AMC Theaters Won't Hire Me

Well it is summer time for this little teacher and she is in need of some extra cash!  I am teaching summer school, kill me, because I need money to pay bills, but I also want a little money to actually have some fun this summer.  I wanted to make a little extra fun money and I wanted to do it with the least amount of energy exerted ever.  I then thought of the most perfect job ever, AMC ticket seller person.

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How hard is that job?  The answer: It isn't hard at all.  In fact Penny could probably figure it out.

All I would have to do is sit in air conditioning and find out how many tickets to the 4pm showing of 22 Jump Street Nana and her friends wanted.  Easy peasy. I would have even been fine with an 18 year old kid being my manager and telling me to keep the line outside moving.

I went over to my local AMC theater and asked the manager if they were hiring ticket sellers.

He said yes they were looking for summer employees and asked if I knew anyone who was interested.  I told him I was interested and he asked about my schooling.  I told him I already graduated college and work as a High School English teacher.  Then he laughed at me.

He told me that they only hire  are not educated, which I thought was grossly unfair.  I went to college for over 7 years in order to not be able to get any job in the world that I want?  Ludicrous!

I was at the movie theater later that week with my work and I watched the ticket man struggle to figure out how to print 60 tickets for our group. I turned to my boss and told her my story and that they only hire uneducated people and we laughed.

I almost told his manager that I was available to work for the summer but thought better of it.

Since then I have thought of other jobs that would give me some cash for easy work but have not heard back from the applications I turned in.

If you are a manager in a nearby AMC, 24 Hour Fitness, Massage Envy, Mystic Tan, or other stupid easy receptionist jobs, help an educated woman make some money to go to a concert or two this summer!

SAHDM - A Stay At Home (Dog) Mom

What day is it today?  I have lost all concept of time and it is glorious.  As I might have mentioned before I am on Spring Break this week.  I know a ton of you who are probably very jealous and I totally get it.  I will just let you know at the school I work for I get no paid vacation time and I am still working from home a little this week. So maybe just be a little jealous, not change your whole career so you can have Spring Break jealous.

This year's spring break came at me late, y'all it is almost May!  I was one worn down kid and I made ZERO plans.  While I have been at home the last five days It dawned on me that with my new addition of Penny when I have large chunks of time off I am a SAHM or Stay At Home Mom for the non-mommy blog readers.  I reckon to make it even more appropriate I am a Stay At Home (Dog) Mom.  Here is my very intense schedule for all of you who are considering being poor and staying home with your dog everyday.

My life as a Stay At Home (Dog) Mom

 

7:00 Wake up and take Penny outside

7:15 Make coffee and write a blog post for the day

8:30 Publish post and read a few other blogs

9:00 Take Penny on a 45 minute walk

9:45 Eat breakfast

10:00-12:00 Watch episodes of Sex and the City on E!

12:00 Have a snack

12:00 - 6:00 Hang out, see a movie, go to lunch with a friend, go shopping, laze by the pool

6:00 Take Penny for another walk

6:30 Eat dinner

7:00 - 9:00 Work on some blog stuff, clean the house, maybe wash my clothes, maybe not.

9:00 Yoga or Pilates

10:00 Read in bed for an hour

11:00 Try to fall asleep and not be scared of all the noises that happen after 11pm that you have never heard before because you are too tired when you actually have to work.

It is a really difficult life.  I thank you so much for your patience while I try and get things done around here.

Because I have had so much free time I decided it was time to catch up on some movies.  First up I actually watched one of those Hallmark movies that was on TV, told you I was a stay at home mom.

It was the one with Katherine McPhee and she dreams of her new boyfriend and then he was real.  As I watched the movie I realized that is pretty much how things are going to have to work out for me too.  It seemed more realistic than actually meeting a man in the wild, like I have been trying to anyway!

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I also ventured out in public to see Captain America.  I am just going to say what everyone should be thinking - BORING!  I just cannot get on the Cap bandwagon.  I fell asleep during the first movie and I wasn't going to see this one either. However, a coworker practically insisted I see it and love it so I took his word for it, I will never take his word again!

I will say that I thought Katherine McPhee did a much better job as The Winter Solider than she did in the Hallmark movie.  Sure it was a bit of a stretch for her, but she totally transferred herself.  Well almost, she kept the same hair.

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Alright lovelies I am off.  The time is 8:45 so you can figure out what I will be up to now.

Confessions Confessions

I confess I was struggling with a blog post for today.  I went around and read a few others and remembered Kathy's weekly link up so I am joining that today.

