Been going to the 24 Hour Fitness at the Irvine Spectrum for about 1.5 years now.  I got one of those 2 year deals from Costco where you pay everything up front.  I think it ended up costing me something like 12 bucks/month.  Not bad, especially considering when I talked to the about signing up, I could not get a deal for less than 25 bucks/month until after I signed a 3 year deal, in which case after that it would drop to like 10-11 bucks/month.  No thanks.

Anyway, for the last few weeks, it seems like the same cardio machines have been broken.  I don’t know if I’m imagining it or just remembering incorrectly, but it seems like the same machines are always out of order.  And its not like just one or two either!!  I was there today, and I saw 3 treadmills busted, 2 bikes had tv’s that were broken, and 2 elliptical machines had out of order signs on them.  These were the same machines that were broken yesterday too.

What the heck are we paying for!!!  I don’t have a problem having to wait for a machine if there are a lot of people using them.  I’ll just wait in line or go to another machine or do something else like everyone else.  But, if I’m waiting because all your machines are busted, then that’s a problem.   My membership expires in August, and I’m trying to decide if I will re-up (obviously by that I mean I’ll wait until Costco has those 2 year memberships again) or just try to work out without having to pay for a gym that has busted equipment all the time.

I’m probably just upset because it just happened and will probably re-new.  Just sucks and I feel like bitching about it.  WTF!!  Hopefully by then I will have bought a house, and so will be too poor to spend on gym memberships, thus forcing myself not to have to wait in line behind broken machines.

Went to Ross yesterday with L.  She had bought something that was no longer needed and so went there to return it.  Went into the store, and saw a huge throng of people waiting.  There were 2 lines, one for returns and one for normal purchases.  We went into the returns line, and as we are waiting, I notice that there is one person doing returns and 5 or 6 doing normal purchases.  It doesn’t take a genius to figure out we were line a long time, while the customers making purchases zipped past us.

When we finally get there, I give her the receipt and the item.  She then proceeds to return it and in the end, she asked if we have the credit card that we made the purchase with.  She did not have it, and thus, we would only be able to get store credit.  WTF!!!  I proceeded to say out loud “That’s lame”, which actually surprised me because I never say stuff like that out loud.  The gf was more civil and just said we would take the store credit, and so she finished the transaction.

But, I have no idea why I said that, and out loud especially.  Maybe I was grumpy from waiting in line forever because only one worker was working returns.  Maybe it was so crowded and I hate being in locations sometimes where so many I don’t know are so close to me.  Or maybe Ross has the crappiest computers ever and is not able to process a return without the credit card like pretty much every store I’ve been to is able to do the last 10 years.  Seriously, I don’t remember making a return in recent memory where they asked me for my credit card instead of just charging back that card.  (I’m sure there are stores that I just can’t remember, but like I said, I might of just been grouchy.)  We then proceeded to Home Depot, made a return there with the receipt, and wouldn’t you know……they didn’t ask for the credit card, even though we had that one!!!

I have no problem with Ross.  I just thought it was lame.  But, it doesn’t bother me that much.  I don’t shop there often, if at all, but its not like I wouldn’t ever shop there again.  I was just surprised at myself that I spoke out loud.  I don’t do that too often.  Usually I just leave thoughts like, “this worker is dumb” to myself, or I bitch about it afterward on this very blog.  Am I turning into one of those people?  Have all the years at work behind a desk transformed me?  To that cashier’s credit, she just looked at me and took it all in stride.  Its not her fault, she don’t make the policies or install the computers.  Despite that, its lame, grump, stuck-up people like me who potentially give her hard times for things they can’t really help at all.

Surfing the internet and saw that Blockbuster Video is now going to start charging a late fee for movies returned late.  Apparently they are losing tons of money, and need to start charging this fee again to get a serious infusion of cash as it struggles to stay alive.  Does anyone remember when Blockbuster was huge??  I have not rented anything from Blockbuster since college, and even then not very often as they were hella expensive compared to pretty much any mom and pop video store.

