December 31, 2005
I'm fighting, but I don't think I will win this battle. You see, every single member of my family was sick at once, except me. I ended up taking care of everything and now it is coming back. I'm not feeling well at all. I am hoping it goes quickly like it did with Josh and doesn't linger like it did with my mom and brother. Right now I have a fever and I am tired. Let's hope the tylenol kicks in.
I have been so busy lately that I haven't been online too much. So I think it will take me some time to read back. First though, a nap.
King Kong - Peter Jackson made me cry. I admit it, I shed a few tears during King Kong.
At first I was not enjoying the movie. It didn't seem to flow properly and I found my attention drifting elsewhere. All of the sudden the pace started to quicken and things seemed to be going too fast. Eventually (and not too late) everything was just right. Weta again did a wonderful job. Andy Serkis as Kong was lovely. I liked Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow and Adrien Brody as Jack Driscoll, but Jack Black as Carl Denham didn't exactly feel right. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't great.
Well, I imagine I will probably buy this if only to see the emotions in Kong's face.
Mrs. Henderson Presents - You know, I wasn't quite sure what to make of this movie when I first heard about it. Hell, I still don't quite know what to make of it.
After getting over seeing Bob Hoskins naked, I thought the movie was interesting. I can't say I will recommend this to anyone, but it didn't make me want to gouge out my eyes.
Still on the list: Syriana, Munich, Memoirs of a Geisha (maybe), and Brokeback Mountain. I'm also becoming intrigued by The White Countess but I think that is just my love of the Fiennes family's acting.
Happy Solstice/Yule.
I gave my parents sheets as my mom never seems to get to the store to buy them. I've gotten some gifts in the mail, but only opened one so far. It had perishables, so I HAD to open it. First we ate the spicy peanuts and then we ate some peanut butter fudge. Holy carp was the fudge good. We held back and only ate a little. I'm itching to open the other boxes, but I am trying to be strong here.
I cancelled the back ordered book from the school bookstore. I called them this morning and they said they didn't know when they would be able to get one in. I instead ordered it from textbooksrus.com. They actually had it in stock. I will hopefully have it in time for class.
I just opened a can of cashews (Josh took the spicy peanuts to work) and the cat went nuts until I let her sniff the can. There was such a painful look of disappointment in her face.
OK, off to hopefully see King Kong. Maybe.
I've been trying to catch up on my movies both in the theater and in the stores.
The Chronicles of Narnia. Fabulous. Weta did a wonderful job on everything. I think there were a couple of times where Georgie Henley (Lucy) could have done with a retake, but otherwise it was extremely well done. The casting agent did a great job getting the right kids for this movie. I'm glad there weren't too many religious overtones in the movie. It would have been so easy to turn it into a piece of religious propaganda, but they took the hard way and decided to make it something entertaining.
The Brothers Grimm - I actually like this one. I didn't love it, but it wasn't horrible. Maybe it was the costumes or just the fact that I love the stories. Worth a rental possibly a purchase.
Must Love Dogs - Not again. This was a chick flick, just like Under the Tuscan Sun. There were some funny moments and you just have to love Christopher Plummer. I mean, he was Georg von Trapp! Stockard Channing was great though her part wasn't that big. I'd say it is good for a rental, but I'm not totally sold on it.
Aeon Flux - As I stated previously, being a big fan of the original cartoon made it really hard to watch it. I tried to be objective and for that reason I would say it isn't a bad film, but there was just something missing. How could you not love Marton Csokas as Trevor. I mean he was Celeborn. Matinee or rental worthy. Maybe a purchase.
The Forgotten - I had heard about this, but was never sold on seeing it in the theater. Apparently for good reason. It was well acted, but the story in general just didn't do it for me. It seemed to predictable. Maybe a rental.
Monster - Worth a buy. Most of this happened before me, but I remember the cases against Aileen Wuornos. This was a good movie on so many levels. The acting was great and the writing was good. This is one of those movies you just really ought to watch for yourselves.
Next up for my viewing (and hopefully this week) will be King Kong, Syriana, Brokeback Mountain and Munich.
