“Dance, I say! DANCE!”

 

My Tink has been running around all day getting ready for her “Family Party” she said EVERYONE is to attend. And you HAVE to dress up.
Boys wear ties, girls wear dresses.

Blue said “We’re not really doing this are we?” I walked out of our room in an old bridesmaid dress. He said “Looks like we are!”

He sported a tie, suit coat over his white undershirt and sweat pants.
Buzz wore his matching white t-shirt and running pants. Borrowed Dad’s tie. These are our formal men of the house.

I bust out a hand me down bridesmaids dress, and Tink had on what she calls her “Princess Sophia Dress” (aka Garage sale recital dress)

 

We had a blast taking pictures with each other…

My other favorite part was when Tink bust out her pretend CD player that plays Disney songs on speed (not sure what is up with it. It’s the way it came!)

We bust out our best dance moves, even Sophie joined in the party. I’m happy that we take the time to dance, to get creative and to participate in whatever their little minds come up for us to do each day.

We are thankful for their health, for their spirits, for their energy. I love to capture days like this, the memories we make. Thank you for the invite Tink and Buzz.

Love,
Mommy
(JCat McGack)

Coffee Slut

In honor of National Coffee Day. (today) I thought I’d do a post on coffee. I’ll tell you what it means to me.

I remember the smell of it growing up as a kid. Brewing everyday.
I remember the church I grew up in brewing it for everyone at every event.
I remember the Folgers commercials. I remember crying at them, especially at Christmas, when the boy would come home to surprise his parents.
I remember my grandmothers drinking coffee. Along with my aunts. I remember how I thought how crazy they all were to drink it black. Right from the pot. At least my mom and dad added sugar and cream to make it taste better.

I loved to smell it. But I never liked the taste. It was just BITTER to me.
I loved SWEET.

I had a boyfriend in H.S. he was nice, but he often thought that breaking up for me or how he’d say “I just need a break for a few days” would destroy me. So my amazing friend we will call, Death Before Decaf, would hang out with me. Listen to my sad story, broken heart. And just listen, tell me I could do better. But he supported me, like a best friend does. And often times we’d be at Georgio’s, in front of the bowling alley. That, is where I had my first best coffee.

I’d fill it almost half way, yes HALF way with pure sugar. Then the rest with coffee. It was good, sweet, with a hint of bitter.

The coffee thing stuck, but as a treat. As I got older and started working midnights at the local casino’s coffee was still a helpful friend.

It wasn’t until I had Tink that I truly welcomed coffee daily. I dusted off the coffee pot we got as a wedding present 5 years before (we’d use it when family came over) I drank a lot of coffee now with a new born. And I went through a LOT of sugar.

It wasn’t until Buzz was about 1 year old, Blue and I decided to try the P90X work out system. Reading the new healthy diet book we had to cut back. He stopped drinking pop, cold turkey. And I took the sugar out of my coffee, cold turkey.

(see even Buzz likes his coffee! Don’t freak, just a juice!)

It’s 3 years later, he has yet to take a sip of pop, and sugar in my coffee is just TOO much sugar. I drink it black. NOTHING in it. Well maybe an ice cube.

I’m a Starbucks junkie. I’ll admit it. I LOVE their coffee, I’ve tried a few different once. The Tribute was hands down the best, most expensive (thanks to Death Before Decaf for that) I’m more of a Café Verona girl right now. The dark brew’s are my fav.

Oh and I have to tell you my dad and I have an ongoing friendly feud over coffee. For some weird reason he drinks the DD brand coffee and loves it. I get it, it’s a sissy coffee, not very strong. Good for the sissies. I do drink McD’s coffee out of desperation. It’s ok. It works, but for a strong coffee that does the job. Starbucks can not be replaced!


I used to go into the Starbucks stores and order the Raspberry Mocha. Depending on my mood and the weather it was hot, iced or Frappuccino (blended) with chips on it! LOVE.

Oh, and sweet budget breakers they put a Starbucks RIGHT down the street from me! Sadly after 11 months they closed a ton of stores, that was one of them. I was sad. No really I cried. Bastards.

