Who Would Play You?

So..I got commenting over at another blog and it got me thinking about something that I'm just dying to ask.  So think about this and let me know.

If they were to make a movie of your life....Who Would Play You?

Mine would be....

Meg Ryan

Can't wait to hear yours. (By the way...I'm watching You've Got Mail for the 10 millionth time.)

Update: Krissy would have Alicia Silverstone play her.  Good choice.

Another Update:  Caity picked Reese Witherspoon to play her.  That works...cute little blonde playing a cute little blonde.  (Yeah, Kel - you and Cait picked the same.  Not surprising.)

Card of the Week

I have not made any cards since November.  With all the upheaval in December, I just couldn't get the time or the inspiration to get myself going.

Last week-end,  I sat at my crafting desk and I really struggled to get my creative juices going, but the other night I made one that I quite like.   I also used the CPS sketch as the inspiration.

Here's the sketch:

And here's the card I made from the sketch:

Me likey.  I used my new border punch on the green paper.  Pretty cool huh?


Thanks for visiting.

Ten...Really?

It's seems that the "Academy" has decided to change the Best Picture category to include 10 movies.  I have to be honest here...I'm just not feeling it.  Ten is popular with David Letterman and other list-aholics (like me) but I'm thinking this is a bit....excessive.

In case you have heard, here are the 10 movies nominated this year:

• Up in the Air
• Precious
• Up
• Nine
• The Road
• The Lovely Bones
• Avatar
• The Boys Are Back
• Inglourious Bastards
• Away We Go

Seems like a rather long list.  Didn't it make you think twice if it was right?

A positive  out of this change is that a small movie like "Away We Go" even gets the chance to be nominated.

I've seen 4 of these movies and there are two more that I would like to see..but there are also a few that I really don't want to see.  I know I should, but harsh doses of reality are not my idea of fun or entertainment.

My general rule...don't see movies that will keep me up at night.  It's not much...but I find it's a good rule to go by as I am very impressionable and easily distraught.  (Blame Virginia...I inherited this tendency from her.)

So...which of the 10 movies might you be rooting for this year? 

Me...I'm guessing I'll be rooting for Up or Away We Go at this point.  Likely, I'll be disappointed on Oscar night.

Wednesday Wonderings

Recently, I've found some new blogs that I'm enjoying visiting.  So today....just because it's Wednesday and because I don't have anything else to talk about (yes, I know that Academy Award nominations are coming out today but that's still 30 minutes away)...I thought I'd share a few of my new favorites.  Some where accidently found...others I've found through other blogger recommendations.  In no particular order, here's some stuff to check out:

I like Benign Objects.  She shows visual examples of some very cool and interesting designs. It could be some really unusual packaging or it might just be a well designed product.  She has her own small design business specializing in stationary.  And I do love paper. 

Also really like Tatertots and Jello.  I think I found her through Suzy over at My Suzy Homemaker.  Jen at Tatertots is the kind of crafter I can only dream about.  She's just a natural and comes up with some amazing ideas.  She is so clever and she gives really good instructions as well.  She honestly makes me fell that I could do some of these projects.  Recently, she did these adorable little picture frames for Valentines day that I just loved.

Caity found this next blog.  She was reading some of the comments on Cake Wrecks and one caught her attention and she sent me the link to check out.  Ever since, I've been a regular reader of My Older Brother.  Taylor is very funny with a very interesting spin on his tales. You'll have to check him out.

I've also found a couple of blogs that are doing the 365 days of posting.  Wenderful 365 is posting a photograph each day.  I really like her point of view.

And there is also Lisa's blog project called A Collection a Day 2010.  Everyday she posts a photo or drawing of one of her collections.  She really has some fascinating  collections.  I love the clean look and original layout each day.  I want her to start selling t-shirts with these designs on them.  They are so interesting and cool.

Finally, in case you don't know by now, the 2010 Bloggies are posted. Go visit and vote for your favorites.  I also use this as an opportunity to check out some blogs I might not know about cause it's always fun to find new blogs.

Avatar Movie Review

Avatar


Grade:  Special Effects - A
              Story - C+

OK...we finally got sucked in and went to see Avatar.  I've got a James Cameron aversion and I hate to feed his movie making machine, but I felt I needed to see it to at least check out the special effects.

And special effects they are.  The world of Pandora is amazingly real.  The improvements in the computer generated beings has evolved a lot since the days of Golum in the Lord of the Rings series.  The computer aspects are now invisible and the people of Pandora look like real people.

As for the story, it's basically Pochantas on steroids.  If anyone was surprised by any of the story line...now that would be a surprise.  Pretty predictable overall and I was a little disappointed with the obvious climatic battle scene.  At one point, I honestly expected the Ewoks to come out and trip the giant robots with ropes and logs.

