Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Open the box!
(Thanks, K.!)
New year
Anyway, my family celebrates our holiday early, so I've already gotten my presents, the tree's needles are falling, and I'm reflecting on the past year. 2005 was a good one for me...lots of life lessons learned, some harder than others. I feel blessed in so many ways, but always see room for improvement (the human condition, I suppose). One of my wishes for this next year is to try and take more time to just "be"...a difficult concept for me, at best. I'm a do-er and a move-er and find it difficult to just sit and be. But that will be my project this year...find more ways to "be."
As usual, I have a Christmas Break Movie Orgy planned...there are about 8 movies that are playing right now (or opening soon) that I want to see. I don't think I mentioned that the kids, D., and I saw The Chronicles of Narnia a few weeks back. I thought it was fabulous...the kid actors were all spot on. My kids and I have been reading the books, so it was fun to see the characters come to life on the big screen. The movie got a big thumbs up from all of us.
So, I'll post some movie reviews soon...The Squid and the Whale is the first on my list to see.
What I'm reading right now:
- Surrealist Love Poems, ed. Mary Ann Caws
- Elegy on Toy Piano, Dean Young
What I'm listening to obsessively these days:
What I'm dancing around the house to these days:
- "Feel Good, Inc.," Gorillaz
- "Beverly Hills," Weezer
Monday, December 12, 2005
Danni, the nice one, is the Sole Survivor!
So, I was wrong about Rafe going first; it was Lydia instead. But, that made sense. Even though I really liked Lydia and really respected her game, she was definitely not a physical player. I couldn't even imagine her lasting for long at all in that final immunity challenge.
I have to say that I was a bit shocked when Danni chose Steph over Rafe in the final 2, but again, it definitely made sense for Danni (she had a much better shot at the $1 million with Steph by her side). Plus it made for a MUCH more interesting final Tribal Council, though I thought Judd would go off even more on her. I did like his "well, you'll be starving for my vote!" comment.
So, another Survivor season is over, sigh. I suppose I'll have to pick up a book and actually READ over the Xmas break now! ;-)
Shoutout to my Survivor phone buddy, JM! You rock! :-)
Friday, December 09, 2005
Automotive Tiki Idol!
In ANTM news, the bland midwestern looking girl won. Blah, blah, blah...Kim should've won. When does American Idol start again?
At least we have the Survivor finale to look forward to on Sunday! My sentimental favorite is Danni, just because I like her. I don't think she necessarily "deserves" to win, but she is the finalist who I'd most like to go have a drink with. But, Lydia has been my pick from way back...she's a stealth player who has flown under the radar somehow even with a clear target on her back from week 2. Go, Lydia! She's the real gamer of the bunch. Rafe is like Ian from last season, but with more of a Jesus complex. Steph is just so....Steph. I loved her last season, but she's hard to even like this time around. So, my pick is Lydia (she'll get the "sympathy" vote, much like Sandra from the Pearl Islands season). I think it will be Rafe out first, then Danni, and Steph and Lydia will be in the final 2. But, we'll see what happens, my little chickadees!
PS--I just read my older post about my final 4 being Steph, Rafe, Lydia, and Gary. I was 3 for 4...whoo-hoo!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Who's your daddy now, Judd?
It may have been the biggest betrayal ever since Kelly/Sue from the first season. Should make for an interesting final tribal council if Steph makes it that far (which I think she just might now).
Also, we are saddened in our house by the elimination of Kim and Jayla on ANTM. We're still watching, but we aren't as excited as we were before. We're rooting for Nic now, only because we have to root for SOMEONE. Sheesh.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Survivor/ANTM Update
Ding, dong....Jamie's gone! In a bit of excellent play by the remaining Survivors, they crossed tribal lines to vote Jamie off. I love when this happens! And Bobby Jon's gone, too, so I'm doubly happy. I'm now rooting for Gary (who would've thought he'd end up being the underdog at the beginning? He seemed to have many advantages back then). And I told you that Lydia was a stealth player! Watch out for her....and for Rafe. My final four now is looking to be Lydia, Rafe, Steph, and Gary. That would be awesome! We'll see how it all plays out...
And for ANTM, ding, dong, Lisa's gone! I mean, that bit with the adult diapers? Hello? I did like her spunky attitude, but she quickly went psycho on us. We're rooting for Kim in our house...go, Kim!
The map of missing things
Catching up....Chicken Little was enjoyed by all ages. Loved the disco/dance hits (Spice Girls, Gloria Gaynor, etc.). I'm seriously behind on my movie-watching...hope to catch up over the Xmas holidays. Got 3 new CDs in the mail this weekend: a Chet Baker compilation, a jazz chillout compilation (with an awesome cover of the Doors "Light My Fire" by Julie London), and the Erykah Badu Live CD (finally!). Also, got a CD for my daughter for Xmas, but can't tell you what it is yet. Gotta get on top of the Xmas shopping as we are celebrating our holidays early this year.
Off to the land of my birth (MS) this holiday week. Will post any interesting pictures later.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
These are the people in my NotRepublican neighborhood
For your liberal viewing pleasure today...a little Sesame Street flashback, starring Rov-er, Big Bird Bush, and the other NotRepublicans. Not for the children! (Source: Poplicks.com)
Movie updates: we're going to see Chicken Little this weekend--my son insists that we see it the day it comes out. I'll post a review later.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
More Joyce! And a movie review
Joyce Update #2: And yet still even more about Joyce (click on her picture to the left under the heading "Nice Ladies," and then on her album cover). You can even listen to a snippet of one of her songs at this website, aptly titled "I Get All Excited" (not to be confused with Rick Springfield's "I Get Excited" or the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited). Help, Joyce is taking over my life!
