AM~Erica Kicks Off Dumb & Dumber To Weekend

So anyway...

Last night was it!!!

My hubby & I got to go take in the movie...THE. MOVIE.

It's been 20 years...but we were SO excited to be able to go a day early, even!

That's right! If you remember, I got my hubby a REALLY DUMB BIRTHDAY GIFT. And he was SO excited about it!!

Actually, he was so excited, on Tuesday when we were getting our hair cut, he was talking to our hair stylist, Megi (love her!!), while at his turn in the chair. They were talking about our boys coming in on Thursday...and he wanted to make it very clear they had to be home before 8:00!! She said they would be done WAY before then...but he was so excited, he told her about his birthday gift & that we were, in fact, going to see "Dumb and Dumber To" on preview night!!

That's right, it wasn't that I just got my hubby a date night to see the sequel to the flick from our first date, or that it was on opening weekend...but...on preview night!!

So, when Thursday came around, I needed to get in a run, of course. I hadn't run in a week, it had been very cold, but I needed to get in that run! Since it was "Dumb and Dumber To" opening weekend, and the morning of our date, I felt the need to channel some Harry & Lloyd from "Dumb and Dumber" when they got to Aspen, California:

I had recently scored some pretty spectacular furry leg warmers on Halloween clearance, so I layered up, put on some layers including my ski bunny Fair aisle-style leggings as I topped everything with a red track jacket to mimic Lloyd's ski suit...then the furry leggings were the perfect addition to appear as furry boots!!

Oh yeah...I ran thru my 'hood like this! Would anyone really doubt? I do think I entertained about 3-4 trash trucks rolling thru the 'hood as I gagged on their exhaust. Whatever...it was all perfect for the day!

Oh...and I layered my socks, too. Because...uh...COLD!! So I also had some Fair aisle-patterned socks over my Batman & Robin socks. Duh! A total dynamic duo! Much like Harry & Lloyd...and my hubby & me. DUH!

Now that my spectacularly Aspen, CA-inspired running outfit had it's outing, I needed to focus on the excitement of the coming evening...

It was cold out (remember?), so I decided to go out & find long sleeves for hubby & me to wear under the snazzy tuxedo t-shirts. Only one left that happened in the color I needed...and in my size...and only one left in the color hubby needed that was in his size! It was meant to be!!

Then...off to find the absolute topper to our movie-date-going outfit: the hats!

I had to hope Party City might have something! After finding ONE orange top hat, I was thrilled!! However, in all of their solid color choices...pastels aren't exactly part of the repertoire...so I had to try to improvise...

I found a super cheap white, plastic top hat with a fake velvety-feel to it. So I got it, found some turquoise hairspray (cuz there wasn't any light blue), and then was gonna use light blue Sharpie for the under-plastic side of the brim that would show.

Uh...for the record...that hairspray was STINKY!! Whew!! But that's how it went. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to make an outfit work!

We got dinner, we got ourselves together, grabbed our hats, the sign...and off we went! The 8:00 showing (the first one) of the "Dumb and Dumber To" preview!!

We got to the theater, left our coats in the car, went to will-call to print our tickets as I carried this sign...

The girls behind the counter wanted a closer look at our sing...so I lifted it up for them to read. They gushed at how adorable that was & congratulated us and said they would worry about doing something silly & dorky like that!! LOL!! We took it as a compliment! Then...a couple guys seated close by wanted us to turn around so they could read our sign, too! They congratulated us, too, after saying how awesome this was!

Then we took our tickets to the ticket-taker-girl. She tore our ticket stubs & then wanted to read our sign...then she was SO close!

See that pic of us up there with the sign? Study it for a moment...
...did you catch it?

The ticket taker said, "That's awesome...but...shouldn't he be standing on the other side?"

*SNORT*

I told her it was part of the joke!!
Did you get it?

Well...believe it or not, she was the ONLY person since the sign was unveiled that even pointed out! When I told her it was part of the joke, she kind of laughed, then apologized for being blonde. She was, but I did tell her she's the only one who caught on to that part of the sign!

We then proceeded to the lobby & by the concession stands to see if we wanted anything. And I just stood there holding my sign. Just wanted to make sure everyone know EXACTLY why we were there!

We decided to wait a bit since we got there so early. Also, we could sense people reading our sign.

Next we killed a little time looking at posters of upcoming movies. Then we decided to make our way into the theater.

We weren't the first ones in there, but not many...so we got some amazing seats!!

Slowly, but surely (I know, I know..."Don't call me Shirley!"), people made their way in. Even though I put the sign away, people could turn the corner into the seating area, and then...*BOOM*...we were right there looking all Harry & Lloyd like. Some were entertained...

