The pods are gone!

Today I replaced my sad, bent out of shape, well-loved golden wamu debit card with a new shiny blue chase debit card. It was the last change in a series of changes as wamu no longer really exists, and I know the bank was going under and all but I'm going to miss the gold cards and red shirts. More importantly I'm going to miss the way that I was greeted every time I walked into my bank and the pods.

The pods? I know strange thing to miss about a bank. For all of those who don't know what I'm talking about Washington Mutual had banks that were set up in a more modern and welcoming style than the classic counter. Over the past few weeks I have watched as the open air space of my bank became constricted and classical. Changing the setting of a story changes the story itself and I can't help but feel that the same applies to the bank.

My Washington Mutual bank was an building in an L shape, the doors open to the ATMs. The main part of the bank was styled in a while that there was open space on all sides of the guest walking in. Pods were spaced on either side, presenting an ability (or created sense) of choice. The original set up created a sense of home, a personal space rather than a rigid business space. As a guest walking in, I could walk around desks and interact not only with the employees but also with the actual furniture. The concept was more familial, laid back, and engaging.

I'm  not against the average bank and when I walk in now I know what is expected of me. There is on the left side all of the counters and on the right side cubicles of separate desks. I am socially cued to understand that I stand in a confined line and go up to the counter. The space is much more enclosed and no one makes eye contact with you when you walk in. But this is the way that banks have always been, no nonsense, straight line, structure first businesses. That's what we have come to expect, that's what makes them serious enough to deal with our money. I just can't help it if I miss the feeling of belonging I got from my old pod styled bank. But you know, lesson learned from Mary Poppins a bank is a place of business and it should reflect just that I suppose.

Video killed the Radio Star

A giant light bulb went on over every media mongrel a few years back. High School Musical was a long shot at a sell, but it was a little movie of the month for the disney channel not much to lose right? I mean how many people aside from the 6-12 year olds of the world watched Jumping Ship or Halloween Town? But the sudden success of the little movie that could was incredible, and the spark of that light bulb. Its an old concept see Singing in the Rain or Jazz Singer. But what changed? Musical Movies weren't the only thing that could sell, musical shows are just as easy. Not only are they selling points, but shows can create new multi-talented stars, not only posters and signings but CDs and concerts. No surprise that Disney moved into the market they were already well versed in, anyone remember Mickey Mouse Club? With the sensation of Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers there was a paving of the wave for the older crowd's singing show, Glee.

I started watching Glee back in May when it premiered, though not completely willing. Truthfully the show didn't truly seem like it was going to appeal to me, it seemed a staple of the Fox network with corky outrageous characters that weren't only surface. I wasn't overly impressed or pleased with that first episode and didn't really think twice about watching the show or not when it returned in the fall.  But then the Hulu Gods decided to release the director's cut of that first episode and one late night I gave it a second chance. The director's cut was definitely more of a golden apple, so I kept watching on. By episode three, I was disappointed again thinking that the show had lost it's voice a tad bit too early.

Because by episode three, or well-intentioned overly passionate Glee Club director already had abandoned his club to follow his own ambitions. There were two episodes, I believe 3 and 4 that were suddenly not about the glee club almost at all anymore and that's the name of the show. But last week, the magic came back and the focus was truly about the club itself again. The match up of the boys and girls was truly a treat to watch. Though really, everything just seems to move along too fast. Take for example Rachel leaving the Glee club because she doesn't get the lead. The lesson that she can't always be the center of attention, yet by the time she comes back (end of that episode) she is still given every lead? Lesson obviously not meant, or not learned?

The show itself is not on top of any of my lists, but I love watching singing. I keep tuning in because I love the combination, the true art of musical performance to tell the story. I can't wait to see what songs are going to be switched up, what costumes and etc. I'm not really that emotionally involved with any of the characters themselves, all of them being slightly too outlandish for me.

I did connect to Kirk's trial in Preggers, and I got a real kick out of April's guest star appearance. Sue and Terri are enough to make me want to stop watching the show. I hate pretty much everything Sue says (though at the end of tonight's episode I might concede a little bit). And the fake preggers wife sort of drives me crazy! Quinn feels like the show's token preggers teen. Does anyone else notice that suddenly teen pregnancy is the new show staple for drama. Its no longer a one episode warning to the population but an actual character type. Not that I find it problematic but slightly over done at this particular point. Maybe if it had been presented in season 2, I wouldn't be so over the idea already. I enjoy awkward popular A-lister lead though overbearing Rachel could tone it down a notch (I think she's starting too). But maybe I will grow into each character?

