Impressions and Movies

  Christmas Eve Day:
While some holiday travelers are stranded and I'm wishing them safety and warmth wherever they are, I'm settling down to a quiet evening. There's a little traditional cooking/baking and cleaning to be done, but generally this is the time that I think back and forward--not only about myself, but others, too.

Right now, I'm thinking of movie stars and what images I might use in lieu of Ebert's 2 thumbs up, 5 stars, etc. To some, this might not be a big decision, but as a viewer, most lately Redbox because of its convenience to my locale, I have thoughts/opinions, even if they are not professional.

First of all, I'm ruling out the regular Christmas feel-good stuff.

Here's a few:
1. The Ugly Truth: Katherine overpowered Gerald in acting. Did not get a sense of their chemistry. From P.S. I Love You, I think that balancing his co-stars might be difficult. Also, in that walk with her heels OFF to her door, inside her home, she REMOVES them. If there was a portion where she slips them ON, then I missed that. Someone want to check that?

2. Inglorious Basterds: I had to hunt that DVD down and waited for it. Quentin's Kill Bill 1&2 with Uma are some of my favorite viewing. Poor David Carradine. Sob. Adios, Grasshopper. But back to Basterds: Not for me. I did like Kill Shorty and Pulp Fiction, though.

3. Speaking of Pitt. I've watched him since Thelma and Louise. (So wish we'd see more of Gina Davis now.) Not a fan of Fight Club, but maybe that film draws more men. Did not get him as Achilles. Co-star Time Travler's Wife Eric Bana was super delicious though.

4. Have never gotten Colin Ferrel/Alexander playing opposite Angelina Jolie.

5. Anything Meryl Streep does is usually okay. Mama Mia was great. Looking forward to It's Complicated. Alex Baldwin continues in roles perfect for him, also his Hulu advertisement.

6. Do not know how many times I've watched Fargo, my all time favorite, Don't Cha Know?

More....

  I understand that the prequel to Alien is scheduled for 2011. Sigorny Weaver was super in the progressive Alien, loved the part where she threw her blood against the wall and it burned, hissing. The transition of Aliens with Sigorny have been super. I like this actress and hope she has miles to go in her career.

I question how the Jennifers Aston and Lopez will transition as age comes along. Lopez has a big scope potential and we've seen some of that already. I'd like to see her loosen up in a give-all/dirty-up role like Uma did in Kill Bill.

Sandra Bullock. She's great in whatever. She's one of the actresses that will continue as directors, etc. I've loved her comedy work, Two Weeks, etc., but I think she might be one of the tough-enough actresses to handle her own against Gerald Butler in a gritty role, and draw him more into chemistry. A Mr. and Mrs. Smith role perhaps, where there is an internal man/woman struggle. Or like Thomas Crowne Affair, but not as smooth.

And where is Renee Russo? She's great.

I'd like to see Tom Selleck do more westerns, (loved him in Quiggly Down Under, which I've watched a lot, would also like to see more of his co-star and have no idea why Laura San Giacomo is not featured more) but his contemporary Thin Ice law character Jesse Stone drinks too much coffee.

Speaking of westerns, DuVall of Broken Trail, etc. needs a role in which he can display his legendary tango skills. I like him. Someone write that script, will you?

I haven't seen Avatar yet, the lines are absolutely too long, but it's on my list. Sam Worthington from DownUnder land is definitely on my too-watch list, but not Christian Bale, his former co-star. Okay, I did like Christian in his dragon movie. But I usually like dragon-movies anyway.

Speaking of monsters: Beowulf. It was only okay. Read the epic poem. And while you're at that, read The Olaf Sagas, also epic poetry.

Then there's Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing. What is it about those Australian men? Loved Australia, btw. Best role for Nicole Kidman. And whatever Kate Beckinsale does, though I wonder if she's tiring of Vamps, etc.

Football star T.O. speaks of acting. I hope he makes it in a role perfect for him.

Bruce Willis continues, but personally, I like his dry comedy side, i.e. back to Moonlight series. If you haven't seen his Bandits, do make that a must. So funny.

I'm waiting for Nine. Loved Chicago. The Hangover is on my list. Usually any Clint Eastwood films and he was great in Gran Torino.

Maybe next time I do this, I'll have my 1 to 5 icons in place. I was considering chickens. Any ideas?

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Positives in Downed Economics

  I'm seeing some real positives in our low economy, and one is the return of more family life.

"Game night" is returning. Board games are not that expensive and allow more communication between family and friends. Yahtzee and dominoes, no matter the variation, continue.

Yesterday, I was shopping at an old-fashioned 5 and Dime, Dick's Dimestore in Branson, MO (lots of discount malls in Branson, which hauls in shoppers during the holidays and those drawn to entertainment). Old-time favorites were everywhere, and a whole wall of new games. Chess has all sorts of dimensions now, so do other favorites. Card games are great, rummy or hearts or poker, or Go Fish and Old Lady.

Videos, Wii, etc. are great, but communication and closeness seem to come more from sitting around a board game or playing charades, etc.


Is it possible that today's hardships are drawing families closer, drawing them back into the home for "Game Night". How much fun!

