February 2013 Round Up and Pinspirations

Will be back-dated to 2/28/2013.

Dog image from 123RF. Rope frame by MandaBean (no longer available). Font is Kristen ITC.

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
Managed to squeak in finishing The Two Towers on the last day of the month. Not sure why this one took so much longer than Fellowship. Then again, TTT is my least favorite of the films, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise.

What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month?
* TV Time: We are still greatly enjoying Elementary; it may well be our current favorite show. Suits is also showing again, though it ended it's winter run this month. Don't like new blonde chick, but don't think I'm supposed to, either. Rules of Engagement finally returned! We were thinking it might have been canceled, but it reappeared on the DVR all by itself. I suspect this may be the end for it, though. Also watched the Oscars, which I had forgotten were even coming on until about an hour before they aired. I didn't really have a dog in that hunt (did I even see a single film nominated for best picture? ::checks list::  nope), and I haven't been keeping up with entertainment news and such the way I usually do in the last 12-18 months, so it was just a lot of "huh, that's interesting" type reactions from me (along with "why are you wearing that?!").
* New Films: Hey, look at that, new films! Thank you, Turner Classic Movie's 31 Days of Oscar! I have several more recorded, but those will have to wait for later viewing.
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: This was okay. The famous dancing/barn raising scene was wonderful, but the rest of the movie was just okay, IMO. I can usually accept movies as being a product of their relative time periods, but this one quite ruffled my modern "feminist notions."
- This is Cinerama: I saw How the West Was Won during last year's 31 Days of Oscar, and I quite enjoyed it. I was fascinated by the Cinerama format that it was filmed in. So when I saw this feature coming on, I decided to record it. It wasn't as informative as I hoped (less documentary, more "hey look at this pretty footage we shot"), but it was fascinating to watch. If you ever want to see the original Cypress Gardens water skiing show, this film has it.

- Fame: This was disappointing. For me, it sort of falls under, "um, okay, I guess I don't get it." Wouldn't be the first time! Another case of the performances all being quite good, but I found the overall whole somewhat lacking. It was fascinating to see Paul McCrane so very very young (and with hair!).
- The Way We Were: Another case of just okay. Everything was well done, I just didn't particularly care for it. Very slow, which I don't usually mind if it is intentional, but this seemed absurdly slow in places, and no amount of Robert Redford (who was my age in it!) could fix it. Still, I did shed a tear or two, so it couldn't have been that bad, either.
- You Were Never Lovelier: My first Rita Hayworth film! I can see why everyone liked her. Even I might have fallen in love with her just a little. I had no idea she was such a dancer! Too bad the movie tried to shoehorn in so much (mediocre) story; could really have done with quite a bit more dancing, IMO.
* Old Favorites: I introduced Luke to Singin' in the Rain, or at least part of it. He seemed to enjoy it. We caught it on TCM, and he missed Donald O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh," which I think he would really like, so I'll need to dig out my copy of the movie and show it to him sometime soon. Also caught Apollo 13 (one of those movies I can't not watch if I know it's on) and I, Robot.

What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?
Um, uh, er.... well, I mean.... it was a short month! (We really need to get out more.)

What gifts did I give and/or receive?
I was utterly beyond awful this month. It was Valentine's Day, for goodness sake, and no one got anything, not even Luke! We did manage cards for Luke's grandparents and great-grandmother, but no one else. We made up for it later in the month with a new Josh Groban CD for me, and some new Skylanders for Luke.


What special or unusual purchases did I make?
More jeans for Luke, since the few pair we had from the previous year were starting to split at the knees. I also acquired *three* pair of shoes at one time, which is almost unheard of. Thanks, Mom!

What new foods, recipes, or restaurants did I try this month?
Um, uh, er.... well, I mean.... it was a short month! We didn't do so great on meal planning, either (or following meal plans even if they were established). ::sigh:: I will try to do better next month.

What Pinspirations did I try this month (besides any recipes above)?
Well, I did actually try one thing! It was a shoe tying method. YouTube video here; pin here. I could make it work, but Luke couldn't, and I didn't find it particularly speedy (though it might become so with (lots of) practice).

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
Only now that the month is over (I'm typing this on March 1) do I feel safe in saying that we didn't really have any. Yay for small miracles!!

What were my accomplishments this month?


Click to biggify.

Another case where simply surviving was an accomplishment in and of itself. I don't recall accomplishing anything particularly spectacular. Oh, wait, I did finally type up my Disney 2012 trip, 11 months late. But it's done! And I managed *not* to devour every single box of Girl Scout cookies we bought in less than a month. In fact, we have 4 of the 6 boxes left! That is actually a huge accomplishment.

What were Luke's accomplishments this month?


Luke completed his psychoeducational evaluation. I'm waiting for the written results before saying much about it here. Nothing big, though. Luke started basketball and scored his first basket. He really seems to be enjoying it. We bought him new shoes, which were the same size as the last pair and the pair before. Dare I hope his tremendous growth is slowing down? (The part of me that has to buy him new clothes and shoes constantly hopes so; the part of me that hates being short hopes not!).

