Friday, August 23, 2013

Jauntaroo DREAM JOB

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Yesterday morning I woke up to a text message from my kickass friend Tyler that pointed me to THIS ARTICLE.  As I read, I was astounded. This has to be a hoax, no way this is like, for realz. Here I was reading, word for word, my dream job description.

"Help wanted: An "enthusiastic" traveler to fly around the globe for a year, all expenses paid, earning $100,000 in salary for blogging about it – and for volunteering to leave each destination “a little better than when you found it.”

The company in question? Jauntaroo.com  Don't worry, I hadn't heard of them either. I immediately hoped on over to THEIR site and took a look. To my amazement, only 72 people had applied for this job. YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME. I mean, just 72!? Have we really gotten THAT lazy? Well, So I HAD to apply. It was that simple. I go to see the requirements and it is simply to make a 60 second video on why I would be good for the position. Okay. One) I've never worked with video software in my life Two) What the hell am I going to say, that someone hasn't already? Isn't that always the hard part? So I take a look at the videos that have already been posted.

Now, I don't mean this mean or anything but.... really? I mean, YES there are people who have traveled a shit ton. and YES there are some very qualified post college students who have journalism degrees. But YES they also all seem like snore fests. I'M SERIOUS. so boring. How can this be? So I look at more videos. More snores. I mean, I don't even want to watch a full minute of these people, how am I supposed to be interested in the travel they are going to represent for Jauntaroo?

So I buckle down. A video. I can do this. i start rifling through all the old video footage I have on my hard drive. Spoiler: It isn't a lot. I decide I def. don't want to do a video of me just sitting there talking. I also don't want a video showing far away places, because, duh. that is what travel is. But you know what else travel is that no one has seemed to care to show? FUN. Frickin' dirty, stinky, messy, laugh inducing fun.

Okay, so I have to silly video. That explains me pretty well...But what else? Do they need to also know the serious stuff? The fact that I never wear pants? or that I obsessively take photos of my feet in different locations, b/c loafers and tiles are cool? You know, the hard hitting, get me the job, type stuff. I decide they do. And this, this is what I end with...


Now, even though you just watched the video here, can I PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE implore you to click the link below, and simply click 'Like' at the top of the page? You don't have to watch the video again, I promise. You just have to tell the world you like me, and you think I'd be a cool person to travel around the globe. OR maybe you just want to get rid of me for a while, well here's your chance for a WHOLE YEAR. So DO IT.


Then, pick up your smart phone (you have one don't lie) and hit the 'like' button on that link again. Then your tablet. Then your girlfriends tablet. Then your cats. and I BEG YOU, tomorrow, REPEAT. You never have to watch my face again in that video, you simply have to take a minute out of your day, vote on all your electronic devices, and then be on your merry way. Think of the children. 

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Drinking Buddies

Just a few days ago, I came across the trailer for a new movie called 'Drinking Buddies'. The trailer had everything I loved, and so, last night, instead of waiting for it, I actually put forth the $10 and downloaded through iTunes.

Here, before we go any further, is the trailer:



Alright, so... the movie. I liked it. a lot. It follows in the same vain as a lot of Magnolia Produced pictures, in that it has a very REAL vibe. You know these people, or maybe you ARE one of these people. This is why I like Magnolia films. They are Real, they are Awkward, they can make you bored or uncomfortable at times, because SHIT, You've done that and its not ended well, or you thought about that, or you watched your friend go through that, etc. This one is no different.

The chemistry between the two main characters of Kate and Luke is very real. Very playful. The situation they are living in is also one you see around you a good deal (or maybe I do? I guess not everyone lives this sorta life...). Overall, I just enjoyed the film, and the problems it was going though, and then, in one of the final scenes, it hit home.

The two main characters get into a fight, that I swear, I have almost had word for word. Were the circumstances different? Absolutely. Was the fight overall about something different? YES. But where some of the exact words and phrasing that were being said.... Let's just say, did I feel like I was being directly quoted? YES. how did it make me feel? wretched. Here's why: Have you ever had to take a communications class in college, and when giving your speech, you are filmed? The purpose being that later you will go back and watch that film of yourself and have a whole new outlook on how you present yourself. It's pretty shocking. (at least it was for me... My voice is high! I have a lisp! I fidget constantly! I gesture with my hands ALL THE TIME, etc). you notice things that ultimately, when inside your own head, you just overlook about yourself.

Without giving spoilers I will set the scene up a bit: Luke (the main male character played by Jake Johnson) is helping his BFF Kate (Played by Olivia Wilde) move from one apartment to another. A few bad circumstances come upon them (which up until this moment everything had been fun! Lighthearted!) and you get to see how each in turn reacts. I immediately had problems with how Kate was reacting. Now, did she react wrong? no. She didn't. I think overall though, it hit me so wrong because I saw shades of myself. And then, the conversation (fight) that ensues near the end of this long scene...solidified my feelings of disliking her behavior, coupled with the fact that I HAVE DONE THE EXACT THING. That is something that is hard to swallow. Even as I write this, I want to defend her behavior, and mine in turn. And of course there are parts of me that know the underlying reasons for the behavior ARE justified. But, if i am to be honest with myself, the actions that are taken to justify that behavior are ridiculous. And so, I am writing this.

have you even watched a movie and seen something you did (even if so small) that made you rethink your own behavior?