Our family went through some really dark and money-tight times, but we had a $5 dollar allotment for Game Night, which included pop and chips and maybe a movie. Pillows and blankets on the floor, watching a movie or playing a game are still what my adult daughters remember. As a single then, while I was stressing over paying electric and doctor bills, a bad furnace in winter, groceries, they don't remember when our heat went out in February's worst. They remember how much fun we had making-do, lying huddled together beneath an electric blanket. I need to write about some of our trials back then as they were many. But game and movie night (although it was a television movie) was always something they looked forward to with delight. Well, there was the time that we did not have television, which was okay actually as we spent more time together--more games.

I am not very good at games and often got drafted to be a fourth. Easy prey, that's me. But they enjoyed each other and I enjoyed them. There is tremendous power in sitting around, playing board games with your family, big positives like closer relationships that will not be found with electronic games. Simple and cheap and good, that's what a family game night can be.

Sewing and crafts are returning, some families sharing that fun. We can do a lot with a little, if we really put energy into it. You can find some of my sewing and recipes, etc. at My Jam Jar.

Parents are always stressed, but the holidays really apply pressure. If you haven't, try a Family Game Night. You'd be surprised at the communication and relationship growth. Alternate with inviting others in for Game Night and enjoy the relaxing positive.

Simple pleasures, that's my theme during tight economics and stressful times.

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Here Comes Winter

  It was 21 degrees last night, and a wood fire would have felt great. I was too busy to build and tend one and electric served just fine. But that wood stack is ready for emergencies.

I only wanted a little to burn during the holidays when family is gathered around, or myself in the quiet hours before New Years. Yet to get little, I had to buy this stack. Susanne McMinn of WV is learning how to build and tend her home fire, which is interesting. Instead of sticks as kindling, I favor L.L. Bean fatwood as firewood starters. Have to say that during the holidays, a really nice fire does set the mood. So what if it's a little time consuming and a little messy?
  When winter comes, there's a whole list of things that need tending and I'm always certain to keep my car in tip-top, especially with good tread. New tires this year, but I still don't understand why they put the white-walls on the inside. Too hard to keep clean? What's that deal, anyway?


  We haven't had snow yet, but it's coming. I need to get some bird food. Need I say that the squirrels around also get fat? Anyone who has experience with these knows that. Our neighborhood squirrels have a regular path, traversing over the telephone, etc. lines.
  I'm not particularly happy about the starlings either.

I am happy about other things, though, including a Redbox movie on a slow television night, a bunch of books waiting, an audio book--Moning's Kiss of the Highlander was hilarious. The ability to download said books from the library when snow and ice cover the roads is super.

Not a fan of ice either. But winter seems to bring families closer and I'm hearing more about "Board Games", which are good for conversation and friendship. Bring it on, family Yatsee challengers! Monopoly? Boring.

I suppose that's your favorite board game? :)

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Dealing with Hard Times

Today, a friend and I discussed Thrift Shops. They're doing a good job in Missouri and apparently everywhere else.

Years ago, there were fewer, but now most churches, libraries, etc. have them, plus Goodwill and Salvation Army, etc. And there are some tremendous buys.

The photo of a ram with his horn locked in the fence reminds me of people who won't change their position or their spots. In this economy, we're all going to change, of necessity.

Not all people will shop in them, but they are thriving now. My daughter has a regular round of them, preferring a very neat Goodwill in a nice residential district. With growing children, she regularly saves money on clothing and toys.

I happened to love that shop, more for the dishes and cookware. (See My Jam Jar.) I found 3 Hull coffee cups, one given to a friend. Then a little hotpot for travel tea, and a few other things like a giant sautee skillet, stainless steel for $3. That got me started on thrift shops and now I'm addicted.

Each one has a different flavor and/or specialty. Some are neat, others cluttered. I saw the back room of one, donations piled high as a mountain. This because they had so many donations and so little floor space.

One hospital-thrift store is tiny, but always is filled with goodies, i.e. clothing and toys. At that store, I found 5 cups, made in England, and for fun am hunting the matching sixth. I'm a cup/mug hunter, as you can see by the banner's graphic. Each has a special meaning or use. In case you're not a mug/cup specialty user, they are each intended for a job. For instance, if I'm writing, I like one pottery type, tea in another, one for the road (oh, yes, I have different travel mugs, too) and one because it has violets and a topper. Toppers are important. Sometimes they fit other cup/mugs. See? You have to get into this to understand.

A quilter is steadily visiting this shop, picking up new sewing scraps for very little.

A friend who has to live away from home in an apartment a couple of times a year, goes to these stores upon arrival at the new city and set herself up with necessities, leaving them for the next person when she returns home. Now that's an idea.

At one Goodwill, I was surprised at the cars parked out front. You'll see many high end vehicles outside some of these places, the people very well dressed. At others, you'll see working people's cars or vans, but very seldom do you see workmen's trucks. I have no idea why. But the demographic interests me.

In one Goodwill that I haunt, there were 2 used breadmakers, electric skillets, pots, pans, etc. in addition to little girl's gloves and hair ornaments, etc. and lots of new things, perfectly boxed and ready to be giftwrapped. That Goodwill has more new things than used and I got a $3 large black umbrella, perfect for the New York crowd.

