Another Christmas has come and gone. I can't say that I am sad at its passing. Guess I have officially made the move from childhood to adulthood. It also could be because I knew pretty much everything I would be getting this year. I picked out a coat from my parents, I knew what I was getting from my brother and sister-in-law and me and hubby only did stocking again. So, other than the Burn After Reading DVD, I knew most of what was "under the tree". I did have a WONDERFUL time watching the kids. They LOVED their gifts and were so excited when they opened each and every gift.
Since I said I would be posting about movies on this here blog, let me do some of that. Burn After Reading is the newest Cohen brothers movie. Yep, those cooky brothers who brought us such classics as Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou and the good, but decidedly odd, No Country For Old Men. Their newest journey into the world of movies pulls a steller cast together. We've got Clooney, Pitt, Malcovich, McDormand, etc. As with most of their flicks, this one strings together many plot lines into one common thread at the end. Clooney and Pitt are hysterical...even though they share the screen for only a short amount of time. Frances McDormand is fabulous even though she does seem to be doing that accent from Fargo all the time. She is a true comedic gem.
What is this odd little piece of cinematic craziness about? Well, it has to do with a CIA spook (Malcovich, of course) who is fired and then decides to pen a book about his time with the CIA. Unfortunately, a CD with his writtings and some financial data is lost at a health club. In steps Pitt and McDormand who play bumbling health club workers who decide to blackmail Malcovich...mostly so McDormand can "rebuild" herself with the help of plastic surgery. As with most of these plots, the characters cross and recross without ever knowing that they are all so close to the end game...well, until it is the end game.
Kudos to the Cohen's for another off the wall movie. No one can accuse these boys of selling out to Hollywood or walking the path most traveled. Wait a minute, maybe one day years from now it will be Walker and Texas Ranger as the famous brothers who make weird movies! Don't laugh, you know growing up with me as a mother it could SO happen! I bet they are socking away some juicy script lines even now from their very colorful mother...
Friday, December 26, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Where Is FEMA When You Need Them?
School let out yesterday so Walker and Texas Ranger are both home today with me. Spying a gingerbread house kit that I bought three days after Halloween, I decide it was finally time to put that puppy together and enjoy some fun, family Christmas time together!
I get out all the stuff and read the directions. We have actually used this kit before and I gave it high marks for ease of use. Not so much this time around.
It said to squeeze a line of icing into the tray slots and onto the two end pieces...these folks even included color pictures for those who can't read or just don't like to. I followed the instructions and squeezed globs of icing (who other than Martha Stewart can make those staight lines of icing with a plastic bag that you cut the end off of?) on the appropriate parts. I tell Walker and TR that we have to wait 15 minutes before decorating the lovely little house. We ended up eating lunch and waiting way longer than 15 minutes so I am assumed all was good.
We begin decorating the house and right away things weren't going well. I am not talking about the fact that TR was eating the decorations at a rapid pace...which he was. I am talking about the fact that the house was falling apart. First the roof slipped apart and all the decorations that were on the roof line were now inside the house. I took the roof pieces off, shoved them back together and tell the boys to be very careful. We begin decorating again only to notice the walls are caving in. What the heck! I take the roof pieces off again and shore up the walls. Then the roof pieces are put back on with more icing. Now we are running out of icing so this baby is going to look NOTHING like the beauty on the box with its snow on the ground and all. At this point I don't care. We finish putting all the decorations on...well, the ones TR hadn't managed to eat...and step back to admire our handiwork. It looked like crap. That fact didn't really matter much because about 15 minutes later I happened to look at the house and the roof had fallen completely apart! I told the boys it was a goner and we needed to call in FEMA. Walker asked who FEMA was and I lied and told him it was a government agency that helped people.
Ultimately the house ended up decorating our trash can. At least the boys can't say Mom didn't make a gingerbread house with them this year!
I get out all the stuff and read the directions. We have actually used this kit before and I gave it high marks for ease of use. Not so much this time around.
It said to squeeze a line of icing into the tray slots and onto the two end pieces...these folks even included color pictures for those who can't read or just don't like to. I followed the instructions and squeezed globs of icing (who other than Martha Stewart can make those staight lines of icing with a plastic bag that you cut the end off of?) on the appropriate parts. I tell Walker and TR that we have to wait 15 minutes before decorating the lovely little house. We ended up eating lunch and waiting way longer than 15 minutes so I am assumed all was good.
We begin decorating the house and right away things weren't going well. I am not talking about the fact that TR was eating the decorations at a rapid pace...which he was. I am talking about the fact that the house was falling apart. First the roof slipped apart and all the decorations that were on the roof line were now inside the house. I took the roof pieces off, shoved them back together and tell the boys to be very careful. We begin decorating again only to notice the walls are caving in. What the heck! I take the roof pieces off again and shore up the walls. Then the roof pieces are put back on with more icing. Now we are running out of icing so this baby is going to look NOTHING like the beauty on the box with its snow on the ground and all. At this point I don't care. We finish putting all the decorations on...well, the ones TR hadn't managed to eat...and step back to admire our handiwork. It looked like crap. That fact didn't really matter much because about 15 minutes later I happened to look at the house and the roof had fallen completely apart! I told the boys it was a goner and we needed to call in FEMA. Walker asked who FEMA was and I lied and told him it was a government agency that helped people.
Ultimately the house ended up decorating our trash can. At least the boys can't say Mom didn't make a gingerbread house with them this year!
Sing We All Noel!
This last Sunday was the children's choir program at our church. It was titled, Sing We All Noel. I particularly liked this one because it stuck more or less to the Christmas story. No room at the inn...the birth...angels telling shepards the good news...wise men from the east....etc. I am old fashioned in this regard and I like the children's musicals to be traditional.
This year both Walker and Texas Ranger would be participating in the musical. Walker even had a solo...which he nailed by the way. We are expecting a recording contract soon. TR didn't have a solo or sing a lot of the songs he was suppose to but he did do the motions and didn't cry or attempt to harm anyone during the performance...a true success story!
I was also in this production. Being the "class clown" or "village idiot" does have its advantages. They ask you to do crazy things in Christmas plays. So, myself and my male counterpart in the class clown department were set to be the narrators of this show. Then I was informed that it would be better if we were "professional" narrators and did I have an evening gown. This caused me a little concern but I went along and borrowed a gown from a coworker...you know who you are and thank you! Next I hear, in addition to narrating while being in formal attire, we will also be singing and dancing with the children. Being the joiner that I am (read...SUCKER), I said sure.
Sunday morning rolls around and I am clomping around the halls of the church trying to help get this show ready while wearing a floor length evening gown. This is slightly more dressy than I usually go so I am being asked many questions to which I attempt to reply with witty banter...or mindless babbling...it works for Will Ferrell.
The performance begins and we have a packed house. I hadn't seen it that full since a really big Easter several years ago. The kids looked cute and so what if they left the stage one time at the wrong time? They are kids. Now the two class clowns actually made it through without a hitch. Although hubby did comment on the "act" we did at one part where the kids were off stage getting ready for the manger scene and we were setting up the manger and other items. When I informed him that it was no "act" and that was just how we were and it wasn't planned, he just looked at me odd. He really should be use to the village idiot act after 12 years!
This year both Walker and Texas Ranger would be participating in the musical. Walker even had a solo...which he nailed by the way. We are expecting a recording contract soon. TR didn't have a solo or sing a lot of the songs he was suppose to but he did do the motions and didn't cry or attempt to harm anyone during the performance...a true success story!
