January 2010 Round Up

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What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
I read a book! Trust me, no one is more shocked than I. Finished Heat Wave, by Richard Castle, the spin-off novel from the TV show. Far from the best book I've ever read, and I don't recommend it for anyone not already watching the show and familiar with the characters.

What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month?
*TV Time: Dollhouse (what the heck just happened?! and the finale, sniff), plus the other usual suspects
*New Films: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (don't bother), Inkheart (okay; kept more to the spirit of the book than the letter), Jumper (nice concept, not good execution)
*Old Favorites: Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, A Bug's Life, Speed, Hello Dolly!, Apollo 13, The Count of Monte Cristo, Toy Story, The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch

What special days did I celebrate and how?
MIL's birthday was early this month, complete with cards and a phone call as I recall. Not much else, really.

What gifts did I give and/or receive?
Um, uh, er....

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
I finally started getting over my terrible cold/sinus infection/bronchitis thing a few days into the new year. Took me almost all month to really feel completely well. Luke got sick one night, but we have no idea from what or why. It was really strange.

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
Nothing? I know, we're sad. Between everyone being sick at some point and having such a hectic November and December, plus the extra tiredness from L still not sleeping well, we really just chilled most of the month. My parents did come and visit, but it was all very low key.

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
I was a cooking fiend this month! I tried four new recipes: rice pudding (nope), pork tenderloin (yum), roast (worth trying again), and triple chip cookies (nope). I also made my first attempt at taking leftovers from one meal (pork tenderloin) and making something else from it (pork fried rice, using a fried rice recipe I already know). Didn't love it (we both prefer shrimp fried rice to pork), but I'm still proud of myself for attempting it. We also tried a new Chinese place. It was pretty good. There are a couple of others in the area as well, so we'll try those, too, and then decide who our "regular" supplier will be.

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
Oh, all sorts of random things for the new house, like curtain rods for Luke's room and rug pads for new rugs (one installed, one not), a small step ladder and a new step stool. Dropped a pretty penny and Lowe's, not including the things Mom bought for me (thanks, Mom!). And we've barely put a dent in the list. ::sigh:: But if all goes well, we should be closing on our old house by mid-February, so that will help free up some funds for home improvement projects.

What were this month's disappointments?
Luke is not sleeping in his own room, and progressing (regressing?) to not even wanting to go to the bathroom alone. That's really the main thing. Oh, and my project from %$#@ that was supposed to complete by Jan 31 has now been pushed out again to 2/15, and as of Jan 29, even that date is looking uncertain. It's the project that won't die!!

What were my accomplishments this month?
101 List: I didn't actually accomplish any individual items, but I did a few things to contribute towards on-going goals (like trying new recipes).



I cooked more this month than I probably have in the last 4 months combined (excluding Christmas, when we had 3 cooks here). Four new recipes already mentioned, plus the pork fried rice, plus chicken casserole, hamburger noodles, taco soup, spaghetti, and probably a couple of other things that I'm forgetting right now. (I know that doesn't seem like much to many of you, but believe me, that is huge for me.) We also ordered pizza and Chinese for delivery. Combined with a couple of leftover nights, that means we averaged eating at home 3-4 nights a week, which is just unheard of for us. Hopefully it's the start of a new trend, both of eating at home and having things in our life be stable enough to do so.

What were Luke's accomplishments this month?


I was hoping to be able to say that Luke was sleeping in his room normally by the end of this month, but that is not the case. We have managed to get the lamp turned back off, though, which is helping him only wake once a night instead of 2-3 times like it had been. We're working on getting him to fall asleep in his room by himself, without the light or one of us in there with him. After we manage that, perhaps we can progress to going back to sleep by himself when he wakes in the 1-3 AM time frame. Hey, a girl can dream.

Luke also has a new Pre-K teacher and assistant at school. I actually thought the transition would be a little rougher, but it seems to be going okay. We've had some home behavior issues that may or may not be related to the switch. Hard to say, really. He is doing great in his Kelsey class, according to his teacher for that. Moving ever closer to being able to read and write, just not *quite* there. I actually think he is closer than he is letting on, he's just afraid to be wrong. I can't imagine where he gets that from (::cough::husband::cough::).

Anything else noteworthy to record?
Snow! And it was below freezing for the better part of 2 weeks (causing us a nearly $500 gas bill!!), so the snow stayed and stayed for days (and so did the ice underneath it on the roads). Water mains were breaking everywhere, there were innumerable accidents. It was awful. I am so glad I don't live somewhere that conditions like that are normal!

Monthly Round Up courtesy of Katie the Scrapbook Lady.

Currently feeling: ready for some warmth

Every Film I've Ever Seen

I stumbled on the blog of a friend a few weeks ago. I didn't even know he had a blog until I saw it on Facebook. Believe it or not, he's a bigger movie nut that I am! (I know!!) I was inspired by his list of every film he's ever seen, and I decided to take a crack at it myself, using his list as a springboard, of course. I figured I'd seen about half as many as he has, and I was spot on, although the 900+ I've seen and the 1800+ he's seen only overlap by 600-ish. (Clearly, he has not been hampered by a child for the last 5+ years! LOL)

When I mentioned working on this list on Twitter, another friend said that she's reviewed nearly 2000 discs on Netflix (and I have no doubt she also has seen more movies than I have). I've reviewed over 1100 on Netflix, and well over 100 films on my "seen it" list are *not* reviewed there (should be; need to fix that). Why the discrepancy? Because I've reviewed television shows, mini series, and marked quite a few films as "not interested."

