Moonbeam Baby's blog

Arthur and the Invisibles

2007-06-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I watched the movie Bridge to Terabithia, and I considered writing a review for it, but it was so bad that I don't even want to bother. I decided to review Arthur and the Invisibles instead. I watched it a few weeks ago, and I loved it! It's a perfect family movie - unlike Terabithia, which I found to be both boring, and depressing.

~ Movie Review ~

Arthur and the Invisibles
10-year-old Arthur is living with his grandmother in a quiet country house. He has recently lost his grandfather, and sees little of his parents. His grandmother entertains him by reading stories to him. One of these stories is about the Minimoys — tiny elfin beings living underground in the garden of his grandparents' house. According to these stories, the Minimoys hold a wondrous and expensive treasure of rubies given by an African tribe to Arthur's grandfather. Arthur has become enamoured with a picture of Selenia, princess of the Minimoys.

Arthur's grandmother has been given a two-day deadline to pay a large sum of money to a building developer named Davido, who has bought up her mortgage from the bank and plans to evict the two. Arthur takes it upon himself to find the rubies in order to pay off the debt. After stumbling across various clues written a few years previously by his grandfather, Arthur manages to find the key to the Minimoys' world...
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. ****

Voices:
Madonna - Princess Selenia Jimmy Fallon - Betameche Robert De Niro - King Harvey Keitel - Miro Chazz Palminteri - The Travel Agent Emilio Estevez - Ferryman Snoop Dogg - Max Anthony Anderson - Koolomassai David Bowie - Malthazard

Actors:
Freddie Highmore - Arthur Mia Farrow - Arthur's Grandmother Penny Balfour - Arthur's Mother Douglas Rand - Arthur's Father Ron Crawford - Archibald Adam LeFevre - Davido

~*Quote of the day*~
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.

Robert Frost

Currently Listening to... "More Than Words" - Extreme

Creeping Paranoia - A.k.a.: Spooky Sunday

2007-06-24T23:26:00.000-07:00

It's 12:47am, so I guess technically it's Monday morning, but anyway...

The tale of my Spooky Sunday:
I was reading a blog post by Sebastien on http://chronicallysickbutstillthinking.blogspot.com/. He was talking about mythological stories, fairy tales, etc... So I started looking around the internet, and I found a page on Wikipedia about the "Jersey Devil". I remember reading stories about it when I was a kid, and after I read the article, I followed the links and ended up spending a couple of hours reading about the Mothman, Werewolves, and the Chupacabra. Fascinating stuff - but most of it was completely unbelievable crap. I'm not a superstitious person. I don't believe in ghosts, aliens, Bigfoot, etc... but I do believe that there are some very strange things in this world. Things that can't always be easily explained.

Some things are perfectly innocent coincidences. For example: while I was reading one of the "Werewolf" stories (a supposed eye-witness account) all the web-pages I had open that contained paranormal articles closed themselves. None of the others did. I had six other web-pages open, and they all stayed open. A coincidence, yes, but an odd one.

Later Sunday night:
After a long hard day of doing absolutely nothing, I sat down in the den to watch a movie with my family. Which movie? Eight Legged Freaks - a story about giant spiders. A great movie to watch right before going to bed... especially if you are terrified of spiders. 0_0

Half-way through the movie, my dog Daisy jumped up and started barking (which is something she rarely ever does). Seconds later, we heard the doorknob of the front door being turned... It was around 11:30pm, so we definitely were not expecting any visitors. My brother jumped up, and crept quietly to the door. He turned on the floodlights, peeked out the curtains --- and saw nothing. No one was there.

No more than 10 seconds had passed between the time the doorknob rattled, and when my brother looked out the window. We have a large yard, but there are plenty of lights, and still we couldn't locate the source of the noise. That in itself is creepy enough, but the thing is, this was the third night in a row that this has happened.

Anyone who would like to offer up an explanation for this strange occurrence, please feel free to do so.

After all the spooky stories I read in the morning, the movie I watched at night, and the really weird, unexplained doorknob thing - I'm sure I'll have some memorable dreams tonight... assuming I even sleep at all.

Sweet Dreams everyone ~

Where the Heart Is

2007-06-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

I watched this movie on TV tonight. I've seen it before, and I forgot how good it is! It's packed with wonderful actors. It stars: Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Sally Field, Stockard Channing, and Joan Cusack - to name a few. It's very moving at times, and the ending leaves you feeling good inside.

~ Movie Review ~

Where the Heart Is
Novalee Nation, 17 and very pregnant, has never been part of a real home. The closest thing to family for the hard-luck teen is her selfish, would-be musician boyfriend, Willy Jack, with whom she's traveling from Tennessee to California in a rust bucket that used to be a Plymouth. A bathroom stop en route, at an Oklahoma Wal-Mart, changes Novalee's life forever. For when she leaves the store, she discovers that Willy Jack and the Plymouth are gone. Only her Polaroid camera remains in the parking space. Alone and broke, Novalee surreptitiously moves into the vast store, borrowing food and supplies from its shelves. When she gives birth on the floor - and her hideaway is revealed - Novalee and her "Wal-Mart Baby" become instant celebrities. More importantly, over the next few years, Novalee finally becomes part of an unconventional, makeshift family comprised of her wonderfully eccentric new friends. Now, with the family she always wanted, Novalee is transformed from a homeless teen to a successful and strong woman. She has finally found a home in this small town where fate has dropped her.

(From wheretheheartismovie.com)

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. ****

~*Movie Quotes of the day*~

Lexie Coop: Americus? What kind of a name is Americus?

Novalee Nation: I wanted her to have a strong name.

Lexie Coop: Well, I guess I shouldn't talk. I named my kids after snack foods: Brownie, Praline, Cherry and Baby Ruth.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Orderly: Lexie, one of your kids is on the phone.

Lexie Coop: Which one?

Orderly: Uh, I don't know, Twinkie, Pez... one of 'em.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Currently Listening to... "Butterflies And Hurricanes" - William Joseph

Been down and out...

2007-06-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

You've probably noticed that I haven't written anything in a while. I've been sick with a cold (or something similar) for over a week. It's very annoying. I haven't given up on my blog, I just haven't really felt like writing lately. I have been watching a lot of movies in my downtime, so you can expect some movie reviews in the not-too-distant future.

Until then, I'm going to relax for a while...

Pecan Pie Cupcakes

2007-06-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe on http://www.recipezaar.com. I made a batch this afternoon and they're great! They really do taste kind of like a Pecan pie, and it was so easy to make. This one's going into my recipe book!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pecan Pie Cupcakes

1 cup - chopped Pecans
1/2 cup - all-purpose Flour
1 cup - Brown Sugar
2/3 cup - melted Butter
2 - Eggs
1 tsp. - Vanilla
1 tsp. - Karo syrup (optional)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Preheat oven to 350*.
Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Spray a miniature muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.
Fill each 3/4 full.
Bake at 350* for approximately 18-25 minutes.
Top with Powdered Sugar.

My mini-vacation...

2007-06-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my Mother and I went to Tannehill State park. They were having a Gem, Mineral and Jewelery show, and we wanted to take a little time to break out of our usual routine. So, we first stopped by a gas station, filled the tank and washed the windshield, and with my usual ironic/bad luck, it started to rain moments later. The gem show is an outdoor event, so I was worried that by the time we got there, all the vendors would be packed up and gone. Fortunately, I was wrong. There were still several stands open. I love shows like this one, because I used to collect gemstones and fossils (yes, I was a nerd). There was so much cool stuff that I wanted to buy! I ended up spending 3 times the amount of money I had planned on using. I'm not usually an impulse buyer, but when will I go to another Jewelery show? I had to get some kind of memento. A pair of bookends caught my eye, and I got a really good deal. I guess I should have taken them back to the car instead of carrying them around (they are pretty heavy), and today my arm is sore.

Right as we reached the last in a long line of vendors, something else caught my eye again. It was a pink Opal. I love Opals... I love the way they sparkle. So I bought it, and the guy recommended another vendor who does gem setting. So I found his stand, picked out the perfect silver ring setting, and watched as he set my stone in the ring. Something about picking the stone and the ring separately makes it even more special to me. I love things that are unique and one of a kind. My Mom paid for the setting, and I paid for the Opal. I also bought two other rings. I'm not sure what they are made of... some kind of stone or metal (I think), but the Opal ring is the one I love. I'll always have it to remember the great day we had.

After we got tired of walking around, we went to the Furnace Master's Restaurant, which is the only restaurant in Tannehill park. They have great food there. I got the chopped steak, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and hash brown casserole. Mom got the fried catfish, turnip greens, fried green tomatoes, and macaroni and cheese. It also comes with a roll, or cornbread. I probably ate too much, but hey, what are mini-vacations for?

I love driving around that part of Alabama. It's so peaceful and relaxing out there, and there are animals everywhere. On the trip we saw: horses, cows, goats, emu, and one bat. I meant to take some pictures, but it was raining, so I didn't bother.

I really had a great time. : )

A few pics of the bookends:

I just put a few books together for an example. My actual bookshelf is much larger...

Musical discussion...

2007-05-31T20:32:00.000-07:00

Those times when my brother and I are riding in the same car, there is a constant power struggle over who controls the radio. My brother likes classic rock, mostly songs from the seventies and eighties. While I also enjoy this kind of music, it is not my favorite genre. What do I love? Alternative rock - the newer, the better. A few days ago, we were out shopping, and I put the radio on my favorite station - 105.5 The Vulcan. The new Breaking Benjamin song was on, so I cranked up the volume. The conversation that followed went something like this...

My Brother (listening to the song): "Is he saying Diarrhea Jane?"

Me (looking at him strangely): ". . ."

My Brother: "What?"

Me (laughing): "Nothing..."

~ ~ ~

He's not great with lyrics... : )

(The song was The Diary Of Jane - Breaking Benjamin)

Seraphim Falls

2007-05-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

~ Movie Review ~

Seraphim Falls
I watched this movie without knowing anything about it. I didn't even know the basic plot, or which actors were in it. Even though I had no idea what to expect, it turned out to be a pretty good movie. The basic story was well thought out, and the acting was quite good. It is rated R, but the language was not too bad. It was mostly rated for blood/violence. There are a few "icky" parts, but I've seen much worse. One thing I really enjoyed, was spotting all the different actors in cameo appearances. I liked the ending, even though the movie started to get a little "artsy" at the end.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The film is set after the end of the American Civil War. Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) is hiding in the American Rockies, contemplating a fire. A shot pierces the silence and hits Gideon, who quickly runs away, followed by his pursuers. Soon the audience learn why: Gideon is a hunted man. Colonel Morsman Carver (Liam Neeson), a Confederate officer, has hired several mountain men to kill Gideon...

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 2 out of 5 stars. **

~*Quote of the day*~

Folks never understand the folks they hate.

James Russell Lowell

~*Word of the day*~

Itai! (Japanese)

Meaning: Ouch!

Currently Listening to... "Umbrella" - Rihanna

Hogzilla's big brother...

2007-05-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

In Montgomery, Alabama...

Jamison Stone, an 11-year-old boy, used a pistol to kill a wild hog his father says weighed 1,051 pounds and measured 9' 4", from its snout to the base of its tail. If it's true, then it is bigger than the legendary Hogzilla, which was killed in south Georgia in 2004. Hogzilla was originally thought to weigh 1,000 pounds and measure 12 feet long.

Jamison was hunting with father Mike Stone and two guides in east Alabama on May 3rd when he bagged the Monster Pig. He said he shot the huge animal eight times with a .50-caliber revolver and chased it for three hours through hilly woods before finishing it off with a point-blank shot.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When I saw the picture on the news this morning, I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought it must be a prank, or something like that, but it's real! It reminded me of the movie "Princess Mononoke". I can't believe there was an animal like that here in Alabama. Personally, I wish they hadn't killed it. Think of how old it must have been! It would have been better if they could have captured it without harming it... but now they have enough sausage to last the rest of their lives!

If you give a Squirrel some toast...

2007-05-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

...he'll eat it. : )

After the rage subsides...

2007-05-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've cooled down a little since my last post, and I've decided that my "scumbags" comment might have been a little too harsh. The Spurs did fight pretty hard too, but I still know the Suns should have won. I'm disappointed that things turned out this way, but there's always next year! The Phoenix Suns are a magnificent team, and I'll look forward to cheering them on again... next time.

Now I'm angry...

2007-05-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Noooooooooo!

The Suns lost... to the dirty, rotten, cheating scumbags known as the Spurs. Everyone knows that the Suns would have won, if not for some very dirty plays by the Spurs team. I hope this is a hollow victory for them, because they know they didn't deserve to win. This sucks, and now I'm going to have to cheer for the Utah Jazz. Why? Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I hope they crush the Spurs.

Crocs

2007-05-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

~ * Product Review * ~

Crocs
I've wanted a pair of these shoes for a while now, and last week I finally got them. I'm so glad I did! They are the most comfortable shoes I've ever put on my feet... and that includes house shoes! They're cool, comfortable, easy to slip on, and I love the adjustable strap. There are so many styles and colors to choose from, and it took me a while to pick out the perfect pair. I went with the Cayman style, and I chose Cotton Candy Pink as the color. I wear them everywhere, and I'm thinking about getting another pair in a different color/style.

• the cayman is comfortable, cool, molds to your feet
• orthotic foot bed
• advanced toe-box ventilation system
• slip-resistant and non-marking soles
• anti-microbial and odor resistant; ergonomic italian styling
• wide, roomy foot bed made with croslite PCCR material; buoyant
• weighs only ounces

The only downside is this:
They should be available in half-sizes. They get small creases across the toes.

I give this product 5 out of 5 stars *****

It's the little things that get you...

2007-05-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

I hate the freeway, especially at rush-hour... everyone drives like maniacs! Today we were driving down the freeway, and in the lane to the right, a ladder fell off a truck onto the road! Everyone started swerving to avoid it, and we barely got around it without getting hit. I've been in a car crash before (that was not my fault), and it is not fun. So I've become a very cautious driver, to avoid all the idiots on the road. I've seen people before who were eating, drinking, brushing their hair, and even applying mascara while driving. Not to mention all the people who drive while talking on cell phones... don't even get me started on that. No wonder so many people have "road rage".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I'm trying to cut down on my caffeine consumption

So when I get up I just have one cup of coffee.

And then I like to have another cup of coffee with my breakfast,

And on the way to work I like to get a cup of coffee

Like the kind of cup of coffee that you get with a donut,

'Cept I never get the donut, I just have the cup of coffee,

And when I get to work I like to have a cup of coffee

Because I like to have my coffee when I'm talking on the phone,

Except it usually goes cold, so I have to get another cup of coffee

And then I go to lunch and I have an espresso."

"And when I get back, it's not morning anymore

So I have a diet cola and another diet cola,

And by then I'm feelin' fine and I'm feelin' pretty sharp

And I'm feelin' pretty wired and I'm gettin' things done,

But right about 2:00 I get this little tiny migraine

And it starts behind my eyes and it moves to the back of my neck

And it moves to the bottom of my spine

But it doesn't get there until 5 or 6 o'clock

Which is the end of the day, so I'm fine,

So I'm FINE!, SO I'M -FINE-...

Except, when I have to work late,

When I have to work late, which I usually do..."

Addicted to Stress (Jimmy Infantino)

Daisy Tuesday

2007-05-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took our dog to the vet for her regular check-up. Poor little baby... she hates going to the vet. However, she was very good. She didn't even try to bite the guy who was holding her.

San Antonio at Phoenix: game 1

2007-05-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhh! The Suns lost!

Spurs 111
Suns 106

~ ~ ~

This game was crap! The Suns would have won, if not for some really bad calls, and the "accident" that happened. Stoudemire did not foul... he fell! Can't they tell the difference? Steve Nash... his poor nose! That must have hurt, and it kept him from playing the last part of the game because of all the blood. I hope his nose isn't broken...
The Suns will beat the Spurs next time.