I was also in this production. Being the "class clown" or "village idiot" does have its advantages. They ask you to do crazy things in Christmas plays. So, myself and my male counterpart in the class clown department were set to be the narrators of this show. Then I was informed that it would be better if we were "professional" narrators and did I have an evening gown. This caused me a little concern but I went along and borrowed a gown from a coworker...you know who you are and thank you! Next I hear, in addition to narrating while being in formal attire, we will also be singing and dancing with the children. Being the joiner that I am (read...SUCKER), I said sure.
Sunday morning rolls around and I am clomping around the halls of the church trying to help get this show ready while wearing a floor length evening gown. This is slightly more dressy than I usually go so I am being asked many questions to which I attempt to reply with witty banter...or mindless babbling...it works for Will Ferrell.
The performance begins and we have a packed house. I hadn't seen it that full since a really big Easter several years ago. The kids looked cute and so what if they left the stage one time at the wrong time? They are kids. Now the two class clowns actually made it through without a hitch. Although hubby did comment on the "act" we did at one part where the kids were off stage getting ready for the manger scene and we were setting up the manger and other items. When I informed him that it was no "act" and that was just how we were and it wasn't planned, he just looked at me odd. He really should be use to the village idiot act after 12 years!
To Grandmother's House We Go...
OK...so I have so far this Christmas season put up a 14 foot tree at the airport. But hey, I learned a new skill...scissor lift operator...that may come in handy at some point in my life. I have also installed three trees in my home (along with mantel decor and a whole host of trimmings throughout the entire house). Additonally, I have decorated our entire Administration office with the help of the other elf that does the job every year. Now elf #1 got the job years before me because she arrived at our workplace years before me. I forget how I became elf #2 in this arrangement. Over the years (15 this year if I am not mistaken), there have only been two times that elves 1 & 2 did not do this job. It wasn't because suddenly our holiday inspired coworkers decided to give us a break. It was because one of us was on medical leave. Yep, to get out of this job you have to be on mandatory sick leave from a doctor, on maternity leave or dead. I was unaware of this small print when I took on the job of elf #2. Elf #1, if you are reading this, we need to get smart before next year and come up with a plan...maybe we can get an elf union to come in and we can eat cookies and drink hot chocolate while our coworkers fluff garland and try to figure out why those freaking lights aren't working on the tree!!! Something to ponder...
But, as usual, I digress. So, I spread Christmas cheer for all to see and you would think my work is done. You would be wrong. Every year for the last several, I have been putting up my grandparent's Christmas decorations as well. Now I had fallen a bit behind this year...did you read all that stuff up there in paragraph one! Feeling terribly bad that it was just two weeks from Christmas and I hadn't put their decorations up guilted me into a trip last week. Off the little one and I go to get the job done. My grandparents were away for part of the day so I was going to surprise them.
My biggest fear in this endeavor was how I was going to get their Christmas tree out of their attic without killing myself. This part actually went very smoothly with me clutching the tree box in one hand and lowing myself while holding on with the other hand. Tah Dah...tree is out of the attic. I drag it inside and find the totes holding all the other stuff. Now the totes (those nice red and green Rubbermaid things that no holiday should be packed away without) are a new addition from last year. Last year was when I finally got so sick to death of unpacking the popcorn tins that my grandmother used to store her ornaments...yep, those lovely tins that come with three types of popcorn most often purchased at a high end retail establishment like a K-Mart or Wal-Mart. Anyway, I decided to get the tree up first and then deal with the rest of the decorations. I get the base out of the box and the first section of tree is stuck to the plastic base. Odd I thought but I sat it up. It seemed to be woobly so I moved it from the rug to the hardwood and thought I was home free. I grab section number 2 of the tree and slide it into place. Things are going great! I reach for the top section and the whole tree begins to tumble toward my grandmother's end table where there are priceless, breakable items. I lunge for the tree and I barely avert a disaster. Upon closer inspection of the tree base, I figure out the problem. The base doesn't have all the pieces attached. Off I go to look through the totes fussing the entire time about why someone would remove the base pieces and not put them in the tree box! I mean, who would do that? My brother last year when he took it down. So, unkind things are being said about brother dear as I dig through the totes. Ah Ha! I find the legs! Back to the living room I run since I have Texas Ranger holding up the tree. As my luck would have it, I couldn't pull apart sections 1 and 2 so TR had to stand there trying to hold up the tree. It was quite a site I assure you. Now TR and I have to work together to tilt the tree from side to side to get these stupid legs on. TR comes through (he ain't no sissy boy) and we have a stable tree. On goes section three and darn if all the lights don't work on the first try. I really think someone was smiling down on me then...or laughing really hard. I should also mention that by this point I am sweating like a pig. Now for those of you who know me, I am cold natured. HOWEVER, my grandparent's keep their house heat set on about 95 degrees. They are 89 and 90 year's old so it is to be expected. So, with sweat rolling down my face I stand back to admire the tree and it looks good. Now all TR and I have to do it decorate it...and the rest of the house. We tie on velvet bows and search for ornament hooks (grandmother doesn't believe in buying any new hooks so these babies are circa 1972) and string approximately 39 feet of gold bead garland on the tree. It is a thing of beauty with its multi colored lights and blinking angel on top. Feeling a Christmas Vacation moment take hold I temporarily break into the chorus of Joy To The World. TR gives me the look and we move on. I decorate the mantel, put new candles up, put out a ceramic tree (I could not find it's bulb but it still looked lovely) and generally make the house festive. Things are really starting to come together now. I am feeling pretty smug and then I spy the Christmas table cloth that was handmade by my grandmother. Crap. I get it out and it is wrinkled. I have a momentary thought to just put it on and let the wrinkles fall out. Being my mother's daughter (she is known as THE PRESSER), I find the iron. Did you know that in 50 year old houses that some outlets only fit certain plugs? I didn't know this either and was thwarted for a few minutes by an outlet that I knew just HAD to work. It didn't work. Dragging iron and ironing board to another area I find a normal looking plug and I am back in business! I let the iron heat up while I put away boxes and made the house look nice again. I then learn that my grandmother's iron is about one step away from those cast iron jobs you once heated in a fire and then just pressed really hard onto a stone or something. This baby would not have gotten a crease out of a stick of Land O Lakes butter! So, I am pressing down with all my strength and shoving the iron back and forth. By doing this, I am making progress. Around and around I go with this tablecloth until it looks presentable. I gingerly carry it to the kitchen and my eyes land on the table...with its 1/2 inch thick piece of plexiglass covering. Darn it! I wrestle the approximately 49 pound piece of plexiglass off the table and prop it against the countertop. Please don't fall was my silent prayer. I quickly arrange the tablecloth. Mustering all my strength, I pick up the round piece of plexiglass and get it leveled over the table and set it down gently enough not to mess up my tablecloth arrangement job. I am thrilled!
I step back, sweat pouring off me to spy my work. Not bad. OK, the gold bead garland could be better but I had to get it up fast...TR had tied it around his head and then wrists and told me the bad guys had ties him up. Ahhh...the joys of Christmas!
But, as usual, I digress. So, I spread Christmas cheer for all to see and you would think my work is done. You would be wrong. Every year for the last several, I have been putting up my grandparent's Christmas decorations as well. Now I had fallen a bit behind this year...did you read all that stuff up there in paragraph one! Feeling terribly bad that it was just two weeks from Christmas and I hadn't put their decorations up guilted me into a trip last week. Off the little one and I go to get the job done. My grandparents were away for part of the day so I was going to surprise them.
