Wet Wednesday: Why I Plan to Show My Future Babies The To Do List

“A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.”

The moment I heard about The To Do List I had plans to go see it. Aubrey Plaza’s humor is enough to make me watch any movie or TV show, but add to that the fact that it is about her completing a sex to-do list? There aren’t even words.

After I saw the film, I realized that showing this film to a teenager would be the perfect way to avoid the awkward sex conversation that all parents fail at. I learned about sex three ways: playing Barbies, playing the Sims, and the menstrual cycle talk my elementary school gave to 4^th grade girls. I don’t think my parents even talked to me about sex. My mom sort of did when I started taking birth control. But it was nothing like Aubrey Plaza’s character had with her mom. 

I would like to be that open with my children, but I don’t see myself ever being comfortable enough to hand my daughter a bottle of lube or my son a pack of condoms. Something I’ve felt I would say is, “If you aren’t comfortable going into a store to buy lube, condoms, or the morning after pill yourself; you aren’t ready to have sex.” But truthfully the reason teenagers are uncomfortable buying these products, or even asking their doctor about birth control is that we are taught not to talk sex. Sex is for married couples or just adults in general. But every adult did it before they were adults, so what’s the big deal? 

The To Do List is sex positive. It shows boys being as emotional about sex and relationships as much as girls are said to be, and it shows girls being just as nonchalant about sex and relationships as boys are supposed to be. It’s honest about expectations and questions about what sex is like when you are still learning about it. It’s okay that you didn’t have great sex the first time. And I love that it ends with her having an orgasm with a boy she actually likes, not the creepy “perfect” guy. 

Watching this movie with my son or daughter will be awkward for them, but I think they’ll thank for me it. It’s hilarious and it will show them how I feel about sex and how to talk about it without me having to go into the horrifying details that remind them I have sex with their father. 

I give The To Do List a perfect 5 out of 5. Leave comments and thoughts about my rating and the film itself in the comments.

Shakespeare Saturday: Much Ado Nothing Review

They had to know they were being inceptioned. They had to.

If you didn’t already know, I love Joss Whedon. This man can do no wrong in my book, and then he makes my favorite Shakespeare play into an amazing movie with almost everyone of my favorite actors associated with him. 

There are many things to say about this film, so I’m going to start with why Whedon choosing Much Ado means more to me than it does to other people. 

I went to a theatre high school, meaning the choir kids were the jocks because we didn’t have sports. So, yes, I am a theatre kid. I was constantly perplexed in college when other people didn’t have a favorite musical or have lines of plays memorized. My senior year of high school, in my Play Production class, we did a shortened version of Much Ado About Nothing and I played Hero. 

Beatrice and Hero. She's judging me.

I went to see Whedon’s Much Ado with my two best friends from high school (one was in the play with me), my boyfriend, and a friend from college. After the movie ended, my best friend who was in the play with me, reminded me of how long I was laying on the ground. She remarked on how Hero wakes up and is a part of the scene. I had the same thought during the movie! I thought for the longest time during the soiled woman wedding scene that Hero wasn’t going to faint. I swear that when I was in the play, I said two lines and then I was on the floor until the curtains came down. So, good job on that one Whedon. I had the hardest time not laughing every time we did that scene. Clearly, I was an amazing actress. 

Other things to mention:

FRAN KRANZ HAS SUCH A SEXY BOD. I didn’t know. I already loved him, but now I want him to have a three some with me and my boyfriend. I think my boyfriend will be down. I’m also glad he is not Claudio, because truthfully I would never get together with that d-bag.

Nathan Fillion and Tom Lenk need their own buddy cop movie. They were adorable and I loved them. Those parts aren’t memorable from my high school version; these men gave them their own life and made the movie in a lot of ways. 

I could not unhear Ashley Johnson as Ellie (see my review of The Last of Us if you have no idea what I’m talking about). 

It was heart wrenching to see Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof be together romantically in a film. FINALLY. They have great chemistry as a couple on screen and they needed a happy ending. (Watch Angel if you have no idea what I’m talking about). 

Lastly, Joss and the actors did something with Shakespeare that has never been done for me before. Without having to read line by line in English classes (boo Hamlet and extra boo to Romeo and Juliet), I understood completely what was occurring in the plot. Even acting as Hero, I did not fully grasp the meaning of every line my fellow actors were saying. But in this movie, I laughed at all the right moments during the right moment. I didn’t have to think about it and then laugh later. Everything made sense. 

Due to its impeccable directing and acting Much Ado About Nothing deserves a 5 out of 5. Also, I want Whedon’s house. I want to be his best friend and live in his home. I would be his maid just to be in his home and listen to him and his friends read Shakespeare plays. Stop me, I’m fangirling.

Throwback Thursday: Concerts

“This is what she says gets her through it: 

‘If I don’t let myself be happy now, then when?’ 

If not now, when?” 

- Jimmy Eat World, "For Me This is Heaven"

If anyone noticed, I didn't post anything yesterday (Wednesday) and that is because I have been feeling a little down due to having a stomach bug and simply, from life sucking. But I just bought tickets to see The Postal Service, a band I have loved for years. So I realized I need to realize my privilege and be happy already.
Here are other concerts I have been to:

The National: March 2012

Jack's Mannequin: November 2011

The Rural Alberta Advantage: December 2009

The Rocket Summer: December 2009

Reel Big Fish: May 2009 (Yes, I did get my boob signed by the lead singer)

Death Cab for Cutie: August 2008

These are just the headliners I'm mentioning above; at those concerts I've also seen the openers. There are other bands I have seen as well without photo proof: Blink-182, Weezer, Ratatat, Bright Eyes, Jenny & Johnny, and probably more I'm too full of myself to remember.
But I've had a good life, and a lot of luck to be able to do the things I love. Silly me saw too many concerts in high school and saved NO money. I am glad I did though.

Random fact about me: first concert I ever went to was in the 4th grade to see Christina Aguilera.