Cupcake Tokens and Lima Beans

I had Lima Beans with my dinner tonight. Have I ever told you how much I loooove Lima Beans? I do.

Also, today one of my volunteers who has also become a friend brought by a cupcake for me to make up for the fact she's stood me up on scheduled volunteer time several times now. Score! So I had a german chocolate cupcake this evening after dinner.

Thirdly, I am watching Newsies, a triumphant chronicling of the News Boys strike of 1900 something.... With singing and dancing, of course. Note the star, Christian Bale, in the center in the blue shirt. Such a good flick. I highly recommend it.

Drama with Mama

My fun thing for today is that I watched part of Wives and Daughters with my mama and we ate hot cherry pie. Mmmmmm.

Smart People Movies

I've been scouring my Netflix options for good documentaries. The goal is to show mentally stimulating, insightful, entertaining documentaries. As a result I have the suspicion I will be watching quite a few documentaries in the coming month or so. I have come up with a cajillion that have very good potential. Who knew there were so many out there! On the top of my list:

1. After Innocence: A look at convicted prisoners released from jail after being cleared by DNA evidence. I am actually watching it right now. I feel like it could be better.

2. Exit Through the Gift Shop: All about underground street art and street artist Banksy, who does stencil art and is all kinds of famous or something.

3. Food, Inc.: Looking at effect of food industry on our health and environment. Because my sister reeeeeeally wants me to watch it. And I suppose I should educate myself on food and junk.

4. No Impact Man: A man and wife and baby try to make no impact on the environment for a year. That's some dedication.

5. Murderball: About Rugby-playing quadriplegics at the paralympics. Sounds hardcore.

6. Good Hair: Chris Rock looks at African-American hair and the views surrounding what is "good hair" and how women get it. I hear it's super good.

There are quite a few on my list. We watched Rize last week, which is about Krumping and Clowning (dance movements) in LA. Quite interesting. I've got quite a few historical ones on my list, because I like a good historical education. Those might be more for my interest than ones that will be contenders for our summer documentary series...

Do you have any favorites?

I have a confession. I loooove...

Gnomes. If you have been in my house you have seen my gnomes. And I am sooooo excited for this:

Efficient Movie Watching 101

If you don't know about the Bunnies, then your life is sadly incomplete. For instance, this recap of Star Wars is helpful. I think Little Man would especially appreciate it for the Chewbacca parts.

Also, been hearing about this Twilight thing, but don't want to commit to the whole movie? Me neither.

I see there's one for New Moon, too. I'm thinking I might just watch that one and call the movie watched.

This is My Standing Space, This is Your Standing Space

I'll admit it, I watched Dirty Dancing twice last week. Because Baby just has to be taken out of the corner every once in a while. But really, we're gathered here today so I can talk with you about movie theatre etiquette. Or really Being in Public etiquette. Because, seriously. I went to the movies the other night with Dizzle, and as we are standing in line to get our tickets, the woman behind me literally climbed into my back pocket and made herself at home. So much so that while I was trying to talk to Dizzle, I was very clearly hearing about how this 90 pound woman weighed A LOT when she lived in England. Like, the same that she does now. I'm positive this is what she said because she said it at least three times while she helped me hold my purse. So help me, I almost had one of my moments that makes K look like she wants to hide, and turned around to tell the chick that she was making me very uncomfortable, and could she please back up or at least pay for my ticket if we were in a date. Because she was close enough I felt like we were on one. Why do people do that? SPACE people. Pretend you're in Texas. Wide open spaces and hat rims that help people remember to keep their distance. Also guns. That will be used on you if you don't climb the heck out of my back pocket.

So we find our seats in the theatre, and it's not very crowded. Tons of seats. And a group of four comes in, and picks our row, where we are the only two people. And the woman leading the way comes RIGHT up to Dizzle, and basically forces Janelle to give up her purse seat so that she can sit RIGHT next to us. Has this woman never heard of a buffer chair. Everyone knows about the buffer chair. You don't sit right next to people. That's just weird.

I tell you, in my day, we behaved all civilized. What's this world coming to?

Dear George,

George Clooney, do you watch your aunt every Christmas like I do? She's pretty fabulous.



