Movie Money Ain't What It Used to Be

I was telling the BFF how I've cut down my movie going this year. In flush times, I LOVE to see a movie a week (except when there's nothing good out. This happens right before summer blockbuster season and in the lull before Oscar contenders come out in the winter). But nowadays, it's more like one every few months.

The BFF told me that, as a kid, she and her sister went to the movies constantly. They'd jump on the bus near their home south of Hollywood and ride the bus to the Wiltern (now more famous as a concert hall) and then on up to all the theaters on Hollywood Blvd.

Which somehow led us to the cost of movie tickets. In 1970, movie tickets cost .75 and minimum wage was $1.65 (I'm using the assumption that teenagers, most of whom make minimum wage, made up the majority of the frequent movie going audience.) Back then, someone making minimum wage would have to work around 27 minutes to pay for the movie. Compare that to today. The minimum wage is $8.50 and it costs $12.00 for admission, meaning that a person today would have to work almost an hour and a half to see the same movie.

Movie theaters claim to subsidize 25% of the cost of movie admission because they know they will make it up on popcorn sales. I find this questionable because my local theater chain (AMC) offers free popcorn to members of its Movie Watcher club. The other thing that this chain used to do that I found unusual was allowing in outside food. This summer I packed a goumet picnic to see the movie Julie and Julia. This has been the norm for years and years and this fall, it stopped.

Now AMC has turned into the nasty jerks like at other theaters. Say you've been out to a pricey dinner, are stuffed to the gills but you're not going to leave the left overs. Good luck getting them in the movies, even if you have no intention of eating them. Recently, I had gone to Costco and had a quarter ham. It was hot out; I wasn't going to leave it in the car. They actually tried to stop me from carrying it in! Like what was I supposed to eat it with??? Good grief!

The other day at the movie, I had a little tickle in my throat and thought I would treat myself to a coke, something I rarely drink. I stood there in shock when I realized the cheapest one was 4.50!!! For a COKE???? I asked for a courtesy cup and got free water!

When you realize that with a coke and popcorn, a movie can cost over $20 per person, I have to wonder if we are turning a generation of potential movie fans into video junkies who will never understand the great experience of seeing a movie in a theater. And for me, the die-hard theather afficiando??? I'm in the market for a much bigger purse!

Only Fun Stuff Today!

Mabel Lou here. I don't really like my mom blogging every day. This November blog crap is for the squirrels!

I forbid her from coming near the computer cause it's Sunday and there's lots of fun stuff for her to do today.

She needs to take me out to breakfast.

She can play with me.

She loves to brush me.

She relishes running in the mud with me.

Copyright 2009 Isabelle Thompson.

Oh and it's my Auntie's birthday - the one that took this picture. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE!!!! I LOVE YOU!!! )

It's a great day; what are YOU doing on the computer??? Don't you have a doggie to love???

Shopping with Mama Nobucks

Maybe it's my underemployment and inability to find a job. Maybe it's that I'm always suspicious of retailers. Maybe it's that my ridiculously high property tax bill is due in a matter of weeks. Whatever the reason, my Holiday Spirit has been kidnapped!

I decided to give myself the day off on Friday. I took the girl for a serious hike, so deep into the creek, I got lost for the first time in years! My dog mom duties over, I went into Burbank.

My first stop was at the new mini-mall by the airport. When I worked in this neighborhood (2001), They had just opened Lowe's and Target and none of the restaurants were open. This particular mini-mall did not exist. You either had to bring your lunch or plan to spend 20 minutes of your lunch hour driving.

I had shrimp at the Fish Dish. I should say I had rubber shrimp. Maybe I'm just homesick for some tender succulent shrimp from Mike Anderson's or Brunet's. So much for lunch.

I headed to the movie theater and stopped in Barnes & Noble to pick up book I want for a Christmas Gift. I picked out a few beading magazines and the book. I almost freaked when they told me the book was $26! For that price, I would expect it to be printed on gold... or at least silver! I passed on the book, knowing I could get it for $14 on Amazon, paid for my magazines and left.