//I confess I set my alarm clock for 5:30 so I can run or workout for a half hour before work, and it only happens once, maybe twice a week.

//I confess that today I reset said alarm clock to 6:30.  Penny made me do it.

//I confess that today I really liked my outfit

[caption id="attachment_1170" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Sweater: Stitch Fix - Dress: Target - Boots: Target[/caption]

//I confess that I really liked my outfit but I liked it a little less when my 65 year old boss came in wearing almost the same thing.  She wore pants instead of a dress and no boots.

//I confess that I make a student take my fashion photos at work and it is a little awkward.

[caption id="attachment_1169" align="aligncenter" width="600"] My photographer.[/caption]

//I confess that I love this time of year in my Psychology class, because we watch movies for a month straight.  Today A Beautiful Mind.

//I confess that I cry at the end of A Beautiful Mind every time he gives his speech about love.

//I confess that I maybe cried when I watched this weeks episode of "How I Met Your Mother." Love is the best thing we do.

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//I confess that I suck at making tone it up pancakes and I want to hang with Katrina and Karena for a week to learn their ways.

[caption id="attachment_1171" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Blueberry Crumble?[/caption]

//I confess I need to stop confessing and get back to work.

Erica Jacquline Oscar Nominee

I am not sure if you guys heard this, but Leonardo DiCaprio did not win an Academy Award this year… or any other year he has been nominated.  I am going to say something that is extremely unpopular right now, but I am OK with him not winning this year. Granted I did not see The Wolf of Wall Street, but I heard it was nasty.

I do think Leo is a great actor and totally deserving of an Oscar for the work he does.  It's coming Leo.  It's coming.

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During the Academy Awards ceremony I realized that there are many actors who have been nominated but have never won an Oscars. They were introduced as "Academy Award Nominee…."  Which is still cool you were nominated, but what if that is how you are remembered for the rest of your life as the guy or lady who was always nominated and never won.  It is pretty much the acting equivalent of "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" right?

I decided it was time to figure out who else has been snubbed an Academy Award when they are clearly deserving of the honor.  I searched for reputable actors who have not won Oscars and here is what I found

Great Actors Who Have Never Won An Oscar

Harrison Ford

Brad Pitt

Amy Adams

Robert Redford

Johnny Depp

Julianne Moore

Edward Norton

Glenn Close

Robert Downey Jr.

Erica Jacquline

… That's right.  Your host on this blog tour of Oscar snubs has been overlooked by the academy also.

It is true everyone, I was nominated for an Oscar 12 times in my life and I never won.



In case you do not believe me, let me remind you I have been in movies.  If you are trying to remember what films I was in let me refresh your memory.  There was my role in that Dolly Parton Christmas movie last year:

[caption id="attachment_371" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Do you see me?[/caption]

And that time I was in Will Ferrell's greatest film, Semi Pro, which I have yet to see.

Even every word I just wrote is true those were not my Oscar nominated roles.  No my Oscar nominated roles came when I was in high school.

You see I was in theater in high school and every year we produced four plays.  At the end of each year we ran our own version of the Oscars and people received awards for their work.  I was nominated for every part I played the three years I was in theater, hence I was nominated 12 times.

To further prove that Leo and I are in the same acting boat here are some of my favorite photos from this pivotal time in my life from my first play to my last one.

[caption id="attachment_1022" align="aligncenter" width="428"] My first play with lines and all! I was an airhead in Get Smart.[/caption]

Can we please just acknowledge how much I rock in these photos below? I was a crazy island lady. I totally committed to my part and went orange with fake tanner, ratted hair and it got larger in each scene, and wore  very large island dresses.  I compare it to Matty Mc. losing 50 pounds for Dallas Buyers.

As you can see I was pretty spectacular in my part as crazy island lady my senior year of high school.  I thought for sure that I was going to get an Oscar for all of my performances, but this one was really the one that would get me the win. It was my "Wolf On Wall Street" if you will.

I went to the Oscars each year expecting to walk away a winner.  Each year I walked away "Oscar Nominee."

[caption id="attachment_1023" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Please note the girl next to me holding an Oscar, I am pouting next to her.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1024" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Please note my "ungracious loser face"[/caption]

I only posed for pictures the first year and after that I took the back exit to avoid the paparazzi.  Sorry you only have one year of pissed off Erica faces to look at.

