Had the chance to watch a few movies in the last few weeks.
Two weekends ago I watched The Secret Life of Bees. Pretty good. I started reading the book shortly afterward and it seems the movie followed the book closely.
Then a group of us had a girls' night and watched My Life in Ruins. Nothing new here, but entertaining enough and chock full of beautiful scenery...I think I need to start planning a trip to Greece.
This past weekend I watched Away We Go. Definitely one of the best movies I've seen recently. It felt really fresh. It was a perspective you don't often see in movies--two people actually in love figuring out life together.
And since I mentioned what I'm reading, I will mention that I'm also reading unChristian, which has been illuminating in a way. I don't agree with everything the book puts forth, but the authors make some excellent points. Finding the actions to go along with the new ways my mind views things will be the challenge.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
So Exciting!
Baseball. Twins. Win. Awesome.
Until about five years ago, I didn't really like baseball. I'm convinced it was the memories of very little me having to amuse myself at the baseball diamond while my older brother played little league--the game itself didn't interest me at the time, but the dirt under the bleachers might have...
Then a different brother started watching Twins games on TV, and since we both still lived at our parents' house I had no choice but to watch (if I wanted to watch anything, of course).
Then I moved close enough to go to games and started going to games.
And now I listen to games on the radio when I can't watch them cause they are too exciting to not pay attention to!
Which leads to tonight's entertainment: a 12-inning nail biter with the outcome of sending the Twins to the postseason in New York. Go Twins!
Until about five years ago, I didn't really like baseball. I'm convinced it was the memories of very little me having to amuse myself at the baseball diamond while my older brother played little league--the game itself didn't interest me at the time, but the dirt under the bleachers might have...
Then a different brother started watching Twins games on TV, and since we both still lived at our parents' house I had no choice but to watch (if I wanted to watch anything, of course).
Then I moved close enough to go to games and started going to games.
And now I listen to games on the radio when I can't watch them cause they are too exciting to not pay attention to!
Which leads to tonight's entertainment: a 12-inning nail biter with the outcome of sending the Twins to the postseason in New York. Go Twins!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
October 4, 2009
What I did today
sleep in
eat
bake muffins
paint
listen to the Twins win (while painting)
listen to Veronica Mars season 2 (while painting)
catch up with friends via email and social networking sites
watch The Secret Lives of Bees
put an offer on a condo
proofread
Great day.
sleep in
eat
bake muffins
paint
listen to the Twins win (while painting)
listen to Veronica Mars season 2 (while painting)
catch up with friends via email and social networking sites
watch The Secret Lives of Bees
put an offer on a condo
proofread
Great day.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
It's Officially Fall
Both by the calendar and by the weather (in MN) it is officially fall now. The leaves are even changing. I like the change...opens up a whole new part of my wardrobe.
So, what's been entertaining me recently? Well, lots actually. First, a few links:
Because, yes, I'm a lover of punctuation. Aren't you?
Seriously, who comes up with this stuff? And yes, I kinda want to go.
This is just fascinating and slightly entrancing.
This next one has a story. I work for a publisher and occasionally have to find a photo for a book. We often use Getty. So I was looking for a photo of a gas station in the 1970s (specifically during the gas shortage) and I get about ten photos with this caption: Clapton in a Jumpsuit. Don't believe me? Try it. Refine by date (1970s) and make sure editorial is checked. Made me laugh, so I thought I would share.
I'm now on season 2 of Battlestar Galactica. But as I'm also watching a few new Fall shows (and a couple of old ones) I'm having trouble finding time. On the lineup: Castle, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother (when I'm home in time), The Good Wife, Glee, The Vampire Diaries, N3mbers, and, well, you get the picture. Been painting too (one for my friend Megan and finishing Bec's) and while doing so rewatched Veronica Mars Season 1. Amazing TV. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
So, what's been entertaining me recently? Well, lots actually. First, a few links:
Because, yes, I'm a lover of punctuation. Aren't you?