They've started carrying cleaning items, much the same as Dollar Stores. As an unhappy sign (my translation), the staggering amount of new goods in these stores reflect some actual store that has gone down. A donation to charity probably helps on tax dollars, I don't know.

With Black Friday beserkers crowding our streets and stores (a little dark pointed view there), I haven't been into the thrift stores in the last few days, either to donate or to shop for very little.

These stores are doing a good job, some with Senior Citizen discount days and others with furniture markdowns, etc., so don't toss, donate.

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Kitten Prices Are Up

  Fall is great for learning experiences. The photo to the left is a "woolly worm" getting ready to spin himself in for the winter.

Yesterday, I took a young lad for a bowling lesson. (He wanted to bowl "by instinct". I wanted him to learn a proper approach, because I bowled and it would serve him well in the long run. I don't know if I got the concept through that lining up his feet on the dots and boards and sighting down the darts on the alley was important. His "instinct" battled my determination. Stay tuned for that one as I would like to try that again with him.

We'd already tested root beer, comparing the brands, as my young friend is apparently able to tell the difference between brown sugar/corn syrup and a blend of either to make a smooth taste. I always enjoy our root beer adventures. He saves the bottles, but this time we were at a drive-through. He'd been wanting to taste this particular brew.
  Then, with time to spare before another designated teen pickup at the theatre, we gassed up ($2.54/gal at 87) and headed to a pet shop.

We made the rounds, puppies always cute, seems to be a multitude of Yorkies. (I'll have to post Arusha's picture some time. 3 lbs worth of silver loving Yorky.) Headed down Fish Alley, where one fish was 89.99. Hey, what's the matter with guppies? But some of them are fascinating.

Then headed out of the store and got caught by the Kitten Cage. So cute, playing with each other, tumbling in their toy chamber, responding to humans who tapped on the glass. Then a woman said, "I've got a fortune in these at my house."

She pointed to a sign. The kittens had been reduced from $200+ to only $169.99. I guess that minus one cent made everything seem a lot cheaper. The sign itemized the cost: base price about $60.

I checked out the kittens. No special breed seemed apparent. Just average kittens you might find in a barn, etc. But the charge list went on: locator chip, vet checkup and spayed/neutered.

Who knew?!

The puppy cages did not have prices. I began to calculate: If kittens were $170, minus that one cent, how much were the puppies?

We moved on to the birds and then the rabbits. One particular cute gray one with long ears was hiding. He'd had enough fondling for the day. I don't blame him.

I'd had enough dollar-shock for the evening and we headed home.

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Fall Foto Time

 
 
 
 
Time for fall travel and taking pictures. I love all the fall festivals, much more than the spring and summer ones. I also take pictures of the countryside's old buildings. In the Ozarks, they are pretty interesting, and many are gone now.

I just saw a TV special on Vermont, etc. and the vivid colors. The Ozarks are pretty good competition for color right now as the leaves are turning. As an artist, I love the colors of gold/orange/reds mixed with greens. Maples are the best subjects as the leaves start turning in one spot. Okay, sassafrass is a close second with gorgeous orange leaves. I have a tree in my back yard. Old timers would dig sassafrass for the roots and make tea from them. Or root beer, whatever. But the dried root was supposed to be a curative.

A digital camera makes everything so easy, especially if photos are used for blogging, etc. I love Picasa3 software for lifting pictures into blogs, such as these. Or emailing to someone, or choosing those to lift to photo makers. It's a very handy program.

Years ago, I started taking pictures of my family's feet, the young ones anyway. I like to image how those little feet will take them through their lives and where they will go. Some people take family pictures of clasped hands and frame them. Very sentimental photos, especially when that loved one passes on.

I also use these pictures over at My Jam Jar, another of my blogs.

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On the Go

 
 
 
I've been so busy lately that this morning my coffee didn't taste right. No wonder. Instead of my fantastic raspberry flavoring, I'd grabbed the vinegar. Now that is toooo busy and time to slow down.

On the go as well as writing (which is my occupation), I spent last weekend at the Missouri Literacy Festival, Springfield MO. On overnight stay to look sharp as a presenter, and long days required choosing one of the many bags gifted to me by my daughter, who has now left the bag business. Sigh. I love these bags, especially the green one, which I stuff for day-trips and have everything I need for all day, water/handcream/makeup/paperwork, etc. I love bags, ones with compartments the best.

Then, there's Alfie. AlphaSmart 3000, which is the best notetaker and a light traveler for quick trips, when you know you don't have time to lug a laptop, etc. Many writers still in love with Alfie, which just does draft text, lights up in a heartbeat and saves automatically. Since it weighs only a lb and runs 750 hrs on 3 AA batteries, it's a quick choice for any waiting room time. Come home, plug it into a computer and clean up and you have no wasted time. I write many of my blog drafts on it while sitting in my easy chair.

Time is always short for me. Add Twitter and Facebook posts, plus my blogs, Daily or Not and My Jam Jar and life is not dull.

I love Fall and plan to take my camera out for the day soon.

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