stuff I watched so you won't have to

Okay, so I watched the second episode of girls and yeah, we're dunzo. It was worse than the first - why do women feel the need to compete with the boys in the grossness category - yikes! Take my word for it, you don't need to waste your time on this hot mess.

Also, I went to see Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the other day and it was the most confusing hour and a half of my life. It didn't help that we missed the first few minutes of the movie but honestly, though I recognized a few of the actors, I have no idea what happened.

So I guess this is a post about sparing you from watching stuff that I have deemed lousey - so if you haven't seen Smash yet, you're not missing anything. It is aweful for completely different reasons than the other two - I keep telling myself that I'm going to stop watching it but it's one redeeming feature, it's a train wreck - warning excessive eye rolling might cause permanent damage. 

you've got to be prepared

And I'm not talking boyscout prepared.*

I know I said that I was imposing a temporary yarn-fast but that was after I'd already ordered a bunch online. Truth is, what I lack in food storage, I make up for in yarn. I'm just hoping that in the event of a natural disaster, there will be high demand for hats and mittens so I can barter for food. And let's be honest, I'm not the type to survive a zombie apocalypse or any other type of apocalypse for that matter. Though, I have been wondering if the NRA should think about funneling some of their support into the zombie movie industry because I've never been inclined to buy a gun but after a good zombie movie, I feel a little naked.

So I bought enough for a sweater, but I haven't settled on a pattern yet. So many options, I just can't decide. And would you believe that there isn't a pair of size 8 needles to be found at my house? For the love! I guess I'm not as prepared as I thought I was - this is seriously impeding my swatching ability.


*Oh, Captain Ron, I'll take you to Disney World anytime.

"with pleasure"

Last Friday night I met up with some friends to see the Artist, which sort of stole the show two days later at the Golden Globes. It's a black and white silent film - I know, artsy. And I'll be honest there were a few moments in the middle when I got a bit frigidity and my internal dialog went something like, "this is RIDICULOUS, just gimme some dialog already!" but then I took a deep breath told myself to hold it together and kept watching. I am unaccustomed to watching a movie so closely (i.e. devoting so much visual attention to the screen). Honestly, I don't watch many movies these days and when I do, it's usually at home on the telly while knitting. The Artist is NOT a good knitting movie but it was really interesting and refreshing. One of my favorite perfomances was John Goodman. He's just so lovable and it was fun to see him in something so out of the norm.

And Berenice Bejo was absolutely delightful - loved her costumes!

Finally, I should just mention that the music was beautiful. So if you're feeling ambitious or aspire to some culture, go see it. It's really one of those movies that you have to see in the theater.

if the fates allow

In honor of this lovely season, I share with you one of my favorite Christmas songs from one of my favorite movies. But I'll warn you, it's a tear jerker.

queue Judy

The holiday season isn't always joyful for everyone all the time. And so many of my favorite Christmas songs are bitter-sweet.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

i feel wonderful

I've got a lot on my mind lately and I don't really know what to think of any of it. At times I catch myself mumbling "i don't know i don't know i don't know i don't know" like a mantra of the disturbingly uninspiring sort. Truth is, there are a lot of things that I just don't understand, a lot of unknowns and uncertainties that boggle my simple little mind.

To counter act it, sometimes I'll borrow a mantra from Bob Wiley, who went on to become a psychotherapist and author Death Therapy.

I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful. I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful. I feel GOOD. I feel GREAT. I feel WONDERFUL! 

And even though it isn't always true, thinking of this makes me laugh and then I'm half way there.

taking requests

As you might have noticed, in the past month I have dedicated myself to this blog, posting four to five times a week, and it's been a learning experience. By pushing myself to say something even when I didn't think I had anything to say took some serious work and it meant that for a week straight I just posted random youtube videos - sorry about that.

So, I ask you, my devoted reader, if you're out there, what do you want to hear from me? What would you like me to write about? Are you sick and tired of waiting to see pictures of my owl sweater, or could you care less about my silly obsession with knitting?

If you're only here because you're looking for pictures of the Dread Pirate Roberts, you're not alone. You can find that here.

I get hits almost everyday from google searches for the Dread Pirate Roberts and it makes me laugh. On another unrelated note, but having to do with the Princess Bride, my roommates are moving to Guyana where it just so happens, R.U.O.S.s may be a very real thing. We'll hope that's the only danger or the fire swamp that they face in their new home.

Back to my original point, leave your requests in the comments and I will do my best comply.

ch-ch-ch-chu-Chan-ges

Upon moving to DC, I had one primary goal in mind. That goal was to stay in one place for over a year. Ever since I left home to go to law school, I've been bouncing around this glorious country, never able to settle down. For 3 years in a row, I resided in 3 states. That's 3 states in one calendar year, repeated 3 times. Filing for taxes alone was a headache, not to mention all that moving.

When I spent an entire 12 months is Alaska I set a sort of record for myself. But I knew that Alaska and I just weren't meant to be. So I took a lesson from Robert Poste's Child* and resorted to the kindness of relatives. My dear Aunt agreed to put me up while I looked for a job and a place to live. And last October, I quickly found both. So here I am. Living in the same house for more than a year (a year and a week) to be precise and it feels so good.

But change is inevitable and it seems that all of my housemates have decided (for different reasons) that they will be moving out in the next couple months. And that leaves me in the predicament of trying to fill all the rooms in the house or abandon ship like the rest of them. Boo. Just when it was starting to really feeling like home.

Change can be good. Right?


*Have you ever seen the movie Cold Comfort Farm? It is truly a gem and may have a little bit to do with my affinity for biplanes. I tried to read the book, but couldn't get into it. But the whole premise of the story is Flora (recent orphan) decides to live off of relatives, so as learn about real life and get material for the novel she plans to write. She ends up at Cold Comfort Farm and goes about trying to fix everyone's problems (of which there are plenty) and she does. Here's the trailer, complete with biplanes.

 

Miss Representation

I've posted a lot of videos this week but I'm begging you to bear with me because this is something you must see. This is a trailer of a documentary about women in America and how they are mistreated by the media.

Please watch

Go to missrepresentation.org to learn more and find a screening.

it'd take a miracle

As I am still under the employ of the Dread Pirate Roberts, I was delighted to see the photos of the Princess Bride cast reunion in last week's Entertainment Weekly.  

Here's an interview that the cast did on Good Morning America a couple of days ago. 

I love Robin Wright's comment about asking for take 57 and hoping that no one could see her heart pounding. And though I thought that maybe Cary Elwes had gotten a little soft and lost a little of his edge, goodness gracious, by the end of this interview, my heart was pounding too. And can you imagine Andre the Giant's hand covering your head, like a hat? Priceless!

I think that I may be rewatching this movie tonight.

balloon festival

A few weeks ago I went to hot air balloon festival at The Flying Circus in Bealeton,Virginia. Actually we got there late. We watched some of the balloons soar away as we drove and by the time we got there they had all left. But there as still plenty to see*. And they set up a final balloon to give rides to the kids. It was a beautiful evening and at dusk, the balloon was quite spectacular.

It reminded me of the classic movie, Night Crossing. It's the story of a family who escapes East Germany by hot air balloon in 1979. I remember watching it in elementary school. And upon watching it again, I think that it is still quite good and truly a remarkable story. If you have some time, you can watch the whole thing here through youtube. It's been broken up into several parts, but it's pretty easy to follow.

* More on biplanes and the Flying Circus in another post.

the end of a magical era

Tonight, with the release of The Deathly Hallows II, marks the end of an era of sorts. The internet seems to be a buzz with Harry Potter. There are recommendations for post-Potter reads, college courses analyzing Harry Potter and Christian theology and essays outlining the effect of the Potter series as a cultural touchstone to the millennial generation.  

I don't count myself ammong the millenial crowd. I didn't grow up with Harry, Ron and Hermoine. I didn't discover the books 'til college. But they have played a distinct role in the past decade of my life. Prowling for my sister's copy the newest copy, ever ready to swoop in and start reading the moment she put it down. Watching my sister and mother practice the lost of art of reading from different pages of the same book. Begging a less active member to read portions of a newly released book 5 while a missionary in Finland. And later, fresh home from my mission, I curled up with that same book and devoured it.  

I remember the excitement associated with each new book. And I remember how I paced myself though the seventh, savoring the words, knowing it was the last. Now, with the release of the final movie, I revisit that same reluctance to see it end. I know that this final movie will be great - the first half was amazing and I was so excited for part 2. Yet, now that it's here, I don't know if I'm ready for it. Part of me wants to save it for later. I think I'll hold off for a few days and see it with my sisters when I go to Utah next week - it seems only fitting for book that "changed my life".

A little "the Book of Mormon" - Harry Potter mash-up for  your viewing pleasure. 

summer viewing list

Summer is officially here and along with baseball games, snow cones and fireworks, summer is all about movies.  Generally it's all about the Blockbusters but for me, summer makes me all sorts of nostalgic for cheesy 90's movies.  And so I present to you my top five summer movies.

Drum roll please.....

1) Encino Man 

 For the summer days when you feel like giving your brain cells a break, go grab yourself a slurpee (preferably in a cup) and watch this Paulie Shore classic.

2) Joe Versus the Volcano

Tom and Meg's first movie together - it's silly, it's sweet, it's absolutely fabulous!

3) Harriet the Spy

 

Proof that Michelle Trachtenberg has always been awesome. 

I love this movie and it always makes me cry- being a kid is tough!

4) What about Bob?

 

One of the greatest and most quotable moves ever made.  If you can't make it to Lake Winnipesaukee this summer, take a vacation from your problems and watch this. 

5) Empire Records

 This movie totally takes me back to high school.

So there's my summer viewing list.  I may have to kiss and make up with Netflix (of late my laptop refuses to stream from Netflix, so I decided it was time to spend some time apart).  And if I get really ambitious, I may revisit my favorite summer movie from 1994, 

Camp Nowhere

I'm a little nervous to watch this one again as I suspect that it hasn't aged well.  

And I don't know how I'll feel if I can still quote all the lines 15 years later. 

Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning

My new roommate is also a contract attorney, so we've had LOTS to talk about.  She compares it to working for the Dread Pirate Roberts.  

As Wesley tells Buttercup in the Princess Bride, at the end of each day the Dread Pirate Roberts would say: "Goodnight Wesley.  Good work.  Sleep well.  I'll most likely kill you in the morning."  And this went on for years.   

And so it is with contract work.  We go to work everyday with the sure knowledge that it could be our last.  And we're all the more neurotic for it.  

Such was yesterday.  I went to work.  Diligently stared at a computer screen all day.  And at 8pm I got a call from my staffing agency that I'd been cut from the project.  while it was no surprise, it left me rather stunned.  Funny how knowing that something is coming doesn't really take away the sting.  Unemployment is incredibly dissettling. 

I won't miss the project, but I will miss my coworkers and the paycheck.  I really bond to the people I work with everyday - maybe it's the close quarters or maybe it's something to do with misery loving company.  But I can also say that I've made some really good friends that I wouldn't have otherwise gotten the chance to get to know so well, but for working together as contract attorneys.  The people are what make the job bearable.   

On the bright side, I was able to move up my trip back home and now I leave tomorrow!  (Gotta love Southwest - did you know that they'll let you change the dates of your trip after you buy your tickets? Revolutionary idea, right!?) Can't wait to meet my new little niece, Sofie. 

all I want for Christmas

I'm just going to say, this has been a really great Christmas season thus far.  And it's about to get better.  Wednesday morning I'm flying home to Utah for a few days and I'm so excited.   

What I'm looking forward to most:

1) Watching the best Christmas movie ever: "All I want for Christmas" 

 

2) Grandma's Candy Cane Rolls - while Grandma is no longer with us, her recipe still is.  

3) Wearing PJ's all day on Christmas

5) Puzzles and board games

6) Family parties

7) Chillin' with Zoe (the cat)

baby stepping to Christmas

While talking on the phone with my Mom today, I realized that I have exactly a month before I go home for Chirstmas. A month feels like a really long time to wait - here's hoping that the time flies.  

I watched one of my favorite movies this weekend, What About Bob? - an absolute classic (if you haven't seen it, just watch it, it WILL change your life).  So, I'm taking Dr. Leo Marvin's advice and baby stepping. I'm not going to think about the long dark month that looms ahead, I'm going to take it one day at a time, one hour at at time if needs be. And if that doesn't work, there's always death therapy - which was ultimately more effective for Bob.