movie: one for the mummy! no? oh mama mia

After the day I had yesterday, I decided to take myself to see the Mummy. Action-adventure fluff seemed like just the ticket. Only... when I got there, the schedule was wrong: Mama Mia started at 7pm. Not wanting to wait until 945 for the Mummy, I bought my ticket. I had been mildly interested in the film, as my sister and I would sing along with ABBA videos when we were kids (we had them on LASERDISC! ha!) Here is the movie trailer:



SPOILER ALERT:

As I remarked to the concession attendant, part way through the film "there is a lot of singing in this movie". This reaffirmed the fact, for me, that musicals are very tricky things to get right. One of my favorite movies of all time, the Moulin Rouge, is one of the few musicals I actually like.

The girl behind the counter came back with "yeah there is a lot of Pierce Brosnan singing". I was confused, because I hadn't seen him sing yet. And then... whoo boy. I really like Pierce, and love that he has taken a risk, but it was too much for me to see him sing. The audience laughed, which, because this is a comedy, isn't a complete insult. But still, he is the leading man.

Okay and here I have to admit that the romantic in me got caught up in how he asked her to marry him (and she said yes!!) - that was sweet. But the best part is at the end, during the first part of the credits: the three women perform a song, in full disco drag, and then the three MEN come out in the most over the top costumes EVER and sing as well. Had me rolling in the aisles.

I made the mistake of sitting next to a very enthusiastic fan, who had already seen the movie once. Lots of clapping and laughing at all parts of the film. But she was on the side that I can't hear much, so it wasn't too bad.

Then I came home and had a breakdown around my studio. Still feeling bummed out about that.

sometimes i feel like such a girl...

...and not in a good way.

A few months back (ok, like 6 months ago), I stopped being able to play music on my computer. I had it hooked up to a receiver, which was connected to a pair of speakers I got from an ex boyfriend who left the Bay Area (long story. sigh). I believed the problem was with the receiver, since it was old and janky (kinda warped on the top, tended to overheat). So I FINALLY got a new receiver (which I kept mistakenly calling an "amp" which made all the guys at Best Buy confused), and now I cannot hook up my damn speakers to save my LIFE.

Here is what it looks like from the back (someone else's photo, god knows I would never take this thing apart):
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/SethKL/Picture016.jpg

(posted here: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-38918.html)

I put the speaker wire in the appropriate holes. I tightened the screws all the way, and the wires just fell out.

Am I using wire that is too thin? I don't even know where to begin searching. I tried googling "insignia NS-R2000 stereo receiver speaker wire problem connecting" and my problem isn't even in the results. Which makes me feel SO LAME, like no one ever had trouble doing this and what the HELL is my problem???

I'm getting a glass of wine. Perhaps I'll calm down enough to rethink this.

But meanwhile, this falls under the category of "I cannot figure this shit out", joining things like "installing a shelf", "setting up my recording studio". I hate to think I need some man to come in and help me, but ARRRRGGGHHH!!! If that is the way it has to be!!!