A new mom friend from Tink’s preschool and I headed to Starbucks for a kid free break. She saw my order, and I said right away I knew how bad the Mocha’s were. TONS of sugar, carbs. But my treat. I do love the espresso part of them. Get the job done!
She said to try the “Americano” it’s what she gets. It’s nothing but espresso and water.
Sounds gross? It is. It’s straight bitter and strong, but throw in a shot of raspberry, or vanilla. It gets better. It is not for the weak of taste, but it’s a good time of espresso! (and cheaper then a Mocha!)

I’ve gotten my coffee fix so many other ways.

I drink it this way when I’m at a gas station…

Or this way when I’m scrapbooking all night with friends….

If I had it my way It’d be like this…

I did try a French press coffee once. HANDS down, the best way to drink coffee, OMG. It was beautiful. I need one of those… hint hint… Christmas…

And not kidding, I think this all the time. Maybe that is why I love to go to bed by 10 so I can get up early and drink my coffee…

Oh and I use my coffee pot so much that I had to get it replaced after 3 months this year. This was my beautiful red Mr. Coffee pot that my sister Frances bought me for Christmas 2011, by March it was fried. Good thing is JCP let’s you return it. No box, no receipt and lucky me, they had a red one. ALL better!

But every other day of the year besides the Mocha, and American, gas station or scrapbook ways. it’s like this. In one of my many coffee cups. Mostly Starbucks. Otherwise Disney.

 

SO Happy National Coffee Day!! Drink up however you take your coffee!!

JCat McGack

Back to life

I must confess to those of you who are new here. This blog is my 4th attempt to have a blog with out being out of line, drama producing and down right rude.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard some of those bloggers get the best traffic. But mine wasn’t good. It was babble and anger mixed with insanity.

I’ve never been about traffic on my blog. As much as I am an attention seeking poodle. And I DO love comments on my posts. I do it for the sake of emptying my brain out, and hoping some one else out there reads me and says “Damn. I’m not the only one”

I can’t promise that with this 4th blog I’ll be swear free. That wouldn’t be me. I will say I’ve learned that some posts are just as good with other words put in. But there will be times I’m not going to hold back. If that deters you from reading me, well then move on and find a safe blogger that keeps all her F words to herself.

I have to say my first blog in 2007 was when my daughter (now 6) was just one. I used it to vent, as a Post Partum Diary of sorts, and to tell my stories.

I started another a few years later, and that was still a PPD or by then a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder type of blog.

THIS blog. THIS is me. PPD and PTSD free.

PPD and PTSD really shut me down. I lived life, but having children made me sad, and bitter. And I spent 6 years trying to get ME back. The funny, silly, random, weird, happy-go-lucky me.

About a year ago I came back.

I’m still working towards being more social. Remembering to call my friends, to not shut out phone calls. I don’t know why PPD and PTSD did that to me. Why I shut myself in.

I realize I’m back. Different then before kids. But it’s a new me. It’s a revised version. The 2012 JCat McGack.

Socially I’m so much better. For example in the last few months I’ve accepted a play date trip to the Zoo. I’ve had play dates at the library. And 14 Princesses at my daughters 6th birthday didn’t make me twitch. I went to my good friends son’s birthday and was elated to see old friends, and missed my good friend who wasn’t there. Hoping to make plans to all hang out in the future.

I’ve been seriously involved with the local art center. I’m going to be on their board! I want to blog and be involved in the local Patch news website.

Making new friends with the Three Rivers Art Council has made my life feel whole again. Chill people who ALL have one thing in common. We BIG puffy red heart art of ALL kinds. My best friend comes with me often and it makes my world happy.

My home life is more organized, and my family life has always been my #1 priority. I feel energized more often, I feel creative again, I feel normal. And don’t laugh at normal. I mean normal by I feel like me with a new twist to it normal.

It’s not just the pot of coffee talking here. It’s me.

Hello. Nice to be back to life. It’s time to do what I do. Socialize. Create. Be. Live.

I’ve got this,

JCat McGack

A Day in History and a rant.

I saw it first on facebook, I then followed the link to watch this video from President Obama, yesterday. I cried.

It’s a huge day in history, it makes him the FIRST American President to flat out say it. Out loud. To support gays in marriage rights.