So what kinds of things do count? Theatrical films, defined as full length films that were released in the theater, which include full length documentaries (Bowling for Columbine, Super Size Me, etc.), but not shorts, unless those shorts were released together theatrically as a single entity (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Fun and Fancy Free, The Animatrix, etc). Wide release is not a requirement; NY/LA releases are fine, as are foreign films. It doesn't matter whether *you* saw them at the theater or elsewhere, as long as the feature in question was a theatrical release. Made for TV and direct to video, however, do not count. For example:

* Titanic with Barbara Stanwyck - counts
* Titanic with Kate and Leo - counts
* Titanic with Catherine Zeta-Jones - does not count

* A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott - does not count
* A Muppet Christmas Carol - counts
* A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart - does not count

How can you tell? Honestly, the easiest way to tell is by looking up the title in question on IMDb. If it has anything in parentheses next to it (besides the year), or if it is in quotes ("like this"), it does not count. If it doesn't, if the title is just plain, then it counts. Got it? [Aside: (TV) next to an IMDb entry means it was a television release, (V) means it was a direct to video release, and (VG) means it was a video game. "Quotes" around the title means it was a television show or mini-series. But you knew that already, right? Good.] I actually had to look up The Blue Lagoon because I had only ever seen it on television, so I didn't know if it was a made for TV thing or a theatrical film (theatrical, for the record).

I still can't decide about IMAX films (as in those made for IMAX, like Ghosts of the Abyss, The Dream is Alive, Dolphins, etc). They're obviously released in IMAX theater's, but I don't consider most of them full length, since they're all 30-60 minutes, typically. They likely fall into the "shorts" category. I've left them off for now. Theatrical films seen on IMAX screens, however, do indeed count. (For me, those would be The Matrix: Revolutions and Avatar.)

So how many have I seen? As of today, Wednesday, January 20, 2010, I have recalled seeing the following 925 films (3 of them in the past 2 weeks). I am now on a mission to make it to 1000! I'd love to make it before the end of the year, but I'm not holding my breath on that. How about you? If you had to guess, how many do you think you've seen? I would actually have guessed that I'd seen over 1000, so I'm a little behind. Do you think you could actually list every single movie you've ever seen? It's harder than you think! Here are mine:

