Currently feeling:
warmest wishes of the season!
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas 2013
Things are still a bit crazy here, but perhaps we (I) can get a handle on things in the new year and get my blog caught up. I did, however, want to take the time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas (to those who celebrate it) and Happy Holidays (if you celebrate something else at this time of year). I can honestly say that I will not be sorry to see 2013 go. May we all have an excellent 2014!
And now for the annual posting of my favorite holiday poem.
Believe
Believe in Christmas Magic
Believe in Ancient Lore
Believe in a hundred impossible things
The New Year may hold in store
Believe in Heavenly Angels
In Santas and Elves by the score
Believe in a hundred impossible things
In Flying Reindeer and more
Believe in a Babe in a manger
In Wise Men and gifts galore
Believe in a million impossible things
You've never believed before
-Author Unknown
Currently feeling:
in the spirit
And now for the annual posting of my favorite holiday poem.
Believe
Believe in Christmas Magic
Believe in Ancient Lore
Believe in a hundred impossible things
The New Year may hold in store
Believe in Heavenly Angels
In Santas and Elves by the score
Believe in a hundred impossible things
In Flying Reindeer and more
Believe in a Babe in a manger
In Wise Men and gifts galore
Believe in a million impossible things
You've never believed before
-Author Unknown
Currently feeling:
in the spirit
Friday, December 20, 2013
Paper: A Conversation With Luke
Original image Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos, modified by me
Yes, we did explain that we were kidding.
L: Daddy, when you and Mommy were kids in school, did you have paper?
DH: No, we used papyrus.
Me: We carved things into stone tablets.
(Later, MIL mentioned that they just scratched on cave walls.)
Currently feeling:
um, what?
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Wordless Wednesday - December 18, 2013
Currently feeling:
loving my totally trashy bling-tastic nails
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
I'm not even going to ask
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Movie Muse Shorts - Thor: The Dark World, Frozen, Ender's Game
She lives! Amazing, I know. Ridiculous amounts of stuff happening right now, some good, some less so. Such is life. But we have somehow managed to squeeze in three movies so far this season.
Thor: The Dark World - Hmm, this is a difficult film to review. I thought that of the first film, too, though we did re-watch it prior to seeing the sequel, and it wasn't quite as bad as we remembered. If you've heard everyone raving about Tom Hiddleston and his portrayal of Loki in this film, they are absolutely correct, almost to the point that the only parts of the film worth watching are those with him in the scene. Some parts were just as bad as the original, some parts were better. It was just sort of all over the place. Pretty to watch, and again, Hiddleston is amazing, but the rest is very uneven. I am curious about where they are going with the third film, though. There is a small bit both a short way into the credits and at the very end, so do stay!
Frozen - The latest offering from Disney (not Pixar!), loosely based on The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. It's really more Broadway than classic Disney film, not that that's a bad thing in and of itself. Each song is wonderful, though I don't feel the music was very cohesive across the film. Regardless, hearing Idina Menzel sing is worth the price of admission. Everyone seems to be raving about this film, and while it was good and I enjoyed it, I feel like I'm missing something that everyone else is getting out of it. Even my husband seemed to enjoy it more than I did. I do appreciate the efforts to be a bit more modern, and they do turn a few formulaic things on their heads, but overall, it's what you would expect (and that's not a bad thing!). We'll see if it grows on me. I think I had similar "good but not amazing" feelings about Tangled, and it has turned into one of my most favorite movies, so we'll see how this one stands up to repeat viewings.
Ender's Game - I really thought we were going to miss this one in the theater, which would have been a shame. It is a very well made movie that I both immensely enjoyed and have continued to ponder several days after seeing it. It's rare that a movie keeps me thinking and wondering and replaying for that long. Part of it is trying to make sense of a couple of gaping plot holes. I can't help but wonder if they are more a result of trimming content from the book than a real flaw in the overall story. (No, I haven't read the book. Yet. Should be starting it in a few days.) And, part of it is grappling with the tough questions regarding the themes of the film/book, as it should be. Asa Butterfield is simply amazing, and at a mere 15 years old (at the time of filming; IMDb trivia reports he grew 2 inches during shooting, and it does occasionally show from scene to scene), he is definitely one to watch.
Currently feeling:
ready to go again!
Thor: The Dark World - Hmm, this is a difficult film to review. I thought that of the first film, too, though we did re-watch it prior to seeing the sequel, and it wasn't quite as bad as we remembered. If you've heard everyone raving about Tom Hiddleston and his portrayal of Loki in this film, they are absolutely correct, almost to the point that the only parts of the film worth watching are those with him in the scene. Some parts were just as bad as the original, some parts were better. It was just sort of all over the place. Pretty to watch, and again, Hiddleston is amazing, but the rest is very uneven. I am curious about where they are going with the third film, though. There is a small bit both a short way into the credits and at the very end, so do stay!