Now hubby decided he wanted something from the concessions. We were "debating" who should go get the stuff. I only wanted something to drink, but he wasn't sure totally...we finally decided he should go. And then, as if I couldn't save his seat...this happened:

Yep...the hat stayed. He didn't take the crowning glory of his outfit! *sigh* Whatever...

Eventually he got back...with a giant Coke for us to share & some M&M's...

He then proceeded to tell me about his encounter with the girl at the...uh...concession counter.
It was a counter encounter!! Bah-hahahaha...ha...ha...uh...no? OK, sorry...moving on...

Apparently, he got the the counter & the girl took his order. Then she calmly, in a monotone voice, asked him, "so, is it really you're birthday?" He was a bit thrown off & said that it was on Monday. She replied to him, "yeah. i saw the sign. happy belated birthday," then proceeded to just give him his order. He said it was so weird...and not even a birthday discount! Rude...

Then we got settled in...

...waited for the theater to get ridiculously full (some guy's team of sorts decided to come & fill the rest of the theater) and we were about to go on a long-awaited dumb trip! And we couldn't have been more thrilled!!

As I had said, were we expecting an epic cinematic plot? Nope. We were hoping it WOULDN'T be that!

My hubby heard a critic give a horrible review of it. Like, ripping it to shreds. You know what? If you enjoyed the first one, you can expect a lot of the same of the 2nd. If you saw it the first time, you'll see much of it again. Which is NOT bad!! Plus...we felt this one had more heart. Seriously! And...even though not many have seen it yet...I won't share the quotes we've already been using today. But we were entertained!!

Oh...and treat it like a Marvel movie & stay thru the credits. Trust me! Especially if you saw the first one!!

And my hat still stunk...

Now then...off to the next thing to plan. But I can't tell what it is yet...hehehe...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Has an Odd Romantic Moment

 So anyway...

Recently, my family went on vacation to Colorado. I have been teetering back-&-forth as to whether or not to share some of our adventures here like I did when WE WENT TO SEATTLE. So it might still happen...but I had to share a particular moment!

OK...just take note that my hubby & I found it very romantic for us...but there will be several of you shaking your heads, wondering what's wrong with us, be confused, or just laugh in amusement. Trust me: we understand all of these reactions. But it was great for us & that's all that matters! Each to their own, amm-i-rite? (Keep in mind the REDDIT PROPOSAL that worked for that couple...it's not for everyone, but it was great for them. OK?)

As we were planning our trip to Colorado, we built it around some amazing lodging that we found in Keystone. So that's the route we went in the family vacay planning. And in the planning stages, we realized we were fairly close to Breckenridge...which we've heard so much about!

I've been to Colorado 3 other times in my life. Breckenridge was not part of any of those trips, so I was stoked to check it out.

During this time, I was taking part in a summer photography challenge from my friend, David, thru his photography business HIPSTABEAR PHOTOGRAPHY. It was almost like a scavenger hunt to try to get great shots of any or as many of the 100 possible topics given. Since we were getting ready to travel, I wanted to plan ahead to see if I could try to get any of these while in Colorado.
One of the shots being asked for was a building location where a movie had been filmed. So I started doing some research as to movies that were possibly filmed in Colorado to see if I could pin down a location or two. And guess what! GUESS WHAT-GUESS WHAT-GUESS WHAT!!! I could not have been more ridiculously excited than to come across a particular movie that had apparently been filmed in Breckenridge!!

Folks, Breckenridge had been filmed as Fake Aspen. And in Fake Aspen is where a few shots of an important movie in hubby's & my relationship happened to be filmed. But I had to pinpoint the spot! And it took ridiculous study of movie stills to find the right spot. But we found it! And it was one of the most exciting moments for me in all of our Colorado trip!!

Do you recognize it? It's where Harry & Lloyd went to Aspen!

Wait...did you ask who Harry & Lloyd are? Let me refresh your brains for a moment:

Yes!! It's from the movie, "Dumb & Dumber"!

"...He must work out..."

Wait...are you scratching your heads? Shaking them?? Again, allow me to refresh your memory...or introduce you as to why this movie is considered so romantic to us. It's a part of our MODERN DAY FAIRY TALE.

So we had a full-circle moment that meant a lot to us. And in a beautiful area, I might add...
And when we go back (yes...I said 'WHEN'), we may very well stay in the very romantic & beautiful Fake Aspen!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica is Still Sharing Christmas

So anyway...

I know after a HARSH POST TO START THE NEW YEAR, I realized I hadn't caught you all up on the conclusion of our NEW FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRADITION and it's FOLLOW UP about what the next ones were...but never gave the conclusion. And...I know you were just holding your breath, waiting to hear how we finally did it...