I still hardly ever rent dvd’s now.  Usually I just dvr any movie I want to see and just leave it on my box.  Whenever I feel like watching a movie, which isn’t very often when I’m home, I just bring up anything I’ve recorded and then just play it.  But, sometimes the gf and I feel like renting a movie, and when we do, we just go to those Redbox kiosks in many supermarkets.  Its only $1/day.  I think Blockbuster, according to the article, is $5 bucks for 5 days.  Why don’t they just charge $1 like Redbox??  Yes they have more selection, but what the hell do I want a movie for 5 days for??  I’ve been complaining about that for years, but little old me’s opinion means nothing to them.  Why are you making me pay an extra $4 bucks when I only want it for a night? Anyway, its kind of crazy how these huge corporations die over time when they were so seemingly unstoppable.  Remember AOL anyone?  You gotta adapt or you become irrelevant.  Its probably why the music industry is dying as well.  Is it wrong when I am happy that some huge symbol of corporate America fails??  Those uncaring, greedy bastards.

I still have one Blockbuster near my house, but you can be pretty sure that I will not be renting any movies there any time soon.  If I want to watch a movie, I will goto my Tivo, or go to Redbox at Vons, but will not be giving Blockbuster any of my cash.

Haven’t really been on a vacation in a while.  I think, if I remember correctly, the last place I went to was Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.  That was 1.5 to 2 years ago now.  Wow, am I remembering wrong or has it really been that long?  I went on a mini vacation to New York, I guess more recently.  Regardless, L and I decided to go to Vancouver for like 5 days and then Seattle for a couple days after that before flying back.  I forget how much work, its not hard just work, it takes to actually plan trips and such.  Gotta request time off from work, look for flights/hotels, research where to go, etc., etc.  And then there is the hassle of going to the airport on time, going through security, having the airlines freaking charge you for everything nowadays, and all the other stress involved.  It almost makes you just want to take a staycation.

Haha, actually I’m quite excited.  Just like to whine and bitch sometimes because its my blog and I can.  We have already figured out a few places to go and visit, my coworker has told me some places and suggested some places to eat, and best and most important of all, we both will not be at work!!!  Is there anything better than that?  The crowds will probably be gone as the Olympics will be long over, it should be a little warmer there as winter is on its final legs, and we might be in time for cherry blossom season, thus giving us more photo ops, as if I needed excuses to take more pictures.  We were actually debating between Vancouver and DC, but decided on the former.  No real particular reason, just made a decision.

So, in a little more than a month, expect to see some pictures posted on my Facebook, and 2 more pins added to my travel map!

I just got some letter in the mail about some class action lawsuit that was brought against LA Fitness.  I was given the choice of getting like 8 bucks or getting like 3 months of free membership.  I’ve gotten similar mailings in the past, the one that comes to mind some CD pricing scam that netted me like 5 bucks or something like that.  Which leads me to ask?  Who the hell does a class action lawsuit favor outside of lawyers?  I’m sure they get millions for these class action lawsuits that are supposedly for the people!  What do little old me and you get?  Oh, here is a free membership to the gym, while the attorneys who represented you get, what millions?  Is there any wonder why they jump at the chance to help the little people…

I’ve said this many times before, but I am not very good when it comes to physical work.  Over the years, when I’ve had to do things around the house like digging or carrying dozens of bags of soil from the truck to the back yard, or lugging hundreds of bricks from one place to another, etc., etc., I’ve noticed that my dad can work on and on and on, it seems, but I get freaking tired and just have to force myself to keep going.  I remember a little more than a year ago, I was at my grandfather’s house.  He grows squashes all the time.  These squashes have these very tiny pricks on them, but they are not so heavy that I can’t carry them.  My dad said that my grandfather gave us a squash, so he asked me to pick it up and put it in the trunk.  I went down to do so, carried it, and instantly set it down because it poked the crap out of my hands.  My grandfather just saw me, bent down, picked it up bare handed and carried it to the trunk.  Hahaha.  He’s like 80+.  Says his hands are a lot rougher so he didn’t need gloves, i.e., you are a pussy who isn’t tough and couldn’t do physical work if your life depended on it.

