Post It Video

Here is my latest contest entry starring my friend Carol, Me and the Fiesta. Enjoy!

Oh, there will be a voting period on Youtube for the video, I'll update it when I know where to send you! :)

XC TRIP BACK

I'm in Colorado--after a 16 hour drive ALL BY MYSELF. Lol.

Thank you Adi, for talking to me on the phone for an hour and fifteen minutes.

I am working on editing my fiesta mission, which I had an absolute BLAST doing! Social Activism month video should be coming soon-- I just have to punch it out while on the road and before my deadline!! Crazy times--

Be sure to vote for my howcast video and now I have to get back to work-- working on 2 more videos as well!

CONTESTS CONTESTS CONTESTS~

Lacrosse video promo

Please follow the videos and go vote for my video! Thanks!

I'm trying to enter a ton of contests, so be prepared to see some AMAZING footage. Lol.

Latest Video: EAT MY SHORTS

This is my latest video: "EAT MY SHORTS"

This video is for a contest held by Crunch Gyms. Hopefully I'll have a good shot at winning.

Please don't forget to vote for my Howcast.com video!

YOU CAN ALSO VOTE ON FACEBOOK!

YOU CAN ALSO SIGN IN WITH FACEBOOK!!

I have put the link address in this video-- or you can go directly there at Howcast.com

PLEAse Vote for my Video-- AGAIN

Please help me win this howcast.com video contest.

Go to MY VIDEO, join howcast and vote. It's free and it would be a huge feather in my cap. Thank you!

And Life Gets AMAZING

Vince, from the "Shamwow!" infomercials is now working with "Slap Chop" the food chopper.

Now, last I heard, Vince was arrested on felony battery charges for beating up a hooker in Miami. Is he making a comeback w/ the "Slap Chop" or is he just still having his commercials spinning around us all for the constant reminder that the dude who beat up a hooker is now slappin' and choppin'.

I'll leave you with this quote "You're going to love my nuts" - Vince Shlomi, "Slap Chop"

The Mirror That is Julie & Julia

As I have mentioned before, I have now seen Julie & Julia twice. I loved it both times and I would now like to discuss what this movie has brought to my life.

The first thing I'd like to note about this movie is how it turns a mirror on us bloggers in a serious way.

I know that everyone has a narcissistic streak in them from time to time, but this makes us look like ego maniacs. Maybe we are, and, maybe we are.

The character, Julie, is stuck in a rut. She hates her job, feels stagnate and wants to spice up her life by rejuvenating her love of writing with a purpose. She challenges herself, but also challenges the world around her to deal with her obsession with Julia child, her complaints and her single mindedness. I think it's okay to have obsessions and devotion to projects. I don't really care for how whiney Julie is, but I guess that's just because I have my own rut I have to get out of right now.

I think I felt too much empathy at times with both Julie and Julia. I felt like I could understand the frustrations of blogging and tackling a vast world of "do I have readers?" "Does anyone read this beyond my parents?" "Do I matter in the greater scheme of things?" I also felt the joys of realizing you do have readers and people do care. Even if it's not the closest of kin, but a random devotee who also shares the love of a particular subject.

I felt empathy with the character of Julia Child. She had to work incredibly hard for what she wanted. She was someone to admire, breaking through in an environment that A) Didn't like women and B) Especially didn't like American women. She was a hard ass. Though this made it hard for Julie--spoiler alert!--in the end, because the ideal of Julia didn't match the high standards of the real Julia

As bloggers, we definitely refer to ourselves a lot. Some people accept this and some think it's because we can't get over ourselves. I like to think that, yes, I do think I'm God's gift to the world. Thank you for noticing, but also that in order for something to be perceived as "opinion" it has to be stated as one's own. I have to posess my words in the first person, otherwise it's taken as my putting words in your mouth.

i.e.

"...otherwise you think I'm putting words in your mouth."

You've probably noticed the amount of italics used in this post is abnormally higher than those used in other posts. I would like to credit this to the voice in my head that now sounds just like Julia Child. Mery Streep NAILS the accent. Both of my parents told me, on separate occasions, "Close your eyes and it's like she's [Meryl Streep] is her [Julia Child]!"

I think it's not a bad thing to look introspectively and find out how we can all become better people, whether it includes butter, is up to you.

The other actors, Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina, held up their own. Tucci and Streep showed us all how the job is done. I just love him. I have yet to see a movie where I don't love a character he plays. Chris Messina-- I could see him picking up some more films because of this. He was a relief to Amy Adam's character, Julie. He provided the ground that she needed, the base line of reality that she had to recognize. She had to see how good she still had it and that not everything is ideal; he provided it.

There were smaller nuances that I found refreshing as well:

• The French ladies--good and evil--were all fabulous.
• The Chef at Le Cordon Bleu looked like Chef Boyardee. LMAO.
• The food. THE food. THE FOOD!
• They used the phrase "Boning a duck." 1000 times (exaggeration but it was used a lot.) and every time I wanted to giggle because it's dirty. But I didn't. I really didn't.
• The music.

I heard a ton of people saying at the end of the film, "I want to go right home and cook!" I found myself saying, "I want to go home and blog!"

See how much I learned.

"What am I Going to DOOOO?"

The title of this post is my favorite line (lines) from the new film, Julie & Julia, which I have now seen twice.

I would like to write about it right now-- but I cannot. I have to work on a bunch of bullshit from the Bank of America. I can't wait to sit down and tell you all what I loved and didn't love about this film.

I am now watching The Blues Brothers-- a film that, I know, have seen. I love SNL. I love Dan Akroyd and John Belushi. It just gets old as hell hearing from everyone "You have to see this film."

Mostly this quote is aimed at my Dad, my Uncle James and Jay.

Watching it dudes. Chill.

James Lipton Questions

These ten (10) questions originally came from a French series, "Bouillon de Culture" hosted by Bernard Pivot. They're better known as the questions that James Lipton asks every guest at the end of "Inside the Actor's Studio." You'll be amazed at how much they reveal about a person's thoughts, feelings and beliefs.

1. What is your favorite word?

I think it's "Blurg" it's not really a word-- it was on 30 Rock 3 years ago and I've been using it ever since

2. What is your least favorite word?
"Like" I hate that I use it so much and I can't stand it when we, U.S.'ians, say it SO much.


3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
Creatively: seeing beautiful things or reading them. I'm inspired by life and people and everything.
Spiritually: deeds not words
Emotionally: I'm pretty easy to make laugh or cry so almost anything. Lol


4. What turns you off?
Bad teeth.

5. What is your favorite curse word?
Shit.

6. What sound or noise do you love?
I love ABBA. Lol or Musicals! I can't be sad when either of those things are playing.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
people eating sounds, clicking pens and balloons popping

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
an Archaeologist

9. What profession would you not like to do?
nurse

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Yes, you can come in Alexis. I knew those were jokes.

"I'm not Lewbowski"

I was just reading the A.V. Club's blog and came across some really interesting documentary trailers, one of which, reminded me of my Dad's friend, Dwayne.

I knew that The Big Lewbowski had a strong following. I and my friends have been a part of that at one time or another. We played the drinking game, "drink a beer anytime anyone says: 'Vietnam', 'Man' or 'Dude," needless to say we didn't make it far into this Cohen Bros. masterpiece.

This movie is what draws a lot of people into the dry, drawn out story lines and genius of the Cohen Bros. It's an easy start up to a life long addiction--right Dwayne?

If you have never seen a Cohen Bros. movie, you should begin here simply because it has something for everyone. Vietnam, marijuana, feminists, nihilists, a cowboy, bowling, "the Jesus," Donny, Credence Clearwater Revival, etc.

The build up isn't as long as some of their other films (Fargo, Burn After Reading) and not as in your face as something like Romance and Cigarettes or No Country for Old Men (which if you're unsure are tow COMPLETELY different genres--so be careful!).

I thought my friend John was crazy about this movie-- "Mark it zero" John.-- I mean at one point, his answering machine was like "the dude's" and every other word from his mouth was a Big Lewbowski reference.

I was fine with this. The movie is freaking hilarious. I enjoy quoting movies until I'm blue in the face as well as the occasional white russian. But now I realize that we didn't even touch fanaticism in this cinematic event.

The people at these conventions are dedicated. They are dressing up like references, severed toes, bowling pins, and every other character in the film.

Dwayne, I think you should not only see this movie, you should go to one of these conventions and then report back to me (and Dad, of course!).

The River Wild

Meryl Streep + Kevin Bacon + A young John C. Riley + The kid from Jurassic Park = 1994's The River Wild, a movie worth referring to on any family rafting trip and/or camping trip.

After one gets over the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon and the Queen of the world status of Meryl Streep, this movie strips down to hard core family fun.

I mean, hey mom, it's cool that you row every day outside of Boston, but let's put that to the test. Dad hates nature, but let's throw him in head first. Oh, and I'm the boy who's almost eaten by DINOSAURS.

There are great things about this movie beyond the sweet story line of bad asses Kevin Bacon and "Walkin' Hard" John C. Riley trying to kill Meryl's family.

Here are some bullet points for you:

• Natives have left drawings on rocks.
• Meryl's American Flag t-shirt
• Sweet 1990's outfits and familial fighting
• Kevin's hat and hair
• John C. Riley
• Level 5 rapids
• Fantastic cinematography

Now I've had some people tell me that this movie isn't anything great. But they're full of shit. This movie has so much to offer. I mean it's like Cape Fear meets the Parent Trap--any other questions?!

Watching this is as close to the river as I need to get. Sike-- I just know how it feels to be the only one who gets sent from the raft/tube.

Speaking of; I don't know if my sister reads my blog, but if she does, this will allow me to find out: When we went white water rafting, it was incredibly fun and hilarious.

Here are highlights:

My sister bouncing into the air on a double hole--never falling into the water--just up in the air like a flapjack and back into the boat.

I didn't have my glasses, so I couldn't see ANYTHING.

My Mom was the first one bounced-- I've never seen her eyes so wide.

My Mom and Dad sitting in the back of the raft screaming at the guides.

Erin smiling at the "rock camera" for the family photo op.

LOVE IT Roarke.

Movies Saved My Day

Today was a shit pile of hopelessness. Not as bad as some (keeping in mind any war torn country, anyone in "actual" poverty and of course any shark attack victims--PS ITS SHARK WEEK), but not a great day.

I went to the ATM to get some fresh, crispy, well-earned Hamiltons and much to my dismay I was firmly dissed by the machine. The bank fairies who work behind the ATM told me that I had "insufficient funds" that I was "in the red" (as some might call it) and to "go fuck myself" because I was "S.O.L." Okay, so they didn't actually tell me the last two things, but they mine as well.

Due to my sole nature of the trip--getting some green paper to buy a sweet hair cut, to which I will refer later--I was short on time and heavy on problems. I called the hair salon to postpone my appointment.

Let me tell you something; Growing up, I was the only Alexis I knew. There was never a need for "Alexis M." or "Lexi" or even "Lex" (yes, I used them, but under my own free will, not due to some teacher's need for me to be recognized if punishment be needed). So when I called "Studio S," the hippest, bangin'-est salon in Santa Barbara, it really threw me for a whirl that the lady on the other end's name was in fact, Alexis. Here's how it went:

Alexis: Hello, Studio S, this is Alexis Whatevermylastnamewas, how can I help you today?

Alexis: I need to reschedule my appointment

Alexis: Okay, can I have your name?

Alexis: (in my head) *Bitch you already stole my name.* Alexis Morrell.

Alexis: Okay, Alexis, I [Alexis] have you in for a 1:30. Can I switch you to 4:15

Alexis: Yes, thanks.

Is that confusing? What the fuck!?

So after this adorable rendezvous on the phone with my alter ego who just happens to have my name (that's how freaking awesome my name is) I entered the block, the bastille, the BofA, The Bank of America.

Now the last time I was in the building, I was reporting some fraudulent activity that had come my way. Guess what I was there for this time? The same thing!

I am not a wealthy person. I am not a poor person, well not in my head. But in real life, I am a poor person, I just have well off people around me and I am babysat by LOTS of people. When the money disappears, I have problems. I work hard for those dollars. Julia demands quite a bit of legos, trips to the beach, potty trips, books read aloud and attention spent on her and only her. These hours are wasted when some douche-bag hacks into my shit and steals my dough. NO WAY JOSE~!

I talked to the dude in the BofA and he said I have to wait until tomorrow to do anything! This is BOGUS! So tomorrow, part 2 of the lovely bank activities will continue. Now all of this was unexpected stress. Here, you might say, is where you could criticize me and tell me that "That's not stress, I'll tell you about stress"--well here's what I have to say to you. How about you lose ALL of your money, go into the red and be 3000 miles away from your Mommy! That's stressful brotha. So stick it up your ass. The only way to get away with this-- say it like in Crocodile Dundee "That's not a knife..."

I am lucky in all of this. Because I am a metaphorical 12 year old until January, my surrogate family here in Santa Barbara paid for me to have my hair cut. I think they were nervous that I might do something dramatic or possibly cry. I didn't do either--well I mean the haircut is slightly dramatic-- but it leads into the more positive part of my day!

I saw 500 Days of Summer, again, this weekend. I am in love with this movie. It's my generations The Graduate. Though I know I have already blabbered on about this flick, it's worth it. Zooey Deschanel is in this movie and she is kick ass, across-the-board-kick-ass. I decided, due to my interpretation of the character, my brown hair, blue eyes (not quite Zooey blue, but bugger off!) and my boop-boop nose, that I would emulate the hair cut that Ms. Deschanel has in the film.

My new haircut

Unlike Ingrid Bergman's short hair cut, which destroyed a lot of the women's hair in middle class America in the 1940s, this haircut is a winner!!

Totally made my day to have it come out exactly as I had hoped! One movie saves the day! Oh, wait, there's more.

After a hilarious dinner with the Case/Carlander clan, we watched George Cukor's 1938 classic Holiday starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn; this movie is fantastic. What a great way to end a shitty day! This movie is a hilarious comedy that was transformed from a play to a movie and then remade into this movie. See it. It's worth it.

I took a liking to the drunk brother, Katharine Hepburn's character who is the crazy sister--love it!-- and the people Cary Grant hangs out with and of course Cary Grant's character.

This movie is screwy yet poignant showing conflicts between classes and gender. There is so much that it has to offer. See it.

Now I'm going to read more of Nathan Rabin's book "The Big Rewind," It's been taking me a bit because I'm pacing as not to have it end. Read it.

Buena Notte!

P.S.

Did you know that Great White Sharks are warm blooded and can therefore beat the ever-living crap out of a Tiger Shark in cold water. That is why Deloris the Tiger Shark's radio tag was beeping from the stomach of a White Shark. R.I.P. Deloris.

Also-- the camera guys and shark experts shouldn't wear black wet suits, they just look like seals.

"Live every week like it's shark week"-30 Rock

My Life: Movies

Movies are my favorite thing in the world. I think if I had to choose between eating and watching movies-- it would be a rock, scissors, paper type of deal. The thing about loving movies so much is that they become a true part of me. Now this is the best thing in the world, except that it sets me up to think like movies, talk like movies and obsess over movies. I read about them, pick them apart, try to put them into every conversation I have and look for events in life to become possible films I create. This weekend I discovered that I am in a vulnerable state as far as my summer movie selections and my emotions run.

This weekend I saw 500 Days of Summer again. This movie has hit me like a ton of bricks. I get it on so many levels that it makes me want to cry. I am so grateful and lucky to have met the writer and director of this film because I was able to express my sincere gratitude for the film. It is very The Graduate-esque. I mean, obvi, it refers to The Graduate as well as shows clips of the film, but there are deeper levels of meaning behind some of the shots and story line. I guess at this point in my life it is easy to succumb to the finer points of a movie about people in their early to mid twenties dealing with life, love, happiness, sadness, sexuality, money, jobs, school, etc.

This movie struck a chord the first time and the second time, but I don't think it truly sunk in until today when I saw Funny People.

Funny People is not the normal balls and nuts Judd Apatow film. This film was dark, cynical, hilarious, sad, happy, lovable, hateful and everything else all balled into 2 hours of cinematic experience. I identified deeply with Seth Rogen's character, to the point that I started to cry a bit. I'm sitting there, in the theater, laughing my ass off at some hysterical joke Adam Sandler has just told and then crying because things are too real. This is powerful stuff. Thank God you can't smell films because my senses were all in sensory overload.

The reason this bridges the two films together, more than just me seeing the movies in the same weekend, is that in 500 Days... Zooey Deschanel's character, Summer, cries when she witnesses the end of The Graduate. This made sense to me in the film because that part when Benjamin and Elaine are riding on the bus towards the unknown is a gray space of emotion. Do they have anywhere to turn? Do they know each other? Will anyone actually ever be happy if put in a situation like this? What is marriage? Will I ever find "the one?" Will I ever find someone? Will I ever find anyone?

All of these things become real in what was just a happy accident in film courtesy of Mike Nichols.

When I began to cry in Funny People, I understood what she was feeling. I actually understand those feelings regarding The Graduate (which just happens to be my 2nd favorite film of all time).

It's not easy being 20 something and trying to figure out what comes next. Sacrifices become heavier than ever. Family becomes more distant than ever (even if they're right next to you). There is a sense of aloneness that hasn't been realized until this time. You have to start to figure out what you want to do or really what you don't want to do. This movie really showed what choices do to people and how they affect the people around you. This age is a very selfish time, but it isn't always selfish.

I think what really got me was that Seth Rogen's character wasn't just with his peers, he was in this other arena of slightly older adults. I too live in a world where I constantly encounter this "10 to 15 years above me crowd"--they're rough and like to tumble.

This age group has helped me and hurt me--both of which I am happy to have dealt with because they have taught me what I want and don't want just from observation.

Seth Rogen's character reminded me of myself in a different sense as well:

He was malleable in the sense that he wanted to learn the ropes and the tools of the trade.

He was impressed by the elder group's achievements and saw everything for the first time--enjoying every moment of what he loved.

He was grateful for every advantage and privilege doted upon him... not taking any single moment for granted.

Something fantastic landed in his lap and though he felt he didn't deserve it, he did and worked hard to keep it.

He didn't let the arguments and generation gap keep him from taking the next necessary steps toward success-- I think this is how you figure out how to be on your own and how to make decisions to create success.

I think I'm going to turn this blog around. I'll occasionally write about what's happening in my life, especially when I go to school, but I'd really like to start reviewing films and books that I read. I'll give you the spins that I find and the finer points that I enjoy or hate.

If you have any suggestions as to what films you'd like to see on here let me know. I'll either take them or ignore them.

PS

This is what I want to get my hair cut like-- and this is how I might get it done for Kate's wedding.