Luxo Jr, what have you done?

Pixar Intro Parody - not for kids

If the embedding doesn't work properly, you can view the video here

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

As in http://carriestuckmann.blogspot.com

I know, I haven't posted much. The layoffs have started at work so I've been laying low.

For this week's FFFF, I've decided to post random strange things I've seen around. I was particularly inspireed by a lady who rode the metro with me today. She had a tan overcoat and a rather large scarf. It was red, fluffy, and it was wrapped around her neck and head. The ensemble made her look like a chicken.

Anyway...

On my last trip to Rio de Janeiro, we drove by the beach and suddently I saw this kiosk (this photo is not mine, I found it on google). You find these kiosks by the beach, and they sell beverages, snacks and the like. I'm sure the owner has no idea what the name means, but I just couldn't stop laughing. I'd steer away from the beer just in case :)



This one I found in Baltimore (duh). This bench is exactly across the street from Charm City Cakes (you know, Ace of Cakes from the Food Network channel? that guy!). So I just had to take a picture. I mean, seriously, if you've been there, you just KNOW it's not true. My co-worker was laughing really hard and pointing out all the litter underneath the bench.



This one is for Portuguese speakers only. I'm not going to elaborate. I saw this sign at a local park here in MD. I was with my Dad and we laughed so hard we nearly crashed the car.



This one I snapped on my last trip to WDW. This lady unfortunately turned away. She looked to be about 70. Her husband was on a wheelchair. They were taking pictures with Pooh and Tigger. Her ensemble was just something, the Snow White strapless top and the Minnie mouse ears. Hey, they say you turn into a child at WDW. I guess that's true....



NYC is already a strange place with strange people. We all know that. But here, on the same photo, on the famous Times Square, you will see a Naked Cowboy, a Chinese Elvis and the ugliest Statue of Liberty ever (suggested donation: $2).



Hope you've enjoyed the show. I'll see you next week.

I think even Christie Brinkley passed us in her Ferrari

I have to warn you, this is long....

Last week we received an email @ work, which was part of group mailing list for "Arts & Events". They were offering a coupon code to get discounted tickets to see The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Kennedy Center ($90 orchestra tickets going for $25). Of course my co-worker and I jumped at the chance and got ourselves tickets (the 2 of us plus her 2 boys).

The show was on Saturday, Dec 28th at 7:30 pm. She said she'd pick me up at 6 pm. She calls me from her cell and says there has been an accident on the road which caused a backup. So she arrives at 6:30pm. I was a bit nervous with the timeframe but no biggie.

We're chatting in the car and she mentions to me she and her husband used to go to the KC before the kids were born (her oldest is 11!!) but she remembers how to get there. Okay, I guess (even though we had no maps or GPS in the car!). So we make into DC with no problem whatsoever and at about 7:05. We're early!!! She says we have to get onto Whitehurst Pkwy and then to E Street. But we see the KC from the overpass and she just gets on a ramp, that goes around the KC and ends up in Rosslyn, VA!!!! (Sunshine, my friend, I was laughing inside remembering the day you guys were trying to get to the Verizon Ctr and could see it from the road and not get there).

So I say "I remember this area, we're close to the Iwo Jima memorial..." and there we see the Iwo Jima Memorial. I swear to you I felt like I was with Chevy Chase in the car. After that we just went around and around, finally made it back to the Natl mall, got to a ramp that seemed to go towards the KC and then got onto George Washington Pkwy on the way back to MD. OMG!!! I had to roll down the windows. I was starting to get hot and really nauseous.

Okay, so she calls her hubby (actually, her kid had already dialed the phone LOL) and we manage to get onto E Street - finally - but no KC, just the Watergate. Then we see a cab and the driver gives us better directions and at one point I see this entrance that says "John F Kennedy Center" and I started screaming "make a right here! here! here!" (LOL). At this point, we make into the drop-off location and we're afraid to move, but the parking lot is right ahead so we get in ($17.00 to park BTW!) at 7:27.

So we get to the theatre and we still had to get tickets at Will call (oh dear) but in the end we only missed the intro of the first song.

(A short intermission here before I start commenting the concert. Go freshen up!)

The concert was really good. It was a collection of songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber's shows. The first part of the show had many different shows. The second part was centered on Sunset Boulevard, Evita and Phantom of the Opera.This website posted the songs and some photos of the evening.

The Orchestra was really awesome, but a performer called Ron Bohmer really stole the show. His songs were spot on and he hit notes I had no idea a man could do. Especially the Phantom songs.

There were a couple of performers there that - seriously - I don't know how they got the job. I mean, I was ready to pull the mic from their hands. It got to a point that I stopped applauding altogether.

(Okay, show is over. You might want to use the bathroom before we head home)

Now we're back in the car and I start to sweat. But we made it safely to Clara Barton Pkwy. I let out a sigh of relief since it's the way I come home from work when I drive in. I just had to be sure to tell her when to make a left so we could make it back to the beltway. Oh, yeah, she got off the wrong exit to bring me home. Thankfully, it just made the trip 5 minutes longer. We made it home alive.

But next time, I'M DRIVING! (and with a GPS just in case)

Grandma @ The Improv

My Grandpa and my Uncle went to pick up a new mattress for my grandparents bed.

When they get home, my Grandma turns to them and say:
- What's the use of having a new mattress when I still have an old husband?

The entire room erupts in laughter, including my Grandpa.
---------------------

Come on, someone give the lady a job!!!

