Dumb Criminals

Very rarely do we catch shoplifters. You have to be pretty dumb to get caught especially in a climate where companies are afraid of being sued for false accusations. Businesses have to be 100% sure that the person really did steal the items they have been accused. So basically, the only way they are going to be arrested if they actually admit to it. Well, we had 2 people try to shoplift from our store. The first guy tried to go out our ramp thinking that since he did see the security gates on both sides that it had no security sensors. He was wrong. His books beeped. The best part of the story is our Security guard asking the guy "What do you think your doing?". Really the best question ever! The guy so embarrassed. Put the books down and quickly left the store and that was it. The real genius was on Saturday. I wasn't there for the first guy but was working on Saturday. I was in the middle of doing a return when in the corner of my eye I could see one of my cashiers trying to get my attention. So, I ask her what she needs and our conversation went kind of like this.

cashier: "um... I just saw someone leave the store with a bunch of books and our paid-detail go after them. What do we do now?"

me: when did you see this?

cashier: a couple of minutes ago.

me: have they returned yet?

cashier: no.

me: ok, um, well. Let me tell (my manager) Laurie.

So I relay this story to Laurie and as I am finishing up, the Security guard (who looks 12) calls her to tell her the same thing I just did. At this point, it's time for my break. So, I clock out. Go downstairs to get my bag and as I'm leaving the store to get dinner the paid-detail cop has returned with the shoplifter in handcuffs. He didn't exactly look like you expect a shoplifter to look like. He was definitely in hipster gear. horn-rimmed classes, hoody jacket, fedora and converse. He looked so embarrassed, as he should be, when she brought him in but it was my break time and I was hungry so I wasn't going to stick around to see what happened. Well, I missed the excitement because like I said, we don't catch that many shoplifters. Laurie called our store manager, she wasn't in, so she called one of ASM's to ask what to do. He said call the cops and if they think we have enough evidence to charge him they will arrest him. So, she did call the cops but so did the paid-detail officer and our other manager who was there too. So there was like 20 cops walking around with nothing to do. The shoplifter was obviously not a pro because he immediately confesses. I guess he figured that if he admitted to it that we wouldn't arrest him but he was wrong. He admitted to it and he was going to jail and since it was a Saturday night. He would have to spend the weekend in jail and all for $180 worth of books. The best part was he was wearing a name badge. He works for Saturday Night Live! So he definitely wasn't going to work that night! I really hope that they do a skit on it next week!

God Bless Davis Cup

Anybody who knows me, knows I am a tennis fanatic. I love to watch Tennis. I have been known to skip class and sometimes work (only once and I had to use my sick time anyway or I'll lose it) to watch it. I have lost sleep over this sport (Thank You Australia's time difference) and travelled to major Europe cities to watch only tennis (Paris, and we did see the Lourve so we did get our tourist on) and slept on pavement to watch matches (every sports fan should queue overnight to get Wimbledon tickets. One of the best sports experiences EVER!) So yeah, I really love Tennis! One of my favorite events in Davis Cup. It's an yearly event that pits Country against Country for top honor. Unlike regular tournament's, in which players are individuals playing against each other, Davis Cup is a team sport. They play five matches, 2 singles matches Friday, 1 doubles on Saturday and then 2 more singles matches on Sunday. The Country that wins three or more of those matches wins. To me it is a sporting experience like no other. You think tennis, you think club sport. You must be polite and quiet between points but Davis Cup is loud and raucous! Fans are expected to be on their feet cheering, chanting and holding up signs. I've never been to a World Cup Soccer game but it's kind of like that but more intimate. Fans dress up in face paint and wear their nations flags as capes. They bang drums and bells and jump and down. The US team even has their own pep band! So, like I said it's not the typical tennis tournament. The only problem with the Davis Cup is how hard it is too follow. This weekend is the first round of the World Group. Sixteen Countries are playing in eight different countries to try to advance to the next round which won't be played until July. I think this is kind of an improvement of years past when the first two rounds are played in February and April and then Semifinals are not until five months later in September. At least this year they are more evenly spread out but still they play for one weekend and then nothing for another couple of months. It's hard to keep any kind of momentum after that but it is what it is. You have to work to follow Davis Cup but it's so worth it if you do.