Amm-I-rite?

Well, you are a funny color of blue-purply...I don't even know what color that is. So let it out & I will be happy to share with you the last couple of movies & treats we went to for newfound tradition of picking Christmas movie & Christmas treat...

So....since there is a BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN OUR HOUSE right now, it took us a while to get thru everyone's picks. I've already shared the first 5 rounds with you...so here's the wrap up with the final 2:


6. "The Grinch" with milk chocolate AND dark chocolate cordial cherries

7. "Scrooged" with Riverboat Red: Smooth Sweet Red wine/Welch's Sparkling Red grape juice

Overall...what a fun tradition this was to start!! And, with 7 of us choosing this time (it will be less next year, I'm sure), we still had several movies & specials we would have liked to get into the mix. So...maybe we will each get double orders next year. But who knows? It was all so much fun anyway!

We do already have some other traditions we'd like to start next year. It was a bit hectic to start them this time around. But everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Now we will have some rules with our newfound tradition to enforce next year:

A. Everyone participates...no matter who picked the movie/treat & what it is! (however, some exceptions can be made in treats if an individual does not like what was chosen)

2. Absolutely no extra electronic gadgets! Participating in a family thing is mandatory! We are creating memories, dang it!

III. (this one has not been fully discussed, but I'm putting it out there anyway) We all get in our pajammies! Oh yeah! I mean...why not?

OK...now I think you all are caught up with our traditions & our SEATTLE FAMILY TRIP. I don't think I'm behind in filling you all in with much more. WHEW!!!

The only thing left is to remind you that the 12 Days of Christmas is going on right now. December 25th begins the 12 days. And whoever is giving their true love so many birds needs their head examined! We are on day 9 today. So we have gotten past any of the gifts for the birds...and now it calls for ladies dancing. Simmer down, people...I'm not exactly going to give you that...but...how about 9 Lady Dancers?

Yes...I am one of these 9 Lady Dancers in this fabulously early 90's dance pic.

And...we decided to keep up our Christmas tree(s) up until Epiphany...you know, the 12th day of Christmas! This is a huge change for us. But I like it. Oh...look! Another traditions change/start!

We are on the ball!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Has a SUPER Crazy Weekend

So anyway...

This past weekend is one that had a lot going on & hard to keep up with. Yes it's Wednesday...but it's been crazy, just like I said. Still wanna know about it? If so, keep reading. If not...run now.

So...who's still with me for the ride? Ready? Here...we...go...!

Just something to keep in mind when you read this is the fact that it has weird holiday-type stuff involved. Understood?

OK, we are going to begin with Friday. It's a very good place to start, since it starts the weekend. This past Friday had a couple of things going on. Since it was May the 4th, it's Star Wars Day. You know...May the Fourth be with you! I also feel like I need to respond with, "And altho with you." (Yes, it's a churchy-liturgically thing...but that's how it goes.)

But then, scheduled to overshadow Star Wars Day, was a very anticipated event: the opening day of "The Avengers" movie! This created Uber Geek Day!

So, who holds non-Star Wars related events on Star Wars Day besides the Avengers? Schools.

That night, lil guy had his school carnival...and...teen boy had his 8th grade dance. So...looked like watching 'The Avengers' on opening day was out. So, we dropped off teen boy at his school & then accompynied lil guy to his school carnival. After we had our fill of that, we went back home. Hubby texted teen boy to see how late we should pick him up & got a response of "as late as possible". WHOA! Teen boy, God love him, is awkward. He is...so to hear this was really kinda awesome! I told hubby to text back that we say hi to the girl. *snicker* But all of this was done after we had dinner. Which was not Star Wars or Avenger themed.

My nerdness needs to find a Star Wars cookbook so I can actually make meals for this that aren't just snacky food. And next year, Star Wars Day will collide with the Kentucky Derby.

But this year, the Kentucky Derby (Race for the Roses) fell on Cinco de Mayo. That's an interesting collision, for sure! The race happens on the 1st Saturday of May. So...a big hat was in order! But so was a fiesta with it being Cinco de Mayo. This is what I wore out of the house later that day:

I put together that big ol' hat. And those shoes are from my shoe blog. They are number 18. It has a fun fiesta-like feel to the outfit & still pays homage to major event at Churchill Downs. Can you imagine the looks I got when I walked into Walmart? There could be pix of me on the PeopleOfWalmart.com website. But I'm not sure.