* 101 Dalmatians (1961)
* 12 Angry Men (1957)
* 13 Going on 30 (2004)
* 13th Warrior, The (1999)
* 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
* 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
* 25th Hour (2002)
* 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)
* A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
* Above Suspicion (1995)
* Abyss, The (1989)
* Adventures of Baron Muchausen, The (1989)
* Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, The (1949)
* Adventures of Robin Hood, The (1938)
* Affair to Remember, An (1957)
* Age of Innocence, The (1993)
* Air Force One (1997)
* Aladdin (1992)
* Alice in Wonderland (1951)
* Alien (1979)
* Alien3 (1992)
* Aliens (1986)
* All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
* Along Came a Spider (2001)
* Always (1989)
* American Beauty (1999)
* American Pie (1999)
* American President, The (1995)
* American Tail, An (1986)
* American Tail: Fieval Goes West, An (1991)
* America's heart and Soul (2004)
* Amy (1981)
* Analyze This (1999)
* Anastasia (1997)
* Anchors Aweigh (1945)
* Animatrix, The (2003)
* Anna and the King (1999)
* Annie (1982)
* Another Stakeout (1993)
* Antz (1998)
* Apollo 13 (1995)
* Aristocats, The (1970)
* Arlington Road (1999)
* Armageddon (1998)
* Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
* As Good as It Gets (1997)
* Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
* Avatar (2009)
* Avengers, The (1998)
* Aviator, The (2004)
* Awakenings (1990)
* Baby Boom (1987)
* Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985)
* Back to the Future (1985)
* Back to the Future Part II (1989)
* Back to the Future Part III (1990)
* Backdraft (1991)
* Bad Company (2002)
* Bambi (1942)
* Bandits (2001)
* Banger Sisters, The (2002)
* Basic Instinct (1992)
* Batman (1989)
* Batman Begins (2005)
* Batman Forever (1995)
* Batman Returns (1992)
* Batteries Not Included (1987)
* Beaches (1988)
* Beautiful Mind, A (2001)
* Beauty and the Beast (1991)
* Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
* Beetlejuice (1988)
* Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
* Ben-Hur (1959)
* Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
* Big (1988)
* Big Fish (2003)
* Big Sleep, The (1946)
* Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
* Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1988)
* Birdcage, The (1996)
* Birds, The (1963)
* Black Cauldron, The (1985)
* Black Hole, The (1979)
* Blade Runner (1982)
* Blue Lagoon, The (1980)
* Bobby (2006)
* Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius (2004)
* Bodyguard, The (1992)
* Bolt (2008)
* Bone Collector, The (1999)
* Boogie Nights (1997)
* Bourne Identity, The (2002)
* Bourne Supremacy, The (2004)
* Bourne Ultimatum, The (2007)
* Boys on the Side (1995)
* Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
* Brave Little Toaster, The (1987)
* Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
* Breakfast Club, The (1985)
* Bridge, The (2006)
* Brigadoon (1954)
* Brokeback Mountain (2005)
* Broken Arrow (1996)
* Brother Bear (2003)
* Bruce Almighty (2003)
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
* Bug's Life, A (1998)
* Bull Durham (1988)
* Burbs, The (1989)
* Butterfly Effect, The (2004)
* Bye Bye Love (1995)
* Cadence (1991)
* Calendar Girls (2003)
* Candleshoe (1977)
* Cape Fear (1991)
* Care Bears Movie, The (1985)
* Cars (2006)
* Casablanca (1942)
* Casanova (2005)
* Casino Royale (1967)
* Casino Royale (2006)
* Cast Away (2000)
* Catch Me If You Can (2002)
* Cat's Meow, The (2002)
* Cellular (2004)
* Chain Reaction (1996)
* Chamber, The (1996)
* Chances Are (1989)
* Charade (1963)
* Charlotte's Web (1973)
* Chasing Amy (1997)
* Chicago (2002)
* Chicken Little (2005)
* Chicken Run (2000)
* Chocolat (2000)
* Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, The (2005)
* Cinderella (1950)
* Circle of Friends (1995)
* City of Angels (1998)
* City of Joy (1992)
* Civil Action, A (1998)
* Clash of the Titans (1981)
* Clear and Present Danger (1994)
* Cleopatra (1963)
* Client, The (1994)
* Cliffhanger (1993)
* Cloak & Dagger (1984)
* Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
* Clue (1985)
* Cocktail (1988)
* Color Purple, The (1985)
* Coming to America (1988)
* Con Air (1997)
* Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
* Congo (1995)
* Conspiracy Theory (1997)
* Contact (1997)
* Cool World (1992)
* Core, The (2003)
* Count of Monte Cristo, The (2002)
* Crimson Tide (1995)
* Crocodile Dundee (1986)
* Crocodile Dundee 2 (1988)
* Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001)
* Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
* Cruel Intentions (1999)
* Cry Baby (1990)
* Curse of the Golden Flower, The (2006)
* Cutthroat Island (1995)
* Cutting Edge, The (1992)
* Da Vinci Code, The (2006)
* Dances With Wolves (1990)
* Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
* Dangerous When Wet (1953)
* Dante's Peak (1997)
* Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)
* Daredevil (2003)
* Dark Crystal, The (1982)
* Dark Knight, The (2008)
* Dave (1993)
* Day After Tomorrow, The (2004)
* Day of the Jackal, The (1973)
* Daylight (1996)
* Days of Thunder (1990)
* Dead Poets Society (1989)
* Death Becomes Her (1992)
* Deep End of the Ocean, The (1999)
* Déjà Vu (2006)
* Demolition Man (1993)
* Devil's Advocate, The (1997)
* Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
* Dick Tracy (1990)
* Die Another Day (2002)
* Die Hard (1988)
* Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995)
* Dinosaur (2000)
* Dirty Dancing (1987)
* Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
* Disclosure (1994)
* Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
* Don't Tell Her It's Me (1990)
* Double Jeopardy (1999)
* Down With Love (2003)
* Dr. No (1962)
* Dragonheart (1996)
* Dream a Little Dream (1989)
* Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
* Dumbo (1941)
* Dungeons & Dragons (2000)
* Dutch (1991)
* E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
* Earnest Goes to Camp (1987)
* Ed Wood (1994)
* Edward Scissorhands (1990)
* Elizabeth (1998)
* Emma (1996)
* Emperor's Club, The (2002)
* Emperor's New Groove, The (2000)
* Enchanted (2007)
* Enemy Mine (1985)
* Enemy of the State (1998)
* English Patient, The (1996)
* Entrapment (1999)
* Eragon (2006)
* Eraser (1996)
* Erin Brockovich (2000)
* Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
* Evita (1996)
* Excalibur (1981)
* Explorers (1985)
* Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
* Face/Off (1997)