Frozen - The latest offering from Disney (not Pixar!), loosely based on The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. It's really more Broadway than classic Disney film, not that that's a bad thing in and of itself. Each song is wonderful, though I don't feel the music was very cohesive across the film. Regardless, hearing Idina Menzel sing is worth the price of admission. Everyone seems to be raving about this film, and while it was good and I enjoyed it, I feel like I'm missing something that everyone else is getting out of it. Even my husband seemed to enjoy it more than I did. I do appreciate the efforts to be a bit more modern, and they do turn a few formulaic things on their heads, but overall, it's what you would expect (and that's not a bad thing!). We'll see if it grows on me. I think I had similar "good but not amazing" feelings about Tangled, and it has turned into one of my most favorite movies, so we'll see how this one stands up to repeat viewings.
Ender's Game - I really thought we were going to miss this one in the theater, which would have been a shame. It is a very well made movie that I both immensely enjoyed and have continued to ponder several days after seeing it. It's rare that a movie keeps me thinking and wondering and replaying for that long. Part of it is trying to make sense of a couple of gaping plot holes. I can't help but wonder if they are more a result of trimming content from the book than a real flaw in the overall story. (No, I haven't read the book. Yet. Should be starting it in a few days.) And, part of it is grappling with the tough questions regarding the themes of the film/book, as it should be. Asa Butterfield is simply amazing, and at a mere 15 years old (at the time of filming; IMDb trivia reports he grew 2 inches during shooting, and it does occasionally show from scene to scene), he is definitely one to watch.
Currently feeling:
ready to go again!
Saturday, December 07, 2013
Waiting: A Conversation With Luke
Original image Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos, modified by me
Kids really think their parents are this boring, don't they?
Me: Did you have fun at C's house this afternoon?
L: Yes, we played and watched football.
Me: Do you know what Daddy and I did while you were there?
L: Sat in the car and played on your phones.
(for the record, we went to the movies and finally saw Ender's Game)
Currently feeling:
really?
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Wordless Wednesday - December 4, 2013
Currently feeling:
someone has been playing with our bath grips
Monday, December 02, 2013
A Cat's Guide To Taking Care Of Your Human
My husband showed us this over the Thanksgiving holiday. I literally laughed until I cried! I even had to stop it at one point because I was laughing so hard that I no longer had any idea what they were saying. Too funny! Hope you enjoy.
Currently feeling:
I resemble that remark
Currently feeling:
I resemble that remark
Friday, November 29, 2013
Thanksgiving 2013 - Comparison Photo
Pretty much the usual Thanksgiving here. Lots of food, lots of fun, lots of laughing. We did go see my grandfather on Wednesday. He can't talk much anymore, but he sure seemed to enjoy us being there, and he especially liked watching Luke put together a puzzle. We took the bottom picture of the two below while we were there.
Click to biggify.
As labeled, the top picture is from Thanksgiving 2012, and the bottom one is from Thanksgiving 2013. Between the time the two pictures were taken, my mom, my dad, and I have lost a combined 140 lbs (63.5 kg) - 65 lbs for mom, 35 lbs for dad, and 40 for me. That is more than my mom weighs now; we lost a whole person! I am so proud, of all of us. I wonder what next year's Thanksgiving picture will look like?
Currently feeling:
like we're disappearing (in a good way!)
Click to biggify.
As labeled, the top picture is from Thanksgiving 2012, and the bottom one is from Thanksgiving 2013. Between the time the two pictures were taken, my mom, my dad, and I have lost a combined 140 lbs (63.5 kg) - 65 lbs for mom, 35 lbs for dad, and 40 for me. That is more than my mom weighs now; we lost a whole person! I am so proud, of all of us. I wonder what next year's Thanksgiving picture will look like?
Currently feeling:
like we're disappearing (in a good way!)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
interesting advertising strategy
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
well, hello there
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Official 9-Year-Old Stats
Image from 123RF Stock Photos
Due to our nonsensical health insurance policies, we could not have Luke's 9 year well visit until mid-November. Doctor said he looks great. Needs to work on his calcium intake (a real concern with someone in the 90+ percentile for height) and expand his palate, but otherwise, things look great!