The biggest reason I said I wore this later in the day was because I could not wear the hat to the theatre. That would've been rude. But my kiddos wore outfits to pay tribute to some Marvel superheros that we were about to watch. Yes...we partook in the watching of 'The Avengers' on opening weekend! We went 1st thing in the morning to catch the 9:40 showing so we would only have to pay $5.00 for each of us to get in. Ummmm...SOLD OUT. Figures. So we shelled out the moolah for the 3D version so we wouldn't have to wait 2 hours & be watching a nearly 2 & a half hour movie during lunchtime. Great movie! Lots of action & humor...didn't need the 3D. But we are dying to go back & contribute more to it's box office intake.

Later we needed to pick up my stepdaughter from the airport, who is in town for the next week for my MIL's wedding. (Oh yes...we are in the midst of all of that, too.) So we got her in & we had enchiladas (duh...Cinco de Mayo) & fake strawberry margaritas.

On a nerdy note...I heard May 5th also referred to as "Revenge of the 5th". *snort giggle* So. Funny.

So...after all of that, are you as worn out reading it as I was living it?

Trust me...there will be more exciting things to come. You just wait...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

A Situation of AM~Erica Witnessing Social Manners

So anyway...

Many of you who keep up with my blog know the kind of week I had. You will also know about my celebrating Dr. Seuss' Birthday earlier this month. So would you believe if I told you that my family & I JUST saw 'The Lorax' yesterday at the movie theatre? Well...believe it.

I got to be a part of the movie review when I celebrated Seuss' birthday in St. Louis...however, even though I was invited into the shot by the show's star...the fill in anchor for the segment wasn't fond of me there, I don't think. Watch & notice how she deliberately ignores me. It's fantastic! KEVIN'S REEL WORLD: THE LORAX (featuring Margie Ellis)

Wasn't that entertaining? And yes, sadly, she was that rude. I was floored. When I was in StL, I always enjoyed her ON AIR personality. When I was in studio & saw her OFF air...different story. Seriously.

This is one of my points of Social Manners. Are they completely gone? Well, just for some people...strangely, it was a movie about such caring that drew this nasty attitude during the review. And I won't even talk about what happened off camera during that segment. Not so publicly. Yeah...it wasn't good. That's just sad to have an attitude like that when talking about a movie with such heart & care.

This leads me to more Social Manners that people need to learn. I was SO happy to be able to finally see 'The Lorax'! It was done beautifully. I think it would have done Theodore Geisel very proud. It was so entertaining, but still bluntly delivered a message that still needs to be heard. It just did it in a different way...and it still amazes me how ahead of the times Dr. Seuss was with this story. I want to see it again. Really. But this time in a different environment (no pun intended). I say that because of what was going on around us as our family was trying to enjoy the movie. My hubby did an amazing & poignant blog post on it, so I will let him tell our experience by his venting right here.

I wish he had been exaggerating in his telling. But no. It was heartbreaking that we just saw this amazing movie about caring for our surroundings, and then there were people who literally left the movie theatre in shambles...they learned nothing! Just because it's animated doesn't make it any less meaningful.

I remember when 'Avatar' came out, people talked about how you would almost hate humankind after watching it. And that was in a movie. We witnessed this ugliness in a reality check AFTER seeing a movie that is trying to reach humans.

Where have we gone wrong, people? My heart was truly broken witnessing the mess these sad humans left behind. We did talk to our kids about how you don't do things like that...no matter what movie you just saw.

I must say that 'The Lorax' has exposed more than environmental issues. It has exposed the sad lack of Social Manners in people. Weird, but true.

Truth stranger than fiction? 'The Lorax' almost proves that.

Please, people...FIND & exercise your Social Manners. Faith in humankind can begin with me, with you, and will everyone who looks in their hearts to finds it within them to care for anyone & anything around them. Gracefully.

Now, if you haven't seen 'The Lorax'...then find a way! Be thoroughly entertained & be sure to LEARN from it! And be sure to be a courteous movie-goer in the process.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Trek AM~Erica

So anyway...

This weekend is a busy weekend in our house: my older son left with his church choir, the Music Makers, this morning with several other 4th & 5th graders to visit the Heifer International ranch in Arkansas. This is to see where the money they raised goes to. Their choir put on an amazing musical called "Technicolor Promise". It's a fresh & fun retelling of Noah's ark while set to music. Fifty-three (or so) 4th & 5th graders created a 60 ft. ark in the sanctuary & became animals upon the ark. Truly amazing. In the process, they were trying to raise money for Heifer International & wanted to raise $5,000 to fill an ark. The kids were shocked & excited to find out that they raised enough to fill THREE arks! That's $15,000, folks! Heifer International was so amazed by this feat, they invited the choir to the ranch for a chance to see what their efforts helped go toward. Unbelievable experience.