* Fallen (1998)
* Family Man, The (2000)
* Family Thing, A (1996)
* Fantasia (1940)
* Fantasia 2000 (2000)
* Fantastic Four (2005)
* Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
* Far and Away (1992)
* Father of the Bride (1991)
* Father of the Bride 2 (1995)
* Fear (1996)
* Feds (1988)
* Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
* Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
* Few Good Men, A (1992)
* Field of Dreams (1989)
* Fifth Element, The (1997)
* Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
* Finding Nemo (2003)
* Finding Neverland (2004)
* Firm, The (1993)
* First Knight (1995)
* First Wives Club, The (1996)
* Fish Called Wanda, A (1988)
* Fletch (1985)
* Fletch Lives (1989)
* Flight of the Navigator (1986)
* Fools Rush In (1996)
* Footloose (1984)
* For Love of the Game (1999)
* For the Boys (1991)
* For Your Eyes Only (1981)
* Forbidden Kingdom, The (2008)
* Forever Young (1992)
* Forget Paris (1995)
* Forgotten, The (2004)
* Forrest Gump (1994)
* Fox and Hound, The (1981)
* Freaky Friday (1976)
* Freaky Friday (2003)
* Free Willy (1993)
* French Kiss (1995)
* Frequency (2000)
* Frida (2002)
* Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
* From Russia With Love (1963)
* Fugitive, The (1993)
* Full Monty, The (1997)
* Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
* Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)
* Funny Face (1957)
* Funny Farm (1988)
* Funny Girl (1968)
* G.I. Joe (2009)
* Galaxy Quest (1999)
* Gandhi (1982)
* Gattaca (1997)
* General's Daughter, The
* Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
* Get Smart (2008)
* Ghost (1990)
* Ghost Rider (2007)
* Ghostbusters (1984)
* Ghostbusters 2 (1989)
* Girl, Interrupted (1999)
* Gladiator (2000)
* Gleaming the Cube (1989)
* Glory (1989)
* GoldenEye (1995)
* Goldfinger (1964)
* Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
* Gone with the Wind (1939)
* Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
* Good Will Hunting (1997)
* Goonies, The (1985)
* Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
* Gosford Park (2001)
* Graduate, The (1967)
* Grease (1978)
* Grease 2 (1982)
* Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
* Great Mouse Detective, The (1986)
* Great Muppet Caper, The (1981)
* Green Card (1990)
* Gremlins (1984)
* Gross Anatomy (1989)
* Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
* Groundhog Day (1993)
* Guarding Tess (1994)
* Guns of Navarone, The (1961)
* Guys and Dolls (1955)
* Hackers (1995)
* Hamlet (1990)
* Hancock (2008)
* Hand that Rocks Cradle, The (1992)
* Hanging Up (2000)
* Happiest Millionaire, The (1967)
* Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
* Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
* Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
* Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
* Harvey (1950)
* Hatari! (1962)
* Heathers (1989)
* Heist (2001)
* Hellboy (2004)
* Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
* Hello, Dolly! (1969)
* Her Alibi (1989)
* Hercules (1997)
* Hero (1992)
* Hidalgo (2004)
* High Crimes (2002)
* High Spirits (1988)
* Highlander (1986)
* Hitch (2005)
* Hobbit, The (1978)
* Holes (2003)
* Holiday Inn (1942)
* Home Alone (1990)
* Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
* Home on the Range (2004)
* Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
* Hook (1991)
* Hoosiers (1986)
* Hope Floats (1998)
* Hot Rock (1972)
* Hot Shots! (1991)
* Hours, The (2002)
* House of Flying Daggers (2004)
* Housesitter (1992)
* How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
* How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
* How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
* Hulk (2003)
* Hunchback of Notre Dame, The (1996)
* Hunt for Red October, The (1990)
* I Love Trouble (1994)
* I Spy (2002)
* I, Robot (2004)
* I.Q. (1994)
* Ice Age (2002)
* Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006)
* Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
* Ice Storm, The (1997)
* Ideal Husband, An (1999)
* Identity (2003)
* Impostor (2001)
* Incredibles, The (2004)
* Indecent Proposal (1993)
* Independence Day (1996)
* Indian in Cupboard, The (1995)
* Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
* Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
* Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
* Inherit the Wind (1960)
* Inkheart (2009)
* Innerspace (1987)
* Interpreter, The (2005)
* Interview with the Vampire (1994)
* Iron Eagle (1986)
* Iron Eagle II (1988)
* Iron Giant, The (1999)
* Iron Man (2008)
* Iron Will (1994)
* It Could Happen to You (1994)
* Italian Job, The (2003)
* It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
* Jack (1996)
* Jackal, The (1997)
* James and the Giant Peach (1996)
* Jaws (1975)
* Jaws II (1978)
* Jennifer Eight (1992)
* Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
* Jewel of Nile, The (1985)
* Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
* Journey of Natty Gann, The (1985)
* Jumanji (1995)
* Jumper (2008)
* Jungle Book, The (1967)
* Junior (1994)
* Jurassic Park (1993)
* Jurassic Park III (2001)
* Just Cause (1995)
* Just One of the Guys (1985)
* K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
* Kaena: The Prophecy (2003)
* Karate Kid Part II, The (1986)
* Karate Kid, The (1984)
* Keeping the Faith (2000)
* Kindergarten Cop (1990)
* King and I, The (1956)
* King Arthur (2004)
* King Kong (2005)
* Knight's Tale, A (2001)
* Kung Fu Panda (2008)
* L.A. Confidential (1997)
* Labyrinth (1986)
* Lady and the Tramp (1955)
* Ladyhawke (1985)
* Lake Placid (1999)
* Land Before Time, The (1988)
* Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003)
* Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
* Last of the Mohicans, The (1992)
* Last Samurai, The (2003)
* Last Starfighter, The (1984)
* Last Unicorn, The (1982)
* Laws of Attraction (2004)
* League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The (2003)
* League of Their Own, A (1992)
* Legally Blonde (2001)
* Legend (1986)
* Legend of Bagger Vance, The (2000)
* Legend of Tarzan, The (2001)
* Legends of the Fall (1994)
* Lethal Weapon (1987)
* Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
* Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
* Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
* Liar Liar (1997)
* Libertine, The (2004)
* Licence to Kill (1989)
* License to Drive (1988)
* Lilo and Stitch (2002)
* Lion King, The (1994)
* Little Mermaid, The (1989)
* Little Monsters (1989)
* Little Nikita (1988)