One year I even fell on stage during a play, flashed the audience my bright green spandex shorts, and continued to act while everyone else on stage laughed and I got nothin'!  Actually, a year later they named an award after me, the Splat Award.  My friend Priscilla won it.

Looking back I can say that I am glad I never won an Oscar in high school! Leo needs some good company in the "Oscar Nominee" category of life and I am happy to make it a safe space for him until we both get what is due us.

Sunday Funday - Erica's Oscar Season Movie Reviews

For today's Sunday Funday I thought it would be fun to have a movie based theme in honor of the Oscars on Sunday.

Erica's Oscar Season Movie Reviews

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I love movies and I saw a lot of them during Oscar Season, November - January. I however, did not necessarily see Oscar nominated films.  Please remember that I did not say I saw a lot of Oscar nominated movies during Oscar Season, just a lot of movies.

Below are most of the films I saw and my review of each film.  I hope you enjoy and I hope your favorites will win big tomorrow night!

Dallas Buyer Club

This was a great movie that I didn't know I was seeing.  When I went to the movies the day I saw it I was given the option of 12 Years a Slave and Dallas Buyers Club.  I knew I wasn't ready for 12 Years so I choose Dallas Buyers thinking it was The Wolf Of Wall Street.  I guess that is what happens when Matthew Mc is in two movies at the same time.

I was in the theater and the movie started at the rodeo with Matt M. "getting it on" in one of the bull chute.  I turned to my friend and told her I was so confused.  Why in the world would a movie about Wall Street start at the Rodeo?

She informed me it was a movie about HIV and I realized I had no idea what I was about to watch.

I actually have to tell you that this movie was amazing, other than the very confusing opening.  I was so impressed by Matthew M. and Jared Leto and how far they went to transform themselves for their roles.  It is a heavy movie with a good message.  I for one left knowing more and  feeling compassion for people who experience similar stories that were depicted in this film.

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Hunger Games Catching Fire 

I love the Hunger Games books.  Before the movies came out I actually told all my students to read them.  Then the movies came out and I knew my students weren't reading and were just watching.

Other than my personal disappointment I actually am glad these books were made into movies.  I think they do a pretty good job of sticking to the books and the second one was better than the first.  Peeta seemed less girly and more capable in the second film.

The second book was my favorite in the series and I have a feeling it will be my favorite movie too.  Really what is going to happen without Phillip Seymore Hoffman?

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Thor 2

I just think Thor is dreamy.  I have no critique of the movie because I just looked at his muscles the whole time.  I love you Thor.

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About Time

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS MOVIE!  I had no idea what to expect going into this film.  I just knew Rachel McAdams fell in love with a time-traveling red head and I wanted to see that unfold.

This movie has so much depth and happiness that I left the theater feeling good about life and ready to take on the world.  I honestly think it is going to be in my top movie picks for life amongst, Almost Famous, Elizabethtown, Lars and the Real Girl and whatever else I decide on any given day.

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I was really inspired by this movie to get out and live a better life.  I have always loved Ben Stiller and I have missed him on the screen lately.  My friend thought the movie was too predictable, but I was sold the whole time.  The only thing that was off for me was Adam Scott as the mean boss.  His beard distracted me, and his role was too archetypal bad guy.

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Anchorman 2 The Legend Continues

All I can really say here is my expectations were up WAY to high for this film. I had been way way too excited about it for like months.  Then I watched it and I lost a few hours of my life.  The only parts of the movie that solicited a genuine laugh from me were the scenes with Steve Carrell and Kristen Wiig.  Goodness gracious were they awkward and weird.  Can we get a romantic comedy out starting these two please!?

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12 Years a Slave

This was by far the best movie I saw this year.  It totally messed with me in a good way.  I do not even know what to tell you other than to see it.  It is a tough movie to sit through and there were many times where I had to just look at my lap.  It is an uncomfortable story that needed to be told.

My only criticism comes with the accents the white people had in the movie.  I adore Benedict Cummerbatch, but it was so hard for me to imagine Sherlock as a Southern slave owner.  The accent that was the strangest for me though was Brad Pitt's.  He had some strangely developed southern accent even though he said he came from CANADA!  Sorry Brad I would have bought it if you said "eh?"

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Hobbit 2 The Desolation of Smaug

I loved the Hobbit 2!  I really was not into the first Hobbit movie and I was ready for al the dwarf singing to stop as soon as it began.  However, I could have watched more when it came to the Hobbit 2.  In case you haven't seen it yet I recommend you pick your favorite dwarf at the beginning of the film.  It helps you focus your attention and not get overwhelmed when dwarfs abound.

