Page: B4 LAMORINDA WEEKLY www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, August 1, 2012 The Watch By Derek Zemrak CARPET CLEANING LAMORINDA'S FAVORITE FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS FOR OVER 36 YEARS

(925) 283-8744 SUMMER SPECIAL www.siggyscarpetcleaning.com I5% OFF 3408 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette Flowers, Fauna and Firearms Submitted by Josephine (Jo) Mele ’ve heard travel broadens the mind I got out of bed, waited for more Iand that there’s always something sounds and peered through the peep to be learned. Several years ago we hole in the door. I saw nothing! I went to Bolivia to visit friends. What knew I would have an indentation did I learn on that trip? My husband around my eye I was pressing so hard. can sleep through anything; and get- When my feet felt like ice on the tile ting home alive can be the best part of floor I went back to bed and to my Jonah Hill, , and star in The Watch. Photos: Melinda Sue Gordon - TM & © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. any vacation. still-snoring husband. After staying two relaxing weeks I ran through the possibilities: col- oes a great cast guarantee a funny ever, of excess not being the guarantee of a visiting our friends in Cochabamba, lege kids having a good time, drunks Dmovie? funny movie. Bolivia, my husband and I caught an trying to find their room, a police raid Everyone could use a strong comedy and Yes, you might laugh at the Costco jokes international flight to Miami, which on known drug lords, robbers looking enjoy a few laughs at the movie theatre after but what could have been a humorous PG13 required a connection in Santa Cruz. for the stranded American tourists. I the tragic shooting on July 20 in Aurora, Col- comedy like Ghostbusters, The Watch pushed Our friends stressed that there was vowed to stay alert until sunrise. orado. Our hearts go out to the victims, their the envelope with sexual and potty-oriented only one Miami flight daily and that I was jolted awake by what families and the community. jokes to earn an R rating. What else can be ex- we shouldn’t stay in Santa Cruz any sounded like, Pop, pop, pop! I shook From the outside, The Watch has all the pected from co-writer (, longer than necessary as it was the co- my snoring husband and whispered elements to become this century’s Ghost- Pineapple Express)? caine and crime capital of Bolivia. that I thought I heard gunshots. He busters with funny guys Ben Stiller (Meet the Does adding more sugar to the cake make From the air, Santa Cruz looked sat up, looked around, and said, “I Fockers), Vince Vaughn (Dodgeball) and is taste better? Unfortunately, The Watch had normal enough. We collected our lug- don’t hear anything.” Then he rolled Jonah Hill (Superbad) forming a neighbor- potential but falls short. gage, and headed for customs. We over and told me to go back to sleep hood watch team after a bizarre killing at Derek Zemrak is a Film Critic, were the only ones there: no other because we had an early flight. their local Costco. Yes, they do end up bat- and Founder of the Independent passengers, no customs agent, just the Yeah, right! How could I sleep? tling a gooey alien. Film Festival. You can follow Derek on two of us. I went to the airline counter How could anyone sleep? The Watch is the perfect example, how- @zemrak for the latest Hollywood news. and asked where the customs agent I thought about calling the desk was. The woman shrugged her shoul- and asking if anyone had heard shots ders. “When will he return?” I asked or been killed lately but didn’t know hopefully. I got a big smile: “Man- the Spanish word for gunshots. I de- ana.” cided to take a shower, get dressed, Even my husband knew that repack my suitcase, and wait for day- much Spanish. No customs agent light. A shower seemed the most sen- meant no Miami flight for us today. sible thing to do at least if they shot We watched the plane being loaded me I would be clean and dressed. and the doors closing. We called our A few hours later, I was surprised friends who helped make reserva- to find no blood, no chalk outline, tions for us at a small hotel hidden and no dead body in the hallway. Be- behind a high whitewashed wall lieve me I looked everywhere. I de- covered with purple Bougainvillea. cided not to ask anyone at the desk It looked safe enough. We spent the if there had been a problem and care- day reading and napping, and after fully eyed everyone’s footwear. The dinner fell asleep to the scent of clerk asked if we had a good rest; I flowers coming through the louvered almost wept. I wanted to leave im- window. mediately. My husband opted for I woke to the sounds of heavy breakfast since we had the time and footsteps stomping down the con- the hotel food was great. Men really A neighborhood skater kid (Johnny Pemberton, center) easily gets the better of his hapless crete stairs outside our room; the are from Mars! interrogators, Evan (Ben Stiller) and Franklin (Jonah Hill). clock glowed 2 a.m. I could see When we finally deplaned in through the slightly opened window Miami and passed through U.S. Cus- and