Mental Post-Its

Thoughts, Notes, and General Mental Mayhem

Tag Archives: Kristi Porter


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Arrested Development Season 4: Review

Courtesy Netflix

Courtesy Netflix

Heeey, Reader.

How aaaare you?

A number of people have already asked me what I thought of this release since I talk about the show so much, and I thought the easiest thing would be to write it down. This way I’ll always leave a note.

STARTING POINT: I think this is the most brilliant comedy ever written. I still laugh so hard when watching the first three seasons, just like it’s the first time. And let me explain that this is a real-life LOL, not a fake one—which I’ve never actually used in written/text format until now. It’s my kind of humor—clever and fast. This is almost always a different type of humor than is found on mainstream TV. I don’t actually find many of those comedies funny, and I think most of the good ones get cancelled. (Clearing throat and gesturing to the right.) So this was an oasis in the desert.

Of course, there are some story lines that I’m not a fan of, but just from a writing standpoint, it’s magic. (Or an illusion, however you choose to think about it.) I love the quick wit, sarcasm, exchange between characters, pace, callbacks between episodes, ensemble cast, supporting cast, guest stars, chicken impressions, and, oh so much more. It was/is a game-changing show, but sadly, no one else has changed all that much. And hough I have a couple other comedies that I do love, nothing touches AD for all those reasons.

And that is where I start Season 4…

PROS:

  • Bravo in a big way for getting the entire cast, regulars and celebrity guests back together. It’s obvious that they all wanted to be a part of this project, and really believed in it. It was also fun seeing the new faces. Seriously, amazing.
  • Thank you to Mitch Hurwitz for helping manage expectations upfront about the ways the pacing, cast, episode layout, etc, would be different than before.
  • I thought the way they tied the character timelines together was very clever, considering the constraints they had with the actor’s schedules.
  • Loved the Ron Howard/Imagine (not Imaging) Entertainment story line! Too fun, and yes, hopefully it’ll spur the movie or another season onward. I’ll keep watching.
  • I absolutely laughed, and perhaps a snort, at all the callbacks from previous seasons as well as the new ones created. And I’d be tempted to buy a cornballer, if they weren’t illegal in the US.
  • Buster’s episode, number 14, is my fav.
  • Liza Minelli’s still got it! And looks pretty amazing for approaching 70. Lucille 2 is my favorite supporting character. Her? Yes, her.
  • Portia de Rossi’s new adorable haircut.
  • The main cast didn’t miss a beat in picking up in where they left off.
  • As before, I’m looking forward to re-watching and seeing what jokes and callbacks I may have missed.

CONS:

  • Part of the brilliance of the original show was how the ensemble played off of each other, and the extras going on in the background. Because of the shooting schedule, you typically only had a couple cast members at a time which slowed the pace and didn’t allow for great repartee.
  • As in all TV shows, some of the side plots fell short or didn’t interest me, or I didn’t even like. Unfortunately, with only 15 character-centered episodes, these dragged on way too long.
  • How can you have Mary Lynn Rajskub as a guest star and not have her talk?
  • I didn’t like the upside-down development of Michael and George Sr. They were better as the straight men and strong characters.
  • As noted in the timeline comment above, it was clever, but in the beginning it was sort of hard to get used to and got a little confusing.
  • The last scene. What? Abrupt. Was that supposed to be interrupted as well? Not a good ending.

Overall, I love the Bluths and always believe there will be money in the banana stand. (Though with inflation, it’ll probably take more than 50 cents to get you nuts.) I’ll keep watching if they keep making. But it was hard seeing some of the differences mentioned above. If this had been the first season and we had no expectations, it would’ve been different. But as this is Season 4, it was hard to live up to what we all wanted and hoped for. I think they did great things with what they had, though. And I am grateful for them even attempting it. After eight years, they could’ve given up, but we asked and they delivered. I’ve got another 15 episodes, more great quotes, extra time with some of the best characters ever written, and a fear of loose seals.

Thank you to: Netflix, the Bluth family, Ron Howard and Imagine Entertainment, and the many others who made this possible. Fingers crossed this isn’t the end. As far as I’m concerned, we can do as many final countdowns as Cher did final tours.


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Staycation Suggestions

I-85 oldOne thing I love being is a tourist in my own city.  I see no reason to stay in my own neighborhood when there is so much to explore, especially in a big area like Atlanta.

