
8:00 AM Back/Biceps/Abs
12:00 PM LISS Run/Walk (4.0 mph/10% incline and 6.0 mph/0% incline; 45 minutes total)

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The Awful Truth:
1. Ugh…Too much dessert at the holiday party last night.

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Brownie Points:
1. Went grocery shopping.
2. Started to teach myself how to knit using Stitch ‘n’ Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook by Debbie Stoller
3. Cleared scary leftovers from the fridge.
4. Did the dishes.

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Short-term Goals:
1. Update HandBase workout module.
2. Work on paper doll book.
3. Work on holiday cards.
4. Get gym ID card.
5. Work through pile of mending and alterations in my sewing box.
6. Plan spring veggie garden.
7. Finish moving out of apartment.
8. Clean apartment.