Two Posts in One Day?!

Dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!!

Yeah this never happens and probably will never happen again, but I remembered one thing that I meant to add to my previous post earlier today so naturally instead of just editing said post I will just make a new one because why fix something that isn't broken, and praise Cheez-Its for run-on sentences! Am I right or am I right?!

Okay so yes Frozen is out. I'm pretty sure judging by how much money it has made everybody including your mother has seen it. Yes it's cute, but ya know what people? It's just okay. I know I know, blasphemy. Take away my gay card. Yadda Yadda. The cast is great, the animation is gorgeous, and yes even I have listened to a couple of the songs nonstop since I caught the flick. I was disappointed by the slight story. I didn't think the twist was organic (just a reason to have a bad guy), and I thought the climax was rushed which is a shame because the build-up is so great! I don't really wanna get into my thoughts about the movie itself. I just wanted to preface how I thought about it before I get into a real pet peeve of mine.

The other day, I was in Cosmetology being a rich American citizen, getting ready to drive in the wonderful Jingle Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom (please note the sarcasm there) when homeboy and his friends strut in with a phone blasting the now Golden Globe nominated hit song from Frozen, "Let It Go". Yes, it's a great song. I love it. But they've got the phone cranked up as loud as it will go, and they're singing... no, belting along with it as they walk in. Cue immediate eye roll from yours truly.

Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with singing along to a great song that you love dearly. Just please don't do it at work. You can belt your music as loud as you want when you're stopped at a red light like a normal person. Don't listen to Idina (or Demi, depending on the version you like). You definitely should not let it go in public like that, no matter how well you sing, and you definitely should care that everyone around you is giving you stank eye. Some of us really like the calm before the storm that is the deathmarch, and now you're in here tossing around pixie dust. This is not Magic Kingdom. We don't do that. Just please put your headphones in, and save your obnoxious behavior for parade... like I do!

Seriously though later that day I drove one of the rickshaws for parade, and I was screaming alternative lyrics to "Frosty the Snowman". Because that is an acceptable time to be belting music. Not in Cosmetology, and certainly not anytime you are in my presence. This has been a Moore daily rant. Good-bye!

This, That, and The Other

Every time I feel like I'm doing an excellent job updating my blog, I go on some uber-hiatus. Well I'm not gonna let that happen again!! Sure this is the first update in about a month, but remember that one time I didn't post anything for at least a year and a half? This doesn't seem so bad now does it?

That being said, I really have no idea what to write about. Yes, I just ended a sentence with a preposition. You don't like that? You may want to stop reading now. Anyway, maybe that's another reason why it's been a while since I've posted anything. So get ready for some rambling!

Florida needs to get it together. Yes, I have lived here since 2007. Yes, I've been through plenty of holiday seasons.  It's been hot quite often. There have plenty many Decembers with temperatures in the low to mid-80s. Every year we feel it, and every year we moan about it. This year has been different though. I don't remember the weather being so infuriating. One day it'll be mid-80s, hot, humid, and sticky. Everyone at work is miserable. Then the next day the high is 69, and we all have a great day. That night the low is 48, and yes it's frikkin cold for us Floridians, but I know at least I looove that weather. I feel like it's actually December. I feel like it's actually Christmas! Then, what happens the day after that? BAM! HIGH 80S! YOU DON'T GET TO ENJOY CHRISTMAS!!! Thanks, Mother Nature. And thanks for the sinus infection.

Speaking of Christmas, I haven't watched any Christmas movies yet this year. Mostly because IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS (Mother Nature.. grrr...)! I have listened to plenty of Christmas music though. That's basically all I've been listening to since a week before Thanksgiving. I usually like to wait til the day after Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't wait this year. I was also with my family on Thanksgiving for the first time since 2006. It was actually cold that week so I felt all warm and fuzzy inside, and I got to spend the holiday with the people I love most in this world. Listening to all the classic music from old school Time-Life Treasury records (yes, records). Also The Carpenters Christmas collection and Vince Guaraldi. Plus newer stuff like Straight No Chaser and the Bubs i.e. Michael Buble. And of course my personal favorite: Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters "Jingle Bells". I could listen to that on repeat all day every day.

Anyway, instead of sitting here complaining about how I need to watch Christmas movies, I'm gonna sit down and pop in Elf. Sounds like an excellent way to spend the next couple of hours, no?