Memorable quotes from an almost 5-year old - part III

In the car, listening to the election ads on the radio:
- Mommy, what's "burrackomama"?


We were watching Tv and there was a glimpse of the movie "Where the heart is". Wal-Mart is mentioned in the conversation:
-Wal-Mart? Oh, I love the Wal-mart. They have the best prices!


Upon hearing the word Subway:
- Subway, eat fresh! (LMBO)

I admit it, I have a new guilty pleasure

My Big Redneck Wedding. It's just too funny for words.

It's a series on the CMT channel (apparently on it's 2nd season). Each 30-min episode chronicles ceremony preparations for redneck weddings. The stuff on these shows are just hilarious.

I have seen demolition derby weddings, bridal party on back of monster truck (then truck doesn't start and they have to get out and push), pig as a ring bearer... everything!

In one of the recent episodes, the groom wanted to buy his bride some lingerie. The friend wants him to go to K-Mart cause it's cheaper (LOL) but they end up going to one of those "adult stores". After looking at many things, they decide on a nightgown with a long-sleeved sheer top. But the guy is not sure his wife likes long sleeves. So when they get to the parking lot, he pulls out a pocket knife and cuts off the sleeves.... Priceless!!!

I know it's on Saturday nights, but they often have reruns and my personal favorite: marathons! I thought the Bridezilla shows were good, but these are way funnier!

8 years ago...

...Hubby and I had our first date. Time does fly, and life does change.

- Are you taking me to lunch today?
(insert question mark face here)

(After a long, long, long metro ride, he replies)
- Wanna go to Madhatter's today? If you do, I'll skip breakfast.
- Sure. What day is today?
- October 1st.
- Yeah, but...
- First wedding?
- No.
- Second wedding?
- No.
- Day I proposed?
- No.
- Day we moved into our new house?
- No.
- First date?
- Yeah.
- Ah, you had a Flamenco parade, then we had our first date... Bethesda!
- And the restaurant we went to is now a big real estate office.
- It's unfortunate...

DWtS starts in less than a week...

...and I just had to post this. Too good!!! LMAO

Just like Nelly Furtado...

...I am Portuguese-descent. I have a hint of French in there too. And I often say that my very wavy/curly hair is from the Moor invasion of the Iberian Peninsula :)

Both sides of my family come from different regions of the country and also Madeira Island. But I'll explain this on a different post.

I wanted to comment that Portuguese people are extremely precise on the use of their language, and that can sometimes cause confusion. Not mentioning a few good laughs.

The excerpts I have posted below are true stories that my family has experienced while visiting Portugal in separate occasions. If you don't have the patience to read them all, that's okay. :P

***We're lost and asking for directions
- Excuse me, sir? can you please tell me if this road will take me to *city name*?
- No, it won't.
- Oh, I see. Can you please tell me how can I get to Interstate *road number*?
- It's this one.
- But you just said this road will not take me to *city*.
- The road doesn't take you anywhere. The car does.

***We've arrived in Lisbon and get a ride with a friend to find the Avis rental car location. We're told the location is on the right side of the trains station. We get to the train station, go around the block and there is no Avis there. Luckily, we find another Avis in downtown Lisbon.
- Good morning. We had a reservation at the Avis by the train station but we couldn't find it. Can we get our reservation here?
- Certainly, but what do you mean you couldn't find it?
- We were told it was on the right side of the station. We went around the block several times and couldn't find it.
- But it was on the right side. You walk into the station, and the Avis counter is on the right side.

***Walking and trying to get to the street where my grandfather used to live.
- Excuse me, sir. Can you please tell me what do I do to find *street name*?
- Certainly? You walk up this road here. You will come across an intersection. Don't mind this road. Now, keep going further. You will come across an intersection. Do not mind this road. Keep going a bit further. You will find an intersection. That's the street you're looking for.

***We get to a shopping mall around 3pm, starving, and try to sit down at a restaurant for a meal.
- I'm sorry, sir. But now we're closed right now. It's OUR lunchtime.
And to McDonald's we went...

Bear Warning

A co-worker sent this to me. It is - allegedly - a bear warning from B.C. Please click on the image to see it better.

Priceless!

I have a fan!

Once a week I go to Potbelly to get a sandwich. My favorite - and the one I usually order - is the roast beef and provolone on wheat bread. But they have other awesome sandwiches, and big salads. Hubby thinks the sandwiches are kinda small. I will tend to agree with him if I'm extremely hungry, but it's usually enough for me. He's probably going through a growth spurt, you know, him and his 6'2" frame. :)

Anyway, the place is like an assembly line. You order the sandwich and type of bread. They make it, put it in the toaster, then someone else on the other side adds what you want to it (condiments, tomato, lettuce, pickles, etc). There are usually 3 people assembling the sandwich, but I often happen to be seen to by this one guy. And he knows me, he remembers what I like in the sandwich. And he's always chatting with me.

So yesterday I was swamped at work (big news, huh) and I decided that rather than waiting in line, I was going to try the new online ordering and then just pick it up. So I get there, there is two people in front of me (there is a separate cashier for phone/online orders). So the guys spots me from the other side and comes all the way to talk to me "have you abandoned me? let me make your sandwich". And I was like "no, I ordered online". So, he was crushed! And went back to his spot.

I got back to work and told some of the girls here. We were ROFL over the story. Yes, I have a fan. LOL