* Little Women (1994)
* Live and Let Die (1973)
* Living Daylights, The (1987)
* Look Who's Talking (1989)
* Look Who's Talking Too (1990)
* Lord of the Flies (1990)
* Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
* Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
* Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
* Lost Boys, The (1987)
* Lost Horizon (1937)
* Lost in Space (1998)
* Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997)
* Love Actually (2003)
* Love Affair (1994)
* Love Potion Number 9 (1992)
* Loverboy (1989)
* Lucas (1986)
* Mad Money (2008)
* Madagascar (2005)
* Maid in Manhattan (2002)
* Major League (1989)
* Major Payne (1995)
* Man in Iron Mask, The (1998)
* Man with the Golden Gun, The (1974)
* Man Without a Face, The (1993)
* Mannequin (1987)
* Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The (1977)
* Mary Poppins (1964)
* Mask of Zorro, The (1998)
* Mask, The (1994)
* Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
* Masters of the Universe (1987)
* Matrix Reloaded, The (2003)
* Matrix Revolutions, The (2003)
* Matrix, The (1999)
* Maverick (1994)
* Medicine Man (1992)
* Meet Joe Black (1998)
* Meet the Parents (2000)
* Meet the Robinsons (2007)
* Memento (2000)
* Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
* Memphis Belle (1990)
* Men in Black (1997)
* Men in Black II (2002)
* Men of Honor (2000)
* Mercury Rising (1998)
* Mermaids (1990)
* Messenger: Story of Joan of Arc, The (1999)
* Michael (1996)
* Mickey Blue Eyes (1999)
* Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
* Midsummer Night's Dream, A (1999)
* Mighty Wind, A (2003)
* Minority Report (2002)
* Miracle (2004)
* Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
* Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
* Miss Congeniality (2000)
* Miss Potter (2006)
* Mission to Mars (2000)
* Mission: Impossible (1996)
* Mission: Impossible II (2000)
* Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
* Money Pit, The (1986)
* Monster's Ball (2001)
* Monsters, Inc. (2001)
* Moonraker (1979)
* Moonstruck (1987)
* Mortal Kombat: The Movie (1995)
* Moulin Rouge (2001)
* Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
* Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
* Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
* Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
* Mulan (1998)
* Mulholland Falls (1996)
* Mumford (1999)
* Mummy Returns, The (2001)
* Mummy, The (1999)
* Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, The (2008)
* Muppet Christmas Carol, The
* Muppet Movie, The (1979)
* Muppet Treasure Island
* Muppets Take Manhattan, The (1984)
* Murder at 1600 (1997)
* Murder By Numbers (2002)
* Murder in the First (1995)
* Music & Lyrics (2007)
* Musketeer, The (2001)
* My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1987)
* My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
* My Blue Heaven (1990)
* My Cousin Vinny (1992)
* My Fair Lady (1964)
* My Girl (1991)
* My Man and I (1952)
* Mystery, Alaska (1999)
* Naked Gun, The (1988)
* National Treasure (2004)
* National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (2007)
* National Velvet (1944)
* Natural, The (1984)
* Negotiator, The (1998)
* Nell (1994)
* Net, The (1995)
* Never Say Never Again (1983)
* NeverEnding Story, The (1984)
* Newsies (1992)
* Next (2007)
* Nick of Time (1995)
* Night at the Museum (2006)
* Nightmare Before Christmas, The (1993)
* Nightmare on Elm Street, A (1984)
* Nine to Five (1980)
* Ninth Gate, The (1999)
* Noises Off (1992)
* North by Northwest (1959)
* Notebook, The (2004)
* Nun's Story, The (1959)
* O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
* Ocean's Eleven (1960)
* Ocean's Eleven (2001)
* October Sky (1999)
* Octopussy (1983)
* Of Mice And Men (1992)
* Oklahoma! (1955)
* Oliver & Company (1988)
* On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
* Once Bitten (1985)
* One Fine Day (1996)
* Only the Lonely (1991)
* Only You (1994)
* Other Boleyn Girl, The (2008)
* Other Sister, The (1999)
* Out of Time (2003)
* Outbreak (1995)
* Outsiders, The (1983)
* Overboard (1987)
* Pacifier, The (2005)
* Parent Trap, The (1961)
* Passenger 57 (1992)
* Patriot Games (1992)
* Patriot, The (2000)
* Paycheck (2003)
* Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
* Pelican Brief, The (1993)
* Perfect Murder (1998)
* Perfect Storm, The (2000)
* Peter Pan (1953)
* Peter Pan (2003)
* Pete's Dragon (1977)
* Phantom of the Opera, The (2004)
* Phenomenon (1996)
* Philadelphia (1993)
* Philadelphia Experiment, The (1984)
* Phone Booth (2003)
* Pianist, The (2002)
* Pinocchio (1940)
* Pirates of Penzance, The (1983)
* Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
* Pirates of the Caribbean: Black Pearl (2003)
* Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
* Pitch Black (2000)
* Planet of the Apes (1968)
* Playing by Heart (1998)
* Pleasantville (1998)
* Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960)
* Pocahontas (1995)
* Pollyanna (1960)
* Poseidon Adventure, The (1979)
* Powerpuff Girls, The (2002)
* Prancer (1989)
* Premonition (2007)
* Prestige, The (2006)
* Pretty Woman (1990)
* Primal Fear (1996)
* Prince of Egypt, The (1998)
* Prince of Tides, The (1991)
* Princess and the Frog, The (2009)
* Princess Bride, The (1987)
* Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, The (2004)
* Princess Diaries, The (2001)
* Project X (1987)
* Psycho (1960)
* Pulp Fiction (1994)
* Pump Up the Volume (1990)
* Purple Rose of Cairo, The (1985)
* Pursuit of Happyness, The (1998)
* Queen, The (2006)
* Quest for Camalot
* Quick and Dead, The (1995)
* Quigley Down Under (1990)
* Quills (2000)
* Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
* Rain Man (1988)
* Ransom (1996)
* Ratatouille (2007)
* Real Genius (1985)
* Rear Window (1954)
* Recruit, The (2003)
* Red Eye (2005)
* Red Planet (2000)
* Regarding Henry (1991)
* Reign of Fire (2002)
* Remains of the Day, The (1993)
* Remember the Titans (2000)
* Renaissance Man (1994)
* Replacement Killers, The (1998)
* Rescuers Down Under, The (1990)
* Rescuers, The (1977)
* Return from Witch Mountain (1978)
* Return to Me (2000)
* Riding in Cars with Boys (2001)
* Risky Business (1983)
* River Runs Through It, A (1992)
* Road to El Dorado, The (2002)
* Road to Wellville, The (1994)
* Rob Roy (1995)
* Robin and Marian (1976)
* Robin Hood (1973)
* Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
* Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
* Robots (2005)
* Rock, The (1996)
* Rocketeer, The (1991)