Official Statistics:
- 4'8" (1.4m) tall, +2 in (5 cm) from last year, 91st percentile
- 75 lb (34 kg), +5 lb (2.3 kg) from last year, 81st percentile
Currently feeling:
like I'm getting shorter!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
2013 Holiday Film Preview
I am terribly late getting this out this year. In fact, most of the films I actually expect to get to see have already been released or will be in the next week or so. Still, I hope to spotlight a few you might not be aware of. Enjoy!
Ender's Game - November 1 - Children are recuited for military training in hopes of one day leading the fight against the alien race that invaded Earth. Based on the Orson scott Card novel, which is one of my FIL's favorite books. I really want to try to catch this one in the theater if I can.
Free Birds - November 1 - Animated. Two turkeys go back in time to stop the Pilgrims from serving turkey at the first Thanksgiving so that turkey-eating will not become a Thanksgiving tradition. Interesting premise, but I've heard the execution is not so hot.
Last Vegas - November 1 - Four "old timers" spend a weekend in Vegas for a bachelor party. (I'm old enough to remember when most of these men were young and mostly ran Hollywood. Ouch.) The trailer certainly made me laugh, but I wonder if that means we've already seen all the god stuff?
12 Years a Slave - November 1 - Solomon Northup is a free black man from New York who is abducted and transported to the southern United States, where he is sold into slavery. Based on a true story. I will not likely see this film in the theater, and I may never see it (I hear it is pretty brutal), but the cast here is stellar: Chiwetel Ejiofor (who I have loved in everything I've ever seen him in), Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Benjamin Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, and Alfre Woodard.
Thor: The Dark World - November 8 - Don't think much needs to be said about this one. Thor sequel, more of the same, though different director this time. I hear Loki/Tom Hiddleston is exceptional in this one.
About Time - November 8 (USA Release) - A man discovers he can time travel and change what happens in his own life, so he uses his powers to find true love. This movie comes from the creatorof Love Actually, which is one of my favorite movies. British films have such a great touch with this type of material. I hope this one lives up.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - November 22 - Another film that not much needs to be said about. You've probably already decided if you'll see it or not. I'm waiting until closer to the third movie. That way, I can watch all three back to back and then jump right into the books. (But waiting is hard, I assure you!)
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor - November 23 - 50th anniversary special of the epic franchise that will be shown in some theaters (2D and 3D) and on BBC America. It should also be released on DVD and Blu-ray before the end of the year.
Frozen - November 27 - New animated offering from Disney (not Pixar), based on a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. A girl must battle her sister to free her kingdom endless winter. This involves several of the people from Wreck-It Ralph, which was a surprisingly good movie. We'll give it a shot.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - December 13 - I'm sensing a theme here. Nothing really needs to be said about this one, I don't think, except *dragon*! (Finally.)
Saving Mr. Banks - December 20 - Walt Disney attempts to convince author P.L. Travers to agree to use of her novel in a Disney adaptation of Mary Poppins. Y'all know I'm a Disney nut, and Mary Poppins is still one of my favorite films. I would see it for that alone. But toss in Tom hanks and Emma Thompson, and I will do all I can to catch it in the theater.
Walking With Dinosaurs - December 25 - Talking dinosaurs have been overlayed onto the BBC mini series for this underdog story. The visuals are nice, not sure about the rest, or the scare level for kids. What concerns me most is that this film sat on the shelf for at least two years. That's rarelly a good sign.
The Wolf of Wall Street - December 25 - Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle, helmed by Martin Scorsese, based on the true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort. This has Oscar nomination written all over it, from what I hear.
47 Ronin - December 25 - From IMDb: "A band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun." I can actually see Keanu Reeves as a samurai, to a certain extent, so I'm okay there. This is another project that sat on the shelf for at least a year, but it is getting a pretty high profile immediately-before-Christmas release date, so it's hard to get a feel for this one.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - December 25 - Ben Stiller stars in this remake about a day-dreamer who decides to venture into the real world of adventure. Not your typical Ben Stiller feel to this one. I'm genuinely curious about it, but I'll wait to see and hear more before deciding.
August: Osage County - December 25 - A family of strong women returns home during a family crisis; based on the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award Winningn Play. Another of those films that seems worth mentioning just for the cast: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale (I've always loved her!), Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch (he's been busy), Dermot Mulroney, Sam Shepard.
And an honorable mention for this film coming up in January:
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit - Why yes, they are trying to restart the Tom Clancy hero franchise, this time with Captain Kirk. They've pulled in Kevin Costner and Keira Knightly, though, as well as Kenneth Branagh as director (who runs hot and cold for me), so there is some potential. I find the January release date both interesting and worrysome.
Currently feeling: bring on the popcorn!
