Friday after getting off the air, Rebecca, Mikey and I all went to go see the new Pixar flick WALL-E.  During the previews, there was a trailer for a new Disney animated feature called Bolt which, I later find out, a college friend of mine named Chris Doehling worked on some of the animation in the film.

WALL-E surprised me in that it was very bleak in the beginning and made a very serious statement about the current course of man (didn’t Shyamalan already make a big environmentalist statement this summer?!).  However, the situation is reversed by our lovable main character and his newly found ‘lady’ friend in an adventure true to the nature of Pixar.  I didn’t find this one to be Pixar’s best, but I’d have to say that WALL-E is easily the most lovable character created by the computer animation masters.

WALL-E  \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/

The next night Rebecca had a party at her house and, of course, I was recruited to help her set up for the party (didn’t I give up this duty when we broke up?!).  So, being the newly created Jell-O fiend I’ve become (thank you St. Patty’s Day on River St. in Savannah!), I went by Party City and found those little Solo dipping cups which are nice and shallow so the Jell-O shooters are much more accessible to the tongue (another trick we discovered in Savannah).  I also grabbed ten packages of generic brand gelatin at CVS which were on clearance for 25 cents a box!  Those were in addition to the couple of boxes of name brand Jell-O we already had for a grand total of four cherry, four orange and four strawberry.

We ran to Green’s to nab various liquors and, of course, got some Everclear for the Jell-O (oh yeah, we weren’t messin’ around)!  So, for each box of Jell-O, you’re supposed to use a cup of boiling water and a cup of cold water.  Originally, we were going to substitute ALL the cold water with alcohol but since we were using Everclear we just used a half-cup of alcohol and half-cup of cold water.  Needless to say even that was extremely potent!  And we had no idea how many Jell-O shots each would yield.  We did all four boxes of cherry then decided only to go with two boxes of orange and ended up with damn near 60 Jell-O shots and eight Jell-O injector syringes!

By the end of the night we had just a little over a dozen Jell-O shots remaining as well as three syringes (granted there were other liquors and some beer involved).  And I am happy to report that in nearly 32 years I have still yet to get sick from drinking!  I think I know what I’m serving at my birthday party in a month!  There’s ALWAYS room for J-E-L-L-O!

I took a little time out of the office Friday to go see the new Mike Myers flick The Love Guru.  I was expecting another stupid comedy from another SNL veteran like that of Adam Sandler’s You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and even that was an overestimation!  The film was full of unrefined dick and fart jokes, which I usually enjoy but these were totally lame and unoriginal.  I admit I chuckled a few times at the blatant absurdity of it all, but not enough to have remotely enjoyed a whole hour and a half of it.  Hard to believe this came from the mastermind that created one of my all-time favorite comedies (and frequently quoted both on and off the air), Wayne’s World.  I’m not going to tell you not to ever see this movie.  I will tell you to consider it if you’re on vacation and you and your significant other want to stay in and catch a movie in your hotel room and take advantage of free HBO!  Just don’t pay to see it!  Thankfully I didn’t!

The Love Guru  \m/ \m/

After work, Mikey and I went to catch a much better film, the film adaptation of the 60s’ hit TV series Get Smart starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway and Dwayne (will still always be “The Rock”) Johnson.  This was everything I expected, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Comedy, action, gadgets and a surprising number of appearances from cast members of the remake of The Longest Yard.  Nothing more to say except that this was the film to see this weekend.  Screw the guru!

Get Smart  \m/ \m/ \m/ \n

Before leaving the office to kill 90 minutes of my life Friday morning, I grabbed a copy of the new SHINEDOWN cd we had just received.  As I was hoping, the album goes more in the vein of “Devour” as that song opens the cd with the title track “The Sound of Madness” following and keeping the momentum.  Granted there are a handful of trademark ballads from the band such as “Second Chance” and my favorite of the slower tempoed tunes, “If You Only Knew”.  Overall, a really good record from a band I, admittedly, am not a big fan of being this is the first album by the band I’ve owned.

SHINEDOWN  The Sound of Madness  \m/ \m/ \m/ \n

Alright, for anyone who’s met me (or seen my ugly mugshot above), you know I have small rodent-like teeth (”What does he do, nibble your bum?”).  It is that fact that I thought my wisdom teeth wouldn’t be a problem fitting once they came in.  Yeah, it’s a good thing I’m not a dentist because I was wrong!

My lower right wisdom tooth has been moving off and on for years now, but it wasn’t until this weekend that it really started to give me discomfort outside of just cutting through the gum.  This time it was actually wedging itself into the inner side of my cheek!

Having not been to the dentist in YEARS, I quickly went online to my dental insurance provider to find the nearest dental office I was covered under.  I found Carolina Oaks which is near the old studios at McAlister Square and gave them a call first thing Monday morning.  After briefing them on my somewhat urgent situation and negotiating various appointment times, I was able to nail down an 8:30 appointment for Tuesday.

I got to the dental office around 8:15 and, after filling out the usual medical and insurance paperwork, I found myself getting X-rayed and in the dentist chair.  The dentist came back and greeted me having gotten wind of who I was and introduced himself as Marc Workman.  He sat and talked with me about my options, one of which being to go ahead and yank the bastard to which I, of course, agreed.

First, he took a large swab with some numbing jelly on it and proceeded to apply it to the area in question.  Let me tell you, that stuff is amazing!  I hardly felt the needles used to actually anesthetize my mouth!  Then, of course, I sat for a while to let the anesthetics take effect which is a very strange sensation!  Now I know what Bill Cosby was talking about!

Then the little operation began which wasn’t bad considering I really couldn’t feel much.  I’ve heard the pressure is the worst part but the only thing that really bothered me was all the bone scraping noises that went straight to my ear!  UGH!!!

When it was over, I had to chew on some guaze to stop the bleeding and I, fortunately, didn’t need any stitching.  Granted I went through a few clumps of gauze over the next hour!  I had them let me keep the tooth (yes, I’m juvenile and morbid like that) and before leaving I made a much overdue appointment for a good teeth cleaning for late next month.  I got in my car around 9:45 having only been at the dentist office for a mere hour and a half!

 I then headed to Wal-Mart to get my prescription filled.  Of course, it was gonna take about an hour to fill, so I went over to grab some early lunch at Chic-Fil-A.  I just got the nugget combo so I could just throw food in my mouth and chew on one side.  Unfortunately, I kept biting the right side of my bottom lip because it was still numb and I couldn’t tell what I was biting!  As I was finishing my meal, the nerves in the operated area woke up and they were NOT HAPPY!!!

So, I went back to the pharmacy to see if my prescription had, by chance, been filled early.  Of course it wasn’t so I ran over to the electronics department to look around and tried to take my mind off the pain.  I grabbed a copy of Jeff Dunham’s DVD Arguing with Myself and went back to pick up my prescription.  The prescription was for Vicodin and I, of course, got the generic brand which has been taking GOOD care of me!  LOL!!!

Being the trooper that I am, I went right to the office around noon to get some work done and then on the air at 2 pm.  Before getting off the air, my good dentist actually called the request line just to see how I was doing!  I think Twisted Todd has found his dentist!  Thank you, Dr. Workman!

It’s about damn time THE OFFSPRING got back to just rockin’ it instead of trying to be a joke band.  Don’t get me wrong, I think they pull it off well, but I think they’re much more than a one-trick pony.

The disc opens with what I consider to be the strongest track on the record, “Half-Truism” which has an infectiously catchy chorus which baits and reels you into the album which, in turn, keeps you ensnared with its pop punk appeal that is the band’s true forte.

And I am actually surprised I liked the disc so much considering it was produced by Bob Rock, the man who made a large contribution to METALLICA’s ruination.  Let’s just hope Rick Rubin can redeem our fallen metal heroes since he didn’t do much for LINKIN PARK with Minutes to Midnight.  I guess we’ll find out this fall.

THE OFFSPRING  Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace  \m/ \m/ \m/ \n

I went to go see the new M. Night Shyamalan film Friday night because Rebecca was dying to go see it.  I, on the other hand, was a bit apprehensive due to several negative remarks I had already caught wind of.  Plus, let’s face it, Shyamalan is a quirky director with a hit-and-miss record.  I, and most of the free world, loved 1999’s The Sixth Sense.  2000’s Unbreakable was entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed 2002’s Signs but was not at all impressed with 2004’s The Village - I thought that one would have been better as a half-hour episode of The Twilight Zone.  As for 2006’s Lady in the Water, I’m still not sure how I feel about that one as it was so-so.

But I have to say I actually enjoyed the new Shayamalan film despite the obvious statement the director is making with the movie.  I, of course, loved the rather gruesome death scenes as Shyamalan has apparently developed a little taste for gore in this one!  As is par for the course with a Shyamalan film, I can’t really say much more without spoiling the movie, so I’ll just have to be as vague and ambiguous as his themes tend to be.

The Happening  \m/ \m/ \m/

Now this is what I have been waiting for since the disappointment of 2003’s Hulk!  Yeah, I did the midnight showing not just because I’m a geek, but also because I have so much work to do today I can’t justify taking time out of the office!

Edward Norton, unsurprisingly, does an excellent job portraying Dr. Bruce Banner, a scientist with HUGE anger management issues.  If you liked that pun, well the film is full of even more clever ones that aren’t afraid to embrace the cheese!  Some of the film’s momentum is a bit slow yet necessary, but the payoff is…..well, INCREDIBLE!

The action in the film is great and Hulk fans will be pleased to get a dose of the eagerly awaited HULK SMASH!!!  And I am proud to inform you that there is no need to stay through the credits for the big bonus is at the end BEFORE the credits roll!

THE INCREDIBLE HULK  \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \n

Friday night after getting off the air I found myself really bored and wanting to catch a movie.  I checked online to see what had come out this weekend and the new Sandler flick caught my eye.  So I called around to see who might want to join me spur of the moment so I didn’t look like a TOTAL loser going to the movies by myself on a Friday night.  Rebecca was pooped and Mikey was hanging with a new lady friend until she went to work later that night, so I put the ants in my pants on ice for a few until Mikey was freed up so we could make the 10:45 showing at Hollywood 20.

I really don’t know how to critique this film except to say that it is every bit as stupid as it looks in the trailers…..maybe even more so.  Now, having said that, I still really enjoyed the movie because, again, it was pretty much what I was expecting going into the theater.  The only other thing I can say is that, again, Sandler has cast virtually every co-star, supporting cast member and celebrity cameo from all his other films.  Dave Matthews, who briefly appeared as a gay sales clerk in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, got a slightly larger role as a redneck bigot hired by some big corporate nemesis named Walbridge (played by the one and only Michael Buffer) to take out Zohan.  Then there was Mariah Carey as herself and, the one that shocked the crap out of me, Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garrett in “The Facts of Life” and “Diff’rent Strokes”) as one of the Zohan’s ‘clients’.  I thought she was dead!

So, if you’re looking for a great senseless comedy, Sandler delivers the cheese - um, wait, make that the hummus!  Go see the movie and you’ll see what I mean!  I loved the hacky sack game with the cat!

You Don’t Mess with the Zohan  \m/ \m/ \m/

Yes, oh yes, the new DISTURBED record Indestructible drops in stores TODAY!  I just got my copy like an hour ago and I’m already hooked!  Just as Draiman and Co. had promised, it is a darker, heavier record.  I love all the songs, but if I had to highlight some tracks, I would have to go with “Deceiver”, “Perfect Insanity”, “Haunted” and “The Curse” in addition to “Inside the Fire” which is still my myspace profile song.  If you love some DISTURBED like I do, you won’t be disappointed!

DISTURBED  Indestructible  \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/

Wow!  What a weekend THIS has been!

Friday night after work, Rebecca and I went to Hollywood 20 to catch the new horror/suspense/thriller The Strangers starring Liv Tyler.  The film was a wonderful exploration into old school psychological terror with the ’strangers’ playing some hardcore cat-and-mouse games with Liv Tyler’s character and her estranged lover.  And the games were just a precursor to the inevitably grim ending.  The film was effective enough to make me actually lock my bedroom door in my apartment and keep my Celtic war sword by my bedside as I turned in that night!

The Strangers  \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/

Before turning in, I tried to find out more about the films’ apparently falsified true events inspiration being I found nothing.  I did, however, discover that I had missed the release of one of my favorite band’s, KING’s X, new album which hit record stores back on May 20th.  Frustrated by my own negligence, I rushed to Best Buy first thing Saturday to purchase XV, their aptly-titled fifteenth album.  I have bought every record on its street date since the mid-90s!  The disc didn’t exactly floor me, but it IS KING’s X and is still better than a vast majority of modern music!

KING’s X  XV  \m/ \m/ \m/

From there, I headed towards Easley to hit 123 East Coast Ink to have Redneck do my long-awaited Darth Vader tattoo on my leg.  While en route, Becca called me to let me know she had found a Schecter Omen-4 left-handed bass on e-Bay for $350 with free shipping.  Having just received a nice paycheck the day before, I was left with a difficult yet obvious decision to go ahead and bite the bullet.  Hey, ramen noodles will do for a couple of weeks, right?!  So I gave her my card info so she could make the purchase only for the card to be declined.  For some reason, online purchases do NOT like my card!  So, she proceeded to make the purchase on her PayPal account and I agreed to reimburse her right after I got my new body art.

I got to 123 East Coast Ink and Redneck proceeded to turn my leg into a beautiful canvas any Star Wars geek would be immensely proud of!  Here’s the pic he took of it right after he finished:

You can also check it out and rate it on the Wall of Ink! 

On the way back to my neck of the woods, I stopped by an ATM to get Becca the cash I owed her for the bass only to find that it left me with much less in my account than I had accounted for.  As I gave her the cash, I informed her of the issue and she, in turn, checked out my online bank statement.  As it turned out, the declined card purchase posted - TWICE!!!  Considering I had just written a check for my rent that morning, I am in a considerable jam.  In all likelihood, the bank will drop the declined charges and all will be well and good, but, in the meantime, I am sweating the good possibility of a bounced check!

So, I headed home a bit concerned but ready to relax a bit nonetheless.  I threw on a load of laundry and rested until my musical comrade Mikey got off work and we headed out to The Real Gypsy to catch a former bandmate’s new band, THE DIRTY EIGHTIES.  Steve and Co. were joined by HEAD LANGUAGE and PREACHER’s GUN for a good live music outing followed by a tasty trip to the Huddle House!