Seriously, who comes up with this stuff? And yes, I kinda want to go.
This is just fascinating and slightly entrancing.
This next one has a story. I work for a publisher and occasionally have to find a photo for a book. We often use Getty. So I was looking for a photo of a gas station in the 1970s (specifically during the gas shortage) and I get about ten photos with this caption: Clapton in a Jumpsuit. Don't believe me? Try it. Refine by date (1970s) and make sure editorial is checked. Made me laugh, so I thought I would share.
I'm now on season 2 of Battlestar Galactica. But as I'm also watching a few new Fall shows (and a couple of old ones) I'm having trouble finding time. On the lineup: Castle, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother (when I'm home in time), The Good Wife, Glee, The Vampire Diaries, N3mbers, and, well, you get the picture. Been painting too (one for my friend Megan and finishing Bec's) and while doing so rewatched Veronica Mars Season 1. Amazing TV. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Summer 09
(I'm going to start off pretending like I have been posting all along, cause catching up is mighty daunting seeing as the reason I haven't been posting is that I've been kinda busy...)
Watched 2 movies this last weekend that I had never seen before, but that I had either read the book or watched another version of the story five years ago or so. And with both, I found that my expectations didn't match what was there, but not in positive or negative way, just a different way...that ever happened to you? What I'm trying to say is The Tale of Despereaux and Gypsy were pretty good movies, but the book (by Kate DiCamillo) and the Bette Midler versions (from what I can remember) were way different.
I also did some painting this weekend. I finished a series that I started awhile ago--I finally got around to adding the black outlines to make them look like stained glass. Not perfect, but I'm pretty happy with the result. (Having low expectations of myself helps:)
I also started a set for former roommate Becky (who just moved into her first house; congrats!) I'm trying to put together, with my own unique twist, the art she picked out at a store, the colors she wants to use, and the style she likes. I find this always to be an enjoyable stretching exercise for me. They aren't done yet (just the first step) but I promise to show them once they are.
Update to my summer: I've taken trips to Indiana, Colorado, and Wisconsin already, and will soon be headed to Missouri and later in the summer South Dakota. All of these are planned activities: Indiana was to counsel at a youth conference (great kids, great staff, great program.) Colorado was for a mother/daughter weekend with my mom, aunts, cousin, and some mutual friends--it could also be referred to as Colorado arts weekend as we managed to fit in a play, an arts festival, and a Symphony at Red Rocks in the course of three days. Wisconsin was helping with a youth camp--always fun times. And lets just say "The Next Generation" rocked. Updates on the other trips as they come!
I'm also reading a few books: started the Sookie Stackhouse novels (seriously addictive, I had to make my friend hold onto the next two until I have time to read them), reading another Lauren Willig novel, which so far has been a great addition to the series, and am leisurely making my way through UnChristian. It is a little hard to get into because it brings up a lot of statistics and I'm not used to reading this type of nonfiction, but the information so far has been, let's say needed.
Oh, and I started Battlestar Gallactica a few weeks ago, then had to wait for another disc, and haven't had time to continue. So far, so good.
I've been filling in with Newsweek and Time articles as well as Facebook, Twitter, and the ever-expanding email. Lots of reading, lots of entertainment.
Oh, and when I mentioned trips, I forgot to mention my short travels for two weddings in June. Congratulations to Ross and Jacqueline and Tamar and Nathan. And now, I leave you with this cause I found it entertaining enough to clip out last week.
Watched 2 movies this last weekend that I had never seen before, but that I had either read the book or watched another version of the story five years ago or so. And with both, I found that my expectations didn't match what was there, but not in positive or negative way, just a different way...that ever happened to you? What I'm trying to say is The Tale of Despereaux and Gypsy were pretty good movies, but the book (by Kate DiCamillo) and the Bette Midler versions (from what I can remember) were way different.
I also did some painting this weekend. I finished a series that I started awhile ago--I finally got around to adding the black outlines to make them look like stained glass. Not perfect, but I'm pretty happy with the result. (Having low expectations of myself helps:)
I also started a set for former roommate Becky (who just moved into her first house; congrats!) I'm trying to put together, with my own unique twist, the art she picked out at a store, the colors she wants to use, and the style she likes. I find this always to be an enjoyable stretching exercise for me. They aren't done yet (just the first step) but I promise to show them once they are.
Update to my summer: I've taken trips to Indiana, Colorado, and Wisconsin already, and will soon be headed to Missouri and later in the summer South Dakota. All of these are planned activities: Indiana was to counsel at a youth conference (great kids, great staff, great program.) Colorado was for a mother/daughter weekend with my mom, aunts, cousin, and some mutual friends--it could also be referred to as Colorado arts weekend as we managed to fit in a play, an arts festival, and a Symphony at Red Rocks in the course of three days. Wisconsin was helping with a youth camp--always fun times. And lets just say "The Next Generation" rocked. Updates on the other trips as they come!
I'm also reading a few books: started the Sookie Stackhouse novels (seriously addictive, I had to make my friend hold onto the next two until I have time to read them), reading another Lauren Willig novel, which so far has been a great addition to the series, and am leisurely making my way through UnChristian. It is a little hard to get into because it brings up a lot of statistics and I'm not used to reading this type of nonfiction, but the information so far has been, let's say needed.
Oh, and I started Battlestar Gallactica a few weeks ago, then had to wait for another disc, and haven't had time to continue. So far, so good.
I've been filling in with Newsweek and Time articles as well as Facebook, Twitter, and the ever-expanding email. Lots of reading, lots of entertainment.
Oh, and when I mentioned trips, I forgot to mention my short travels for two weddings in June. Congratulations to Ross and Jacqueline and Tamar and Nathan. And now, I leave you with this cause I found it entertaining enough to clip out last week.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Catcher in the Rye
I forgot something in that last post. And instead of editing it in, I'm giving it its own...I'm about 1/2 way through The Catcher in the Rye and I'm not really getting what all the fuss is about. Maybe it just isn't my thing. Part of my dislike is that I don't appreciate all of the swearing and blaspheming, even though I can understand how using that language tells you about the character and informs the atmosphere of the story.
Anyway, one of my friends mentioned that she had compiled a list of books (I believe it was 100) to read. (I think there was a caveat here, like 100 books to read in the next year, or some such thing, but I don't remember...) She said just compiling the list was challenging and fun; she tried to include books that she was "supposed to have read" in school and classics and popular new novels and nonfiction (I think on that last one.) Oh, and I realize that made it sound like she didn't read what she was supposed to in school, but I think she actually meant books that her schools didn't read that other people's had them read. Anyway, the point of this second paragraph is that The Catcher in the Rye would have been on that list because I feel like this coming of age story would best be read while actually coming of age instead of after you realize how stupid you used to be :)
Anyway, one of my friends mentioned that she had compiled a list of books (I believe it was 100) to read. (I think there was a caveat here, like 100 books to read in the next year, or some such thing, but I don't remember...) She said just compiling the list was challenging and fun; she tried to include books that she was "supposed to have read" in school and classics and popular new novels and nonfiction (I think on that last one.) Oh, and I realize that made it sound like she didn't read what she was supposed to in school, but I think she actually meant books that her schools didn't read that other people's had them read. Anyway, the point of this second paragraph is that The Catcher in the Rye would have been on that list because I feel like this coming of age story would best be read while actually coming of age instead of after you realize how stupid you used to be :)
Negligence pt 2
The negligence continues...life has been busy. And yet, it is one of those things that when people ask me "with what?" I struggle to answer. Bizarre. I guess the short answer is I have a lot of little things to do which fill all the time without being interesting to anyone other than me. Plus I am looking for a condo; although that has been more mental effort than physical effort recently. It sure is stressful. Oh, and work has been busy...
Anyway, new stuff...
I watched Thirteen, Whale Rider, and Spiderman 3 in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, I had to piecemeal the first two. They were both really good movies, albeit Thirteen was hard to watch, especially for someone who wasn't tempted by those vices in junior high, high school, college...or ever. But it was definitely worthwhile to open my eyes to what others go through. Whale Rider was culturally interesting and made me think about gender roles. Spiderman 3 was about what I expected...which wasn't much...and, yes, I did fall asleep and have to rewind.
TV
Lost. Loved the finale. Others were disappointed by the white light and wanted another scene. I thought it was perfect. My favorite part: Rose and Bernard. The writers look at what people want and then give it to them in their own special way. Fabulous.
The rest of my TV watching is pretty much on hold now for the summer. I don't really watch reality TV on a regular basis...
Music
I've been on a crazy music binge recently. (This means I need to stop letting myself go shopping; see above mention of my spending tens of thousands of dollars in the near future...) Top two: Eric Hutchinson and Mat Kearney. I'm very much a mood listener though, so some of the others may pop up to the top in the near future.
Paintings
I painted this for my friends Kate and Rob for their wedding (I hope they like it!) Kate, and now Rob, like to swing dance...
New Things
Trying new things is one of my favorite ways to be entertained (even if I never do it again.) This past weekend, I had the opportunity to play paintball with some friends of mine (and a few people I barely know.) It was very, very fun. And exhausting. And a little painful. Jon or Joel mentioned that the really direct hits aren't quite as painful as getting punched, but pretty close...well, I've never been punched, but now I think I have a good idea of what it feels like. :) I don't think I will feel the need to play very often, but I hope to play again someday. Related note: Nathan, one of the guys I played with, sent this link today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8067908.stm
Read it. It's funny and thought provoking...and the comments that I read were pretty high caliber, which is not always the case...
So, while I haven't been posting much, I have been busy finding entertaining things to share. Doesn't that make it all better?
Anyway, new stuff...
I watched Thirteen, Whale Rider, and Spiderman 3 in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, I had to piecemeal the first two. They were both really good movies, albeit Thirteen was hard to watch, especially for someone who wasn't tempted by those vices in junior high, high school, college...or ever. But it was definitely worthwhile to open my eyes to what others go through. Whale Rider was culturally interesting and made me think about gender roles. Spiderman 3 was about what I expected...which wasn't much...and, yes, I did fall asleep and have to rewind.
TV
Lost. Loved the finale. Others were disappointed by the white light and wanted another scene. I thought it was perfect. My favorite part: Rose and Bernard. The writers look at what people want and then give it to them in their own special way. Fabulous.
The rest of my TV watching is pretty much on hold now for the summer. I don't really watch reality TV on a regular basis...
Music
I've been on a crazy music binge recently. (This means I need to stop letting myself go shopping; see above mention of my spending tens of thousands of dollars in the near future...) Top two: Eric Hutchinson and Mat Kearney. I'm very much a mood listener though, so some of the others may pop up to the top in the near future.
Paintings
I painted this for my friends Kate and Rob for their wedding (I hope they like it!) Kate, and now Rob, like to swing dance...
New Things
Trying new things is one of my favorite ways to be entertained (even if I never do it again.) This past weekend, I had the opportunity to play paintball with some friends of mine (and a few people I barely know.) It was very, very fun. And exhausting. And a little painful. Jon or Joel mentioned that the really direct hits aren't quite as painful as getting punched, but pretty close...well, I've never been punched, but now I think I have a good idea of what it feels like. :) I don't think I will feel the need to play very often, but I hope to play again someday. Related note: Nathan, one of the guys I played with, sent this link today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi
Read it. It's funny and thought provoking...and the comments that I read were pretty high caliber, which is not always the case...
So, while I haven't been posting much, I have been busy finding entertaining things to share. Doesn't that make it all better?
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