May I Introduce To You The Mad Hatter...

I will admit, I never have been a fan of the Alice In Wonderland story. Too much fantasy for my taste. Disney made it into a cartoon years ago and I am sure others have put their spin on this tale. Now, just days before my birthday in 2010, Tim Burton will open the box on his unique version of the classic.

Why do I care? Well, let's just say that the Mad Hatter in this one sparks my interest! Yes, he does look completely nuts...I am loving it!

Here is the teaser trailer for what looks like a wild ride into the imagination...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjMkNrX60mA

What do you think? Too much Tim Burton? Too much Johnny Depp....WAIT...is there such a thing? I think NOT!

Until March 2010...

Blah...Blah...Blah...Time Travel...Blah...Blah..Blah...

Went out with the girls last night. (Thanks for another memorable night!) Saw The Time Travelers Wife. This was actually someone else's choice so I went along with low expectations for this one. It failed to live up to the low expectations...

So, this one is about a time traveler (Eric Bana) and the woman he loves and eventually marries (Rachel McAdams). Bana's character, Henry, has been visiting McAdams character, Claire, for many years. He actually first meets her when he is probably about 35 and she is 6. He visits her on and off throughout her childhood. This part comes off as just creepy! Anyway, she writes down everything about her visits with Henry. One day, Claire meets up with Henry in his current timeline (this part gets very confusing and makes me really dislike the notion of time travel...bummer since I am suppose to like it enough to write about it...) and he doesn't know her but she knows him and is completely in love with him. She invites him out to eat and then back to her place. Let's just say that it is a very memorable first date for him since he has never met her (because his older self only has) and she moves the relationship forward really quickly. In the end, he is a guy and he isn't going to pass up this pretty chick throwing herself at him!

As the title suggests, they get married and live a very weird life since Henry can't control his traveling. OK...this is where I have a big problem with the movie. It is stated over and over that Henry can't control when he travels or where he goes. BUT...on two important occasions, he shows up in just the right place at just the right time. The first time is to go back and tell his 6 year old self that everything will be alright after his first traveling experience. The second is to know to show up and marry Claire because the younger version of Henry traveled right before he is expected to walk out during the ceremony. This part really bothered me. Can or can't he control it? Even the movie makers don't seem to know! Another sticking point is that he often talks about how he looks older when he travels (or younger depending on the time). Thing is...other than one time at the wedding...he looks the same every time. They didn't even TRY to make him look different. Every time he said..."I know I look older/younger"...I wanted to yell, heck no you don't Eric Bana...and you can't act either!! OK...confession...I don't care for Bana's acting inability.

In the end, while others around me cried (I could hear crying throughout the theater!), I sat there and hoped Henry was going to die soon and end the movie! I could also hear the bangs and booms of Inglourious Basterds from the theater next door. Now THAT is a movie I want to see! Here are two trailers for that one if you want to take a peek...
FIRST TRAILER... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sQhTVz5IjQ
SECOND TRAILER...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOMKloOEKcU)
Why is it that I go for the guy movies? Who knows...

There you go...The Time Traveler's Wife...I give it a C-.

Giving Team Jacob A Thought...

Entertainment Weekly has up another look at New Moon. I have always FIRMLY been a Team Edward fan. After seeing this, it makes me think more about moving my membership to Team Jacob! (Just kidding, Edward...I will never leave you!)

More New Moon...enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__4nk303LXY

See you at the theaters on November 20th...unless I can get myself a ticket to the Regal Charity showing. Already working that one with my "business contacts"!

United Breaks Guitars 2

You have probably seen the video by Dave Carroll about his experience with United Airlines and a broken guitar. If you haven't, here it is...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&NR=1. Over 14 million folks have enjoyed this guys payback to United. Heck, I bought the song off of iTunes!

Dave and band, Sons of Maxwell, are back with song 2! Here it is...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-UoERHaSQg&feature=response_watch.

They have promised one more song and video. I can't wait.