What were this month's disappointments or frustrations?
Nothing springs to mind, other than the findings of Luke's evaluation, which I will discuss in more detail when we get the written results.

Anything else noteworthy to record?
Can't think of anything.

Monthly Round Up concept courtesy of Katie the Scrapbook Lady, tweaked by me.

Currently feeling: finally rounded

Wordless Wednesday - February 27, 2013

Currently feeling: great work funny

Wordless Wednesday - February 20, 2013

Currently feeling: nobody here but us chickens!

Wordless Wednesday - February 13, 2013

Currently feeling: zoom zoom

101 Things in 1001 Days - Version 3: Half Way

Thought I should post a quick update to my 101 Things in 1001 Days v3 list, seeing as half of the 1001 days have elapsed. Current statistics:

• 15 items completed
• 15. Use the crock pot 15 times.
•  22. Find a barbecue sauce I like (bottled or homemade).
• 33. Acquire 5 new kitchen tools. Must be "new to me" tools, not just replacing tools I already have.
• 50. Find a good method/location for storing bulk items. 
• 62. Reduce total number of feeds on Google Reader by 20%.
• 74. Have family portraits made with parents and brother
• 75. Do Project 365 again (photo a day for a year)
• 76. Visit Ikea.
• 77. Visit Trader Joe's. 
• 79. Try 10 new restaurants.
• 83. Accept an invitation I would normally turn down.
• 86. See 50 new to me movies, including: pre-1950 classic, "modern classic", foreign language, film I wouldn't normally choose. 
• 87. Read An Echo In the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon (counts towards the 20). 
• 95. Take Luke to Medieval Times.
• 96. Take Luke to the Tellus Museum. 
• 10 items in progress that should be completed by the end
• 13. Try 101 new recipes
• 16. Add 5 new meals to the rotation.
• 19. Learn to make biscuits and gravy from Mom.
• 37. Have gutters cleaned once a year.
• 42. Meal plan every week when home.
• 57. "Watermark" all blog photos going forward.
• 66. Continue with Wordless Wednesday on my blog.
• 68. Post at least one non-Luke photo (different from Wordless Wednesday & mosaic) on each monthly Round Up blog entry.
• 72. Keep a running folder of favorite photos to be printed. Have prints made every 6 months.
• 89. Watch all episodes of a new to us television show. Must be at least 4 seasons.
• 20 items no longer achievable (yikes!)
• 1. Use facial moisturizer twice a week.
• 2. Use body lotion once a week.
• 3. Weekly Item #1.
• 4. Twice a month item, starting December 2011. (formerly Weekly Item #2)
• 5. Weekly Item #3.
• 6. Monthly Item #1.
• 7. Monthly Item #2.
• 43. Track coupon savings weekly.
• 44. Trash expired coupons monthly.
• 45. Track Costco savings (every trip, roughly monthly).
• 46. Keep a running inventory of the pantry (top and bottom). Verify monthly.
• 47. Keep a running inventory of the freezer. Verify monthly.
• 48. Keep a running inventory of the baking cabinets (include flour in refrigerator). Verify monthly.
• 49. Keep a running inventory of all surplus/bulk items stored elsewhere (including location). Verify monthly.
• 53. Search for SwagBucks 20 days a month.
• 56. Backup blog monthly (including photos).
• 59. Backup tweets monthly.
• 63. Review email newsletters every 6 months. Unsubscribe from all those not read in the previous 6 months.
• 64. Purge email inbox(es) every 3 months.
• 65. Purge the DVR deleted file weekly.

Then there's this item: 100. Complete more items on this 101 list than I did last time. For my 101 Things V2 list, I completed 52 items. That means that for my V3 list, of the remaining 56 items not addressed above, I still need to finish another 28 minimum in the next 500 days to achieve item #100. Might need to get hopping!

Currently feeling: time is ticking away

Ideas: A Conversation With Luke

Original image Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos, modified by me

This evening....

DH: Put your shoes on, we need to go do some stuff.
L: Daddy, are we going to Target?
DH: I have no idea.
L: Because it's Mommy's idea?

Currently feeling: brilliant

Wordless Wednesday - February 6, 2013

Currently feeling: like flying

Swallowed by The Nothing

(The title there is a reference to The Neverending Story, for anyone confused.)

We've had plenty of rainy or foggy days since I started working downtown, but today was exceptional. The fog was very heavy. I took the picture on the left; the one on the right is borrowed from Google Maps.



The rest of these pictures I did personally take. This is the north side of the building. It was really neat to actually be above the fog layer.



And the east window. I tried to take a photo from a different window that showed my building and the Bank of America building casting shadows on top of the cloud/fog layer, but it didn't really turn out. The arrows in the below photos point to the Coca-Cola building in both photos.



Currently feeling: missing my pretty view