Also, George, did you know that the White Christmas musical is a little bit silly? I'm just warning you, George. If you go to see it, don't expect Betty to be half so fabulous. It's not her fault. Not everyone can be a Rosemary. And the script writers did wacky things like make her a man hater who hates love. But at least they let her dance with her feather fan.

I'm Dreaming...

Of a White Christmas. I admit it. I'm thinking about Christmas. It started with having to commencing planning for holiday events for work at the beginning of October. It's hard to search for snowflake clipart and come up with catchy little names for my flyers related to the holidays and NOT start singing the tunes. So today K, a few of her family members and I settled down to watch White Christmas. Best. Christmas. Movie. Ever. You may argue that Miracle on 34th Street or It's a Wonderful Life is the best movie ever, but I am here to tell you, you're wrong. White Christmas has it all. Snappy songs. Tear jerker moments with the General. Bing Crosby (in my opinion, Bing Crosby is a requisite for The Best Christmas Movie). In chatting with a friend, I discovered that there is a title I could hold that I have neglected earning, which his mother wears as a proud badge. Better than Cat Lady, even. The Christmas Movie Lady. No, you can't have it, I saw it first.

Here's what I've come up with so far:
1. White Christmas (which I own)

2. It's a Wonderful Life (which I own)

3. It's a Very Muppet Christmas Movie

4. A Muppet Christmas Carol (which I own)

5. Holiday Inn

6. Miracle on 34th Street

7. A Charlie Brown Christmas (which I own)

8. All those old-school cartoons they show every year. That screwball Rudolph!

9. The Grinch and The Grinch. OF COURSE. Sillies. Best Christmas cartoon ever.

10. Elf. Which I think wins the best new Christmas that I do believe qualifies as a classic.

I reject Santa Clause and Home Alone as valid Christmas movies because I cannot look beyond the horror which is their sequels in order to take them seriously. So don't even try to tell me they are. But seriously, this is only ten. I can't be the Christmas Movie Lady with only ten! What other movies do I need to add to my list?

And yes, we are talking about this in October. These things take prepartion. Embrace it.

I Just Might be a Bass

My computer has gone on the fritz, right after my car went on the fritz, right after my mp3 player went on the fritz. Car is fine, mp3 player may never speak to me again. I'm hoping the laptop will continue speaking to me. Right now he as K's brother's getting looked at, AKA the Computer ER. Fingers crossed he will be able to resuscitate it. Noticed I called my computer a he. This might just call for a name. If he pulls through, that is.

Meanwhile the scene in my apartment just might look like this...

(Pretend that one scene from Spaceballs is here, where the princess is singing "Nobody Knows the Trouble I Seen," in a prison cell. I can't find it. Stupid Youtube.)

Update: Thanks BigSis. It was NOWHERE when I searched for it. Grr.

Austen Eli Eli

I have some good news for you. BBC is making a new Emma, and I think it will be fabulous. Also JennaL tells me she thinks it will be four hours. Which is AWESOME. And if you don't think so we can't be friends anymore.

I feel the sudden urge to watch me some Eli Stone.

Just Between You and I

It seems like we are having these talks a lot lately, but I feel like you and I need to sit down and have another chat. I've been seeing the quizzes you've been taking on MyFace, and I'm a little concerned. This vampire guy that you speak of marrying...this Edward... is that really wise? I mean, yeah, he's a hundred years or so old, so he is not technically a minor, but he is in the body of a 17 year old, is he not? Yes, the actor who plays him in the movie is 23ish, but still. Have you noticed that you are 30ish or 40ish? And married? With children? Also that all of your friends of like age also seem to think he is their one true love? A little cradle-robberish. Also possibly polygamous. And do you really want someone to stand over you and watch you sleep all night? Should we change his name to Clay?

On the plus side, I am happy to report that my sweet teenagers who have friended me are generally not crushing on him as much as you. Or counting down to the movie. Or making slightly uncomfortable lustful comments about him. Or posting pictures from their Twilight parties. Because they didn't have one. So more for you, yes? I do know a ten-year-old that would love to come to your party for the next one, though.

Phew. I've held that in for so long. It's good we had this talk. I feel much better. Now if you will excuse me I have a Lord of the Rings Quiz to take now. Have you met my husband, Strider?