Book-lover's link

2007-05-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

I love this website. It has tons of books to choose from, and you can read them all on-line for free!
Here's just a few of the available authors:

Austen, Jane
Baum, L. Frank
Bronte, Charlotte
Burnett, Frances Hodgson
Carroll, Lewis
Dickens, Charles
Dickinson, Emily
Eliot, T. S.
Frost, Robert
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Hugo, Victor
Irving, Washington
Kipling, Rudyard
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
Melville, Herman
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Stoker, Bram
Swift, Jonathan
Thoreau, Henry David
Twain, Mark
Wells, H.G.
Wilde, Oscar
Yeats, William Butler

http://www.online-literature.com/

Welcome to The Literature Network!
We offer searchable online literature for the student, educator, or enthusiast. To find the work you're looking for start by looking through the author index. We currently have over 1900 full books and over 3000 short stories and poems by over 250 authors. Our quotations database has over 8500 quotes.

I wanna go... Take me, take me NOW...

2007-05-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

Woe is me... Today is the last day of the Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil. I've never been, and I really, really wanted to go this year. What is it, you ask? If you're not from the south, you may not know about it, so I'll explain... The Crawfish Boil is a Birmingham tradition that's been going on for years. They have great bands, and great food. This year, the bands were as follows:

On Friday:

Operator
Cracker
Spin Doctors
Akon
Hinder
Cheap Trick

~ ~ ~

On Saturday (today):

Soul Asylum
Fuel
Papa Roach
Collective Soul
Barenaked Ladies

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Friday's lineup was good, but I'm dying to see today's show! I've asked everybody, but no one wants to go with me. Okay, so it might rain, and it's a pretty long drive from here --- who cares! It's worth it.

I need more friends with my kind of taste in music... I wish my brother was home, he's been there before, and he might actually go with me. I want to go! It's so unfair. I love music so much, but I've never been to a concert in my entire life! How depressing is that?

Now I'm sad... : (

History:
The Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil is a Birmingham tradition that like a child, started small then kept growing and growing. Eighteen years ago, Aaron and Phyllis Beam entertained friends with 50 pounds of hot boiled crawfish in their backyard, an annual ritual that dates back to Aaron's days at LSU. After a few years, things got out of hand
Because the Beams threw such a good party, they discovered people were getting invitations "for friends" and selling them. So, Aaron decided he could charge admission and give the profits to charity. The event moved from the Beam's backyard to Sloss Furnace, next to the Birmingham Race Course, and then to Southside. Although people enjoyed the event the proceeds were not great.
While Aaron was looking for corporate dollars to cover expenses, Dr. Jack Schaeffer was looking for a sponsorship opportunity for his Birmingham-based company Schaeffer Eye Center. The two visionaries partnered to turn the event into a free street festival in Birmingham 's Lakeview area. The benefiting charity, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, was chosen because both men served on its board of trustees. The corporate VIP area was born when Dr. Schaeffer suggested corporate sponsors could "buy" restaurants for the day to use as hospitality areas. The first official Schaeffer Eye Center / Beam's Crawfish Boil raised $15,000. As the event grew a few things changed, but for the better…
In 1995, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is added as a beneficiary, and a $2 donation is requested at the gate.
In 1997, Crawfish Chef Barry Gerald prepared 15,000 pounds of Crawfish for the 45,000 festival goers.
In 1998, the Crawfish Crawl 5k drew 300 runners and more media attention for the event. The children's area expanded and Cajun artist George Rodrigue painted the first of three "Blue Dog" posters for the event.
In 1999, the festival site moved to Pepper Place with an indoor warehouse for the VIP area. The event raised $100,000 for charity.
In 2000, the Schaeffer Eye Center/Beam Crawfish Boil moved to the Birmingham 's Railroad district at 1st Avenue South & 1th Street. This provided a new home for the Boil's future.
In 2002, Camp Smile-A-Mile and the Tanner Center for Multiple Sclerosis were the recipient charities.
In 2003, the event expanded to two-days with 17 musical acts. Benefiting charities included Camp Smile-A-Mile, the Tanner Center for Multiple Sclerosis and the Birmingham Junior League.
In 2004, the two day event brought acts like Sister Hazel, Cowboy Mouth and Collective Soul to Birmingham. Record crowds ensured that the Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil will remain a cornerstone event in Birmingham.
2005 continued the two day event format and brought a record number of people out to enjoy bands like the Wallflowers, Drivin' and Cryin', Tonic and Hootie & the Blowfish.

Night at the Museum

2007-05-04T14:16:00.000-07:00

~ Movie Review ~

Night at the Museum
I watched this movie last week, and I forgot to review it until now. Let me start by saying that although Ben Stiller is not my favorite actor, I do like him in some movies. A lot of the time his acting is a little "over the top" for me, but this role fit him like a glove. It's a comedy (of course), and it's a good family movie. It has a great cast, including:

I really enjoyed the performance of the three old security guards, and I loved Owen Wilson as the cowboy! It was fun and entertaining, which is pretty much what you look for in a family film.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley, despite being perpetually down on his luck, thinks he's destined for something big. But even he could never have imagined how big, when he accepts what appears to be a menial job as a graveyard-shift security guard at a museum of natural history. During Larry's watch, extraordinary things begin to occur: Mayans, Roman Gladiators, and cowboys emerge from their diorama to wage epic battles; in his quest for fire, a Neanderthal burns down his own display; Attila the Hun pillages his neighboring exhibits, and a T-Rex reminds everyone why he's history's fiercest predator. Amidst the chaos, the only person Larry can turn to for advice is a wax figure of President Teddy Roosevelt , who helps our hero harness the bedlam, stop a nefarious plot, and save the museum.
(From Yahoo! Movies)

I give this movie 3 and a half out of 5 stars. ***'

~*Quote of the day*~

The nearer the dawn the darker the night.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

~*Words of the day*~

Ame ga futteimasu (Japanese)

Meaning: It's raining.

Currently Listening to... "Possession" - Sarah McLachlan

Anything worth doing...

2007-05-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

" If you have a strong enough why, you can bear almost any how."

I wake up; it's a bad dream...

2007-05-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

I always have strange dreams, and a lot of them are really cool. Sort of like watching a full length movie in my head. Most of them are nightmares, but sometimes even the nightmares are pretty cool... or interesting, at the very least. A few days ago, I woke up from a particularly good one...

I was some sort of government agent, and I was undercover as a photographer in a huge mansion. A lot of people had disappeared from there, and I was trying to figure out why. It turned out that the owner of the mansion was doing genetic experiments on people in a laboratory in the basement. Just as I had figured all this out, the bad guy discovered that I was a spy. So he released one of his "experiments" to hunt me down and kill me. The "thing" was sort of a cross between a traditional werewolf, and the wolf man. The rest of the dream was pretty much just me trying to escape the mansion and the monster. I woke up before it ended (like I usually do), but I'm fairly sure I got away.

It was kind of like a supernatural James Bond movie: starring me.

Hooray ~ My computer's still alive...

2007-04-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

My computer has been screwing with me all day. Earlier, it locked up completely and I was forced to do an emergency reboot. When it finally came back on, it tried to start in Safe Mode. I hate it when it does that. As it was slowly starting back up, I started thinking about all the stuff that I haven't made copies of yet. I promised myself that if my computer would start (without going to the "blue screen of death") I would immediately start making backup files. That's what I've been doing for the last hour. It's taking forever, because my hard drive is buried under piles of home movies and digital photos. My poor computer is in dire need of a major overhaul. I've been putting it off for so long, because the task seems so daunting. I still have a lot of things to do (move, copy, and/or delete various files) , but I'll probably stop for the night... my wrist is starting to hurt.

Happy Earth day

2007-04-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

A few conservation tips:
1: Dispose of motor oil, paint and pesticides properly by taking them to a certified disposal or recycling site.

2: Switch to an ultra low-flow shower head. This could save you as much as 2.5 gallons every minute you shower.

3: Set your central air conditioning for 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Turning your temperature up to 78 from 72 degrees can save you hundreds of dollars a year. The savings are greater the hotter the climate.

4: In cold climes, turn the temperature down to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day when you're home, and 55 degrees at night and during days when no one is home. For every degree you turn your home's thermostat down you take about 2 percent off your energy bill.

5: If you want to keep it cool inside on a 90-degree day, close the shades and drapes to block the sun's rays.

6: Turn off unnecessary lights. Halogen bulbs and even incandescent bulbs actually give off a great deal of heat. Your standard incandescent bulb emits 90% of its energy as heat. The light it sheds is really just a by-product.

7: Replace your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They use just a fourth of the energy. Most take up a little more space than regular bulbs, but they will still fit in lots of light fixtures.

8: Look around your apartment for those black "wall pack" boxes (DC transformers) that are powering your portable TV, cordless phone, hand-held vacuum, answering machine, rechargeable tool, and electric toothbrush. As long as those boxes are plugged into the wall they are drawing 2-6 watts of power, even after the appliance is fully charged. (Don't believe me? Put your hand on one. It's warm. Yup, it's wasting electricity.) So unplug the wall packs for appliances that are not often used.

9: Repair leaky faucets.

10: Take a short shower instead of a bath. While a five minute shower uses 12 to 25 gallons, a full tub requires about 70 gallons.

Color your world...

2007-04-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

I love making new wallpapers for my computer. It's kind of a hobby, and I'm pretty darn good at it, too. I have hundreds of them, and I thought I'd post a few here for everyone to enjoy. It was hard to narrow it down, but here are a few of my favorites...

A valuable lesson in bread making...

2007-04-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'm making yeast bread. I read a tip on the internet, and it said that you should microwave a glass of water, and set your dough in the microwave with the glass of hot water. The heat helps the dough rise faster. So I tried it, and it works. One little problem: I microwaved the water three times, and I didn't notice that most of the water had boiled out. So the third time, I microwaved it for 1:35 and there was only about an inch of water left in the glass. When I opened the microwave door, the water exploded! It almost got me, and it would have really scalded my hands. It was too close for comfort. I've heard of "Exploding water" before, but I never thought it would happen to me. Next time I'll be more careful.

Exploding Water - Microwave
A 13 year-old girl decided to make herself a cup of hot chocolate. She used the microwave to heat her mug of water, which is something I'm sure all of us have done. When the timer went off, she removed the cup from the oven. Just as she noticed the water was not boiling, the water in the cup 'blew up' into her face. Nothing happened to the cup, until she dropped it and it broke. It seems the water had exploded in her face because of some kind of energy build-up. Her whole face blistered and she suffered 1st and 2nd degree burns to her face that will probably leave scarring. There is also a chance she may have lost partial site in her left eye. While at the hospital, the doctor who treated her explained that this happens a lot and water (alone) should never be heated in the microwave. If you absolutely have to heat water in a microwave, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc. From the sounds of it, using a tea kettle or even a pot would be a safer choice.

http://www.snopes.com/science/microwave.asp

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here's the recipe I used:

Easy Yeast Bread
1 (1/4 ounce) package - Active Dry Yeast
3/4 cup - Water
1/4 cup - Sugar
2 tbsp. - Vegetable Oil
1/2 tsp. - Salt
1 - Egg, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups - Flour, plus more for kneading
Margarine
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Heat the Water to between 105 and 115 degrees. Dissolve the Yeast in the water in a large bowl.
Stir in the Sugar, Oil, Salt and Egg.
Stir in 1 cup of Flour until smooth.
Cover with a dishcloth and set in a warm place (over a bowl of warm water, in a slightly warm oven, in the microwave beside a cup of warm water, etc.).
Let rise for 15 minutes.
Stir down the dough, and add 1 1/2 cups Flour. Blend until well mixed.
Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead 3 minutes - adding Flour if the dough is sticky.
Grease a 9" pan.
Put the dough in the pan, and smear the top with softened Margarine.
Cover the pan with the dishcloth and set back in the warm place.
Let rise for 25 minutes. Preheat oven to 425°.
Bake at 425° for 12 to 15 minutes, or until light brown.
Remove from pan to a rack or plate to cool.
Brush the top with melted Butter.

5 reasons why trampolines are dangerous...

2007-04-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

1: Once when I was jumping, one of my legs went between the springs.

2: The little girl across the street fell off our trampoline and got a bloody nose.

3: My friend fell off and hit his head on a rock.

4: Another friend did a flip, and hit his face on the metal bar... knocking his tooth through his lower lip.

5: I did a move where you raise up on your hands and kick your feet straight up... and I broke my elbow.

Even after I got the cast removed, I couldn't straighten my elbow all the way out for months. We still have the evil trampoline, but no one has used it in a long time... I wonder if those "net" things they put around them now make them any safer?

Trampoline Injury Facts
According to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), 246,875 medically treated trampoline injuries occur annually in the U.S. Of this total, 186,405 of these injuries occurred among children aged 14 or younger.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) hospital emergency room-treated trampoline injuries almost tripled in the last decade - from an estimated 37,500 in 1991 to almost 100,000 in 1999.

The commission has received reports of 11 deaths relating to trampoline use from 1990 to 1999. Those victims ranged in age from 3 to 43. Six were between the ages of 12 and 19.

Falls off the trampoline often resulted in crippling injury and/or death including paralysis from spinal cord injury. Somersaults and coming into contact with other persons on the trampoline's surface likewise resulted in many serious and crippling injuries as well as death.

Nearly two-thirds of trampoline injury victims were children 6 to 14 years of age.

About 15% of trampoline injuries involved young children under 6 years old.

In 1999, injuries to the leg/foot were reported most frequently, accounting for 40% of the total. Injuries to the arm/hand accounted for 29% of the total, head/face/neck accounted for 20%, and shoulder/trunk were associated 10% of the total.

Approximately 4% of all trampoline emergency-room treated injuries result in hospitalization.

Most trips to the emergency room are the result of jumpers colliding with one another, falling on the trampoline springs or frame, falling or jumping off the trampoline, or attempting somersaults and stunts.

http://www.fscip.org/tramp.html#facts

The 'Burbs

2007-04-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I haven't done a movie review in a while, so here's a new one...

~ Movie Review ~

The 'Burbs
This movie has been vastly underrated. I love Tom Hanks; he's one of my favorite actors, and this particular film is way at the top of my list of favorites. I remember the first time I watched it: I was around twelve, and my brother, myself, and all our friends were crowded around the den TV. I remember thinking that it was a strange movie, but I loved it! To this day, it remains one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. It's packed full of great actors.

{Side Note: My parents were extras in a Bruce Dern movie.}

There are certain scenes that crack me up every time I see them. For example, the scene with: the sardines, "Pinocchio", and when Tom Hanks walks down the Klopek's front stairs for the last time. You would have to watch the movie to understand what I mean... which I seriously recommend that you do. If you like Tom Hanks, Corey Feldman, or "dark comedy", you'll love this film.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 'Burbs is a 1989 black comedy directed by Joe Dante, starring, amongst others, Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Corey Feldman, and Bruce Dern, and written by Dana Olsen The film pokes fun at suburban environments (particularly in the US), and their eccentric dwellers.
In his typical "good guy" mode, Hanks plays Ray Peterson, a loving family-man with an ordinary life. This changes when a mysterious family, the Klopeks, move in next door. Ray's two neighbors (work-shy slacker Art and paramilitary nut Rumsfield) believe the Klopeks are actually a family of murderers who killed Walter, the old man in the next house over. Ray and the other two turn detective to solve the mystery.
The film was one of the few starring Tom Hanks that failed at the box office. However, it did establish a large cult following that still exists.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

Interesting Trivia:
Mayfield Place, as it is called in the movie, is actually Colonial Street, a set on the backlot of Universal Studios. The houses (many of which are just façades) have been used in countless television shows, movies, and music videos through the years. Perhaps the most notable is The Munsters' house, which is home to the Butler family in The 'Burbs. Two new houses, which were built specifically for the movie, were Walter Seznick's (which is still there to this day, see Desperate Housewives) and the Klopeks'.
The Klopeks' house was not completely destroyed, and remained almost intact as it appeared in The 'Burbs for a number of years, albeit without the tower. The whole building can be clearly seen in a Season Two episode of Quantum Leap. The Klopeks' house no longer exists in an easily recognisable form (the Van de Kamp house in Desperate Housewives) but the right-façade does still have some features of the original style. The original Klopek garage sits alongside the house, in much the same style as in The 'Burbs.

~*Quote of the day*~

Ray Peterson:
I've never seen that. I've never seen anybody drive their garbage down to the street and bang the hell out of it with a stick. I-I've never seen that.

~*Words of the day*~

Tenki wa dou desu ka? (Japanese)

Meaning: How's the weather?