Helped L move this past weekend.  No, I didn’t just watch her move. Couple things I realized and/or remembered while doing so.  Moving is tiring.  I go to the gym regularly, but it doesn’t help because I still get tired much faster moving than I do lifting weights or running on the treadmill.  Strength is so, so, so, so much more handy when it comes to moving.  Now, I know and realize and am not a very strong person.  I’ve known for years, as I stated earlier.  But, its so crazy how much easier it is to lift and move stuff when you have the strength to do so.  I was carrying furniture with the help of another guy and it was still tiring and heavy.  L’s roommate’s brother helped us unload stuff.  He’s like 6′6″, and he’s freaking strong.  I’m getting the same furniture that required 2 people to carry out of the truck, lifting one end so he can get the other, and he’s like, “I got it”, picks it up and goes.  WTF!!  I helped him carry the fridge up the stairs, and after we got it up there, I was so tired, my hands hurt, and I was out of breath.  I don’t know how he felt, but I guarantee he didn’t look like I felt!

Put me in front of a computer or some desk job, and I can compete and do the job as well as the next person.  Ask me to lug furniture upstairs, well, I’m sure that over time I’d get used to it, but I highly doubt I’d do my job as well.  Just don’t tell my grandfather that.

My friend is pregnant and asked me the other day if she looked fat.  I looked at her, and was thinking, wth?  Who cares!!  I thought this not only because she asked me, but because I’ve had numerous pregnant women over the years ask me the same thing. You are pregnant!!  You are going to gain weight.  Your stomach will get larger.  You are not fat, you are pregnant!!  What is up with this?  I can tell you in all the years that I’ve seen pregnant women walking down the street, not once did I say, wow that pregnant woman is fat, is she feeding 3???!!!  Or, wow, that pregnant woman could stand to lose some weight.  I can tell you when my sister was pregnant, I wasn’t thinking, damn my sister is fat.  I’ve heard women say things like I know I’m going to gain weight, I just hope it goes to the stomach only.  I don’t want to get fat arms, legs, face, ankles, etc.  Ummm, why is that?  Why do they care so much?  You would think this was the one time in their life that they could be free from the eternal restraint of eating what you want and getting fat since society is so mean to the overweight.

Are guys and society so bad out there that they make fun of pregnant women for being fat?  I know I’ve not heard too many jokes to that effect in my life.  Yes, I’ve heard the husband and wife joke together that she was fat and such, but they were joking with each other and it was obvious to both it was all in good fun as they both made the jokes.  I’ve playfully teased my friends too, but never insulted or looked down on.  Yes, I’m sure that there are mean spirited people out there who would be insulting, but there are always those types of people out there, and they are that way for pretty much anyone.  So, why care so much??

Just got back at looking at another home tonight after work.  This time it was a bank owned property in Lake Forest.  It was listed originally in the mid 500s, then lowered to 499k, and now its at 470k, but still seems overpriced looking at the price per square foot compared to similar properties in the area. Plus, I wasn’t all that impressed with the overall layout of the home and didn’t like the backyard which was very customized to the previous owner’s liking I’d say.  So, probably pass on it.  I actually liked a house I saw down the block that was smaller and cheaper over the weekend, so was contemplating making an offer on that one.

I also saw another house online that seemed to be a very good deal, and a decent size single family residence.  Only shows one picture of the outside in the listing.  It was a house that went into escrow way back in November, and for whatever reason they lost the buyer and its back on the market.  I tried to get in to see it, and the seller says he didn’t want to show the house.  What?  I guess he/she still wants to live in the house for free from the bank?  My agent said I should make an offer on the house, contingent on me seeing the inside.  It seems like a very good price and good sized house, so I did as he said.  If I like it and they accept the offer, great.  If I go in and its a piece of crap inside, then pull the offer.  In the mean time, I guess I will still look at other homes, in addition to contemplating putting an offer on that previously mentioned house.

I don’t know how many months now I’ve looked at homes.  I’ve probably seen 30+ now, maybe more.  Lost count a long time ago.  Ranged in places as far south as Laguna Niguel and as far north as Tustin.  I did try to make an offer on a nice looking house in Mission Viejo a couple weeks ago.  It was very nice looking inside, but the pool outside was all messed up, with torn lining, so the water was half full.  I liked that home, but I called multiple lenders and every single one of them said that they would not provide funding on the home unless the pool was fixed.  Seeing as how this was a short sale, the seller obviously had no money, so I wonder how they will end up selling that house.  Will they have to sell to an all cash buyer, or will the bank have to actually pony up some money and fix it?  I’ll keep an eye on that house just in case as well.