Just Say No to Tobacco

See how that rhymes? It totally does. Today's hot topic from CNN is smoking. Apparently the American Medical Association Alliance has had enough. They are calling for all movies that depict characters smoking to be rated R. The reasoning is that apparently there is a study that shows that seeing these images inspires teenagers to start smoking. The actual article is much more clear if you prefer facts over vagueness. As much as I will acknowledge that smoking is yucky, and that I wish my friends would not do it (and yes I know it's hard to quit and I'm not getting all Judgey McJudgerson here, I just worry about you), I'm not sure this is the right approach. In conversations I've had with friends about why they starting smoking, usually the answer has something to do with the fact that all their other friends were doing it and it sounded good at the time. Of course, there may be deeper psychological factors that they can't fully pinpoint. Maybe they DO just want to be Sandy so they can hook their Danny.

Think of the movies and shows we loved back in the day that totally promoted smoking:

1. Alice in Wonderland

2. Newsies

3. Footloose (because Bad Boys smoke)

4. Pretty in Pink (because Bad Boys smoke in the hallways of high school)

5. The Odd Couple

6. The Flinstones

7. I Love Lucy (to keep your man happy).

8. The Muppets

9. The A-Team

And, by the way, guess what you are all getting for Christmas.

Not to discount the value in not portraying smoking in a positive light on screen, because I'm sure there is value there, but I think possibly it has a wee bit less to do with what we see on screen, and more with the messages we get at home. K and I were talking about how we watched a lot of the above shows, but we also got the message that smoking is yucky, and that we don't do that. I think parents really do have a lot of power to shape the opinions of their wee ones. I had no idea when I was little that people turn to cigarettes when they are stressed, because of something the nicotine does when you are addicted, er whatever. I just knew it smelled yucky and was bad for you. Also that Mom frowned on pulling the butts one might find in the street apart, and that inside the butts, there was a weird cotton substance. What is that, anyways?

On the other hand, I know kids/adults whose parents smoke who will NEVER smoke having watched their parents go through the struggle of trying to quit over and over, and the health issues, and I know people whose parents abhor smoking who are chain smokers. So there you have it. I guess my point is, kids, don't smoke. Apparently my neighbor missed that memo because I smell smoke wafting through my window right now. So much for that "non-smoking" building.

Ok, NOW You've Convinced Me It's a Quality Movie.

Have you been paying attention lately when you've been watching TV shows, movies, and commercials? I've noticed a newish trend that I find disturbing.

As an example, I present to you the trailer for the new Star Trek movie. Notice anything slightly out of place and, um, stupid about that trailer? I actually am kind of excited to see this movie. It looks like it was well made, and having an older brother who always brought home the SciFi movies (not to mention a sister who watched Star Trek every Saturday night at one period in her life), I have an appreciation for Star Trek. What doesn't fit into my idea of what a Star Trek trailer might look like in this day and age is the creepy shot of Captain James T. Kirk (we don't know if he's the captain at that point, but still) hiding under a bed watching a star fleet officer take off her uniform to reveal her undergarments. Um, random? I know that they feel the need to assure us that there will be hot women er whatever in these kinds of movies, because apparently that's what the boys like. But seriously, this is what they choose? This cut of it is not nearly as disturbing to me as the one I keep seeing on TV that shows a shot of him under the bed, then her lower half as he stares at her while she slips off her skirt to reveal her tighty whitey looking panties. Um, is this peeping tom moment supposed to be sexy? And it's so fast you almost don't realize how skeeved out you should be. I'm sure it'll turn out it's one of those wacky moments where he gets backed into a corner and HAS to hide, and can't do a thing about it. Good call, script writers. I'm sure it moved the plot along fabulously.

I've noticed this trend lately. On TV, in movies, and on commercials, I've seen more and more moments where you realize that the camera either started on a woman's chest at the beginning of the scene and then panned up for the dialogue, or did the whole body scan before their discussion about courtroom ethics. What is that? I mean, I expect it in the beer commercials, and on TV shows that are meant to reach a certain young male demographic. But it seems to be the new technique out there.

Someone, please take the camera away from the dirty boy.

