2022 in Review

 1. What did you do in 2022 that you have never done before?

Teach summer school. 

2. Did you keep your New Years Resolution(s) and will make one for next year?

I did not make a resolution last years but this year my resolution is to keep up with the cost of the tolls. There are a couple reasons for doing this. First, the toll cost is double when you pay by plate or do not any funds in your SunPass account for them to draw from. Second, every year I put myself in a precarious situation and have to pay off $300 worth of tolls before I can register my car. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Nope

4). Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank God

5). What would you like to have in 2023 that you did not have in 2022?

Financial stability. Sometime soon my pay should bump up by 6-8 thousand dollars with the governor's incentive to increase teacher's salary. Unfortunately, even though the incentive went into effect on September 1, at our school we are still waiting for new contracts. I expect the contract to include back pay to Sept. 1 so I will be able to pay back some debt.

8). What events from 2022 will remain etched upon your memory?

Unfortunately, not a good memory. In June Jon's girlfriend of 10 years ended their relationship. This devastated him for a while and later I found out she pretty much never told it was over but instead blocked him from all social media platforms and from her phone. I was disappointed because I always thought she was a sweet person, but that was the cowardly way out. Thankfully, Jon is doing better and has even begun seeing someone else. 

9). What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

I'd say my biggest accomplishment this year was another successful school year ending. My class last year knocked all of their final progress monitoring assessments out! of! the! park!!!!  Everyone of them ended on or above grade level in ALL Reading and Math benchmarks! I have never had a class like that. I expected so much of them last year and it was exciting to see that it paid off. 

10). Did you suffer illness or injury?

The first part of 2022 was wonderful. I had a tooth abscess at the end of February that knocked me off my feet for a couple days. 

The second part has not been good at all. November and December were extremely stressful for me financially (and still is). The stress has kicked my auto-immune disease into full gear and began attacking my body. The eczema that for years has only been on the bottom of my feet, has crept up legs and now they are both also covered with red, itchy patches.  

On a Friday in November I discovered a painful cyst under my armpit that eventually became an abscess...soooo painful. It finally broke on it's own and the cyst went away. 

And finally, I have had three fungal infections on my skin. 

11). Where did all your money go?

Why should this year be any different? I have THE WORST luck with cars. 

My car (a 2017 Nissan with only 50,000 miles on it) broke down at the end of October. I was on I-4 but thankfully was able to pull over to the shoulder and not impede traffic. The car was driving perfectly fine and then just...shut...down. Through a series of comedic errors and misunderstandings, I ended up waiting for almost 5 hours for AAA! They finally let me leave my vehicle unattended and my son picked me up and I had them tow it to my apartment. My biggest mistake - I should have had it towed to the dealership from the beginning but I wasn't thinking. I then paid $150 for mechanic to you direct and the only thing that money bought me was a diagnosis - my car needed a new fuel pump. I then remembered I had a 100,000 mile warranty on it so I paid $200 to have it towed to a dealership. I paid $50 deductible on the repair. 

I can't make this sh-- up. On Christmas Eve exiting off I 95, my car starting chugging and shaking horribly in drive. Another tow - another $200. This dealership charged me nothing to repair my transmission. 

So, if you're keeping track...that is $600. 

12. What did you get the most excited about?

The possibility of Tampa Bay Lightning winning a 3rd Stanley Cup in a row. I did not begin the playoffs excited. I mean, let's face it, this group had played a lot of hockey games the past two years. I just didn't think they had enough left in the tank to make another deep run. But as they inched closer and closer to the cup finals, I began to get excited. Sadly, it didn't happen. Maybe 2023 will be their year again. 

13. How did you spend Christmas?

At my parent's house as always. Just being real here -  it was not one of the better ones. My car was the first casualty but I really tried to put that out of mind and was determined to not let it spoil our Christmas. My mom's mood was horrible and she is going through such a deep depression right now so she got into a couple screaming matches with my sister. This almost interfered with our usual riding around to look at Christmas decorations. Thankfully, we all decided to put it behind us and all piled in the car. It was also freezing cold this Christmas (50* maybe) so we were not able to play the traditional shuffleboard either. 

14). What did you want and get in 2022?

Good overall health for all of us. 

15). What did you want and not get in 2022?

Financial Stability

16). What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Getting my new contract which would give me more financial stability. 