Currently Listening to... "Maroon 5" - Wasted Years

Anime Eccentric

2007-04-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

I know I said that someday I might write a review for an anime series, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Besides, there are literally hundreds of websites devoted to anime reviews... I'm not saying that I never will, but it's unlikely to happen anytime soon. However, that doesn't mean that I can't discuss anime in general. Prepare for more random ramblings...

I'm going to assume that no one reading this has any idea what I'm talking about, so I'll start with the basics:

Anime
an·i·me [an-uh-mey]
A Japanese style of motion-picture animation, characterized by highly stylized, colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sexuality.

Manga
man·ga [mahng-guh]
Manga is Japanese for "comic book, graphic novel". Anime largely are based on manga and until the 1970s, anime were known as manga eiga or "TV manga."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From what I understand, people in Japan use the word "Anime" like people in America use the word "Cartoon". It can refer to anything from Rurouni Kenshin, to South Park, or Disney movies. Most of the rest of the world, however, think of anime as strictly Japanese animation. So for clarification: if it wasn't made in Japan, it's not anime.

One of the many things I love about anime, is how diverse it is. It can be targeted towards any audience. It doesn't matter if you're in pre-school, or if you're a 40 year old business man. Teenagers, children, housewives; there's something for everyone. There's a vast number of genres to choose from. If you're looking for action, adventure, comedy, coming of age, demons, drama, ecchi, fantasy, games, horror, historical, kid's shows, magic, martial arts, mecha, music, mystery, parody, romance, samurai, science-fiction, shoujo, shounen, sports, or vampires... you will find something to suit you. You could sit around all day, every day, and still not have time to watch every anime series ever released.

Of course, it's somewhat harder to find what you're looking for if you don't live in Japan. There is a wide variety of anime to choose from at any Blockbuster, but it's only the tip of the iceberg. New anime series and movies are released in Japan all the time; it just takes a while for them to make it to the shelves here in the US. That's why I thank goodness for Fansubs. To all those wonderful people who spend their time delivering subtitled anime to the masses - Thank You. You are the unsung heroes of the internet.

Something to keep in mind: english voice overs, or "Dubs", are terrible. 80% of the time, they just plain suck. If you want to fully enjoy the experience of watching anime, you have to watch the subbed version (Japanese language & English subtitles). I don't want to put down American voice actors, but they really can't compare to the original Japanese talents. The important thing when doing voice acting, is to put some passion into it; make it real. A large portion of english VAs have trouble putting emotion into their character's voice. Without emotion, it just sounds like someone's reading from a script (which is exactly what they're doing).

When I think back to the first anime I ever watched, it probably had to be either ThunderCats, or Speed Racer. Both of which I watched as a young child - before I had ever even heard the word "anime". The first show I watched that I knew was anime was Dragonball Z, or Sailor Moon. They used to come on Cartoon Network in the afternoons when I was in elementary school. I'd like to think my taste in anime has matured a bit since then. Although, if Dragonball Z were on right now, I might secretly turn it on and watch for a while. I've never paid much attention to what people refer to as "age appropriate" material. Even when I was a child, I was already reading books that were "too old" for me, and I don't mind watching a few shows that might be considered "too immature" by some. Hey, if I wanted to watch Big Bird dance around on Sesame Street... who cares? It's nobody's business but my own. I'd like to say that that's my outlook on life, but truthfully, I do still care what people think.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A few anime series/movies that I like:

Naruto - particularly Naruto Shippuuden
An action/adventure/drama/comedy series about Naruto: a boy who is feared and detested by the villagers of the hidden leaf village of Konoha. The distrust of the boy has little to do with the boy himself, but it’s what’s inside him that causes anxiety. Long before Naruto came to be, a Kyuubi (demon fox) with great fury and power waged war with the villagers, taking many lives. The battle ensued for a long time until a man known as the Fourth Hokage, Yondaime, the strongest ninja in Konoha, fiercely fought the Kyuubi. The fight was soon won by Yondaime as he sealed the evil demon in a human body. Thus the boy, Naruto, was born. As Naruto grows he decides to become the strongest ninja in Konoha in an effort to show everyone that he is not as they perceive him to be, but is a human being worthy of love and admiration. But the road to becoming Hokage, the title for the strongest ninja in Konoha, is a long and arduous one. It is a path filled with betrayal, pain, and loss; but with hard work, Naruto may achieve his dream of becoming the next Hokage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

xxxHolic
An action/mystery/comedy series about a boy named Watanuki Kimihiro who can see spirits and ghosts. All his life he has unwillingly attracted evil spirits. One day he meets a mysterious woman named Yuuko. She claims to have the means to end his torment, but she never works for free, and she won't grant his wish until he works enough to pay for her services. He works in her shop as a cook and an errand boy, and discovers that in that place, nothing is what it seems... and everything is connected by fate. "There are no coincidences".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Slam Dunk!
An action/sports/comedy series about Sakuragi Hanamichi: a punk used to getting into fights and being rejected by girls. Upon entering high school he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko Akagi. He will do anything in order to win her heart, including joining the school basketball team. The problem is that Sakuragi has never played basketball before, and a freshman sensation is stealing the spotlight and Haruko's affection from him. So begins a fierce rivalry, on the journey to "conquer the nation", and become the best basketball team in Japan.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Inuyasha
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/historical/romance series about a half-demon named Inuyasha, and Higurashi Kagome. Kagome, after being pulled down a well by a demon, finds herself in Feudal Japan, where she learns that a powerful jewel has been reborn inside her body. After the jewel shatters in an attempt to retrieve it from one of the many demons who was after its power, Kagome must join forces with Inuyasha (also after the jewel's power) to track down the shards of the jewel before its power falls into the wrong hands.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rurouni Kenshin
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/historical/romance series about Himura Kenshin: a vagabond with a dark past and sunny disposition. Not a ronin but a rurouni, he was never a samurai, but an assassin of utmost skill in the Meiji restoration, who in the turning point of the war simply walked away. His travels lead him to Tokyo in the 11th year of the Meiji era, where he befriends a female Kendo master, a former thief, a brawler and a doctor, all with their own secrets. Together they fight off the enemies surfacing from the dark past that Kenshin cannot escape.

Howl's Moving Castle
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/romance movie about a plain young hatter named Sophie, who's life changes when an evil witch transforms her into an old woman. Unable to face her family in such a condition, Sophie runs away in search of a way to become young again. Along the way, Sophie helps a turnip headed scarecrow, who repays her by leading her to the moving castle owned by the dreaded wizard Howl. There she befriends Howl's apprentice Markl, Howl's fire demon Calcifer, and eventually, Howl himself. Sophie then becomes the castle's cleaning lady in an effort to not only find the solution to her problem but to save Howl from his own terrible secrets as well.

Hunter X Hunter
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy series about Gon Freecs: a young boy that lives on a small island. He learns that his father, (who he doesn't remember), is an extremely famous man and has become somewhat of an amazing hunter. Gon takes the hunter exam to seek out his father, while teaming up with 3 other candidates, Kurapica, Leorio, and Killua. He learns that there is more to becoming a hunter than he imagined, and the challenges that he must face will be beyond his wildest dreams.

Shounen Onmyouji
An adventure/fantasy/historical/supernatural series about Abe no Masahiro: the grandson of the great omnyouji Abe no Semei, who passed his teachings on to his grandson. Masahiro has a sixth sense and the ability to see spirits, and with Mokkun as his guide, he works to become his grandfather's successor.

Full Metal Alchemist
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/ series about Alphonse and Edward Elric. After losing their mother, Ed and Al attempt to bring her back using the forbidden science of human alchemy. However, alchemy operates on the theory of equivalent trade, and breaking the human alchemy taboo carries a heavy price. Ed loses his leg, and Al loses his body. Ed is able to seal Al's soul inside of a huge suit of armor, at the cost of his arm. Years later, Ed (now with two mechanical limbs) and Al (still trapped in the armor) leave their childhood home, each brother concerned with the other's happiness. Ed, who has a natural talent and skill for alchemy, becomes nationally certified and is soon known everywhere as the "Fullmetal Alchemist." Their true objective is to search for any information on the fabled Philosopher's Stone, hoping it will allow them to regain their old bodies. All of their hopes rest with this mythical stone, which may not even exist at all. However, the brothers soon learn that they are not the only ones after the powerful stone.

Samurai Champloo
An adventure/comedy/drama/historical series about Mugen, Jin, and Fuu. Mugen is a fierce animal-like warrior with a unique Bboying (break-dance) inspired fighting style. Jin has a more traditional style but don't think of this as a weakness, because his skills are amazing. The two contrasting samurai warriors are far from friends, yet their separate paths seem to cross anyways. Mugen is wandering aimlessly through the city when he stumbles upon a teahouse where he meets Jin and Fuu (A ditzy waitress, but don't think she doesn't have anything hidden up her sleeves). Fuu convinces them both to come with her in search of a mysterious samurai that smells like sunflowers, and their journey begins. This modernized hip-hop tale breaks the barriers of the common, historical, samurai anime.

Ouran High School Host Club
A comedy/drama/fantasy/romance series about Haruhi: a poor tomboyish student at a school for the ultra-wealthy, able to attend because of a scholarship, and unable to even afford a uniform. One day, she stumbles across the decidedly peculiar but very popular Ouran Host Club. She tries to leave, but accidentally breaks a vase, and unable to pay for it, she's told that she'll have to stay and do odd jobs. That is, until they decide she would be more valuable as a club member. Not realizing she's female due to her appearance, they fix her up and give her a male uniform. She's an instant hit, so they decide to have her keep up the charade even after they find out the truth. Haruhi, being average almost to a fault, doesn't know what to make of the unconventional activities of the Host Club (or of the even more unconventional members), but having little choice, she plays along. Before long, real bonds are formed, friends made, and Haruhi finds herself accepted in a way she could never have been otherwise in this affluent school.

Spirited Away
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/romance/supernatural movie about a girl named Chihiro. On their way to their new home, Chihiro and her parents stumble into what appears to be an abandoned theme park. But all is not as it seems, as the theme park is a resort for the gods, and not a place where humans are welcome. Chihiro must fend for herself and rescue her parents, as they have been turned to pigs as punishment for eating the food meant for the gods.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Well, that was my longest post yet. I hope I was able to shed some light on the subject of anime for you.

For more information on any of the shows listed above, simply Google each one.
Many of these shows can be found on Youtube.com

Bad Luck/Good Luck?

2007-04-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Here's what happened this afternoon...

The Bad:

I was out shopping with my Mom and Brother. On the way home, the car started sputtering, and then it died.

The Good:

We were only two blocks away from our house when it died, and fortunately we live on a hill. So... we coasted home. My Brother is a good driver, which is good, because it's really hard to drive when the power steering stops working.

I don't know much about cars, but it seems that someone forgot to check the water level. Either that, or a hose broke.

Eggs: The Aftermath

2007-04-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

Easter is over... what has become of the eggs in this lovely basket? They have been transformed into deviled eggs. Mmm... *drools*. I make excellent deviled eggs.

This was the first time in years that we dyed Easter eggs, and it brought back fond memories of holidays during my childhood. As you get older, holidays seem to be less important each year. At least until you have kids of your own, I guess. The only holidays we bother celebrating anymore are Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes Halloween... but "Trunk-or-treat" kind of ruined that holiday for me. It sucked all of the fun out of it. Does everyone have "Trunk-or-treat", or is it just a Southern thing? I understand the good points of it: it's easier, faster, and probably safer too. But it just seems lame and pointless to me.

Happy Easter

2007-04-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

Finally there's a new episode of Desperate Housewives on tonight. Why do they have to take such long breaks? Oh well.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Otters holding hands

2007-04-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

Click on the video clip of the Otters holding hands. It's so adorable! I've never seen anything like it. Make sure you watch it all the way to the end; the cutest part is at the end...

-------------->

The Obsession Meme

2007-04-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by silverneurotic:

Five things I can admit to being obsessed with:

1. Music

2. Books

3. "Heroes"

4. Chocolate

5. Anime

I now tag the following people to follow suit:

Sebastien

Reel Fanatic

What Faints

Hmm... What happens if one person is tagged by more than one blogger?

What to do with a Meme: Copy the questions into a new post and answer them. Tag some different bloggers. Go back and let the person who tagged you know that you did it.

Something different...

2007-04-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

I've been writing this blog since December 31st of last year, and so far it has been mostly reviews for books and movies. Today I want to do something different. I want to talk about me. Prepare for random ramblings...

For those of you who are return visitors, you have probably noticed by now that my "Word of the Day" is always Japanese. Maybe you've wondered if I'm Japanese? I'm not. I'm just a southern girl from the heart of Dixie. A lot of people might think that learning to speak the language of a country that you will probably never visit is a waste of time. However, it does come in handy when you are watching Japanese anime with no subtitles. : )

A little known fact about me: I've kept a list of every book I've read since January of 2001. The list includes the title, author, number of pages, date finished, and personal star rating for each book. The list is 16 pages long --- front and back. 338 books so far, not counting the two I'm reading right now. The average is around 50 books a year. That's almost a book a week.

Did anyone catch the Suns vs. Mavericks game? The Suns are on fire! You have to love Steve Nash; he's such an amazing point guard. Nobody can move the ball like Nash. I always feel a little bad for the team that loses, (I'm too soft hearted), but you know it had to be hard for Dirk Nowitzki to lose to a former teammate (Nash). There was no way I was going to miss the match up of the two MVP candidates. It was a great game, and I'm looking forward to the Suns/Lakers game. Kobe Bryant is impressive, but I will always cheer for The Suns.

Rocky Balboa

2007-03-31T19:32:00.000-07:00

~ Movie Review ~

Rocky Balboa
I've never seen any of the previous Rocky movies, so I won't even try to compare this one to the original. This movie can stand on it's own, so it doesn't matter too much if (like me) you've never seen the older movies in the series. It was really good. Who doesn't love a good underdog story? I could guess the outcome of Rocky's match, and it didn't disappoint. Sylvester Stallone has still got it. Milo Ventimiglia (from Heroes) was really good in the role of Rocky's son, even though he's kind of a jerk at the beginning.
I'm now planning on watching all of the Rocky movies.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Former heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) steps out of retirement and back into the ring, pitting himself against a new rival decades after his initial glory. When a computer simulated boxing match declares Rocky Balboa the victor over current champion Mason "The Line" Dixon, the legendary fighter's passion and spirit are reignited. But when his desire to fight in small, regional competitions is trumped by promoters calling for a rematch of the cyber-fight, Balboa must weigh the mental and physical risks of a high profile exhibition match against his need to be in the ring.
(From Yahoo! Movies)
I give this movie 3 and a half out of 5 stars. ***'

~*Quote of the day*~

If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

~*Words of the day*~

Ikaga deshita ka?
(Japanese)

Meaning: How've you been?

Currently Listening to... "Trainwreck" - Sarah McLachlan

Talking Cats clip

2007-03-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

Click on the video of the talking cats.

It's so cute!

=^..^=

Secondhand Lions

2007-03-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

~ Movie Review ~

Secondhand Lions
I don't remember exactly when I first saw this movie, but I watched it again last week and I was reminded of why I liked it so much in the first place. It stars Haley Joel Osment - slightly older, and with a squeaky voice that only boys of that age have. He plays Walter, a likable and slightly goofy kid who is essentially abandoned by his mother. She leaves him with her uncles (his great-uncles) on a dilapidated farm in the middle of nowhere, while claiming that she's going to court reporting school. Before she leaves, she tells him to look for the treasure that her uncles supposedly possess.
Hub and Garth McCann (Robert Duvall, Michael Caine) reluctantly agree to look after Walter for a while ("WE'RE OLD, DAMNIT! LEAVE US ALONE! The last thing we need is some little sissy boy hanging around all summer").
His cousins, also strong believers in the fortune, arrive a day after his mother leaves to ingratiate themselves into the good graces of Hub and Garth. They tell Hub and Garth to take Walter to the orphanage. He runs to telephone his mother, and discovers that she is not actually enrolled at the school, but has lied - again.
With no other choice, Walter returns to the farm with his great-uncles. He eventually becomes used to their eccentric mannerisms, and they become used to him and his shyness. After finding an old photo, he becomes aware of his uncles' mysterious past. Garth reveals to him that he and Hub were adventurers beginning in World War I. Hub and Garth arrived in France the day that Germany invaded the country, and toured Europe just ahead of the invading armies. After a night of drinking, they find themselves shanghaied into the French Foreign Legion. The two brothers fought in many battles, and Hub saved Garth's life several times. After having many adventures, they returned to Texas 40 years later.