One More Just For Kicks and Giggles...

Another YouTube thing.

Most communities try to make videos of the pretty stuff in their area and hide the bad things. Here is someone who just told it like it is about Cleveland, OH! Having been to Cleveland on several occasions, I can say they pretty much hit the mark!

Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgAjjuqZM

So...I've Been Busy...

Been busy on other stuff so this blog has gotten the shaft! This entry will also be a short one. It is just a link to a video on YouTube.

Let me set this one up. The video involves a mayoral candidate from Ohio who is trying to do a press conference in front of a building on some street he deems important or needs changed...who knows. Anway, there is a guy on his front porch that disagrees with this politician. He makes his position known and it is a hoot!

You may not think it is that funny when you watch it. However, just take a cue from the guy on the porch and add this into your daily life. When someone says something you don't like, just do what he does. (This will make sense after you see it.) We have been doing this at work for about two weeks and we find it to be hysterical! Now, we are all a bit nuts so it may only work for the less than sane. You have been warned!

Here you go...enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de3WWGCK4N0

Don't like this post?! Boooooo!

I Should Have Seen This Coming...

Last week I put up the JK Wedding Entrance video. Well, I should have seen a spoof coming! Here is the "JK Divorce Entrance" video. Funny stuff...

Enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbr2ao86ww0

Whoever Wrote The Joys Of Parenting Didn't Have Children...

Today was back to school for my oldest child. So, that should impact his life most...right? NO! What happens is it throws the entire household into "school" mode. I don't like school mode. I like slacker mode to be honest. However, slacker mode will not get you into MIT so off to school mode we go!

What I mean by school mode is the following (and this is only the evening portion!):

6 p.m. Dinner...usually including...I don't like this, he got a smaller/bigger something, my cup is green and I wanted it to be blue.

7 p.m. Bath time with screaming, fighting and me issuing threats.

7:30 p.m. Thirty minutes until bedtime warning to brush teeth and start getting ready or NO story tonight...Mom will not read another Chapter in Treasure Island...I am serious!

7:45 p.m. Fifteen minute warning with harsh threats and talk of spanking or video game destruction (taking the video games away isn't good enough...you have to threaten to actually throw them away or blow them up in the backyard!)

8 p.m. Time is up! Get in bed....Get In Bed...GET IN BED NOW....GET IN BED NOW OR I WILL DO SOMEONE HARM (probably myself at this point).

8:15 p.m. Story time where the kids attempt to play while I read with my best Long John Silver voice and alternately yell at them to get back in bed or I will put the book down!

8:30 p.m. I leave the room to sounds of wailing....I want a glass of water...can I sleep with my brother...I forgot to finish my homework (yes, this happened tonight on the first day of school!)

8:45 p.m. I take up drinking. KIDDING...I have been drinking the whole time. No folks...I don't drink but I do consider it on nights like these.

8:45 p.m. Iron clothes for everyone while wondering what people that have no children are doing. Do they get to sleep more? Do they get to drive nicer cars that haven't been thrown up in? Do they do important things like watch the news to stay current on world events?

9 p.m. Make sure that a healthy snack is packed in the backpack and lay out the clothes for tomorrow.

9:15 p.m. Well...it is me time. What shall I do with all this free time? Type something I should...nope...write something I should...nope...review the script I should...maybe...watch a movie while pretending to review the script...sounding better.

Another day in Mommyville draws to a close. People say that I will reflect on these times years from now and wish I had them back. I personally think those people are crazy.

Elizabethtown...

I haven't seen a new movie in a couple of weeks. Well, that isn't entirely true. I did see G-Force but I have deemed it "unblog worthy". Take that Jerry Bruckheimer! Next time you think about making a movie about talking guinea pigs that are black ops agents, think again!