Thank You Very Much

At this time of year, Love of Our Fellow Man is a common theme. My mind is drawn at this time to the lovely sentiments expressed at this funeral:

What I Did On My Thanksgiving Vacation: Day 1

Today only really half counts as a vacation day, because I did go into work this morning. But I got to leave early this afternoon, and have already felt the joy that vacation brings.

So far, I have taken myself out to lunch at a local Thai restaurant, because I have recently discovered that I heart curry. I took a book with me and ate all alone. It's actually quite liberating to eat in a restaurant alone. You should try it. I would have eaten lunch with a friend, but everyone is either too far away, or they didn't answer their phones. Shame on you all!

Next, I came home, fully intending to spend a quiet afternoon listening to soothing chick music I downloaded on my computer, while reading the very interesting book, "Why Gender Matters," by Leonard Sax. It has fascinating information on the differences between the ways boys and girls think and feel with scientific data to back it up, PLUS it makes me look like a smart person because it's non-fiction, and smart people read non-fiction books. (And no, you can't put "so why does gender matter?" in my comment section. K's got that question covered. She asks me at least once a week... it's taken me a while to get around to reading it).

I got distracted from the smart people book and chick music, though. I was not even intending to log onto the internet, but pretty much if I log onto my computer it logs on to the internet, so I was technically online already, and then I decided to maintain the status of Favorite Aunt (even kids not related by blood want to be my neices and nephews, I'm that cool), and I got online and found an e-card to send to Jumping Bean. He especially needed a card because after quite a long streak of thoroughly not enjoying school, he is beginning to show amazing improvement and even enthusiasm for school. Totally calls for a hoops&yoyo card. Of course it took about an hour for me to choose said hoops&yoyo card.

So now here I sit, in my comfy beanbag, listening to my chick music, and blogging. Which means that I am not reading my smart people book. But I'm on vacation so I'm totally on task. My task, of course, being to relax and not worry about things.

I was talking to Jenna last night, and we were talking about vacation philosophies. Jenna feels that there are two basic philosphies about vacations, with different shades of those philosophies along the vacation philosphy spectrum. On one end are the people who believe that vacation is for relaxing, which means doing whatever you darn well please, even if that involves sleeping in until noon in your hotel in an exciting city. On the other end are the people that believe that when you are on vacation, you have to be DOING something ever minute in order to fully savor the vacation, which means time in the hotel room is a waste of time. I think I fall somewhere in the middle. I am totally okay with the fact that I have not accomplished anything substantial this afternoon, like vacuuming out my yucky car, or cleaning my floor where my purse puked on it, or balancing my checkbook. I do have those tasks on my list of things to complete during my vacation time, because I do enjoy feeling all organized. But I also enjoy ignoring all my duties. Because this bean bag is comfy. And I'm more relaxed than I've been in months.

The other thing I COULD have been doing if not for stupid WB is watching the 6th Harry Potter Movie. Because apparently it was originally scheduled to be released today, but they pushed it back till next summer because it made more sense financially. Lame. So instead of watching the movie, you should watch this. Because we all need to keep a little Harry in our life.



Not over here, not over there...

When Writing your Movie Script, Consider the Following

I like to consider myself fairly open to different types of movies. I will watch romances, suspense, thrillers, mysteries, comedies and even some horror movies. Here is what I think should be banned from being produced:

1. Movies where children die. No. Just, no.
2. Movies where a good romance ends in the couple breaking up. The message being, of course, that they discovered that they are a bigger person on their own, with some new-found independence to buoy them up. At least that's what they tell themselves since they are all alone with their memories. (This is not to be confused with an annoying romance where I thank my lucky stars it was put out of it's misery.)
3. Romance movies where one of the people dies. Hello, isn't real life depressing enough? Shouldn't fictional characters at least get to live happily ever after? What is so romantic about "having them right here, in your heart, forever..."? Um, that would be nothing. It just sucks. You are alone, and it sucks. Yeah, Titanic, I'm talking to you.
3. Romance movies where the characters end up old. Why would we want to fastforward to the end? Kind of anti-climactic, don't you think?
4. Movies where the main character loses their friend/lover/family member, and they see at the end how that person gave them a gift, and they should go on to live bright shiney lives and run and laugh and play. Because you're only really sad for a week or two before you get to that stage. And then you make a new friend who used to be your enemy or at least someone who annoyed you, but was touched by your loved one before or after they tragically died. And then you both become Better People.
5. Poorly written movies with no real deep and meaningful plot which are produced solely to make you want to buy more of the product. Kids movies seem to be produced in this way often. Adults, these aweful movies wouldn't keep being produced if you didn't buy them. What's the deal?