So let's talk about those ties going on this week starting off with the one that I am the most interested in. USA vs. Switzerland. This was supposed to be the big showdown between Roger Federer and the USA team but sadly, Federer pulled out with a back injury. So the tie went from being a pretty even tie to the US being a huge favorite to win. Not having Federer there is good and bad for the US. The good of course is that it makes it much easier for the US team to advance. None of the US players has a very good record against Federer (but then again besides Nadal and Murray, who does?) The bad is that it would have been a good test for the US players. Federer is a better player then Andy Roddick or James Blake but I truly believe that in a pro-US crowd, would give both and advantage. If there was ever a venue that Roddick and Blake could beat Federer it would be in Davis Cup. Federer would also have played doubles with Stanislas Wawrinka against Mike and Bob Bryan. The Bryan's have lost one match in Davis Cup play but Federer and Wawrinka won the Olympic Gold in doubles, so they are not push overs. Sadly we will never know how it would have turned out if Federer had been healthy to play but Switzerland's loss and the USA's gain. USA will win 4-1

Spain-Serbia Spain playing in Spain is pretty much unbeatable. They are the current Davis Cup Champions and have a formidable team. World #1 Rafeal Nadal, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez. All are top 10 or former top 10 players and the crazy thing is that they are missing Fernando Verdasco, who was one of the hottest players on the tour this year but now is injured. Serbia has #3 Novak Djokovic. Since winning the Australian Open last year he has been up and down but may have found his stride after winning Dubai (Grr...) last week but I don't think he alone is going to be enough to beat the Spanish team. He would have to win all three matches, he has a chance against Ferrer and maybe in Doubles but it's hard to pick Nadal, no matter who he's playing. Spain 3-2

Czech Republic - France This one could go all the way. On paper the French team is probably the strongest, with the likes of J0-Wilfred Tsonga, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet but they are unproven in Davis Cup. The Czech Republic has two good players in Radek Stepanek, and Tomas Berdych. Stepanek has already won 2 tournaments this year and is playing the best tennis of his career at age 30. Berdych is a talented player that was once thought of being the next big thing in tennis but never quite made it. He beat Federer at the Athens Games in 2004 and has had some good results since then but mostly has done nothing. It will probably be the most competitive tie of the eight. I'm not sure who to go with here but I feel if I'm playing pundit I have to pick someone so France 3-2.

Croatia - Chile The winner of this tie will play the winner of the USA-Switzerland tie so instead of looking at the tie itself I'm going to look at who will be best for the US, if they should win. Croatia has played the USA twice and has won twice. Not a very good stat and unfortunately it doesn't get better. If both Croatia and the US win, then in July the US has to travel to Croatia. Eek. On the other hand, the US has never lost to Chile but the last time they played was in 1996. Back then Chile didn't have Fernando Gonzalez or Nicolas Massu. If both Chile and USA were to win the US would have to travel to Chile and we all know what that means. Clay. Roddick, Blake, Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey and Robby Ginepri do not play well on clay. Querrey is ok but really none of the US players like Clay, except the Bryan Brothers but they play well on all surfaces. So who do you go with. The team we have never beaten or the team we have never lost to but has better players now and will undoubtedly put us on our least favorite surface. I'll go with Croatia. I really don't like the idea of our boys playing on South American Clay and anyways, we must avenge those two losses to Croatia. Croatia 4-1

Sweden - Israel This tie is currently being played with no fans. That's right no fans. The Swedish were worried they would be protest against the Israel and after recent events who can blame them but a Davis Cup tie without fans? Is just wrong. I understand they want to protect their players, fans as well as the Israelis but I feel they have gone a bit overboard here. What's the point of playing a Davis Cup without the screaming fans? Especially in Sweden. The Swede's have the most colorful fans in the world. Viking hats, do I have to say more? Anyway, politics aside, this tie is rip for an upset. The Swedes are like the comeback team. They have Thomas Johannson and Joachim Johansson (no relation) playing. Both former shells of who they are. I think the Israeli team can take advantage of the weakened team and win. Israel 3-2.

Romania - Russia The Russian team is already up 2 matches to none in this tie. It was pretty much won before the first ball was hit. The Russians have Mikhail Youzhney, Marat Safin, and Dimitry Tursonov. Romania's biggest name is their captain Andrei Pavel. I think Romania will be pleased just to win a match. Russia 5-0.