My biggest fear in this endeavor was how I was going to get their Christmas tree out of their attic without killing myself. This part actually went very smoothly with me clutching the tree box in one hand and lowing myself while holding on with the other hand. Tah Dah...tree is out of the attic. I drag it inside and find the totes holding all the other stuff. Now the totes (those nice red and green Rubbermaid things that no holiday should be packed away without) are a new addition from last year. Last year was when I finally got so sick to death of unpacking the popcorn tins that my grandmother used to store her ornaments...yep, those lovely tins that come with three types of popcorn most often purchased at a high end retail establishment like a K-Mart or Wal-Mart. Anyway, I decided to get the tree up first and then deal with the rest of the decorations. I get the base out of the box and the first section of tree is stuck to the plastic base. Odd I thought but I sat it up. It seemed to be woobly so I moved it from the rug to the hardwood and thought I was home free. I grab section number 2 of the tree and slide it into place. Things are going great! I reach for the top section and the whole tree begins to tumble toward my grandmother's end table where there are priceless, breakable items. I lunge for the tree and I barely avert a disaster. Upon closer inspection of the tree base, I figure out the problem. The base doesn't have all the pieces attached. Off I go to look through the totes fussing the entire time about why someone would remove the base pieces and not put them in the tree box! I mean, who would do that? My brother last year when he took it down. So, unkind things are being said about brother dear as I dig through the totes. Ah Ha! I find the legs! Back to the living room I run since I have Texas Ranger holding up the tree. As my luck would have it, I couldn't pull apart sections 1 and 2 so TR had to stand there trying to hold up the tree. It was quite a site I assure you. Now TR and I have to work together to tilt the tree from side to side to get these stupid legs on. TR comes through (he ain't no sissy boy) and we have a stable tree. On goes section three and darn if all the lights don't work on the first try. I really think someone was smiling down on me then...or laughing really hard. I should also mention that by this point I am sweating like a pig. Now for those of you who know me, I am cold natured. HOWEVER, my grandparent's keep their house heat set on about 95 degrees. They are 89 and 90 year's old so it is to be expected. So, with sweat rolling down my face I stand back to admire the tree and it looks good. Now all TR and I have to do it decorate it...and the rest of the house. We tie on velvet bows and search for ornament hooks (grandmother doesn't believe in buying any new hooks so these babies are circa 1972) and string approximately 39 feet of gold bead garland on the tree. It is a thing of beauty with its multi colored lights and blinking angel on top. Feeling a Christmas Vacation moment take hold I temporarily break into the chorus of Joy To The World. TR gives me the look and we move on. I decorate the mantel, put new candles up, put out a ceramic tree (I could not find it's bulb but it still looked lovely) and generally make the house festive. Things are really starting to come together now. I am feeling pretty smug and then I spy the Christmas table cloth that was handmade by my grandmother. Crap. I get it out and it is wrinkled. I have a momentary thought to just put it on and let the wrinkles fall out. Being my mother's daughter (she is known as THE PRESSER), I find the iron. Did you know that in 50 year old houses that some outlets only fit certain plugs? I didn't know this either and was thwarted for a few minutes by an outlet that I knew just HAD to work. It didn't work. Dragging iron and ironing board to another area I find a normal looking plug and I am back in business! I let the iron heat up while I put away boxes and made the house look nice again. I then learn that my grandmother's iron is about one step away from those cast iron jobs you once heated in a fire and then just pressed really hard onto a stone or something. This baby would not have gotten a crease out of a stick of Land O Lakes butter! So, I am pressing down with all my strength and shoving the iron back and forth. By doing this, I am making progress. Around and around I go with this tablecloth until it looks presentable. I gingerly carry it to the kitchen and my eyes land on the table...with its 1/2 inch thick piece of plexiglass covering. Darn it! I wrestle the approximately 49 pound piece of plexiglass off the table and prop it against the countertop. Please don't fall was my silent prayer. I quickly arrange the tablecloth. Mustering all my strength, I pick up the round piece of plexiglass and get it leveled over the table and set it down gently enough not to mess up my tablecloth arrangement job. I am thrilled!
I step back, sweat pouring off me to spy my work. Not bad. OK, the gold bead garland could be better but I had to get it up fast...TR had tied it around his head and then wrists and told me the bad guys had ties him up. Ahhh...the joys of Christmas!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
My Happy Place Burned Down
Another wonderful weekend comes to a close at the old homestead. Instead of packing it full of "go, go, go" fun, we did nothing. I mean it was one of those lazy weekends where picking out a DVD to watch was almost too much to do. (This is really true...no one even cared when I put on what I wanted to watch!)
So, we get to Sunday (that lazy day part above was Saturday). Of course we wake up with smiles on our faces and sing songs as we drive to church to learn about the true meaning of this Christmas season. NO...that was the family we passed on the way to church (aren't those people just creepy!) after we had yelled, fought about shoes choices (Texas Ranger only wants to wear his magic shoes...not the boots that go with his church clothes. Of course, his magic shoes are his "school" shoes that look like crap) and piled in the car to screams of "I can't get my seat belt buckled"! We did have on music. The boys and Daddy listened to happy Christmas carols I found for them on the radio right before I stuck my ear buds in my ears and cranked up my iPod to drown them all out!
Now we get to church. It goes fairly well...probably because we all were separated for most of the time. Off for home with not much ado except where to eat a healthy lunch (Sonic!). Once home we prepare for our Sunday afternoon ritual...naps! The boys are instructed by Nazi Daddy (have I mentioned that is what he is known as...anyway, that is another story for another day) to put on their PJs from earlier and GET IN BED. Now, this order was given MANY times as Walker and Texas Ranger stumble about like blind children looking for the PJs that are laying right on the floor where they left them. Nazi Daddy finds the PJs and, not too kindly, tells the boys again to PUT THEM ON AND GET IN BED! Now I find that it is time to step in. One of the reasons was I could see that Daddy was seriously on the edge of sanity. I went over and gave him a big hug and told him to go to his happy place. In a strangely flat voice he told me that his happy place had burned down. Don't you just hate it when that happens!
Hope anyone reading this had a better weekend. A weekend where your happy places are still standing. Now we are down to the ageless question, do we rebuild or just move on to a new happy place. I say we move...and don't tell Walker and Texas Ranger where we went!
Disclaimer...the aforementioned leaving of children was meant in jest...mostly...and there are no current plans to leave our children parentless and move. Please put down the phone and don't call DHS on us...one more call and we are done for!
So, we get to Sunday (that lazy day part above was Saturday). Of course we wake up with smiles on our faces and sing songs as we drive to church to learn about the true meaning of this Christmas season. NO...that was the family we passed on the way to church (aren't those people just creepy!) after we had yelled, fought about shoes choices (Texas Ranger only wants to wear his magic shoes...not the boots that go with his church clothes. Of course, his magic shoes are his "school" shoes that look like crap) and piled in the car to screams of "I can't get my seat belt buckled"! We did have on music. The boys and Daddy listened to happy Christmas carols I found for them on the radio right before I stuck my ear buds in my ears and cranked up my iPod to drown them all out!
