Theatre

General

Teddy my Ted

4 July 2012

This was my Teddy Bear from my childhood.

Yesterday evening I went to the theatre like I have almost every Tuesday night in forever. This week I when to see the movie “Ted”.

I absolutely loved the movie, it was literally non–stop laughs from beginning to end. It was also very funny all the jokes and pop–culture that I remembered back from the 80’s. With memory lane returning from the 80’s was my teddy bear. I called him “Teddy”. Teddy was always there for me, just like Ted was there for John in the movie. Only I was not too nice to Teddy.

Let’s just say that the head and most limbs have been pulled off several times and none of the stuffing remaining is original. I keep Teddy on the back of my couch but we basically split up around the time I went to school. I also had a huge (to me when I was 4) stuffed Strawberry Shortcake doll that my mother still jokes was my first girlfriend. 🙂 Though she did not survive as long as Teddy as the break-up was painful for her as I, as a kid ripped her to pieces.
General

That’s My Boy

17 June 2012

This weekend I went to see the new Adam Sandler movie, “That’s My Boy”. I really laughed in this one even though the theatre was empty on Saturday afternoon. This is the first Sandler movie in a while that actually has a great story as well as being funny. This is one of the must sees this Spring/Summer season.

On Tuesday I am going to go to see Rock of Ages.
Travel

Last Live Performance

17 May 2012

What was the last live performance you saw?

London Streetscape

The last live performance I saw was Legally Blonde: The Musical at the Savoy in London. This was the first time I went to a show in London. I bought my tickets at a little kiosk on Charing Cross Rd.. It was a nice sunny afternoon, I was going to see an afternoon movie but for some reason I decided not to. I think the main reason was I has so much left to see in London and I seen a sign that morning for the Transport for London (TFL) museum and since I love subways I decided that was too important to miss.

I was so thrilled with my purchase and they even gave me a map of where to find the theatre. So after a quick-lunch and email check at the Burger King, I was off to find this museum from memory and some moderately accurate street directions. When I then saw something “shiny” (metaphorically). It was a little stair well to a Ray-Ban designer shop. I when in and tried on every pair. Things appear more magical when travelling.

Then I found the museum and it was 100x better that I imagined the museum to be. It was a second london gem that interested me by surprise like the H.M.S. Belfast that prior to the day before I had not known existed.

After I when back to the hotel to drop off my new souvenirs and to dress more formal for the theatre. When I got off the tube at Charring Cross I seen the map at the station to get general bar rings as it was about a 5 minute walk. I kept walking and started to question if I had gone too far then I saw the bright pink glow around the bend from the large sign.

I quickly get in created and find my perfect centre seat about 8 rows from the stage about 20 minutes before showtime. After 5 minutes an usher comes and explains that the Ticket seller double sold the same seats and that in typical London hospitality I was given a new seat one row back. Then the show started and was such an amazing musical in such a fashion that held it’s own only differing slightly from the movie storyline and incredibly well acted. It was also really pink.
General

Goals Suck

2 January 2012

This is the time of year that everyone is setting their goals for the new year. Some unrealistic and some to easily obtainable because you are going to do it anyway. I have set goals like everyone else. But let’s face it goals still suck.

One of my goals this year are to write more, in the range of 2-3 times a week. This is also one of the reasons that you are reading this is because I have written it.

Next thing I want to accomplish is to become a better person. I am going to change my diet to be more reasonable and not so restaurant based. Let’s face it I could probably count the number of times I have cooked in the last year on 2 hands. Pretty much everything has been from Tim’s, Wendy’s, Subway, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Java Moose, Urban Deli, or Saint John Ale House for the past year. The exception being frozen stuff or sandwiches from Sobey’s. This has also resulted in a net weight increase in 2011. Although I am still down from the start of 2010.

