Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Best Friends In the Big Easy

Started off the morning with breakfast and two Danger Mouse shorts from the sixth season. It's a "Catastrophe" when a mechanical cat kidnaps Colonel K. DM and Penfold follow the cat, only to discover he was created by Baron Greenback. "Statues" also feature a Greenback creation that wrecks havoc, this time a ray that brings statues to life. The two rodents have to figure out how to break his control over them.

I had a little bit of time to write before work. Luke asks Yasmin a lot of questions about the FBI agent going off a cliff. The woman was intelligent, well-liked, and inquisitive. There was no reason for her to commit suicide. Yasmin tells him not to be suspicious and has some of her men lead him out...but he's not giving up so easily.

Had a quick and early PB and M (marmalade) wrap and a plum for lunch around 11, accompanied by more Danger Mouse. All of London's saying "Ee-tea!" when Greenback purloins the world's tea supply, leaving tea-obsessed England at a stand-still. DM and Penfold follow the disappearing tea crates into outer space to figure out what the devious frog has in mind. Danger Mouse is "Lost, Found, and Spellbound" when he and Penfold have to find a missing Dr. Squawkencluck in the jungle and go up against a witch doctor.

Work was quiet for most of the day. It's still in the mid-upper 90's here, and while it's dry, that's still too hot for most people to be out running around. Not to mention, it's the end of the month and a few days before the last major holiday weekend of the summer. It's a good thing we were dead, too. I was totally on my own all afternoon. The morning bagger went home sick, and the next bagger was my relief at 6. Spent most of the day outside in the heat with the carts. Came inside to do the trash, mop the bathrooms, and do some returns when I needed to cool off.

I wanted to sign up for my next day off for counseling, but they changed out system for requesting days off. Instead of writing it down on a paper and someone handling all the requests off for the entire store, you put in the request either on your own computer at home or on the store's computer. I don't often mess around in the Acme's computer system, and we had to change my password at least twice before they'd let me in.

It was annoying at first, but now I realize that the lady who helped me was right. It does make more sense to do it yourself. I could never keep track of how many days off I had. And while we can only ask for time off a month in advance (which means I'll have to wait for September 9th to ask for October 9th off), I also discovered that yes, my vacation next month has been approved. The whole thing was worth it just to see that.

Finished out the sixth season of Danger Mouse while having a quick leftovers dinner. "Penfold BF" becomes The Blue Flash when a pill given to him and DM by Dr. Squawkencluck turns him into a superhero. He's no better as an assistant with super powers than without them as he tries to help his buddy catch a wayward messenger pigeon. All the electronic devices in the world create "Mechanized Mayhem" when a devious supercomputer turns them on their owners. The season ends with a "Journey to the Earth's Cor!" The duo travel down through a hole in the North Pole to discover what's creating the loud racket.

Finished the night with Girls Trip. Ryan Pierce (Regina Hall) is a writer and lifestyle adviser who has been asked to be the keynote speaker at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Hoping to make the trip more fun, she invites her three best friends, whom she hasn't seen in years, along. Sasha (Queen Latifa) is a former Time journalist who now hosts a struggling gossip site, Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith) is a nurse and mother who is still getting over a nasty divorce, and Dina (Tiffany Haddish) is a major party animal who just got fired from her latest job for her temper and childish attitude. Unfortunately, shortly after their arrival, Sasha discovers that Ryan's husband and partner Stewart (Mike Colter) is cheating on him with an Instagram model. Ryan insists that she has it all under control, but the other three aren't so sure. The parties get wilder and crazier...until scandalous photos that threaten to destroy Ryan's image and her marriage are leaked to the Internet. Though they fight and walk off, they all end up supporting Ryan as she first tries to cover up her ruined marriage, then changes her tune. The women eventually discover that no one is perfect, not even lifestyle advisers, but good friends will always see the real you...and they're the ones who'll stick by you through the best and worst that life has to offer.

This was the most purely fun comedy I've seen in ages. No wonder it was a major hit last year. I really wish I could have joined the ladies at the Essence Festival. I may not be a drinker, but the musical acts alone were worth it - I spied Mariah Carey, Babyface, Ne-Yo, New Edition, and Sean Combs, among others. All four of the female leads were excellent, but Tiffany Haddish has gotten the most praise as loyal, loud, live-for-today Dina. My only mild complaint is a smattering of scatological humor about mid-way through the film, but that kinds of goes along with the partying.

Adult women and their buddies who want to go on their own "girl trips" without leaving home will thoroughly enjoy this funny and touching tale of true friendship.

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