Ric and I convinced my sister to see this movie with us a couple of weekends ago by offering to pay for her ticket. She showed no interest in seeing it until that offer, but I saw her crack quite a few smiles while watching it. How can you not laugh if you've actually watched any Olympic figure skating in the past? The movie is packed with awesome little references that are funny to the average viewer but even funnier to someone who's familiar with the sport. Ice skater cameos include: Brian Boitano, Sasha Cohen, Peggy Flemming, Dorothy Hamil, Scott Hamilton, and Nancy Kerrigan, and there are also lots of references to other skaters in the dialogue.

Quick plot for when I try and remember what this movie was about in a few years: two male ice skaters are banned from competition in the sport after their rivalry results in a disgraceful fight during an awards ceremony. A few years later, they discover they can compete in pairs just days before signups are required, so they are forced to sign up with the only partners they could find at the last minute: each other.

I think the closer the plot stayed to the sport, the funnier it was. Actually, Will Ferrell's character was probably the least funny to me because he wasn't actually much like a real ice skater, and his sex-addition plotline was only funny in his scene with Jenna Fischer. Not to say he wasn't funny, but it could have been funnier.

When it comes to costumes, they definitely hit the nail on the head. With obvious throwbacks to Johnny Weir (the peacock outfit), Rudy Galindo (the fire and ice outfits), and Elvis Stoiko/Kurt Browning (the leather pants outfit), I was cracking up, and the more original JFK/Monroe and hip-hop outfits were even funnier.

Since I didn't like Napoleon Dynamite, I'm happy to say I actually liked John Heder in this movie. And Will Arnett (forever Gob in my eyes) was funny and creepy as well. Jenna Fischer was perfect in her role too! I love her.

All in all, Blades of Glory was entertaining, a little slow in parts, and funny, but not hilarious (although it does have a couple of hilarious scenes, like the one in North Korea). And there you have it - I think that pretty much sounds like a recommendation for seeing it at the dollar theater.

I think I'm finally over whatever sickness I had when I got back from SF. Haven't been doing a whole lot besides homework and rest. My brother also got me way into this game called Diner Dash. I played it on his phone while we were waiting for Grindhouse to start, which was also totally sweet.

So I'm listening to The Good, The Bad, and The Queen right now and they're pretty freaking awesome. Some of you might be asking what the big deal is, well I'll tell you. First off you have Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz fame. Then add in Paul Simonen from The Clash and Simon Tong from the Verve. Round it off with legendary afrobeat drummer Tony Allen. Oh yeah, and it's produced by Danger Mouse. Almost makes me wish I was going to Coachella. Almost.

Not much to report on the job front. I'm taking the CBEST Saturday morning, but that will be a pretty lengthy process so I'm probably going to get a temp job soon. I'm also going to be filing for unemployment. We'll see how that goes. If any of you folks out there can give Brendoman a hand in this area, I'd appreciate it.

He died last night. So it goes.

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That's how long it has been since I have been back to Missouri, but the date is set and the tickets are bought for the next visit.

[drum roll]

[no, seriously]

We will fly into St. Louis on June 5, travel to U of I for Steph's classes on the tenth, then make our way to Kansas City after that. Steph flies out of KC on the fourteenth, and I leave the following Tuesday, June 19, from KC.

So schedule the parties, arguments, and thunderstorms--we're looking forward to all of that.

Man, I hope there are thunderstorms.