* Rocky Horror Picture Show, The (1975)
* Roman Holiday (1953)
* Romancing the Stone (1984)
* Romeo & Juliet (1968)
* Romeo + Juliet (1996)
* Rookie, The (2002)
* Room with a View, A (1986)
* Rosemary's Baby (1968)
* Rounders (1998)
* Roxanne (1987)
* Rules of Engagement (2000)
* Runaway Jury (2003)
* Rundown, The (2003)
* Running Scared (1986)
* Rush Hour (1998)
* Rush Hour 2 (2001)
* Sabrina (1954)
* Sabrina (1995)
* Sahara (2005)
* Saint, The (1997)
* Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause, The (2002)
* Santa Clause, The (1994)
* Say Anything (1989)
* Scarlet Letter, The (1995)
* Scent of a Woman (1992)
* Schindler's List (1993)
* School Ties (1992)
* Scorpion King, The (2002)
* Scrooged (1988)
* SE7EN (1995)
* Seabiscuit (2003)
* Secret Garden, The (1987)
* Secret of NIMH, The (1982)
* Selena (1997)
* Serenity (2005)
* Shakespeare in Love (1998)
* Shall We Dance (2004)
* Shanghai Knights (2003)
* Shanghai Noon (2000)
* Shattered Glass (2003)
* Shawshank Redemption, The (1994)
* She's Having A Baby (1988)
* Shocking Miss Pilgrim, The (1947)
* Short Circuit (1986)
* Short Circuit 2 (1988)
* Shrek (2001)
* Siege, The (1998)
* Signs (2002)
* Silence of Lambs, The (1991)
* Silverado (1985)
* Simple Twist of Fate, A (1994)
* Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
* Sing (1989)
* Singin' in the Rain (1952)
* Single White Female (1992)
* Sister Act (1992)
* Six Days, Seven Nights (1998)
* Sixth Sense, The (1999)
* Sky High (2005)
* Sleeping Beauty (1959)
* Sleeping With the Enemy (1991)
* Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
* Sleepy Hollow (1999)
* Sliding Doors (1998)
* Snake Eyes (1998)
* Sneakers (1992)
* Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
* Soapdish (1991)
* Somewhere in Time (1980)
* Sommersby (1993)
* Sound of Music, The (1965)
* South Pacific (1958)
* Space Jam (1996)
* Spaceballs (1987)
* SpaceCamp (1986)
* Spartacus (1960)
* Spawn: The Movie (1997)
* Speechless (1994)
* Speed (1994)
* Sphere (1998)
* Spider-Man (2002)
* Spider-Man 2 (2004)
* Spider-Man 3 (2007)
* Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
* Spirited Away (2001)
* Splash (1984)
* Spy Kids (2001)
* Spy Kids 2: the Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
* Spy Who Loved Me, The (1977)
* Stakeout (1987)
* Star Trek (2009)
* Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
* Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
* Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
* Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
* Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
* Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
* Star Trek: Generations (1994)
* Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
* Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
* Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
* Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
* Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
* Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
* Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
* Star Wars: Episode V: Empire Strikes Back (1980)
* Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
* Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
* Stargate (1994)
* Starman (1984)
* Starship Troopers (1997)
* Stealth (2005)
* Steel Magnolias (1989)
* Stranger than Fiction (2006)
* Sum of all Fears, The (2002)
* Summer Lovers (1982)
* Super Size Me (2004)
* Superman II (1980)
* Superman III (1983)
* Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
* Superman Returns (2006)
* Superman: The Movie (1978)
* Surf's Up (2007)
* Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
* Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
* Sword in Stone, The (1963)
* Swordfish (2001)
* Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)
* Talent for the Game (1991)
* Teen Wolf (1985)
* Teen Wolf Too (1987)
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (1990)
* Ten Commandments, The (1956)
* Terminal, The (2004)
* Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
* Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
* Terminator, The (1984)
* That Thing You Do! (1996)
* Thelma & Louise (1991)
* Three Amigos (1986)
* Three Men and a Baby (1987)
* Three Men and a Little Lady (1990)
* Three Musketeers, The (1973)
* Three Musketeers, The (1993)
* Thunderball (1965)
* Time Machine, The (2002)
* Time to Kill, A (1996)
* Timecop (1994)
* Timeline (2003)
* Titan A.E. (2000)
* Titanic (1953)
* Titanic (1997)
* To Catch a Thief (1955)
* Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
* Tootsie (1982)
* Top Gun (1986)
* Towering Inferno, The (1974)
* Toy Story (1995)
* Toy Story 2 (1999)
* Toys (1992)
* Traffic (2000)
* Transformers (2007)
* Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen (2009)
* Treasure Island (1950)
* Treasure Planet (2002)
* Triplets of Belleville, The (2003)
* Tron (1982)
* Troy (2004)
* True Lies (1994)
* Truman Show, The (1998)
* Truth About Cats & Dogs, The (1996)
* Tuck Everlasting (2002)
* Turner and Hooch (1989)
* Twins (1988)
* Twister (1996)
* U.S. Marshals (1998)
* U-571 (2000)
* Ultraviolet (2006)
* Unlawful Entry (1992)
* Up (2009)
* Usual Suspects, The (1995)
* V for Vendetta (2005)
* Van Helsing (2004)
* Vantage Point (2007)
* Velvet Goldmine (1998)
* Vertigo (1958)
* Vibes (1988)
* Vice Versa (1988)
* Victor / Victoria (1982)
* View to a Kill, A (1985)
* Village of the Damned (1995)
* Village, The (2004)
* Volcano (1997)
* Wait Until Dark (1967)
* Walk in the Clouds, A (1995)
* WALL-E (2008)
* War of the Worlds (2005)
* WarGames (1983)
* Watership Down (1979)
* Wedding Singer, The (1998)
* Weekend at Bernie's (1989)
* What Dreams May Come (1998)
* What Lies Beneath (2000)
* What Women Want (2000)
* When Harry Met Sally (1989)
* While You Were Sleeping (1995)
* White Fang (1991)
* White Nights (1985)
* Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
* Whole Nine Yards, The (2000)
* Who's That Girl? (1987)
* Wild Wild West (1999)
* Willow (1988)
* Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
* Wimbledon (2004)
* Witches of Eastwick, The (1987)
* With Honors (1994)
* Witness (1985)
* Wizard of Oz, The (1939)
* Working Girl (1988)
* World Is Not Enough, The (1999)
* X2: X-Men United (2003)
* X-Files, The (1998)
* X-Men (2000)
* X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006)
* x-X-x (2002)
* Year of the Comet (1992)
* You Only Live Twice (1967)
* Young Einstein (1988)
* Young Guns II (1990)
* Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
* You've Got Mail (1998)