It looks like a filing cabinet got sick on my desk and shelves. I am really procrastinating on cleaning it up. Bad, I know. The sad thing is that I made this mess last night. I've been trying to find paperwork and even with it filed, it is still hard to find. Perhaps I need a trip to an organization store. As long as they have one of those HoMedics Shiatsu chair massagers, I'm sure Josh will agree. He "tested" one while I went shopping for some needed office supplies. He says they work good.
High today of 62° F. Brrrrr.
I didn't go to sleep thinking about The Constant Gardener. Instead I was still cringing from last nights Nip/Tuck. I don't watch it regularly but I happened to catch it last night and kept getting sucked back to it.
Oh and this is kind of for future reference, but feel free to follow it if you want. I click on the Animal Rescue site once a day to click the help button. From there I finish the rest of the group. My order is this:
Animals, People, B00bs, Kids, Books and Trees. It is a little mantra I do to remember what is left to click. It works for me and takes about 10 seconds to do the clicks.
I finally got a chance to see The Constant Gardener. It was one of those movies that I knew I couldn't handle seeing in the theater (like Munich and Black Hawk Down), but really wanted to see. I swear I just wanted to cry constantly, though I didn't. I did think about it for the over 30 minutes I sat waiting on the front porch for the UPS guy. If I am thinking about this movie a week from now, I think it will earn a rightful place in my head as a good movie. I don't know quite how to explain it other than it was emotional.
It was a good thing I didn't pay for next or second day shipping for my school books. They shipped today rather than Friday when I got the email saying they had shipped and they will be arriving tomorrow. Now if only they had my final book in stock!! I have decided to give them until Wednesday. If I hear nothing by the end of business day Wed., I will call or email on Thursday morning.
I'm not going to get mushy. I just want to say Happy Birthday to my best friend and husband Josh.
A few questions for folks. Comment or email, either way as usual.
First, has anyone ever used BioFreeze before? I received a sample from a customer at my dad's shop and finally needed to use it for my mom's ankle. It seemed to help, but I am just curious whether anyone else has used it.
Second, I need recommendations on bike locks. I need to leave my bike on one campus while I go to another. While I am not near it, i'd like to keep it secure. I'm ready to use two locks if necessary. It isn't an expensive bike, but I would like to come back and find it rather than have to walk home. Home isn't that far, but it will be far enough if I have to walk it with my books and gear.
Today is a gloomy and overcast day. We had plans, but the weather seems to have taken the life out of us.
If you haven't been following the events of "A Very Lego Christmas" over at blogography.com, you should. Scroll down some to start from the beginning. Every day Dave opens a door to his Lego Advent Calendar which gives a new piece to add to the story. It has been, um, entertaining.
Movies, let me see. I did not love Aeon Flux but that is probably because I am a totally biased Aeon cartoon lover. It was OK, but nothing like the old cartoon. Narnia was gorgeous and I am hoping to see King Kong soon. I am a Weta fan. How nice is it that they have a list of resources for the field.
Does your cat clean its litter box without using it anywhere near that time? Mine does. Maybe she gets her cleaning habits from me. It was just weird to see the front half in her box rearranging the litter while the back half never made it in.
I've been somewhat secluding myself. I've been stressing over things I really don't need to stress over and cleaning to take my mind off of said things. I'm better now. I think.
John Spencer passed away today. A lot of people don't know him by his name, but rather as Leo McGarry, the chief of staff for Jeb Bartlet on The West Wing. He was a good actor. There are far to few good actors left.
The Patriot Act is currently stalled in the Senate.
Four of the five books I need are available and have shipped. The one I need the most is the one that is back ordered. I will have to call Monday to find out what is going on. I REALLY need to find that book. Even using a college book search engine failed to come up with anything. I will keep looking.
In eleventh grade we had to memorize Thanatopsis and recite the last part. For some odd reason, I have always remembered it and every so often I find myself reciting it for no particular reason.
Thanatopsis
by William Cullen Bryant
To him who in the love of Nature holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various language; for his gayer hours
She has a voice of gladness, and a smile
And eloquence of beauty, and she glides
Into his darker musings, with a mild
And gentle sympathy, that steals away
Their sharpness, ere he is aware. When thoughts
Of the last bitter hour come like a blight
Over thy spirit, and sad images
Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall,
And breathless darkness, and the narrow house,
Make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart;--
Go forth under the open sky, and list
To Nature's teachings, while from all around--
Earth and her waters, and the depths of air,--
Comes a still voice--Yet a few days, and thee
The all-beholding sun shall see no more
In all his course; nor yet in the cold ground,
Where thy pale form was laid, with many tears,
Nor in the embrace of ocean shall exist
Thy image. Earth, that hourished thee, shall claim
Thy growth, to be resolv'd to earth again;
And, lost each human trace, surrend'ring up
Thine individual being, shalt thou go
To mix forever with the elements,
To be a brother to th' insensible rock
And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain
Turns with his share, and treads upon. The oak
Shall send his roots abroad, and pierce thy mould.
Yet not to thy eternal resting place
Shalt thou retire alone--nor couldst thou wish
Couch more magnificent. Thou shalt lie down
, With patriarchs of the infant world--with kings
The powerful of the earth--the wise, the good,
Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,
All in one mighty sepulchre.--The hills
Rock-ribb'd and ancient as the sun,--the vales
Stretching in pensive quietness between;
The vernal woods--rivers that move
In majesty, and the complaining brooks
That make the meadows green; and pour'd round all,
Old ocean's grey and melancholy waste,--
Are but the solemn decorations all
Of the great tomb of man. The golden sun,
The planets, all the infinite host of heaven,
Are shining on the sad abodes of death,
Through the still lapse of ages. All that tread
The globe are but a handful to the tribes
That slumber in its bosom.--Take the wings
Of morning--and the Barcan desert pierce,
Or lost thyself in the continuous woods
Where rolls the Oregan, and hears no sound,
Save his own dashings--yet--the dead are there,
And millions in those solitudes, since first
The flight of years began, have laid them down
In their last sleep--the dead reign there alone.--
So shalt thou rest--and what if thou shalt fall
Unnoticed by the living--and no friend
Take note of thy departure? All that breathe
Will share thy destiny. The gay will laugh,
When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care
Plod on, and each one as before will chase
His favourite phantom; yet all these shall leave
Their mirth and their employments, and shall come,
And make their bed with thee. As the long train
Of ages glide away, the sons of men,
The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes
In the full strength of years, matron, and maid,
The bow'd with age, the infant in the smiles
And beauty of its innocent age cut off,--
Shall one by one be gathered to thy side,
By those, who in their turn shall follow them.
So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan, that moves
To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustain'd and sooth'd
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave,
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
I've registered for classes. Go me. I think I want to break out the silly stick and slap the girl that told me that I would be done by 2 PM. Um, no. Try more like 5 PM. Traffic was crazy for a Saturday. People were annoying and I am damn tired. Oh and I wish the vegetarian option was more than salad.
I went to campus today all ready with my list of classes to take and after I left the advisor's office, I only had two of my original six selections still listed. This was a good thing. He didn't want me to take some classes because they wouldn't really help with my degree. It was weird meeting with and advisor that actually advised.
Years ago I had a professor that was a complete jerk. He gave me a D on the first of two tests because I had not shown every single step on my test. Well, seeing as he didn't ask for it, I didn't put it. So after I found that out and fumed for a couple of months, we took the second test. I got an A+. He was amazed. Odd. Anyhow, the reason for this story is that because of this test AND my getting seriously sick the semester that I took a different math class, I now have to take a big ole' math test. /sigh
And now, I have an ant bite on my foot that is driving me nuts.
Richard Pryor has passed away. All of the great comedians are going. I feel so sad.
I'll always remember he and Chevy Chase's skit on SNL. Whitey and Honkey will be words dear to my heart.
While I wish Erika and Lisa warm thoughts, I am REALLY happy that the services were last week! Holy shnickies Batman! The estimate for our old place is 10-15 inches of snow. That's just crazy. We turned off the A/C this morning!!! The humidity yesterday and last night was just insane, so the A/C was kept on.
I don't know why, but this year I am in a rather unholiday mood. I think there is some sort of funk going around because there are a lot of people around here like that. Strange.
Josh emailed me the link to this, with the subject line, "Toss Your Package" Now, if you know where Josh works, the subject line makes it funnier.
Back to figuring out classes and knitting and trying to breath when I can fit it in.
December 7, 1941. A date which will live in infamy.
Shortly before 8:00 A.M., December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, on the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii, was attacked by the Japanese Imperial Navy.
We should never forget today's date and what happened 64 years ago. So many of the people who survived are dying before this new generation can learn from them what happened. Search the web, talk to someone and hear the stories while you still can.
In an effort to force myself to calm down and not have a full on nervous breakdown from all of the things I have to do this week, I am resting and working on knitting a Yule present. I may actually finish it tonight and possibly working on another Yule gift as well. I have four knitted gifts to do. One I am really hesitant about doing and the other is just going to take a while.
Josh and I watched Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story last night. I loved it. I like Family Guy because it is geared towards adults and not adults and children.
OK, back to relaxing. Must relax for own sanity.
Oi, I didn't even realize what the date was today until I visited the blue blog. It is St. Nikolaus day today! I just love the yummy treats you get today. Unfortunately, most of them are full of sugar and not something I can eat. I can still smell them though!
I missed noting World Aids Day by being sick. I hope to remember Pearl Harbor day. Considering it is tomorrow, I will remember.
Oh crap, Tom Riddle's diary is back! Someone needs to get Harry on it. lol.
Errands today. Oh joy, no way!
There are plenty of things that we came home to.
1. A clean bedroom. We were in a big hurry to leave, but for the most part I made sure the bedroom was clean. I knew we would be piling bags and what not in there, so I tried to clean it up before we left. This made the recovery from unpacking much easier.
2. A whistling AJ. Apparently while we were gone, AJ learned to whistle. He's been showing us every time he sees us.
3. My parents house decorated with lights. Whoa. That hasn't happened in years.
4. Today, we were greeted with an AJ with a shaved head! Whoa there too.
5. A Whole New World being learned on the recorder by Brittany for music class. Ahh, the recorder. I can visualize myself playing Hot Cross Buns as a child. Does every child have to play the recorder at least once in their life?
6. A call revealed that some necessary paperwork for school has gone missing. I was not a happy camper, but I faxed over a new copy. Hopefully it gets handled soon. I need a little less stress in my life.
7. A packed grocery store at 12:00 in the afternoon. I don't know where all the people came from, but there were people EVERYWHERE!!
I am back. We left early Monday afternoon and headed north to attend Aunt Nancy's service. I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned it, but she was diagnosed with ALS +/-18 months ago. Before we left the north, I spent a lot of time with Nancy. Considering we lived less than 30 seconds walking distance, it was inevitable. We went shopping a lot. Most of the time she just wanted company running errands. No matter what, we always had fun.
On our trip north we stopped half-way which also happened to be at Josh's parents'. While we were there, we made our pilgrimage to the dispenser of the sacred nectar. The cat kept her hiney warm and we left her there to be babysat by Josh's dad. Diesel got more expensive as we drove north.
The services were lovely. All of the cousins were introduced to each other. While we were there, Josh could not resist the call of the hops (more importantly, the seasonal results). Rations were aquired and have accompanied us home. I of course couldn't resist the call of the comics* and the tex-mex. It was at CJ's that we discovered Josh can now handle his hot sauce. He sampled some fries in their "habanero death sauce" and declared it no worse than my dad's spicey spinach! Huzzah.
As we walked down the steps of the church we discovered snow flurries. Three hours later we were driving through the Berkshires and the falling snow. It has been three years since we last saw snow. We stopped to rest and retrieve the kitty. She was very happy to see us and has since recovered from her thoughts of being abandoned.
Now we are home, over dressed and tired. It was 80F when we drove up to the house. Apparently there is a cold front coming tomorrow. We'll just pretend that we were planning ahead.
*I intended on purchasing a new travel mug for Christmas for my dear Calhoun but alas, they had no Newbury Comics logo travel coffee mugs for sale.
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