Hub and Garth, looking for adventure, order a lion from a traveling salesman. When it arrives, it's not exactly what they had in mind...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I don't want to reveal too much, but I'll tell you this: there's much more to the story than meets the eye. A princess, an evil sheik, and a pile of treasure... what more could you want from an adventure movie?

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Quote of the day*~
Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in.
Hub McCann (Robert Duvall)

~*Words of the day*~

Nanika atta?

(Nah-nee-kah ah-tah?) (Japanese)

Meaning: What's up?

Currently Listening to... "Let Me Fall" - Josh Groban

First Light...

2007-03-25T04:48:00.000-07:00

I am so tired. It's 6:45am, and I haven't slept a wink. All because of a stupid little bag of m&ms. My body does not handle caffeine very well, mostly because I avoid it most of the time. So when I actually do eat or drink something with caffeine, I'll be wired for hours. I know that there is not a lot of it in chocolate, but there is some, and apparently it's enough to keep me awake. At least this way I can get in an early morning jog before the temperature rises. It's supposed to go up to 87 degrees today! I can't believe it'll be that hot this early in the year... it's only March.

Darn you M&Ms! I wish I didn't love you so much...

Casino Royale

2007-03-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

Casino Royale
There's been a lot of talk that this is "The best Bond ever". I'll go ahead and clear this up: Sean Connery is, was, and always will be "The best Bond ever". Daniel Craig would be second (sorry, Pierce). I can honestly say that I reacted like a lot of people did when I saw the new James Bond ---

"He's blonde?!? James Bond is not blonde!"

But a few minutes into the film, you easily forget about this small detail. This movie rocks.

The villain is rather understated, especially when compared to the over-the-top bad guys in Bond's past. Or is it future? This is a prequel after all.

There is one part towards the beginning that's very unrealistic: a man climbs quickly up a steel girder in a way that can only be achieved by a monkey, or possibly that alien guy from Men in Black, (you know, the one who ran up the side of the building?). I can buy pretty much everything else, but I almost laughed out loud at that one.

~ Minor spoiler ahead ~

I hope I don't ruin this for anyone, but I knew right away that Bond's lady love would be dead before that end of the movie. I guess everyone knows that. Why? Simple: "Bond Girls" always die. Except for Halle Barry's character in Die Another Day. The only reason they let "Jinx" live was because they were planning a spin-off movie for that character. I'd like to point out that no one has mentioned this supposed movie since the disaster know as Catwoman. Oh well... Every actor is allowed to make one crappy movie in their career. It's like a rite of passage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

James Bond's first 007 mission takes him to Madagascar, where he is to spy on a terrorist Mollaka. Not everything goes as planned and Bond decides to investigate, independently of the MI6 agency, in order to track down the rest of the terrorist cell. Following a lead to the Bahamas, he encounters Dimitrios and his girlfriend, Solange. He learns that Dimitrios is involved with Le Chiffre, banker to the world's terrorist organizations. Secret Service intelligence reveals that Le Chiffre is planning to raise money in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro at Le Casino Royale. MI6 assigns 007 to play against him, knowing that if Le Chiffre loses, it will destroy his organization.

The marathon game proceeds with dirty tricks and violence, raising the stakes beyond blood money and reaching a terrifying climax.
(From Yahoo! Movies)

Casino Royale is the 21st film in the James Bond series and the first to star Daniel Craig as MI6 agent James Bond. Based on the 1953 novel Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, it was adapted by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis and was directed by Martin Campbell, director of the 1995 Bond film GoldenEye. The film is a reboot of the Bond franchise, establishing a new timeline and narrative framework not meant to precede Dr. No or any previous films. The film is set at the beginning of James Bond's career as a 00-agent, having earned his license to kill.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. ****

Currently Listening to... "Fair"- Remy Zero

Music rant ahead...

2007-03-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

As I was watching the opening credits of Casino Royale, I was listening to the song and thinking how much better it was than the one Madonna did for Die Another Day. I kept thinking the singer's voice was so familiar... and all of a sudden I said aloud, "Is that the guy from Audioslave?" My brother replied: "I think it's the guy from Soundgarden", and my other brother agreed. So, I listened more closely. I was still convinced, but I dropped it because the movie was starting.

The next day I looked up the credits and I saw the singer's name: Chris Cornell (the lead singer of Audioslave). I was right. So that must mean my brothers were wrong... right? Wrong. Chris Cornell was also the lead singer of Soundgarden. Not to mention Temple of the Dog. I can't believe it; I love all those bands... how could I not notice they all have the same singer? Now the reason I like those bands is clear--- I love Chris Cornell's voice. It's really wonderful.

I guess now I can tell my brothers that we were all right...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tomorrow I'll write a review for Casino Royale.

Something pet owners should know...

2007-03-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, my Mother was watching the news, and she saw that there has been a massive pet food recall. An extensive list of pet foods sold under a variety of brand names that are all manufactured by the Menu Foods Income Fund Co. of Canada have been recalled due to a growing number of cats and dogs who have become ill after eating the foods. There have been several reported cases of pet death that may be linked to the recalled pet foods.
I've noticed that my cat has not been eating much lately, and she threw up a few days ago. I was getting a little worried because she's getting pretty old, but then we looked up the list of cat foods that were recalled, and she's been eating one of them. My dog also has been sick for a few days, and she has vomited a few times in the last two weeks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The cause of the deaths among the affected pets has not been determined, although all of those that died developed kidney failure after eating the affected product, the FDA said. The test involved 40 to 50 dogs and cats, the agency noted, adding that Menu Foods has started testing the pet food in question, but so far also has not found the source of the problem.
Speaking with The New York Times, Menu Foods spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said the timing of the deaths has been linked to the company's use of a new supplier of wheat gluten. She did not name the supplier, but said that the company switched to another supplier of wheat gluten as of March 6.
Dogs or cats that have eaten the suspect food and show signs of kidney failure should be taken to a veterinarian. According to the FDA, kidney failure in animals is characterized by loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting.
The agency is also requesting that people with sick or deceased pets who believe their pet might have consumed one of the implicated products contact a state complaint coordinator. A list of coordinators can be accessed at the FDA Web site (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html).
The FDA and the Humane Society advise consumers who have any of these products to stop feeding them to their pets.
Check the website to see if you have any of the food on the recall list. If you have any of the brands that are listed, you should stop giving it to your pet and contact the company.
Menu Foods is notifying retailers and is arranging for the return of all recalled products. The FDA is conducting an investigation and working with Menu Foods to ensure the effectiveness of the recall.

In addition to their Web site, Menu Foods has a consumer recall hotline at 1-866-895-2708.

http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=6248966&nav=menu54_5

http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

Recalled Dog Food Brands

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Wegmans Bruiser
Cadillac
Companion
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Meijers Main Choice
Mighty Dog Pouch
Mixables
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Ultra
Nutro
Ol'Roy Canada
Ol'Roy US
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride - Good n Meaty
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority Canada
Priority US
Publix
Roche Brothers
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Shep Dog
Springsfield Prize
Sprout
Stater Brothers
Stop & Shop Companion
Tops Companion
Weis Total Pet
Western Family US
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet

Recalled Cat Food Brands

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Li'l Red
Loving Meals
Meijer's Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural Choice
Paws
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority US
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
Sophistacat
Special Kitty Canada
Special Kitty US
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Stop & Shop Companion
Tops Companion
Wegmans
Weis Total Pet
Western Family US
White Rose
Winn Dixie

The Holiday

2007-03-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

~ Movie Review ~

The Holiday
I thought this would just be a typical romantic comedy, but it was better than I expected. I really enjoyed it, and it made me want to look into "house swapping". I didn't even know that Eli Wallach was still alive, but he was great in this movie.

~.[.~.[ ~*~ ].~.].~

Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) is madly in love with Jasper Bloom, her co-worker. Apparently, the two had been seeing each other previously, but Iris caught Jasper with another woman. After three years, Iris is still in love with Jasper, however, on her company's Christmas party, Jasper announces that has been engaged to the woman he cheated on Iris with.
Meanwhile, Amanda, (Cameron Diaz) in Los Angeles, has just recently found out that her boyfriend, Ethan, has been sleeping with his receptionist. She dumps him, and decides to take her break from her hectic job and love life and decides to rent a house. While surfing the net, she finds Iris who just happens to be in the same situation as her. Rather than rent the house, Iris says that she's willing to do a home exchange, to which Amanda agrees.
Amanda finds herself extremely bored in rural Surrey, while Iris is pleasantly surprised at the sheer size and luxury of Amanda's house. Amanda decides to pack up and take a noon flight home. Then she meets Graham, (Jude Law), Iris' big brother...
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. ****

~*Quote of the day*~

Into each life some rain must fall.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

~*Words of the day*~

Toire wa doko desu ka?

(toy-reh wah DOH-koh dess kah?) (Japanese)

Meaning: Where is the toilet?

Currently Listening to... "Clumsy" - Our Lady Peace

Cats or Dogs?

2007-03-17T20:22:00.001-07:00

Andy Barker, P.I. ~ Raines

2007-03-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Last night, I watched the two new NBC shows: Andy Barker, P.I., and Raines. Here's my opinion on each...

~* TV Show Review *~

Andy Barker, P.I.
I'm not a big fan of Andy Richter. Aside from one episode of Arrested Development, I can't think of any character played by him that I actually like. However, I can't just ignore a show with "Baby Buster" as one of it's stars, (that's Tony Hale to those of you who've never seen AD). So I decided to give it a chance, and I was pleasantly surprised. It doesn't suck! It actually has some potential, and I think I'll keep watching it for a while... just to see where it goes. If nothing else, I kind of like Andy Richter in this role.

~.[.~.[ ~*~ ].~.].~

Raines
I love Jeff Goldblum. I think he's a good actor, and aside from "The Fly" I like most of his movies. When an actor transitions from movies to television, you never know how it will turn out for them. It's the same for actors who leave a hit show, and start a new one. Example: "Friends". It was a great show, and when it ended, the spin-off "Joey" was born. When something like that happens, I feel almost obligated to watch... like some kind of fan-loyalty to the actor. I tried to like "Joey". I really did... but it was not a good show, and after a while I just couldn't watch anymore. At least I gave it a fair chance.

This is a similar situation. I watched Raines, and I hoped for the best. The first half of the show was nothing remarkable; it didn't really stand out from similar shows. The second half, however, got a lot better. I think Jeff Goldblum did a really wonderful job, and he made the character believable. The end of the episode has a nice twist... one even I didn't see coming. I liked it.

You can watch both shows on NBC.com.

http://www.nbc.com/Video/rewind/full_episodes/andybarker.shtml
http://www.nbc.com/NBC_First_Look/

~*Quote of the day*~

Seeing a murder on television can help work off one's antagonisms. And if you haven't any antagonisms, the commercials will give you some.

Alfred Hitchcock

~*Word of the day*~

Sumimasen

(soo-mee-mah-sen) (Japanese)

Meaning: Excuse me.

Currently Listening to... "Country Roads, Take Me Home" - Hermes House Band

Tomorrow

2007-03-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

~ Tomorrow ~

I'll post a review for the new NBC shows: Raines, and Andy Barker, P.I.

Rear Window

2007-03-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

~ Movie Review ~

Rear Window
Ever since the first time I saw The Birds, I've been an Alfred Hitchcock fan. I've seen Rear Window several times, and I think it's probably my favorite Hitchcock film. I love his inventive use of lighting and camera angles, and I also like the way many of his films contain cameo appearances by Hitchcock himself. Stan Lee and Stephen King do the same thing - you can spot them in several of their movies and made-for-TV specials. I love James Stewart, and paired with Grace Kelly and Thelma Ritter... there's some real star-power there.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies (James Stewart) is a professional photographer who has been confined to his Greenwich Village apartment after an accident has left him with his leg in a cast.
Suffering from boredom, he takes to spying on his neighbors through the rear window. His view of the back of several apartment buildings, their inner courtyard, and the persons dwelling within at first have a strongly Norman Rockwell feel about them. Over time, however, Jeff comes to believe that a murder has taken place in the building across the courtyard, though his friends and his girlfriend, Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly) initially think his beliefs are imagined due to his idle behavior.
Alfred Hitchcock's cameo is a signature occurrence in most of his films. In Rear Window he can be seen (26 minutes into the film) in the composer's apartment winding a clock.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Quote of the day*~

A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it.

Alfred Hitchcock

~*Word of the day*~

Hajimemashite

(hah-jee-meh-MOSH-teh) (Japanese)

Meaning: Nice to meet you.

Currently Listening to... "Fear" - Disturbed

Portuguese Sweet Bread

2007-03-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe on www.recipezaar.com/
When I was a kid, I used to spend almost every summer at my Aunt and Uncle's house at the beach. There was a lady who went to their church, and she made the best home-made bread. Since then, I have searched for a similar recipe for sweet bread, and this is the closest one I've found. So, even though I've never made bread before, I thought I would give this a try. It turned out great! It's the second-best bread I've ever eaten. I wouldn't really recommend this for an amateur bread-maker (like me), because it is a lot of work, but it was still worth it in the end.

Portuguese Sweet Bread

1 tsp. - Sugar, plus
3/4 cup - Sugar
1/2 cup - lukewarm Water
1 package - active dry Yeast or (1 Tbsp. active dry Yeast)
6 - Eggs, (room temperature)
1 tsp. - Salt
1 cup - warm Milk
8 cups - all-purpose Flour
1/2 cup - Butter, (melted and cooled)

Topping:

4 tsp. Butter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In a measuring cup, dissolve 1 tsp. Sugar in lukewarm Water
sprinkle in Yeast and let stand for 10 minutes, or until frothy.

In a large bowl, beat Eggs, Salt and remaining 3/4 cup Sugar for 2 minutes, or until foamy.

Stir Yeast mixture vigorously with fork and stir into Egg mixture.

Stir in Milk and gradually beat in Flour.

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

Return dough to bowl and gradually add Butter.

Continue kneading until all Butter is blended into dough.

Place in lightly greased bowl, turning to grease all over.

Cover and let rise in draft-free place for 1 hour.

Punch down dough; turn out, divide into four portions and form each portion into a ball.

Knead each ball for 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

Cover dough and set aside on well-floured board or counter top for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until dough looks slightly puffy and surface is crusty.

Place dough on well greased baking sheet or 9" round pans and bake in 325* oven for 25 minutes, or until golden on top.

Turn off heat and leave bread in oven for 10 minutes, or until browned all over.

Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Place 1 tsp. Butter on each loaf and brush to coat top. Blot off excess with paper towels.

Makes four 9-inch breads.

Would You Be a Cool Parent?

2007-03-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what kind of parent you will be when you have kids? Take this Blogthing quiz, and find out...

You Will Be a Cool Parent

You seem to naturally know a lot about parenting, and you know what kids need.
You can tell when it's time to let kids off the hook, and when it's time to lay down the law.
While your parenting is modern and hip, it's not over the top.
You know that there's nothing cool about a parent who acts like a teenager... or a drill sergeant!

Would You Be a Cool Parent?

Arsenic and Old Lace

2007-03-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

Arsenic and Old Lace
Chances are, you've probably never heard of this movie, right? It is pretty old. It was made in 1941, but it wasn't released until 1944 because the studio wanted to wait for the stage version to finish its run on Broadway. Fortunately, it's been released on DVD.

RENT IT NOW.