The Magic Games We Went To

 The Orlando Magic were having another horribly bad season (5-20) and this allowed us to get cheap, cheap tickets for a handful of games. It's actually fun going to Magic games when there are very little expectations that they'll win. When I go to a Lightning game there's a certain degree of disappointment in a loss because they are so good and have an amazing roster. With the Magic, it is strictly entertaining and a win is just a bonus. 

The first game was on Wednesday December 7 against the Los Angeles Clippers. I don't mind going to a Magic game on a work/school night because we only live about 15 minutes away (right down I-4) from the Amway Center so it's not a long or complicated commute. 

Stock Photo from Google

It was a HORRIBLE start for the Magic who found themselves down 32 -14 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was better but they were still down by 9 at halftime. The second half consisted of the Magic making a run to get back in the game only to fall apart and be down once again by 6-8 points. I left at my usual time of 3 minutes left  in the game to walk back to the car. At the time, they were down by about 7 points. Somehow they managed to tie the game and outscore the Clippers in overtime 17-12. We left feeling lucky to see a win. 

Stock Photo from Google

Stock  Photo from Google

Game two was Friday December 9 again the Toronto Raptors. This was a completely different game as the Magic got off to a hot start and a 37-25 lead at the end of the first quarter. This always  makes me nervous because I have been to many games where they blow a big lead. While they didn't dominate the rest of the game, they did manage to pull out another win (113-109).

Stock Photo from Google

Stock Photo from Google

Franz Wagner had a huge night with 38 points!

Stock Photo from Google

Game Three was Sunday December 11 and their opponent was once again the Raptors. The second quarter turned out to be their big quarter outscoring Toronto by 9. The rest of the game was pretty even and they won their 3rd game in a row 111-99! 

Stock Photo from Google

We felt fortunate to see 3 wins.

**They went on to have a 6 game win streak which was just broken tonight with an Atlanta buzzer beater. **

Sea World Christmas

 Ever since moving here 7 years ago, we (CJ and I) set aside the first Friday in December to walk across the street to Sea World and see the Christmas lights. 

This year, because teachers get in free and Jon is now a teacher, he joined us. 

We had a great time as usual. 

The first thing we did was to go on Atlantis. It was only my second time on it. I'm not sure if they changed the policy but I vaguely remember not riding because I didn't want to rent a locker for my stuff. Last night, I was able to just take my backpack while I rode.

Then CJ went on Mako a couple times while Jon and I went through the shark exhibit and walked around looking at all the Christmas things. 

CJ and Jon went on the new roller coaster - Ice Breaker. I walked around enjoying the Christmas atmosphere. There was a cute interactive Rudolph display in the Santa Claus visiting area. 

We walked around some more contemplating why we don't come here more often when we can get in for free.  The boys ended the night by going on Manta while I waited. 

Stock photo from google

These are evidently the only years I wrote a bog post for.

2019

https://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2019/12/christmas-lights-at-sea-world.html

2016

https://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2016/12/sea-world-christmas-lights.html

2015

https://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/12/sea-world-christmas-ligthts.html

Movie Countdown 4-1

 4). The Hunt (66% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Plot: A group of strangers wake up with something similar to a horse bit in their mouths and don't know where they are, how they got there, or why they are there. It soon becomes apparent that they are being watched and monitored by a band of people who are hunting humans for sport.  However, not everything goes as planned when one of the women (Crystal) turns the tables on the pursuers. 

This movie had a complex theme and kept you guessing and questioning every new character that appeared. Even at the end when she boarded a private plane after killing the ringleader of the murderous group, you don't know if the pilot and stewardess are part of the "game" and you are left to draw your own conclusion because the movie doesn't define an ending.    I  particularly enjoyed the first shootout in the field, It was suspenseful and humorous at the same time.  

3). Joy Ride (74% Rotten Tomatoes)

Plot: A male college student (played by Paul Walker) embarks on a cross country road trip to pick up a girl he is very interested in. In the middle of his jaunt, he rescues his brother who was in jail. The brother decides to play a trick on a lonely truck driver over the CB radio. Using the handle "Candy Cane" he pretends to be a women and proceeds to arrange a "tryst" he knows will never take place. When the trucker, who we only know by CB handle Rusty Nail, figures out he's been set up, he wants revenge and begins a terrifying pursuit of the brothers.

This movie was a nail-biting and edge-of-your-seat thriller. Throughout the whole movie you never see the villain. You only hear his voice and see the truck with heavily tinted windows.  My favorite scene from this movie would have to be the cornfield scene. The trucker chases the three characters (because by now, the girl has joined the "party:) though a cornfield at night. Th truck has a giant searchlight and the driver is on the lookout for suspiciously waving cornstalks. 