Germany - Austria This is another tie that could go either way. The German team has two players that I wasn't even sure if they were still playing or not, Rainer Schuettler and Nicolas Kiefer. The Austrians have Jurgen Melzer, who is a talented player but not known for his mental toughness and Stefan Koubek, a solid player but not really anything special. I do think the Austrians are a slightly stronger team. Austria 3-2

Argentina - the Netherlands Like the Russian's, Argentina won this match before it began. The Netherlands have no one of real note on their team and Argentina, the losing finalists from last year doesn't even have their best players but still have a strong team with Juan Monaco and Juan Ignacio Chela. This one is easy. Argentina 5-0

So, they you have it. I'm sure I'll get some wrong but as long as the USA beats the clocks out of Switzerland (Get it, Clocks? Lame, I know) then I'll be happy.

High School Musical

I'm watching High School Musical 3. I got it from Netflix. It's not so bad but it still has it's painful moments the first two did. Zac Efron and Lucas Grabeel have thankfully improved their acting over the course of the movies, unfortunately the others haven't. Of course they really are the only two, I can see having any kind of career after this. Zac, of course plays hearthrob, Troy Bolton. He has already starred in Hairspray and has a new movie coming out next month that actually looks good and is about to start filming the movie musical for Footloose. I think as long as this mini-Musical revival keeps going Zac will still have opportunities. Lucas Grabeel, plays Ryan Evans, the sexual-ambiguous twin brother to super diva Sharpay Evans. All great villains need a sidekick. Someone to help them plot their evil plans. That is Ryan. In this movie Ryan finally moves out of Sharpey's shadow and becomes less of a caricature and more an actual person. He still is a but sexually-ambiguous. He asks another female character to prom. I think that is Disney's way of saying he's not gay but he still gay if you ask me. Anyway, Lucas Grabeel is probably the best actor in the movies but limited by the role he played. I was surprised when I saw Milk two weeks ago that he was in it. He played Daniel Niccoletta, one of Milk's supporters from the beginning. I was really impressed. It was a small role but effective one. Of all the kids in the High School Musical franchise those are the two that are going to walk away with careers. The others may be in a movie here and release an album there but will fade away like most child stars. Oh well, they will still have more money then I will ever make in my life.

Best Picture

Yesterday, I spent all day at the movie Theater. The Empire Theater at Times Square had a marathon screening of all 5 Best Picture Nominees. Every year I say, that I am going to see all the nominated movies but never do it so when I found out that I was going to have the day off I had to go. I left my apartment at 9am (I had to stop by the bank first) and didn't get home until almost 1am. Yeah it was a long day. I forgot that they are working on the N line on the weekends so it was running Local instead of Express so it took longer to get there then I had planned. When I got to the Theater the schedule board said the showcase was sold out. Bummer. I was upset because I was really looking forward to it and I tried to buy tickets online but they were not available on line and I decided against going into the city Friday after work because I was tired from working all day so I didn't. Well, I figured that since I came all this way, I might as well see a movie. The line was long to buy tickets at the counter so I went to one of the free standing self service kiosks. Well, it turns out you could still buy tickets for the showcase! Yippee. So, up I went to the third floor. Picked up my badge and free popcorn and settle for a long day. Between movies, they asked trivia questions and I won a free tshirt and soda and re admittance pass for a later day! Yeah! So, after my free Soda, I upgraded to a Large and had free refills on Soda and Popcorn all day! What a deal! I'm not sure I will do this again because sitting in a theater all day is really tiring and not to mention it really makes your eyes tired. By the fifth movie, I was having trouble focusing but it was worth it and I had a lot of fun.

Now, here's my short reviews.

Milk I thought this was really well down. It was paced very well and had good acting from everyone. I was really impressed with Emile Hirsch (who I previously thought was overrated) and Josh Brolin. Sean Penn was excellent as always and it was nice to see him play a role where he had to smile a lot. I wasn't sure he was even capable of that.

The Reader I read this book for a class and college so I knew the story. I remembered when I first heard it was being made into a movie and Nicole Kidman and cringed. So I was very happy to hear that Kate Winslet took over the roll. For the most part the movie was as I remembered the book, except for the Ralph Fiennes as the adult Michael Berg. I don't remember that story line being in the book. I understand why it was added (if it was added) to the movie but it didn't seem to mesh with the story. I kind of felt it broke up the movie. The book was about reconciling with the past. The Germans facing their role in World War II and the Nazis and Michael Berg coming to terms with his relationship with Hanna Schmitz and what he did and didn't do. The emotional payoff at the end didn't quite come off as it did in the book. It was very powerful and well done though. As for Kate Winslet, she was marvelous and after seeing this and Revolutionary Road last week, I understand why the Academy nominated her for this role and not for April Wheeler.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button I saw this movie on Christmas and I wasn't sure if I wanted to see it again (It's 3 hours long!) but I had a good seat, which I knew I would lose if I left and came back and I wanted to see how it would stack against the rest. Of all the nominees it is the weakest of the films. It's an interesting idea for a story but it is a little Forrest Gump like. The make-up and technology used to age Brad Pitt was pretty fantastic but beyond that there really isn't anything special about this film.