I won't tell you which movie I watched tonight that inspired this post, in case it is in your dvd queue, but suffice it to say it was fairly recent, based on a children's book, and I liked it all the way up to the part where he goes to the museum. And then it became terribly depressing and the bright shiney ending did not make me think, gee, life is good. It made me think, wow, kid, you recovered quickly.

Perfectly Good Sick Days

The unfortunate thing about Sick Days is that they expect you to be sick to take them. On sick days I typically:

1. sleep in
2. Take lots of naps
3. Watch movies
4. Watch tv-when I have tv, which I don't right now
5. Take my temperature every 15 minutes to see if it has gone up or down.

Doesn't this sound fun? (Okay, the thermometer part could probably be left out on your typical lazy day) It would have been fun, except I also felt really yucky, so it was a wee bit difficult to enjoy watching the Pemberley scenes of Pride and Prejudice as they played in a loop. Also I was too nauseous to eat, and yummy foods should be part of any good lazy day. Although Saltine crackers can be surprisingly delicious. Also Sir Isaac Lime and I had a great time.

So, bosses, what is the deal with this requirement to be sick on sick days? It takes all the fun out of them. Laying in a ball in the middle of my bed with the blinds drawn and the fan on, trying not to puke, is not the ideal way to spend a friday (or the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend, for that matter). If only you wouldn't force me to go to such lengths to get a friday off.

Okay, so there are vacation days, but those don't come up all unexpected like sick days. Unexpected like last friday, where the waves of nausea hit me so fast I barely had time to call someone in the main office, print a sign for the door ("currently puking, call back later"), and speed home to my waiting toilet. All very exciting, except that the impromptu day off was not fun. I want fun sick days. Someone work on that.

Movin Day

In honor of moving day, and because I don't have the time or energy to think of an interesting post right now, I give you this movie classic:



pictures of the new apartment to follow. :)

Make the Voices Stop

Why, oh why, do we need commentators for the Olympics opening ceremonies? I'm trying to watch the wierd choreographed boat dance thing, with huge feather looking oars and waves projected onto a screen above the stadium stands, which I'm sure would touch my heart and bring me to new heights of thought and awareness, except I have to mute it to get rid of the "blah, blah, blah you can see his vision blah blah blah, the churning of the oars are symbolic of my words and how they go on and on blah blah blah." We need to have not one, but TWO men to tell us all about the meaning and the design. Because apparently the part where they chose the music was not all that significant.

Now all the pretty chinese women are coming out in their traditional looking garb with cool hair, and all I hear from the announcers is that China is coming out... of the closet? of the wardrobe? Not really sure. I muted it. Because I DON'T CARE. I am trying to watch the pretty ladies and the huge pillars that are blossoming on the field.

I have now resorted to creating my own music, since I obviously don't get to hear theirs. I am reminded of the lyrics to the Olympic Theme Song that I learned as a child:

(To the tune of the theme song)
This is the Olympics theme song
that you've always heard but you do not know the words
(This is the drum part, this is the drum part).

I can sing it for you if you would like. It's much more pleasant to listen to than sportscaster Bob's voice that just goes on and on and on and on.

Side note: I see from a commercial Christian Slater is still ACTING. When did that happen?

I last remember him from this:


And of course this treasure:

Best. Chick Flick. Ever.

Or at least one of the best.

Um, why do they stop talking for the strange glowing men routine but not the pretty, pretty ladies?

Did You Notice?

For the past week I've been usng quotes from movies as my titles.

1. I'm Melting! Melting! Melting!
2. How about a Little Fire?
3. Hello, You Beautiful Creature, You
4. Kimmy? (kimmy)
5. Big people have little humor and little people have no humor at all.
6. When I was your age, television was called "books."

Did you notice? Do you know what movie they are from without cheating and googling them?

I love a good movie quote.