I got to the movie theater and had some time to kill so I opened my bag from the bookstore. I realized my three bead mags had cost me a whopping $35! WTH??? I really enjoyed the movie (The Blind Side) and saw another (Precious) but I wish I had seen them in the reverse order...one is an upper and the other is a downer. Both are Oscar worthy and the high point of my day!

But the whole time, I kept thinking $35 for magazines?? I planned on having Thai spring rolls and red velvet cake at CPK after doing a little shopping. I hit Bath and Body works... always great for stocking stuffers and several of my friends love their lotions.

But as I browsed the store, everything just looked the same. The same old stuff from years before; same old candles, same old lotions and potions. Sure they did have some new fragrances and some old favorites. You would think they would bring back the best seller from a few years back, Tuberose but no. This year they have Butterfly and I Love You.

Um, 'scuse me Mr. Butterfly, could you hold still so I can see what you smell like??? And just what should I Love You smell like??? Is it all candles and roses or raw sex??? Really, you could go in any direction with that...but I like names that mean something in my lotions and potions. Coconut, Waterlily, Lemon...those are fragrances!

My personal favorite was the candle named Moonlight Woods. Can you say "lawsuit?" The visit was good for a few laughs but I left empty handed. Ran smack into a glass jewelry counter..."Everything $5!" Yep, imported glass from China. ICK!

My tour of Macy's was just as fruitless. They were having a big sale - 25% off but it felt like all the prices were about 25% too high to begin with... like there was a mark up to compensate for the mark down.

Next stop, the Ikea holiday tent. I love to pick up wrapping paper or cute little ornaments. But this year, they've put a big red heart on everything! And not even a cute heart...they've tried to make it look like a bell or something. I just stood there, wondering if it was Valentine's Day. I get it...'Christmas is LOVE!' but I don't want my decorations to look like another holiday! Come on!

By this point, the $35 I had spent on magazines was killing me. I went back to the bookstore and got a refund and left without getting dinner. After this shopping trip, a cup of soup and a grilled ham and cheese just felt more to my liking.

Yep, Ashville

More evidence in my case for renaming the town. These are my pool filters being washed. The above ones are clean and the lower ones are still dirty.


They are normally covered with diatomaceous earth which is a pale gray. Since the Station Fire, there is so much blowing soot and ash...well you can see what it's done to the pool filters. And while diatomaceous earth allows water to pass through, thus filtering the pool, ash does not! My filters, which typically get taken apart and cleaned once a year have been cleaned twice now in 2 1/2 months. It's going to be a challenging winter.

Water!

That hike I wrote of yesterday turned into bliss because of the unexpected water find! We've had a hot and dry November but last weekend, clouds and wind blew in and there was a chill in the daytime air. It was clear there was a storm somewhere.

But here in Sunland, there was just blowing ash and soot. I was driving along the mountain road to the south of town looking at Mt. Luken's and declared, "We don't live in Sunland anymore. This place needs to be called 'Ashville.'"

All that wind drove the storm further east a few miles and the folks in La Canada got over an inch in 15 minutes. Some parts got over 2" in an hour! There were mudslides and quite a bit of damage near the fire line. But that was completely out of mind on Monday.

I had energy to burn. Since our favorite trail is closed thanks to the Station Fire and probably will be until Spring, I suggested we start our hike with our larger pack in Hahamonga Park, thinking that would make a much longer hike to the point of the fire closure.

After 30 minutes, I was thinking it was a bad plan. The dogs were hot and we had no water. Suddenly all four girls got so excited and took off with Kat and I chasing. And then I heard it: WATER!

I remembered the deluge from the weekend and realized, the mountain still had runoff! Within seconds, Mabel and Linguini were frolicking with the little pups looking for a less steep entrance to the stream. I was amazed at how black the water was...yep, Ashville!

The girls were having the best time and Kat and I were slipping and sliding in the mud - and laughing so hard. And then I remembered that this stream is fed by the stream in the shady canyon we love so! I implored the girls to get a move on so we could make it to their favorite swimming hole before dark.

I love this photo of Mabel playing in the dark muddy water.

I know it will be a long, long time before our stream runs clear again but for now, just having the water back is glorious!

All photos copyright 2009 Isabelle Thompson.