Slumdog Millionaire Definitely the theaters favorite. Of all the films it was the most fun to watch. There is just a spirit about the movie that you can't just help but not love. It's not the flashiest or have the biggest stars but it has a lot of heart. It is a good story, full with great moments and will with a doubt win.

Frost/Nixon I really liked this movie. I wasn't sure I wanted to see it but I'm glad that I did. It was a lot funnier then I thought it was. Who knew that Nixon had a sense of humor? The movie is based on a play that both Frank Langella and Michael Sheen won Tony's when it was on Broadway. I think it would be amazing to see it on the stage. Not the knock the movie because the movie was great but there were some scenes that I don't think quite translated on to the screen. The final interview with Frost and Nixon was pretty intense but if you saw it on the stage, I'm sure you would have felt the tension in the room. The tension got lost when the audience was separated from the actors. Other then that, it was great. I do think that Kevin Bacon is an underrated actor. He gave a great performance as Nixon's Chief of Staff and most loyal friend. I thought it did an amazing job.

So the Oscars are tonight. I don't think I am going out on a limb and say that Slumdog Millionaire is going to the big winner tonight. It's a shoo-in for Best Picture. I think Benjamin Button will probably win for Make-up and maybe a few other minor categories but nothing else. I think Sean Penn is going to win over Mickey Rourke for Best Actor and Kate Winslet for Best Actress. Heath Ledger is going to win Best Supporting Actor in what will be the most emotional moment of the night and Penelope Cruz for Best Supporting Actress. When she was on the screen in Vicky Christina Barcelona you couldn't keep your eyes off of her and I'm not her biggest fan so that says something. Wall-E better win for Best Animated Movie. It's a small consolation for not being nominated for Best Picture even though it was the best reviewed movie on the year (and my personal favorite movie on the year).

So that's my predictions for tonight. Have Fun watching tonight!

Sick

I'm not a very good sick person. I'll admit I am a wimp. I am very whiny and needed and feel like I am going to die. So, it goes without saying, I really hate being sick. Since Saturday, I have had a very bad cold or at least I think it was just a cold. I had a sore throat and stuffy nose. I was achy all over and very very tired. I think that was the worst thing was that I was just so exhausted but I couldn't sleep because I was always sneezing. I'm always been afraid of taking Tylenol PM or NyQuil or anything that is supposed to knock you out because what if something happened? What if there is a fire in my building and I slept through the alarm or a friend needed my help and I slept through the ring? Plus, after years of living in Iowa, where one has to sign away their life just to buy Sudafed, I have gotten used to just letting the virus taking it's course without drug interference. So, I didn't take anything. I called out Sunday and tried to sleep for most of the day. When I did get sleep it wasn't very good and had the weirdest dreams. I had to open on Monday. I still didn't feel very good but it's a such a hassle when the opener calls out. It just throws the whole day off. I figured I would go, do all the morning paperwork and deposit and sit in the back until noon when Lourdes, who was the mid, came in but as things happen. I wasn't the only one who wasn't feeling well. We had people call in late or had to leave early in the cafe. So, some of my cashiers had to be moved in the cafe to cover and I had to be at the registers to help ring. When Lourdes came in, I was sent to Lunch. My manager Laurie, is a saint, tried to move people around so I could leave and finally was able to get every where I covered so at around 2 I was able to leave. Thank You Laurie. I know that I could have lasted another two hours but I was so relieved to be able to come home because as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out. I got a solid five hours of sleep before I got out of bed to watch House. (I forgot that the President was having a press conference) So, I watched him for a bit before flipping the channel to the Westminster Kennel Club. I went back to bed after that I had another 14 hours sleep. I'm still feeling a little under the weather but I do feel better. The sleep is what I really needed. I have to close tonight and I have tomorrow off so I think I'm going to be ok. I just want to be able to breathe through my nose again!

It looks like I have falling back into old happens. I'll try to post more often. I really will try but you know me.