It may not happen right now. It may not happen for years… but he said it. And hoping this is one of those moments in history that get’s the ball rolling, that changes history and someday we look back and wonder why it took us so damn long to stop judging and let people love.

If you don’t know it by now, I’m a HUGE fan and supporter of the LGBT community. I’ll be attending my 6th Annual Chicago Pride Parade this June. I go with my best friend, our good friend mm, other friends who come along (every year it’s different people) and of coarse I go for my Robbie. He’s my cousin who is more like my brother. His partner Phil and I met a few years back at a parade. It’s an amazing event.

It’s not perverted and gross like some think. It’s beautiful. it’s one HELL of a rainbow day. It’s people saying “Happy Pride” ALL day long, It’s that ONE day of the year, you can be YOU. And not be judged. It’s strangers smiling at each other, wishing for equality, and supporting each other.

I received this email today from Obama…

Friend --
Today, I was asked a direct question and gave a direct answer:
I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
I hope you'll take a moment to watch the conversation, consider it, and weigh in yourself on behalf of marriage equality:
http://my.barackobama.com/Marriage
I've always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. I was reluctant to use the term marriage because of the very powerful traditions it evokes. And I thought civil union laws that conferred legal rights upon gay and lesbian couples were a solution.
But over the course of several years I've talked to friends and family about this. I've thought about members of my staff in long-term, committed, same-sex relationships who are raising kids together. Through our efforts to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, I've gotten to know some of the gay and lesbian troops who are serving our country with honor and distinction.
What I've come to realize is that for loving, same-sex couples, the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens.
Even at my own dinner table, when I look at Sasha and Malia, who have friends whose parents are same-sex couples, I know it wouldn't dawn on them that their friends' parents should be treated differently.
So I decided it was time to affirm my personal belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
I respect the beliefs of others, and the right of religious institutions to act in accordance with their own doctrines. But I believe that in the eyes of the law, all Americans should be treated equally. And where states enact same-sex marriage, no federal act should invalidate them.

Political gain? Meh… I’d like to think it’s not. I’m not naive, I know it’s an election year. This may make or break it for him. But I do believe that in his heart it was time to stand up for what he thinks is right.

I thank Mr. Obama. I’ve been a fan, I voted for him into this Presidency, and will again this fall. This just made me more proud to call him my President.

Speaking of Political gain… today my Village Idiot (President) posted on his facebook page, that President Obama should be talking about issues that really matter, war, job loss… and on and on about how gays and marriage is not an issue.

I was appalled. I knew this was a close minded town, and I know around Christmas this same Village Idiot went on and on, on facebook about how CHRIST was in everyone in our towns Christmas, and poo poo’d the people like me who say “Happy Holiday’s” and celebrate Christmas for the sake of Santa, stockings, snow and family time. I wasn’t a fan that he was talking for ALL of us.

I HAD posted a comment on his facebook hate of Obama rant, and non important issues like gays. I said “This IS a real issue…” but I removed it because I was disappointed in the amount of people who agreed with him, and was slamming the topic. I just couldn’t handle it in my in box. Not this early in the day, not before my coffee.

I feel horrible for the children. Of these people. That they are learning to judge so early in life. That they are taught that same sex love is wrong, that marriage is ONLY between man and woman… OPEN your heart and understand it’s NOT the way it’s meant to be. And PULLEASE don’t pull any of that bible verse on me. I don’t get how people can run with one verse about one thing, twist another verse, and then ignore some all together because times have changed.

And I’m not saying that people have to agree with me, or my views. But do NOT teach your children to hate, to judge to look down on others because it’s not what YOU believe it right. It’s just down right bad parenting. It’s bad behavior. It’s your job to teach them to to love, to judge on character.

It’s pathetic that my Village is run by this ass. Who by all means is allowed to have his own opinions and ideas. I sure don’t agree with them, but when you’re a leader of some sorts, I’m thinking you can keep these to yourself. Probably not post them on facebook for all the village to see. But maybe it’s a good thing. Because now I see what he is truly about.

I only hope more and more people from Chicago and the suburbs move out here, that this small town becomes more open minded, about gays, race, or religion.

A big SMH (shake my head) to the Village Idiot. And a big hug, high 5, and thank you to Mr. Obama for standing up for your views, for saying it. Out. Loud.

JCat McGack

For more awesome clips on this….

I want to sell me.

I read.

I read lots and lots of fantastic books, and magazines, and pretty $15 magazines, Where Women Create is my favorite.

I like to get idea’s, I like to live in other people’s worlds. To know that a world of being something BIG, even if it’s small town, and a small business, it’s BIG to their world.

I want that. I want to be something BIG to me.

Sure I talk of my dream job. The Zoo. Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo to be exact. I mean it WAS my job for a day. 

And it’s not a imaginary job, but it takes SO much time and dedication, SO much schooling and where I am in life with my kids and my family… well those are my excuses. My new path in animal love is to volunteer when I can. To read my books and watch my shows to learn as much as I can about them.

And like everyone else I have other dreams. Big ideas. And I read these magazines, see websites, blogs, and books about women who have taken what they love SO much and created a store, a website store, even if it’s just to make enough money to buy more product to make more of what they love.

I’ve always had this knack for making things. I claim to be pretty damn artsy fartsy and I love to create… BUT I don’t seem to really settle on ONE thing.

Let’s go back to my dream idea before I start rattling off my long list of creative loves… the dream is to have a store. Well it WAS a dream. But realizing a physical store requires you away from your family and loved ones. And in the economy, I’m not really sure I could even afford to rent space in order to do this.

But then something like Etsy came along, and all of it’s online wonderfulness. Or the town nearby has stores, that would let you sort of ‘rent’ a space in their store and sell what you make…right now I’ve got a booth with my mom. It’s in an antique mall. And 99% of the stuff is vintage or antique. Great place, great to clean out my house, just not great for my dream.

What would I sell? Hmmm….

I’ve sold my Ugly Sock Monsters before…

We can put these guys under sewing… well here’s a list of everything I can and love to do creatively.

I sew.

For the love of sewing it’s all due to my mom. She’s been sewing since, well forever. She bought me a sewing machine when I was in my 20’s and I’m pretty sure it sat in a box for 5 years before I even looked at it. I do enjoy it. And I’ve been hoarding ALL the fabric that I like from clothes that are on their way out the door to ‘create’ with.

I paint.

High School art class taught me that. Watercolor is fun, acrylic is random, and it’s a good stress relief.

I draw.

Cartoons to be exact. I love Disney characters. Bad guys and animals are the easy one’s for me. I’d love to take the time to sketch more, to practice, to remember the basics again.

I do clay.

It’s easy stuff. Stays soft till you bake it. Good because I’ve got a 5 month project STILL half finished on my counter!

I scrapbook.

THIS is a hobby I stayed away from. I KNEW once I got in, it’d be trouble. Well trouble it is. But I love to capture life, stories, every day events, and all about me. In pictures, papers and my art. I traditional scrapbook in the big ol’ 12x12 size. I’ve done 6x6, 8 1/2 x11, 8x8, in a journal, in a mini book. I love to try them all.

I rubber stamp.

When I was a kid we took a family vacation to St. Augustine Florida, my Aunt and Uncle live there. My mom and I came across a Rubber Stamp Store, we fell in love with the idea. 15 years later we learned of Stampin’ Up! rubber stamp company, within 2 years I was selling it as a demonstrator. Did that for 6 years.

And out of all of those my basement is where they call home. I have 1/2 as my beloved art room. YES I have a HUGE purple room dedicated to my love for art. I share it with family and friends, and most of all my children when they are creating as well.

What the problem is?

Problem is my personality. There is this amazing book that I found out about from my good friend Tiff. WAY back in 2003.

Personality Plus

It’s a book with a personality test. Then it breaks it down. Your positives, your negatives, and how to work with what you’ve got. I love it. I had my family take the tests and it’s amazing how ON point this book was. I suggest EVERYONE read it. And it’s amazing for people who work together as well.

So before I go into a 10 paragraph book review. I’ll get back to my point.

This book said it. And it’s true.

No Follow-Through. But good intention too.

I start projects, BRILLIANT ideas… again, not a good finisher.

THIS was on point with me. I call it procrastination at it’s best, they call it my personality.

SO with all that in mind. HOW do I follow through with this? With any idea of selling art, of making my creativity actually work in this world I’ve made. I’m a SAHM with my free time numbered. When Buzz goes to school full time in the fall of 2013, it’s a good time for me to get a J.O.B.

And believe me I want more money around this house, so we can enjoy things OUTSIDE of this house again.

Do you think it’s possible. With my no follow through personality, with my procrastination at it’s best, but with my willing to WANT to create, and to make it out there in the world… could I?

I’m not saying have a billion dollar idea, and a rocking chain of art stores. I’m just saying that I’m inspired everyday to create, to share my creation, to teach to others the basics of creating… and to possibly make money doing this…

Now where do I begin?

JCat McGack

Zoo Day on her Anniversary

Starting at the beginning, I was on Facebook. I saw that ABC 7 Chicago News This Morning had a question posted on their page…

“What's your dream job? Tell us here and maybe that dream will come true!”

So I take a chance they will pick me, now I’m sure like many people out there, we all have multiple dream jobs. To own an art/craft store workshop with amazing gardens all around with my mom is one of mine. To have enough money to live comfortably is a big one (that’s more of a dream we ALL have, not so much a dream job)

And I think to myself. Well let’s be realistic. It’s a BIG news station that COULD make a dream come true for a day. BUT make it so they COULD do it. And I know EXACTLY what I’ve always dreamed about…

I tell them my dream is to work at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. I’ve loved animals all my life, and have worked in a few Animal Hospitals and love every aspect of helping and caring for animals.

Out of hundreds of people, they messaged me to give them contact information. I eagerly gave them email and phone numbers and waited…

I have to say it’s pretty cool when your caller I.D. reads ABC 7. And I spoke with D from the network. Just being my usual self, joking and laughing. I realized after a few minutes this was more of a phone interview! But I knew to just be myself and hope they like it. She said I had a good idea, and my personality was great. But they wanted more.

They were holding a table meeting about the possible jobs. So I hadn’t gotten it, but I was a good contender. She needed a bit about me, some pictures of me with animals. A story to share at this meeting.

I quickly typed out a few paragraphs, about my family. Life. Interests. Posting pictures from back when I had done the ‘Trainer for a Day’ at  Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium behind the scenes for my 30th birthday.

Yeah, THIS is me. I had JUST felt her heartbeat. I was ELATED.

There was TWO of us. JUST two of us together for this experience. We were IN the dolphin show. Hand signals and all.

A.MAZ.ING.

Still hands down the best birthday gift for me EVER.

 

 

 

 

I told them about how much I had wanted to be a Zoologist, with out going into to much detail about how I did attempt school for one semester and stopped. I knew we wanted to start a family soon, and trying to start school for a big career just wasn’t going to work out.

After a few days D responded to my email with this…

This is perfect Jacki!

We’ve chosen you for our “Dream Job” segment at Brookfield Zoo.

Congratulations!

It didn’t hit me right away. I mean it did. I called my dad right away (my parents and sister are HUGE fans of the zoo) and gave him the details. But when I was telling my best friend she’s like “Is this really hitting you?! Because your excited but not freaking out. You should be freaking out right now” I said maybe when it’s closer to the date. And more details come around… maybe I was in a excited shock?

When my caller I.D. then reads ‘Chicago Zoological Society’ my heart stops. I PRAY the kids will behave for the time I need. I ran up to my bedroom and locked the door.

The conversation was great, she asked what animals I was interested in. I said primates and big cats, and reptiles. (along with Zoologist, I had considered Herpetologist as a field at the zoo) I added in that ANY animal at the zoo would be fine with me. I love them all.

After talking with me, she said she’d like to have a staff meeting (did you read that. A STAFF meeting over ME?! I mean the people at the ZOO are holding a meeting about ME! It’s hitting me now.) to go over possible idea’s of what I could do. And she’d contact me next week on it.

That was Friday, and by the next Thursday I was obsessively checking my caller I.D. to see if I had missed her call. Finally Friday night she called back.

She said after a long meeting, they had ideas like a harness to go in with the big gorillas, but too many safety issues. OMG the fact that that was considered made me excited. Big cats are also a HUGE safety risk.