As long as the songs keep coming and the performances are up to par, I will keep watching! Also as long as iTunes keeps putting up the weekly songs, I will keep buying them (though an album should be made, soon... cause 1.99 for each song? maybe a pick and choose 7 song album price??)

A Place to Mediate the Man in the Sky

Friday night rolls around and I get a phone call. A friend is getting a group together to see a The Invention of Lying at 7:40 PM. My response, oh well I wanted to go to the movies but that movie was not on the top of my list. The friend proceeded to try an possibly find a movie that was closer to the top of my list, but we couldn't agree on anything so I finally decided to just go with it. When I had said that the Invention of Lying was not on the top of my list, I wasn't kidding. It held no real appeal to me, the trailer wasn't breathtaking and not even the premise rang of any real promise of an interesting story. Honestly I didn't really believe the foundation was going to be set up properly, a world without lying? Why was there no lying, brain functions? But then no one could really go against it, right? Not socially taught to lie? But even then it seemed unlikely that everyone would just accept that? Anyway you get the picture I had problems with the concept being believable enough to be entertaining.

So the movie started and here is how the premise worked - people just couldn't lie. It wasn't really explained, it was just a stated fact that was constantly proven by the characters dialogue with each other. The acting was enjoyably natural, maybe the actors of the film were genuinely amused that they got to speak hidden truths? When are you ever going to just flat out tell someone that they are not your genetic match, but you'll go on a date with them anyway because you're afraid of being alone? Or tell you're boss that you didn't feel like working because you thought they were getting fired? But overall the movie wasn't interesting, as I had predicted the premise was slightly far-fetched. The worse bit of it though was that the narrative moved slowly and almost without purpose for what seemed like hours! Not to ruin it for someone but its a movie about boy meets girl, boy wants girl he can't have. Everything that happens leads to that main plot line, the lying starts as a selfish action that is then turned into a tool for the pursuit.

The most interesting section of the movie was when the main character was discovered telling a lie. The thing is though that no one knows its a  lie, because in their world lying can not happen. So the rest of the world believes what he is saying is true, that he has access to new information. This is where the main character, Mark weaves a tell about the man in the sky. I'm not going to give more about that away, but know that there are enough religious parallels, echoing of mockery and social commentary that it almost makes up for the boring parts of the film. Almost.

The next best part was the acting. It was natural and genuinely enjoyable. Also there were several guest appearances that were completely unexpected. If you're bored on a friday night, or maybe a tuesday afternoon (for the matinee price) the acting is almost worth watching the film.

Genetically unable to keep a secret

On the third floor of the Anaheim convention center during the weekend of the D23 conference was the ABC viewing room. It was like all the other conference rooms except that it was designed to look like a house with several mailboxes in front of it. Each mailbox was designed for a particular show, some of the new and some of the well-established. I was particularly intrigued by the one mailbox designed to look like wood, with a glass of red wine sitting on top of it and the show's title stenciled into the side. Why was Brothers & Sisters represented by a wine glass?

I had thought about watching the family drama a few times, one because the name intrigued me and two because Rob Lowe was in it. I'm by no means a Rob Lowe fangirl, but I do sort of have a special place for him because of West Wing. Now this wine glass made me think it might be my cup of tea after all. Wine, Family Drama definitely two of my favorite subjects. So when I was walking past the rows of television on dvd at Blockbuster, my eye caught the first season of Brothers & Sisters. And so the race began...

I watched that first disc and was captivated. It took three episodes for me to collect all the characters names, which is only slightly an accomplishment. The fact that it took that long was a poor reflection on the show because honestly it shouldn't take the audience that long. But though that was hard and might have turned me off had I had to wait a week in-between the first three episodes, by episode 4 I was in in love. I cared about Walkers, all their family drama, all their laughter, all their merriment. Yes I didn't figure out until  about the middle of the first season that Sara and Kitty were the oldest and then it was Tommy, Kevin and Justin but that wasn't that important. There was so much about  the Walkers that reminded me of my family and so much that wasn't like my experience at all, but it was the right amount of heart to be addicting.