*sobs uncontrollably*

Yes, this may feel like I'm at least five years behind the rest of the world, but the other day I found a picture that stabbed me right in the heart, twisted and turned its way through, ripped out my heart, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it multiple times. (Yeeesh that's graphic. You're welcome!) Here is said picture:

 

See what I mean when I say I feel like I'm five years behind? Allow me to elaborate.

Of course I know most of the Blockbuster stores in the country were closed. I remember when they all started closing back in the summer of 2008. I had just moved back to Orlando and was but a wee seasonal cast member with Disney. That means working no hours yet still spending way too much money at Pleasure Island. When I wasn't partying it up awesome-style I was sitting on my lazy (read poor) butt at my fabulously ghetto apartment at Cagan Crossings. One day I decided to venture up the highway outside my complex. Driving up Highway 27 I discovered the lovely sight of a Blockbuster Video store!! This location became my haven at least through Halloween. (I remember renting A LOT of random horror movies that October.)

Then out of nowhere, a terrible thing started happening. All of the Blockbuster stores started to close. My new location on 27 was one of the first victims to fall. One day I was lamenting of my recent loss with my mom when she regrettably informed me that the Blockbuster back in Newnan had also recently shut down. Now THAT was traumatic. I remember spending HOURS in that store during my childhood, specifically my adolescence.

Visiting the store as a family my thirst for a movie search was never satisfied. Sunday evening was our usual movie night so after church it was either Blockbuster then Papa John's or vice versa. The fam usually had some movie already in mind by the time we got there so much to my chagrin we were in and out before I could even begin my quest for that evening's movie.

 

Getting my driver's license was the best thing to ever happen to me if only because that meant I could go to Blockbuster on my own personal time. And believe me every time I went I spent at least a good hour in the store. I dunno what it is about physically browsing through the latest movie selection that gets me all giddy inside. I can still spend at least half an hour browsing through the movie selection at Target. Can you imagine how bad I must have been at Blockbuster?? It's probably a good thing my family usually had a movie in mind, or we would have been in that store for quite a while.

ANYWAY the other night I read that the CEO of Blockbuster (or whoever owns that brand now) has decided to close the remaining 300 open stores around the country. Cue the whole Temple of Doom style heart action again. They're even getting rid of their online stores and any remaining kiosks at your local gas stations. 

Sooo this is officially good-bye to a brand of many a 90s kid. Blockbuster, you will definitely be missed. I will never forget the number of hours I spent practically scaling your rows and rows of most excellent movies. Oh, and for you stupid kiddos who have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, do not fret. I have the perfect video for you.

 

Check out this video (hey see what I did there?!). For you unfortunate kids who have no idea what video stores are, this will educate you. For everyone else, it may make you cry. You are so welcome. Now excuse me while I go curl up in a ball in the corner...
 

The Best of the Best

First things first... HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Secondly, there will be no yadda yadda. I love Halloween. I love dressing up. Here's a collage of the best of the best over my 27 years of existence.

Oh heyyy childhood. How you doin?

just three peas in a pod

the cutest Tigger ever!

one of my more obvious costumes. duh.

EEK! BRIGHT LIGHT!

fabulously gay cowboy

also look at that tongue action. Miley before it was cool.

Oh heyyy adulthood!!

Ron Stoppable - '07

Duckie and Andie - '08

David Blaine - '09

Devo - '10

Slutman and Robin - '12

The Belchers!! - '13

And of course some awesome eyebrow action from this evening

306 really takes some fantastic pictures

always ready for a picture

oh gawd he's showing fangs!!

probably Mac Attack's best picture ever

pleeease is this torture over??

Yes, Linus, the torture is definitely over. I hope everyone has enjoyed this flashback/slideshow from Halloween the past couple of decades. If nothing else it shows how obviously fabulous I am and always will be. And how terrifying chihuahuas can be.

The Perks of Living Downtown

I currently reside in Downtown Orlando. For the uninitiated, there is a difference in Downtown Orlando and Lake Buena Vista, the Disney area. It's about a 30 minute difference on a good day when there's not any traffic... which is never. Despite the drive and money for gas, there are so many reasons to live downtown. Here are a few of them.