Now we get to church. It goes fairly well...probably because we all were separated for most of the time. Off for home with not much ado except where to eat a healthy lunch (Sonic!). Once home we prepare for our Sunday afternoon ritual...naps! The boys are instructed by Nazi Daddy (have I mentioned that is what he is known as...anyway, that is another story for another day) to put on their PJs from earlier and GET IN BED. Now, this order was given MANY times as Walker and Texas Ranger stumble about like blind children looking for the PJs that are laying right on the floor where they left them. Nazi Daddy finds the PJs and, not too kindly, tells the boys again to PUT THEM ON AND GET IN BED! Now I find that it is time to step in. One of the reasons was I could see that Daddy was seriously on the edge of sanity. I went over and gave him a big hug and told him to go to his happy place. In a strangely flat voice he told me that his happy place had burned down. Don't you just hate it when that happens!
Hope anyone reading this had a better weekend. A weekend where your happy places are still standing. Now we are down to the ageless question, do we rebuild or just move on to a new happy place. I say we move...and don't tell Walker and Texas Ranger where we went!
Disclaimer...the aforementioned leaving of children was meant in jest...mostly...and there are no current plans to leave our children parentless and move. Please put down the phone and don't call DHS on us...one more call and we are done for!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Bad Things Come In Twos...
Nope, that title is not about Walker and Texas Ranger...how dare you guys think that of those angels! It is from a rocking song that appears in one of my new favorites. Read on...
So, I ran out and rented Wanted this week. I had really wanted to see it when it was released in the summer but it just didn't work out. Seeing it on the big screen would have been great but I had to settle for our 32 inch beauty with the VCR built in...don't be jealous, not everyone can have one.
Wanted stars Morgan Freeman (what a great actor), James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie. I really like this cast. I know that Jolie cheated with Pitt but I have let that go and started to like her again. Honestly, I love Mr. and Mrs. Smith so I would just be a big hypocrite not to like her. James McAvoy is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. He has such a great range...from period films like Atonement to this high octane flick.
The plot of Wanted is a bit lacking but the action is top notch. It also has a wicked sense of humor...or I just happen to have the same sense of humor...and that jacks it up another notch in my book. Pretty much, it is about Wesley (McAvoy) who is a Loser (and yes, I meant to cap that "L"). He is in a dead end job and his best friend is having an affair with his live-in girlfriend. When Fox (that would be Jolie...don't you wish you had a cool name like Fox? I sure do. Maybe I shall make up a new name for myself...something else to ponder.) shows up and tells Wesley that he has the makings of a super assassin, Wesley is not easily convinced. He is not sure about "The Fraternity" which is a group of super assassins with special talents. Although he does come around rather quickly with a great "take this job and shove it" moment at his crappy job. Now Wesley is running with the bad boys and girls of The Fraternity and learning to "curve the bullet".
It has some twists and turns but it is really all about the car chases, things blowing up and guns in this one. If you have a weak stomach for violence (specifically head shots...and I mean that like people getting shot in the head) the you might want to skip this one. They also throw the F-Bomb quite a bit but it sorta works for them. I mean, come on, if you are already killing people as your profession, dropping the F-Bomb isn't sending you to hell any faster than you are already going. Also, if someone was trying to kill me on a regular basis, I might be inclined to thrown it down too...don't tell Mom.
Additionally this week we rented Step Brothers. I would give this one a F-. I mean, it is so bad it is just sad. If you saw the trailer and thought it would be funny, think again, it is just terrible. If they were looking for the magic out of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly that produced the classic Talladega Nights, it got lost along the way. Nothing about this movie is funny. Thank goodness I didn't pay full movie price to see this mindless tale. If you have a Will Ferrell craving, just watch Elf again...it is the right season and it is some of Ferrell's best work...in my humble opinion.
As always, you are welcome for my insightful movie reviews. I am sure I have made your life a little better. You are welcome.
Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday! Guess I should have posted some goodwill message ahead of the holiday but I was busy...and a slacker. Don't laugh...admitting it is the first step in the program (I have been holding on step 2 for several years but I am hopeful that 2009 will be my breakout year!)
So, I ran out and rented Wanted this week. I had really wanted to see it when it was released in the summer but it just didn't work out. Seeing it on the big screen would have been great but I had to settle for our 32 inch beauty with the VCR built in...don't be jealous, not everyone can have one.
Wanted stars Morgan Freeman (what a great actor), James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie. I really like this cast. I know that Jolie cheated with Pitt but I have let that go and started to like her again. Honestly, I love Mr. and Mrs. Smith so I would just be a big hypocrite not to like her. James McAvoy is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. He has such a great range...from period films like Atonement to this high octane flick.
The plot of Wanted is a bit lacking but the action is top notch. It also has a wicked sense of humor...or I just happen to have the same sense of humor...and that jacks it up another notch in my book. Pretty much, it is about Wesley (McAvoy) who is a Loser (and yes, I meant to cap that "L"). He is in a dead end job and his best friend is having an affair with his live-in girlfriend. When Fox (that would be Jolie...don't you wish you had a cool name like Fox? I sure do. Maybe I shall make up a new name for myself...something else to ponder.) shows up and tells Wesley that he has the makings of a super assassin, Wesley is not easily convinced. He is not sure about "The Fraternity" which is a group of super assassins with special talents. Although he does come around rather quickly with a great "take this job and shove it" moment at his crappy job. Now Wesley is running with the bad boys and girls of The Fraternity and learning to "curve the bullet".
It has some twists and turns but it is really all about the car chases, things blowing up and guns in this one. If you have a weak stomach for violence (specifically head shots...and I mean that like people getting shot in the head) the you might want to skip this one. They also throw the F-Bomb quite a bit but it sorta works for them. I mean, come on, if you are already killing people as your profession, dropping the F-Bomb isn't sending you to hell any faster than you are already going. Also, if someone was trying to kill me on a regular basis, I might be inclined to thrown it down too...don't tell Mom.
Additionally this week we rented Step Brothers. I would give this one a F-. I mean, it is so bad it is just sad. If you saw the trailer and thought it would be funny, think again, it is just terrible. If they were looking for the magic out of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly that produced the classic Talladega Nights, it got lost along the way. Nothing about this movie is funny. Thank goodness I didn't pay full movie price to see this mindless tale. If you have a Will Ferrell craving, just watch Elf again...it is the right season and it is some of Ferrell's best work...in my humble opinion.
As always, you are welcome for my insightful movie reviews. I am sure I have made your life a little better. You are welcome.
Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday! Guess I should have posted some goodwill message ahead of the holiday but I was busy...and a slacker. Don't laugh...admitting it is the first step in the program (I have been holding on step 2 for several years but I am hopeful that 2009 will be my breakout year!)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Team Edward Takes A Bite Out of Hollywood
Twilight debuted on Friday to huge box office takes. It made more $$ on Friday than the entire movie cost to make. By last night, it had drawn in an estimated $74 million bucks. Now, that is some good ROI. Good enough for the sequel (three more total need to be turned from books to movies) to be greenlighted by the production company.
That is the money behind Twilight. So, was it everything that fans wanted? Did it deliver the romance and suspense of the book? Well, that depends on who you ask.
I am a closet Twlilighter. (Guess I am coming out of the closet!) I have read the books and actually reread many of my favorite parts. I have read online the 200+ pages that Meyer (the author of the books for those who are not fanpires) has written of Midnight Sun. That is the "character development gotten way out of hand" that Meyer wrote retelling Twlight from Edward's head...Twilight is told from Bella's head. I am quite certain I have Googled Twilight on almost a daily basis recently just to check the news. I also have a quote from Eclipse (Book 3 of 4) on my wall. Yep, I am one of THOSE people. I did draw the line at the "Team Edward" t-shirt...but I did think about it...I have to admit it. I suppose that coming clean about this obsession is the first step to recovery...or further obsession...hard to tell.