Sigh.  Too bad I didn’t have more money and thus look at more traditional home sales rather than short sales.  Oh well.  Part of the ongoing process of trying to find a place to live.

Not really a review, but more a post about my experience during my first ever free movie screening.  L saw some of those people handing out free movie screening passes and signed us up. I’ve seen them before but have always ignored them.  They told her it was a 3D animated film from the makers of some other movie I can’t remember, but they wouldn’t tell her what it actually was.  I’m pretty sure we could of looked it up online ahead of time, but we didn’t do so.

Anyway, we got to the movie early as they said to, tell them how old we are, and they put ribbons on you and let you in. They searched every girl’s bag, no camera phones were allowed, and they make you walk through some metal detector?  Am I visiting the President or am I watching a freaking movie???  I can understand the no camera phones and searching the bag, but metal detectors?  Ummm, ok.

When we finally walk in, (BTW, this was at the AMC at the Block), it was very bright and lit inside.  I had never ever seen a theater that lightly lit up.  I guess it makes sense that there would be lights inside for emergencies and such, but I’ve never seen the lights on that brightly before so it was kind of weird.  They cram you in because they say it will be a packed house (I’d say it was 80% to 90% full), and then you just sit there and wait.  There are a few people going around already asking people if they are willing to stay after the movie to meet the creators to tell them how you think.  We were not asked to do that.  Right before it starts, a guy tells us enthusiastically, you are about to watch the next Shrek movie!  The crowd erupted.

There were no trailers, and at the beginning they tell you that there are some scenes that are not really done yet so the animation is very bad, more like sketches and stuff, and explains the process you go through in actually creating the scene.  I think about 85% of the movie was done, but near the end, all the detail and stuff is pretty much gone as I guess they didn’t finish a lot of those last scenes.  After the movie finally ends, everyone stays in their seats and fills out a 2 page questionnaire asking things like how you liked it, favorite character, least favorite character, favorite scene, what didn’t you like or did like about the movie, would you pay an extra 5 bucks to watch this in 3D, etc, etc.

Oh, and the actual movie?  I’m assuming that all the dialog and story are pretty much set, so I will say that I thought it was pretty funny, and about what I expected from a Shrek movie.  So, that’s pretty good since the previous 3 were all pretty funny.  All the same characters are back with a new villain.  I did like the movie, thought it was funny, but I think I liked the previous 3 better, if remember correctly.  This new one starts off pretty slow, and I was like, dang this is not fun. But, it definitely did pick up and had a lots of funny parts.  The 3D did nothing for me.  I think that’s a gimmick that needs to die before it takes off.  That about sums up pretty much what I wrote on my paper after the movie ended, so who knows…maybe they will change parts of it.  I guess I’ll find out this summer as I think that is when it is coming out.

So, the other day I was asked what I thought about a person and I gave my opinion.  Then then asked me some questions here and there and I answered truthfully.  They then asked me if I thought that person was nice.  I was like, no, I don’t think that person is nice.  I got a look as if I really insulted someone.  I was like, she’s not mean or anything, she’s just not nice.  That was pretty much the end of the question.  WTF??  So many things to talk about.

First of all, why are you asking me questions if you don’t really like the answers to?  If you just want me to be a puppet and answer affirmatively to everything you say, tell me that beforehand and I’ll oblige.  Otherwise, I will answer honestly like I always do.  Go talk to your husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend if you want a Yes man/woman.

Secondly, who the hell cares what I think?  I’m nobody.

And finally, if I say you are not nice, it doesn’t mean that I think you are mean!  Just like if I say someone is not pretty, it doesn’t mean they are ugly.  If someone is not smart, it doesn’t mean they are dumb!!  What part of that don’t you understand.  I’m not being insulting, I’m just not paying a compliment.  Freaking chill out.  If someone says you are not nice, and you are insulted by it…well it probably just proves that you are not nice.  If you have a problem with it, then do something about it and actually be nice.  If you are a nice person, you are nice any and all the time, in any situation.  Not just when you are in a good mood or when you just got a raise or you want something from me.  That is what the definition of a nice person is.  If that’s who you want to be, then go for it.  Don’t get all mad or cry with me to try to change my mind.  That will only move you towards the mean side in my mind.  Do something about it so that the next time you ask me or someone asks me about you I can say yes, that person is nice.