Currently feeling: cinematic

Old house under contract!

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, we have officially entered into a binding agreement to sell our old house, and if everything goes according to plan, we will be the proud owners of *only* one house come mid-February. It even falls under "almost too good to be true." Please continue to keep your fingers crossed, though, as things could still go wrong.

Currently feeling: cautiously optimistic

Lost: Cayman the Turtle

Uncle Jacob brought Luke an adorable little turtle from Cayman Islands. Naturally, we named him Cayman, and he has accompanied Luke most everywhere for the past 2 weeks. I personally didn't like it. Cayman was too small, about the size of a baseball, but L loved him. Had I considered the difficulty with replacing him, I would have put my foot down, but it's too late now.

I mentioned that we went to the mall yesterday despite the snow and ice. Cayman went with us, but he seems to have gotten lost as we were leaving. We know we had him when Luke zipped his coat so that we could leave (DH had to hold him), but we didn't have him when we got home. Apparently, Luke put him down in the seat next to his booster seat on the outside (the door side). We were all freezing cold and hurrying, and we think he got knocked out of the car as Luke got in. We realized it as soon as we got home. Of course, looked all over the inside and outside of the car, but found nothing. DH even went back to the mall. With the weather so bad, few people going in and out. Our space still empty, and the cars on either side of our empty space were still the same. He looked under 3-4 cars to the left and right of where we had been, as well as 6-8 cars on connecting row, plus several cars on the rows front and back. He backtracked our route and checked with lost and found. Nothing.