Now knowing that I was in love, I ran back to blockbuster to get the next two discs of the season. The entire stock of the first and second season were sitting on the back counter and I was informed that they were being sent out. Now this was going to be a problem because blockbuster employees told me that I wouldn't possibly have any time before the show was sent out to finish season 1, and definitely no way I was going to get to the second season. But I decided to test my fate, and basically not sleep for two nights in order to get through the show and I did!

Watching the Walker family at full speed, I enjoyed every moment of it. It might be a great drinking game to attempt to watch the episodes and make some kind of shot count for how long it takes for a secret to get around. Maybe something like you'll drink if Kevin tells Kitty first, or if Justin tells Tommy last. Something like that might be interesting. There is definitely drinking in every episodes and with Tommy owning and operating a vineyard, it only became more and more ingrained with the very essence of the family. Also the music selection, even though so artfully subtle, is very good and definitely adds a character to the show it otherwise might not have.

Though some of the story lines are soap opera-isc it does again not diminish the heart of family which is what drives the show. The characters remain true to themselves, to their family ties, to their actions and behaviors with each other and it is a real treat to feel so engulfed. Though I suggest if you're new to the show to at least try the first three episodes before truly making a judgement. Reveal in how normal your family was or smile at the reminder of how close you are and with a good glass of wine the audience experience in complete.

Dark & Twisted

I watched the first two seasons of Grey's Anatomy pretty religiously. I was all into McDreamy and McSteamy. I saw the Denny Debacle as it happened for the first time on TV. By season 3, I was busier than usual and missed episodes here and there but still watched as Addison left and even tried to watch Private Practice. Never got into Private Practice and unfortunately at that point I basically stopped watching  Grey's, not because of anything in particular just didn't have the time. I always intended to catch up and being almost two seasons behind I decided it was about time.

The interesting thing that struck me as I've caught up to the newest episode of season 6 is that the entire show is based on one thing. The show is about Meredith Grey, but more than just that it's about a dark and twisty girl with a thing for tequila. That's how her friends described her in the episode where Izzie would not remove herself from the bathroom floor. And that's how she has remained, though admittedly she has grown as a character because she no longer runs from Derek. But there she has not gone and gotten "normal" and she really still isn't that "stable" and we all know she won't really be anytime soon. Its somewhat amazing that the show has maintained Meredith's voice, her relationship with everyone has remained true to her character.  Not all of the characters have remained true to themselves as completely as Meredith but it's important that the title character did. Even when Derek goes through his dark period, when Meredith comes back to him she comes back with a bottle of tequila.

The main concept of Grey's Anatomy that has held my interest for years is that in the show the characters create a family tie. Not just any family tie either, because some of the characters don't even really like each other. Alex and George never really find any common ground, even now in the episodes where Izzie is dying they end up fighting with each other before discovering they are both losing someone special. Izzie herself never really connects on any level with Christina and Meredith, yet she tells Christina first about her illness and she plans Meredith's wedding. The five of them work with each other and spend most of their time fighting, but when they need each other they are there. And they are all kept in line by Bailey, the maternal figure of the group as their resident. The relationships are maintained impacting by different love interests and actual family members like little grey.  Their little family actually expands to add Derek by the time he moves into the house and starts protecting little grey from his best friend.

The other relationship that makes me really like the show is the Derek and Mark relationship. Best friends for two decades, that have survived each other through better and worse. Though they fought a few years because Mark slept with Derek's first wife, they maintain their relationship. My favorite part might be when Derek's mom comes into town and studies Lexi after cornering Mark about why he's been avoiding her. It proves just how close the two men have been their entire life, that Derek's mother has so much love for her son's best friend.

Aside from the relationships that are so well written the next best part of the show are the musical montages and selections. The songs that shadow the emotional scenes are perfect, they strum at anyone's heart strings surprisingly well. The words and the notes are haunting and really play into the scenes, the characters and the raw emotions. Grey's Anatomy might be one of the main sources for finding new songs, I have downloaded quite a few of the songs that I liked after the episodes (which makes me love the creators of the what you heard part of the website). Though I might admit that I'm still in search of the song that play when George's father died because it was beautiful. So for anyone that stopped watching, if you have the time the episodes are a fun watch. Though season 4 might be a bit to get through, it definitely picks back up in season 5 and I have high hopes for the new season.