1) NO TOURISTS. Lake Buena Vista is notorious for tourists (Thank you, Captain Obvious). It is impossible to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. Tourists make it so much worse. Dozens of vehicles drifting from the far right lane to the far left lane with no turn signal, slowing down on ramps because they realized that's not where they want to be at all, and stopping in the middle of the highway for no reason are just a few major annoyances residents have to put up with on a regular basis. I moved away from that area back in February, and I will never look back.

2) MORE CULTURE. Sure, Walt Disney World, Universal, and Sea World are great for the bajillion vacationers slash crazy employees who for some reason visit the parks on their days off. If you want any culture at all though, you gotta head downtown. Being a downtown resident makes the trek so much less time-consuming! Orlando may not be the most cultured place in the good ol' US of A, but there are more things to do. There's both a history and a science museum, dozens of community theaters with many plays performed all year round, and for you party animals there's sooo many bars and clubs up and down the streets you can get lost (and probably shot) at late at night! Win win!

I do want to point out one AMAZING theater I've grown quite a liking toward, and that in the Enzian Theatre just north of downtown in the Maitland area. This theater has it all for a movie buff such as myself. The screen on the inside plays all sorts of movies, mostly independent ones that don't make it to the bigger chains around the city. Every Wednesday night they play a free movie out of the lawn. The films they choose to show are usually of the cult classic variety. For instance this past year I've seen the original Tales from the Crypt, Barbarella, and hopefully in this next week... Flash Gordon (Ah-ahhhh!). I say hopefully because Flash has been scheduled to show three times this year. THREE TIMES! Every time it has been rained out. Ugh. I'm also considering getting a part-time job there btw. I'll keep you dear readers posted on how that turns out.

3) NATURE. Since I do still work in the Disney area at least six days a week, it is very rare that I get to venture out in the area I have chosen to live. When I do though, I like to check out the thousands of parks all right outside my door! 

I've been fortunate enough to obtain a bicycle in the eight months that I've lived here. I chose not to ride it during the summer months i.e. hell on earth, but maybe now that the weather has finally decided to cool down I'll hop back on at least once a week. There's nothing better than riding around all the local parks, scaling every tree in sight.

what men do before noon

Earlier today my roomies and I decided to have a Roomie Day! That consisted of eating lunch (i.e. breakfast) at one of the local Maw & Paw restaurants in the area. Today's model was Chubby's. It was absolutely delightful and delicious, and I foresee many MANY return visits.

While we were still in the area we decided to check out one of the nearby parks. We stopped in Jay Blanchard Park and had quite the expedition (and not the Mickey's Jammin' Jungle type) (and I hate myself for referencing that just now).

Senior Year picture!!

That's right folks. Andie Mac, Twitterless Cartner, and I ventured out of our apartment into the wild and crazy outdoors. Now when I was a little kid I used to play in the woods all the time. I was even known to go camping every once in a while. However living here at Disney for quite some time now it had been a while since I had visited a state park, much less wandered through the woods. I'm a city dweller now. I COULD HAVE DIED! Alas, I did manage to survive our excursion. Here are a few pictures.

Andie and I decided to step off the beaten path. There was a small dirt trail through the woods, and I decided... hey why not see where this goes! See that picture above? That was around the time Andie was done. A few feet later I came upon what was probably the biggest spiderweb I have ever seen in my entire life. Needless to say, back to the sidewalk we went!

The three of us came across a map along out hike. There was a sign for "Wooden Bridges" a ways down the path. The symbol for it looked like an enclosed space so all three of us naturally assumed it meant the bridge was a covered bridge, and since those are like the cutest things ever we decided to check it out! Three miles in the blazing sun and two wooden bridges later, we realized that we had been incredibly mistaken, and our hopes and dreams were shattered. I cannot even begin to describe the anger festering in my veins. Oh, also how stupid I felt. Yeah, maybe stupid is the better word here.

Where's the damn shade?!

There was also a giant tree that would be guh-reat to climb!! So Cartner very gracefully hopped right up, and I... did not, despite many failed attempts and nearly dislocating my shoulder. I don't think Cartner will ever let me live that down. 

Sorry I got a little off-track on the main topic when I started sharing the events of my day. It was just such a wonderful day I couldn't help but share! Also, there's no way today would've happened if we still lived in the Disney area. So thank you, Downtown Orlando, for letting us be all up in you on this fine autumn day. And everyone still living in that Tourist Trap should consider moving downtown. Because it's awesome.