2). Lost Boys (85% Rotten Tomatoes)

Plot: In this 1987 movie, two teenage brothers move with their mom to northern California to live with their grandfather. The younger brother (Sam meets a couple of geeky comic-loving friends while the older brother (Michael) gets himself involved with a local gang of vampires and soon finds himself exhibiting vampire-like behavior. Sam concludes that since his brother is not fully a vampire yet, he can be saved from his fate.

My favorite scene from this movie is the dinner scene. Sam invites a local businessman named Max suspecting him of being the leader of the vampire pack and put him through a series of "tests" which he passes.

I love the soundtrack for this movie and the entire 80's vibe it gives off. It had many laugh out loud moments while still maintaining its integrity as a suspenseful vampire movie. 

1). Dr. Sleep (89% Rotten Tomatoes)

In this sequel to The Shining, Danny is now an adult, an alcoholic, and still traumatized by the things the things that happened at the Overlook Hotel. He meets a young girl named Abra who shares his gift of "shining" and they band together to battle a cult who live off the shine (called steam) of innocent children to become immortal. 

I love The Shining and this movie is right up there with it. While it is on the longer side at 152 minutes (300 minutes for the director's cut), it passes quickly and I was never bored. 

My favorite scene is when Abra confronts the leader of the cult (Rose the Hat) using the shine and proves her gift is especially powerful by getting inside of Rose's mind. An all around great movie which culminates with a scene at the Overlook Hotel. 

Movie Countdown 9-5

 9). The Howling (58% Rotten Tomatoes)

After a near fatal experience with a serial killer a woman is sent to remote mountain resort with a bizarre secret - it's inhabited by werewolves. 

Not quite as good as American Werewolf in London in my opinion, but it was still a great movie with amazing special effects. The ending was wonderfully surprising as the woman, who escapes the colony as is now back to her job as a television news anchor, resolves to warn the viewers of werewolves in a special world-wide broadcast. To prove her point, she transforms herself into a werewolf on air. 

8). Piranha (2010) (43% on Rotten  Tomatoes)

Richard Dreyfuss opens the movie as a fisherman who is out on his fishing boat when an earthquake hits splitting the floor of the lake and releasing tons of flesh eating piranhas on a town that is preparing for a load of Spring Breakers.

The best part of the movie is when arrogant and self-centered Derrick who rented a yacht to film a pornographic movie, loses the lower half of his body to a piranha attack. 

7). House of 1000 Corpses (65% Rotten Tomatoes)

In this Rob Zombie film, two couples with a disabled car are picked up by a woman who brings them to her house. Here they meet her family, a cast of twisted individuals with  murder on their mind. 

One of my favorite scenes is when they are at a candle filled dinner table and the family is all wearing hilarious masks. This is the point where the two couples realize they are dealing with a group of people who are "off the beam". 

6). Freaky (83% Rotten Tomatoes)

  A shy, quiet high school girl survives an encounter with the town serial killer. Overnight, the killers mystical dagger causes them to switch bodies. The girl learns she has only 24 hours to get her identity back before she is stuck in that body forever. 

The most hilarious thing about this movie is watching Vince Vaughn act like a withdrawn teenage girl. A very entertaining slasher film. 

5). Lake Placid (47% Rotten Tomatoes)

A massive mysterious creature inhabits a local lake stalking victims. A game warden, local sheriff, and a paleontologist investigate and discover it is an enormous crocodile-like reptile. 

Betty White has a short but entertaining role in this film as a local hermit whose husband had been killed by the creature a couple years prior and who has been feeding it ever since. Of course, not a fan of the scene itself as a blindfolded cow is devoured after she leads it to the edge of the water. 

Movie Countdown 14-10

 14). Funhouse (39% Rotten Tomatoes)

And yet another 80's slasher film. This one, however, is unique in that all the main kills occur in one place - inside the Funhouse. In this film, four teenagers decide it would be fun to sneak inside the Funhouse and stay there overnight. It becomes anything but fun when they witness a murder in the room below through a crack in the floor. They are discovered and then stalked by a deformed person. The action doesn't really begin until about 45 minutes into the movie. The first half of the movie is all about them doing things at the carnival, and because you know two girls had been  murdered at this carnival a year ago, this part of the movie sets up many possible suspects - from a hobo wandering the carnival talking about God to the fortune teller they manage to offend to the odd looking barker at the Funhouse. This film was good entertainment. 