Overall, well worth seeing for the special effects, but I truly will not be rooting for this movie to win the best movie Oscar.

UPDATE:  Feel free to disagree with me.  Honest, I can take it.

Up In The Air Movie Review

Up In The Air

Grade: A-

This is a very good movie.  Good story, good characters and good acting.  I have to admit, I wish I had seen it earlier in it's release.  With all the whoop-to-do I've been hearing and it making all the Top 10 Movies of the Year lists, I was kind of expecting more.  It's not that it isn't a very good movie, I just think my expectations were raised a little too high.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham who is addicted to his life on the road.  Ryan works for a company that processes massive layoffs and he travels more then 300 days a year going from city to city; firing people.  His particular lifestyle choices requires very little real human contact which ultimately makes him very good at his job.  The appearance of  empathy without any real feeling. 

He has also perfected the art of travel.  He's got every Frequent Guest VIP card to  every travel related services known to man.  He knows the secrets to manuevering through every airport, hotel and rental car service. He's a front of the line kind of guy.

The story behind this movie, comes from the changes in Ryan's life, both at work and in his personal life, causing him to question his life choices.  His supporting characters include Vera Farmiga as Alex, a charming fellow travelaholic who he meets in a hotel bar and Anna Kendrick as Natalie, a recent Cornell grad set to revolutionize the world of employee transitioning. 

Anna Kendrick kind of stole this movie for me.  I felt that it was her character that gave the film it's real heart.  The previews don't really give her character it's just due.  She is smart and accomplished while at the same time, naive and quirky.  I really liked the development of her and Ryan's relationship in the film.  I think their relationship helps each of them grow and evolve into better people.

Oh...and George looks as good as ever.

Ryan's Wingman

Seems my grandson Ryan, transforms when he is surrounded by little girls.  Krissy says he becomes a totally different kid.  Considering he's only 3 1/2, I'm guessing they have many fun years ahead of them.

And considering how adorable they both are....I'm thinking trouble is the more appropriate word.  I know they both just melt my little heart.

A couple week-ends ago, after a sledding outing, they went with friends for hot chocolate.  In addition to Ryan and Austin, there were 5 little girls all ranging in ages.  As they were sitting down, Ryan leaned over to his dad and the following conversation took place (some paraphrasing included):

Ryan - "Daddy, I need a joke"
Daddy - "I don't know a joke right now"
Ryan - "I need to make them laugh"
Daddy - "Well Ryan...I don't know what to tell you"
Ryan - "Should I say Tooties" (this is Ryan's go to word, whenever he doesn't know what else to say.)
Daddy - "Sure"
Ryan - Loudly to the group "Tooties"
(Silence)
Ryan - "Daddy, there not laughing"
Daddy - "I know"

He did finally resort to hitting himself in the head a couple of times, which I guess got them laughing.

On the way home, Krissy had a long talk with "Daddy" to explain the subtle art of being a better wingman.

It's Complicated Movie Review

It's Complicated


Grade: A

I am so proud to be of a certain age.  A certain age that can truly appreciate and enjoy this movie.  I had so much fun watching this movie.  I laughed so hard.  What a great release.

It's Complicated is the story of Jane (Meryl Streep) who unexpectedly has an affair with her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin) and all the complications that naturally come with this.  Steve Martin plays Adam, the architect working on the the redesign of her kitchen and master bedroom (both...so applicable).

Meryl is charming and beautiful (poo on you Sharon Stone) as she explores her old feelings which conflict with her current center and independence.  Alec Baldwin is hilarious.  I've never been so happy to see someone go from devlishly handsome to portly handsome as I have with Baldwin.  His new self makes for a brilliant comedian.  The scene of him creeping to peek in the window had me in stiches.

Steve Martin is very subtle and charming as her new potential suitor.  Meryl and Steve at the party scene, should go down in the annals of comedic "pot" moments.

John Krasinski (Jim in The Office) is adorable as her son-in-law to be. but I love him in everything he does.  (Oh...except that awful movie he did with Robin Williams).

With all the humor, this movie also manages to touch your heart.  You can't help feel for all of them as they struggle with love and life.  There were a few moments that actually hurt.

Please take the time to notice all the beautiful setting and details in this film.  The first time we see Jane's kitchen, I literally moaned out loud.  And the bakery she owns just made me swoon.  Oh...and wait to you see her garden.  Completely magnificent.  I know that no one really lives like this...but I was just honored to have visited that pretend world.  To me this movie had it all.

Liv....LIVE!