I went to see Prime this past weekend, but I can only give you half a movie review, since I only saw half the movie! It was the strangest thing ever...halfway through the movie in a crucial exchange between Uma Thurman (love interest girl) and the guy (some TV star guy who I've never seen before), they start talking in digitized robot voices. For a second, I thought, "Now this is an interesting transition/effect!" But after another second, it became clear that it was a movie malfunction. I left the theater, told the management about the problem, got my raincheck for another movie, got my daughter and her friend out of the arcade (they had seen The Fog, surprisingly rated PG-13, which they proclaimed to be scary but not too gross). So, I saw most of the movie for free, and I'll get it on Netflix so that I can see the ending. What I did see was okay...the scenes with Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep (plays her therapist) were the best. I didn't really buy the romance between Uma and the TV guy.
Next movie I can't wait to see: Capote. Love, love, love me some Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Karma's a B****, isn't it Karl?
Update: A friend of mine is having a Karl Rove/Scooter Libby cocktail contest. So, submit your recipes and we'll see how creative you can get!
Update #2: Buh-bye, Scooter. Et tu, Karl?
Bad TV confessions
But, there is a new kid on the block, one that I am almost ashamed to admit that I love...America's Next Top Model. There I've said it. But, who wouldn't love Tyra Banks' over-the-top elimination voice? ("8 beautiful girls stand before me....but only 7...can go on...to compete....for the title...of...America's...Next....Top...Model!") And the clothes! And the cat fights! And the fabulously retouched photos! I am ashamed to say that even my 7 year old son is addicted to it. I am saving for his future therapy as we speak.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Top 30
1. Let’s Get it On—Marvin Gaye
2. Stayin’ Alive—Bee Gees
3. Hello, It’s Me—Todd Rundgren
4. Happy Together—The Turtles
5. Hey, Jude--Beatles
6. Suspicious Minds—Elvis Presley
7. Bohemian Rhapsody--Queen
8. Little Red Corvette or Purple Rain--Prince
9. Express Yourself--Madonna
10. Dancing Queen--ABBA
11. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic—The Police
12. Tempted--Squeeze
13. Rock With You—Michael Jackson
14. Superstition—Stevie Wonder
15. Brick House--Commodores
16. That’s the Way of the World—Earth, Wind, and Fire
17. God Only Knows—Beach Boys
18. You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman—Aretha Franklin
19. Peg—Steely Dan
20. Let’s Dance—David Bowie
21. Alison—Elvis Costello
22. Blue Monday—New Order
23. Hot Fun in the Summertime—Sly and the Family Stone
24. Sara Smile—Hall and Oates
25. The Boys are Back in Town—Thin Lizzy
26. Photograph—Def Leppard
27. This Charming Man—The Smiths
28. Talk of the Town—The Pretenders
29. Fly Like an Eagle—Steve Miller Band
30. Avalon—Roxy Music
For those who want to play along, check out Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs and submit your own list!
Thursday, October 13, 2005
And a movie that everyone should see
Hurricane Katrina blew my state away
And I promise to blog more often...don't I always say that? :-)
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Words and Wind
Now, we are concerned about all of our friends and relatives in the path of Hurricane Katrina. This is the one that New Orleans has been worried about for years. I hope that it doesn't turn out to be as bad as it is predicted, but I fear for the worst. Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers tonight as they are on the road or riding out the storm at home...please stay safe.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Flowers in Bloom
We also saw a trailer for Thumbsucker, which looks great (sort of like Igby Goes Down, perhaps?)...I'll definitely go see that when it comes out. You gotta love a movie that has Tilda Swinton and Keanu Reeves and Vince Vaughn in it!
I got a whiff of fall this morning...just faint behind the ears. My favorite season!
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Back in Black
So, I was busy reading 18th century literature, missing my kids (who spent the summer with their dad), listening to the silence, visiting the Clinton Presidential Library for my birthday (see pictures above), attending my 20th HS reunion (now you know how old I am), and thinking of reasons not to write or blog. I need to write now because I have a poetry reading coming up on August 27 at The Frothy Monkey here in Nashville. Kids are back in school, fall has to be right around the corner (please!), and the new season of Survivor should start soon (they are replaying old Survivor seasons on the Outdoor Living Network--Channel 72 in Nashville--and are on Season 2: Australian Outback right now).
I am thankful for many things in my life right now--good friends, being finished with this summer class, my kids being back, living in a city I love. Sometimes I'm scared that I will touch the bubble and it will burst, but then I go read Ashley's blog and laugh or read K's blog and find a nugget of truth. It's all good, people, it's really all good. And that's because we're all here.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
10 Things I Learned on my trip to Washington, DC (with apologies to Ashley!)
10. Driving 667 miles in one day with two children in the car looks like a fine idea on paper. The execution of this idea is another matter entirely.
9. The beltway is 50 miles in circumference--total. Don't miss your exit or you'll find this out like I did.
8. More than all of the cool museums, monuments, and other exciting events he attended, my 7 year old son loved the Metro the most (especially the very long escalator rides down to the platforms!)
7. My favorite athletic team is now the Washington Nationals (Go, Nats!).
6. Sticking your head out of your brother's car's sunroof trying to take a picture of the Capitol at night (see below) will get you some strange looks.
5. It's all about where you park.
4. My daughter is the best peacemaker our family has ever produced...I wouldn't be surprised if she grew up to work for the UN.
3. I know where every bathroom is in the National Air and Space Museum.
2. My brother and sister-in-law win the award for People Who Don't Have Children Yet Are Kid-Friendly
1. There's no place like home!