Then, my daughter is set to be confirmed at church tomorrow afternoon! YEA!! This is a really big deal to her & us. This is the point where she decides that she fully accepts her responsibility in her part of the relationship into this marriage with the church she attends. A very big deal, indeed!

Oh, yeah...and Mother's Day comes in there somewhere, too...

But...I would like to talk about another event this weekend: the release of "Star Trek".

I want to preface this by saying that I am not necessarily a fan, but more or less grew up in a Trekkie home, so therefore having Star Trek knowledge & trivia ingrained into my brain. My father owns blueprints to all of the Enterprise ships, a Technical Manual, toy phasers from 1970-something, and the infamous Klingon dictionary. Ah, the dictionary - the book my father purchased for the "sole purpose" of the family learning the language in case we ever needed to have a private family conversation in public. Seriously. Ummm...we never learned the language, it's officially a piece in a Trekkie/Trekker's collection. Does it count that I apparently peed on Leonard Nimoy's leg when I was very young at an appearance? I don't remember that at all, but it apparently happened...

It's because of this stuff & being taken on opening weekends to almost everyone of those movies, that it did have an award-winning impact on my life.

1. During a computer conversion we were going through at a bank I was working at, the management thought it would be fun, for anyone who wanted to participate, to have employees write either a poem or short story about the conversion & then let the people of the conversion company pick the winner. I, of course, had join in...but what style would I write; what take would I have? Then, it hit me - Star Trek. And knowing how some fans would probe whatever is being said, I had to do some research. It was called "Receptionist Log" (since I was the receptionist at the main branch), and gave it a stardate. I said that our bank (which was really a starship, of course) was going to be signing a treaty with the new aliens & considered the previous "aliens" a threat & we were working to defeat them since they tried to corrupt our systems.

Between 4 branches, mine won & got me a paid day off of work. WOO HOO!

2. At a separate place of business that I was employed at, some of the other employees were raising suspicion as to what I would try to pull off for Halloween. I thought they were crazy & trying to convince me to go over the top with something when no one else would dress up, or something (like a hazing). Well, I did research & found that Halloween was a HUGE deal at this place - they gave prizes & all! Oh, man...what would I possibly do that would, or could I do, that would be different than any of the costumes anyone there had done before? A Vulcan was a logical choice.

Of course I did research for the crazy trek fans in case they bombarded this Vulcan with questions for authenticity sake. A back story had to be done & an appropriate name...so T'Rek was born (name was thanks to the Vulcan Naming System). I still have a pic of the infamous T'Rek...who, btw, took 1st place that year (2001) in the costume contest. I would, also, like to note that my father was furious that he didn't know about the Vulcan Naming System...ah-ha! I had him on one. he he he...

OK, does this qualify me to attempt to cover some of the things I've heard about in the new movie even if I have not yet seen it, but would really like to? Good! Here goes:

I have heard that some Trek fans have major issues with the new movie - why wouldn't they? JJ Abrams is a self-proclaimed Star Wars guy. He would rather have the force be with him than go warp speed or be beamed up. But he took this on...a prequel of all things "Trek".

1. I have heard complaints about the ages of some of the cast members in comparison to what they should be at the Academy. Seriously? I think that's mostly relative & should see the performances in action before making these leaps...they may actually work.

2. That James T. Kirk would NEVER be that rebellious. WHAT?? Chris Pine had already stated that there was no way he would touch the Shat's Kirk - dialect & otherwise. Maybe Jim was that rebellious & calmed down when he settled in as a captain...

* Just a note here that my daughter overheard this conversation between my hubby & me, and announced that she didn't know that William Shatner (aka - the Priceline guy) was in Star Trek...yes from the mouth of grandchild of a Trekkie...and that only Star Trek fans would know that. Imagine our shock at this point*

3. Spock was never that soft-spoken. YIKES...seriously? Zachary Quinto is in the same position as Chris Pine. Deal with it.

4. The Enterprise was built in San Francisco, not Iowa. OK - this is one thing you HAVE to get right. This would be that basic Star Trek fan knowledge - which is deeper, MUCH deeper, than basic pop culture knowledge (refer to note on #2.)

However, I have seen where people did get to catch the early screening, yes trekkies/trekkers, and loved it...some even going back to watch again. So glad to hear it! Now I wonder if I'll get my turn to see it at theaters, or just wait 'til Netflix will send it to us...

Plus, maybe this resurgence of Trek will encourage our young people to research big-time pop culture...like maybe my daughter will see who really was in Star Trek TOS...

AM~Erica, out.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica