The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

During a parent teacher conference in 6^th grade, my teacher told my parents I had this bad habit of spacing out during class. “She goes off to Lauren Land… It must be a wonderful place… I wish I could join her...” I have no memory of such a place, but if anything, one might say I had a bad case of the Walter Mitties. 

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

If you’re a daydreamer like myself, occasionally retreating into your imagination where you are far cooler than reality allows, you should probably see this movie already.

If you need more convincing - You won’t just take my word for it?? - here are a few other things worth mentioning…

...As I've said before, I love movie soundtracks. Depending on the movie... In my opinion (disregard if you like), this movie has some pretty great music and it lent a lot of meaning to the story. If you care, take a listen to the soundtrack. If you don't care, here's a picture of the movie poster:

...If Ben Stiller isn’t your favorite actor, maybe give him another chance with this movie? This is not the Ben Stiller of Zoolander and Dodgeball. Even though I really don’t mind those movies either - there's a time and place, I guess. Hansel... He’s so hot right now.

...Walter Mitty’s plight is endearingly relatable. He hasn’t really done or seen anything noteworthy, but he's a romantic, dreaming up elaborate fantasies where he gets to play the hero. His life may seem painfully mundane, but behind that unassuming and easily distracted exterior is someone desperate for a great, big SOMETHING. 

...Kristen Wiig stars as Walter's love interest and I enjoyed seeing her in a more serious role. Still funny, though!

...The film was... vibrant? That's the best way I can describe it. Powerful, vibrant, and kinda different - which is a good thing, I promise! I was entertained the entire time and felt empowered by its message. The closing scene was especially sweet. 

If you haven't seen a trailer for this movie yet, watch below. Hopefully you'll be as intrigued as I was and give it the shot it deserves. 

Lauren's Grade: A-

Wistful Weekend

Well, today was definitely a shuffle. Plans were made and then cancelled, dinner at way-too-crowded Cafe Rio quickly became dinner at the only-slightly-less-crowded Crown Burger, and movie watching gave way to lesson planning for Relief Society on Sunday. I even made little handouts... If the lesson doesn't go well - which is always a frightening possibility - at least the sisters will have something to show for it. 

Whilst assembling supplies and cutting out paper for my little lesson-savers, I distractedly watched the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, glancing up here and there for my favorite parts. Parts like this one...

About 3/4 in, I turned it off. This is usually a go-to feel-good movie for me, but tonight it majorly bummed me out. Wistful - there's the word. Darcy was proposing to Elizabeth in the rain, and I just sat there with craft scissors in my hand and a lump in my throat. So I stopped the DVD and focused on my lesson. After a long day I just didn't feel up to boo-hooing over Jane Austen, thank you very much. 

Maybe tomorrow night.

Brrrrrrrr...

Frozen has high-jacked social media. First it was pictures of the Ice Palace in Midway... Then the Alex Boyé video of “Let It Go” that everyone – EVERYONE – felt like sharing... Now it’s the recently debated themes-with-a-capital-T-H-E-M-E-S within the movie that have inspired social media dwellers' commendation or condemnation.

Now it’s my turn because… Well, because.

I liked Frozen. It’s not my favorite Disney movie, but I thought it was cute. I could easily relate to Ana’s awkward exuberance and love of chocolate as well as Elsa’s lonely insecurity... and love of chocolate. Sisterly love trumps romantic love and saves the day – I’m all over that. Don’t get engaged to perfect strangers just because they seem perfect – YEAH! Everyone's a bit of a fixer-upper – I know I am! If you're a snowman, maybe summertime just isn't your season – Not unless you want to be a puddleman! But guys, sometimes it’s just a movie. 

Hahaha...

I think what we infer about any form of entertainment has as much to do with us as what, if anything, its creators are “trying to say.” Interpretations will vary. If you’re an adult paranoid over hidden political agendas in children's movies, chances are you’ll find them - even if they never occurred to the rest of us. Thanks for that... If you’re a 6 year old with a penchant for princesses, chances are you’ll see the movie 897 times and call yourself Elsa or Ana (or both) for weeks afterward, singing the songs at the top of your voice simply because you love singing them. 

So forget the conspiracies, because really – REALLY – this world’s problems are so much bigger than an animated movie. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. If you don't like bloggers who don't like it, don't read their blogs. You're one to talk, Lauren. If you absolutely love it, go ahead and torture your family and friends alike by playing the ever-increasing remakes of “Let It Go” over and over and OVER again. Love or hate, stop the debates about WHAT IT ALL MEANS and just let it go… 

Erm… I mean, get over it. 

Under da Sea

Last night I went to see The Little Mermaid with some friends. I love it when Disney re-releases their classic movies in theaters. This was the first big movie I ever saw, way back in the days of Starship Theaters on Wasatch Boulevard. I was 4 and I remember practically skipping out of the theater after the movie. Our family played the soundtrack everywhere we went in our Ford Aerostar and if I ever found myself in a pool or a bathtub, I was soon crossing my legs at the ankles and calling myself Ariel. 

Back to last night... The theater wasn't very full, but there was a lot of audience participation as the movie played. I think it's impossible to watch something like that without singing along, but nobody seemed to mind. 

I think my favorite part of the whole thing (besides Prince Eric's dimples and blue eyes) was when a girl, probably about 4 or 5 years old, got up from her seat during "Under the Sea" and just started dancing. She jumped down to the open area between the floor seats and upper seats and didn't seem to mind other moviegoers could see her. When she finally sat down again, everyone in the theater lightly clapped for her. Her uninhibited joy made me tear up a little, it was so sweet. Nostalgic Lauren is a very emotional creature.

 Before we knew how to smile in pictures... 

After the movie we navigated the crowds of couples and grabbed some 2-for-1 fro-yo at Red Mango. So not a bad evening, really.

Earlier that day, the company I work for had a Valentine's Day potluck and brought in Papa John's Pizza for everyone. For the first time in a while, I actually enjoyed being at work. The Coworker's been out of town since Thursday and won't be back until Tuesday. I've had my own little mini-vacation from discussions on gluten-free recipes, how expensive gluten-free groceries are, how her gluten-free crackers taste, and why she and her husband won't buy quinoa. Pssst... It's for political reasons... Yes, we're all gluten-free FREE until Tuesday. I don't even mind the extra work. 

A Proper Galentine's Day

Happy Galentine's Day! "It's only the best day of the year..." And for this Galentine's Day, I made a major coup. For months now I've tried to persuade my sister to watch Austenland with me. I didn't want to come across as overeager, but I just knew she would love it...

 "Try it, try it and you may!
Try it and you may I say..."

  "I do not like this Austenland, 

I do not like it Sam I Am..."  

This is never the best practice whilst trying to persuade a person to do anything - it's like a death sentence for whatever your objective is. So I kept the hype to a minimum. "Will you PLEASE watch it with me?? It's SO GOOD... But, like, whatever... Do what you want..." Well, the movie was released last week and sure enough, Redbox (well, the second Redbox I tried) had a copy! Now was my chance... While my mom was on board, Katie still protested. Don't worry - I soon wore her down with some sisterly manipulation and a promise she could choose what we watched next time. 

And didn't she just love it as much as I thought she would! She is ogling pictures of JJ Field online even as we speak. A proud moment for me... Even if it is one of the silliest movies I've ever seen... A good silly.

It's the GIF that keeps on GIF-ing...

The thing about GIFs is...

I’ve probably been overdoing it with the GIFs lately. Sorry… But sometimes nothing accompanies a blog post better than an entertaining GIF of someone rolling their eyes. Especially on this blog where I frequently expand on all things eye-roll worthy. Hey, it’s an outlet. I invite you to roll your eyes as well, either with me or at me.

Please note the absence of a GIF in this blog post.

Running Low

This was definitely a difficult week. My attitude certainly didn't improve anything, but sometimes you have to keep your head down and do what you can. And sometimes you must do it without slapping on a smile and pretending things are JUST. SO. GREAT.

Tuesday... A coworker (THE Coworker, rather) notified my supervisor that she would not be in because she wasn't feeling "quite herself." My snarky yet unspoken response was, "Well then who does she feel like?" quickly followed by, "When does she anticipate she'll start feeling more 'herself' again?" I know some mornings are harder than others, but even on my most un-Lauren of days it's still business-as-usual. Because that's life. 

Maybe I should be more understanding, but when your department is only a handful of people and one person constantly has ridiculous excuses for missing work, you begin to lose patience. So much patience.

There's more...

Wednesday... The Coworker left early for a doctor's appointment. She was going in for a blood test to see exactly what was wrong with her. I have my theories... Mostly I think it's just a raging case of hypochondria. Don't really know if that'll show up on a blood test, though.

Thursday... The Coworker was absent yet again and my supervisor explained that she'd received some "bad news" about her blood test. Such that both she and her husband were staying home from work as a result. But beyond that we didn't know a thing...

Well, I started feeling pretty awful at that point. What if she was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness? What if it was something painful and horrible? And here I was being impatient and just plain not-nice about the whole thing. She was going to die... I was a bad person and she was going to die. 

Later that morning, she notified our supervisor of her diagnosis. Finally we would know if the worst was true...

Her diagnosis - the news of which took a recovery time of 24 hours... A POTENTIAL WHEAT ALLERGY.

Patience depleted. 

Sunday Menace

On Sunday we played a getting-to-know-you game in Relief Society to welcome our new presidency. Even though it was fast Sunday, they handed out Smarties as prizes if you participated. I conveniently forgot all about my fast as soon as those candies were in my fat little fists... 

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. - Matthew 26:41 

So imagine a roomful of disciplined Relief Society sisters quietly tucking their candy away... And Lauren not-so-silently struggling with her noisy wrappers and popping Smarties into her mouth. I should probably watch and pray a little better in the future.  Whoops!

Speaking of noisy distractions... A few weeks ago as I sat in Sunday School, I tried to turn off my new way-too-smartphone before the closing prayer was offered. 5 seconds into the prayer I heard a strange noise that sounded like 3 little chimes. I looked down at my phone and noticed a microphone icon flashing on my screen. I didn't know what it was, but I shoved the phone further into my purse just in case. Muffle as I might, I suddenly heard a single beep followed by a LOUD robotic voice that said, "I'm sorry, I could not locate..." and proceeded to REPEAT the last couple sentences from the prayer in one monotone run-on sentence... 

Apparently my phone has a voice activated search feature. And now I know how to use it.