Luke and DH went back Saturday late morning, in case Cayman got turned in after hours, but it wasn't there. DH said that the lady at Lost and Found was about as upset as Luke. I'm just upset that we lost him in only 2 weeks, and there is just no way to get another one (no one I know is going there any time soon; I've asked). I know Luke has plenty of toys, but this is the first one he's really lost (as opposed to the one that got eaten), and he is terribly upset. We just hope someone saw him in the parking lot, picked him up, and took him home to a little boy or little girl who will love him and take good care of him.

Currently feeling: like a lousy mom

Snow Day 2010

Good heavens, it is freezing out there! I mean that quite literally. It has been below freezing for days now, and it is expected to be below freezing for many more. That just doesn't happen here!! It has also snowed on all that now-chilled concrete and asphalt. We only got 1/2 inch (1.5-ish cm) at house, which is a terrible amount of snow to have. It was more than enough to make it dangerous to drive, but not enough to really be any fun outside. DH took L to daycare (about a mile away) this morning anyway, since we live so very close and I still had to work. Thankfully, our driveway is very gently sloped, so it was fine. We also take a major roadway to get there, which was pretty clear of ice. In fact, the most dangerous point was getting in and out of the daycare driveway.

Around Noon, DH and I tried to go out to lunch (heading the opposite way, away from daycare on some more back road type streets). We got just over a mile down the road, watched 3 or 4 cars in various stages of *not* making it up a hill, and turned around and came back. We hit the McDonalds on the main road near daycare instead (hot chocolate, yum!). We did make it to the mall for dinner, after more of the road had cleared during the afternoon, but it was still quite icy getting in and out of the car. It's not expected to be above freezing for several more days yet, and the ice and snow should actually stay on the ground for a while, which is extremely rare around here. I'm really not looking forward to it! At least the weekend is coming up, so we don't have to get out and about.



(Edited to add: Luke's name and the year stayed there for 5 days after I took this picture! I didn't realize that the deck does not get much sun, so even though the yard started to melt, the snow on the deck stayed and stayed.)

Currently feeling: not much; too numb with cold!

Rice Pudding: It's Not You, It's Me

I've tried several rice pudding recipes over the years, I promise, including my grandmother's, and I have finally decided that rice pudding just isn't for me. I had actually decided this several years ago, but when I saw that Smitten Kitchen has a recipe that was basically sweet risotto (using arborio rice and everything) and could be served warm (I guess the others could, too, but it never occurred to me, and many of them don't thicken up until chilled), I decided to try it. I figured if I was ever going to like a rice pudding recipe, it would be this one.

It wasn't. I thought it was a texture problem, but eating it warm actually helped that. (I made a half batch and did not use a bay leaf because I didn't have any.) I did like it better than any other rice pudding I've ever had, but that means I just thought it was edible, not even good. (I took several bites of this one, as opposed to 1-2 bites of all those that came before.) I can't really put my finger on what it is I don't like, about this recipe in particular or rice pudding in general. It's just not working for me. And again, I don't think it's a problem with this recipe. I haven't liked any of the ones I've tried. Vanilla, almond, with or without eggs and/or butter and/or lemon zest, baked, stove top, fruit or no fruit.... it just doesn't seem to matter. I'm afraid rice pudding and I will just have to agree to disagree.

Currently feeling: just not feeling it

An offer we must refuse

I'm sure you can imagine my surprise yesterday when we received an offer on the old house via email. It was a little odd, though. Clearly, it had been filled out on the computer, which is fine, but they had left the price blank, and there was no signature page or reply by date (those are on the same sheet of paper), so we really didn't know what the offer was for. They also attached a pre-approval letter that showed them approved for quite a bit less than the list price, and rather less than we really want/need to get. We were intending to counter with something closer to what we want, but we couldn't until we got a complete offer package.

The official signed and complete offer came today. The offer is not even for the pre-approval amount, they're offering many thousand less! It's only about 80% of the list price. Not only is that less than what we owe, it also wouldn't cover any part of closing costs (which they asked for) or commission, which would all have to come out of our pockets. Not from our profits, of which there would be none (and we're prepared for that), but from our savings account. We're talking big bucks here.

We simply cannot accept. Knowing what they are pre-approved for, I'm not sure it's even worth countering. And to offer substantially less than that? They must be hoping we're desperate to sell, about to be foreclosed on, or something. We are not that desperate (yet). Give us about a year, and we'll reconsider, but right now, it would be foolish to take it. It's only been on the market about 10 days, and it is getting some traffic. We'll wait. And hope.

Currently feeling: hating this whole process

Project 365 - Complete!

I have successfully completed Project 365. It's actually hard to believe! I'll summarize my thoughts on the experience later (likely posted both here and on my Project 365 Blog), but feel free to take a look in the meantime. I thought I was going to post a montage of all of the photos, but at 5 seconds times 365 photos, that's over 30 minutes. (Kind of mind boggling, actually, when you stop and think about it.) So just peruse at your pleasure.

Happy New Year!

Currently feeling: sweet success