I'll Be Right Back...

It's that time of year again! The time of year when families go out, pick a pumpkin, carve it, decorate their houses, and hand out cavity-giving candies to all the little youngsters running around begging complete strangers for more sugar.

That's right, folks. This is Halloween (Halloween, Halloween...). What's this, you might ask? Actually you wouldn't ask that. If you are then you're either an extremist Christian or completely sarcastic, and I'm hoping for the latter because I'm really not one for confrontation. Orrr you're just quoting The Nightmare Before Christmas, in which case we can be the best of friends!

Let me find my train of thought... *choo choooo* Found it!

This evening I attended what is #3 of what is at least 5 times of my visiting Universal Studios for their annual Halloween Horror Nights!! Slightly obsessed? Maybe. But hey I bought the Frequent Fear Pass so I gotta make the money worth it okay?! Anyway as I was walking through the Cabin in the Woods house (which is incredible, fellow HHN-goers), I started thinking back when I started enjoying the horror genre period. And the beginning isn't where you would likely suspect...

Let's go back to the year 2001. I was just turning 15, and for some reason still unbeknownst to me, there was one movie I wanted to see and one movie only. That movie was The Others, the 2001 Nicole Kidman movie in which she did not sing. I don't really remember why exactly I wanted to see this movie. I didn't watch horror movies on TV/AMC's Friday night FearFest until after I saw this movie. I guess the future horror movie buff inside me was screaming "HEY SEE THIS MOVIE" sooo needless to say I listened. As did my sister, Emily, and our cousin, Lauren.

Whaaat about this picture would excite a non-horror movie buff?? I'm still confused.

After the first 10 minutes of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (my poor virgin ears), the management entered and profusely apologized. Because you know, which is worse? A classic 40s-era ghost story or a usually hilarious writer-director selling out with a movie starring his most famous couple? (Edit: That was 27-year old Joseph writing that last sentence.) Anyyyway, soon the classic ghost story began, and my life would never be the same.

Those macabre opening credits, the shot immediately after of Nicole Kidman waking up from a nightmare screaming her head off, that creepy blind woman suddenly opening those damn closet doors... I will never forget of those moments. Nor will I forget the extremely obnoxious woman sitting to the left of my cousin. "No, don't go in there. They'll get ya!" or "Omg, they're behind you! THEY'RE BEHIND YOU!" Needless to say Emily and Lauren were traumatized, and I was too. You see, none of us had ever seen a horror movie, especially not one in a crowded movie theater full of both experienced horror movie-goers and young teeny-boppers such as the three of us.

Something that night changed within me though. I LOOOVED the adrenaline rush seeping through my system. Every time the music got quiet, my body somehow knew some loud *BANG* was going to happen soon, and every time it did I screamed and giggled with glee. Emily and Lauren did not. Both were hiding in each other's arms. (Edit: Both have seen the movie since then, and neither have any idea why they were both so scared. HELLO! Because you'd never seen a horror movie before.) But again I LOOOVED it, and I would see The Others again one more time before it finished its theatrical run.

That Halloween season I mostly invested my time watching the aforementioned AMC's Friday night FearFest. Sure most of the movies they aired were the sucky sequels to Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street, but you gotta start somewhere. The only flick I will say I've never been able to return to is Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Being a horror buff, I know that's one of the classic cult horror-comedies of the 80s, but just imagine being 15 years old. You haven't seen but a handful of horror movies in your entire life, and one day when you're flipping through channels, you come across some frikkin clown luring his latest little munchkin victim out of a fast food joint. Trust me. You'll never wanna watch it again. (Note to self: MAN UP!!!)

Somehow I've managed to move on far beyond the Killer Klowns episode to become quite the horror enthusiast. Every October is a different year. A different year for new horror movies I've never seen before, a different year to check out the recent goings-on at Halloween Horror Nights, and a different year to thoroughly check the apartment after each time I watch the Scream trilogy. Because if there's anything that series taught us, it's no matter how big a horror buff you are, there is still the possibility you will do something stoopid, and you will die.

Now I will admit I'm slightly tipsy off some pumpkin ale sooo if you'll excuse me, I'll be right back...

