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SPRING BREAK!!!! Dinosaurs, movies, and poolside escapades...

Last weekend, Nathan and I had a blast being lazy, watching movies, then on Sunday we headed to the Witte to see the dinosaur exhibit! Here are a few pictures taken from my cell phone. I need to find my battery charger so we can take actual pictures again!

T-Rex outside the Museum

Kinda dark but I like these dinos!

Watch out Nathan! Velociraptor!

Tricerotops! His head is huge!!

Well, it is officially Spring Break, and let me tell you it is only one of the many things I LOVE about my job. I kicked off Spring Break with a movie (I know-shocker!). Christian and I went and saw Remember Me with Robert Pattinson, Pierce Brosnan, Emilie De Ravin, and Chris Cooper. Well not WITH them (we wish) but you get the idea. I'll warn you now there is no way for me to properly review this movie without giving away a little so here is your *spoiler alert*...skip down to the next paragraph if you don't want to see. I'll be the first to tell you I originally only had an interest in the movie because of Robert Pattinson (he's from Twilight for those of you out of the loop) and the fact that the Eclipse trailer would be part of the previews. However, it became so much more than that. The movie starts a bit slow, then gradually captures your attention. While you're busy rooting for the underdogs to fall in love, your logic is frantically trying to piece together the little clues it's being dropped. Let's see if you can figure out where I'm going with this before I flat out tell you. The movie begins in 1995, (RP's brother Michael commits suicide this year when he turns 22), RP's the one who finds him and it's tragic. His brother was a talented musician who gave it up to work for their father (a prominent Lawyer with his own firm in a VERY nice building on like the 30th floor). Next, it's now 6 years later, RP is about to turn 22, (see where I'm going yet), RP has a horrible relationship with his father (he blames him for the bro's suicide and his father completely ignores his little sister [who is WAY adorable but not well liked by her classmates cause she's uber nerdy]) BUT it begins to mend and he is convinced to meet his father AT his office to discuss some legal issues he's stumbled into. He's also in love with a girl and they are adorable together. Soo...it's 6 years later...makes it 2001...what happened this year people?? YEP, you guessed it. Not only does he die, BUT, he's in one of the TWIN TOWERS literally looking out the window as the plane is about to hit. It's shocking, disturbing, and honestly feels too soon. Christian and I sat there crying for at least 10 minutes. It completely blindsided us both and then hit all at once. Luckily, they don't show the actual image of the plane crash but it was hard to stomach nonetheless. Stay away if 9/11 effects you more than you realize. On the plus side though: the writers make you love the characters and enjoy the plot before it rips your heart out. I recommend it but plan to be prepared.

Saturday and Sunday were awesome! I spent all day Sat laying by the pool with Christian and friends drinking sangria and soaking up sun. Saturday night grilled turkey burgers (Christian has me addicted to this healthier treat) and we watched The Princess Bride, because SOMEONE had never seen it! I know! Sunday we resumed poolside sunnage and read magazines while listening to Pandora. When the sun went down we went to Cheezy Janes down on Broadway and had even more fantastic turkey burgers (told you I'm becoming obsessed) with her fam and friends. Once again, a movie capped our night: I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. Interesting movie to say the least and welcomed because Logan from Gilmore Girls is in it (albeit a bit of a freak show character). Sadly, all good things must come to an end and poor C had to work today. Other than being a bit under the weather (which did not stop me from enjoying myself in the sunshine), it was a fantastic weekend! Can't wait to hang out again soon in the private oasis.

I am also very excited for a week of relaxation! Nathan and I will be getting massages, going to Disney on Ice, the zoo, and watching many movies! I can't wait! Hope everyone else is enjoying their time off and for those of you who don't get a week, I'm sorry, I'll try not to rub it in! Hahaha

Adios mis amigos,

Rickie

TAKS Simulations, Movies, and DRAMA!

It's been on of those crazy weeks at work. In anticipation of TAKS in a few weeks, my school had another TAKS Simulation. Let me just tell you, the kids they just LOVE testing all week over and over again especially when it doesn't even REALLY count for them. Sense the sarcasm? Probably because I feel their pain. While they are being forced to test, I'm being forced to meander around a room aimlessly making sure they do not cheat, aren't drawing pretty pictures, and aren't falling asleep. I can not sit, drink water, or even lean. If I stop moving and I'm caught, I'm toast. I get why they have us do this but when I was in school I don't recall teachers wandering around me during tests. It has to be a bit distracting! Oh well, ce la vie. I promise there is a point to this post.

Anywho, We've made it through SS, Science, and Reading. Monday is Math, and then four days later is SPRING BREAK!!! I haven't had one of those in years! SOO excited! Nathan will be coming down for the staycation, as it were, and we'll be seeing lots of movies, going to to the zoo, possibly Disney on Ice, and maybe Six Flags. Whatever we feel like doing to be honest. I can not wait for a little break. Honestly, I can't even believe it's already time for Spring Break. Feels like just yesterday I was packing my whole life up and moving to San Antonio. Now I'm practically a veteran. I can't wait for what looks like one of the best Summer's yet to get here.

Oh, I have to mention the tire incident on Tuesday. So, as I'm about to get to work I hear my car making this awful noise. You know, like your embarrassed of your car it's making such an awful noise. Well, I pull in, get out and see that tire is practically riding on the rim. Seeing as it's a testing day I can't exactly not go in, so I go in start the test and then they let me leave to try to save my tire. Stupidly, I think I'll try to take it to Discount Tire because it'll be free. Well, Discount Tire is only 4 miles away so I drive to the nearest gas station and attempt to put air in. It's there that I realize that's a hopeless effort and turn around. I pull in to the closest tire place there is (luckily the neighborhood my school is in is FULL of them) and then I see what my tire looks like now. That's when I took the picture. Literally, I drove all of 2 miles. I'm counting my blessings it didn't blow out on the highway and I didn't get stranded somewhere or have a wreck. That same day I was a witness to an assault on a teacher as well. Teacher is fine, kid is in juvie, and that's really all I can comment on.

If you talk to Nathan and I much at all you know we LOVE going to movies. It's our thing. Some films we've seen lately: The Crazies and Brooklyn's Finest. First, The Crazies. Originally I wasn't interested in this movie but rottentomatoes.com made it sound scary and actually interesting so I caved. It wasn't bad exactly, but it isn't an instant classic either. I did scream a few times and jump. Though if you know how much of a wuss I am that isn't much of a feat. The plot was eh, it sets up for a bit of a sequel, and no one I liked died. All in all, I'd rent it, don't waste you're money at the box office.

Second, Brooklyn's Finest. Well, Ethan Hawke has seen better days, Don Cheadle is always a pleasure, and Richard Gere is downright depressing and twisted. All the cops are either dirty, messed up, or on the verge of suicide. Richard Gere does redeem himself briefly at the very end but that's the only high point of the entire story. Unless you need to feel worse about society and want to hurt yourself please avoid this movie. There's enough of this in the real world and no need to create more in the fictional one. SKIP IT.

Tonight, we're planning to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D at the IMAX. I'll be sure to share my thoughts soon.