The next thing on my list is to read more. I am going to try to actually read 10 books this year. In addition, I am going to try to reduce the amount of movies I go see in theatre. I think that 40 should be a reasonable number. There are some good choices this year but it does not appear to be nearly as good of a year as my 300 year in 2009.

I am also going to try to see somewhere new this year. Last year Vancouver, Hoboken, and Bologna where great new places but this year needs to be totally new. I also don’t really want to travel alone again this year so my big goal will be to find someone to travel with.
SnapShots

Paramount Theatre Doughnuts

2 August 2010

Here are some pictures that I took Saturday night, except for the clouds picture from Friday morning. There are pictures of the Paramount Theatre and Doughnuts.

Clouds in Morning

Coconut Cream

Coconut Cream

Coconut Cream

Coconut Cream

Construction Trucks

Falling Bricks

Front View

Honey Cruller

Honey Cruller

Honey Cruller

Side Window
Travel

Travels and planning

24 February 2010

As we progress into the year 2010, the only New Year’s resolution that I haven’t broken yet is my vow to only see 100 movies in the theatre this year (yet) I’m currently at number 10 as we speak, and I have my annual Toronto trip ahead of me next month, and the beautiful AMC Theatre on Dundas Square.

While on the topic of travels, my first ever passport arrived by courier two weeks ago. I can now leave the country again and am so excited about the upcoming plans. Before I announce where I must point out that despite my love for History in university non-Canadian History seemed somewhat less interesting. The more I reflect on the topic, it may be just that it seems so distant, therefore why not going to see it in person. This is where I announce that in September I am travelling to Europe. I’ve decided to go on a guided tour with Contiki Tours. Now I just have to decide on the exact date and trip. Currently, I am leaning to the European Whirl from September 11th – 30th, but that may change after discussing with a Travel agent.

If you notice this is the first post in the new Travel category, this will become my Travelogue however you don’t have to wait until September, next up next month is Toronto.
General

The New Moon where I hope they serve beer in Hell to the Forth Kind!

23 November 2009

Yes once again the post with a really long esoteric name is a movie reviw post for the following 3 movies I have seen (at least once) over the past week.

Lets start with the biggest New Moon the continuation of the Twilight Saga. I never left a theatre before so wanting to read a book then with this most epic cliff hanger of an ending. The first movie introduces the love story, where the second explains the relationship between the native’s haterid towards the vampires and introduces the senero to be portrade in the final two incarnations, and then stop abruptly that the story is not complete, and disappointment that you must wait for the next one.

The next movie is “I hope they serve beer in hell” for such a long title this is one of the best comedies fo the year, based off a true story, up along the same genre as the Hangover. It crosses elements between Weading Crashers and The Hangover. This is most definately a must see.

The last movie is the Fourth Kind. This is a really bad movie a slight thriller based of a (possibly) true story about abductions across Alaska. It blew, not worth even renting.
General

Fitness and Personality Watchmen

8 March 2009
I’m going to start today’s post with the fact that I have joined a gym. My friend Andrea finally convinced me to join Nubody’s (now GoodLife) (Now GoodLife). I bought the membership on Thursday and finally went yesterday. Despite feeling a little sore and tired today, I actually feel better. Despite the fact that I have a lot of weight that I should lose, I am actually quite hesitant to set goals/benchmarks at this point. It has been since 2002 since I last regularly worked-out in a gym. The most exercise I have done recently is walking to work from missing the bus. Which according to Google Maps is 3.4 km which should take 39 minutes. I usually take 45-50 minutes to do it, Although I have done it in a “Vindaloo” walk in 32 minutes. (While listening to “Vindaloo” on my iPod. in one song loop mode.)

The next topic is to discuss personalities. I was recently updating my profile for the site StumbleUpon which one of the selections is personality type. Being unsure what the meaning of the letters were I did a quick Google search and found this site that offered a free personality quiz. I took the test and got these results.