And today at lunch, my friend mentioned that she and her family were doing a staycation this summer instead of a big, expensive trip. Great idea, especially if you have a large family. I threw some ideas out to her, and decided maybe some of these were also unfamiliar to others as well so I thought I’d commit them here.

Though some of these ideas are specific to Atlanta, many of these work for other places as well. But your best tools are to always be creative and curious. 😉

  • Get on email lists like Atlanta’s CVB. People always wonder how I know about so many events and places around town, but there’s really no secret: I’m on a lot of lists. AtlantaOnTheCheap is a great way to stay informed on offers and events (CitiesOnTheCheap for national deals). And Goldstar is another one I really like for interesting, discounted tickets.
  • 25 Free Things to Do and See in Atlanta
  • Here’s a great local must list put together by the city: http://www.atlanta.net/50fun/index.asp.
  • The best places to go see movies during the summer are the Starlight Six Drive-In and the Fox. Seriously fun and different. And might I add, cheaper than most movie theaters.
  • Speaking of theater, locate and patron your community spaces. I love The Strand in Marietta.
  • I love the ScoutMob website and app for awesome deals on restaurants and stores. Plus, there’s no money required upfront. This helps you discover new places near you or in your city. Along those lines, Roaming Hunger will help you find food trucks. And I love Yelp for reading customer reviews.
  • Eat and buy local. Stay clear of chain restaurants and stores. You’ll have a more unique experience and support your neighbors. And for those expensive restaurants you’ve been wanting to try but can’t afford, try stopping by for wine tastings, Happy Hour, dessert only and events that might be cheaper than a full meal.
  • Stone Mountain Park is a good option for outdoor lovers, and kids love the evening laser show. And so is the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Piedmont Park and Atlanta Botanical Garden. There are also some nearby hiking/walking trails. Or if you prefer to be outside and sit still, try a Braves game (Atlanta or Gwinnett). If you’re a music lover, a number of free outdoor concerts are also held at various sites around town.
  • Head to the farmers market instead of the grocery store. My personal fav is the Marietta Square Farmers Market.
  • I’m also a fan of museums and exhibits. Some of the places I love to visit and revisit are The High and Fernbank. I must confess, I still need to get to the Jimmy Carter Center and Margaret Mitchell House. I’m putting them on my summer “to do” list.
  • Take a drive. We have so many neat neighborhoods in Atlanta, and when I have time, I really enjoy just driving around and taking a look at them for myself. Who knows what you may discover along the way!
  • Day or overnight trips are an awesome way to both stay and go. Around Atlanta, we have some cool destinations like Rome, Athens, Dahlonega, Helen, Blue Ridge, Calloway Gardens, Serenbe or even Chattanooga.
  • NEW: Affordable Summer Activities in Atlanta by About Atlanta (July 3, 2013)

So, here are just a few suggestions from me to you. But I feel like I’m forgetting some important items. What did I miss?


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New Eyes: PRK Surgery

124601433A week ago, I had PRK surgery at Joffe Medi-Center. It’s sorta like LASIK, but not. No flap is made on your cornea, but instead, after the laser does it’s thing, they put a protective contact lens on your eye for five days to help it heal.

Much like my gallbladder surgery, I’m throwing this out there online not because it’s the most interesting thing in the world, but because I’d rather have a first person point-of-view rather than read a bunch of medical websites.

DAY OF: The longest I waited for anything was in the waiting room. Once I went back, I watched a short video with oodles of info about the meds/drops I’d be receiving or already had (They gave me my Rx to fill ahead of time.), and then walked through it all on paper with me. The paper was way more helpful than the video as I’m not an auditory learner, and just kept thinking that I’ll never remember all of what it said. And, of course, they gave a list of do’s and don’ts to follow post surgery. After that, they gave me some Valium and eye drops to prepare and relax me, but I was way more excited than nervous. Then I went back to the little “lab” where they do the surgery. They said to dress warm because it’s cool in there, but I was fine. The right eye took 18 seconds and the left eye took 22 seconds! Easy peasy. Honestly, the thing I was worried most about was how they secure my eyes open for the procedure. I think I’d seen too many movies where this is done as torture. 😉 But they used this soft tape type stuff, and it wasn’t bad at all. By the time the doctor asked me a question or two, it was done and they were walking me to the door. I could already see a difference!