On another note a few of my students hated this movie.  The only part they liked was that they noticed the elves always have 4 arrows in their quiver even if they just shot 2 arrows.

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The Lego Movie

Maybe this was my favorite movie this year, maybe not.  I can not decide.  All I know is that I wish I was still teaching British Literature so I could show this movie along side 1984.  I am not sure how but they captured the bleakness of Orwell's work with little yellow people. Totally brill!

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Saving Mr. Banks

Dear people who marketed this movie, you owe me a box of tissues.  The advertisements of this movie were NOTHING like the movie at all.  When I saw the trailer I was sure it was going to be a feel good family movie about Disney and Mary Poppins.  It was not.

Saving Mr. Banks was the most emotional movie I have seen in a LONG time.  I am pretty sure there as a stead stream of tears for about an hour while I watched the saddest depiction of a daughter father relationship .  It was a great movie though that showed me the redemption that writing can bring to a person's life.  Even though it was not a feel good family movie. it was a poignant and beautifully told story.

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Please remember that I did not see many of the Oscar nominated films.  I actually wanted to see American Hustle and Her, but my friend's schedules kept not working out.  Redbox I have a date with you soon!

What were some of your favorite movies during Oscar season?  Which movies are  you hoping take home an Academy Award?

As always you can link up a Sunday Funday post!  Just follow me, slap the button on your post, and add your link!

Sister Act 2 Lied To Me

Yesterday I stayed home sick.  There is something in the air around here and it seems like everyone is sick with something.  I didn't do much yesterday.  In fact I slept in, watched a million episodes of Millionaire Matchmaker, the Duck vs. Kings game, and stumbled upon a gem from my childhood Sister Act 2. 



I do not know if you were as cool as me, but Sister Act 2 was one of my top five movies when I was a wee little lass.  I never saw Sister Act, but that didn't matter.  I would watch this movie again and again.  I had the soundtrack 30 times a day and sing the songs until I was as good as Lauren Hill, or so I thought.

My love for this movie happened during a formative time in my life when I was 9 years old.  At that point I thought I was a little gansta child and this movie fed my wanna be bad girl ways.

I realized as I watched the movie today that I was lied to in many ways that a little girl can not really realize until she grows up and knows a little bit more about the world.  Now I will present to you all the ways Sister Act 2 lied to me about life.

 

Being a Las Vegas Showgirl only entails singing a medley of hits from the 1960s

That opening sequence with Whoopi singing about 20 songs in a four minute time frame gave me such a great portrayal of what a Las Vegas Showgirl does.  I loved that you could combine a million songs together and sing them for people in a sparkly dress.  If that was being a showgirl then that is what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Whoopi Goldberg could believably play a Showgirl



Maybe it is because I know who Whoopi is now and I can see her on The View everyday, but it was really hard to believe she could have been a showgirl in Vegas.  I would have totally believed it if she was performing in Reno though.

Teaching inner city youths is fun and easy once you teach them a few vocal exercises. 



As a teacher in a nice area I know that this is not even close to the truth. Look at all that attitude Lauryn Hill is going you.  She is hard core and will not be won over with a few times through "Do a Dear."  Even Maria von Trapp would have had a heck of a time with these youths.   Either that or they weren't that ghetto.

Singing  "Oh Happy Day" like a girl will make you cool and give you self confidence. 



In perhaps one of the most memorable scenes in the movie the little scrawny boy came out of his shell and sang Oh Happy Day like Mariah Carrey angle.  Somehow this made him cool and made him feel good about himself. I know life is not like this.  For the boys who sing in a beautiful falsetto they usually get made fun of for not going through puberty yet.

Did anyone else try and sing like he did with your friends?  We would sing this song over and over again to see who could hit that high note the best. Looking back it really did not make us cool.

You can lie to your mom if you are as talented as Lauryn Hill 



So Lauryn Hill's mom did not want her to sing because of her dead beat dad, or something like that.  LH is pretty upset about this so instead of obeying her mom or having a real conversation she forges a permission slip and goes on a school trip.  Her mom shows up and right when you think all hell is about to break loose nothing happens.  LH sings her heart out and her mom gives her a hug.  The End.  I am pretty sure I would have been grounded for a month or three if I pulled that stunt.

Professor McGonagall, or if you are more classy the grandma on Downton Abbey was a nu







Round sunglasses are cool



Joyful Joyful is not actually a rap - gospel hybrid song. 