Anyway, back to the movie. It was OK. I think folks who have not poured over the books will like it more than those of us who have the books committed to memory. I will say that I wish the director had had more money to work with on the film. The "special effects" weren't all that special and were, at times, chessy. However, at its heart still lies the beginnings of the story of accident prone Bella and the tortured soul Edward. I will admit this here but you guys reading this keep it under your hats. The first time Edward appears in the movie I really could have screamed like a teenage girl! I mean there he was...Edward Cullen brought to life! Kudos to Robert Pattinson and his extremely weird and overwhelmingly sexy hair! It is more than the hair...he also has this intense gaze that is at once both wonderfully romantic and more than a bit scary. He makes the perfect Edward. The 22 year old Brit will never have a normal life again. Girls (OK...and women my age who might have a momentary lapse and want to scream at him) will be screaming his name for years to come.
I could hash and rehash what was or wasn't in the movie and give you my opinions. It is my blog after all. BUT, I think everyone should form their own opinion of Twilight. Some will never get the "it" factor that hooked millions of readers. The closest way to describe the "it" factor that Twilight has is it is love without reason or fear. It is Romeo killing himself when he thinks his Juliet has died and Juliet doing herself in once she awakens to a dead Romeo. At the heart of it all, it is about unconditional love...a very hard thing to find today. How many of us love anyone unconditionally? It is a Godly thing to do...perhaps the most Godly thing any of us can do on Earth. That is what makes Twilight special...it holds to the most basic need in all of us, the need to be loved and accepted by another person no matter what we are inside or out.
OK...so enough of my waxing poetic. The chemistry between those playing Edward and Bella is good. The one serious kiss they have heats up the screen better than the half porno sex scenes that appear in a lot of movies. It had punch...and it needed it because (if they stay true to the books) we aren't going to see much more than kissing for a long time.
So, bring on New Moon! (For those of you that are not Twilighters, that is book 2...and will be movie 2.) The production company has its release tentatively scheduled for 2010. How will we all endure the wait? I suppose the support groups and shock therapy will help.
That is the money behind Twilight. So, was it everything that fans wanted? Did it deliver the romance and suspense of the book? Well, that depends on who you ask.
I am a closet Twlilighter. (Guess I am coming out of the closet!) I have read the books and actually reread many of my favorite parts. I have read online the 200+ pages that Meyer (the author of the books for those who are not fanpires) has written of Midnight Sun. That is the "character development gotten way out of hand" that Meyer wrote retelling Twlight from Edward's head...Twilight is told from Bella's head. I am quite certain I have Googled Twilight on almost a daily basis recently just to check the news. I also have a quote from Eclipse (Book 3 of 4) on my wall. Yep, I am one of THOSE people. I did draw the line at the "Team Edward" t-shirt...but I did think about it...I have to admit it. I suppose that coming clean about this obsession is the first step to recovery...or further obsession...hard to tell.
Anyway, back to the movie. It was OK. I think folks who have not poured over the books will like it more than those of us who have the books committed to memory. I will say that I wish the director had had more money to work with on the film. The "special effects" weren't all that special and were, at times, chessy. However, at its heart still lies the beginnings of the story of accident prone Bella and the tortured soul Edward. I will admit this here but you guys reading this keep it under your hats. The first time Edward appears in the movie I really could have screamed like a teenage girl! I mean there he was...Edward Cullen brought to life! Kudos to Robert Pattinson and his extremely weird and overwhelmingly sexy hair! It is more than the hair...he also has this intense gaze that is at once both wonderfully romantic and more than a bit scary. He makes the perfect Edward. The 22 year old Brit will never have a normal life again. Girls (OK...and women my age who might have a momentary lapse and want to scream at him) will be screaming his name for years to come.
I could hash and rehash what was or wasn't in the movie and give you my opinions. It is my blog after all. BUT, I think everyone should form their own opinion of Twilight. Some will never get the "it" factor that hooked millions of readers. The closest way to describe the "it" factor that Twilight has is it is love without reason or fear. It is Romeo killing himself when he thinks his Juliet has died and Juliet doing herself in once she awakens to a dead Romeo. At the heart of it all, it is about unconditional love...a very hard thing to find today. How many of us love anyone unconditionally? It is a Godly thing to do...perhaps the most Godly thing any of us can do on Earth. That is what makes Twilight special...it holds to the most basic need in all of us, the need to be loved and accepted by another person no matter what we are inside or out.
OK...so enough of my waxing poetic. The chemistry between those playing Edward and Bella is good. The one serious kiss they have heats up the screen better than the half porno sex scenes that appear in a lot of movies. It had punch...and it needed it because (if they stay true to the books) we aren't going to see much more than kissing for a long time.
So, bring on New Moon! (For those of you that are not Twilighters, that is book 2...and will be movie 2.) The production company has its release tentatively scheduled for 2010. How will we all endure the wait? I suppose the support groups and shock therapy will help.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Yep, that is why we take the kids to church!
This morning my little one (let's just call him Texas Ranger) crawled into bed with me for some snuggle time. I don't know a mom on the planet that doesn't love to snuggle with their little one. As we snuggled with his two green frogs that MUST be in hand when he is in any bed, we got into a discussion about Christmas. I had put up some of our Christmas decorations while the kids were asleep last night so they woke up to a slightly changed house. This change made Texas Ranger (TR) think that perhaps Santa was right around the corner.
So, here we are having this great moment and talking when TR asks if it is time for Christmas. I tell him that it isn't Christmas yet but it is time to start putting out our Christmas stuff. Thinking that this would be a great Chrisitan teaching moment I grabbed onto it and moved forward. I asked TR if he knew what Christmas was really about. He started with presents and I told him no. Then his answer (after some pondering) was Santa. Again, I told him no and prompted him with the question, "whose birth do we celebrate at Christmas?". This time he was really thinking. He paused for several moments before finally answering, "Elf". It sure is good that TR goes to church every Sunday. Obviously he needs to be put in the slow Sunday School class after that answer!
Of course I shared with TR that it is indeed Jesus and not Elf who we celebrate at Christmas. He thought that over but I still think he may think it is Elf. Darn you Will Ferrell for making such a cute movie!
So, here we are having this great moment and talking when TR asks if it is time for Christmas. I tell him that it isn't Christmas yet but it is time to start putting out our Christmas stuff. Thinking that this would be a great Chrisitan teaching moment I grabbed onto it and moved forward. I asked TR if he knew what Christmas was really about. He started with presents and I told him no. Then his answer (after some pondering) was Santa. Again, I told him no and prompted him with the question, "whose birth do we celebrate at Christmas?". This time he was really thinking. He paused for several moments before finally answering, "Elf". It sure is good that TR goes to church every Sunday. Obviously he needs to be put in the slow Sunday School class after that answer!
Of course I shared with TR that it is indeed Jesus and not Elf who we celebrate at Christmas. He thought that over but I still think he may think it is Elf. Darn you Will Ferrell for making such a cute movie!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Being 8 is better than the alternative...