I can almost guarantee that you will love this movie. It's way at the top of my list of all-time favorites. The first time I watched it was on Halloween night a few years ago. I didn't know what it was about, but I was bored, and it was Cary Grant. Within the first few minutes, I was hooked. The title should be a giveaway, but I'll go ahead and tell you, this movie involves a very unusual series of murders. It also happens to be one of the funniest movies you will ever see. A funny murder movie? That's right. You'll have to see it to understand. I love this movie! Cary Grant is always great, and he was so perfect in this film. And Peter Lorre was positively made for this role.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

A drama critic and anti-marriage confirmed bachelor, Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant), has written a number of books describing marriage as just an old-fashioned superstition. Nevertheless, he falls in love with and marries Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane), who grew up next door to his old family home in Brooklyn.
Immediately after the marriage, he visits the bizarre relatives who still live there, two elderly aunts (Josephine Hull, Jean Adair) and his brother Teddy (John Alexander). Teddy thinks he's Theodore Roosevelt; each time he goes upstairs he blows a bugle, yells "Charge!", and takes the stairs at a run (in imitation of Roosevelt's famous charge up San Juan Hill). Mortimer finds a corpse hidden in a window seat, and tells his aunts that Teddy must be sent to an asylum, as he has killed someone... or has he?
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Quotes of the day*~

Reverend Harper:

Have you ever tried to persuade him that he wasn't Teddy Roosevelt?

Abby Brewster:

Oh, no.

Martha Brewster:

Oh, he's so happy being Teddy Roosevelt.

Abby Brewster:

Oh... Do you remember, Martha, once, a long time ago, we thought if he'd be George Washington, it would be a change for him, and we suggested it.

Martha Brewster:

And do you know what happened? He just stayed under his bed for days and wouldn't be anybody.

Mortimer Brewster:

Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops.

* Happy Birthday J! *

~*Words of the day*~

Watashi no namae wa ____ desu.
(wah-TAH-shee no nah-mah-eh wa ____ dess) (Japanese)

Meaning: My name is ____.

Currently Listening to... "Dirty Little Secret" - All-American Rejects

Stranger Than Fiction

2007-03-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

Stranger Than Fiction
Wow. This is a great movie! I think it's become one of my new favorites. It's kind of strange, because normally I can't stand Will Ferrell. He was really good in this role, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson, and Linda Hunt were wonderful as well. The ending was unexpected, and it couldn't have been more perfect. I want a watch like his. : )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is a dour auditor in an unnamed city (actually Chicago) for the Internal Revenue Service who is awakened alone each morning by his Timex T56371 watch, eats alone, counts the number of steps he walks for fun, focuses on ways to save time tying his tie, and brushes his teeth exactly 76 times (38 vertical strokes, 38 horizontal). One day, Harold begins to hear a feminine voice that describes his thoughts and actions as if he were a character in a book. Harold attempts to communicate with the speaker, but soon realizes the voice does not know that he can hear it. His bewilderment soon turns to anxiety when the voice narrates that his watch has set in motion a series of events that will result in his imminent death...
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 4 and a half out of 5 stars. ****'

~*Quote of the day*~

History is one of those marvelous and necessary illusions we have to deal with. It's one of the ways of dealing with our world with impossible generalities which we couldn't live without.

Howard Nemerov

~*Words of the day*~

Genki desu.

(GEN-kee dess) (Japanese)

Meaning: Fine, thank you.

Currently Listening to... "Ayakashi no Izanai" - Saitou Tsuneyoshi

Seeing Red

2007-03-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

I am so very, very angry right now. It's funny, because less than an hour ago, I was so happy... I was almost giddy. Why? Let me tell you a little story, and hopefully warn you of a cruel scam.

A few weeks ago, I entered a poem in a free online contest at www.Poetry.com. I actually thought the poem was pretty good, even though I wrote it in less than three minutes. A few days later, I got an email saying this:

Dear X,
The Editors of The International Library of Poetry recently informed you that your poem was bestowed the prestigious Editor's Choice Award because of your artistic accomplishments and unique perspective.
The stunning 2006 Editor's Choice Published Poet Ribbon Award Pin proudly displays your elevated status in our poetic community. Since only an elite group of published poets were selected to receive this special honor, imagine the sense of pride you will feel when others see you wearing the 2006 Editor's Choice Published Poet Ribbon Award Pin. What an impressive way to show off your status as an honored poet for the year 2006!

I was happy, until I saw that you had to pay for the Pin - "You can receive this amazing keepsake for only $49.95, plus shipping and handling." So I decided it wasn't worth buying, and I forgot about the whole thing... Until today, when I got a letter in the mail from Poetry.com. It read:

Dear X,
After carefully reading and discussing your poem, our Selection Committee has certified your poem as a semi-finalist in our International Open Poetry Contest. Your Poem will be entered into the final competition held in March 2007. As a semi-finalist, you now have an excellent chance of winning one of 104 cash or gift prizes-- including the $1,000.00 Grand Prize... In celebration of the unique talent you have displayed, we also wish to publish your poem on it's own page in what promises to be one of the most highly regarded collections of poetry we have ever published...

Sounds good, right? That's what I thought. I was really happy; I thought my poem was being published because it was good, and I was going to buy a copy of the book ($49.95). My Mother - smart lady that she is - tried to point out that something didn't sound quite right, but I was too excited to listen. All I kept thinking was, "I'll be a published writer!". But eventually, the logical part of my brain kicked in, and I started doing some research online about The International Library of Poetry.

It turns out, that while they are not quite doing something illegal, this is most definitely a scam. Sure, your poem is published... in one of dozens of anthologies a year. They will publish anything. All they want is your $$$. It's almost impossible to write a poem bad enough that they won't publish it. They have ripped off countless unsuspecting, amateur "poets" - fortunately, I won't be one of them. Even though I didn't lose any money over this, I still feel so disappointed... I really thought my poem was good.

Don't let this happen to you. For more information, go to http://windpub.com/literary.scams/ilp.htm

Caution: Wear Sunscreen

2007-03-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

So I went to the Doctor this week, and he thinks I have strep-throat. He wrote me a prescription, and I started taking the medicine yesterday. I always read the warning labels before I take any kind of drug, even over-the-counter stuff, but somehow I overlooked one of the possible side effects: Sun Sensitivity. Yesterday it was raining most of the day, so I didn't go outside much, and it was cloudy anyway. This morning, however, I went for my usual 1.5 mile walk, and now I have a sunburn... I haven't had a sunburn since I was twelve years old. It kind of sucks, because now I look very pink. Who gets a sunburn in March??? So now I'll have to skip my morning walks for a couple of days, and use the treadmill instead.

The Black Donnellys

2007-03-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

It's rare for me to write this early, but seeing as the whole state of Alabama is under a Tornado watch, I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and post my review. I'll probably have to shut my computer down when the storm gets worse, because I really don't want another computer to be fried by lightning. It's happened before, and it sucks. : (

~ TV Review ~

The Black Donnellys
My first impression: this show has potential. The pilot episode was good; the actors did a really good job, the music fit well with the scenes, and the story is believable. I don't know how long this show will last, but I intend to enjoy it while it does. Of the four Donnelly brothers, Tommy is clearly the main character, and he also happens to be the most likable. Joey "Ice Cream", who narrates the story, is the comic relief.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The show follows four young Irish-American brothers in New York's infamous Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and their involvement with organized crime.[2]Although the show is set in the present day, it draws heavily upon Irish history and iconic themes. Their story is narrated by a childhood friend, Joey "Ice Cream", in the pilot, whom the show depicts as an unreliable narrator. As the pilot episode indicates, there is a clear tension and rivalry between the Irish and the Italians.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

~ Episode 1 ~
Tommy, the Donnelly's black sheep as their only honest man, has to make a difficult choice--to fight for his family or to turn his back on them and keep to the straight and narrow--as he becomes embroiled in a plot hatched by his brother Jimmy to help out his brother Kevin. Kevin owes money to the wrong guys for gambling, and Jimmy tries to pay it off for him by abducting his bookie, Louie Down-Town. Nicky Cottero, working for mob boss Sal takes matters into his own hands, leading to drastic consequences for the Donnelly brothers.

~*Quote of the day*~

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

Henry Adams

~*Words of the day*~

O-genki desu ka?

(oh-GEN-kee dess-KAH?) (Japanese)

Meaning: How are you?

Currently Listening to... "The Memory Of Trees" - Enya

Heroes 2

2007-02-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

I was going to write a review for the new NBC show, The Black Donnellys, but I was busy last night and I didn't get a chance to watch it. I recorded it, but I still haven't watched it yet, so I'll probably review it tomorrow.

Monday's episode of Heroes was sooo good. The show finally answered a few questions that I had been wondering about. I used to be a big fan of Lost, but then the story kept going downhill, and it had so many flashbacks, I eventually got bored with it.

Heroes is much better. If you're still not watching this show... Why? Watch one episode and you'll be hooked.

The Prestige

2007-02-25T17:48:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

The Prestige
This movie was very different from what I thought it would be. I'm a little bit torn... on one hand, this was a very good movie... but on the other, it's not the kind of story I normally like. It was full of good actors, but aside from Cutter, played by Michael Caine, I didn't like any of the characters. I really didn't care which ones got killed off.

Usually I can guess how a movie is going to end, long before it happens, and that was true of this movie too - mostly. I figured out how Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) did his trick, and the secret about the murder, but I didn't know how Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) did his trick until the very end.

Everyone else seemed to love the film, but the ending left me feeling a little depressed. Like I've mentioned in previous reviews, I like happy endings. The movie itself was great; I just wish the mood hadn't been so dark the whole time, and I really didn't like what happened to the poor birds. I know it wasn't real, but even so, I didn't want to see it...

~ * ~ * ~ *~

The film is split into three storylines, each resembling one of the three stages of magic. First, there is the setup, or the "pledge," where the magician shows the audience something that appears ordinary, but is probably not, making use of misdirection. Then there is the performance, or the "turn," where the magician makes the ordinary act extraordinary. Lastly, there is the "prestige," where the effect of the illusion is produced. There are "twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance and you see something shocking you've never seen before."
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 3 and a half out of 5 stars. ***'

~*Quote of the day*~

Ambition is so powerful a passion in the human breast, that however high we reach we are never satisfied.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

~*Words of the day - Recap*~

(Japanese)

Ichi - One
Ni - Two
San - Three
Shi - Four
Go - Five
Roku - Six
Shichi - Seven
Hachi - Eight
Kyu - Nine
Ju - Ten

Currently Listening to... "Vertigo" - U2

Jurassic Park

2007-02-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

Jurassic Park
I can't believe it took me so long to remember to review this movie. I know it's pretty old, but it's still one of my favorite movies of all time. I can clearly remember going to see it at the movie theater when it first came out. I was still a kid then, and I was impressed with the posters and decorations in the lobby. There was a huge cardboard T-rex in the corner, and long banners hanging from the ceiling. The line to buy a ticket was unbelievably long; it was probably the most sold-out movie I've ever been to. By the time we got our tickets and popcorn, the seats were almost full. We managed to find a few seats together, and I was sitting on the very end, by the right wall. The movie started, and I really didn't know what to expect. Everyone else in my family had already read the Michael Crichton novel, so they had a pretty good idea of what would happen, but movies are always different from the books they're based on.

I LOVED this movie. It really blew me away. The special effects were so amazing! They were far superior to any other movie at the time, and are still better than a lot of movies you see today. The acting was great, and the plot was really convincing - you could actually believe it was possible to clone Dinosaurs, or, at least I could. Everyone always talks about the T-rex, but it was the Raptors that got to me. The scene with Lex and Tim in the kitchen scared the crap out of me. I was almost convinced that a Raptor would pop through the wall beside me and bite my head off. Give me a break... I was just a kid. There was another child in the seat behind us, and he was crying. His dad tried to console him by telling him that, "It's just Barney".... Poor kid...

I've seen this movie at least 20 times. I know it word for word, and I've read the book twice. I'm the kind of person who, when I love a movie, I'll watch it many times. When I was really small, my favorite movie was 101 Dalmatians (The original animated version). My parents used to joke that I watched that movie 101 times. Even though it was a joke, the reality is that I probably watched it more than that.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Jurassic Park is a 1993 science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg, based upon the novel of the same name written by Michael Crichton. The story involves scientists visiting an amusement park of genetically engineered dinosaurs on an island over one weekend. Sabotage sets the carnivorous dinosaurs on the loose, and technicians and visitors attempt to escape the island. The film stars Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern and Richard Attenborough, as well as Stan Winston Studios' puppets and cutting-edge CGI by Industrial Light and Magic.
Since its release it has grossed $914,691,118, the eighth-highest worldwide box office take for a feature film. It also helped introduce CGI to the public. The film was followed by The Lost World: Jurassic Park in 1997 and by Jurassic Park III in 2001, neither of which was as financially successful or as critically acclaimed as the first. A fourth film is in development.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Quote of the day*~

John Hammond: All major theme parks have had delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked, nothing.

Dr. Ian Malcolm: But, John. But if the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists.
Jurassic Park

~*Word of the day*~

Ju (Japanese)

Meaning: Ten

Currently Listening to... "Hands Down" - Dashboard Confessional

The Illusionist

2007-02-22T21:30:00.000-08:00

The Illusionist
This movie grabbed my attention from the first time I saw the preview. I wanted to see it, but I ended up waiting until the DVD was released. Why? Because the last time I went to the movie theater, it cost me $13.50 for one ticket and a bag of M&Ms. Plus, we have a theater room anyway. So I can watch it while wearing my PJs, without having to worry about some jackass talking on his cell phone, or coughing on the back of my neck.

I wasn't really sure what I was expecting, I didn't even read the back of the dvd case to see what it was about. I was pleasantly surprised. This movie was more unique than I had originally thought. I saw the ending coming, but I didn't know how it would happen. There was a twist.
I don't remember seeing Edward Norton in anything else, but he was great in this role, and Paul Giamatti is always great. I don't usually like Jessica Biel, but even she was good in this movie.

I really enjoyed this movie, and I would like to watch it again someday.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The film begins in the middle of the story, as chief inspector Uhl (Giamatti) recounts the history of Eisenheim for Crown Prince Leopold, following Eisenheim's arrest during what appears to be necromancy passed off as a magic show.
As a teenager, Eisenheim is the son of a carpenter. One day, he meets a traveling magician along a road. The magician performs several tricks for him and then, according to various accounts, both the magician and the tree he was sitting under vanish. Eisenheim becomes obsessed with magic tricks after this and also falls in love with Sophie (Biel), a duchess well above his social standing, and the daughter of the parents that have hired Eisenheim's father as a cabinet-maker. Although the two are forbidden to see each other, they meet in a secret hideout in the woods, where Eisenheim tells of his plans to go to China to learn more magic and Sophie promises to go with him. On the day that they are going to leave, however, the police come looking for Sophie. The two hide in the secret room and Sophie begs Eisenheim to make them both disappear. He is unable to fulfill this request, however, and the two are separated. Eisenheim leaves his village to travel the world and perfect his magic after this. He returns a master illusionist, only to find that Sophie is expected to marry the ruthless Crown Prince Leopold (Sewell)...
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. ****

~*Quote of the day*~

Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny, for it is destiny.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

~*Word of the day*~

Mahou (Japanese)

Meaning: Magic

1.
The art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices, etc.; legerdemain; conjuring: to pull a rabbit out of a hat by magic.
2.
The art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature.

Currently Listening to... "Stay With You" - Goo Goo Dolls

How's Your Attitude?

2007-02-22T20:38:00.000-08:00

Your Attitude is Better than 60% of the Population

You have a good attitude. While a realist, you do see the positive side of most things. People love to be around you.

How's Your Attitude?

My Apologies

2007-02-21T15:49:00.000-08:00

I want to start off by apologizing. I haven't written anything in 4 days! But in my defense, I have been sick (and lazy) for a few days. My Mother's been trying to get me to go to a doctor, but I don't want to. I hate going to the doctor. Plus, I'm afraid he'll tell me that my tonsils need to be removed.

I'll probably have to go this week either way. : (

I also haven't checked my email in a few days ~ Sorry Nikki ~ Sorry Maaria! I'll check it soon.

~ * ~ * ~* ~

A few days ago, my Grandmother sent me a package. It was full of art supplies; watercolor pencils, stamps, ink, blending pens, etc... It was really nice, and I've had fun playing around with all of it. Thank you, Nanny!

I also drew this flower.

I'm going to send this drawing to her, along with her Christmas presents. I know... it's February. I should have mailed the package months ago, but I didn't. Better late than never, right?

~*Quote of the day*~

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

~*Word of the day*~

Kyu (Japanese)

Meaning: Nine

Currently Listening to... "Welcome to the Black Parade" - My Chemical Romance

How Cynical Are You?

2007-02-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

You Are 40% Cynical

Generally you give people the benefit of the doubt. But there are exceptions.
You buy into many of the things that mainstream society believes, but you're not anybody's fool.