Summer (and Autumn) Lovin'

I just want to start this off by saying that no one, absolutely no else can get engaged, married, pregnant, or give birth at least until the new year begins. In this past month I have been to three weddings, discovered two of my very good friends are pregnant, and I'm sure at least one good friend is engaged. No? Well... okay. Of course I'm thrilled as I can be for all of you, buuut I'm also emotionally drained, and there's only so much excitement Joe Moore can take. Are we good? *clears throat* alright let's move ahead!

I'm sure by now all of you know that my sister recently got married. If not you can go read about that here or all over the place here. It was beyond beautiful. I'm pretty sure no wedding will ever top it, but in the month of September there were a couple of weddings that certainly tried to do so.

Shall we begin with mid-September? Yes we shall. I was able to get rid of (most) of my shifts to head out of town, this time for my cousin's wedding. I flew into Atlanta, where my parents and Not-So-Young Ann picked me up in our Party Van, and we headed east toward Augusta to witness Claire Marie (sorry that's what I always have and always will call you) get hitched to the very fashion-forward love of her life, Pierce Drake.

Moore Drake!

We as a family used to visit Augusta all the time when we were younger, and I don't remember it being a particularly pretty city. So I will admit I was surprised when the rehearsal dinner was set at a very picturesque dining hall set up in front of a beautiful park. I wish I had pictures of it. It was beyond words. Oh, my point is I guess growing up we never visited these parts of Augusta. Okay, skipping ahead...

The ceremony took place at the same Methodist church where Claire Marie's parents were married. It was so simple yet extemely ornate at the same time. The bride looked absolutely stunning, especially as her groom pulled out his guitar and serenaded her. Very touching indeed.

Then it was reception time! Which means pictures galore of course. I only posted a few, but if you'd like to see the rest you may click on this link and browse until your little hearts are content. 

the Moore siblings with the beaming bride

Moore Weiss Moore Drake!

currently the best Moore sibling picture ever

Anyway, the reception played the best of the best (of course because the Moore family put it on) music of the olden times, plus a few recent songs to get those kids' toes tapping. I had the honor of dancing with both my aunts and my little cousin, Leah. Yes sir, good times were had by all.

To close the evening, everyone gathered out front with giant sparklers. Seriously, y'all, these things were at least 5-feet long. We waited for the getaway car, and once everything was in place, the sparklers were lit. Then I realized it was a terrific idea NOT to have alcohol at the wedding. You would have thought some of these people were drunk the way they were flailing around 5-foot flaming metal poles. Everyone was alright though. The bride and groom passed through without a scratch, and we all waved them on their way. My only regret of the evening is the DJ not having B-52s "Planet Claire". I mean, really? How perfect would that have been!

TIME FOR WEDDING NUMERO DOS! or tres if you're counting weddings in total. Seriously, folks, no one else is getting hitched any time soon.

This wedding belongs to a certain JTA Jagaloon, formerly a DAKian, Mr. Brian Knapp. He and his girl, Jo Ellen, finally tied the knot this past weekend, and the festivities could not have been more perfect. 

The weekend before the wedding all the Jedi Training Academy guys (that's what JTA stands for, for the unaware) decided to spend the bachelor party staring at boobs at Twin Peaks (which is like Hooters but the waitresses are dressed like lumberjacks) before dancing the night away at Backbooth, a club in downtown Orlando where every Friday night is 80s night thus the best night anyone could ever have anywhere. I smoked my first cigar that evening so now I addicted to cigars. NOT. But seriously it was a great time.

It really doesn't get much better than this

A week later I was able to get off work yet again (how am I making any money?) to attend probably the most fun wedding ever. I knew it wouldn't be a traditional wedding when the groomsmen walked down the aisle to the "Imperial March" from Star Wars. Wait, who am I kidding? I knew this wouldn't be a traditional wedding from the get-go. What made it even better was the wedding vows. Everyone died laughing when Knapp said, "I vow to never give you up. I'm never gonna let you down. I'm never gonna run around and desert you." It was even funnier when Jo Ellen retorted, "I vow to give you the right stuff, baby". I was crying I was laughing so hard. Rick Astley and New Kids for the win!