So, a friend of mine and I (you know who you are) decided to go out to eat and see a movie last weekend. I really can't remember the last time she and I saw a movie together without children present. Maybe it was when we were in college. I do have a vivid memory of seeing "Ghost" with her. You all remember that one...Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in that movie where he gets killed by his best buddy then has to use Whoopi Goldberg to talk through since she is a scam mystic whose only real contact with the beyond is Swayze. It was a tear jerker in the end with Swayze finally saying I Love You to Moore without just saying Ditto and then Moore getting to see him taken into the light while The Righteous Brothers sing. I digress...anyway, when we saw that movie I was crying my eyes out by the end and my friend sat there like we were watching a documentary on single cell organisms. Needless to say, we have different movie watching styles and are pretty different in most other realms too. She is more reserved and thoughtful where I am yelling my opinion at anyone whether they are listening or not. Of course, we do have one thing in common...our children have brought us both to our knees and driven us to the crazy house! (I know that is not very PC of me to write "crazy house". I think the current PC term is "nut joint".)
Last weekend this friend and I had an important choice to make with huge ramifications. We could either see "Zack and Mira Make a Porno" or "High School Musical 3: Senior Year". Now the obvious bystander that sees two women entering "Zack and Mira" would assume...lesbians. I mean it would look very Lohan and Samantha...be honest. On the flip side, seeing HSM3 makes us look like 8 year olds. Again it comes back to that age old question, look like lesbians or 8 year olds.
Seeing as how neither of us looked the part (obviously missing was a fadora, vest and high top sneakers on one of us and a slutty dress on the other), we hit the cavity inducing third part of Disney's teen sing-a-long. High School Musical is SO much like High School. It has the dashing basketball star who is also a triple threat. Then there are the good/bad twins to deal with all while dressing in the latest fashions. The only real High School type thing in this movie is Vanessa whose skin shots were all over the web last fall. Now THAT could happen in High School...and probably does all over our great land daily. Better nude shots than guns kids...remember that.
Ahhhh, to be 8 again. Guess we were for about 2 hours last weekend. Now, I have GOT to get me one of those Troy posters for my bedroom wall...I already have the Captain Jack Fathead in the kids room...
Last weekend this friend and I had an important choice to make with huge ramifications. We could either see "Zack and Mira Make a Porno" or "High School Musical 3: Senior Year". Now the obvious bystander that sees two women entering "Zack and Mira" would assume...lesbians. I mean it would look very Lohan and Samantha...be honest. On the flip side, seeing HSM3 makes us look like 8 year olds. Again it comes back to that age old question, look like lesbians or 8 year olds.
Seeing as how neither of us looked the part (obviously missing was a fadora, vest and high top sneakers on one of us and a slutty dress on the other), we hit the cavity inducing third part of Disney's teen sing-a-long. High School Musical is SO much like High School. It has the dashing basketball star who is also a triple threat. Then there are the good/bad twins to deal with all while dressing in the latest fashions. The only real High School type thing in this movie is Vanessa whose skin shots were all over the web last fall. Now THAT could happen in High School...and probably does all over our great land daily. Better nude shots than guns kids...remember that.
Ahhhh, to be 8 again. Guess we were for about 2 hours last weekend. Now, I have GOT to get me one of those Troy posters for my bedroom wall...I already have the Captain Jack Fathead in the kids room...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Eagle Eye
The boys had school today but Mom was off because of Veteran's Day. So, I did what any good mother would do, I ran away from home and went to the movies! Yeah, I could have stayed at home and done laundry and changed sheets and dusted things but I only get a day completely to myself about once every 18 months so I was hanging on to it as if it was a lifeline...which, perhaps it was.
I did some pre-movie shopping (that is for another post...Victoria's Secret now has Swell Level 5...more to come on that) but soon enough I was in a dark theater with just my thoughts, a bag of popcorn and an excessively large Coke. (I swear I think that cup could have held a 2 ltr worth of Coke.)
Eagle Eye was chosen because it has everything I love in a movie...car chases, terrorist plots, military cover-ups and a "put your mind in neutral" kinda plot. (By that, I don't mean it wasn't smart, it is just mindless action for 2 hours.) Some might call this a guy movie but I prefer those to romantic movies...not that I don't love a good romance, it's just that I can get that most nights on TV and TV doesn't have the budget to throw together a good "guy" show with all the fireworks like this movie.
So, I would consider this was a good one. I would put it in the Live Free or Die Hard range of movies. Two thumbs way up. Beware...what comes next could be considered "spoilers"!
So, Eagle Eye focuses on a normal guy, Jerry, and a normal mom, Rachel. Now Jerry and Rachel start having a really bad couple of days because they have been "activated". Jerry has been set up to look like a terrorist and Rachel's son (off on a seamingly harmless band trip) is in danger if Rachel doesn't toe the line. The action is almost non-stop and has some really great chase scenes. I mean, there are literally dozen of cars totally demolished in this thing! Rachel also gets to drive really crazy at one point and I love this because I would like to have a chance to do that myself...but where do I pick up a Porsche SUV with bad guys chasing me? Also, there is a wonderful chase scene through the baggage system of an airport. It is suppose to be LAX, having never seen LAX's baggage system, maybe it is...whatever, it is really great. (And for those reading this...which is probably no one, TYS's baggage system does not look anything like that one.)
Wasn't I talking about the movie...OK...so Jerry and Rachel must follow a series of actions relayed to them via cell phone. If they don't comply, bad things will happen...those calling the shots do away with a fringe character just to show us all that they mean business. As average Joe and Jane move like chess pieces on a board, the reality behind what is happening to them (or rather why it is all happening to them) starts to take shape. I will not ruining the ending but they win. (No, that doesn't ruin it for you...I didn't tell you how they win did I? So touchy!)
Another thing that makes this a good one is Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan (Jerry and Rachel). They do a great job of playing normal folks thrust into something so much larger than themselves. Shia is the next generation's Tom Hanks. He is the "every man". He isn't too cute and he can play humor as well as drama. I really like this guy...and so does Steven Spielberg so he is pretty much set. As long as he doesn't go Lohan or something, he is going to be a star for years to come. Michelle does a good job as well. You will totally believe she is a mom terrified that something is going to happen to her little boy. As a mom, she made me connect with her terror at the thought of losing something so precious to her.
I would also like to say kudos to the folks who made this movie. It would have been so easy to have thrown Jerry and Rachel together in a hotel room at some point to have the "we may not make it out of this so let's have sex" sex. That didn't happen...and it shouldn't because the world is falling apart around them and that would have just been odd. They instead become a team fighting towards a common goal.
Well, that is the popcorn report on Eagle Eye. It will probably leave theaters soon as Hollywood makes room for the holiday push. If you can't catch it in theaters, I would hit the Blockbuster for it when it makes its DVD debut (with special bonus features and never before seen things that no one will care about...).
PS - Interestingly enough, hubby is at the theater right now watching this same movie with some guy friends. I gave you the girl breakdown on Eagle Eye, now I would like to give you the guy breakdown..."it was good, they blew things up". You are welcome.
I did some pre-movie shopping (that is for another post...Victoria's Secret now has Swell Level 5...more to come on that) but soon enough I was in a dark theater with just my thoughts, a bag of popcorn and an excessively large Coke. (I swear I think that cup could have held a 2 ltr worth of Coke.)