After arriving home, the meds started wearing off and I was to start taking my drops and Rx. I drifted off to sleep for a few hours after that, just in time to wake up for dinner. Here came the worst part. The pain meds they gave were ones that I’d taken before for migraines. I told the person who initially consulted with in the prep room, but I didn’t realize how much tolerance I’d built up to it. Ouch. It was a rough night. I slept about one and a half hours because it wasn’t really working. And when your eyes hurt, they water. And when your eyes water enough, your nose runs. So, I also went through almost two boxes of Kleenex in just a few hours. So, my biggest tip would be to make sure the pain meds are strong enough.

 

NEXT DAY: Luckily, the next morning I had my first follow-up. I told him about the issue, he wrote me a stronger Rx that would prove to do the trick. The most interesting thing, though, was that he told me since I had fair skin and blue eyes, I was more susceptible to pain. I had heard that before, and even read an article about it concerning the dentist, which is one of my worst fears. Strange, but apparently true. Proven by me, yet again.

The next stop was the pharmacy, and then off to bed. I slept almost the whole day, and felt much better. The protective contacts were really starting to annoy me now, though, after a very long night and now many hours of sleep.

 

DAY THREE: The pain was less today, noticeably. Thank goodness. I was finally starting to feel over the hump of the initial “contact period” and ready to move on. Again, I slept through most of this day. Felt good! And you don’t get bored while you’re asleep.

 

DAY FOUR: I guess I’d had enough rest now, because I was awake like a regular day here. Less pain, too! And my vision was certainly feeling more sharp. But that could also be because I was awake enough to notice it. I was able to watch TV without my eyes watering much, and checked my email. Until this point, I was encouraged not to do so, or at least at my own discretion. I watched a couple short sitcoms on Sunday, but they made my eyes water, so mostly, I just listened to them. Other than that, I’d been listing to a book through my Audible.com account.

 

DAY FIVE: Time to remove the contact—man, was I ready! It was a good follow-up appointment and everything went fine. And I was almost finished with one of the drops and one of the pills, so that was good too. But a bad trade-off: for one month I have to put what equates to Neosporin in my eyes each night. Yes, it’s as gross as it sounds. I can’t do anything after because it makes my eyes goopy and blurry, and really, they still feel that way when I wake up. I have to flush the stuff out of my eyes with drops before they feel more normal. Ready for this to be over.

 

NOW: I’m only at one week, so my eyes are still fluctuating a bit. Today was/is a bit of a blurry day. I’m assured this is normal, and it will take one to three months for my eyes to really find their new focus. I’m certainly ready. But I’m so excited not to need contacts and glasses! I’ve worn them for almost 30 years, so it’s quite a change.

Honestly, my last used pair is still sitting in my case by my sink. I don’t know why I haven’t tossed them yet. Sorta of a crutch, I guess, since I couldn’t use them now anyway with that prescription. But I guess it’s just been hard to let them go, in spite of everything.

 

TRICKS AND TIPS:

  • Hopefully, like me, you’ll get your Rx before you arrive for the procedure so you can go straight home.
  • I had to wear my glasses, rather than contacts, for five days preceding the surgery to let my eyes get back to their natural shape.
  • You need a driver for the procedure, and the first two follow-up visits. Special thanks to Ben, Michelle and Amy!
  • If you were like me and had taken a lot of pain meds before, be sure the one they give you will actually work. Speaking from experience, make this a priority if you need to get something stronger.
  • Your eyes are pretty sensitive to light while wearing the protective contact lens, but seem to be back to normal after. But they do ask you to wear sunglasses anytime you are in the light. And I live in a pretty dark apartment so that helps.
  • No eye makeup for a week. Luckily, I worked from home once I was back online. 😉
  • Don’t rub your eyes for three months, I think.
  • They ask you not to drive at night for the first month if you can help it until your vision gets more steady.
  • I really liked that I had the doctor’s personal email and cell number if I needed them, before and after. I emailed him with questions before my appointment, and he responded to me personally.
  • I really liked that they had a bin I could donate my glasses and unused contacts to.
  • I was a little annoyed that I couldn’t give them back or donate the sunglasses they gave me. Seems like they could easily sanitize and reuse these again. Wasteful, so I had to recycle myself. (They aren’t pretty.)
  • Make sure you know how you’ll distract yourself while you’re needing to rest and stay offline and away from computers. Thank you, Audible.com!

