So I feel like the time is flying by. Now that I am in the last 3 months I wonder where all the time went. Hope I can finish...
#8 Read three books:
World War Z--Post zombie invasion book with the story being told through first hand experiences of the characters. This was an odd one because I had my brain all ready for a run-from-the-zombie book. What this book was about was not that. This story really centered on military involvement and coverup. There were a couple of good story lines, but for the most part, the book was choppy and kind of boring. Sorry, zombies. Please don't eat my brains when the real Zombiegeddon happens.
Odd Thomas--One of my favorite authors penned this extremely long tale about a line cook that can see the dead. He gets involved with smoke monsters that feed off death and devil worshippers that want the whole town dead in some kind of mass sacrifice for the devil. This mass killing ends up taking place at the local mall and our hero must stop the attack. Overall, it was a good read. That being said, why do authors bring up situations and then leave the loose ends blowing in the breeze? I like a good story with a beginning, a middle and an end. I don't like loose ends. They look messy and make me a little flustered. Dean Koontz, I implore you, what was the deal with the pitch black room and the repeating circle of action? You wrote two whole chapters about it and then never explained it or what its relevance was to the story. Sigh.
Drinking with Strangers--The story of Butch Walker. Great songwriter and performer. From the gangbuster rock band, SouthGang, in the 80's to the Black Widows, Butch relates his experiences in the music industry. It was fun because his first hand account of music is exactly how I see the music industry.
#35 Gave M his last love note of this list. I opened a word document on his computer and wrote a dinosaur riddle. He saw it when he got home. It was funny. He chucked. All was right with the world.
#40 Watched The Gold Rush with the legendary Charlie Chaplin. Funny, funny, funny. That is all I have to say about that. Only one more to go and I saved the #1 movie for last!
#51 M and I planted flags on the headstones of veterans this past Veteran's Day at our local cemetary. This was something that Dad wanted me to do and I have to say, this is one thing that we will do as often as possible. This task made us feel good.
#74 I am really trying to knock out this music. I have been listening to tunes non-stop. Most of the music now is local bands which is kind of fun because I have not heard some of these bands in years. Memory lane.....
-The Killers: Sam's Town
-The Killers: Hot Fuss
-Butch Walkers and the Black Widows: Spade
-Reverend Horton Heat: Revival
-Florida Music Festival Awards: 2002, 2004, 2005
-Axis Magazine Compilations: 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001
-Axis Magazine First Rotation 1998
-Axis Magazine Another Spin
-Insite Magazine Compilation Austin: 2001
-Thelonious Monk: Misterioso
-Duke Ellington: Live in Paris 1959
-Orlando Music Awards: 199, 2000, 2001
-Supermodel
-Southern Culture on the Skids: Peckn' Party
-Kidney Stones: Raise em up
-Geddy Lee: My Favorite Headache
-Bright Light Social Hour: Bright Light Social Hour
-Bright Light Social Hour: NYE Live
-Millstock Compilation 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
week 121
So between traveling, work and Halloween, I have been a slacker in doing the posting. That being said, I did get a couple of things done during the absence.
#8 Read 4 books:
1. Malefice--good conceptual book about a witch trial. Each chapter was told from a different perspective i.e the witch on trial, the town doctor, witch's daughter, the clergyman, the hangman and others. You get a good lesson in perception of events and how everyone sees events differently and interpret them differently from the person standing across from them.
2. Carrie--Stephen King classic was a great read right before the Halloween party. Very spooky!
3. Eye of the Dragon--Another Stephen King tale that was perfectly timed before the party. I remember reading this book in high school and loving the artwork. In fact, I drew some of the illustrations and it was the 3 months of my life that I could draw freehand.
4. Griftopia--Matt Taibbi. You must read this now. I thought this was going to be a very political book about why the other side is wrong. I was hestitant to read it, however, I hold the opinion of the friend that told me it was a must-read in a very high regard. I read it and was blown away. It lays out the entire ins and outs of the banking industry, insurance industry and all sects of the government and how these three entities got us into the mess we are in today. My most eye opening experience was the chapter that talks about why gas prices are so high. Think it is a lack of oil? Nope. Think it is the major oil producers in the Middle East holding out to prove a point? Nope. Think it is because we drive too much? Not even close. Think it was because the banks, Goldman Sachs, got greedy and wanted to become speculators in the oil business and drive the price up to make oodles of cash for themselves? Ding ding ding. You win the prize! Read this book. You will soon see who the bad guys are and why they suck so bad.
#36 Gave M a footrub after the OO in October. My toleration of feet might be turning a corner. I rubbed for like, 20 minuted on each foot. A couple glasses of wine certainly help.
#40 Three more movies off the list:
1. Sound of Music--I have been singing these songs for the last month. Do a deer, a female deer....
2. Nashville--Why does Stanley confuse me so? I understand that this was a great slice of americana, but to me it was choppy, slow and ended with a question mark. I loved the opening credits though.
3. The French Connection--Am I the only one that thinks that Gene Hackman got better looking with age? I also could not look at Roy Schneider without saying "We're gonna need a bigger boat". What can I say, Jaws spoiled me.
#35 M got an I love you in the best possible way--written in chocolate on a toaster strudel.
#29 Had lunch with C yesterday at a new place that opened near us. Great munchies, but expensive for a lunch place. Also had dinner with M. We had a great night that started with wine, apps and dinner and ended with Cheesecake Factory pumpkin cheesecake and coffee. Fantastic night except for the fire alarm that went off during dinner. It was a false alarm, but very loud.
#74 Listened to these CD's:
Southern Comfort Rocks the Blues--Various artists
Jazz Squad--Katherine Whalins
Natural Thang--Tanya Blout
The Jazz Messengers--Art Blakey
Still drinking water every day. I feel like crap if I skip a day.
My dentist is very impressed with my new flossing habit. I got a platinum star for my beautiful gums!
#8 Read 4 books:
1. Malefice--good conceptual book about a witch trial. Each chapter was told from a different perspective i.e the witch on trial, the town doctor, witch's daughter, the clergyman, the hangman and others. You get a good lesson in perception of events and how everyone sees events differently and interpret them differently from the person standing across from them.
2. Carrie--Stephen King classic was a great read right before the Halloween party. Very spooky!
3. Eye of the Dragon--Another Stephen King tale that was perfectly timed before the party. I remember reading this book in high school and loving the artwork. In fact, I drew some of the illustrations and it was the 3 months of my life that I could draw freehand.
4. Griftopia--Matt Taibbi. You must read this now. I thought this was going to be a very political book about why the other side is wrong. I was hestitant to read it, however, I hold the opinion of the friend that told me it was a must-read in a very high regard. I read it and was blown away. It lays out the entire ins and outs of the banking industry, insurance industry and all sects of the government and how these three entities got us into the mess we are in today. My most eye opening experience was the chapter that talks about why gas prices are so high. Think it is a lack of oil? Nope. Think it is the major oil producers in the Middle East holding out to prove a point? Nope. Think it is because we drive too much? Not even close. Think it was because the banks, Goldman Sachs, got greedy and wanted to become speculators in the oil business and drive the price up to make oodles of cash for themselves? Ding ding ding. You win the prize! Read this book. You will soon see who the bad guys are and why they suck so bad.
#36 Gave M a footrub after the OO in October. My toleration of feet might be turning a corner. I rubbed for like, 20 minuted on each foot. A couple glasses of wine certainly help.
#40 Three more movies off the list:
1. Sound of Music--I have been singing these songs for the last month. Do a deer, a female deer....
2. Nashville--Why does Stanley confuse me so? I understand that this was a great slice of americana, but to me it was choppy, slow and ended with a question mark. I loved the opening credits though.
3. The French Connection--Am I the only one that thinks that Gene Hackman got better looking with age? I also could not look at Roy Schneider without saying "We're gonna need a bigger boat". What can I say, Jaws spoiled me.
#35 M got an I love you in the best possible way--written in chocolate on a toaster strudel.
#29 Had lunch with C yesterday at a new place that opened near us. Great munchies, but expensive for a lunch place. Also had dinner with M. We had a great night that started with wine, apps and dinner and ended with Cheesecake Factory pumpkin cheesecake and coffee. Fantastic night except for the fire alarm that went off during dinner. It was a false alarm, but very loud.
#74 Listened to these CD's:
Southern Comfort Rocks the Blues--Various artists
Jazz Squad--Katherine Whalins
Natural Thang--Tanya Blout
The Jazz Messengers--Art Blakey
Still drinking water every day. I feel like crap if I skip a day.
My dentist is very impressed with my new flossing habit. I got a platinum star for my beautiful gums!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Week 112
So much done!!
#8 Read two books--
Voodoo Queen. I am very interested in voodoo. This book was about the descendant of Marie Laveau. It was really out there. A lot of poetic license, which really ruined the book. Plus the story was week.
Girl Bomb. Free book I got at D'echos bag sale. Good read about a girl who runs away and lives in a shelter at 16. Her plight includes drugs, ever-changing hair color, love, sex, violence, Central Park, empty cash registers at work and the ass that will never go away.
#29. So, one of the good things about Facebook is that you get to reconnect with people that you have had in your life in the past. One of those groups was the Crab House. We have been talking in the Facebook world, and finally decided to get together. We met, where else, at the Crab House. The interior has changed, but my nostalgia ran deep. It was great to see everyone again. We really are a family.
Also had dinner with J. from Nashville. She is down for a couple of weeks visiting, so it was mandatory that we get together. Went to Dexter's and had a great dinner!
#36 Gave M a footrub after another discgolf tourney. He deserved it. It was an international competition and he came in second in his division in the world! Yeah, he's that good.
#35 I was superwife while M was in Nashville recording. He forgot two camera cords that he needed. I packed a love note in the box because I am sappy and totally in love like that.
#40 Watched a ton of movies this time:
The General--great silent flick with Buster Keaton. Hilarious but action packed.
Spartacus--Gotta love a movie where an underdog gets mad as heck and starts a movement to free the people.
Modern Times--Silent?? movie with the every man, Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin was a genius. I say Silent?? because there was some talking in this flick from supporting characters. Charlie was a man of no words, as usual. Best scene? Roller skating in the department store on the edge.
A Clockwork Orange-- What? A Stanley Kubric movie that I actually liked. Should have watched this one sooner. It was great! Stanley, I got you this time--
Apocolypse Now--I love the smell of Napalm in the morning
The Wild Bunch--A western I dug. Ernest Borgnine was epic in this movie. I am not a big western fan, but I loved this one. Maybe because it wasn't all about robbing trains and the plot moved along. Maybe because most of the cast was older and worn and rugged and awesome. Maybe because the guns were bigger. Maybe because you knew at the end, no one was going to make it.
