Depressing news and my thoughts on drugs

Some might say that I'm too interested in pop-culture. And they'd likely be right on the money. I have an obsession with movies-- love to watch them, would love to review them one day. After finishing a film, I often go look it up on imdb.com and read all the trivia, bios of actors, directors etc.

So I was beyond shocked yesterday when we lost an A-list star.

I was at work when, *PING* a pop up window opened. My co-worker types to me, in all caps, "HEATH LEDGER IS DEAD!!!!!"

Immediately I surfed over to cnn.com to confirm the news. I can't say why it made me so sad. It's just such a waste. Details are still fuzzy but supposedly Ledger was found with two bottles of sleeping pills nearby.

Just last week, another young actor, Brad Renfro, lost his life. I remember him fondly from Disney movie "Tom & Huck" and also more serious roles in "The Client" and "Sleepers." Renfro's death is widely believed to be drug-related as well.

..... sigh....

Last night I was rearranging furniture in our apartment and I had the TV on for comfort noise. My silly Vh1 show ended and on came "Celebrity Rehab." I can't handle shows like that. I think it's great to go to rehab and get help, and if you want to put it on TV in hopes of educating others, fine, but I hate watching it.

I'll never forget the night I watched one of those reality shows, "Intervention." They profiled this alcoholic woman who'd lost her children. She got piss drunk on vodka and laid on her floor wailing, "my babies... my babies."

Sorry. No. Can't handle it. Just too frickin' sad.

I can't understand the drug problem in this country. Why would anyone ever do drugs? I get that people have horrible depression, pain and memories they want to escape ... but seriously? You want to turn to THAT to help you? Then again, I'm the girl who freaked when the dentist gave her laughing gas. Clearly, I'm not a fan of feeling higher than a kite.

It's hard to hold empathy in your heart when you don't understand something. There are times when I look at drug addicts on those shows like "Celebrity Rehab" or "Intervention" and I feel anger at them. Here they are, living in a America with apparently enough money to buy copious amounts of drugs. And they're surrounded by caring family who seem willing to do anything to save them. And yet all they want to do is shoot up and cry about how horrible their life is. There are people in corners of this world (Iraq, Darfur...) who know what hell truly is-- and here you are creating your own hell at home-- simply because you can. It's maddening.

On the other hand. We all have our unhealthy vices we turn to. When life gets tough, some turn to casual sex, binge drinking at the bar to blow off steam, self-harm habits like cutting or shopping sprees with money we don't have. Me? I eat chocolate-- and often more than is necessary. Healing with food may not be comparable to healing with heroin but point is, we all make some bad choices in effort to mask pain.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, while I don't understand AT ALL, giving your life to drugs (of any kind) I do understand losing your way, and from what I've read, Ledger was going through some troubled times. It's miserable to think of such a young, handsome, talent gone-- taken from his daughter before she turned 3 and before he turned 30.

I think stuff like this hurts, not because I love the movie/entertainment culture, not even because I had a crush on Ledger back in the 10-things-I-hate-about-you days.... but because I know people like Ledger, who drove their lives into the ground and left us far too soon. And I can recognize.... there but for the grace of God go I.

I want to leave you with this clip. It was on You Tube's "most watched" homepage this morning--


It's nice to remember someone smiling, laughing and talking about their children.

Video game nostalgia

This was my FAVE back in the day... I miss it :)

Last week's luck

Well if you read my last post, you know that last week I had some ridiculous luck-- especially when it came to getting to work on time etc.

Monday isn't shaping up to be much better. This morning my glasses snapped and broke. I'm wearing an old pair and the prescription is outdated. I'm sorta blind.

Damn Monday.

TGIF

It's Friday!!!! and it makes me so happy I could sing. I will not be sad to see this week go. It has been very, very exhausting for several reasons.

For starters--- the HIGH temperatures this week stayed below zero and nearly every day this week I had some chaotic mishap on my way into work.

Tuesday:

I was driving to work and stopped at a stop sign. A semi was turning and I noticed that it was taking the turn rather close. Then I noticed that it was too close, the back wheels were going to come up over the hood of my car. I reacted quickly by looking in my rear view mirror (no one behind me) but rather than throw it in reverse, I literally froze. I just watched the semi come at me and let my mouth hang open with this pathetic little "ehhhhh" coming out. Very reminiscent of this scene:



Thank GOD the guy stopped before crunching my car and I could move.

Wednesday: I hit black ice on my way to work. To add insult to injury, it was the turn RIGHT before my building so lots of people said, "did you see that Oldsmobile in the ditch with its hazards on?" Yes-- I saw it-- I LIVED IT! That little adventure cost me $50 in a towing fee.

Thursday: Our garage door at the apartment broke. Not frozen shut but broke, as in when we turned our key, the door didn't move or make a sound. The emergency override didn't work and emergency maintenance didn't show up until 8:45 (I was supposed to be at work at 7:30 am!!!!!) Consequently I fear/hate my own garage now (and it's below zero out, so we HAVE TO work together).

ALSO--- Tyler has a gross head cold which probably means I'm going to have a gross head cold soon. It's all very lame.

So there's been a lot of staying home and watching movies. I finally saw Stardust:


which I enjoyed


The Namesake


which I also enjoyed...


And I watched a few documentaries online via Netflix, "Before Stonewall" and "After Stonewall"-- both amazing.

But the most SERIOUSLY SCARY THING I saw this week was "MAXED OUT." Everyone who has a credit card needs to see this, and everyone with a student loan needs to see this. I watched it and am seriously considering cutting up my credit card and never opening another one again! And this is a fun documentary to watch-- not dry, but touching, funny and captivating.



So yeah, lots of movie watching :) I'd have more of a life, but it's too cold and I'm too poor to go out on the town.

Next week I pray the weather gets better because I am hoping to get to the Cities and visit people.

In the meantime, it's FRIDAY! ALL IS WELL AGAIN!

Disney for the day

I loved Enchanted. I can't wait to buy it on DVD-- stuff like this just perks me up.

Mom and I tackle "Waitress"

One of my favorite movies of 2007 was Waitress. I told everyone. Including my mom-- who ended up not liking it. We decided to do a mother/daughter review (ahhh cute/gross, right?). We posted the reviews on her blog. Yes my mom has a blog. Hilarious!

Why Emily likes Waitress

Why Mom doesn't like Waitress

VERY IMPORTANT: Do not go read these if you haven't seen the movie-- we reveal TONS of spoilers.