I remember singing this song in church and waiting for the part where we would break out the rap.  I was so excited to sing "Cause all I know is that I'm down with G-O-D!  You down with G-O-D? Yeah you know me!"

_______________________________

Now I would love to introduce you to Bri over at Deliciously Active.  Bri is so great about blogging fantastic recipes and encouraging her readers to eat healthy and work out.  If you want to know how to make your own donuts check out her post Move Over Dunkin and check out how tough this girl is and the 7.1 mile race she took part in I'm Savage.

 

1. What do you love about blogging?

What I love most about blogging is the socialization. I love being able to share my point of view and interact with my readers. I love hearing their perspective or, better yet, funny stories! I am a social person so I enjoy clicking around and "meeting" new people.

 

2. What is your favorite thing to blog about?

It's funny, I recently had a conversation with another blogger and she referred to me as a fitness and food blogger. I always thought I simply blogged about my life, but when I thought about it I do talk about fitness and food a lot (even in real life!). 

 

3. If you had to eat the same meal every day, what would you eat?

It'd probably be my chicken cacciatore. I can't flippin' get enough of the stuff. It's low-fat, but flavorful and filling. 

 

4. Do you have a furry friend? Tell us about them.

I have a Great Dane named Princesa. She is huge. I love watching people's faces when they come to my home and meet her for the first time. She's such a  friendly dog so she comes to properly greet anyone that walks through the door, but they back up out of fear because of her size. It's funny. She really is the sweetest, most loving dog and is so gentle and patient with my 3 young sons. They climb on her and she doesn't even flinch.

 

5. Where have you traveled to and what has been your favorite place and why?

I have traveled throughout the U.S., the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, and recently went to Europe. I think out of all the places I have been so far, I fell in love with Argentina and Italy the most. I worked in Argentina (Rosario) for 2 months and really got to know the city. I loved the architecture and the culture. The city itself has a dark history that I was drawn to (Dirty War), so it was fascinating to walk around the city and identify buildings where certain events took place. I loved Italy for the people and the food. The people are so warm and friendly and the food is amazing. I am planning another trip to Italy, but next time to Florence, Rome, and Pompeii.

Be sure to say hi to Bri on Twitter,  Bloglovin', and Instagram

Merry Christmas From The Kids Table

So I am currently at my mom's house watching the Hobbit and trying to teach Penny to be a lady of decorum.  So far she isn't taking to my instruction, but she is cute.  She looks like a little doll today and I love it.



We were at my aunt and uncle's house tonight for Christmas Eve.  My family is quite small, but on my aunt's side there re a lot of people.  I do not quite fit into to any of the age/life stages that are represented at this family gathering.  My favorite people to talk to are my uncle, my mom, my aunt's sister and her daughter.  Really it is fun to talk to my mom and dousing, they are both counselor and make the holiday conversation so light.  Tonight's topic, sex offenders.

After we have exhausted the counselor talk I usually end up with the dogs or the children.  They are just way more fun than everyone else.  They do not get drunk, or care about a football score,or have life issues.  They are just so happy it is Christmas and want to share that joy.

Tonight I played with two sweet little kids and it was wonderful.  Scout, my cousin's dog even joined the fun and it was perfect.  I then drove home to get Penny to go to my mom's house.  I cranked up the radio and sang Christmas songs all the way home.  Think Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle, "horses, horses, horses!"

I love that there are ways to find joy in each day.  I hope you can find a way to be happy and enjoy the wonder of Christmas. Sit at the Kids Table if you need a little refresher on how love Christmas!

So Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart!  I hope you are all singing Feliz Navidad now!

Wait! It's Christmas Eve?!

One more sleep till Christmas!

I do not know about you, but it has been a little hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit.  I mean honestly, I have watched one Christmas movie, The Family Stone, probably the most depressing Christmas movie ever.  I haven't looked at the lovely lights in the rich people neighborhoods. I am pretty sure I forgot to buy my sister and brother their Christmas gifts.

I am not even a grump when it comes to Christmas, this one just got away from me.

I know that I will be watching all my go to Christmas movies soon.  I mean there is Elf!  I haven't even watched Elf yet!

That is pretty much how I feel right now.

I also know I will watch A Christmas Story all day on Christmas.  Thanks TBS!

I have however, watch enough Channing Tatum movies and Harry Potter moves to have them totally work their way into my subconscious.  In fact just last night I had a dream that my boyfriend Channing Tatum was trying to protect me from Voldemort, who was trying to kill me because I was the "chosen one."

Merry Christmas to me!