The Grapes of Wrath.--So, I put this one off a long time. I thought it was going to drag. Henry Fonda was so cute. I could not stop looking at him. The interesting thing about this movie is that the plot is very true today. Greedy banks taking land. Corrupt politicians taking no blame. Everyman taking the crap. John Steinbeck knew what he was writing about. Sad that we have not forced our society to change.
Lawrence of Arabia--I will forever associate the theme music with this movie. The sand dunes were pretty killer, literally. The movie was really drawn out and ended odd to me. I mean, Lawrence just left.
Only 5 movies left!!
#74 CD's for the session:
Wolfmother--Wolfmother
Stevie Wonder--Songs in the Key of Life
Zappa--Joe's Garage
Dirty Dozen Brass Band--Buck Jump
Priceless Jazz Collection--Various Artists
Butch Walker--2 bootleg CD's
Lucinda Williams--World Without Tears
Wallflowers--Bringing Down the House
Roger Waters--The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
Roger Waters--The Wall:Live in Berlin
Roger Waters--Amused to Death
Whitesnake--Whitesnake
Whitesnake--Slide In It
The Who--Who's Next
The Who--Endless Wire
Butch Walker and the Black Widows--I Liked it Better When You Had No Heart
#8 Read two books--
Voodoo Queen. I am very interested in voodoo. This book was about the descendant of Marie Laveau. It was really out there. A lot of poetic license, which really ruined the book. Plus the story was week.
Girl Bomb. Free book I got at D'echos bag sale. Good read about a girl who runs away and lives in a shelter at 16. Her plight includes drugs, ever-changing hair color, love, sex, violence, Central Park, empty cash registers at work and the ass that will never go away.
#29. So, one of the good things about Facebook is that you get to reconnect with people that you have had in your life in the past. One of those groups was the Crab House. We have been talking in the Facebook world, and finally decided to get together. We met, where else, at the Crab House. The interior has changed, but my nostalgia ran deep. It was great to see everyone again. We really are a family.
Also had dinner with J. from Nashville. She is down for a couple of weeks visiting, so it was mandatory that we get together. Went to Dexter's and had a great dinner!
#36 Gave M a footrub after another discgolf tourney. He deserved it. It was an international competition and he came in second in his division in the world! Yeah, he's that good.
#35 I was superwife while M was in Nashville recording. He forgot two camera cords that he needed. I packed a love note in the box because I am sappy and totally in love like that.
#40 Watched a ton of movies this time:
The General--great silent flick with Buster Keaton. Hilarious but action packed.
Spartacus--Gotta love a movie where an underdog gets mad as heck and starts a movement to free the people.
Modern Times--Silent?? movie with the every man, Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin was a genius. I say Silent?? because there was some talking in this flick from supporting characters. Charlie was a man of no words, as usual. Best scene? Roller skating in the department store on the edge.
A Clockwork Orange-- What? A Stanley Kubric movie that I actually liked. Should have watched this one sooner. It was great! Stanley, I got you this time--
Apocolypse Now--I love the smell of Napalm in the morning
The Wild Bunch--A western I dug. Ernest Borgnine was epic in this movie. I am not a big western fan, but I loved this one. Maybe because it wasn't all about robbing trains and the plot moved along. Maybe because most of the cast was older and worn and rugged and awesome. Maybe because the guns were bigger. Maybe because you knew at the end, no one was going to make it.
The Grapes of Wrath.--So, I put this one off a long time. I thought it was going to drag. Henry Fonda was so cute. I could not stop looking at him. The interesting thing about this movie is that the plot is very true today. Greedy banks taking land. Corrupt politicians taking no blame. Everyman taking the crap. John Steinbeck knew what he was writing about. Sad that we have not forced our society to change.
Lawrence of Arabia--I will forever associate the theme music with this movie. The sand dunes were pretty killer, literally. The movie was really drawn out and ended odd to me. I mean, Lawrence just left.
Only 5 movies left!!
#74 CD's for the session:
Wolfmother--Wolfmother
Stevie Wonder--Songs in the Key of Life
Zappa--Joe's Garage
Dirty Dozen Brass Band--Buck Jump
Priceless Jazz Collection--Various Artists
Butch Walker--2 bootleg CD's
Lucinda Williams--World Without Tears
Wallflowers--Bringing Down the House
Roger Waters--The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
Roger Waters--The Wall:Live in Berlin
Roger Waters--Amused to Death
Whitesnake--Whitesnake
Whitesnake--Slide In It
The Who--Who's Next
The Who--Endless Wire
Butch Walker and the Black Widows--I Liked it Better When You Had No Heart
Friday, August 5, 2011
Week 108
So I have listened to a crap ton of music and I have run out of room on my little note sheet. This post is all about the music--
Stone Temple Pilots--Tiny Music...Songs From the Vatican Playlist, Shangri La Dee Da
Stereophonics--You Got to Go There To Come Back Again
Matthew Sweet--Girlfriend
Supertramp--Breakfast in America
10000 Maniacs--Blind Man's Zoo
Talking Heads--Naked
Temple of the Dog-- Temple of the Dog
Trapt--Album Advance
Stevie Vai--Sex + Religion=Passion +Warfare
Stevie Vai--Flexable
Vallejo--Vallejo
Van Halen--Van Halen, Fair Warning, Balance, For Unlawful Karnal Knowledge
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble--Instep, In the Beginning
Robin Trower--Bridge of Sighs
Velvet Revolver--Contraband
Ugly Kid Joe-- As Ugly As They Wanna Be
So close to the end of the CD wall. As Brad in Rocky Horror would quip " There's a light...."
Stone Temple Pilots--Tiny Music...Songs From the Vatican Playlist, Shangri La Dee Da
Stereophonics--You Got to Go There To Come Back Again
Matthew Sweet--Girlfriend
Supertramp--Breakfast in America
10000 Maniacs--Blind Man's Zoo
Talking Heads--Naked
Temple of the Dog-- Temple of the Dog
Trapt--Album Advance
Stevie Vai--Sex + Religion=Passion +Warfare
Stevie Vai--Flexable
Vallejo--Vallejo
Van Halen--Van Halen, Fair Warning, Balance, For Unlawful Karnal Knowledge
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble--Instep, In the Beginning
Robin Trower--Bridge of Sighs
Velvet Revolver--Contraband
Ugly Kid Joe-- As Ugly As They Wanna Be
So close to the end of the CD wall. As Brad in Rocky Horror would quip " There's a light...."
Monday, July 18, 2011
week 105
Betcha thought I forgot about you blog. I did not. I have been lazy. I have accomplished more things on the list, so let's get to it.
3. Wrote a thank you note to Nana for the windfall she sent in the mail. Thank you Easter Bunny!!
#29 Had loads of lunches, dinners, and drinks. Drove to pick up Phil and Patty at their respective group homes and took them out to lunch. We had not seen them since the wedding and we were looking forward to spend some time with them. Phil and Patty had not seen each other since the state moved Phil to his new pad, so this was great for them as well. Had dinner with John and Cathy. We went tot a new local place called the Black Cat Spooky Cafe. As the name implies, it is spooky!! The food is really good and it is a local, small business so it may become the new go-to joint. Liked it so much that I had dinner with Melissa there about two weeks later. It had been a while since we got together so we stayed later than we had anticipated. We made a dinner date the next week at her new casa for dinner and drinks. Good times. Met Michelle at my usual haunt, Pom's. True happiness is a Pom's sandwich. My tummy is always happy when I leave there. Also celebrated Michelle's birthday at her usual haunt--Kobe's. Lots of ginger sauce and wine later led to the organization of a girl's night out with more friends. We went out for drinks and then to a show at the House of Blues. Good show, good drinks, good friends, good times.
# 23 Finished the crocheting the blanket. Went fast, but my little fingers and hand muscles got a work out. I have fingers of steel. Watch out!! It is not perfect, but it is colorful and has a pretty border. Much to Mark's happiness, it did not cost anything but some time and hand cramping. I was given all the yarn in typical baby colors, so I used up as much as possible. Good news is that now I only have a large yarn collection instead of a ginourmous yarn collection, for which Mark is also happy.
#35 Gave Mark a special I love ya on the back of the State Farm annual thank you note? I am not going to lie, I can't remember the story behind this one. It was too long ago. But I obviously did it because I wrote it down. Good thing the pen works better than my memory.
Also gave Mark a red tattoo on his leg while he was sitting next to me as I was working on Referee sheets for a tournament. He was not amused, but he did not stop me either.
Gave Mark a crude drawing of lips. Not my best artwork, but hey, it got the point across.
#36 Mark got a foot rub. Mark got a foot rub. Mark got a foot rub. Apparently the disc golf tourney was a little rough on his tootsies so Mark got a foot rub. Mark got a foot rub. Mark got a foot rub.
#8 Read No Lease on Life. I had to force myself to read this. I am not a big fan of these books that just talk about a life experience that is not interesting. This one was about a girl in a NYC apartment in a neighborhood that she hates. All she wants to do is sniper the people that she hates in the neighborhood. Not exciting. There was not even a climax, unless you count the part where she goes out on the street and gets harassed by a homeless guy who keeps deficating in the lobby of her apartment building. They did not even have a throwdown--just exchanged some words. Couldn't wait for it to end.
#49 Donated blood, well red cells. I did this new thing where they take the blood and take out the red blood cells with a machine and then pump the platelets and plasma back. This way they can take out twice as much blood. The catch is you have to wait longer in between donations. Everything went great until the machine started beeping and the needle shifted in my arm. At the end of the day, I had a gigantic bruise, some new ice and heat packs, a gift card to Seasons 52 and a M*A*S*H shirt. Oh, and the knowledge that I saved a couple of lives. What else could you ask for?
#40 Watched Gone With the Wind.....Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. Go on, Rhett, go on.
BladeRunner. Is it just me or did none of the movies in the 80's make sense. It is like the movie makers tried so hard to make them avant guarde, but then they lost any semblance of plot, writing or acting ability. Can you tell I did not care for it? Took me forever to watch. Just could not hold my attention.
Platoon. Movie was very good. It is hard to watch war movies. It hurts my heart to see what human beings do to each other in the name of a cause.
#74 CD's I listened to this time. Getting to the end....