Eagle Eye was chosen because it has everything I love in a movie...car chases, terrorist plots, military cover-ups and a "put your mind in neutral" kinda plot. (By that, I don't mean it wasn't smart, it is just mindless action for 2 hours.) Some might call this a guy movie but I prefer those to romantic movies...not that I don't love a good romance, it's just that I can get that most nights on TV and TV doesn't have the budget to throw together a good "guy" show with all the fireworks like this movie.
So, I would consider this was a good one. I would put it in the Live Free or Die Hard range of movies. Two thumbs way up. Beware...what comes next could be considered "spoilers"!
So, Eagle Eye focuses on a normal guy, Jerry, and a normal mom, Rachel. Now Jerry and Rachel start having a really bad couple of days because they have been "activated". Jerry has been set up to look like a terrorist and Rachel's son (off on a seamingly harmless band trip) is in danger if Rachel doesn't toe the line. The action is almost non-stop and has some really great chase scenes. I mean, there are literally dozen of cars totally demolished in this thing! Rachel also gets to drive really crazy at one point and I love this because I would like to have a chance to do that myself...but where do I pick up a Porsche SUV with bad guys chasing me? Also, there is a wonderful chase scene through the baggage system of an airport. It is suppose to be LAX, having never seen LAX's baggage system, maybe it is...whatever, it is really great. (And for those reading this...which is probably no one, TYS's baggage system does not look anything like that one.)
Wasn't I talking about the movie...OK...so Jerry and Rachel must follow a series of actions relayed to them via cell phone. If they don't comply, bad things will happen...those calling the shots do away with a fringe character just to show us all that they mean business. As average Joe and Jane move like chess pieces on a board, the reality behind what is happening to them (or rather why it is all happening to them) starts to take shape. I will not ruining the ending but they win. (No, that doesn't ruin it for you...I didn't tell you how they win did I? So touchy!)
Another thing that makes this a good one is Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan (Jerry and Rachel). They do a great job of playing normal folks thrust into something so much larger than themselves. Shia is the next generation's Tom Hanks. He is the "every man". He isn't too cute and he can play humor as well as drama. I really like this guy...and so does Steven Spielberg so he is pretty much set. As long as he doesn't go Lohan or something, he is going to be a star for years to come. Michelle does a good job as well. You will totally believe she is a mom terrified that something is going to happen to her little boy. As a mom, she made me connect with her terror at the thought of losing something so precious to her.
I would also like to say kudos to the folks who made this movie. It would have been so easy to have thrown Jerry and Rachel together in a hotel room at some point to have the "we may not make it out of this so let's have sex" sex. That didn't happen...and it shouldn't because the world is falling apart around them and that would have just been odd. They instead become a team fighting towards a common goal.
Well, that is the popcorn report on Eagle Eye. It will probably leave theaters soon as Hollywood makes room for the holiday push. If you can't catch it in theaters, I would hit the Blockbuster for it when it makes its DVD debut (with special bonus features and never before seen things that no one will care about...).
PS - Interestingly enough, hubby is at the theater right now watching this same movie with some guy friends. I gave you the girl breakdown on Eagle Eye, now I would like to give you the guy breakdown..."it was good, they blew things up". You are welcome.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Walker and Texas Ranger
I have two boys. One is 4 and the other is 8. I would like to tell you all that these are fine boys that obey their mother and are kind to one another. I would be telling a terrible lie if I told you that.
Don't get me wrong, they are just typical boys. This is what I tell myself to make it through another day without meds. They will grow up and their strong willed personalities will make them do great things and make their mother proud. This is justice for me having to endure trips to Wal-Mart where one of them lays in the floor and yells or they fight each other to the death in the Target.
It comes down to this...I have Walker and Texas Ranger living with me. (For those of you who have not been fortunate enough to watch the masterpiece of cinematic art known as Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, you may not know what I mean. I would highly recommend this treasure.) I am not really sure where they came from exactly. I mean, I know how they got here...I do remember those moments with absolute clarity (one was 9 lbs and the other over 8! YIKES!). I just don't know how Walker and Texas Ranger ended up being my little "angels" to look after. Why are they coming at me like a spider monkey? I was a good child...just ask my mom.
Now these high spirited boys do make life interesting...and fun...as long as you have an offbeat sense of humor. Why, just the other day on the way home from church we had a wonderful discussion about one of God's creatures...skunks. We had just smelled a skunk and my hubby says, "I would like to have a skunk for a pet". (I know what you are thinking...he may be the Ricky Bobby in this family...I too have considered this option.) So, upon hearing that Daddy wants a skunk as a pet, the 4 year old says, in his very serious voice, "Daddy, we can't have a skunk because they would fart up the place". At this point Daddy and I are trying to look out the windows and not encourage the use of such language while at the same time laughing so hard we are crying. Finally, Daddy pulls himself together enough to say that a pet skunk would have the farts taken out before we got it for a pet. Thank goodness the air was cleared on that issue.
Don't get me wrong, they are just typical boys. This is what I tell myself to make it through another day without meds. They will grow up and their strong willed personalities will make them do great things and make their mother proud. This is justice for me having to endure trips to Wal-Mart where one of them lays in the floor and yells or they fight each other to the death in the Target.
It comes down to this...I have Walker and Texas Ranger living with me. (For those of you who have not been fortunate enough to watch the masterpiece of cinematic art known as Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, you may not know what I mean. I would highly recommend this treasure.) I am not really sure where they came from exactly. I mean, I know how they got here...I do remember those moments with absolute clarity (one was 9 lbs and the other over 8! YIKES!). I just don't know how Walker and Texas Ranger ended up being my little "angels" to look after. Why are they coming at me like a spider monkey? I was a good child...just ask my mom.
Now these high spirited boys do make life interesting...and fun...as long as you have an offbeat sense of humor. Why, just the other day on the way home from church we had a wonderful discussion about one of God's creatures...skunks. We had just smelled a skunk and my hubby says, "I would like to have a skunk for a pet". (I know what you are thinking...he may be the Ricky Bobby in this family...I too have considered this option.) So, upon hearing that Daddy wants a skunk as a pet, the 4 year old says, in his very serious voice, "Daddy, we can't have a skunk because they would fart up the place". At this point Daddy and I are trying to look out the windows and not encourage the use of such language while at the same time laughing so hard we are crying. Finally, Daddy pulls himself together enough to say that a pet skunk would have the farts taken out before we got it for a pet. Thank goodness the air was cleared on that issue.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Wasn't this suppose to be about movies or something...
With that great title from a movie I thought I would be blogging more about my insane love of the movies. Also, this blog was born out of that thought...not from my own head, but from that of a good friend (you know who you are).
So, my latest "movie about to come out obsession" is Twilight. I know, those were suppose to be books meant for teenage girls. Who cares, they (all 4 of them with the slight exception of book 2) were great. So, to see these characters brought to my favorite medium outside of books gives me something to look forward to. Yes, I have read all about the cast, the director, the budget, the hype, etc. I know that at first (long before I discovered this little world where vampires roam Washington state) the character of Edward was cast and people HATED the casting. Now, they think Robert Pattinson is none other than Edward conjured straight from the book. I do love his crazy hair... So what that he is 22 and I am 36...I am sure I could still be his Bella if I put my mind to it. Laugh if you must.
Having seen all 12 or so trailers that this movie has spawned, I know that I have seen all the "big moments" but it is all those little ones that I can't wait to see brought to life on the big screen. Losing myself in a movie based on a book that I already lost myself in is simply wonderful. I can almost smell the popcorn!
