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Thursday Movie Picks #278: Scientists

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It’s another Thursday and I’m doing my best to keep up with the Thursday Movie Picks. Thursday Movie Picks is held every Thursday. The rules are very simple. Just pick three to five movies that go along with the theme of the week. This week it’s “Scientists.”

1. Jurassic Park: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Paleontologists Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler and mathematician Ian Malcolm are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park’s mastermind, billionaire John Hammond, assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various ferocious predators break free and go on the hunt.

This is one of my favorite movies. Anytime it’s on TV I have to watch it. I still get butterflies in my stomach when Dr. Grant sees an actual dinosaur for the first time. It’s a pretty solid warning of what not to do with scientific power as well. And yet there are how many more movies after this one? But I love it and I can’t get enough. I can’t wait for Jurassic World 3.

2. Avengers Endgame: “Good. You had me worried there, because that’d be horseshit. That’s not how quantum physics works.”

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.

It might be a little bit of a reach but you have Bruce Banner/Hulk and Tony Stark both trying to figure out time travel and how the entire thing would work. There’s a lot of science in these movies, even if it’s exaggerated. I mean, the entire reason Hulk exists is because of an experiment gone wrong. Thor has even compared science and magic in previous movies. The MCU is filled with various scientists, engineers, and smart asses.

3. The Fly (1986): “I’m working on something that will change the world, and human life as we know it.”

In an isolated and outdated laboratory, a physicist called Brundle discovers teleportation and he shows Veronica, a journalist, his lab and his invention. The scientist decides then to experiment it on himself, but a fly enters the machine too and the man undergoes an unexpected mutation. Brundle progressively changes becoming a mutant monster with an uncontrollable force.

I probably saw this movie for the first time when I was way too young but it’s a good one. You have Jeff Goldblum playing a eccentric scientist who has an experiment go horribly wrong. Science is all fun and games until you accidentally turn yourself into a fly/human hybrid. I’ve never seen the original but I might try and make that happen soon. It’ll be interesting to compare the two since they seem very different story wise.

Only three movies this week on the list! I tried my best to mix it up. I didn’t want to include biopics because I felt a lot of people might have them on their lists. A few other films that crossed my mind though included “The Martian, “Arrival, and “Independence Day.”

Only One Laser Hair Removal Session Left!

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Over the weekend I had another laser hair removal session and found out afterwards I only have one left! I can’t believe this journey is almost over. It took about a year to get here and it’s honestly the best thing I’ve ever done. I know I’ve said it before but I wish I had done this sooner. My tech actually told me that since everything is going really well, I could probably hold onto that last session for any future touch ups that I might need.

If you’re new here, last year I started laser hair removal on my bikini line area. I was tired of shaving, waxing, and just dealing with all that bullshit. I wanted to just be able to enjoy the summer or any vacations without having to deal with the annoyance of in grown hairs, razor burn, or trying to make sure I remember to schedule a wax. Not to mention those can add up real quick! I was asked what percentage of hair I thought was removed and honestly, I’d go as high as 80%. She thought maybe 60% at my last appointment but I think it’s higher. Obviously I see my body on a regular basis, they only see me every 8-10 weeks. I haven’t had to shave the area in…well I can’t remember the last time I shaved! It’s been glorious! I’ve already started thinking about maybe having some other areas done as well. But we’ll see. Now I’m going to answer some pretty typical questions.

1. How long does a session take?

It’ll depend on the size of the area you’re having done but I’m pretty much in and out in 20 minutes. I even did my last appointment during my lunch break.

2. Does it hurt?

Of course it hurts! Some spots do hurt more than others. They offer a numbing cream as well but I never use that. I feel like it’s more trouble than it’s worth. I just squeeze the little stress balls they give me.

3. Is it expensive?

I’m not going to lie, it’s not cheap. I go to Ideal Image and they offer payment plans. I used my tax refund as well to pay for it. I think my monthly payments were around $80 and the total I think was around $2,000 maybe? And that was for 10 total sessions. It’s been awhile. You can find more affordable options though via Groupon. Just make sure you research the provider! And honestly these places are always having “sales” though I’m convinced the prices are always the same since you don’t get a price until you talk to someone. They aren’t listed on the website or anything.

4. Best time to start?

As soon as the summer ends (if you have seasons and all). You can’t let the area get sunburn or get too much sun in general because it can affect the lasers and cause you to reschedule appointments. So if you’re someone who loves the beach, don’t start this right before pool season thinking you’ll be good to go.

If you have any other questions let me know and I’ll try my best to answer them. It’s not a process that takes up a lot of time, it’s just something that takes time. Does that make sense? And like with anything else, results will vary depending on a number of factors like your skin color, hair, and even things like hormones. My results won’t be your results. And your results won’t be the next persons results. All you can do is hope for the best outcome for you. I admit to being nervous going into this. What if it didn’t work? What if only kinda works? That’s a lot of money to drop on something that you aren’t sure what the outcome will be. Thankfully my fears were quickly put to rest and I can report that it was money well spent.

I’ll be sure to do a follow up post in a few months to talk about any changes that might occur!

Thursday Movie Picks #276: Halloween/Television Edition: Horror

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Thursday Movie Picks is a blogging prompt put together by Wandering Through The Shelves! I’ve wanted to take part before but end up forgetting about it or being stumped on the theme for the week. I’m bummed I didn’t take part in more of the Halloween prompts but better late than never! The rules are simple: based on the theme of the week pick three to five movies and tell us why you picked them. This week it’s Halloween/Television Edition: Horror.

1. American Horror Story

I can’t pick just one season because I’ve really enjoyed a few even though I didn’t even bother with AHS: Cult. If I had to pick just three of my favorite seasons it would be Murder House, Coven, and Hotel. I do like that every season is different but they all seem to tie together in small ways. It’s like the MCU, but weird horror edition. Lady Gaga is fantastic in Hotel and no one compares to Jessica Lange.

2. Teen Wolf

Does this count as horror? Oh well. It’s close enough. There were a number of episodes that were creepy as hell. I was actually a little late on the Teen Wolf wagon but I’m glad I hitched a ride. Sure, some of it was frustrating but in the end I enjoyed it. If you’re not into a lot of gore this show would be good for you. It’s more spooky than anything else, and pretty funny at times too.

3. Tales from the Crypt

I loved watching Tales from The Crypt as a kid! I mean, sure maybe I shouldn’t have been allowed to watch it but I turned out fine. The Crypt Keeper is such an iconic horror mascot and I do love a good anthology style series. Since it aired on HBO it was one of the few anthology series to be allowed to have full freedom from censorship that meant nudity, violence, and naughty words. Oh my! It honestly feels like a walk in the park compared to what you’ll find on TV these days. A few well known actors appeared in episodes including Demi Moore, Teri Hatcher, Kyle MacLachlan, and Brad Pitt just to name a few.

4. Are You Afraid of the Dark?

This was my JAM as a kid. I guess I’ve always been a bit of a spooky bitch. Again, another anthology series. I do think when it comes to horror, it’s a great way to handle it. You don’t need to stress about filling multiple episodes with one big arc or anything. You can just focus on one episode at a time, and it’s easier to nab guest stars or directors if they only need to worry about one thing. I love how it was a bunch of kids sitting around a fire and telling stories. It made it feel more “real” to me.

5. Fear Itself

Does anyone else remember this? It aired on NBC back in 2008. It was supposed to come back after the Olympics were over but for whatever reason it never did, which is really disappointing. One of my favorite episodes was “Skin & Bones.” A man returns home to his family after being lost in the forest for a number of days but it’s not a happy reunion. Turns out he’s possessed by a Wendigo. It only aired 13 episodes, which I guess it kinda weird and spooky on its own eh?

I tried to mix it up with a few different choices. When I got around to thinking about the horror related shows out there, I never realized just how many there were. I probably could have easily listed a few more. What shows would make your list? Anyone else enjoy the shows I have listed here?

How I Snagged An Appointment With An In Demand Tattoo Artist

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There have always been tattoo artists who are more sought after that others. Maybe they specialize in portraits, or amazing color. Maybe they happened to win a tattoo reality show, or they really nail cover ups. The fact of the matter is, there are artists out there that have their books filled for months, if not years in advance. These artists have the ability and luxury to pick and choose what they work on as well. That means it’s not as easy as calling a shop or sending an email in order to get a spot with them. So, how did I manage to secure a spot with Halo? I’m glad you asked!

I started following him on Instagram awhile ago and honestly this is my number one tip. It’s the easiest way to find out when they open their books or if they had a cancellation. About a year ago he posted a collage of a few super hero related portraits that he wanted to do. All you had to do was send an email with the subject you wanted. One of those was “Batman Returns” Catwoman. This is actually a tattoo I’ve had in the back of my mind for awhile but wanted to make sure I had the right artist. When I saw she was included, I quickly sent off an email. I was lucky enough to get picked! But the timeline didn’t exactly work. Since it was something he really wanted to do, he opened his books later in the year for me. I put down my deposit and then just waited! Then around October the day finally arrived and 5.5 hours later, I had a beautiful new piece of art on my body.

If you’re open about the subject of the tattoo, you’ll probably have better luck securing a spot. You’ll find a lot of times tattoo artists will do what Halo did. They might post flash they’ve worked on and are looking to tattoo, or just ideas that they’ve been playing around with. Of course you shouldn’t get something done if it’s not something you actually want or like. It is something that will be on you forever. I recommend paying attention to what they like to do as well. Are you going after someone who does portraits mainly? Then maybe don’t submit an idea about flowers. If they do amazing color work, don’t go in looking for black and gray. You want to play to their strengths! If they love doing jewel work like Jenna Kerr above, then that’s what you go for! The most important thing though is to just follow them on as much of their social media as you can. Some artists travel around and don’t really have a “home shop” or they have their own private studio. Speaking of traveling around, tattoo conventions are a huge thing now. If there’s an artist that you’ve had your eye on, be sure to see if they ever do conventions. It’s a great way to get amazing work done by non-local talent. Again, most of the time they’ll post on social media about their con schedule and how to get booked for those events. The most important thing is to just be sure to read everything they ask when it comes to sending in a request. This might include having a few ideas or spots open on your body. It might mean only paying in cash. Maybe they want you to send in reference photos. Just be sure to read and re-read everything before hitting send on that email. You don’t want to miss out because you didn’t read the rules.

That’s it really. It’s not magic or something complicated. It’s just about keeping your eyes open and paying attention to the artists you enjoy. Plus a nice mix of keeping an open mind when it comes to what you want tattooed. If you have any other questions, let me know in the comments!

The 2019 Baltimore Running Festival 5K

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Over the weekend I took part in the Baltimore Running Festival 5K. It happened Saturday morning which turned out to be a gorgeous day. It was perfect for a run/walk/jog. Even though I’m local, I snag a hotel room on Friday night. I find it’s easier than trying to deal with parking and traffic Saturday morning. Plus it gives me a chance to pick up my race packet that has to be picked up in advance. Now, I’m not a runner at all. I basically do this race because of the amazing crab medal you get at the end. It’s Baltimore, of course it’s a crab medal. I completed the same race last year and signed up as soon as I could for 2019. The only difference was this year I really slacked on any training and prep. By “slack” I mean, I pretty much did nothing. I just haven’t been super motivated. I signed up though and was committed to finishing the race.

I woke up around 6AM and made my way down to the starting line. The race didn’t kick off until 7:30AM but they obviously wanted everyone down there ready to go. It was great seeing all the different racers that came out for the event. You saw groups, people in costumes, families. I placed myself into the 3rd Wave because I’m slow and again, had zero prep. I was basing my spot on last years results which were around 39 minutes. The started my playlist and around 7:40AM I crossed the starting line and made my way on the course. The course takes you through the Inner Harbor area and is a pretty flat and even course. I think it’s pretty “easy” for first timers and people just looking for a 5K to check out. Plenty of people were out cheering us on which was nice. I even saw a few dogs with signs. You know how hard it was to not stop to pet those dogs? I kept doing my thing though even though my knee was being a dick. As I got closer to the finish line I tried to pick it up some and ended up finishing at around 42 minutes. It’s not last place, so I’ll take it.

I’m not sure I’ll do it again next year. I need to get back to the gym and healthy habits. I should probably look into finding a knee brace as well! We’ll see though. It really is a nice time and they put on a great event. Plus you can hang around and keep an eye on those running the half and full marathons. Can you imagine? Running for four hours? I just. That’s not something my brain will ever understand. How about you? Do any of you take part in running or 5Ks? Let me know below!

Putting Together a Fiona Glenanne Cosplay

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Remember how I mentioned I was rewatching “Burn Notice?” Well, I started a 2nd rewatch and I’m not sorry. While watching the show the idea of putting together a Fiona cosplay popped into my head. I’m not sure it’s one people will “get” but who cares. It’s something that’s honestly very easy to put together and will be comfy as hell. I do think it would be more recognizable in a group, adding a Sam and Michael but you have to work with what you have. I’ve started a Pinterest board with some ideas and looks from the show. I’m leaning towards one that features jeans because it’ll cover my tattoos and when I think of Fi, I pretty much picture jeans, wedges, a white top, giant sunglasses, and her famous hip bag.

Lucky for me, the hip bag is actually easily available from Happy Cow but I was able to find one a little cheaper on Ebay. Fun Fact, I actually had one back in the day but have no idea what I did with it. I’ve been able to find different websites that list her outfits and where to find them buuuuuuut, everything is obviously sold out or no longer available. That’s no big deal as I think I have a work around to recreate the top in the photo above. It’s a little hard to tell but there’s a design/doodle that you can see a little better here

Then I just need a brown wig, a blow pop, some sunglasses, and I’m all set. I’m really curious to see where this will fall budget wise. The most expensive piece is actually the bag, even with finding it on Ebay. But I don’t have a problem with that seeing how it’s functional and I’ll use it on a pretty regular basis. My plan is to have this together by C2E2. I might add some props like a gun, yogurt, or maybe a Most Wanted poster featuring Michael. Just a few little things that might make this look jog someone’s memory of the show. If all goes well, I plan on bringing it to SDCC as well!