So, here I go with another one of my favorites. I quote this movie a lot but hardly anyone has seen it. It is Elizabethtown. Here is the trailer...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75TKB0299b0&feature=related

Elizabethtown is the story of Drew Baylor. Drew is played by Orlando Bloom. Drew is a hot shot tennis shoe designer that designs this really odd shoe. His company has high hopes for the shoe but it ends up losing his company almost 1 billion bucks! To say he gets fired is an understatement! Oh...he also gets dumped by his girlfriend over the deal. So, Drew heads home, cleans out his apartment and decides to do himself in. Just before his "death scene", he gets a call from his sister informing him that his dad has died. WOW...can this guy have a worse day? Anyway, his dad was visiting family in...you guessed it...Elizabethtown, KY when he died. Drew gets the job of flying from Oregon to Kentucky to bring his dad home...well, his ashes.

OK...so we got a suicidal, out of work, girlfriendless guy who now has to go get his dead dad in Kentucky. To Drew's credit, he gets on the plane for a red eye flight (at night folks). As fate would have it, there happens to be this very cheerful flight attendant on Drew's plane. Claire, played by Kristen Dunst, talks to Drew and even draws him a map on how to get from Louisville to Elizabethtown...don't miss 60B! (You will get this if you ever see the movie!) She also gives him her phone number.

From this point, we have the basis of the story. Drew is a "fish out of water" in Kentucky and meets lots of family members during the funeral. Yep...Drew went to get his dad but the family in Kentucky has a whole memorial deal and funeral that they are planning that he gets drug into...it is very funny! Also, in a moment of loneliness, he calls Claire the flight attendant. They end up having an all night conversation where they talk about...well...life.

Why do I like this movie? I am not really sure. I wouldn't put it in the "great" movie category but I find myself watching it over and over. (Well, I can't right now because I loaned it out and may never see it again...what was I thinking?!) One reason I do like the movie is the music. It is like the movie was almost written around the music. I also love many of Claire's musings. Here is one I particularly like from the script...

Drew - You're kind of great, Claire.You do know that. Sort of amazing, even.
Claire - Oh, come on! I don't need an ice cream cone.
Drew - It's not an ice cream cone. What's an ice cream cone?
Claire - You know. "Here's a little something to make you happy. Something sweet that melts
in five minutes." I'm completely cool with anything you want to say or not say. I don't need it.

I use that "ice cream cone" line a lot when I think someone is telling me what they think I want to hear. I think Claire didn't think Drew was being honest when he told her she was great/amazing because she didn't believe it herself. I understand that...

There is also a scene where Claire tells Drew that her boyfriend forgot he was suppose to come see her that weekend. They are in this ballroom where there had been a rehearsal dinner for this couple (Chuck and Cindy) whose wedding has taken over the hotel Drew is staying in while in Elizabethtown. Drew finds the toast that Chuck wrote for Cindy and he delivers these lines (at first, Claire doesn't know he is reading from Chuck's toast)...

Drew - See, I know what you deserve.
Claire - What do I deserve?
Drew - You deserve....
Drew - You deserve....
Drew - You deserve...a guy who says: "l can't imagine a world without you. We will start a winery when we are 70. We will snowboard every December, and one year take our kids. And we will always have the twin red Lexuses...with the license plates reading:'Chuck and Cindy."'

The look on Claire's face when he tells her "I can't imagine a world without you" is wonderful. What a great line...even if poor Drew stole it off Chuck's toast!

My favorite part of the whole thing is Drew's road trip home. Claire, in the all night conversation, made him promise he would take a solitary road trip. Before he leaves Elizabethtown (after a very interesting memorial service that features the song Free Bird), Claire gives him this huge map that is set to music. It tells him places to stop along the way and the CDs to put in at different times. Since his father was cremated, she tells him that the places she sends him are some of the ones that "her Mitch" would be buried (his father's name was Mitch). He follows the map and ends up in crazy places and meaningful ones. One of my favorites is the "survivor tree" at the Oklahoma City bombing site. Claire tells him it is her favorite tree in the whole world...and she really likes trees. The "survivor tree" is the one that was close to "ground zero" of the blast but survived. It stands outside the entrance to the memorial to the victims of the bombing.

In the end, Claire's map sends Drew to a farmer's market with instructions to go here and there at the market. He follows the clues and acquires a note that tells him that he can turn around and the map will take him home...OR...he can change his path and look for a girl in a red hat. Yep...bet you can guess who that girl happens to be!

Great movie? Not sure. Great soundtrack to be sure. It has a really cool website that is still up. Check it out if you like...http://www.elizabethtown.com/home.html.

Well, there is my take on Elizabethtown. The critics didn't like the movie but I did. Maybe it is a chick movie...maybe it just speaks to me...who knows.

Until the next movie...

Funny As Long As It Didn't Happen To You...

I have a friend who, for the purpose of keeping the victim anonymous, shall be renamed for the story to follow. Let's just call her Emma because I really like that name. It is one of the ones I was saving in case I had a girl. No girl...oh well...

So, "Emma" was telling me recently about something that happened to her while at the mall this week. She has several children and they were out shoe shopping for back to school items. While doing said shoe shopping, Emma ran into an acquaintance and stopped to chat while in a shoe store. As kids do, they started playing while she was talking. Her youngest child was in a stroller but managed to pull an escape act and got free...kids do this a lot too! Anyway, this youngest child came over to Emma while she was chatting with the other woman and pulled Emma's skirt down! It ended up pooled around Emma's ankles and, much to her chagrin, her shirt was not very long! The acquaintance offered to hold the cup of coffee that Emma had in her hand so that Emma could pull her skirt back up!

Now, when I heard this story it was told to me over the phone. I thought I would have to sit down I was laughing so hard. Emma had had some time to process the whole thing so she wasn't mad at my laughter...well, I hope not. It was just that I could so picture that scene! Emma said that she didn't think anyone other the acquaintance saw the ordeal. Of course, being the good friend that I am, I pointed out that the store probably had video cameras rolling and she would end up on some funny video show! I know...I am an awesome friend!

Thought you guys might find that as entertaining as I did...although I do feel terribly bad that it happened to Emma. I have made a mental note not to wear anything with an elastic waist when going out with Emma and her little one!!

How Does One Hurt Themselves While Sleeping...

Two times this week I have woken up and, upon moving, I felt this terrible pain in my back. What is up with that? How can I hurt myself while I am asleep?! Now, I fear it is old age coming to haunt my door. This just can't be!

My rheumatologist and I are going to have to have a talk about this one. Speaking of old age...who else out there has a rheumatologist at my age? Whenever I visit this doctor I always walk into the lobby and sign in and sit down just to be stared at by all the 80 year old people in the room. Same thing happened when, at the suggestion of said rheumatologist, I took up water aerobics. The first day I walked in, the other kindly ladies (all at least 30 years my senior) just looked at me weird. Finally, one very nice woman asked me if I was the new instructor! Nope! They got use to me after a while but they never let me in "the club".

Now, I know what my very nice doctor is going to say. Have you been sleeping 8 hours at night? This is where I generally change the subject so I don't have to lie to him. Oh course, he will tell me to avoid be overly stressed (sure...I will just set my mind to that one) and exercise but only something like water aerobics. He freaked out last year when I told him I had taken up running. Of course, I had figured out that wasn't the best plan of action already but he still jumped my case about it. I hate being told that I can't...OK, shouldn't...do something. Yes...I am stubborn!

So, after I clean the house maybe I will head off to the pool for some exercise. Hope it works out the back issue because I am OVER it this week! Also, I have to pull off some puppet duty at church tomorrow and doing that just isn't easy. If you have ever seen it done then it LOOKS easy but it hurts your arm like crazy. OK...maybe it is just me and my "old lady" deal but it hurts! BUT...as they say in the movies...the show must go on. AND...it will!! I have to say that because sometimes the puppet master...hey, there is a new title for you...reads this and I don't want to incur his wrath tomorrow! :)