As a side note, I have a helpful movie viewing tip about how not to have to rush to the bathroom during a movie. There is nothing I hate more than that...OK, there are things I hate more but let me ramble a minute. The way it use to work for me was go into the theater and then run out just before the movie started to try to pee again. Then I would almost always start to have that "I gotta go" feeling just as the movie was heating up. I would put it off as long as possible trying to gage the best time to run out...not missing the best part of the movie. Then I was off, rushing down the steps (but not too fast so that the other theater goers think I am nuts), then rounding the corner and taking off. Into the bathroom and taking care of business with lightening speed. Rush back out of the bathroom with hopes I have hand sanitizer in my purse so I don't waste precious time washing my hands. (You have done it too, don't judge.) Then run back in and thrown myself in my seat and ask hubby, "what did I miss!", to get the answer, "nothing". Too many times I have later seen the movie on DVD to see that I indeed did miss something. SO, I have found the solution to the problem. Still do the last minute trip to the restroom but then eat at least twice as much (more if you can stomach the yellow oil they pretend is butter) as you drink. The popcorn will soak up the liquid (usually a Coke in my case because I am from the South and it is almost our regional drink...sweet tea is number one of course with Coke as a close second)! It is an amazing revelation that I have discovered and I am sharing it here publicly for the very first time. You are welcome.
Back to Twilight, this movie centers around a normal girl, Bella, who movies to a town called Forks in Washington state. She immediately draws the attention of a member of a beautiful but odd family known as the Cullens (Vampires hidding in plain sight). Edward, yes, the one of great hair mentioned above, just about kills Bella because her blood is so powerful to him. Guess I should mention that these vamps don't drink human blood, just animal blood. So, we are off and running on this tale of forbidden love. The ordinary human and the beautiful, but very deadly, vampire. It is a great ride in the book and I am hoping it will be on screen. Releasing on November 21, I am sure this is going to pull down the bucks...and allow the other 3 books to start their progression from written word to big screen blockbusters. Be sure to check it out.
So, my latest "movie about to come out obsession" is Twilight. I know, those were suppose to be books meant for teenage girls. Who cares, they (all 4 of them with the slight exception of book 2) were great. So, to see these characters brought to my favorite medium outside of books gives me something to look forward to. Yes, I have read all about the cast, the director, the budget, the hype, etc. I know that at first (long before I discovered this little world where vampires roam Washington state) the character of Edward was cast and people HATED the casting. Now, they think Robert Pattinson is none other than Edward conjured straight from the book. I do love his crazy hair... So what that he is 22 and I am 36...I am sure I could still be his Bella if I put my mind to it. Laugh if you must.
Having seen all 12 or so trailers that this movie has spawned, I know that I have seen all the "big moments" but it is all those little ones that I can't wait to see brought to life on the big screen. Losing myself in a movie based on a book that I already lost myself in is simply wonderful. I can almost smell the popcorn!
As a side note, I have a helpful movie viewing tip about how not to have to rush to the bathroom during a movie. There is nothing I hate more than that...OK, there are things I hate more but let me ramble a minute. The way it use to work for me was go into the theater and then run out just before the movie started to try to pee again. Then I would almost always start to have that "I gotta go" feeling just as the movie was heating up. I would put it off as long as possible trying to gage the best time to run out...not missing the best part of the movie. Then I was off, rushing down the steps (but not too fast so that the other theater goers think I am nuts), then rounding the corner and taking off. Into the bathroom and taking care of business with lightening speed. Rush back out of the bathroom with hopes I have hand sanitizer in my purse so I don't waste precious time washing my hands. (You have done it too, don't judge.) Then run back in and thrown myself in my seat and ask hubby, "what did I miss!", to get the answer, "nothing". Too many times I have later seen the movie on DVD to see that I indeed did miss something. SO, I have found the solution to the problem. Still do the last minute trip to the restroom but then eat at least twice as much (more if you can stomach the yellow oil they pretend is butter) as you drink. The popcorn will soak up the liquid (usually a Coke in my case because I am from the South and it is almost our regional drink...sweet tea is number one of course with Coke as a close second)! It is an amazing revelation that I have discovered and I am sharing it here publicly for the very first time. You are welcome.
Back to Twilight, this movie centers around a normal girl, Bella, who movies to a town called Forks in Washington state. She immediately draws the attention of a member of a beautiful but odd family known as the Cullens (Vampires hidding in plain sight). Edward, yes, the one of great hair mentioned above, just about kills Bella because her blood is so powerful to him. Guess I should mention that these vamps don't drink human blood, just animal blood. So, we are off and running on this tale of forbidden love. The ordinary human and the beautiful, but very deadly, vampire. It is a great ride in the book and I am hoping it will be on screen. Releasing on November 21, I am sure this is going to pull down the bucks...and allow the other 3 books to start their progression from written word to big screen blockbusters. Be sure to check it out.
Random Thoughts...
A normal Saturday...kids are screaming and attempting to slay each other with enough weapons to arm a small middle eastern country (one of those countries without all that oil money). Hubby is curled up on the sofa flipping through the channels. Ahhhh...domestic bliss. But what is all this about having to clean the house and now the kids are yelling that they are hungry! What?!
Oh yeah, and those $100+ tickets to Disney on Ice for tonight that I bought and surprised on the kids were met with lukewarm reviews. In fact, Ethan proclaimed he DID NOT want to go because he was afraid he would slip and fall on the ice. When it was explained that he would not be on the ice, he broke down because he WANTS to skate. Head hitting wall over and over...mine, not the kids...I know what you thought. So, it may be that I dropped $100+ bucks just down the drain. Man, that would have paid for a massage...probably with those hot rocks thrown in. No, I will not think like that. We will go and have MANDATORY family fun at this event. Happy, happy, happy! When the event photos eventually get scrapbooked...sometime late in Obama's first term, those kids and their parents will look so freaking happy it will make people think that the perfect family attended Disney on Ice!
Darn...almost lunch time...what to fix?
Oh yeah, and those $100+ tickets to Disney on Ice for tonight that I bought and surprised on the kids were met with lukewarm reviews. In fact, Ethan proclaimed he DID NOT want to go because he was afraid he would slip and fall on the ice. When it was explained that he would not be on the ice, he broke down because he WANTS to skate. Head hitting wall over and over...mine, not the kids...I know what you thought. So, it may be that I dropped $100+ bucks just down the drain. Man, that would have paid for a massage...probably with those hot rocks thrown in. No, I will not think like that. We will go and have MANDATORY family fun at this event. Happy, happy, happy! When the event photos eventually get scrapbooked...sometime late in Obama's first term, those kids and their parents will look so freaking happy it will make people think that the perfect family attended Disney on Ice!
Darn...almost lunch time...what to fix?
Ok, so what is with this Blog title?
I would like to say that I am extremely creative and came up with this thoughtful blog title myself. Maybe to make everyone think, even for a moment, about their very existance. Not so much.
It is actually one of my favorite lines from the movie The Shawshank Redemption. Andy speaks this line to Red about where he wants to live out of rest of his life...in a warm place with no memory.
Thanks to Andy for the title and myself for watching far too many movies and remembering, almost frighteningly, the dialogue from these movies.
It is actually one of my favorite lines from the movie The Shawshank Redemption. Andy speaks this line to Red about where he wants to live out of rest of his life...in a warm place with no memory.
Thanks to Andy for the title and myself for watching far too many movies and remembering, almost frighteningly, the dialogue from these movies.
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