Ok, I think that’s it. I hope it helps you.

I’m going to throw out those old contacts now!


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Here and There

105553532I know some pretty remarkable people. I’m sure you do too. They aren’t people the world knows, but perhaps it should. Among the amazing people I know are a group of women who, over time, have committed themselves to the mission field, both here and there.

There names are: Katie Johnston, Jana Brown, Julie Reagan, Rocio Elsberry, Amy McAllister, Jessica Flowers, Danielle Evans and Stacey Brednich. They have spent a year or more living overseas doing what they believed God called them to. All but one were single when they left on their adventure. They’ve taught children, helped the poor, gave social aid, taught Bible classes, loved on people unconditionally, and so much more. They left all that they knew because God led them to a new place, and they trusted He would be with them there. The first four are currently away, while the latter four have returned. I’m not even sure how many countries all of them have covered when combined. The only thing bigger and more fantastic than their stories is the God who made it possible. It wasn’t, and isn’t, easy to be gone for so long from friends, family and the culture they knew, but I think they’d all say it was worth it.

There is another name I would add to this list for many of the same reasons, though a totally different location. My friend Raechel Bowman just moved to Minnesota. No, I didn’t say Mozambique or Manilla. I said Minnesota. Like the aforementioned group, she moved because she believes God has called her there. She believes God is leading her to a new place, and she trusts He will be there with her. And I have no doubt it won’t always be easy, but she truly believes in the God who made it possible. It will be worth it. Unlike the others, she’s moving for a corporate job. Her mission field will be her home and her workplace. That is probably much more relate-able to most of us. Strangely, when I try to put myself in each of their positions, hers would be the hardest. Move to a far away land to do something out of the ordinary for a while? No problem. Move to a not so far away land to do something normal? I won’t lie when I tell you I just physically shuddered at that thought. Seriously. But Raechel is one of my heroes, and this is just one reason why. She sees the purpose behind her move, and how God got her there, and I have no doubt He will do amazing things through her in the Mall of America state.

When I think about these women I am so very proud of them. It took courage to do what they did. Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the willingness to push through it. (Loosely quoting Ben Affleck in Bounce here because it’s a brilliant statement.) And they did. Now do you see? I know remarkable people. I am blessed to be part of a community with people such as these.

I am not quite sure what the purpose of this post is. I just thought you should know these names. I hope you also know people like these friends of mine. If you don’t, make some new friends. You won’t regret it. You will never be without great conversation and inspiration. You will see God around you. If you do have friends like these, support and encourage them however you can. Your voice is just as important to them as your money. Pray for them and learn from them. Ask God to make you like them. As Raechel has shown us (and we know it’s true) it doesn’t take a passport to find a mission field.

Here or there. Wherever you find yourself, live well. Live the life God called you to. Adventures can happen anywhere.


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Said And Not Said—About Me

This past week, I heard someone describe me. It was kind of funny. And it got me thinking about things that would and wouldn’t be said about me.

10 Things That Would NEVER Be Said to Describe Me:

  1. She has no opinions of her own.
  2. She’s so low-maintenance.
  3. She’s a rule-follower.
  4. She loves talking on the phone.
  5. She’s just so normal.
  6. She’s very frugal.
  7. I wish she was more independent.
  8. She’s very committed to her exercise routine.
  9. She always packs very light.
  10. Her sense of direction is amazing.

10 Things That WOULD Be Said to Describe Me:

  1. She’s the one who sends all the emails. (This is the one I heard to describe me last week by a co-worker.)
  2. Recommending a good restaurant is one of her spiritual gifts.
  3. Her hair is usually some shade of red.
  4. She eats things like tofu, but won’t eat things like pudding.
  5. She’ll die before she gets through her entire Netflix queue.
  6. Man, she really likes that Old Testament.
  7. That girl loves grocery shopping.
  8. She probably needs a second closet for all those shoes.
  9. When she’s tired, she snorts when she laughs.
  10. She thinks everything through before it comes out of her mouth.

What would, or wouldn’t, someone say about you?