So many people from work attended that evening. I'm not sure how the Disney World parks were even operational that day. Once again, if anyone would like to view pictures from this epic evening please click here. Yes, I am shamelessly plugging my life and its pictures. You're all so entirely welcome!

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Knapp

Congratulations! Here's a pie in the face!

Pee-Wee Herman??

The evening finished off with a great variety of music but mostly 80s rock. At one point the DJ announced that he would be playing the latest Youtube hit "The Fox" and that everyone should head to the dance floor. Once everyone assembled we didn't hear the Norwegian version of The Lonely Island but instead were Rick Rolled! So you know this guy ran to put on his purple shades and headed back on the dance floor to make an utter fool of himself because that's how awesome he is. Duh.

Yes, this past month has been quite a literal roller coaster of a ride. Weddings haven't been the only thing on my plate. I did celebrate my 27th birthday in there somewhere. I've been working nonstop, and I've been feeding my latest World's End obsession. Very unhealthily I might add. Yay!

So here's to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce Drake and Mr. and Mrs. Brian Knapp. May your lives together as one be just as awesome as it was together as two. And may you be happy to know you almost beat Mr. and Mrs. Freddie Weiss for having the best wedding of 2013. Almost.

Moore Weiss Moore Fun

So much for keeping up with this blog... sheesh.

This update is about a month late, but that's okay because today is the day after a very special anniversary indeed. That's right, folks. September 24th was the day Disney finally re-released Oliver & Company all the way back in 1996... ah such good times. Oh what was that? It's also the one-month anniversary of a certain Sistah Gurl and freddiefriend?! Erm... aren't I such a great brother/brother-in-law for remembering that!

I cannot believe Emily and Freddie have been married for a month! It feels like just yesterday I was lying in bed slowly drifting off to dreamland when I heard my phone blow up at least ten thousand times. When I grumpily sat up to check my phone all I could see was a blurry picture of someone's face behind some ring. When I rubbed my eyes and turned on the light, I still saw a blurry picture of someone's face behind some ring. It took my tired brain a few minutes to process what I had just seen, but when I realized what it was, I FREAKED OUT!! Emily was engaged!!

A few months and a visit to Charleston later, it was time for me to head home for the big weekend. I won't bore you with all the in between details though I will share the link to my Sistah Gurl's blog. If you so desire, go peruse about pre/post-wedding details here. Emily's writing is absolutely hilarious which is kinda irritating because amongst the Moore siblings I'm supposed to be the writer. I mean, I love you MLE C Moore Butts! (Seriously, go read her blog now.)

Where was I? Oh that's right it was time to head back home for the most amazing weekend EVER!! Family and friends galore gathered from all over the country to see the best couple of the year get hitched (No offense to the best cousin ever. Claire and Pierce, your wedding was beautiful!). I was really excited to be reunited with all of the Georgia Youth Ballet Homedawgs. It was fantastic to see Carefeeline, Wi, Hannah Michael, and our ballet teachers Maggie and Jonsie. Even the wedding photographer, Randy Olive, danced with us at The Studio for a hot minute.

Who would've thought that my sister who grew up hating 1) the outdoors and 2) animals, would 1) get married outside under a giant oak tree in the middle of August and 2) have a reception in a barn. Renovated but still a barn. Not this Broseph. 

The wedding was absolutely beautiful. After my couple of laps escorting my grandmother and mother down the aisle, I was able to join the other groomsmen just in time to watch my father walk Emily down the aisle. I'm not gonna lie. There were definitely tears shedding from these eyes even before Dad handed Emily off to Freddie. She just looked so radiant and happy. How could I resist?! I was thrilled when our officiant called for us to bow in prayer. I quickly wiped the tears off my face. The only ones who would have noticed were the atheists in the crowd. Not that we had any... maybe one or two.

That's really all I remember from the actual wedding. It's amazing how everything flew by so fast. I wasn't even the one getting married! The reception was loads of fun though. Poignant toasts from the best man/maids of honor, toe-tapping tunes selected by the bride and groom (hint: NO "Electric Slide" or "Cupid Shuffle" here), and a surprise flash mob just for the groom all equals a fantastic time had by all. It wasn't long before it was time to send the happy couple away in their getaway car. There were just too many shenanigans to put into words so here's some of my favorite pics from the wedding weekend:

Oh hey rehearsal time. Thanks for soaking us all in sweat!

