It's something that's been top of mind for a while now. I'm currently writing this on a 10-year old PC that's still running on Windows Vista. That was to be my big purchase for 2018, but then life got in the way. I think for my next computer, I'll go back to a laptop. I miss the portability of a laptop. This blog took a real nosedive in frequency when I moved into a two-bedroom apartment and set up my computer in bedroom #2. I used to get so much blogging done just plucking away at the keyboard while watching TV. With a laptop, I can set it up on the coffee table and go back to just plucking away.
Which is why I've got a real backlog of blogging to do, which I've been putting off this whole week. I had some unused vacation time that the company wanted me to use up by the end of the year, and one of the best uses I've discovered is to take the last week in November off, and just focus on getting all your Christmas prep done that week. This is the third year I've done it now, and trust me, it makes for a much more relaxing December.
The stores! Oh, the stores were so good. There's hardly any crowds right now. The clerks and customers are still full of Christmas cheer. It's hasn't withered away to holiday stress yet. Getting the Christmas shopping done was almost a peaceful experience. Of course, the peace is now starting to give way to the anxiety that I've gotten my friends and families something wrong for Christmas.
Of course, though, being out and about so much means my attempts at eating healthier took a hit, but I still tried my best. While perusing the food court in West Edmonton Mall, I finally gave Freshii a try. Freshii always seemed to be the definitive health food fast food place, as their menu items on display are always kale this and keto that. Then I saw that they had rice bowls. I like rice bowls. I don't know why I don't make them at home. Just take a bowl of rice and put all your favourite tasty things on top. So I sampled Freshii's Teriyaki Twist and it was quite good.
I also tried the Chopped Leaf. Another newer fast casual chain popping up in your favourite power centres. This one specializes in salads. I'd only tried it once before, about a year ago, and again, they make a good salad. One of their specials right now is a salad called the El Rancho, and again, quite good.
And with the holiday season upon us, that means the holiday blockbusters are starting to filter into theatres. Always being a lover of Disney animation, I decided to take in Ralph Breaks the Internet. Now, when Wreck-It Ralph came out a few years ago, I was reluctant to see it. I'd never been much of a gamer, and the commercials were really making it out to be "Video Game Nostalgia: The Movie." Positive reviews brought me around, though, so I went to check it out, and greatly enjoyed it. Now, I see many have had similar reservations about the sequel, and I will admit, a lot of the commercials do give it a "Internet Company Product Placement: The Movie" vibe, like The Emoji Movie. But again, I'm pleasantly surprised at how emotional and heart-warming it is.
It's been a few years since the first film. Wreck-It Ralph is living his best life. He loves the day-to-day routine of the arcade. But not so with his friend Vanellope. In true Disney princess fashion, she's starting to yearn for something more. Tragedy strikes when Vanellope's game Sugar Rush is damaged, and it looks like the game is going to be scrapped. But, Ralph and Vanellope overhear a couple of arcade patrons say that they can get a replacement part on the Internet from some place called "eBay." And wouldn't you know it, the arcade just got WiFi! So, Ralph and Vanellope head to the Internet to save Vanellope's game! On their quest, though, Vanellope finds an online racing game called Slaughter Race, and it's everything she's ever dreamed of. Will Ralph be secure enough to let go of her friend so she can find what she's looking for?
I loved it. It's equally as heartwarming as the first. And not to fear, all the Internet company product placement doesn't dominate the script. As always, the voice work is great. Gal Gadot is Shank, the lead racer in Slaughter Race and Vanellope's new BFF, and she does a great job. And stay for the end credits, because it has what I think are the funniest post-credit stingers in a long time.
My only complaint is it does seem to drag a bit. It feels like it has one ending too many. You reach a point in the film where it just keeps going and you start thinking, "OK. I get the message."
Ralph Breaks the Internet is easily as good as the first film. Three out of four nibs. Full review on the website.
And man, I've got a lot of movies to catch up on. This past week, I grabbed Miracle on 34th Street and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on Blu-Ray. I used to question the logic of buying Christmas movies on home media. I mean, the one time of year you want to watch it is the one time of year it's on TV non-stop. But, as I've finally learned in my old age, even when you've got 100+ channels, it won't be on during that one opportunity you have to watch it. And the streaming services don't have your back. Hell, last year, Netflix issued a public apology for not having Home Alone. So home media becomes your best option.
This has been a bad month for buying Blu-Rays...especially impulse buying on Amazon. It all started about a month ago. With Halloween on the horizon, I thought, "Hey, do you know what was on TV constantly when I was a kid, but I haven't seen in ages? Disney's animated Sleepy Hollow." So, with a couple of clicks, I ordered The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. And alongside that, I also bought Mickey's Christmas Carol. That's another reason for buying Christmas movies on home media...especially the animated TV specials. They've been edited so much over the years to squeeze in more commercials, that buying them on home media is the only way to watch them uncut.
And then I got the alert that a couple of Doctor Who Blu-Rays I'd had my eye on were marked down to $10 each, so clickity-click, and another Amazon package. Then the Criterion edition of The Princess Bride went on sale, and I saw the new Shout! Select release of City Slickers and thought, "I want this." BOOM! Another package from Amazon. And that's just what I bought online. In addition to snatching up those Christmas movies, I also bought up Incredibles 2 and The Pixar Short Film Colleciton Vol. 3 while out Christmas shopping.
Buying so many movies, it's no wonder I can't afford a new computer. Oh, well. We'll see what 2019 brings. I'll have to do what I did when I finally upgraded my smartphone two years ago: just suck it up and start using this thing called "debt."
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