Escape

Photo by Isabelle Thompson

Monday, after all the chaos and drama from my weekend, I found myself needing an escape. Kat and her pack are always my favorite cohorts in crime because Mabel can join in on the fun.

The humans had sandwiches and the canines shared a cup of creme. We wrapped it up with a fabulous hike and went home so happy, we're all still a little high from it!

Flu Shots in the Information Age

I admit it. I'm a queasy, uneasy traveler. I slam Airborne and Immunocomp before and after any plane ride. And my impending trip to Baton Rouge, being cooped in a tin can for strangers for hours on end is making me extra nervous with all the Swine* flu and the regular flu being so bad this year. I've had several friends hospitalized with one or the other variety and my little cousins in Denham Springs, LA have the Swine.

I got my flu shot back in September but have been really upset over the lack of Swine shots available here. When you could find them, the lines were 8 hours long! Not with my feet! Plus standing line with that many people is enough make you sick!

Then the other day, I heard on Good Morning America that Google was working with health departments across the country to help people locate whichever type of shot they required. The doctor on the show used California and Arkansas as an example. California communicates well with Google and there are lots of locations and information online. Arkansas does not...

So I tried the link Google.com/flushot and was amazed to fine a Swine flu shot clinic in the park nearby last weekend. I called and yes, it was happening.

I decided to try and find one for my mom in Baton Rouge. I googled her zipcode and there was one going on that day...for another 54 minutes!I got on the office phone and told Mom where to go and used the home phone to find out what info she needed and how much, etc. She needed her doctor's address and I phoned her in the store and she got her shot. Whew!

My experience here in town on Saturday was not so pleasant. I somehow got it in my head it was at the Senior Center. I drove there and parked in front, noticing lots of cars around the park. As I got out of the car, I noticed the line across the park at the rec center... It went down the center of the park and wrapped about 50 feet down the sidewalk toward the post office! NO FREAKING WAY! I left.

After a long coffee with the BFF, I drove back by. The line was maybe 10 feet shorter. So I ran some errands...and it was 30 feet shorter. I came home, worked on the pool (forever out of something since the Station fire!), ate lunch and fell asleep on the sofa. I awoke with a start around 1:20. I sat straight up and yelled at myself, "GO NOW!!!"

The line was maybe 10 feet long and moving fast! I was amazed at the operation the LA County Health Department had put on... people directing traffic throughout the park. Several handing out the forms to fill out. A table of 20 or so that double checked the forms, another table of 20 making sure people understood their forms. Lots of hand sanitizer everywhere. More people directing us to one of 20 nurses stations filled with the Swine injection and nasal spray, band aids, alcohol, cotton balls and sharps containers. Wipe, prick, band aid, done!

My left arm did hurt the rest of the day...never had that reaction before. But it was fine on Sunday.

So, I'm de-swined and ready to travel.

*Note to the Federal Government: If you want to change the name of something...make sure the new name is no longer than the old name! Economy of words, people!!! H1N1 is FOUR times longer than the word swine in conversation.

The Wind In Her Ear

It's been a really rough week. Stomach flu, my back is out, crazy customer who emailed with some problem..but wouldn't check her email for another 24 hours making me deal with her every. single. day. Crazy vendor / owner that I need to run my business hung up on me. Twice. And then started emailing every few minutes me once I asked a sales rep there if she was OK. And last, but never least, there are the people who think my life is created to serve them. That I should drop everything because they need something. RIGHTNOW. Yes, the bastards are getting me down.

This year feels like a punch in the gut that won't go away. I really doubt I will find a job in the remainder of 2009 and some part of me is so ready for it to be over. I'm exhausted. I'm at some crossroads that I feel I've been at for years...waiting for something to push me in one direction or another. I just need to get on with...something. And some part of me feels like packing it all in and heading for Baton Rouge. But I can't bring Mabel. The airlines have made it so difficult and expensive to travel a large dog. It costs $1000! So Mabel will be staying here when I finally do head home. And that breaks my heart but, I so need a trip out of LA and I don't have the $$$ to go anywhere else but home. So until I leave in December, I'll just keep fantasizing about what was the best day of 2009....Mabel's day at the ocean: