Movie Review: Pompeii

Originally - I had no intention of watching the movie Pompeii...but the more I thought about it, the more intrigued I was.

Pompeii

Released: February 21, 2014
Watched: May 2014
My Rating: 7/10 stars

Starring:
Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Kiefer Sutherland

Director:
Paul W.S. Anderson

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this movie before I watched it.  I guess I was expecting an okay-ish action story. But I feel like since I was not expecting much, that my expectations were greatly exceeded.

Helloooooo Jon Snow!!

The real story of Pompeii is pretty fascinating.  I got lost in the wiki pages after I watched the movie. I highly recommend looking into the history of it all.  And who knew it happened so long ago...79 A.D.  I thought it was later than that.

This movie was basically Titanic - but with a volcano instead of an iceburg.  We all know how it ends - but it's still fun to watch.  It was a good action movie - had a pretty great big bad (Keifer) and a love story that made you root for them (Kit and Emily).

If you're looking for a fun, action-packed movie, this one will certainly fulfill your wishes.

Also - Jon Snow...erm...Kit Harrington proves his worth as a leading man.  He impressed me with his role - and his abs.  Oy!

Has anyone else seen it? What did you think?

TV Review: Orange is the New Black - Season 2

So if you're not watching Orange is the New Black, you are missing out.  The first season took the internet by storm last year.

Based on the real life adventures of Piper Kerman. Piper wrote about her time in prison in her book (which the series is based off of) Orange is the New Black.

Netflix has really done well with their choice of shows to feature through their platform.  While most of them are still on my "to watch" list, OITNB is most certainly a strong show for them.

Instead of going through the season - which was amazing! I've decided that I want to go over each character - maybe discuss what I like and dislike about them, and what they have brought to the show.  If you haven't finished the second season - I'd recommend not reading any further, consider this your SPOILER ALERT!

Piper Chapman

The series started out, completely centered on Chapman. This season, I feel like her character has grown and changed.  When the season started (she was in the shoe!) she seemed to have gone a tiny bit crazy. [the last season ended, with her beating the ever loving sh*t out of Pennsatucky] She proceeds to be taken to Chicago to speak on behalf of the prosecution for the drug lord she originally trafficked for.  Alex was there - and told her she had to lie.  So she did, then found out Alex dicked her over and told the truth, thereby setting herself free, and having left Piper still in jail, and having had committed perjury. This pretty much sets up the rest of the season for Piper.  She sort of realized that she had to look out for herself.  She's become hardened while in prison.  She's blunt and angry.  I felt that where her character ended up at the end of the season (little bit of revenge - or was it protection? - against Alex) was good for her.  She's accepted her fate, and she's realized she has changed and has to figure out what to do. 

I feel bad for Piper when it comes to Larry though.  Even though they split up, because she cheated on him, in jail, with Alex, he should not have rebounded with her best friend.  Wrong wrong wrong. At least in my mind, but I have trust issues ;)

I'm excited to see what next season brings for Pipes - especially since Alex will be back...

Alex Vause

I don't have much to say about Alex.  She was barely in the season - and that's okay with me.  Don't get me wrong, I love Laura Prepon, but Alex is a self centered bitch.  She really just says and does what she needs to to get what she wants. I'm glad she's going back to prison, I just hope it is worse for her the second time around. 

Larry Bloom

I used to love Larry. But now he's with Polly (Pipers best friend).  I think they have both made bad choices, and I no longer feel badly for him. 

The Wiki page that I've been pulling from isn't completely flushed out yet, so the list of the rest of the characters can be found here.

Joe Kaputo:

I didn't like him last season, but by the end of this season - I'm rooting for him.  I hope he finds happiness and is able to take his new position and do great things with it.  He's a dreamer - and I didn't realize this until near the end of season two. 

Natalie "Fig" Figuera:

Good riddance.  I despised everything about her.

Sam Healy:

He's grown on me this season, and I think he honestly means well. Unfortunately for him, I could take him or leave him. His home life is sad, but I'm glad he has started to "do what's right" when it comes to the prison. 

George "Pornstasche" Mendez:

He needs to see a therapist or something.  He's a raging lunatic. Not to mention - makes me very uncomfortable.  Glad to see him go - though it's not fair he's taking the wrap for Bennett. 

John Bennett:

I used to like him. Not so much now.  The way Daya put it, he needs to stop being a pussy. 

Galina "Red" Reznikov:

I love Red.  I love how strong she is, and how much her "family" means to her.  I think that her having such a strong enemy this season really helped develop her character more.  I'm excited to see how she recovers from the splocking.  It'll be interesting to see her "family's" dynamic when she returns. 

Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren:
She's crazy. But in a way that you feel badly for her.  The last shot of her from this season was gut wrenching. She really felt like Vee was her "mother" and was devastated when she realized that she left.  Crazy Eyes is very misunderstood and has been her whole life.  I enjoyed getting to see into her past.

Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson:
Love her. She struggled this season, but ended stronger than she has been.

Nicky Nichols:
Gotta love her.  Her demeanor is that of a dudes. She really brings that sort of "guys guy" vibe to the cast.

Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett:
Even a fresh new set of teeth didn't help to make her tolerable.

Poussey Washington:
Loved getting to know her character a bit more.  Though I'm still not sure what landed her in prison. Her friendship with Taystee was put on trial this season, but they made it through.

Lorna Morello:
Two words: She's f*cking crazy.

Sophia Burset:
I feel like even though she (used to be a he) has one of the more complicated stories - she brings most of the sanity to the show. I'd love for her character to have more prominence next season.

Dayanara "Daya" Diaz:
She's become to whiney.  She got knocked up by a prison guard - what does she expect will happen.  The house with the white picket fence? I feel badly for her guard - though not too badly. They both made stupid choices. At first I was really into their story line - but now - not so much.

Brooke So-So:
Her last name is how I feel about her.

Yvonne "Vee" Parker:
I knew she was a bad egg the second she showed up.  I didn't know she was going to go straight up crazy though.  She got too power hungry.  Her last shot of the season was perfect.

Rosa Cisneros:
Not only did she escape from prison - but she ran Vee over. Best exit ever!! RIP you fierce old lady!

So much happened in this short 13-episode second season.  My brain is tired from trying to remember most of it.  But the finale was pretty spectacular.

Here's to waiting for another year for more.

Did I not touch on something you felt was important?  Do you disagree with my thoughts on any of the characters?  Do tell!!

To Cleveland...and Beyond....

So I thought I'd do a quick update post regarding what's going on with me medically - for those who care - or are just interested in this stuff in general. Also - this is a more boring post - no pictures...but given the subject manner - you're welcome!

A couple of weeks ago - my mom flew out here to the Philadelphia area - and we drove out to Cleveland.  Our mission: schedule a surgery.

We drove out on a Sunday - it took about 7ish hours.  We checked into the hotel - and pretty much crashed.

Monday - we met with the GI doctor.  My first impression was not great.  That being said - I could have done a better job of being prepared - with records and whatnot.  At first, this doctor was pretty sure she could fix me without having to see a surgeon.  My mom and I pretty much said - both of my GI doctors (the one in Philly and the one in Asheville), who are both highly regarded, both agreed that I am immune to medicinal therapies and needed surgery.  Unfortantely you can't just schedule and appointment at the Cleveland Clinic with a surgeon - you have to go through a doctor first. That being said - the doctor wanted to send me for some blood work and an MR Enterography.

We left that day - I had given the blood they wanted and left with an appointment for Tuesday for the MRE, as well as an appointment that Thursday with a surgeon.  But not just any surgeon - MY surgeon.  The wonderful woman who performed and exploratory surgery back in 2010 which led to my diagnosis of Crohn's disease.

Tuesday - I went in for the MRE while my mother saved me $350 on an antibiotic I needed to take for C-Diff.  I'm not going to give you a link, or tell you what it is, but it's no good, and I tested positive for it.

Wednesday was our day off.  We spent it lounging around the hotel room and then had an adventure in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  It was pretty awesome there, not quite as large and encompassing as I had imagined, but the price of admission was well worth it. (Plus I got to use my original Temple ID from about 11 years ago!)

Thursday - the day of truth.  As we left the hotel room, my mom mentioned how nervous she was.  I wasn't nervous - until she said that!!!!  We drove over to the clinic - and waited patiently to see my surgeon.

Since the CC is a teaching hospital - you usually have to deal with more than one round of doctors. The first doctor that came in (after the nurses did their BP, Temp etc...) and started asking me what I was there for.  I gave him a brief history. At that point - he mentions that he doesn't think that surgery is an option with me since so much of my small intestine was removed in the last surgery.  He then tells us that three feet were taken out - this SHOCKED my mom and I.  I was pretty sure that they had only taken about a foot - but this guy says that I only have 250cm left, and you need 100cm to live. Short gut syndrome started popping up with big flashing signs in my head - then I realized that surgery was not an option.  I was internally freaking out!! Then of course I started crying out of worry and frustration.  (Little did I know my mom was doing the same thing!).

After he does his first little interview, Dr. Costedio (my surgeon) comes in.  Basically she said she wants to do surgery, I have plenty of bowel left, and she can't make any promises - but she can try to remove all of the currently active Crohn's and basically "open" me up on the insides. HUGE sigh of relief.  We of course talked about possible complications (I.E. colostomy bag, it's the new fashion you know!) about my continued use of pain meds. And the after care plans. Also, in order to prepare for surgery - I have to not be on some of my meds anymore - basically the meds I take for the Crohn's  - Remicade and Prednisone.  These make your tissues weaker - so I need to be off of them in order for the surgery to be less complicated (see colostomy bag).  They also informed me that the hospital stay is at least 5-7 days - but my last one after surgery was 10 so I'm mentally preparing myself (and getting movies on the iPad) for a longer stay.

We left that day with a plan - and a surgery date!  Pre-Op July 10th. Surgery July 14th. Mission accomplished.

Of course I'm nervous about surgery - because you never know.  But I'm excited that I may be better afterwards.  The doc even said I can try introducing fruits and vegetables 4-6 weeks after surgery!!! Caesar salad - here I come!!!

No matter what the outcome of the surgery - I'm going to get my life back.  If this doesn't "fix" me, I'm going to have to figure out how to live my life and be a human again.  If that means figuring out how to live every single day in pain - then I'll figure it out. But the fact that there is hope of remission (at least for now) is something I haven't had in a long long time. 

I can't thank my family and friends enough for the support over the past five years.  This road has sucked, and frustrated me beyond belief - but you have all understood and never made me feel bad or guilty for bailing on stuff because I'm sick, or needing help.  So Thank You!!

On another side blog note - I've started like 8 other posts about movies and books and just haven't actually had a chance to sit down and finish them.  I'm going to try to get a bunch done before surgery - but after I'm back home - I'm going to be fairly sedentary for a few weeks - I'm sure I'll be able to move from the bed to the desk (I can handle 18 inches - which is not what she said). ;)