Rush...Rush
Rush...Moving Pictures
Remy Shand...The Way I Feel
Joe Satriani...Surfing With the Alien
Joe Satriani...The Extremist
Joe Satriani...Flying in a Blue Dream
Silverchair...Frog Stomp
Soundgarden...Superunknown
Soundgarden...A Sides
Steely Dan...Gaucho
Steely Dan...Countdown to Ecstacy
Spinal Tap...This is Spinal Tap
Stone Temple Pilots...12 Gracious Melodies
3. Wrote a thank you note to Nana for the windfall she sent in the mail. Thank you Easter Bunny!!
#29 Had loads of lunches, dinners, and drinks. Drove to pick up Phil and Patty at their respective group homes and took them out to lunch. We had not seen them since the wedding and we were looking forward to spend some time with them. Phil and Patty had not seen each other since the state moved Phil to his new pad, so this was great for them as well. Had dinner with John and Cathy. We went tot a new local place called the Black Cat Spooky Cafe. As the name implies, it is spooky!! The food is really good and it is a local, small business so it may become the new go-to joint. Liked it so much that I had dinner with Melissa there about two weeks later. It had been a while since we got together so we stayed later than we had anticipated. We made a dinner date the next week at her new casa for dinner and drinks. Good times. Met Michelle at my usual haunt, Pom's. True happiness is a Pom's sandwich. My tummy is always happy when I leave there. Also celebrated Michelle's birthday at her usual haunt--Kobe's. Lots of ginger sauce and wine later led to the organization of a girl's night out with more friends. We went out for drinks and then to a show at the House of Blues. Good show, good drinks, good friends, good times.
# 23 Finished the crocheting the blanket. Went fast, but my little fingers and hand muscles got a work out. I have fingers of steel. Watch out!! It is not perfect, but it is colorful and has a pretty border. Much to Mark's happiness, it did not cost anything but some time and hand cramping. I was given all the yarn in typical baby colors, so I used up as much as possible. Good news is that now I only have a large yarn collection instead of a ginourmous yarn collection, for which Mark is also happy.
#35 Gave Mark a special I love ya on the back of the State Farm annual thank you note? I am not going to lie, I can't remember the story behind this one. It was too long ago. But I obviously did it because I wrote it down. Good thing the pen works better than my memory.
Also gave Mark a red tattoo on his leg while he was sitting next to me as I was working on Referee sheets for a tournament. He was not amused, but he did not stop me either.
Gave Mark a crude drawing of lips. Not my best artwork, but hey, it got the point across.
#36 Mark got a foot rub. Mark got a foot rub. Mark got a foot rub. Apparently the disc golf tourney was a little rough on his tootsies so Mark got a foot rub. Mark got a foot rub. Mark got a foot rub.
#8 Read No Lease on Life. I had to force myself to read this. I am not a big fan of these books that just talk about a life experience that is not interesting. This one was about a girl in a NYC apartment in a neighborhood that she hates. All she wants to do is sniper the people that she hates in the neighborhood. Not exciting. There was not even a climax, unless you count the part where she goes out on the street and gets harassed by a homeless guy who keeps deficating in the lobby of her apartment building. They did not even have a throwdown--just exchanged some words. Couldn't wait for it to end.
#49 Donated blood, well red cells. I did this new thing where they take the blood and take out the red blood cells with a machine and then pump the platelets and plasma back. This way they can take out twice as much blood. The catch is you have to wait longer in between donations. Everything went great until the machine started beeping and the needle shifted in my arm. At the end of the day, I had a gigantic bruise, some new ice and heat packs, a gift card to Seasons 52 and a M*A*S*H shirt. Oh, and the knowledge that I saved a couple of lives. What else could you ask for?
#40 Watched Gone With the Wind.....Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. Go on, Rhett, go on.
BladeRunner. Is it just me or did none of the movies in the 80's make sense. It is like the movie makers tried so hard to make them avant guarde, but then they lost any semblance of plot, writing or acting ability. Can you tell I did not care for it? Took me forever to watch. Just could not hold my attention.
Platoon. Movie was very good. It is hard to watch war movies. It hurts my heart to see what human beings do to each other in the name of a cause.
#74 CD's I listened to this time. Getting to the end....
Rush...Rush
Rush...Moving Pictures
Remy Shand...The Way I Feel
Joe Satriani...Surfing With the Alien
Joe Satriani...The Extremist
Joe Satriani...Flying in a Blue Dream
Silverchair...Frog Stomp
Soundgarden...Superunknown
Soundgarden...A Sides
Steely Dan...Gaucho
Steely Dan...Countdown to Ecstacy
Spinal Tap...This is Spinal Tap
Stone Temple Pilots...12 Gracious Melodies
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Week 96
I am so behind. I feel like I have not done a lot of things, but when I looked at my written list yesterday, it was kind of long.
#8 Read 3 books
VH1 Top 100 Albums of All Time: So the Beatles' Revolver was #1, which I could be on board with. The one crappy thing about this book is that the first page was the #1 album. Seemed to me that they should have started with #100.
The Trial of Mary Dugan: This was actually a play, but it had a hard cover so I am counting it as a book. This was about a girl who awoke to find the man she was having a fling with dead. The resulting court case is what you read about. Mary's chances appear slim until her brother fires her crap lawyer, steps in and finds a small flaw in the prosecution's case. He takes advantage of the weak spot and blows the case wide open, much to the chagrin of the stuffy trial lawyers.
House of Dreams: This book was written in the late 1800's and recounts the journey of a man that recently lost his son. He is in complete distress until he gets a visit from his son's ghost. They embark on a adventure into the "other side" where angels form walls of buildings, good spirits are revered and bad spirits are condemned to wander voiceless. Great book for being over 100 years old.
#12 Ate Cavier with Michele. Now, I did not get the uber expensive caviar. In fact, I cheaped out, but I am on a food budget. It was OK. I am sure that if I got black caviar, instead of red, and spent more than $14.00 on a tin it would have been much better. It was like eating corpuscles of salt water. I could have gone to the ocean and swallowed sea water for free.
#23 Crocheted 4 scarves for gifts. One for Michele, one for Mom, one for Penny and one for ME! They went very quickly. After months of struggling to get a chain started and keeping rows even, it finally clicked. Thank goodness because I thought this item would be an insanely crazy endeavor to finish. One more to go..
#35 Wrote a note to Mark and put it inside his sandwich for work. It was a little soggy by the time he saw it. Not sure he could read the note, but the lunch meat professed my love.
Wrote a text message as we sat in traffic trying to get to the House of Blues for a show. I sent it to him sitting right next to him. I am uber sneaky.
Wrote a message to him in the ACE Rewards Certificate that we got in the mail. Yes, technically I committed a misdemeanor by opening his mail, but I will chance jail time to make my hubby smile.
#40 Watched Dr. Strangelove. Great flick. I love watching movies and seeing a scene that is famous in the context of the original film. Slim Pickens on the bomb, George C. Scott chomping on Juicy Fruit and worrying about the "Big Screen" and the irreplaceable Peter Sellers asking for a quarter to use the pay phone. Loved it!
#72 Gave $20.00 to a man whom I see regularly downtown. He is very nice and told me I had pretty eyes. Best $20.00 I spent that day.
#88 Saw a Magic game in the new Amway Arena. We paid $30.00 for two tickets so we were up in the section above the nose bleeds. We did not stand up to fast to cheer for fear we would topple over and cascade down the EE section to the court below. That being said, we could see everything. The game was very exciting. We won!
#74 Music I listened to:
Robert Plant: Heaven Knows
Robert Plant: Now & Zen
Robert Plant: Manic Nirvana
Robert Plant: Fate of Nations
Robert Plant: Dreamland
Robert Plant: Mighty Re-Arranger
A Perfect Circle: Mer De Noms
Tom Petty: Wildflowers
Pink Floyd: Animals
Pink Floyd: Darkside of the Moon
Pink Floyd: A momentary lapse of reason
Pink Floyd: The Wall
Poetik Justice: Television
Queensryche: Empire
Queensryche: Promised Land
Queens of the Stone Age: Songs for the Deaf
Radiators: Zig Zagging through Ghostland
Radiohead: Hail to the Theif
David Lee Roth: Eat Em and Smile
David Lee Roth: A Little Ain't Enough
David Lee Roth: Skyscraper
Rush: Live in Rio
Rush: Retrospective 1975-1980
Rush: Hold Your Fire
#8 Read 3 books
VH1 Top 100 Albums of All Time: So the Beatles' Revolver was #1, which I could be on board with. The one crappy thing about this book is that the first page was the #1 album. Seemed to me that they should have started with #100.
The Trial of Mary Dugan: This was actually a play, but it had a hard cover so I am counting it as a book. This was about a girl who awoke to find the man she was having a fling with dead. The resulting court case is what you read about. Mary's chances appear slim until her brother fires her crap lawyer, steps in and finds a small flaw in the prosecution's case. He takes advantage of the weak spot and blows the case wide open, much to the chagrin of the stuffy trial lawyers.
House of Dreams: This book was written in the late 1800's and recounts the journey of a man that recently lost his son. He is in complete distress until he gets a visit from his son's ghost. They embark on a adventure into the "other side" where angels form walls of buildings, good spirits are revered and bad spirits are condemned to wander voiceless. Great book for being over 100 years old.
#12 Ate Cavier with Michele. Now, I did not get the uber expensive caviar. In fact, I cheaped out, but I am on a food budget. It was OK. I am sure that if I got black caviar, instead of red, and spent more than $14.00 on a tin it would have been much better. It was like eating corpuscles of salt water. I could have gone to the ocean and swallowed sea water for free.
#23 Crocheted 4 scarves for gifts. One for Michele, one for Mom, one for Penny and one for ME! They went very quickly. After months of struggling to get a chain started and keeping rows even, it finally clicked. Thank goodness because I thought this item would be an insanely crazy endeavor to finish. One more to go..
#35 Wrote a note to Mark and put it inside his sandwich for work. It was a little soggy by the time he saw it. Not sure he could read the note, but the lunch meat professed my love.
Wrote a text message as we sat in traffic trying to get to the House of Blues for a show. I sent it to him sitting right next to him. I am uber sneaky.
Wrote a message to him in the ACE Rewards Certificate that we got in the mail. Yes, technically I committed a misdemeanor by opening his mail, but I will chance jail time to make my hubby smile.