How Cynical Are You?

My Friend Flicka

2007-02-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

Flicka
I watched this movie last night. I'm always willing to watch a movie about horses. I read "Black Beauty" and "Misty of Chincoteague" as a child, but I don't remember reading "My Friend Flicka", which is the book this movie is based on. I didn't really know what to expect, but the movie was good. It was a little slow in the beginning, but I liked the end. I really am a sucker for happy endings, and I hate movies like The Yearling, and Old Yeller (where the animal dies at the end).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

16-year-old Katy McLaughlin dreams of fulfilling her family legacy by working on her father’s ranch in modern-day Wyoming. But Katy’s father wants more for her, insisting that Katy go to college. Katy finds a wild mustang, which she names Flicka, and sets out to make her a riding horse. But Flicka and Katy are more alike than she could have imagined. Like Katy, Flicka has a disdain for authority and is not about to give up her freedom without a fight.
(From Yahoo! Movies)
I give this movie 2 out of 5 stars. **

~*Quote of the day*~

Each morning sees some task begun, each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, has earned a night's repose.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

~*Word of the day*~

Hachi (Japanese)

Meaning: Eight

Currently Listening to... "Animal I Have Become" - Three Days Grace

Liver and Onions - Part 2

2007-02-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

Alright, dinner is over, and the verdict is in. Everyone loved it! It was really, really good. When it first came out of the oven, my Brother said "That looks disgusting". Nice, right? But after he tasted it, he said it was one of the best things he's eaten in a long time. My Dad said it was "wonderful", and my Mom said it was "delicious". Now I just have to wait for my other brother to get home, and convince him to try it too.

This dish is actually pretty easy to make. You should give it a try.

Liver and Onions

2007-02-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

My family loves my Liver & Onions recipe. I don't make it very often because it's messy and time-consuming, so tonight I'm going to try something different. I found a recipe online for baked liver & onions, and decided to try it out. It's in the oven right now. I'm afraid that no one will like it, but I'm still hoping they will. After I try it, I'll let you know how it turned out.

Here's the recipe from http://www.recipezaar.com/141343

8 slices calf liver

1-26 ounce Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can French onion soup
2 medium onions (thinly sliced)

1: Mix soups together, spread a thin layer over bottom of 13"x9"x2" baking dish.
2: Put a layer of liver, a layer of onions,and a layer of soup mixture. Repeat with second layer if needed.
3: Cover with remaining soup mixture.
4: Cover dish with foil and bake at 350 for 1-1/2 hour.
5: Serve with mashed potatoes.

~*Quote of the day*~

Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*Word of the day*~

Shichi (Japanese)

Meaning: Seven

Currently Listening to... "Rest In Pieces" - Saliva

Sabrina - Love Quotes

2007-02-14T19:55:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

Sabrina
In honor of Valentine's Day, I'm going to review this classic romantic movie. I've seen it three times, and I still love it. Really, it's no surprise with such an amazing cast: Humphrey Bogart - Audrey Hepburn - William Holden. There's just one scene in the first part of the film that I didn't like. A certain person (I won't say which one) makes a half-hearted attempt to kill themself, for a very stupid reason. Even though that scene was a little annoying, it's an important part of the story, and it'll make more sense at the end of the movie.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sabrina Fairchild (Hepburn) is the young daughter of the Larrabee family's chauffeur, Thomas (John Williams), and has been in love with David Larrabee (Holden) all her life. David is an oft-married, idle playboy, crazy for women, who has never noticed Sabrina. After Sabrina attends a culinary school in Paris, she returns a very attractive and sophisticated woman, and David is quickly drawn to her. David's workaholic older brother Linus (Bogart) sees this and fears that David's imminent wedding with a very rich woman may be endangered. If the wedding were to be canceled, so would a great corporate deal with the bride's family. So Linus tries to redirect Sabrina's affections to himself...
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. ****

~*Love Quotes of the day*~

Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.

Robert Frost

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

Aristotle

To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.

Bertrand Russell

Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.

Peter Ustinov

Who, being loved, is poor?

Oscar Wilde

Maaria - Thanks for the Bertrand Russell quote!

~*Word of the day*~

Ai (Japanese)

Meaning: Love

Currently Listening to... "Goodbye My Lover" - James Blunt

Valentine

2007-02-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm going to make brownies. : )

Open Season

2007-02-12T20:06:00.000-08:00

Tonight's episode of Heroes was great. I was afraid that one of my favorite characters was going to be killed off, but it didn't happen, so I'm happy. : )

~ Movie Review ~

Open Season
I watched this movie last week, and even though it's a kid/family movie, I decided to go ahead and review it. It was pretty good - lighthearted and funny. The two main characters reminded me a lot of Shrek and Donkey, from the movie "Shrek". I'll probably never watch it again, but it was pretty entertaining, so it's worth watching once.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Boog (voiced by Martin Lawrence), a happily domesticated grizzly bear, has his perfect world upside down after he meets Elliot (voiced by Ashton Kutcher), a scrawny, fast-talking wild mule deer.
In the tranquil town of Timberline, 900-pound Boog enjoys an idyllic existence. He spends his day as the star attraction of the town's nature show and spends his nights living the life of luxury in the garage of park ranger Beth (voiced by Debra Messing) who raised him since he was a cub. Every town has a bully and Beth knows about the meanest, fanatical tormentor there is: Timberline's paranoid, mullet-sporting hunter, Shaw (voiced by Gary Sinise) who believes that animals conspire against humans so he has to "get them before they get us".
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 2 out of 5 stars. **

~*Quote of the day*~

Nobody was ever meant, To remember or invent, What he did with every cent.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Roku (Japanese)

Meaning: Six

Currently Listening to... "A Bad Dream" - Keane

Signs

2007-02-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

You've probably already noticed by now, but I almost always write my posts at night. Mostly because I'm busy (or lazy) during the day. Also, because I usually only watch movies at night, and a large portion of my blog is dedicated to movie reviews. So far I've reviewed: Nicholas Nickleby - How To Eat Fried Worms - 12 Angry Men - The Village - The First Wives Club - Lady in the Water - The African Queen - and Prey. Since I've already reviewed two M. Night Shyamalan films, I thought now would be a good time to write about my favorite Shyamalan movie - Signs.

~ Movie Review ~

Signs
I watched this movie for the first time on DVD, shortly after it was released. I was watching it in the den with all the lights off, and it really gave me the creeps. I remember jumping in my seat more than once. The scene when Mel Gibson is using the butcher knife to look under the pantry door gets me every time. Those of you who have seen the movie know what I mean. It's creepy, and I don't even believe in aliens. The acting was first-rate, and the music, camera angles, and lighting all combine to add to the spooky atmosphere and suspense. The plot was pretty solid, and I liked the idea of a stealth attack, as opposed to the typical alien invasion movie - where everything starts with a "boom". It was on TNT tonight, and while I was watching it for the fifth time, I thought it would be a good time to write a review for it. I've seen four Shyamalan movies and this is the best, with "The Sixth Sense" coming in second place. Maybe later on I'll review it too.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The film is about a family that lives on a farm in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) is a former Episcopal priest who lost his faith after the death of his wife, Colleen. No longer practicing religiously, Graham lives with his brother, Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), and his two children, Bo (Abigail Breslin) and Morgan (Rory Culkin). Things are fairly steady in his life until a mysterious crop circle appears in his cornfield. Its origin and purpose are unknown; some townspeople speculate that it may be a prank while a few others that it may have been created by intelligent alien life-forms. Soon Graham and his family are shocked to learn that similar crop circles have suddenly appeared all around the world in ways too similar and created too quickly to be merely a grand, elaborate hoax...
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 4 and a half out of 5 stars. ****'

Don't forget your tinfoil hat...

~*Quote of the day*~

People break down into two groups when they experience something lucky. Group number one sees it as more than luck, more than coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence, that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck. Just a happy turn of chance... See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky?

Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?
Graham Hess (Mel Gibson):
M. Night Shyamalan

~*Word of the day*~

Go (Japanese)

Meaning: Five

Currently Listening to... "Shiver" - Maroon 5

My Kimono

2007-02-09T17:34:00.000-08:00

Yay! I'm so happy - my Kimono arrived in the mail today! I bought it on Ebay almost a month ago, and it took forever to get here, but the shipping was free, so I can't complain. You may be asking yourself --- what is a Kimono? Scroll down to the "Word of the Day" to find out.

This particular Kimono is vintage, and it's made of silk. I've wanted one for years, and now I finally have one! I've been going back and forth in my mind, asking myself "should I wear it?" Or, "should I put it away and keep it as a collectible?" Kimono's were once a commonly worn article of clothing in Japan, but now they are usually only worn for special occasions; like festivals, weddings, and by Geisha. Because of this reason, they don't make as many as they used to, and the vintage ones are becoming worth a lot money. But I couldn't resist, and even as I write this, I am wearing my Kimono. It's so comfortable, and so pretty. I really love it. I wanted to buy a vintage Obi belt to tie it with, but they cost way too much, so I tied mine with a black scarf. Maybe later I'll buy a cheap knock-off Obi, and eventually, maybe I'll be able to afford a vintage one.

~*Quote of the day*~

Women who wear kimonos, when they fight, they have to keep their knees together, and when they use a sword, they have to move the sleeves otherwise it gets caught.

Lucy Liu

~*Word of the day*~

Kimono (Japanese)

Meaning: A long, wide-sleeved Japanese robe worn with an obi and often elaborately decorated.

Currently Listening to... "Ever The Same" - Rob Thomas

Argh...

2007-02-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

Writer's block

Migraine

no review tonight.

Sorry folks...

Enjoy my brilliant drawing.

Prey

2007-02-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

Prey
You've probably never heard of this movie. We happened to see it on a shelf in Blockbuster, and thought it might be worth checking out.

We were wrong.

Something about this movie annoyed me from the very beginning. The plot is pretty simple: Tom, a divorced father of two, marries Amy - a much younger woman. The newlywed couple and the kids go to Africa, where Tom works as an engineer on a dam (or something like that). While he's off doing his job, Amy and the kids go on a safari tour to see some of the local wildlife, in the hope that the kids will bond with their new step-mother. Tom's teenage daughter, Jessica, never even tries to hide her dislike for Amy. When the driver takes them off-road to search for more interesting wildlife, the safari goes from bad to worse. Tom's son, David, has to take a bathroom break, so the driver gets out of the vehicle and keeps a lookout for wild animals, and David goes behind a bush. They are almost immediately attacked by lions. David makes it back to the vehicle, but the driver is predictably eaten in a rather gruesome manner. Unfortunately, the driver had the keys. Trapped and alone, Amy and the kids try to survive with only half a bottle of water. But the lions aren't going anywhere.

Tom hires a local hunter to try and track his family down, because the local rangers (and helicopters) aren't doing a good enough job. Meanwhile, Amy and the kids spot the keys on the ground, grab them, and drive off at a ridiculous speed. You'd think this woman was never behind the wheel of a car before, and she crashes in a matter of minutes. So, once again they are stranded. The lions follow them, and attack again. Anyone who knows even a little about lions can spot the many unrealistic scenes in this movie. And Jessica's constant screaming really gets on your nerves. The best way to describe this movie is to picture "Cujo", but with lions instead of a rabid dog.

Starring : Jamie Bartlett, Conner Dowds, Bridget Moynahan, Marius Roberts, Carly Schroeder, and Peter Weller.

I give this movie 1 out of 5 stars. *

~*Quote of the day*~

Some people lose all respect for the lion unless he devours them instantly. There is no pleasing some people.

Will Cuppy

~*Word of the day*~

Shi (Japanese)

Meaning: Four

Currently Listening to... "Shackled" - Vertical Horizon

Arrested Development

2007-02-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

~* TV Show Review *~

Arrested Development
Ahhh... I miss this show so much! It was the funniest show I've ever watched in my entire life. I saw it from the first episode, when it premiered on Fox. It didn't get a lot advertisement, which is one of the things that led to it's early demise. It just couldn't seem to find a mainstream following. Despite the fact that it was a great show, and had brilliant writers, incredibly talented actors, wonderful narration by Ron Howard, earned six Emmys, a Golden Globe, and a cult fan base. Even the side characters were wonderful: Lucille Austero, or "Lucille 2," played by Liza Minnelli, Barry Zuckerkorn (Henry Winkler), the family attorney, Scott Baio as attorney Bob Loblaw (comically pronounced, "Bah blah blah"), and Charlize Theron to name a few.
The bottom line is simply this: most people were too slow to "get" the jokes. Even I missed a few the first time around. When you watch it for a second (or in my case, third) time, you catch more and more subtle jokes that tie the show together. It did not have a laugh-track, which was one of the things I loved about it. Unfortunately, most people need a laugh-track... it tells them when something is funny; that way they don't have to think. Just look at some of the shows that are on TV now. How is it that an amazing, award-winning show like "Arrested Development" could be canceled after just 3 seasons, and crap like "The War At Home" is still on the air?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Emmy Award-winning comedy series ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT revolves around MICHAEL BLUTH (Jason Bateman) the "normal" one in a family of crazies, who is forced to stay in Orange County and run the family real estate business after his father, GEORGE BLUTH SR. (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for shifty accounting practices. While George Sr. spent the last year in the slammer discovering his newfound Judaism and recording inspirational tapes, Michael spent it picking up the pieces and trying to teach his offbeat family how to live without an endless expense account. All the while, Michael has also been trying to do right by his 14-year-old son, GEORGE MICHAEL (Michael Cera), an earnest kid who works diligently at the family’s frozen banana stand.
The Bluths are led by manipulative matriarch LUCILLE BLUTH (Jessica Walter), a socialite who is as icy as her martinis. Then there’s the oldest son, GOB (Will Arnett), a womanizer and struggling magician (sorry, "illusionist") whose biggest trick will be to make a real job appear. The youngest brother is BUSTER (Tony Hale), a neurotic professional grad student and glorified mama’s boy (he spent 11 months in the womb). The Bluth siblings are rounded out by cause-obsessed sister LINDSAY (Portia de Rossi), who is married to the hapless TOBIAS (David Cross), a doctor-turned-actor who might get more work if he wasn’t a self-proclaimed "never-nude." Lindsay and Tobias are the ultra-permissive parents of MAEBY (Alia Shawkat), a 14-year-old who loves finding unique ways to rebel against their overindulgence.
Description from TV.com
http://www.tv.com/arrested-development/show/17005/summary.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Critical reviews
"Is it beating a dead horse to once again state that this underappreciated gem is the best sitcom on TV? Too bad. 'Arrested Development' is the best sitcom on TV!"
—Tim Stack, Entertainment Weekly, 14 October 2005, p.133

"If you're not watching this series on Fox, the least you can do is buy it on DVD. You'll love it, and it's such a dense show (in the best sense of the word) that it rewards repeated viewing. Like Scrubs and the British version of The Office, it's the sort of show that truly deserves to be seen uninterrupted, several episodes at a time, for maximum enjoyment. The laughs-per-minute quotient here is insanely high, making it great value as a home library purchase."
—David Bianculli, New York Daily News, 12 October 2005

"As oddball as Arrested is, it's also humane. A flawless cast — from Will Arnett's breathy, bombastic Gob to Jessica Walter's boozy Lucille — grounds it, aided by Ron Howard's affable narration. Of course, the center of sensibility is good son Michael (Jason Bateman) and his even better son, George Michael (Michael Cera). Bateman and Cera give the best reacts around — the former all weary exasperation, the latter adorably bunny-stunned. Together, they're the sweetest, awkwardest straight men on the smartest, most shockingly funny series on TV...which is likely canceled, despite six Emmy wins. It's a perversion not even the Bluths deserve."
—Gillian Flynn, Entertainment Weekly, Best of 2005 Issue naming Arrested Development the best TV show of 2005

~*Quote of the day*~

Genius has no relationship whatsoever to popularity. Give me 13 episodes of "Arrested Development" over five years of soul-sucking lameness like "According to Jim" any day.
Tim Goodman

~*Word of the day*~

San (Japanese)

Meaning: Three

Currently Listening to... "I Am The Highway" - Audioslave

What's Your Personality Type?

2007-02-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

You Are An INFJ

The Protector
You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.
Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.
You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience.
You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them.
You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

What's Your Personality Type?

The African Queen

2007-02-01T21:21:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

The African Queen
What can I say about this movie? To call it a "classic" is an understatement. The African Queen is quite frankly one of the best movies of all time. The film stars Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, and if you don't know who they are, I feel sorry for you. Of all the movies I've reviewed so far, this is the best, and I'm trying to think of how to describe it without adding too many spoilers...

THE AFRICAN QUEEN is set in central Africa during World War I. Rose Sayer (Hepburn), and her brother Samuel are English missionaries in a village in German East Africa in 1914. Their mail and supplies are delivered by captain Charlie Allnut (Bogart) of the African Queen. He warns them that German troops will soon invade, but the Sayers choose to stay, only to witness the Germans burning down the village. When Samuel protests, he is beaten by a German soldier. After the Germans leave, Samuel becomes delirious and dies. Soon afterward, Charlie returns, and after helping Rose bury her brother, they set off in the African Queen. Charlie tells Rose that the Germans have a gunboat, the Empress Luisa, which patrols a large lake downriver, effectively blocking any British counterattacks. Rose comes up with a plan to convert the Queen into a torpedo boat and sink the Luisa. Charlie points out that navigating the river would be suicidal: to reach the lake they would have to pass a German fort and negotiate several dangerous rapids. But Rose is insistent...

This move has everything; action, adventure, drama, and romance. The scene with all the bottles of gin will live on forever in movie history, and the ending could not have been more perfect. I've seen it at least five times, and I doubt that anyone who watches it will be disappointed.

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Quote of the day*~

Charlie: We can't do that!

Rose: How do you know? You never tried it.

Charlie: Well, yeah, but I never tried shooting myself in the head neither.
The African Queen
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For the spoiler Quote, highlight the white text below.

Captain of Louisa: By the authority vested in me by Kaiser William II, I pronounce you man and wife. Proceed with the execution.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~*Word of the day*~

Ni (Japanese)

Meaning: Two

Currently Listening to... "They" - Jem

To: Oddjob - Thanks for the tip.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

2007-01-30T21:35:00.000-08:00

My internet connection has been out for a while, and my brother discovered that one of our neighbors is using our wireless signal and stealing our bandwidth. We're both pretty ticked off, but we don't know who's doing it yet. But enough about that... it's time for another review.

~ Book Review ~

"The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" By: Stephen King
This was the first - and the best - King book that I've read so far. It's definitely one of his lesser-known novels, and I just happened to see it when I was in an antique store a few years ago. It was pretty cheap, so I bought it on a whim. Within the first few pages, I became deeply immersed in the story. Maybe a part of me kind of related to "the girl", but for whatever reason, I couldn't put it down. I finished reading it in two days, which was a bit of a challenge, as I was at a family reunion/birthday party. It's both difficult, and a little rude, to sit in a corner and read during a party, but somehow I managed it. : )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Trisha McFarland's parents are newly divorced, and in an effort to keep the family together, her mother and brother and herself take a walk in the woods, on a portion of the Appalachian Trail near their home (near the Maine/New Hampshire/Canada border). At one point, they come to a fork in the road, and Trisha, needing to pee, goes down one path to take care of business. Her mother and brother go down the other path. When she is through, she decides to cut through the woods rather than retrace her steps, after all who could get lost here?.
Although she is only 9, Trisha has a very adult grasp on her situation, and the story concentrates on all of the things that run through her mind while lost. All of the fears both rational and not, plague her mind as she follows a stream in the hope of finding a way out. At night she listens to Baseball games on her Sony Walkman in the hope of listening to a Red Sox game, as she is a big fan of Tom Gordon, a relief pitcher for the Red Sox. Maybe she's alone in the woods, then again, maybe she's not. Maybe there's someone - or something- among the trees... watching her. And only time will tell if Trisha escapes.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. *****
Amazon.com Average Customer Review: 3 and a half stars out of 5 based on 812 reviews.

~*Quotes of the day*~

Success comes to a writer as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed.

P. G. Wodehouse

I just sit at a typewriter and curse a bit.

P. G. Wodehouse

~*Word of the day*~

Ichi (Japanese)
Meaning: One

Currently Listening to... "Wait and Bleed" - Slipknot

Lady in the Water

2007-01-28T19:06:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

Lady in the Water
Despite the bad reviews this movie received, I decided to check it out anyway because I'm a fan of M. Night Shyamalan's earlier movies. It was actually pretty good. I enjoyed it, even though it wasn't scary at all. I guess you have to look at it as a bedtime story for grown-ups. The thing I like most about Shyamalan's movies, is that he likes to keep you guessing until the end. The only thing about this movie that spoiled it (for me, at least) is how quickly and easily everyone believed Story's story. Yes, you read that right... the lead female character's name is Story. o_O It didn't require any convincing; no one was at all skeptical. That just seems a little ridiculous to me. In this untrusting world we live in, no one would accept a story like that without some serious convincing, and hard evidence to back it up. But the acting was good, and the basic story was pretty solid, so it's worth watching if you like this kind of movie.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep (Giamatti) is rescued by someone he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. He discovers that she is the real-life embodiment of a character from a bedtime story, who is trying to make the journey back to her home. Fighting disbelief, he rallies his tenants to help protect his new friend from the mysterious creature that is determined to prevent her from returning to her world.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I give this movie 2 out of 5 stars. **

~*Quote of the day*~

Appearances are often deceiving.
Aesop

~*Word of the day*~

Unmei (Japanese)

Meaning: Destiny
The power which appears or is thought to control events; fate

Currently Listening to... "One" - U2

My Music Mash

2007-01-25T19:11:00.000-08:00

I have the widest taste in music of anyone you will ever meet. Certain people scoffed at this notion, and I had an overwhelming urge to to prove them wrong. So, I sat down and really thought about it, and I made this list of all the genres I like, or at least, all the ones I can remember liking... I may be forgetting a few.

A cappella
Acoustic Rock
Acid jazz
Adult contemporary
Alternative metal
Alternative rock
Americana
Arena rock
Ballad
Barbershop music
Bebop
Big band music
Big Beat
Bluegrass
Blues
Blues-rock
Bossa nova
Boy band
Brass band
Britpop
British Invasion
Bubblegum pop
Cajun music
Cello rock
Celtic
Chamber music
Christmas carols
Christian
Classic metal
Classical music
Comedy rock
Concerto
Cool jazz
Country music
Country rock
Crossover music
Crunk
Dance music
Death rock
Disco
Dixieland jazz
Doo wop
Easy listening
Electric blues
Electronica
Emo
Eurobeat
Europop
Eurotrance
Exotica
Experimental rock
Film scores
Folk music
Folk rock
Funk
Funk metal
Fusion jazz
Garage rock
Girl group
Glam rock
Goa
Gospel music
Gothic metal
Gregorian chant
Guajira
Gypsy jazz
Hard rock
Harmonica blues
Heavy metal
Hip hop
House music
Hymn
Indie rock
Industrial metal
J-pop (Japanese pop)
J-rock
Jam band
Jazz
Jazz blues
Jazz-funk
Jazz fusion
Jingle
Jive
Kabuki
Kansas City blues
Kayokyoku
Lounge music
Lullaby
Mambo
Meditation
Metal
Min'yo (Japanese folk music)
Modern classical music
Modern rock
Motown
New Age music
New Orleans blues
New Wave
Nu metal
Opera
Organic ambient
Piano blues
Piano rock
Polka
Pop music
Pop punk
Progressive metal
Progressive rock
Psychedelic music
Punk rock
Rap
Rapcore
Rave
Rhythm and blues (R&B)
Rock
Samba
Smooth jazz
Soft rock
Soul music
Southern rock
Swing
Techno
Trance
Trip-hop
Urban jazz
Waltz
Yodeling
Zydeco

I like at least some Artists/Songs of all these genres, but if I had to pick just one, it would be Alternative Rock.

~*Quotes of the day*~

Music makes me high on stage, and that's the truth. It's like being almost addicted to music.

Jimi Hendrix

I think there's some good and some bad music out there.

John Legend

~*Word of the day*~

Arigatou (Japanese)

Meaning: Thank you

Currently Listening to... "Mad World" - Tears For Fears

Cell

2007-01-24T14:43:00.000-08:00

~ Book Review ~

"Cell" by: Stephen King
I read this book last July, shortly after it first came out. I've been a King fan ever since I read "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon", which I will probably write a review for later on. So when I saw the promo for this novel in Entertainment Weekly, I couldn't resist buying it. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed reading it; it pulls you in and holds you captive until the end. There are only two problems... 1: Stephen King has a tendency to kill off my favorite characters. 2: The end of this book leaves you hanging. It's up to you to fill in the blank. Personally, my imagination made sure to give it a happy ending (sort of), but I'm sure some people went the other way. I think a sequel would be great, and I would definitely have to read it if there were one.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Amazon.com
Witness Stephen King's triumphant, blood-spattered return to the genre that made him famous. Cell, the king of horror's homage to zombie films (the book is dedicated in part to George A. Romero) is his goriest, most horrific novel in years, not to mention the most intensely paced. Casting aside his love of elaborate character and town histories and penchant for delayed gratification, King yanks readers off their feet within the first few pages; dragging them into the fray and offering no chance catch their breath until the very last page.
In Cell King taps into readers fears of technological warfare and terrorism. Mobile phones deliver the apocalypse to millions of unsuspecting humans by wiping their brains of any humanity, leaving only aggressive and destructive impulses behind. Those without cell phones, like illustrator Clayton Riddell and his small band of "normies," must fight for survival, and their journey to find Clayton's estranged wife and young son rockets the book toward resolution.

~~~~~~~~~~

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. ***

Amazon.com Average Customer Review: 3 and a half stars out of 5 - based on 733 reviews.

~~~~~~~~~

Yay! The pendant I ordered from Thailand arrived today! Supposedly, the design is a symbol for the Yakusa (Japanese Mafia), but I'm not really sure if I believe that or not... I just love the design.

~*Quote of the day*~

Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*Word of the day*~

Oyasumi nasai (Japanese)

Meaning: Slightly polite way to say "good night". For a more casual way of saying it, shorten to Oyasumi.

Currently Listening to... "The Kill" - 30 Seconds To Mars

Moonbeam Baby - The Centaur?

2007-01-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

You Are a Centaur

In general, you are a very cautious and reserved person.
However, you are also warm hearted, and you enjoy helping others in practical ways.
You are a great teacher, and you are really good at helping people get their lives in order.
You are very intuitive, and you go with your gut. You make good decisions easily.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Heroes

2007-01-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to bed after 2am, and got up at 9:00. It's been a very long day. However, a cute guy was hitting on me while I was shopping this afternoon, and that's always fun. : )

Tonight's episode of Heroes was great; one of the best so far. I love that show! Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) is my favorite character, and Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) is second. I guess I'm a sucker for the "good guys". I wish you could watch the episodes on the NBC website (like ABC), but they don't do that. I just wish there hadn't been such a long break between the last episode and this one...

Heroes is an American drama television series, created by Tim Kring, which premiered on NBC on September 25, 2006. The series tells the story of several people who "thought they were like everyone else... until they woke with incredible abilities" such as telepathy, time travel and flight. These people soon realize they have a role in preventing a catastrophe and saving mankind.
The series loosely follows the writing style of American comics by doing short, multi-episode story arcs that build upon a larger, more encompassing arc. Even with small story arcs that move the story forward, Kring said he mapped out where he intends the show to go for the next five seasons.
When the series premiered in the United States, it was the night's most-watched program among adults 18-49, attracting 14.3 million viewers overall and receiving the highest rating for any NBC drama premiere in five years.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To Nikki & Oddjob: Thanks for the comments on my paintings... : )

~*Quote of the day*~

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*Word of the day*~

Sayonara (Japanese)

Meaning: A slightly formal way to say "good bye"

Currently Listening to... "Bodies" - Drowning Pool

Paintings

2007-01-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, so now that I've said I'm an artist, I feel like I should offer some proof. Here are pics of some of the paintings I've sold so far...

This last painting was for my Brother. He drew the design, and I painted it.

I used PhotoSuite to edit out my signature... privacy and all that...

If you like my work, (or even if you don't), feel free to leave a comment. : )

~*Quote of the day*~

Every artist was first an amateur.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*Word of the day*~

Nihon (Japanese)

Meaning: The Japanese name of Japan.
Island nation in the northwest Pacific Ocean off the coast of east Asia, separated by the Sea of Japan from Russian Siberia, China, and Korea. The Japanese archipelago includes four major islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku) as well as many smaller islands. Its capital and largest city is Tokyo.

Currently Listening to... "Ragdoll" - Maroon 5

Dreams, Nightmares, and Sleepwalking...

2007-01-19T19:05:00.001-08:00

I was reading a post on http://silverneurotic.blogspot.com/ about dreams, and it reminded me of a few things. I'm not even sure that I should write about this because it' kind of embarrassing, but here goes...

I'm an artist, and as such I have a very creative mind and a powerful imagination. Usually this is a good thing; it helps me write and paint, but when I'm asleep, I can't control it. I dream a LOT - almost every night I have multiple dreams. And they are VERY realistic. Unfortunately, about 80% of my dreams are nightmares, and I have no idea why. : (

I used to sleepwalk too, but that stopped when I was still very young. Until this one incident happened...

Years ago, my dog found a white mouse. I have no idea where it came from, but it was cute, so I decided to keep it for a pet. I named it Velveeta Mousekavitch (or Mousy, for short). It lived for about two years, and then it got sick and died. I must have been pretty upset about it at the time, because the next night I had a very strange dream. I'd had a headache that night, and I'd gone to bed with an icepack. At some point during the night, I started sleep-walking. I remember quite well. In my dream, I thought that the icepack was the dead mouse, and I wanted a box to bury it in. So I got up out of bed, walked down the hall, through the den and kitchen, and downstairs into the basement. (Keep in mind that I was sound asleep during all of this). I found an old cardboard box, and carried it back upstairs. The box was taped shut, and I actually got a pair of scissors and cut the tape. I then put the "mouse" (icepack) into the box, carried into the bathroom, and "buried" it in the sink. I walked back to my room, got back in bed, and that's where the dream ended.

The next morning, I had forgotten all about the dream, and I probably would never have remembered... but when I went to the bathroom, the box was still in the sink, and the icepack was inside it. That's when it all came rushing back to me. It was the first time I had been sleep-walking in sooo many years, and at first I was really embarrassed about it, but when I started telling people about it, they all thought it was really cool and funny. So it doesn't bother me anymore. Otherwise, I wouldn't be writing this, now would I?

~*Quote of the day*~

Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*Word of the day*~

Ohayo-gozaimasu (Japanese)

Meaning: Good Morning (Formal) can be used at anytime for the first meeting of the day. For a more casual way of saying it, shorten to Ohayo.

Currently Listening to... "Love Song" - 311

Scrubs...The Musical...?

2007-01-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

Did anyone watch tonight's episode of Scrubs? It was interesting, to say the least. I remember the "Musical" episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer... the show lost all meaning after that. Oh well. Scrubs is still a great show, and from what I've heard, this is most likely going to be the last season anyway. Zach Braff is moving on to bigger and better things, (or so he thinks). Personally, I think Garden State was boring.

To Oddjob Chop! - Thanks for the comment!
I honestly can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not... o_O?

\\\///
[ (o),(o) ]
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\_/

~*Quote of the day*~

Every man supposes himself not to be fully understood or appreciated.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*Word of the day*~

Konbanwa (Japanese)
Meaning: Good evening

Currently Listening to... "Hotel California" - The Eagles

How mature are you?

2007-01-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

You Are 73% Grown Up, 27% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature.
Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed.

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

Shark Infinity with Pet Care System

2007-01-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

I am so tired right now; last night I fell asleep after 3:30am and got up at 9:00.
It's been a very long day. We took the Dirt Devil vacuum back to Home Depot. It was a good vacuum, but it wasn't good enough for what we needed. We looked around on the internet, read several reviews, and decided to try the Shark® Infinity Vacuum with Pet Care System. We bought it at Bed Bath & Beyond with a 20% off coupon. It's sooo much better than the Dirt Devil Reaction. Only the Infinity series offers a patent pending 24 cyclones that never clog, and never lose suction. The Pet Hair Brush really removes Chihuahua and Cat hair from furniture. And with the extra-long hose, I can actually vacuum the top of my bookshelf! So, I'm very happy with this new vacuum cleaner.

+-+ Product Review +-+

Shark Infinity with Pet Care System

Pro:

+ 24 cyclones that never clog, and never lose suction. It picks up everything.
+ Bagless, bottom release dirt cup.
+ 30 Ft. Power cord
+ Lifetime washable True HEPA filtration
+ 17' Super Stretch Hose
+ Quick-release cleaning wand
+ Brush Roll On/Off
+ Furniture Guard Bumper
+ Edge Cleaning Bristles
+ 12 Amp Motor
+ Pet Hair Brush, Low Reach Bare Floor Brush, crevice tool, dusting/upholstery tool

+ 2 Year Warranty

Con:
- None so far...

~*Quote of the day*~

The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Konnichiwa (Japanese)
Meaning: Hello, good afternoon

Currently Listening to... "It's Not Over" - Chris Daughtry

The First Wives Club - Movie vs. Book

2007-01-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, I finished reading "The First Wives Club", and then I watched the movie version on DVD. Here's my review and comparison of the two.

~ Movie Review ~

The First Wives Club
In itself, it is a good movie. It's funny, and entertaining, but when you compare it to the book on which it was based, it seems shallow and superficial... barely skimming the surface of the real story. In fact, aside from most of the character's names, and the basic "get even" plot, the movie is completely different from the book. Don't get me wrong - I liked the movie; I just like the book a lot more. There were actually a few parts of the movie that I liked better. Brenda's character, for example, was much nicer; and by the end of the movie, you actually kind of like her ex-husband. The movie was filled with great actors; (Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Maggie Smith, to name a few), and they did a great job of bringing the characters to life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Elise Elliott (Goldie Hawn), Brenda Cushman (Bette Midler), Annie Paradis (Diane Keaton), and Cynthia Griffin (Stockard Channing) were best friends at Middlebury College during the 1960s, but marriage and children force them to drift apart. Decades later, Cynthia commits suicide because her husband is divorcing her and the remaining three reunite at her funeral. After the funeral, Annie, Brenda and Elise go out for lunch and learn that their husbands are divorcing them too - and like Cynthia's ex-husband, taking up with younger women. All three had helped their husband's careers, and all three feel they are being shafted. They plot to get revenge by ruining their husbands careers.

I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars. ***

~ Book Review ~

"The First Wives Club" by: Olivia Goldsmith
In the book, the plot centers just as much on Gil Griffin as it does on any of the other ex-husbands. There are several more characters, and the story shifts from one character's view-point to the next. The plot runs a lot deeper, and you are left feeling more satisfied with its ending, rather then the one written for the movie. I'm keeping this book, because I might want to read it again someday. However, you should know that this book is not for everyone - see the warnings below. There were a few parts of the book that I could have lived without, but at the same time, it would probably alter the story too much to remove them. So you have to take the occasional unpleasant scene. This book is definitely NOT FOR CHILDREN.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When their best friend commits suicide over her divorce, Elise, Brenda and Annie decide enough is enough. Each was crucial to her husband's career. But now that the men are successful, they've traded in their first wives for newer, blonder models.
Over lunch one day they form the First Wives Club. But this is no support group. This is the SAS in Chanel. Painstakingly, inexorably, exquisitely, they plan the downfall of the men who've wrecked their lives - and know that revenge has never tasted sweeter...

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. ****

~*Warning Explicit Content*~
If books had ratings (like video games), this one would definitely be M for Mature.

~ Violence
~ Strong sexual themes
~ VERY Strong Language -

I thought I knew every "bad word" in the english language (and a few in others), but this book taught me a new one. I'm still not sure what it means, and I don't really want to know...

If the vulgarity and sexual scenes are more than you care for, try to find an abridged version of the book.

~*Word of the day*~

Pan (Japanese)

Meaning: Bread

A kind of food made of flour or meal that has been mixed with milk or water, made into a dough or batter, with or without yeast or other leavening agent, and baked.

*+*+*+*+*

Currently Listening to... "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

EQ

2007-01-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

Your EQ is 133

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick!
51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese.
71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely.
91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that.
111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.
131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin.
150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Dirt Devil Reaction

2007-01-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

Alright, I finally cleaned my room from top to bottom, and here is what I think of our new Vacuum...

+-+ Product Review +-+

Dirt Devil Reaction

Pro:
+ Powerful, long-lasting suction. It picks up everything.
+ Bagless, bottom release dirt cup.
+ 32 Ft. Power cord
+ Lifetime washable HEPA filtration
+ 4 year warranty

Con:
- I really hate the hose. It's too short, and when the vac is turned on, it pulls the hose together (like a slinky), and it becomes even shorter.
- The power cord comes out of the bottom of the vacuum, so you end up stepping on it a lot.
- The attachments are crappy. They don't fit very well, and they fall out pretty easily.
- Doesn't work as well on hard floors.
- It's very loud, but that's no surprise.

All in all, it's a pretty good vacuum. The only thing that really bothers me is the hose. When I clean my room, I vacuum everything. The hose is too short to comfortably vacuum the top of my dresser, and it won't reach the top of my bookshelf. I didn't even attempt to vacuum my fan blades; I could see that there was no point in trying.

~*Quote of the day*~

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Kitsune (Japanese)

Meaning: Fox
A type of reddish-brown wild animal which looks like a dog.

Intuition

2007-01-13T23:26:00.000-08:00

You Are 68% Intuitive

You are a very intuitive person. And luckily, your intuition is normally right.
You're wise enough to know that relying on intuition alone can be dangerous.
When your intuition seems really off, you tend to ignore it - and look at the facts instead.

How Intuitive Are You?

Collision

2007-01-10T20:41:00.000-08:00

I know I didn't write anything yesterday, but that's because I needed time to make some illustrations... see the picture above.

Yesterday I was out shopping with my Mom and my Brother. We (the BLUE dot) were sitting at an intersection, waiting for our light to turn green, when my Brother called out "Oh, shit!". A split-second later, the car that passed on our right (the BLACK dot) plowed full-speed into the side of a car turning left across the intersection (the RED dot).

The car that was turning (RED dot) spun around, bounced off of a truck (YELLOW dot), spun around again, and came to a stop on the side of the road. The other car (BLACK dot), spun around and landed on the other side of the road. See the picture below...

All of this happened in about thirty seconds. The crash itself was surprisingly loud. It's the first time I've actually seen a car crash (except for the one I was in), and it was impossible to look away. Even when the light changed and we turned, I kept twisting my neck to look back. The guy driving the black car was pretty young; maybe in his early twenties, and he looked really upset - almost to the point of panic. The guy driving the truck got out his cell phone right away, and I assume he was calling 911. I didn't see any movement in the other car. I hope the person, (or persons) in that car were alright. As far as I could tell, the RED car was at fault, because I'm pretty sure the BLACK car had a green light. We wanted to go home and watch the news to see if they said anything about the wreck, but we still had shopping to do.

We went to Home Depot and bought a new vacuum cleaner. We struggled with the decision of whether or not we should get a Dyson, but in the the end it just cost way too much. $500 for a vacuum? I don't think so! So we got a Dirt Devil Reaction, and it's really good too. I'll post a review for it later, after I vacuum my carpet.

~*Quote of the day*~

I'm not confused. I'm just well mixed.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Ureshii (Japanese)

Meaning: Glad, pleased or happy

Inner Peace

2007-01-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

You Are 63% Peaceful

You are a very peaceful person. All is good in your world, no matter what's going on.
Occasionally you let your problems get to you, but you generally remain upbeat.
Your inner strength is inspirational - much more so than you may realize.

How Peaceful Are You?

What Color Should Your Blog Be?

2007-01-10T20:27:00.000-08:00

Your Blog Should Be Green

Your blog is smart and thoughtful - not a lot of fluff.
You enjoy a good discussion, especially if it involves picking apart ideas.
However, you tend to get easily annoyed by any thoughtless comments in your blog.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Running Out of Time Vs. The Village

2007-01-09T17:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's post was a little, well... pathetic. So I'll make up for it today with a movie/book review. Beware of Spoilers...

Have you ever seen "The Village", by M. Night Shyamalan? Did anything about the story seem familiar? Is there even the slightest chance that you've read "Running Out of Time", by Margaret Peterson Haddix? If you have, you would have noticed the similarities in the two plots.

~ Movie Review ~

The Village
At first glance this late nineteenth century village seems picture perfect. However, this close-knit community lives with the frightening knowledge that a race of creatures resides in the woods around them. The villagers share the fear of the evil and foreboding force that lurks outside. So frightening that one dare not venture beyond "The Village" and into the woods. Despite the advice of his elders, a curious and determined Lucius Hunt has a burning desire to step beyond the boundaries of the town into the unknown...
I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars. ***

~ Book Review ~

"Running Out of Time" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Clifton is an 1840 pioneer village. The village doctor used to have special pills that would cure any illness. But those pills are all gone now, and Clifton is suffering from a diptheria epidemic. Mrs. Keyser, the midwife, tells her daughter, 13-year-old Jessie, a shocking truth about Clifton, and sends her for help outside of the village, into a world full of amazing things and unknown dangers.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. *****

I can't reveal the true connection between the two stories without spoiling the surprise endings of each, but if you really want to know, highlight the white text below:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In The Village, the "creatures" (a.k.a. Those We Do Not Speak Of) are not real. They were an invention of the Elders to keep people from entering the woods. They are simply a scare tactic to keep people from leaving The Village. Why? Because it's not really a nineteenth century village at all, it's a modern social experiment. The whole thing is a ruse to keep the world out, because each of the elders suffered a tragedy in the outside world. So they decided to isolate themselves and their families in a simpler, safer world of their own creation. The main female character, Ivy, learns of all of this from her Father. She then ventures out on her own to find medicines from the "Other Towns", to save her fiancé's life.

In Running Out of Time, The children of Clifton are dying and Jessie's mother is desperate for medicine to save their lives, but it is 1840 and no such remedy exists. Except that it isn't 1840 at all, it is 1996, and the critical situation forces Jessie's mother to reveal the truth. Clifton Village is actually a tourist attraction, a replica of a historical village, and tourists watch the villagers everyday through hidden cameras. After many village children become ill with diphtheria, Jessie is sent on a mission to find a cure for the disease.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I want to point out that Running Out of Time was written in 1995; nine years before The Village came out.

(The plot of the 2004 M. Night Shyamalan movie The Village is very similar to the plot of Running Out of Time, to the extent that Margaret Peterson Haddix's publisher considered legal action against the makers of The Village. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

~*Quote of the day*~

Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Aka (Japanese)

Meaning: Red
Any of various colors resembling the color of blood; the primary color at one extreme end of the visible spectrum.

"Frosty Wisdom"

2007-01-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

Today has been an incredibly boring day, and I can't think of anything to write, so I'll post one of my favorite Quotes...

You can be a little ungrammatical if you come from the right part of the country.

Robert Frost

To Nikki: Thank you for my 1st comment!

~*Word of the day*~

Yuki (Japanese)

Meaning: Snow
Frozen water vapour that falls to the ground in soft white flakes.

12 Angry Men

2007-01-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

~ Movie Review ~

12 Angry Men (1957)

It's surprising, really, how a film with no special effects, no high-speed car chase, and no romantic side-plot can be so engaging. 12 Angry Men was playing this afternoon on Turner Classic Movies, and I couldn't resist watching it for the second time. I confess that I've never seen the first few minutes of the film. It was already on, both times I just happened to flip by and see it. I never really intended to watch the whole movie; I was just going to watch for a few minutes to see what it was about, but the plot pulled me in within minutes and I couldn't turn it off. Henry Fonda was amazing in the role of an Architect named Davis, the sole voice of dissent in a trial of a boy accused of killing his father. Davis (Fonda) is the only juror who is not certain beyond a reasonable doubt that the young man is guilty, and must try to persuade his peers to evaluate the matter beyond their initial emotion-based judgments. Almost the entire movie takes place in the jury room.

~ ~ ~

A study of contrasts in human character under the stress of grave responsibility, the movie's stars have been described as one of the finest ensembles of character actors ever assembled, and includes Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, John Fiedler, E.G. Marshall, Jack Warden, Ed Binns, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, George Voskovec, Robert Webber, and Joseph Sweeney (his last appearance in motion pictures). 12 Angry Men is highly regarded from both a critical and popular viewpoint; Roger Ebert lists it as one of his "Great Movies", and it has been consistently ranked in the top 15 of the Internet Movie Database Top 250 List. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Word of the day*~

Yume (Japanese)

Meaning: Dream
Thoughts and pictures in the mind that come mostly during sleep.

A basket of Nuns...

2007-01-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

Today, when my Brother and I were leaving the McDonald's parking lot, we passed a minivan driven by a Nun. It never occurred to me that Nuns drive, but it did bring back an old memory. Several years ago, when I was around 8 years old, my Mother and I were out shopping when we noticed a huge commotion in an empty lot, across the street from Walmart. We pulled over to check it out, and we saw that several hot-air balloons were being inflated. Wondering what was going on, we got out of our car and walked over to watch. I don't know why they were there, or where they had come from, but they were giving free rides to people. The sun was setting, so they were only going back up one more time. There were only a few balloons that hadn't lifted off yet and my Mother got them to let me ride one. I wasn't alone in the basket; there were several Nuns riding with me. I've always been afraid of heights, but I still really wanted to go, and the Nuns promised my Mother that they would look after me and make sure I didn't fall. I remember crouching down, and peeking out of the hole where you put your foot to step up. I was too afraid to look over the edge. It was amazing, and it's one of the most unusual things that's ever happened to me.

~*Word of the day*~

Inu (Japanese)

Meaning: Dog
A domestic, meat-eating animal related to the wolf and fox.

Kitty

2007-01-05T22:44:00.000-08:00

It's 12:36am, and I've had a massive migraine since last night. I'll probably go to bed soon, but not until I at least post a "Word of the day".

=^..^=

~*Word of the day*~

Neko (Japanese)

Meaning: Cat (a.k.a. Kitty)
A small, four-legged, fur-covered animal often kept as a pet.

Oprah - Locks of Love - Dust Mites

2007-01-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I was watching Oprah. The first part of the show was about six women who hadn't cut their hair in years. They each had their hair cut on-stage, and got a makeover afterwards. The hair was donated to Locks of Love, an organization that accepts donations of human hair and money, with the stated intention of making wigs for needy children who have lost their hair due to a medical condition. I could have gone on that show last year; my hair was longer than any one of those women. In fact, I distinctly remember my hair brushing against the backs of my knees in the shower. Hard to believe, right? But it's true; I went at least eight years without cutting my hair, and I've got pictures to prove it. (Some random guy once told me that I looked like Rapunzel). Eventually, though, I got tired of having such long hair. I had to braid it every night just so it wouldn't get tangled while I was sleeping! So about six months ago, I went to a salon and got a shoulder-length, layered cut. I love it. It's so much easier to brush, and it saves a lot of shampoo. : ) I only wish that I had thought to donate my hair to Locks of Love too.

The second part of Oprah was about "How clean is your house?". It was disgusting. I couldn't believe some of the things they said. Did you know that your kitchen sink has more germs and bacteria than your toilet??? I didn't. They said that to get your sink clean, you should use a germicide and a brush with chlorine and water. The worst part was when they showed the close-up of a dust mite. I'd post a picture of one, but it would probably gross you out. They live in your sheets, blankets, pillows, carpet... basically any type of fabric. The best way to get rid of them is to vacuum a lot, and to wash your bedding once a week. Oprah says she has her sheets washed every two days, but that's just not practical for normal people like me and you. After watching the show, I changed my sheets, and my pillows are in the dryer right now.

Here's the link to the article on Oprah's website. It has more cleaning tips... http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/home/repair/home_20040413_clean.jhtml

Bunny...

2007-01-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

(\ /)

(O.o)

(> <)

~*Word of the day*~

Usagi (Japanese)

Meaning: Rabbit / Bunny
A type of small long-eared burrowing animal, found living wild in fields or sometimes kept as a pet.

Cats or dogs?
	Cool Cats
	Cats are too fluffy
	Dogs rule
	Dogs eat your houseshoes
	Spider Monkeys are best...

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