Ender's Game - November 1 - Children are recuited for military training in hopes of one day leading the fight against the alien race that invaded Earth. Based on the Orson scott Card novel, which is one of my FIL's favorite books. I really want to try to catch this one in the theater if I can.
Free Birds - November 1 - Animated. Two turkeys go back in time to stop the Pilgrims from serving turkey at the first Thanksgiving so that turkey-eating will not become a Thanksgiving tradition. Interesting premise, but I've heard the execution is not so hot.
Last Vegas - November 1 - Four "old timers" spend a weekend in Vegas for a bachelor party. (I'm old enough to remember when most of these men were young and mostly ran Hollywood. Ouch.) The trailer certainly made me laugh, but I wonder if that means we've already seen all the god stuff?
12 Years a Slave - November 1 - Solomon Northup is a free black man from New York who is abducted and transported to the southern United States, where he is sold into slavery. Based on a true story. I will not likely see this film in the theater, and I may never see it (I hear it is pretty brutal), but the cast here is stellar: Chiwetel Ejiofor (who I have loved in everything I've ever seen him in), Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Benjamin Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, and Alfre Woodard.
Thor: The Dark World - November 8 - Don't think much needs to be said about this one. Thor sequel, more of the same, though different director this time. I hear Loki/Tom Hiddleston is exceptional in this one.
About Time - November 8 (USA Release) - A man discovers he can time travel and change what happens in his own life, so he uses his powers to find true love. This movie comes from the creatorof Love Actually, which is one of my favorite movies. British films have such a great touch with this type of material. I hope this one lives up.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - November 22 - Another film that not much needs to be said about. You've probably already decided if you'll see it or not. I'm waiting until closer to the third movie. That way, I can watch all three back to back and then jump right into the books. (But waiting is hard, I assure you!)
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor - November 23 - 50th anniversary special of the epic franchise that will be shown in some theaters (2D and 3D) and on BBC America. It should also be released on DVD and Blu-ray before the end of the year.
Frozen - November 27 - New animated offering from Disney (not Pixar), based on a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. A girl must battle her sister to free her kingdom endless winter. This involves several of the people from Wreck-It Ralph, which was a surprisingly good movie. We'll give it a shot.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - December 13 - I'm sensing a theme here. Nothing really needs to be said about this one, I don't think, except *dragon*! (Finally.)
Saving Mr. Banks - December 20 - Walt Disney attempts to convince author P.L. Travers to agree to use of her novel in a Disney adaptation of Mary Poppins. Y'all know I'm a Disney nut, and Mary Poppins is still one of my favorite films. I would see it for that alone. But toss in Tom hanks and Emma Thompson, and I will do all I can to catch it in the theater.
Walking With Dinosaurs - December 25 - Talking dinosaurs have been overlayed onto the BBC mini series for this underdog story. The visuals are nice, not sure about the rest, or the scare level for kids. What concerns me most is that this film sat on the shelf for at least two years. That's rarelly a good sign.
The Wolf of Wall Street - December 25 - Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle, helmed by Martin Scorsese, based on the true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort. This has Oscar nomination written all over it, from what I hear.
47 Ronin - December 25 - From IMDb: "A band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun." I can actually see Keanu Reeves as a samurai, to a certain extent, so I'm okay there. This is another project that sat on the shelf for at least a year, but it is getting a pretty high profile immediately-before-Christmas release date, so it's hard to get a feel for this one.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - December 25 - Ben Stiller stars in this remake about a day-dreamer who decides to venture into the real world of adventure. Not your typical Ben Stiller feel to this one. I'm genuinely curious about it, but I'll wait to see and hear more before deciding.
August: Osage County - December 25 - A family of strong women returns home during a family crisis; based on the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award Winningn Play. Another of those films that seems worth mentioning just for the cast: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale (I've always loved her!), Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch (he's been busy), Dermot Mulroney, Sam Shepard.
And an honorable mention for this film coming up in January:
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit - Why yes, they are trying to restart the Tom Clancy hero franchise, this time with Captain Kirk. They've pulled in Kevin Costner and Keira Knightly, though, as well as Kenneth Branagh as director (who runs hot and cold for me), so there is some potential. I find the January release date both interesting and worrysome.
Currently feeling:
bring on the popcorn!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
colorful
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
fall is coming
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Happy Halloween 2013
May I present the cutest Hogwarts student ever!
Definitely the most adorable Gryffindor I've ever seen.
Yes, I am still alive! Hope you're all doing well.
Currently feeling:
cloaked in cuteness
Definitely the most adorable Gryffindor I've ever seen.
Yes, I am still alive! Hope you're all doing well.
Currently feeling:
cloaked in cuteness
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