Tidbits

This past week, I got the chance to see an old friend from high school, who is also a blogger. She and I both ended up at the same college, and even lived together for a year. Although she lives in Los Angeles, she and her husband were in Boston, visiting his mom. I hadn't seen her since our hs reunion in 2008, but as with all good friendships, it was like no time had passed. This morning, I checked her blog and she wrote an incredibly touching post about our hangout that made me cry. Go check out her awesome blog, Cease and Decyst. 

In other news...

My vacation is nearly over. I am depressed about that already. No matter what, vacation is never long enough. It's not that I'm lazy. It's just that sleeping on a natural schedule, being on my own agenda, having time to actually clean my house, and being able to stay up past 9:00pm just feels RIGHT. Somehow, I have to get my teaching hat back on.

Because several neighbors decided to start mowing their damn lawns at 7:00am on a Saturday, I only have energy for bullets today. May I ask the homeowners out there, WHY would you do that to your neighbors?

• I didn't really have any side effects from Lupron last time, but man I do this go around. My emotions are supercharged, I been having SUPER vivid dreams (last night's involved Brad Pitt - TMI), and I'm getting super hot at night. Oh the joys of injectable meds.
 
• KG and I watched Contagion last night. I have had a compulsive need to wash my hands and wear a mask all morning. If you have any germophobe tendencies, I suggest you avoid this film. Otherwise, it was really well done! Netflix it!

• Even though I was born without the shopping gene, I had some luck in Los Angeles. In general, I feel like the shopping is way better there than in Boston. I don't know why, but I always seem to have greater success in stores out there.

Success #1: Ralph Lauren brown leather riding boots for 45% off at DSW, on clearance.

Success #2: Black flats that are perfect for work, modeled by one of my cats (Buttercup).

Success #3: Blue color block dress that will be perfect for a wedding I have to attend, with the right accessories and shoes.

Of course I also bought a shirt that I completely changed my mind about by the time I got back to Boston.

• There are times when a bargain is a good thing, and times when it isn't. The other day, Smoon suggested a mani/pedi and I turned her down because I spent too much money in L.A. But, of course, then I couldn't get it out of my mind. So, I caved and got a cheap mani/pedi ($20) near my house. The problem is, it really was a $20 mani/pedi. Pretty crappy. Oh well, at least my toes aren't naked now.

• Tomorrow, I am seeing Hunger Games with Smoon and another friend. IMAX baby! Yes, I read all 3 books and LOVED them. I can't wait!

• Thanks so much for all the kid words regarding my last post. I sent off a sympathy card and will make a donation in his name to a charity his wife requested. RIP George.

Sequels

courtesy of Warner Brothers

The thing about sequels is that most of the time, they are a pale version of the original. Yes, occasionally, a sophomore effort can outshine its predecessor. But, it's rare. So much more often, you realize you are watching someones desperate attempt to hang onto the credibility they garnered with their original hit.

Evidence (in no particular order):
Back to the Future vs. Back to the Future II
The Matrix vs. The Matrix Reloaded
The Karate Kid vs. The Next Karate Kid (okay, The Karate Kid II was pretty good)
Teen Wolf vs. Teen Wolf Too
Look Who's Talking vs. Look Who's Talking Too
Ocean's Eleven vs. Ocean's Twelve
Jaws vs. Jaws The Revenge
28 Days Later vs. 28 Weeks Later
Grease vs. Grease II
Psycho vs. Psycho II
The Wizard of Oz vs. Return to Oz
Gremlins vs. Gremlins II
Scream vs. all sequels
Neverending Story vs. Neverending Story II
Mannequin vs. Mannequin: On the Move
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure vs. Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey
City Slickers vs. City Slickers II
Lost Boys vs. Lost Boys: The Tribe
original Star Wars franchise vs. new Phantom Menace franchise
Sex and the City vs. Sex and the City II
Cars vs. Cars II
Dirty Dancing vs. Dirty Dancing Havana Nights


On the other hand, here are some rare sequels that matched or exceeded the quality of the original:
Star Wars vs. Empire Strikes Back
Tim Burton Batman movies vs. Christopher Nolan Batman movies
Ghostbusters vs. Ghostbusters II
National Lampoon's Vacation vs. National Lampoon's European Vacation
Evil Dead vs. Evil Dead II
Terminator vs. Terminator 2
House of 1000 Corpses vs. Devil's Rejects

Why am I bringing this up? I keep thinking of our upcoming IVF cycle. While you might be wondering how it could get any worse than the first attempt, as we know, it is always possible.  I keep having the same recurring thoughts:

Will it be an amazing follow-up that blows the first attempt out of the water, with a successful ending instead of disaster? Or will it somehow be worse?

Perhaps instead of thinking of this as IVF: The Sequel, we should be thinking of it as IVF: Redux.

At first, I thought redux was a synonym of sequel. But, then KG reminded me of when Apocalypse Now was re-released as Apocalypse Now: Redux. That wasn't a sequel! It was an enhanced, improved version. (Okay, it was also way longer.) 

When I googled the meaning of each, I realized how different the meanings are.
Sequel: an event or circumstance following something; subsequent course of affairs.

Redux: remastered, redone, restored.

I'm sticking with redux, because what I really need right now is to have my faith and attitude remastered, redone, and restored.

ICLW - Well hello there!

I have found a lot of really great blogs through ICLW, so I always enjoy this week of the month. Welcome to anyone new to the blog. You can find my TTC history here. At the moment, I am in the middle of my first IVF cycle, getting used to all that entails.

TTC is a major part of my blog, but so are music, writing, and general grumblings from a barren teacher. I am also a movie lover, especially quirky films from the 50s-present.

Appropriately enough, Raising Arizona is on HBO this morning. If you have never seen it (really? What's wrong with you?!) it is the story of a really bad convenience store robber (Nicholas Cage) and his wife, a policewoman (Holly Hunter). They are infertile and get the idea to steal a baby from a wealthy family who recently had quints. It is by the Coen brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski) and it is astoundingly funny and tragic. I have loved this movie for many years, but once you watch it as someone who desperately wants a baby, it does have a certain extra depth than it did in my 20s.

Being an IFer will drive you to do crazy things. I guess stealing a baby is a little overboard though...

Bad um, ching!