Got to see Livingston Taylor in concert on Sunday night and it was an amazing concert.  He's quirky and funny and so incredibly entertaining.  (Yes...he's James' brother.)  His songs are not over complicated or deep.  In fact, he announces.."if you want deep, you're in the wrong place."  For example, he flies his own airplane, so he wrote a song dedicated to Orville and Wilbur Wright.  They may be simple songs, but often deceptively clever.  He tells very funny stories to go along with his songs and then throws in a classic Jerome Kern or Irving Berlin, just too keep us on our toes.

We saw him at the Ark, which is a very small venue in Ann Arbor.  For those of you not familiar with Ann Arbor, it is the hometown of the University of Michigan.  Despite that (ha), it is still a very cool, hip town. The Ark is a small acoustic music venue that has been around since the mid-sixties.  There were probably 200+ people in the audience.  So it's very intimate and a great way to see a performer. 

Livingston teaches music at the Berklee School of Music in Boston and as a special surprise, he brought along one of his former students as his opening act.  His name is Seth Glier and he is very talented young man.  Mark that name in your memory, cause I think you are going to hear from him in the near future.  His music is a little like Jason Marz with a bit of John Mayer thrown in.  I haven't checked for him yet on iTunes (Caity...hint,hint), but I guessing he might be there.  I particularily liked his song Walking Katie Home.

Thanks Liv for a great night and the intro to Seth.  It was one of those nights I want to hold onto in my memory.

A 17 Year Old's TV Choices???

It is wonderful having Mikey home and healing.  Every day he is getting stronger and stronger, but....the other side of the coin is that now he's in the living room all the time and he frequently has the REMOTE!

Do you have any idea what teenagers are watching these days?  Some programs are just  odd, while others are awful and some are terrifying.  Here's a little sampling of what's out there:

Dog the Bounty Hunter - One day, while he was still in the hospital, they ran a Dog the Bounty Hunter marathon.  I got stuck watching about 8 hours of this riduculous program.  There are just no words to describe the insanity of this show.  If you watch this program..just once, you might actually find it interesting, but when you watch it over and over, you find the same lines and lingo repeated over and over to add more drama.  It just becomes about self promotion and vanity.

Nitro Circus - This one has a group of BMX bicyclists and other characters doing absolutely crazy, impossible stunts.  How one of them hasn't died is beyond me.  This is Evil Knieval on steroids.  In one segment, they jumped a big pick up truck over a dirt ramp and slammed it into a large camper...destroying both.  The guys get knocked unconscience regularily and then they laugh about it.

Rob and Big - The fact that this skateboarder dude (Rob) has his own show completely mystifies me.  He's basically in immature doofus who runs around with his bodyguard (Big).  Each episode has them doing some stupid thing that usually involves wasting a lot of money.  A recent episode had Rob throwing a birthday party for his dog.  (Really.  I couldn't make this up if I tried.). 

It seems Big finally grew up and got married so the show is just now with the Rob guy and I think it's worse then ever.  Although according to Mikey, "it's way better now".

Jersey Shore - And this is officially the worst show on television.  It's basically a "reality" show about a bunch of spoiled brat Italian kids who hang out on the Jersey Shore.  They actually call themselves "guidos and guidettes".  I scream and make a big fuss when he tries to put this show on,  but I'm sure he watches it after I go to bed.  Just horrid.

Am I over-reacting.  Will he gets some taste and sense sometime soon. 

In retrospect, I should have moved him way out to the country and home-schooled him.  Although, he'd be a math moran if I'd actually done that.

Post Update:  Just got my new People magazine and not only is Kate Gosselin on the cover because she got hair extensions...BUT there is a 5 PAGE spread on the characters from Jersey Shore.  I am just getting too old.

Sherlock Holmes Movie Review

Sherlock Holmes

Grade: B

Let me preface this to say...I love Sherlock Holmes.  Years ago, I made it through The Complete Sherlock Holmes. This should explain why, with the plethora of newly released films, we decided to go see this movie. (Don't you just love the word plethora?)  Next to King Arthur, Sherlock is my favorite fictional character.  Although, I don't really believe Arthur is fictional, but that's a whole other story.

The basic story line for this film is a mish-mash about an ancient cult and supernatural murder. It does drag on a bit but the film really get the gritty look and feel of Victorian London just right.  All the details are brilliant. I felt truly transported to the late 1800's. 

This was still an enjoyable film with a fresh new spin on the traditional adventures of  Sherlock Holmes.  Robert Downey Jr. does a great job creating a new Holmes who is as physically fit as he is mentally fit.  In addition, Jude Law brings Dr. Watson to life.  Watson is no longer the bumbling sidekick of the past, but a true equal to Holmes. It is their relationship that is the real attraction in this movie.  To paraphrase the reviewer in People Magazine, "this is the original bromance".

There is also a likely sequel in the future as Dr. Moriarity was introduced near the end of the film...so now the game is truly afoot. (Ha...this only proves that I am a Holmes geek.)