Extravert, iNtuitive, Thinker, Judger (ENTJ)

ENTJs represent between 2 and 5% of the U.S. population.
```
Natural leaders with a hearty and frank style, ENTJs tend to take charge of any situation they find themselves in. They are good organizers of people because they have the ability to see ahead and then communicate their vision to others. Usually friendly and outgoing, ENTJs have a lot of energy, often speaking, thinking and moving quickly. Excellent strategic thinkers, they grasp new concepts quickly, even complicated or complex issues and they generally convey confidence. ENTJs often juggle several projects at once and pride themselves on completing them all with skill and efficiency. Creative and innovative, most ENTJs enjoy developing a high-level strategy and leading a team or organization towards implementation. Because ENTJs are so logical and analytical, they are usually good at anything that requires reasoning and intelligence. Driven to achieve competence in all they do, they can naturally spot the flaws that may exist in a situation and see immediately how to improve them.
```
Then I recall learning this during my second university stint in the class “Introduction to Organizational Behavior.” I never did well in that class. I was constantly disputing the theories involved in it but now in hindsight that maybe might have been due to the fact of my personality type…or that I did not study.

While I am at it I might as well include a review of a movie. Yesterday after the gym I went to the theatre to see “The Watchmen.” I really like the story and the acting was really good. However, the editing and attention to detail were very poor. In the Dr. Manhattan farewell scene as Silk Specter II’s hair is blowing in the wind it is filled with a green light from the green screen instead of the proper background. CEFM Rating: 3.5/5
General

Slamming Empire Theatres

8 February 2009

Okay, so instead of a review of a movie I’m going to post about the whole getting into the theatre. This is payback for not showing the new release “New in Town.”

1. Congestion at Entrance.

First off the last renovation to the theater was based on the time when probably 70% of the transactions were cash based. Now that this is not the case there is a large congestion at the point by the arcade. I mean there are several ad-hock lines for the automated machines and the REALLY LONG cash line. It practically is impassable to get past it especially if you are going to the concessions and getting you tickets there. To make it worse the on sight that informs you of this is the one that is in the way and makes the situation worse on a busy Friday/Saturday. And move that sign further near the foot of the ramp.

2. Focus in the Cinemas.

About 20% of the movies that I see are so out of focus that it bothers me at times, like most people would not notice but to a trained eye like mine it does get annoying during some presentations.

3. The Express System

Why can’t you buy tickets from more than one movie at once? Also why can’t you buy single items? Or, items from different categories. This results in needless transaction costs to the theatre, as I have to go through a few times to get everything I want. No the single items go to my next point.

4. The express lanes need more items!

This is ridicules why if I want to just get a Pop why cant I get a ticket run through and grab the pop and head off to my movie. Also New Your Fries could be added as a Regular and Large Fries, and Chocolate Bars should be added as well. And the auto system should allow you to select different items available as mix and match. Of course anything that requires preparation like Nachos, Poutine, and TCBY would not work but the quick stuff, even Hot Dogs maybe. I also don’t think it would be difficult to have a monitor scroll by what I items are being ordered in real time by the automated machines and allow the concession supervisors to optimize the system. E.g. if 5 poutines and 5 pretzel bites combos are ordered on the automated system you may need an extra person over there and the revised express lane would relive some of the line ups.

5. I wanna see the good movies too..

I was really disappointed by not being able to see New in Town, Be Kind Please Rewind, and countless others. I understand that some movies are limited release and some have contracts that are too long for the quality of the movie but. There have been many hyped movies that I have been disappointed that they were not shown.
General

My Post-Birthday Post

10 May 2008

Yesterday was a very interesting day for my birthday. For a change people seemed nicer. It seems like it was no time ago, let alone four years ago today that (in 2004) today (May 11th) I was working at Client Logic, done after a hectic month and a half of campaigning and just waiting for election day to be over, wait a minute, that didn’t happen as a recall at that time I was ditching Sunday shifts to go to Empire Theatres probably to see Mean Girls, New York Minute, or 13 Going On 30 (I seen all of them in the theatre and cant remember which.) Then off to go do Too Close to Call, back in the days when it was only a half hour long show. Then off the day after the election to the great city of Toronto, ON for the first time ever, and my first time on a train too. It is too bad that a lot of my blog here didn’t survive from that time.