The Great Cupcake Expedition

With October being a month of sweets, treats and tricks what better way to start the month blog with the tale of the cupcake expedition. The fact that starts this little tale: I have a love affair with cupcakes. That was a simple fact turned into an adventure by the discovery that cupcakeries existed! Cupcakeries my friends are like bakeries but only for cupcakes.

The story begins quite a few months ago, one afternoon when I decided to give blood. In the same shopping complex as United Blood was a little store called Cupcakery. The Cupcakery is located on Thousand Oaks Blvd. in the city of Thousand Oaks, it's a fancy dancy little shop with a cupcakes on a tree in the window. That was the first ever Cupcakery I saw and visited. A strawberry shortcake cupcake with delicious strawberry frosting. But that was the end of the book, or so I had thought.

Sometimes I get on kicks, cravings that drive me to Vons at midnight in search of things like cupcakes. An old friend suggested that I try a place called Sprinkles in Los Angeles. She pretty much swore her life on the fact that this Cupcakery was the best. And so the expedition began!

The first and foremost place was indeed Sprinkles. We rode around Little Santa Monica Blvd in search of our cupcakery for the day. A car full of five young adults, trying to decide what exactly this place was going to look like. We had decided it would be bright colored and have rainbow umbrellas on top of tables. This imagined images might be why we missed it the first time, because it was just a building. A brown building with the word sprinkles in pink, very very small word on the top of the building. So we missed it, turned around and parked. We waited in line, my friends declaring that this place better be the best damn cupcakes they've ever had for the wait. The wait was well worth it! I ordered a red velvet cupcake and a key lime west cupcake. The key lime west is a seasonal item and that idea makes me want to cry because I dream about this cupcake. We all dream about those cupcakes, we are slightly convinced they put some kind of addictive substance into their frostings. And the red velvet, one of their most popular flavors I happen to save for later and let me tell you that cupcake is amazing cold. I actually have gone back several times since that first time to Sprinkles, and still only eat the red velvet after its been in the fridge for the night.

Here is where the expedition really took off because, I raved about those cupcakes. I dreamed about those cupcakes. I was pretty sure that Sprinkles was cupcake heaven. But others, seemed to disagree. So I started getting suggestions of other places that were better than Sprinkles. First place was Suzy Cakes in Calabasas where I ordered a red velvet cupcake to have some comparison point. It was good, but the frosting was different. The frosting at SusieCakes is the original cream cheese frostings while at Sprinkles the frosting was not completely cream cheese but some combination with vanilla maybe? Whatever it is, it makes it better at least to me because I don't like cream cheese frosting.

The week after that I tried a place literally across the street from SusieCakes called Crumbs. Aside from Sprinkles, Crumbs is the cupcakery I have been to the most since my first try. The conclusion of these visits is that Crumbs ranks 3 out 5 in cupcakeries. At Crumbs the chocolate cupcakes are definitely the better ones - they are wonderfulness. The red velvet runs into the same problem for me because of the cream cheese frosting bit. I also tried the raspberry swirl which is also sort of awesome. The interesting thing about crumbs is that there is inserted frosting/ topping inside the middle of the cupcake. Another great thing about Crumbs is that there marketing campaign is sort of wonderful and reminds me of Disneyland's current marketing strategy. It's about celebrating the everyday little things and I support that.

The last cupcakery I went to was Dots! In Pasadena an adorable little place, windows with painted dots and cute little seats and tables. What is even better about Dots is that there are regular sized cupcakes and  baby cupcakes! They are cheaper than the other places and because of the baby cupcakes you can try more flavors. The red velvets are delicious, because they also use the mixed type frosting that is not just the cream cheese. The flavor selection is vast and they really are very good. Dots is definitely number 2 out of 5 and though its even further from me than even Sprinkles its worth the drive.

Sprinkles is still number 1 but I recommend that if you have the chance you try each of these places. I have added the links to most of the places below and pictures of my favorites!

http://www.sprinkles.com/index.html
http://susiecakesla.com/
http://www.crumbs.com/
http://www.dotscupcakes.com/