Most of the wedding party at the rehearsal dinner

Day of with the maids of honor!

A wonderful shot of the bride and groom remembering those who have passed on. I'm sure they enjoyed the wedding from those VIP seats in heaven :)

Flash mob time! Emily thinks she wants to marry freddiefriend.

GYB Homedawgs/Moore sibz with the one and only Mr. Diddy!

the beautiful beaming couple

So here's to Freddie and Emily Weiss! May your new life together be just as fantastic as the past three years have been. I know you've already had a great honeymoon and are really living it up in Chucktown. I can't wait to get together again in a couple of months for Thanksgiving. Until next time, peace!

It's Happy Hour Again!

Umm... yeah so it's been a while since my last post. So many things have occurred in my life since two years ago. I couldn't possibly start to inform you of my roller coaster life! Just kidding, but seriously I have been crazy busy lately. For one thing, today is the day that my sistah gurl Emily Moore becomes sistah gurl Emily Weiss. I could go on forever, but that will be saved for an upcoming update entitled "Moore Weiss Moore Fun"!

My return post will focus on movies of course. What will possibly be the most influential trilogy of my generation has come to its conclusion this past weekend. You may be asking yourself if I've somehow lapsed back in time to 2003, when The Return of the King was released into theaters thus concluding the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. While that trilogy is indeed extremely impressive, and I absolutely love it to death, I'm talking about a different set of movies. A set that doesn't exactly follow a narrative structure yet still manages to tell its own story with each entry. I'm talking about what has come to be known as the Cornetto Trilogy.

For the unaware, the Cornetto Trilogy is made up of director Edgar Wright's zombie masterpiece Shaun of the Dead, the action/buddy cop sendup Hot Fuzz, and the apocalyptic blast The World's End. Wright co-wrote each film with his frequent collaborator and star Simon Pegg, and each film co-stars their buddy Nick Frost. AND EACH FILM IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!! 

Here's a little backstory. I'm a huge movie buff (DUH), specifically horror movies. In the spring of 2004, young 17-year old Joseph Moore was very excited to hear that there would be a new entry in the zombie sub genre, a British horror comedy that would be an homage to the classic Romero films while telling a fresh story in a fun way. I remember watching the UK preview for Shaun of the Dead and giggling with glee as a couple of blokes attempt to deal with the chaos around them. I knew I had to see this movie right away, but being a British film I had to wait quite a few months before it was released in the states.

Months and a birthday went by, and finally Shaun found its way to the Atlanta area. An extremely excited yet very lazy (still no driver's license) 18-year old talked his wonderful father into driving about 45 minutes out of the way to witness what is arguably the best zombie movie ever made. The way it balances horror and humor yet still manages to feel very real and connects you to the characters and their plight is something that no zombie film ever did prior nor has done since. Our titular Shaun's post breakup/hungover trip to the store as zombies lurch around him is just one instance of the dry humor found here, and it only gets better from there. After our group finds themselves holed up in their favorite pub, insanity eventually finds them as Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" blasts through the jukebox. But not only is this film hilarious; it also has a sense of heart. The relationship between Shaun and his girlfriend Liz is very sweet. As the film progresses Shaun turns from slacker to hero, and you want the two to end up together by the end of the film. I haven't even touched on the bromance between Shaun and his stoner/best friend Ed, played brilliantly by co-star Frost. Let me just say things get emotional toward the end, and the last few frames are wonderful. Really I could go on and on about how brilliant this film is, but there's other things to discuss.

You can't imagine my excitement when I heard Wright, Pegg, and Frost were teaming up again to sendup Michael Bay's stylized action films. Action isn't my favorite, but I knew if anyone could make me appreciate the genre, these three hombres would be the ones to do it. So when Hot Fuzz was released in 2007 I was once again in movie nerd heaven. Fuzz is gleefully silly and surprisingly gory. Wright shows more growth as a director while still using his trademarks whips and quick edits that give his films such a fun energy. Pegg and Frost of course are brilliant yet again. Their chemistry is spot-on as Pegg's straightforward Sergeant Nicholas Angel eventually loosens up and befriends Frost's kinda clueless Lieutenant Danny Butterman, who may be a little too obsessed with action flicks. Like I said before, action isn't my favorite genre sooo I'm a little biased when I say I prefer Shaun to Fuzz. My former roommate and I used to watch the two movies back-to-back, and we would argue about which was the better film. Of course it was pointless to argue because there was no way either was going to budge. I was a horror guy, and he was an action guy. That was that. I love both these films for existing though just for the fact they bring people together to chat and/or argue about how awesome they truly are.