13) Friday the 13th II (48% Rotten Tomatoes)

Guess what?  Another 80's slasher film. A bunch of young counselors show up for training at a summer camp. They spend some time getting to know each other and then, as night descends, some of them go off to have a drink while the rest stay behind. This is when Jason picks off the kids one by one in completely gruesome, and sometimes hilariously funny ways. Again, a nice watch which doesn't require a detailed plot. 

12). Halloween H2O (49% Rotten Tomatoes)

I never understood the meaning of the title...I mean, what does water have to do the movie? I recently discovered that the 2O part stands for 20 years after the original Halloween. I assume the H stands for Halloween. 

Laurie Strode, still traumatized by the events 20 years earlier, is now a mother to a teenage son (something that changes in subsequent Halloween movies to a daughter) and is the dean at a prestigious boarding school. The school staff and students leave campus for an overnight camping trip leaving Laurie at the school with a security officer, her boyfriend, and unbeknown to her, four students who ditched the camping trip which, of course, includes her son. 

In typical slasher film style, Michael finds a way to enter the gated school and starts his murderous rampage.   The end of the movie features Laurie decapitating Michael - but no need to fret, he comes back for 6 more movies.

11). House of Wax (42% Rotten Tomatoes)

This movie was slow to start but the horror escalates quickly once it has begun. The movie begins as two carloads of college students from Gainesville attempt to travel to Baton Rouge for a football game. They camp out overnight only to wake up and discover one of the cars had been tampered with while they slept and will not start. One carload of students decide to drive on to the game while one girl goes along with her boyfriend to the nearest "town" for an auto part. 

The town seems to be abandoned until they look in the church and see what appears to be people attending a funeral. As the plot continues to develop you learn that there are no people in this town because everyone has been killed and then made into wax figures. After learning this, the girl and her brother, who has returned with the rest of the students after an unsuccessful attempt to make it to the game, and goes into town looking for her. The draw of this movie is definitely the gruesome murder of Paris Hilton. 

The special effects in the movie are cool, especially when the House of Wax Museum (which is made out of wax) catches fire and melts. 

10). Blair Witch Project (56% Rotten Tomatoes)

A fictional disguised as a documentary, three young adults begin to film thinking they would debunk the legend that a wicked witch lives in a local woods. The film, which is recorded in a vlog manner, begins harmless enough as the three interview locals on their beliefs about the Blair Witch. They enter the woods, end up getting lost, and aimlessly wander as they become terrified after hearing twisted sounds in the night. 

The actors do an incredible job staying in the vlog character and are very believable. This low-budget film is a great watch.

Movie Countdown Cont.

 19). The Thing (92% Rotten Tomatoes)

Honestly, the only reason I didn't rate this movie higher was that many dogs were hurt, mutilated, and killed. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it. This John Carpenter film had tense moments and great special effects. 

My favorite scene was when the remaining crew decided to test their blood to determine if any of them were infected. 

I normally don't like nondescript endings but in this movie, it worked as you are left to guess if both two remaining men are infected, neither is, or if one is and one isn't. 

18). Bride of Chucky (47% Rotten Tomatoes)

Typical Chucky movie...pretty weak plot with lots of humorous moments and some kills here and there. 

We watched this movie at the beginning of our Christmas break so my excited mood and attitude could have had something to do with the my opinion of the movie. ha ha

17). Creepshow (68% Rotten Tomatoes)

A 1980's humorous horror anthology consisting of four short stories and I enjoyed all of them. This movie featured some big name actors from the time in Ted Danson, Leslie Nielson, Adrienne Barbeau, Hal Holbrook, and even writer Steven King. 

16). The Craft (65% Rotten Tomatoes)

This movie is about four teenage girls who are into thee occult and witchcraft so they form their own coven. Eventually they get carried away with their power and start to go after innocent people. One of them attempts to stop them and the other three turn on her Neve Campbell (Scream) stars.

15). Tremors (75% Rotten Tomatoes)

Gotta be honest...not a big Kevin Bacon fan so that may be why I didn't enjoy the movie more.  A 1990 horror comedy. Along with bacon, the movie features Reba McEntire and Michael Gross as a likable married couple who, along with other members of a small desert community try to fight off giant worm-like monsters that liv underground, are attracted my movement, and like to feast of human flash.