So yesterday… after doing some overtime and fighting with the Royal Bank, I went to Boston Pizza and had an appetizer of Thai chicken bites, Caesar Salad, Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti, glass of Keith’s, and Vanilla Bean Cake. Then I went to the theatre and seen “Maid of Honor.” I have to say it was a very good meal and very good movie (4 stars.)
Travel

Trip to Toronto 2

12 May 2005

Before I get started about what I did yesterday, what is it with Alcohol trucks this week the beer truck yesterday, and now today a vodka truck over turned in Hamilton.

Anyways I went shopping on Bay St. in the morning yesterday, then went back to my hotel room to drop it off. Then I was heading to the zoo, but then I realized I left my Phone in the hotel room so I did not go to the zoo, but since I was all the way out at the Kennedy Station anyways I took the Scarbough RT subway to the end of the line.

Scarborough really reminds me of Saint John in all reality, there are very few sky rise buildings, lots of trees in the middle of town. The not so crisp smell, and about as clean looking. If I moved to Toronto Scarbrough may be one of the first places I consider.

I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to visit every subway station. I gave it a break after returning from Kippling station and went for supper at Subway in the entertainment district.

I went to see the musical Evita last night it was an amazing show. I think I am starting to develop a liking to the performing arts. It was very well acted and very well choreographed. I was sitting pretty much in the dead centre of the second balcony in the Prince of Wales Auditorium. It is almost as nice as the Royal Alexandria but lacks the old historic look. I think I might see some more theatre when I return home to Saint John.

After the show I decided to finish the final leg of visiting every subway station. At 11pm exactly I arrived in the final one Downsview. There is a large mall up there that I might go check out tomorrow called the Yorkdale Mall.
Travel

Visit to Toronto

11 May 2005

Last night I went down to the entertainment district and since I jumped on the wrong direction subway, and then the wrong subway station by one station, I was 5 minutes too late to see a show. Momma Mia is being preformed at the Royal Alexandria and Evita at the Prince of Wales Theatre. So then I browsed the strip of restaurants to find a place to eat, but went a few blocks away to Hooters instead. Once again the food was terrible but I had an incredibly nice waitress named, Autumn. After that I headed back to the Hotel and stopped at the Odeon Cineplex and was told by the beggar out front that Moolaite was a good movie. Well it wasn’t a was so board that a fell asleep during the second half.

I tuned in this morning to Breakfast Television like I normally do and there were two news items I found interesting first was Molson Beer truck flipped over. Then the Parliament vote to get rid of the government.
General

Has it been that long?

29 August 2004

I haven’t had an opportunity to update this here blog entry in a while.

A few weeks ago I bought freesmelvin.ca with a new hosting provider all-in-all it is working out fairly well. I am still having trouble setting up a few things in MySQL and postreSQL but that will happen in a bit.

Now basically as it stands now everything has moved from frees-melvin.ca to freesmelvin.ca through a .htaccess file. As to keep all the links working. And all the mail is being forwarded but I am still using frees-melvin.ca to promote everything the new stuff show up at frees-melvin.ca².

I am still working a Harvey’s, it has been seven weeks, which makes it longer than the time I worked at RMh for 6.5 weeks.

I had an interview at Burger King last week, I thought it went well. I should hear something early next week if I get it. Regardless, if I get the opportunity to work at Empire Theatre, I would take it in a heart beat.

On a university note, I’ve got one week to go and not as excited as my second year at St. Thomas, or as scared as my first year there was, but this is something totally new. Still, I know what to expect at UNBSJ and that will accept my new world with open arms.

Categories

Search