BUT this IS what they came up with… and I just want to let you know the WHOLE time she was telling me my ‘schedule of events’ tears were running down my face.

9 am – Giraffe.  I will get to clean, rake, and pick up poop. (understand I’m doing exactly WHAT they do!!) I will put hay in the racks outside, and… feed the giraffes!! SQEE!!

10 am – Penguins. Prepping fish with their special vitamins then feeding them!! OMG!!

10:30 am – Harbor Seals. I will be giving them some hand signals. Then giving a ultra sound as part of their husbandry program. ESTATIC!

Rhino -  Cut up food. And I kid you not, I about died when I heard her say this… they are training them to paint. So I will HOLD A CANVAS while the RHINO paints it. I mean, seriously?! I do art. THIS is the BEST.

Reptiles -  Monitors

Galapagos Tortoise

Poison’s Frogs feed them crickets!

Snake – I get to feed them a mouse! (she may have said what kind, I don’t remember.)

So after this list of animals, after going over my outfit, and what time to meet them it’s hit me. I called my dad freaking out, he’s very happy for me. Knowing how much I’ve always wanted to do this.

So on Friday the 20th I will be doing the one thing, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do. Hoping to get a digital copy of this when it airs. So I can share it.

I know this will be an emotional day for me. Being with animals that I love, the Zoo, and being around the zookeepers themselves it will be an overwhelming day.

And what are the odds that it’s the one year anniversary of Maggie.

 http://spaghettiandbagels.blogspot.com/2011/04/maggie-may.html

I can’t wait to tell you all my story, hope to share the video, and fingers crossed I don’t loose my shit over Maggie and all these animals. But I’m sure that would be good for t.v., right?

JCat McGack

Happy has taken over

This happened…

And then this happened…

And this as well…

I think a combination of Fly Lady, my mom the Queen, and my amazingly OCD clean friends DMudd and Maternal Mirth have take over my mind.

I mean this is my house clean… it’s been like this for DAYS. I mean we are going on a week of made beds, dishes done, laundry caught up, clutter picked up and dinners made.

I’m motivated to get up early, to spend time with my children, to scrapbook, sew and create.

I want to start planning my garden for this spring, and I want to clean out my garage. I want to have a clean happy home.

AND I’m happy all the time. Sounds too good to be true. But it’s the old me. I’m back. I fought Post Partum Depression, and it was hard. I had NO meds, no therapy… unless you consider my much needed 2 hour phone calls to Maternal Mirth who seriously helped me cope. But when I though I was better, I still wasn’t. But I had accepted the fact that I was sick. And after years (I guess after a while it’s called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) of dealing with being depressed, and down on myself, my house, and how I acted, I kept telling myself I’d get better.

I think my positive, glass half full, optimistic look on life got the better of me. Took over, and is winning by far.

I’m glad to be back. I know it’s made my husband, Blue, happier. The kids happier. A.maz.ing what depression will do to the whole household.

Like they say “If Momma ain’t happy. Ain’t nobody happy”

JCat McGack

36 years to Hollywood

My dearest husband, Blue, is turning 36 on Tuesday February 7th, and so we had our date night to celebrate it!

He’s been talking about this movie theater he wanted to try out. It’s not a normal movie theater by far. It’s a genius concept, and it will be hard to go back to the old regular theater after last night!

I mean your every day theater is a lobby with an arcade to amuse children, glass counter, with popcorn, candy and some small food options. Theaters now a day have WAY better seating, I am a fan of reclining chairs, and arm rests that can move. Bleacher seating has spoiled me as well. So I do love the regular movies, it’s a great place for families, for my children and I, but if you want a more adult experience…

You go to Hollywood Blvd, or Hollywood Palms theater and we have lobby, COVERED in memorabilia, décor is awesome, there is TWO bars for adults, tall tables to sit at, full dinner, deserts, and a waiter IN your show?! You want more, well check out my review…

Let’s start at the beginning, you come in to this HUGE lobby, and I mean there are tables all over, adult HIGH tables, and there is a bar there to the left ( see picture below. It was closed at the time) and straight ahead is a HUGE bar.

From what I see on their website they have celebrities come by and do signings and some premiers for their movies. Sometimes they do old movies and have the actors come by as well.

Oh and I didn’t get a picture of the front of the building, they had the car from Blues Brothers mounted to the roof! Spotlights up in the sky going, and it is located in a strip mall! LOVE it!

We headed over to the ticket counter, it was the LAST night to see Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

I’m not usually one for the MI series, but it wasn’t my birthday!

I have to say after that one, I laughed, sat on the edge of my seat, my anxiety was through the roof on the missions, and at one point I cried! It was a great movie! Tom Cruise at what he does best.

 

After getting the tickets, and pointing at all the cool posters (I’ll show you my favorite in a bit) we sat by the end of the bar, to wait to be called for our movie.

Yes your movie gets called, that they are seating for it. You don’t get to go in before hand.

Our table was a man hole cover. Pretty ingenious if you ask me.

 

 

This handsome and shiny guy was hanging out by us, I wish I had taken a picture of the GIANT Buddha on the other side (I’m sure I’ll be back to paparazzi the place again!)

And on the wall next to us, was all kinds of hands and footprints from famous people.

 

 

 

Oh and I’ve GOT to show you my ALL time favorite movie poster! I’ll always be a Goonie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had some fun editing the pictures, this one is Blue and I in the lobby.

I have to say, at first I thought this picture came out a bit weird.

But I wanted to embrace the bright colors of the theater behind us. But almost freeze us in time with the classic black and white

Let me just say, I will miss Picnik website, for all their amazing photo editing freeness when they shut down in April. Boo. Hoo. I need a new free one… suggestions welcome.

I was trying to get the previous picture, but in the efforts, it took about 5 shots of us together. My dear husband is NOT a fan of the camera, and after the first 3 he was like SERIOUSLY?!

I think he worries what people around us will think. Plus he HATES himself in all his pictures. So THIS picture I LOVE.

It’s us in motion. Me asking for one more shot, and him REALLY not wanting to take another one!

Finally we were called to see our movie! We went through the very decorative gates…

And down the hall…

I have to say if I stopped to take a picture of ALL that there is to see here, we would be here forever.

LOTS of detail, gaudy, and fun.

 

 

 

 

At the end of the movie theater hall there is a HUGE museum like area FULL of glass boxes with costumes worn by actors and what movie they are from! We didn’t’ go there till after our movie was out, and that was after 11, and Blue gets up at 4:45 am, so he was TIRED and new the next day would be rough, so we went through fast.

I did take this one, of Katherine Heigel’s dress from 27 Dresses, there is another one of her dresses on the other side as well!

They had SO many things to look at, there was Will Smith’s shirt from Hancock, and one of the big space pod things from Austin Powers, the back wall was FULL of molds of faces of celebrities.

 

OMG, I freaked, I’m a HUGE Jim Carey, and Grinch fan (I have a collection of 4 Grinch dolls that are out at Christmas. LOVE’M!)

So this, whatever it is, I had to take a picture of.

(again rushed, and didn’t get to read what it was)

 

 

 

Onto the show!

Now you go into the theater, and sit in a big comfy leather office chair. Your seated at a long counter about 12” deep. You can sit at a counter for two (along the walls) or in the middle at a counter for four. With only  of us in the theater, we took the table for four, and spread out a bit.

That guy behind my head, Adam, came to our table and since it was our first time said this…

“My name is Adam. I am your server. Just like in a restaurant. We have a full service menu, drinks, food, alcohol and deserts. Order, and I will be in to check on you every 20 minutes or so. It’s a longer movie so I may be in more often”

It was awesome. We did see a 9:00pm movie so we had eaten dinner already, but that didn’t stop me from getting some Moe Sticks (motz sticks) and Blue chose a big ol’ brownie with ice cream, we ditched the alcohol since we wanted to stay awake during the movie and enjoyed some good raspberry ice tea.

Food was good, movie was GREAT, theater was amazing. Over all, I’m quite proud of the birthday present I chose for Blue!

Happy 36th Birthday… it’s a long way off from your 22nd when we first met.  And I have to say this life of mine is great, growing old with you!

JCat McGack