03/26/2007: "Evil Rangers on Planet Earth"

music: Clannad
mood: Monday. Really? I See.

Well, Happy Spring now that it has sprung and I hope everyone has been taken advantage of the weather out here at least. This weekend was a motley mix of activity and non-activity. Plans were changed, interrupted, and deterred all over the place but all was taken in stride for a girl who isn't used to change. Here are the highlights...

Everyone was kung fu fighting: Got comps to the Shoalin Monks at the Calirfornia theatre in San Jose on Friday. After an excellent PF changs dinner and a leisurely walk amongst a slew of Kansas and UCLA basket ball fans, my love and I were treated to stunning kung-fu demonstrations. It was hard not to quote Mortal Kombat during the sparring, and impossible to prevent the gasping and oohing and awing. I caught just a 20 minute demo last summer and this full on performance was absolute magic. My brother once said we can all use a little more kungfu in our lives. I have to agree. "FINISH HIM!" too awesome.

The Yin and Yang of Jack Black: Saw Pick of Destiny and as much as I wanted to enjoy this film, I really do thing you had to be on some serious drugs after the first 25 minutes to enjoy it. Just weird. I fell asleep. Mind you I had a very comfy pillow made of Hamish to fall asleep on, but really, bad movie. Can't give it more then 2 RRD's. On the other had, Jack is executive producing a show on VH1 or MTV called "Acceptable TV" 5 short pilots are shown and you vote for the 2 you like best and the winning ones get to make a new episode and have it shone. GREAT idea, short bits, clever stuff. I hope it survives.

Planet Earth: A new series on the Discovery Channel used the most advanced and unique filming photography to film the planet in action. From blue whales and sharks to moving herds of carobo, polar bears, rare russian leopards, and African animal chases that will blow you away, this show, 5 years in the making and narrated by Sigourney Weaver is AWESOME. "Where the @#*$@#$ is the camera!" is all we find ourselves saying throughout the show and then for the last 10 miuntes of each episode they SHOW you how they got the shots. Stunning. JUST stunning. It's definately aimed at conservation and showing some very rare bits of nature (some very gruesome admittedly) but if you have a chance, just check it out.

Banditas: How can you NOT rent a movie called Banditas with Selma Hayek and Penelope Cruz? I mean please. It's a moral imperative. We did. And....it was exactly what you expect. 3 1/2 RRD's for no surprises, but some fun and cheesy dialogue, some nice costuming, and great horse stunts.

Evil Rangers: I'll spare the details, but during yesterdays intended four wheeling excusion to Hollister we found ourselves lock in I kid you not, "area 5". We THOUGHT we were in the "day use area" but we were in a special area we were so not supposed to be in for some reason. We thought nothing of it when the gate was open and there were other people there. We picniced and fixed my headlights, but the realized we had been locked in by an evil ranger. During the 5-10 minutes we tried to explore a side road to see if we could get out, the others in the area somehow left, and the assumption was THEY had a key or combination. Doh! We were very stuck and none too please. Good thing we had radios, and radioed over to Justin who we had only caught a 30 second glance of an hour before. How cool is it taht becuase he works at the radio station and the radio towers use standard PG and E pad locks, that he was able to just come unlock it for us. A mile walk to the ranger station wouldn't have been the end of the world, but still, tres irriating. Justin therefore gets the hero of the week award. The Evil Ranger that locked us in however does not.

BABY!: Welcome to the world Alberto Escabedo, Espe's Brother's new son!