Which brings me to their latest collaboration, The World's End. As per usual I had to wait AGES before it was released in the good ol' US of A. To prepare myself for the epic reunion of these three collaborators, I decided to watch their classic UK series, "Spaced".  The show stars Simon Pegg and fellow writer Jessica Stevenson as two recently single 20-somethings who decide to pose as a couple in order to move into a flat. Many pop culture references and misadventures ensue in the way only Wright and Pegg know how. Seriously y'all, if you haven't watched it, or if you've heard of it but never got around to viewing it, stop reading this blog right now and get on Netflix. The entire series is streaming there for your viewing pleasure!

I got distracted. Back to The World's End. First off I was absolutely ecstatic when I discovered certain theaters around the country were showing ALL THREE FILMS!!! When I found out it was playing in Atlanta while I was in town for my sister's wedding I was discouraged. Being the awesome brother I am, I didn't want to take away from her weekend. However, being the kind-hearted sister Emily is, she informed me there were no wedding shenanigans planned the Thursday evening the trilogy was showing, and she gave me her blessing to spend my evening reveling in all kinds of blood and ice cream. I. Could. Not. Wait!!!

And ohhh my Thursday evening was quite the blast. I attended the trilogy with a few theater friends who had never seen any of the movies so not only did I get to watch the best trilogy ever put on film, but I got to share my experience with those who were less fortunate than myself. I am SUCH a thoughtful person! Shaun was amazeballs of course, Fuzz was almost equally groovy, and then it was time for the End. I was giddy in my seat as the film started with Simon Pegg, as Gary King, recounting his and his friends' failed attempt at The Golden Mile, 12 beers in 12 different pubs, all in the course of one evening. When the screen shows King recounting his tale to what I assume is his AA group, I knew I would be in for a good time. 

The World's End is an absolute blast from beginning to apocalyptic end (wow I'm clever...). The opening introduces you to each of our five central characters. Pegg's King gathers his five friends together in their hometown to complete the mission they failed to complete in their adolescence, The Golden Mile. Only as their trek goes on, the five gents realize something is amiss with the townsfolk. Not only must they battle themselves and the issues between the five of them, they also have to figure out the strange goings-on as they continue toward the last pub, The World's End. 

Pegg and Frost switch up their usual roles. This time around Frost is more of the straight man to Pegg's manic 40-year old longing for his teenage years. Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman, and Cornetto newcomer Eddie Marsan fit into the crew quite nicely. Each of their characters has a backstory, and each are fully realized throughout the length of the film. Wright and Pegg were even nice enough to add some estrogen into all the testosterone. Rosamund Pike is a beautiful presence and really holds her own as if she's one of the guys. Once our heroes find out what's going on in their hometown, shit really hits the fan. Blue blood sprays the screen in an awesome bathroom brawl. The fight scenes are tight and you can actually see what's going on. It's clear Wright learned a  lot from his fight scenes in the Pegg and Frost-less but still awesome Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.

It's not all blood and ink though. As I said the gents aren't exactly at peace with one another, specifically Pegg and Frost. To give away their relationship would spoil the movie, but let me say their dialogue during the climax of the movie is fantastic, and I jumped in my seat during a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reveal.

I still can't believe I was able to witness such a breath of fresh air amongst what has honestly been kind of a downer of a year for this movie-goer. Sure there have been some good movies, but none have even come close to being as awesome as The World's End. I know I will be seeing it at least two more times while it's in theaters. I'm sure I'll miss things that I missed the first go-around, and I cannot wait. Oh! And a quick shootout to the soundtrack for the film, which I have not been able to get out of my head for the past week. It is awesome!! Wright and Pegg did a bangup job compiling and slew of late 80s/early 90s rock that I have quickly fallen in love with.

So now that you've (hopefully) read through this entire thing, get off your bum, speed to your nearest theater, and see The World's End. It's the best movie to come out this year if not the past five years. Seriously, y'all. It's amazeballs. Deuces.