#40 Watched Dr. Strangelove. Great flick. I love watching movies and seeing a scene that is famous in the context of the original film. Slim Pickens on the bomb, George C. Scott chomping on Juicy Fruit and worrying about the "Big Screen" and the irreplaceable Peter Sellers asking for a quarter to use the pay phone. Loved it!
#72 Gave $20.00 to a man whom I see regularly downtown. He is very nice and told me I had pretty eyes. Best $20.00 I spent that day.
#88 Saw a Magic game in the new Amway Arena. We paid $30.00 for two tickets so we were up in the section above the nose bleeds. We did not stand up to fast to cheer for fear we would topple over and cascade down the EE section to the court below. That being said, we could see everything. The game was very exciting. We won!
#74 Music I listened to:
Robert Plant: Heaven Knows
Robert Plant: Now & Zen
Robert Plant: Manic Nirvana
Robert Plant: Fate of Nations
Robert Plant: Dreamland
Robert Plant: Mighty Re-Arranger
A Perfect Circle: Mer De Noms
Tom Petty: Wildflowers
Pink Floyd: Animals
Pink Floyd: Darkside of the Moon
Pink Floyd: A momentary lapse of reason
Pink Floyd: The Wall
Poetik Justice: Television
Queensryche: Empire
Queensryche: Promised Land
Queens of the Stone Age: Songs for the Deaf
Radiators: Zig Zagging through Ghostland
Radiohead: Hail to the Theif
David Lee Roth: Eat Em and Smile
David Lee Roth: A Little Ain't Enough
David Lee Roth: Skyscraper
Rush: Live in Rio
Rush: Retrospective 1975-1980
Rush: Hold Your Fire
Friday, April 29, 2011
Dechoes
Tomorrow is a monumental day. Although this is not on my list, the anticipation of treasure hunting and deal getting is almost too much to bear. I will be heading to Dechoes Resale on Colonial Ave. to partake in their $15 bag sale. Yes, I said it--$15 for everything you can cram in a provided bag. Not a bad deal considering the last time I participated in a bag sale for Dechoes, I walked out with well over $300 in merchandise for only $30.00
If you have never been to Dechoes before, it is a vintage shop filled with clothing, shoes, housewares and a lot of edge. Mostly high-end with some rare gems stashed in the racks, you are sure to find numerous pieces to add to your current collections. The prices are well within any budget, even in a recession. The atmosphere of the is similar to hanging in your besties' closet, picking out something to wear on Saturday night with a stream of alternative music piped in. The associates interact as if they are your bestie. No snobbishness. No attitude. No BS. Everyone there is having a good time, including the shoppers.
Dechoes hosts numerous events during the month. One of the best is the Wine Not Wednesday event that pairs good food with good drink and good sales. They also have an amazing customer appreciation program that allows discounts after you have purchased a certain amount. Not many stores employ a loyalty program that adds up so quickly.
If you are in the Orlando area, you can visit two locations--2525 E. Colonial Dr and 2110 Edgewater Dr. See you at 11:00 am.
If you have never been to Dechoes before, it is a vintage shop filled with clothing, shoes, housewares and a lot of edge. Mostly high-end with some rare gems stashed in the racks, you are sure to find numerous pieces to add to your current collections. The prices are well within any budget, even in a recession. The atmosphere of the is similar to hanging in your besties' closet, picking out something to wear on Saturday night with a stream of alternative music piped in. The associates interact as if they are your bestie. No snobbishness. No attitude. No BS. Everyone there is having a good time, including the shoppers.
Dechoes hosts numerous events during the month. One of the best is the Wine Not Wednesday event that pairs good food with good drink and good sales. They also have an amazing customer appreciation program that allows discounts after you have purchased a certain amount. Not many stores employ a loyalty program that adds up so quickly.
If you are in the Orlando area, you can visit two locations--2525 E. Colonial Dr and 2110 Edgewater Dr. See you at 11:00 am.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Week 89
So, I just found out that I have four people that read my blog. My parents, my hubby and Amanda, who just started her own list. High five and an elbow to Amanda. Of course, when I found out that hubby was reading my blog, I asked him what he thought. His feedback was that all I write about is movies and music. With that in mind, I decided to focus on some of the other tasks to give him better reading material. After all, I don't want to lose my meager audience. This one is for you babe!!
#27 Completed all outstanding Pogo badges. So if you are not aware, Pogo is a gaming site that I have been a member of for many years. They have a plethora of games that very easily suck up a Saturday afternoon. One of there marketing techniques is to give you graphic badges for certain things in certain games in a specific time period. Over the years, I have amassed many badges that I have not completed, but as of last week those are all done and I am caught up. What does this mean in the big world? Absolutely nothing, but sometimes it is good just to waste time.
#8 Read Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi. This is the story of an 18-year-old New York City girl and her exciting solo circumnavigation of the globe on a 26-foot sloop with only a cat for company. Aebi had little previous experience, so most of what she learned was "on the job" and from people she met en route. One of the most appealing aspects of this particular single-handed sailing account is Aebi's naivete and the caring response that she encountered all over the world. Her 27,000-mile, three-year trek is usually attempted only by practiced sailors, and her survival was achieved by pluck, inventiveness, helping hands, and a good deal of luck. She made it around, but due to a 80-mile stretch with a friend, she did not achieve the world record of the youngest to compete the circumnavigation solo. Stupid technicality.
#28 Framed Dad's Commission and Retirement papers for his military service. I have had these papers for the last two years with the intention of framing them in one large frame along with his Certificate of Retirement and Presidential Thank You for your Service. When I realized the cost of that was extremely prohibitive, even with my 60% coupon, I went for individual frames. I had to do some trimming of some of the mats myself to fit the freaky government paper measurements, but in the end, they all came out great. I even framed Mom's Certificate of Appreciation for being a military spouse. The down side is that apparently I am not very good at wrapping glass objects for shipping. One piece of glass did not make the trip. Fedex told me I suck at packing glass. My hubby told me I suck at packing glass. My parents told me I suck at packing glass. It must be true and I relinquish my duties as a glass-packer. I will stick to paper Statmats.
#29 Had wine with C at the local wine bar. Wine with cheese, crackers and fruit is the best!
#31 We went to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City. I am not a big strawberry fan. That being said, Plant City strawberries in season are great. We went on the last day of the festival. I was a little disappointed that there were not more things involving strawberries. There were a lot typical carnie/fair food booths. Not a lot of strawberry foods. There were a lot of craft vendors. Not a lot of strawberry-inspired things. It was not until we found the main pavilion that we found the strawberry locale. They had many displays of all things Strawberry. Past strawberry queens, shoebox floats with strawberry themes, photo contest with strawberries and large booths that depicted various local organizations' interpretation of the festival and benefits of strawberries and other local produce. You could also take a picture in the large strawberry throne. It looked a little sticky from the adjoining create-your-own-strawberry-shortcake booth. I passed on the picture. We did partake in the CYO shortcake booth. For $3.50 each, we got a mountainous bowl of strawberry goodness. Yummy! My strawberry tooth was satisfied. We also watched a lumberjack show and some pig races and a magic show. We had a good time and have a half-flat of Plant City strawberries in our freezer.
#35 Painted the rest of my canvases. I painted 7 5x5 squares with a blended background in various colors and did Chinese calligraphy characters that represent things that I want to achieve: Ambition, Clarity, Courage, Energy,Grace, Harmony, Profundity. I put them on top of their respective crane chain above the window. While I was feeling like a real painter, I also painted a 30-canvas peacock and covered an entire wall. Picasso, I am not but I think it came out pretty good considering this was only the fourth thing I have every painted.
#36 M got two foot rubs. One after his disc golf tournament in which he took 4th. Good job, babe and one after the previous weekend of walking around the Strawberry Festival, two disc golf rounds and drumming at one massive rock show. The foot rubs never end. It is like paying interest on a credit card. I feel like I should be done with this task, but it is still so far away.
#60 Girls weekend is planned, payed for and happening in May. Charlotte is our destination. Plane tickets have been bought. The house is payed for and the activities have been planned. So now the only thing is to show up and enjoy it!
#71 So this one is a little late in coming. We helped restore a Muslim Community Center that had been fire-bombed in 2010. We did this in conjunction with Disney's Give a Day, Get a Day program which gave free tickets in exchange for approved community service. We cleaned out the charred wood and debris from the inside of the house. We knocked down walls and damaged windows. I painted the outside of the house and helped do some of the landscaping. Even though I was glad to help, it hurts my heart that people rely on prejudice, media interference and ignorance to make their decisions. It hurts my heart even more that violence is sometimes considered an appropriate measure of reaction in some peoples' minds to things they don't agree with, don't understand or are scared of.
#78 Sent in a contest answer to Games Magazine. I hope I win this one. It was slightly tricky, but solvable if you have knowledge of movie titles and actors/actresses names that contain colors. Go to www.gamesmagazine-online.com and click on the current contest to see if you can solve it.
#90 I folded 50 origami cranes in different colors, patterns and sizes. They are hung in the production room as a curtain over one of the windows. Origami cranes are supposed to bring luck and who couldn't use a little bit of luck now and then?
See Mark, I did other stuff. I did watch movies and listen to music--
#74 CD's I listened to this session:
Joan Osborne--Relish
Jimmy Page--Outrider
Coverdale and Page
Page + Plant--No Quarter
Page + Plant--Walking into Clarksdale
Pearl Jam--Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam--Vitalogy
Pearl Jam--Riot Act
Robert Plant--Pictures @ Eleven
Robert Plant--The Principle of Moments
Pearl Jam--No Code
#40 Lots of movies--
Do the Right Thing--Everybody hates everybody. The Blacks hate the Italians. The Italians hate the Koreans. The Koreans hate the Jews. The Jews hate the Blacks. The Caucasians hate the Puerto Ricans. And Mister Senor Love Daddy is just trying to get everyone to love each other. It's the hottest day of the year in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, and tensions are growing there, with the only local businesses being a Korean grocery and Sal's Pizzeria. Mookie, Sal's delivery boy, manages to always be at the center of the action. A confrontation over the lack of African Americans on a wall in the pizzeria and the decibel level of music coming out of a boom box ignites the powder keg that has been festering all day. Angry words turn into physical violence and a man dies at a cop's hand. A riot breaks out after Mookie decides a trash can through Sal's front glass would be a good way to vent his frustration at Radio's death. The pizzeria is destroyed. I thought this movie was going to be about racism and why it is bad. For me, what it was really about is an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind, how violence only breeds violence. Spike Lee does an amazing job at bringing to light the struggles that all ethnic groups face in a slur-spewing diatribe mid-movie, showing that all groups hold prejudice. This movie really makes you stop and think about how you react to your surroundings. It also becomes very obvious that your reaction will cause a reaction in those around you--good or bad. Bravo, Spike Lee, bravo!
Yankee Doodle Dandy --This is loosely, very loosely, based on the life of George M. Cohan who penned "Over There" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy". I say very loosely because the real George M. Cohan commented following the premier "It was a good movie. Who was it about?" This was also the first movie to be shot in black and white and then converted to color. Big scandal back in the day in the inner movie circle. Eventually, everybody warmed up to the idea after the public backed the decision saying the movie would not have had the same impact in black and white. George M. Cohan hand-picked James Cagney to play him. Good thing because this movie was Cagney's only Oscar nomination and win.
Taxi Driver--"You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking... you talking to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Oh yeah? OK. "
Annie Hall--"There's an old joke - um... two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of 'em says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions." Well, that's essentially how I feel about life - full of loneliness, and misery, and suffering, and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly. The... the other important joke, for me, is one that's usually attributed to Groucho Marx; but, I think it appears originally in Freud's "Wit and Its Relation to the Unconscious," and it goes like this - I'm paraphrasing - um, "I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member." That's the key joke of my adult life, in terms of my relationships with women. "
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest--"They was giving me ten thousand watts a day, you know, and I'm hot to trot! The next woman takes me on's gonna light up like a pinball machine and pay off in silver dollars! "
Ben-Hur--Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Together with the new governor, his old friend Messala arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. At first they are happy to meet after a long time but their different politic views separate them. During the welcome parade a roof tile falls down from Judah's house and injures the governor. Although Messala knows they are not guilty, he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge. Ben-Hur starts out with a huge heart, which hardens during his years of false imprisonment. His heart is black and full of rage as he is released and allowed to travel back to his home. His hatred increases as he finds out that is mother and sister have also been imprisoned, exposed to leprosy and exiled to a leper colony. This story is told in conjunction with the story of Christ. Ben-Hur eventually interacts with Jesus as he carries his cross. Ben-Hur gives Jesus water as he falls for the third time. As Ben-Hur watches the crucifixion, he releases his anger, rage and desire for revenge. A miracle cures his family and they go on with their lives. You must watch this movie if only for the chariot race, which is one of the most epic scenes I have watched so far.
The Deer Hunter--Is there a film that Robert DeNiro sucks in? I don't think so and this flick was no exception. The Deer Hunter is an examination of the way that the Vietnam war affects the lives of people in a small industrial town in the USA after the war. Civilians don't realize the mental anguish that our veterans live with. Surrounded by death, pain, and human unkindness, our three heroes deal with their war experience very differently. One comes home with no legs and one arm, indifference to his new wife and child and fear of not fitting into the civilian world. He holes up in a veteran hospital content with his surroundings and no need for the outside world. One develops a lust for danger in the same form that he was tortured during his capture in Vietnam--Russian roulette. A very dangerous fascination that brings him tons of money but no solace. One makes it home and adapts to his new life as a war hero only to sit in his room at night and cry to deal with the visions in his head of the war. He deals with his pain by reaching out to his other friends in an attempt to bring them home. His hand is accepted by one and slapped by the other. In the end, the tour was over for them, but the war still raged around them.
2001: A Space Odyssey-- Um, OK? Definitely a Stanley Kubrick film. Very trippy and strange. Not sure what was going on for the last 20 minutes of the film and what was the deal with the big fetus at the end? Stanley, you have succeeded in confusion. Please take your award and exit stage left for pictures and glad-handing.
Done and done--until next time.
#27 Completed all outstanding Pogo badges. So if you are not aware, Pogo is a gaming site that I have been a member of for many years. They have a plethora of games that very easily suck up a Saturday afternoon. One of there marketing techniques is to give you graphic badges for certain things in certain games in a specific time period. Over the years, I have amassed many badges that I have not completed, but as of last week those are all done and I am caught up. What does this mean in the big world? Absolutely nothing, but sometimes it is good just to waste time.
#8 Read Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi. This is the story of an 18-year-old New York City girl and her exciting solo circumnavigation of the globe on a 26-foot sloop with only a cat for company. Aebi had little previous experience, so most of what she learned was "on the job" and from people she met en route. One of the most appealing aspects of this particular single-handed sailing account is Aebi's naivete and the caring response that she encountered all over the world. Her 27,000-mile, three-year trek is usually attempted only by practiced sailors, and her survival was achieved by pluck, inventiveness, helping hands, and a good deal of luck. She made it around, but due to a 80-mile stretch with a friend, she did not achieve the world record of the youngest to compete the circumnavigation solo. Stupid technicality.
#28 Framed Dad's Commission and Retirement papers for his military service. I have had these papers for the last two years with the intention of framing them in one large frame along with his Certificate of Retirement and Presidential Thank You for your Service. When I realized the cost of that was extremely prohibitive, even with my 60% coupon, I went for individual frames. I had to do some trimming of some of the mats myself to fit the freaky government paper measurements, but in the end, they all came out great. I even framed Mom's Certificate of Appreciation for being a military spouse. The down side is that apparently I am not very good at wrapping glass objects for shipping. One piece of glass did not make the trip. Fedex told me I suck at packing glass. My hubby told me I suck at packing glass. My parents told me I suck at packing glass. It must be true and I relinquish my duties as a glass-packer. I will stick to paper Statmats.
#29 Had wine with C at the local wine bar. Wine with cheese, crackers and fruit is the best!
#31 We went to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City. I am not a big strawberry fan. That being said, Plant City strawberries in season are great. We went on the last day of the festival. I was a little disappointed that there were not more things involving strawberries. There were a lot typical carnie/fair food booths. Not a lot of strawberry foods. There were a lot of craft vendors. Not a lot of strawberry-inspired things. It was not until we found the main pavilion that we found the strawberry locale. They had many displays of all things Strawberry. Past strawberry queens, shoebox floats with strawberry themes, photo contest with strawberries and large booths that depicted various local organizations' interpretation of the festival and benefits of strawberries and other local produce. You could also take a picture in the large strawberry throne. It looked a little sticky from the adjoining create-your-own-strawberry-shortcake booth. I passed on the picture. We did partake in the CYO shortcake booth. For $3.50 each, we got a mountainous bowl of strawberry goodness. Yummy! My strawberry tooth was satisfied. We also watched a lumberjack show and some pig races and a magic show. We had a good time and have a half-flat of Plant City strawberries in our freezer.
#35 Painted the rest of my canvases. I painted 7 5x5 squares with a blended background in various colors and did Chinese calligraphy characters that represent things that I want to achieve: Ambition, Clarity, Courage, Energy,Grace, Harmony, Profundity. I put them on top of their respective crane chain above the window. While I was feeling like a real painter, I also painted a 30-canvas peacock and covered an entire wall. Picasso, I am not but I think it came out pretty good considering this was only the fourth thing I have every painted.
#36 M got two foot rubs. One after his disc golf tournament in which he took 4th. Good job, babe and one after the previous weekend of walking around the Strawberry Festival, two disc golf rounds and drumming at one massive rock show. The foot rubs never end. It is like paying interest on a credit card. I feel like I should be done with this task, but it is still so far away.
#60 Girls weekend is planned, payed for and happening in May. Charlotte is our destination. Plane tickets have been bought. The house is payed for and the activities have been planned. So now the only thing is to show up and enjoy it!
#71 So this one is a little late in coming. We helped restore a Muslim Community Center that had been fire-bombed in 2010. We did this in conjunction with Disney's Give a Day, Get a Day program which gave free tickets in exchange for approved community service. We cleaned out the charred wood and debris from the inside of the house. We knocked down walls and damaged windows. I painted the outside of the house and helped do some of the landscaping. Even though I was glad to help, it hurts my heart that people rely on prejudice, media interference and ignorance to make their decisions. It hurts my heart even more that violence is sometimes considered an appropriate measure of reaction in some peoples' minds to things they don't agree with, don't understand or are scared of.
#78 Sent in a contest answer to Games Magazine. I hope I win this one. It was slightly tricky, but solvable if you have knowledge of movie titles and actors/actresses names that contain colors. Go to www.gamesmagazine-online.com and click on the current contest to see if you can solve it.
#90 I folded 50 origami cranes in different colors, patterns and sizes. They are hung in the production room as a curtain over one of the windows. Origami cranes are supposed to bring luck and who couldn't use a little bit of luck now and then?
See Mark, I did other stuff. I did watch movies and listen to music--
#74 CD's I listened to this session:
Joan Osborne--Relish
Jimmy Page--Outrider
Coverdale and Page
Page + Plant--No Quarter
Page + Plant--Walking into Clarksdale
Pearl Jam--Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam--Vitalogy
Pearl Jam--Riot Act
Robert Plant--Pictures @ Eleven
Robert Plant--The Principle of Moments
Pearl Jam--No Code
#40 Lots of movies--
Do the Right Thing--Everybody hates everybody. The Blacks hate the Italians. The Italians hate the Koreans. The Koreans hate the Jews. The Jews hate the Blacks. The Caucasians hate the Puerto Ricans. And Mister Senor Love Daddy is just trying to get everyone to love each other. It's the hottest day of the year in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, and tensions are growing there, with the only local businesses being a Korean grocery and Sal's Pizzeria. Mookie, Sal's delivery boy, manages to always be at the center of the action. A confrontation over the lack of African Americans on a wall in the pizzeria and the decibel level of music coming out of a boom box ignites the powder keg that has been festering all day. Angry words turn into physical violence and a man dies at a cop's hand. A riot breaks out after Mookie decides a trash can through Sal's front glass would be a good way to vent his frustration at Radio's death. The pizzeria is destroyed. I thought this movie was going to be about racism and why it is bad. For me, what it was really about is an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind, how violence only breeds violence. Spike Lee does an amazing job at bringing to light the struggles that all ethnic groups face in a slur-spewing diatribe mid-movie, showing that all groups hold prejudice. This movie really makes you stop and think about how you react to your surroundings. It also becomes very obvious that your reaction will cause a reaction in those around you--good or bad. Bravo, Spike Lee, bravo!
Yankee Doodle Dandy --This is loosely, very loosely, based on the life of George M. Cohan who penned "Over There" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy". I say very loosely because the real George M. Cohan commented following the premier "It was a good movie. Who was it about?" This was also the first movie to be shot in black and white and then converted to color. Big scandal back in the day in the inner movie circle. Eventually, everybody warmed up to the idea after the public backed the decision saying the movie would not have had the same impact in black and white. George M. Cohan hand-picked James Cagney to play him. Good thing because this movie was Cagney's only Oscar nomination and win.
Taxi Driver--"You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking... you talking to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Oh yeah? OK. "
Annie Hall--"There's an old joke - um... two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of 'em says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions." Well, that's essentially how I feel about life - full of loneliness, and misery, and suffering, and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly. The... the other important joke, for me, is one that's usually attributed to Groucho Marx; but, I think it appears originally in Freud's "Wit and Its Relation to the Unconscious," and it goes like this - I'm paraphrasing - um, "I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member." That's the key joke of my adult life, in terms of my relationships with women. "
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest--"They was giving me ten thousand watts a day, you know, and I'm hot to trot! The next woman takes me on's gonna light up like a pinball machine and pay off in silver dollars! "
Ben-Hur--Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Together with the new governor, his old friend Messala arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. At first they are happy to meet after a long time but their different politic views separate them. During the welcome parade a roof tile falls down from Judah's house and injures the governor. Although Messala knows they are not guilty, he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge. Ben-Hur starts out with a huge heart, which hardens during his years of false imprisonment. His heart is black and full of rage as he is released and allowed to travel back to his home. His hatred increases as he finds out that is mother and sister have also been imprisoned, exposed to leprosy and exiled to a leper colony. This story is told in conjunction with the story of Christ. Ben-Hur eventually interacts with Jesus as he carries his cross. Ben-Hur gives Jesus water as he falls for the third time. As Ben-Hur watches the crucifixion, he releases his anger, rage and desire for revenge. A miracle cures his family and they go on with their lives. You must watch this movie if only for the chariot race, which is one of the most epic scenes I have watched so far.
The Deer Hunter--Is there a film that Robert DeNiro sucks in? I don't think so and this flick was no exception. The Deer Hunter is an examination of the way that the Vietnam war affects the lives of people in a small industrial town in the USA after the war. Civilians don't realize the mental anguish that our veterans live with. Surrounded by death, pain, and human unkindness, our three heroes deal with their war experience very differently. One comes home with no legs and one arm, indifference to his new wife and child and fear of not fitting into the civilian world. He holes up in a veteran hospital content with his surroundings and no need for the outside world. One develops a lust for danger in the same form that he was tortured during his capture in Vietnam--Russian roulette. A very dangerous fascination that brings him tons of money but no solace. One makes it home and adapts to his new life as a war hero only to sit in his room at night and cry to deal with the visions in his head of the war. He deals with his pain by reaching out to his other friends in an attempt to bring them home. His hand is accepted by one and slapped by the other. In the end, the tour was over for them, but the war still raged around them.
2001: A Space Odyssey-- Um, OK? Definitely a Stanley Kubrick film. Very trippy and strange. Not sure what was going on for the last 20 minutes of the film and what was the deal with the big fetus at the end? Stanley, you have succeeded in confusion. Please take your award and exit stage left for pictures and glad-handing.
Done and done--until next time.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Week 87
What have I been doing?
#3 Wrote thank you notes to the family for their hospitality during my latest stay and to K/P for the amazing bounty they brought back from their India excursion. Thank you Easter Bunny!
#35 Wrote some amazingly clever notes to my guy.
I sent him some Battleship prose during our Sunday morning match.
I sent him a riddle--What has two thumbs and luvs ya? Very reminiscent of the Do you like me? check box in grade school, but it got the point across.
I found the I love you card that I thought got thrown away during my annual desk purge. It found its way to the vintage chip bowl along a side of corn salsa.
I made him a 3-D paper dinosaur. Nothing says I love you than a paper craft project on a Sunday afternoon that says RAWR. (Dinosaur for I love you).
#36 M got TWO foot rubs this session. One of them was with sweaty, stink feet. I think it should count twice, but M disagrees. He would as he is on the receiving end of the foot rub. The other was an impromptu as he was using my tv tray as a foot rest. I don't know what is ickier? The fact that I rubbed the toes or the fact that he was using my eating surface as a foot rest.
#72 Gave $5.00 to the Moose Lodge for their children's charity. Also gave $5.00 to the gentleman at the gas station who coasted in on fumes and did not have enough money to gas up to his final destination.
#40 Watched two of the three silent pictures on the list.
Sunrise--Gripping drama about a city girl who seduces a country farmer away from his homely wife. They conspire to kill his wife so they can move to the city and be together. City girl (nobody has names in silent movies) tells Farmer to drown Homely Wife by tipping the boat over and saying it was an accident. He starts the deed, but cannot finish because he is troubled that his wife is so fearful of him. Homely wife escapes and travels to the city followed closely by Farmer. He begs and pleads and she finally forgives him. They spend a full day frolicking in the city. On their way home by dinghy boat, a storm sweeps in and almost takes the life of the Homely Wife. City Girl, thinking that Farmer did the deed, runs to meet him not knowing that he has gone back to his wife. Homely Wife is found and resumes consciousness. City Girls flees town. Farmer has renewed reverence for his girl. All worked out in the end. Sunrise was the only picture to receive the Oscar for Most Unique Film. This Oscar was only given out at the first award ceremony. It was later revamped and included in the Best Film category.
Intolerance--Epic silent picture that was the first movie to use the technique of telling multiple story lines within one film by showing snippets of each story inter-woven with each other. This three and a half hour (yes, I said 3.5 hours) movie depicts 4 stories of how intolerance has been the root of evil though out history. Stories show the Massacre of St. Bartholomew Day in France, the Crucifixion of Christ, the Fall of Babylon and the present day story of a wrongly accused man of murder who can't catch a break. All the hatred and violence leads back to the root cause of the inability to accept differences in other lands, religions, customs and traditions. Still apropos today, I think. When, as human beings, are we going to understand that this is a big world and we all have a place?
#86 I did it. I subscribed to the local paper. Considering that I hate watching the news and the internet is severely inaccurate at times, I have to get my daily goings-on from somewhere. Plus, I like doing the Jumble puzzle.
#8 Read three books--
The Great Gatsby. We had the option of reading this book in high school. I picked the other one, but for the life of me I cannot remember what it was. I enjoyed it. It was a fast read, but it did keep my attention. Gatsby is a cool cat that lives life to the fullest, at least to the observer. What we learn is that Gatsby still pines for an old love. This pining sets in motion a series of events that will cost Gatsby everything, including his life.
The Essential Koran. So I wanted to know what all the hoopla was about. Does the Koran really tell followers to hate? Not even one line. In fact, it reads very similar to the Bible. Now, I did not read the entire script. I read a very condensed version that serves as an introduction to the actual manuscript. I don't understand why this manuscript makes all the Christians so crazy. I mean no where that I read did the Koran endorse violence or hatred. It is just a different way of looking at a faith. Do I see a theme this session? Maybe it was not a coincidence that I read the Koran and watched Intolerance.
The Cold Cash War. This book is about the money side of a war and how corporations want to keep fighting to fill their wallets. Sound familiar?
CD time:
Maroon 5--Songs about a Girl
Meat Puppets--To High to Die
John Mellancamp--human Wheels
Pat Metheny--Offramp
Moody Blues--Legend of a Band
Moody Blues--Voices in the Sky
Monkees--Greatest Hits
Alanis Morrisette--Jagged Little Pill
Gary Moore--After Hour ( great CD-best surprise this session)
My Friend Steve--Hope & Wait
Stevie Nicks--Trouble in Shangri-La
Nirvana--Nevermind
Nirvana--From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
Nirvana--Insecticide
Nirvana--Unplugged in NY
#3 Wrote thank you notes to the family for their hospitality during my latest stay and to K/P for the amazing bounty they brought back from their India excursion. Thank you Easter Bunny!
#35 Wrote some amazingly clever notes to my guy.
I sent him some Battleship prose during our Sunday morning match.
I sent him a riddle--What has two thumbs and luvs ya? Very reminiscent of the Do you like me? check box in grade school, but it got the point across.
I found the I love you card that I thought got thrown away during my annual desk purge. It found its way to the vintage chip bowl along a side of corn salsa.
I made him a 3-D paper dinosaur. Nothing says I love you than a paper craft project on a Sunday afternoon that says RAWR. (Dinosaur for I love you).
#36 M got TWO foot rubs this session. One of them was with sweaty, stink feet. I think it should count twice, but M disagrees. He would as he is on the receiving end of the foot rub. The other was an impromptu as he was using my tv tray as a foot rest. I don't know what is ickier? The fact that I rubbed the toes or the fact that he was using my eating surface as a foot rest.
#72 Gave $5.00 to the Moose Lodge for their children's charity. Also gave $5.00 to the gentleman at the gas station who coasted in on fumes and did not have enough money to gas up to his final destination.
#40 Watched two of the three silent pictures on the list.
Sunrise--Gripping drama about a city girl who seduces a country farmer away from his homely wife. They conspire to kill his wife so they can move to the city and be together. City girl (nobody has names in silent movies) tells Farmer to drown Homely Wife by tipping the boat over and saying it was an accident. He starts the deed, but cannot finish because he is troubled that his wife is so fearful of him. Homely wife escapes and travels to the city followed closely by Farmer. He begs and pleads and she finally forgives him. They spend a full day frolicking in the city. On their way home by dinghy boat, a storm sweeps in and almost takes the life of the Homely Wife. City Girl, thinking that Farmer did the deed, runs to meet him not knowing that he has gone back to his wife. Homely Wife is found and resumes consciousness. City Girls flees town. Farmer has renewed reverence for his girl. All worked out in the end. Sunrise was the only picture to receive the Oscar for Most Unique Film. This Oscar was only given out at the first award ceremony. It was later revamped and included in the Best Film category.
Intolerance--Epic silent picture that was the first movie to use the technique of telling multiple story lines within one film by showing snippets of each story inter-woven with each other. This three and a half hour (yes, I said 3.5 hours) movie depicts 4 stories of how intolerance has been the root of evil though out history. Stories show the Massacre of St. Bartholomew Day in France, the Crucifixion of Christ, the Fall of Babylon and the present day story of a wrongly accused man of murder who can't catch a break. All the hatred and violence leads back to the root cause of the inability to accept differences in other lands, religions, customs and traditions. Still apropos today, I think. When, as human beings, are we going to understand that this is a big world and we all have a place?
#86 I did it. I subscribed to the local paper. Considering that I hate watching the news and the internet is severely inaccurate at times, I have to get my daily goings-on from somewhere. Plus, I like doing the Jumble puzzle.
#8 Read three books--
The Great Gatsby. We had the option of reading this book in high school. I picked the other one, but for the life of me I cannot remember what it was. I enjoyed it. It was a fast read, but it did keep my attention. Gatsby is a cool cat that lives life to the fullest, at least to the observer. What we learn is that Gatsby still pines for an old love. This pining sets in motion a series of events that will cost Gatsby everything, including his life.
The Essential Koran. So I wanted to know what all the hoopla was about. Does the Koran really tell followers to hate? Not even one line. In fact, it reads very similar to the Bible. Now, I did not read the entire script. I read a very condensed version that serves as an introduction to the actual manuscript. I don't understand why this manuscript makes all the Christians so crazy. I mean no where that I read did the Koran endorse violence or hatred. It is just a different way of looking at a faith. Do I see a theme this session? Maybe it was not a coincidence that I read the Koran and watched Intolerance.
The Cold Cash War. This book is about the money side of a war and how corporations want to keep fighting to fill their wallets. Sound familiar?
CD time:
Maroon 5--Songs about a Girl
Meat Puppets--To High to Die
John Mellancamp--human Wheels
Pat Metheny--Offramp
Moody Blues--Legend of a Band
Moody Blues--Voices in the Sky
Monkees--Greatest Hits
Alanis Morrisette--Jagged Little Pill
Gary Moore--After Hour ( great CD-best surprise this session)
My Friend Steve--Hope & Wait
Stevie Nicks--Trouble in Shangri-La
Nirvana--Nevermind
Nirvana--From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
Nirvana--Insecticide
Nirvana--Unplugged in NY
Friday, February 11, 2011
Week 83
In an attempt to not type for an hour, I am earlier this time. I have done a lot in the last two weeks.
#8 Read Utopia by Sir Thomas More: More is traveling and runs into an old friend who introduces him to Raphael. Raphael begins to speak of various civilizations he has come in contact with through his many travels. One that he is enamored with is Utopia, which he considers to be a perfect society on all levels. Town structure, government, wealth, punishment, religion and marriage are all subjects talked about. As I was reading this book, I have to confess that I would love, love, love to see some if not all of these practices put to our reality. No drawn out wars. No money. No lawyers. No adultery. No drama. Only people out in the world doing good for everyone, not just themselves. Could it happen? I am not holding my breath. It would be nice though.
#11 Hosted two dinner events. The first was the annual ODGC player appreciation event. Got a good budget and I went all out. We had meatball subs, cole slaw, potato salad, three kinds of wings, hummus, caprese skewers and a veggie tray. Everything was made from scratch. It was inexpensive and good. All of the 25-30 disc golfers were happy. The second event was poker night. This was a little more low-key. Did pulled pork, cole slaw and potato salad for the 6 that were there.
#35 I wrote M a love note on a paper airplane. It did not fly very well, but it made it over the Computer Monitor Triangle to him. My plane was decorated in full WWII regalia including a scary face and a pinup on the side. Also wrote a note on the magnetic calendar from our insurance company. I can't read the numbers anyway and I have 2 calendars on my side already. Of course, the magnet is not in a place that he can readily see. Somehow, I think the bottom of his desk is a little out of the way.
#40 Lots of movies this time:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington--Just get up off the ground, that's all I ask. Get up there with that lady that's up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. And you won't just see scenery; you'll see the whole parade of what Man's carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so's he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed. That's what you'd see. There's no place out there for graft, or greed, or lies, or compromise with human liberties. And, uh, if that's what the grownups have done with this world that was given to them, then we'd better get those boys' camps started fast and see what the kids can do. And it's not too late, because this country is bigger than the Taylors, or you, or me, or anything else. Great principles don't get lost once they come to light. They're right here; you just have to see them again!
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: Do you believe that stuff the old man was saying the other night at the Oso Negro about gold changin' a man's soul so's he ain't the same sort of man as he was before findin' it?
In the Heat of the Night: They call me Mr. Tibbs!
Singing in the Rain: What a glorious feeling! I am happy again!
Sullivan's Travels: There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.
#44 Made a master list of all passwords. This is so much easier than having try to remember 10 thousand passwords and usernames. Should have done this forever ago.
#74 CD selections this time included:
Kiss-Hot in the Shade: It was OK.
Lenny Kravitz-Let Love Rule: Lenny is yummy.
Led Zeppelin-Houses of the Holy
Led Zeppelin-I
Led Zeppelin-II
Led Zeppelin-III
Led Zeppelin-IV
Led Zeppein-Song Remains the Same
Led Zeppelin-Presence
Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin-In Through the Out Door
Led Zeppelin-Coda
****All I will say about Zeppelin is if you don't like them, I am not sure you can be my friend.
Mad Season-Above: Sounded a lot like Alice in Chains. Wonder why?
Live-The Distance to Here: Normally, I dig Live. Not my favorite album.
Les Paul & Friends: Hello, it is Les Paul.
The Lonely H-Concrete Class: Cute touring rock band that we put up in the house when they come through Orlando. There so cute, I just want to squeeze their little rock and roll cheeks. No mistake, they are a great band live.
Lynyrd Skynrd-Second Helping: Great Band
Best of Bob Marley: I do not dig Reggae, but I love me some Bob.
Matchbox 20-Yourself or Someone Like You-Not a big fan but they are hometown boys done good.
#8 Read Utopia by Sir Thomas More: More is traveling and runs into an old friend who introduces him to Raphael. Raphael begins to speak of various civilizations he has come in contact with through his many travels. One that he is enamored with is Utopia, which he considers to be a perfect society on all levels. Town structure, government, wealth, punishment, religion and marriage are all subjects talked about. As I was reading this book, I have to confess that I would love, love, love to see some if not all of these practices put to our reality. No drawn out wars. No money. No lawyers. No adultery. No drama. Only people out in the world doing good for everyone, not just themselves. Could it happen? I am not holding my breath. It would be nice though.
#11 Hosted two dinner events. The first was the annual ODGC player appreciation event. Got a good budget and I went all out. We had meatball subs, cole slaw, potato salad, three kinds of wings, hummus, caprese skewers and a veggie tray. Everything was made from scratch. It was inexpensive and good. All of the 25-30 disc golfers were happy. The second event was poker night. This was a little more low-key. Did pulled pork, cole slaw and potato salad for the 6 that were there.
#35 I wrote M a love note on a paper airplane. It did not fly very well, but it made it over the Computer Monitor Triangle to him. My plane was decorated in full WWII regalia including a scary face and a pinup on the side. Also wrote a note on the magnetic calendar from our insurance company. I can't read the numbers anyway and I have 2 calendars on my side already. Of course, the magnet is not in a place that he can readily see. Somehow, I think the bottom of his desk is a little out of the way.
#40 Lots of movies this time:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington--Just get up off the ground, that's all I ask. Get up there with that lady that's up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. And you won't just see scenery; you'll see the whole parade of what Man's carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so's he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed. That's what you'd see. There's no place out there for graft, or greed, or lies, or compromise with human liberties. And, uh, if that's what the grownups have done with this world that was given to them, then we'd better get those boys' camps started fast and see what the kids can do. And it's not too late, because this country is bigger than the Taylors, or you, or me, or anything else. Great principles don't get lost once they come to light. They're right here; you just have to see them again!
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: Do you believe that stuff the old man was saying the other night at the Oso Negro about gold changin' a man's soul so's he ain't the same sort of man as he was before findin' it?
In the Heat of the Night: They call me Mr. Tibbs!
Singing in the Rain: What a glorious feeling! I am happy again!
Sullivan's Travels: There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.
#44 Made a master list of all passwords. This is so much easier than having try to remember 10 thousand passwords and usernames. Should have done this forever ago.
#74 CD selections this time included:
Kiss-Hot in the Shade: It was OK.
Lenny Kravitz-Let Love Rule: Lenny is yummy.
Led Zeppelin-Houses of the Holy
Led Zeppelin-I
Led Zeppelin-II
Led Zeppelin-III
Led Zeppelin-IV
Led Zeppein-Song Remains the Same
Led Zeppelin-Presence
Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin-In Through the Out Door
Led Zeppelin-Coda
****All I will say about Zeppelin is if you don't like them, I am not sure you can be my friend.
Mad Season-Above: Sounded a lot like Alice in Chains. Wonder why?
Live-The Distance to Here: Normally, I dig Live. Not my favorite album.
Les Paul & Friends: Hello, it is Les Paul.
The Lonely H-Concrete Class: Cute touring rock band that we put up in the house when they come through Orlando. There so cute, I just want to squeeze their little rock and roll cheeks. No mistake, they are a great band live.
Lynyrd Skynrd-Second Helping: Great Band
Best of Bob Marley: I do not dig Reggae, but I love me some Bob.
Matchbox 20-Yourself or Someone Like You-Not a big fan but they are hometown boys done good.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Week 81
Lots of things happened this month. I have just over 8 months left, so this is crunch time to get things done.
#3 Wrote tons of thank-you cards for Christmas and Birthday presents and niceties. They went out slightly later than I would have liked, but they went out all the same. The best part of sending thank-you notes is getting back the thank-you-for-sending-me-a-thank-you-note Thank you note. Nana is the queen of this, but I do have other people that are jumping on the bandwagon. Priceless!!
#8 Read 3 more books:
1. White Mountain--A superior race has taken over earth and is using "caps" to control human's minds makeing them docile and essentially slaves. A young boy who has not yet been capped is found by a member of a rebel force of uncapped humans and told to travel to their base in the white mountains. This book is his journey to the White Mountains.
2. Fahrenheit 451--Classic book that tackles the subject of censorship and government control. Guy Montag, a fireman, start fires by burning books instead of putting them out. He likes it. The people in this society do not read books, enjoy nature, spend time by themselves, think independently, or have meaningful conversations. Instead, they drive very fast, watch excessive amounts of television on wall-size sets, and listen to the radio on “Seashell Radio” sets attached to their ears. Guy eventually learns that the books are not the root of all evil and goes rogue seeking a different way of life. He meets a group of men, scholars, that memorize text to continue learning. Unfortunately, this is not too far from reality. Read more books people.
3. Little Rules of Thumb--Collaboration of rules of thumb to live by. Lots of great information that I have already used since reading the collection. My good friends gave this to me on my birthday and the things that I have learned are astounding. Need to outrun a bear? I know how. Need to figure out how much alcohol you can have based on your weight and height? I know how to. Want to know how to design your billboard to get the most attention. I know. Read this book and you will as well.
#11 Hosted poker night with food. A big pot of jambalaya was provided. Not my best to my standards, but everyone seemed to enjoy it.
#29 Had lunch with some of my good friends on my birthday. Went for a quick bite and a glass of wine....okay two glasses. It was my birthday and I was not driving.
#36 Wrote 3 luv notes to my man: 1. While he was constructing our new fancy pants poker table, I wrote on the underside with the pencil when he was not looking. Of course, he saw it and accused me of ruining the mojo. I explained that my love will bring all the money to our house. We lost all of our money at our first poker night, so not sure how that worked out for me. But if you come over and play poker, and if you look under the table for the love note, some chips may be missing when you come back up.
2. Wrote a detailed love note and put it in M's lunch bag. He read it over a turkey sandwich and pretzels. I will not disclose what I wrote because it is private. I will tell you I got the best smooch when he got home from work. Mission completed.
3. Slipped a note under the bathroom door as M was otherwise occupied. What can I say? I love my man even when he is stinky!!
#36 Gave M two more foot rubs. One as we watched our guilty pleasure, Merlin. The other was fresh from work. His toes were hurting, sweaty and stinky. I persevered and all was right with the world.
#40 Movies, movies, movies--4 more off the list:
1. A Night at the Opera--A sly business manager and two wacky friends of two opera singers help them achieve success while humiliating their stuffy and snobbish enemies. Just as Duck Soup, this will bust a belly when you watch it. Hilarious!! The best scene is the 20 people and one over-sized steamer trunk in a 5x5x5 room. My diaphragm was aching at the end of this flick.
2. Vertigo--A retired detective investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her. But, as in all Hitchcock films, things are not always as they seem. There is intrigue, lies, manipulation and suspense as James Stewart weaves in and out of Hitchcock's plot twists. You have to see this movie. It is one of the best thrillers ever made, EVER!
3. Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid--
Butch and Sundance are the two leaders of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Butch is all ideas, Sundance is all action and skill. The west is becoming civilized and when Butch and Sundance rob a train once too often, a special posse begins trailing them no matter where they run. Over rock, through towns, across rivers, the group is always just behind them. When they finally escape through sheer luck, Butch has another idea, "Let's go to Bolivia". So they do and that is when the fun really begins. They hook up with longtime friend, Etta Place, and slip back into their old ways. With one final shoot-out inevitable, they decide that Bolivia is not their bag and they want to go to Australia. Did they make it? Have to catch the flick.
4. It's a Wonderful Life--George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. As fate would have it, events transpire on Christmas Eve that end with George on a bridge ready to end it all. Instead of jumping, he meets Clarence, a wingless angel. Clarence grants his wish of seeing what life would have been like without him. George sees everyone that he touched in his life in a state of poverty, oppression and disarray. In the end, George decides that he wants to have his old life back. The townspeople rally around him and save his business in a scene that would make Ebeneezer Scrooge start bawling. Traditionally, I am a White Christmas kind of girl, but this flick might make my holiday rotation.
#49 Donated blood. You know, if you are physically able to donate blood, you should. Saving a life is one of the most fulfilling things that a human can do.
#55 Went Ice Skating over the holiday. It was bitty rink, but there was ice none the less. I totally stayed upright the whole time. Vast improvement over the last time we went skating. M, however, took the fall for the team. Another skater went down in front of him and he could not veer in time. Fortunately, he landed on his thigh. Unfortunately, he also landed on his keys. Didn't walk right for three days after that. At least it was not me!!
#63 Took a CPR and First Aid class and I am now certified to do both. I can work on adults, children and the wee ones. I hope I do not have to use the things I learned, but if the situation arises I can lend a lung. Just as donating blood--if you can physically do this, there is no reason why you do not learn to give CPR and first aid. Saving a life is the most fulfilling thing a human can do.
#72 Gave $5.00 to the Salvation Army at the Hobby Lobby. I did this over Christmas, but forgot to take credit for it on my last posting.
#74 Listened to the following CD's
1. Eric Johnson--Ah Via Musicon
2. Elton John--Greatest Hits
3. Journey--Greatest Hits
4. Jethro Tull--Songs From the Wood
5. I Love You--I Love You
6. I Love You--All of Us
7. House of Lords--Sahara
8. Kings X--Faith Hope Love
9. King Crimson--Disclipine
10. Kiss My Ass--Compilation of Various Artists performing KISS covers
Cheese and Rice, I need to either do less every month or write more often. These posts are wicked long.
#3 Wrote tons of thank-you cards for Christmas and Birthday presents and niceties. They went out slightly later than I would have liked, but they went out all the same. The best part of sending thank-you notes is getting back the thank-you-for-sending-me-a-thank-you-note Thank you note. Nana is the queen of this, but I do have other people that are jumping on the bandwagon. Priceless!!
#8 Read 3 more books:
1. White Mountain--A superior race has taken over earth and is using "caps" to control human's minds makeing them docile and essentially slaves. A young boy who has not yet been capped is found by a member of a rebel force of uncapped humans and told to travel to their base in the white mountains. This book is his journey to the White Mountains.
2. Fahrenheit 451--Classic book that tackles the subject of censorship and government control. Guy Montag, a fireman, start fires by burning books instead of putting them out. He likes it. The people in this society do not read books, enjoy nature, spend time by themselves, think independently, or have meaningful conversations. Instead, they drive very fast, watch excessive amounts of television on wall-size sets, and listen to the radio on “Seashell Radio” sets attached to their ears. Guy eventually learns that the books are not the root of all evil and goes rogue seeking a different way of life. He meets a group of men, scholars, that memorize text to continue learning. Unfortunately, this is not too far from reality. Read more books people.
3. Little Rules of Thumb--Collaboration of rules of thumb to live by. Lots of great information that I have already used since reading the collection. My good friends gave this to me on my birthday and the things that I have learned are astounding. Need to outrun a bear? I know how. Need to figure out how much alcohol you can have based on your weight and height? I know how to. Want to know how to design your billboard to get the most attention. I know. Read this book and you will as well.
#11 Hosted poker night with food. A big pot of jambalaya was provided. Not my best to my standards, but everyone seemed to enjoy it.
#29 Had lunch with some of my good friends on my birthday. Went for a quick bite and a glass of wine....okay two glasses. It was my birthday and I was not driving.
#36 Wrote 3 luv notes to my man: 1. While he was constructing our new fancy pants poker table, I wrote on the underside with the pencil when he was not looking. Of course, he saw it and accused me of ruining the mojo. I explained that my love will bring all the money to our house. We lost all of our money at our first poker night, so not sure how that worked out for me. But if you come over and play poker, and if you look under the table for the love note, some chips may be missing when you come back up.
2. Wrote a detailed love note and put it in M's lunch bag. He read it over a turkey sandwich and pretzels. I will not disclose what I wrote because it is private. I will tell you I got the best smooch when he got home from work. Mission completed.
3. Slipped a note under the bathroom door as M was otherwise occupied. What can I say? I love my man even when he is stinky!!
#36 Gave M two more foot rubs. One as we watched our guilty pleasure, Merlin. The other was fresh from work. His toes were hurting, sweaty and stinky. I persevered and all was right with the world.
#40 Movies, movies, movies--4 more off the list:
1. A Night at the Opera--A sly business manager and two wacky friends of two opera singers help them achieve success while humiliating their stuffy and snobbish enemies. Just as Duck Soup, this will bust a belly when you watch it. Hilarious!! The best scene is the 20 people and one over-sized steamer trunk in a 5x5x5 room. My diaphragm was aching at the end of this flick.
2. Vertigo--A retired detective investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her. But, as in all Hitchcock films, things are not always as they seem. There is intrigue, lies, manipulation and suspense as James Stewart weaves in and out of Hitchcock's plot twists. You have to see this movie. It is one of the best thrillers ever made, EVER!
3. Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid--
Butch and Sundance are the two leaders of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Butch is all ideas, Sundance is all action and skill. The west is becoming civilized and when Butch and Sundance rob a train once too often, a special posse begins trailing them no matter where they run. Over rock, through towns, across rivers, the group is always just behind them. When they finally escape through sheer luck, Butch has another idea, "Let's go to Bolivia". So they do and that is when the fun really begins. They hook up with longtime friend, Etta Place, and slip back into their old ways. With one final shoot-out inevitable, they decide that Bolivia is not their bag and they want to go to Australia. Did they make it? Have to catch the flick.
4. It's a Wonderful Life--George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. As fate would have it, events transpire on Christmas Eve that end with George on a bridge ready to end it all. Instead of jumping, he meets Clarence, a wingless angel. Clarence grants his wish of seeing what life would have been like without him. George sees everyone that he touched in his life in a state of poverty, oppression and disarray. In the end, George decides that he wants to have his old life back. The townspeople rally around him and save his business in a scene that would make Ebeneezer Scrooge start bawling. Traditionally, I am a White Christmas kind of girl, but this flick might make my holiday rotation.
#49 Donated blood. You know, if you are physically able to donate blood, you should. Saving a life is one of the most fulfilling things that a human can do.
#55 Went Ice Skating over the holiday. It was bitty rink, but there was ice none the less. I totally stayed upright the whole time. Vast improvement over the last time we went skating. M, however, took the fall for the team. Another skater went down in front of him and he could not veer in time. Fortunately, he landed on his thigh. Unfortunately, he also landed on his keys. Didn't walk right for three days after that. At least it was not me!!
#63 Took a CPR and First Aid class and I am now certified to do both. I can work on adults, children and the wee ones. I hope I do not have to use the things I learned, but if the situation arises I can lend a lung. Just as donating blood--if you can physically do this, there is no reason why you do not learn to give CPR and first aid. Saving a life is the most fulfilling thing a human can do.
#72 Gave $5.00 to the Salvation Army at the Hobby Lobby. I did this over Christmas, but forgot to take credit for it on my last posting.
#74 Listened to the following CD's
1. Eric Johnson--Ah Via Musicon
2. Elton John--Greatest Hits
3. Journey--Greatest Hits
4. Jethro Tull--Songs From the Wood
5. I Love You--I Love You
6. I Love You--All of Us
7. House of Lords--Sahara
8. Kings X--Faith Hope Love
9. King Crimson--Disclipine
10. Kiss My Ass--Compilation of Various Artists performing KISS covers
Cheese and Rice, I need to either do less every month or write more often. These posts are wicked long.
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