noticed several pair of boots toms, I was happy to see those seri- stopped on the lit stairwell. It ous-looking, uniformed agents. seemed their owners were listening “How was your trip?” one agent to something. asked. They began to whisper. Trying to “I’m happy to be home,” I said translate when you’re half-asleep with a smile - and my brain silently and hyperventilating is very difficult, added – alive. No wonder the Pope but I managed to hear a deep voice kisses the ground on his return to say, “Quickly, follow me and for Rome. Wonder if he’s ever been to Consider This: Prestige and Education God’s sake be quiet!” Then more Bolivia? By Steven Zhou running, then quiet. My heart was Jo Mele is a Moraga resident. beating so loudly I was sure every- The opinions expressed are those of hat do these institutions of higher learning to avoid the stigma that comes with being a “community one in the hotel could hear it, except the writer and not necessarily those Whave in common? college student.” my husband. of the Lamorinda Weekly. Prestige. “Looking down on community colleges is just plain Admittance at many four-year campuses ordains an dumb,” said a Lafayette resident. Senior Kristin C. be- unexplainable, automatic aura of respect and power. lieves “teens should not go to their safety school. If they Vacation Stories Good and Bad When asked what school one is attending next year, “the really want to study at a specific school, they should Lamorinda Weekly wants to hear about your memorable chosen” are proud to pronounce their prestigious uni- work to get in by attending a community college first. vacations – exhilarating or exhausting. Send your unique stories versity, while basking in the laudatory responses and Being offered admission by only one university or (500 words or less) and trip pics to imminent comments of “Wow! You must be super wanting to move out of the house are not reasons to [email protected] by August 9 and prepare smart!” choose a safety school.” yourself for a different type of vacation experience – one you On the opposite end of the spectrum are those who Jonathan D. also defends the community college can read about! are not applauded upon proclaiming admission to a two- system. “On a job application, community college at- year community college such as local Diablo Valley tendance is not as impressive as a four-year university College. A friend who will be attending DVC endured degree, even though community colleges do a great job Writing College Essays? “oh, I see” to “good job…I guess” to “at least you are of teaching. People need to be evaluated on their talents staying in school.” and capabilities, not the school they attended.” Although Need help? Judging intelligence by the college attended is so prestigious universities claim many exceptional and fa- deeply ingrained in our culture that, verbalized or not, mous alumni, four-year institutions are not prerequisites Writing coach Cynthia Brian it affects our perception of accomplishment. to guaranteed achievement. helps college applicants “Community college is looked down upon because Seventy-six percent of Lamorinda seniors will at- write compelling essays. stereotypically, the students have lower GPAs or are tend four-year universities. As we congratulate all our considered to have been too lazy to apply to any ‘real graduates, let’s remember that it’s not the college that "Rachel powered through her essay colleges,’” said Miramonte senior Desiree C. “How- determines success; it’s our determination to be success- and application after her session ever, community college is actually a more logical ful. with you. Working with you was the choice for several reasons.” Is the pedigreed diploma the definition of accom- right focus, right person, right time. Such benefits include the lower price tag. “The gen- plishment? We can't thank you enough! You are eral education is cheaper at only $48 per unit,” continues Consider this: Steve Jobs! amazing!" Mother Desiree, “plus the flexibility to work part time while at- The administrator and host for Express Yourself! tending classes is a huge plus.” Other DVC-bound sen- Teen Radio, Steven Zhou graduated in June from Mi- Call 925-377-STAR or email iors point to other selling points as motives for choosing ramonte and will be attending Pepperdine University a community college: the lower levels of stress-inducing on a scholarship this fall. [email protected] pressure, the proximity to home, and the ease of trans- Hourly fees. Book your writing session today. Cynthia cares. ferring to a four-year university when ready. Teen Scene is YOUR voice. If you have something Yet a general comment heard from numerous Lam- to say or have writing skills and want to be part of orinda interviewees was that stuck between the choice our Teen Scene team, email our Teen Coach, Cynthia Submit stories andstory ideas to of going to a four-year college that doesn’t fit their goals Brian, [email protected]. or to a community college, they would accept anything [email protected] The opinions expressed in Teen Scene are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Lamorinda Weekly.