in the pages yesterday... (and a perilous short story)

I was supposed to be reading for school. But, well, that just didn't happen. The small amount of time I had for reading yesterday went to The Knife of Never Letting Go. I'm willing to bet that all of you who have read it fully understand why school reading just didn't stand a chance. Anyway, I finished Part II. The pace, which has really been quite fast from the start, has continued gaining momentum. Honestly, to this point, I don't think there has been a single page even bordering on dull.

I'm impressed with Ness's portrayal of Todd. He feels so utterly authentic to me. I was almost happy to read his outburst during this last section. And Manchee...how can you not love Manchee?!! He reminds me so much of Baker. Not in looks. I have Manchee pictured very differently physically than our beagle baby. But in personality...well, I just very much see Baker "speaking" just like Manchee. Of course, this is unfair of me--I can't pretend to really know what goes on in another creature's mind.

*****
Earlier this week, I read another short story, "The Sound Machine," by Roald Dahl. Another winner. With an RIP feel. Not quite scary. Not quite creepy. But definitely unsettling. I have no idea how to talk about it without giving too much away. But it was very interesting, the focus on sound. Which plays such a role in TKONLG. (Yeah, I just love those neat little coincidences.)

*****
Okay, must run. I turned on the TV when I got up to see if my football game was going to be on TV today. But in the process, I saw that all three of the LOTR movies were being played today. One thing led to another, and we decided to spend today and the next two Sunday mornings watching the movies. (Thank you again, Carl!!!) Rich has never seen them, so it will be extra fun getting to watch with him. Of course, the boys will undoubtedly make us take a break part way through for second breakfast. ;)

Happy Sunday, everyone!!!

"Better pull that lip in before you trip on it."

If my dad were here visiting, I suspect that's what he'd say to me right now. Definitely heard those words a time or two or two hundred when I was a kid.

So why am I pouting now? Because Rich and Annie and Gray are all off to the theater to see Coraline. Max and I were supposed to be with them, but Maxidoodle had a rough day and just isn't feeling up to par. We decided we'd better sit this one out, and spend a relaxing evening at home.

Hopefully my lip will be back in position by tomorrow.

out of my comfort zone

Please feel free to make fun of me. But tonight was the first time in almost 17 years that I've been to the theater to watch a movie. It wasn't exactly easy to drag myself in there, but I'm glad I did it. It's not that I was afraid of the whole theater experience or anything; it's just that it drove me bonkers because I couldn't stand to sit still and do "nothing" for that long of a period of time.

Yep, tonight was a real breakthrough. I came, I saw, and I actually enjoyed! I didn't get the slightest bit antsy. I just sat and relaxed...what a concept!

Anyway, I won't review the movie, because frankly, I wouldn't have a clue how. I'm not particularly critical of movies. As long as a movie isn't overwhelmingly boring, I generally enjoy it. But I can say that Inkheart the movie was quite different in many ways from Inkheart the book. But even so, I really did like it quite a lot.

procrastinating

Why I'm putting off reviewing the one book I've actually finished in the last two weeks is beyond me. Just can't seem to work up the brain power. Anyway, this movie meme that's been floating around (and which I saw most recently at Dewey's) seemed like the perfect way to put it off a bit longer. So anyway, here's how it goes:

1. Go to IMDB.com and look up 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Post three or four official IMDB “Plot Keywords” for each.
3. Then, you guys guess the movies (no looking them up!)

#1-asthma, hostage, media circus, pizza delivery (Dog Day Afternoon--guessed by Stephanie)

#2-autumn, corpse, cover-up, painting

#3-eyeglasses, one day, racism, switchblade (12 Angry Men--guessed by Rebecca)

#4-bookstore, revenge, royalty, speedboat

#5-barefoot, Christmas, heist, limousine (Die Hard--guessed by Stephanie)

#6-insanity, novel, sledge hammer, snow (Misery--guessed by Rebecca)

#7-butler, disguise, fog, invitation

#8-epic, eye, horse, mission (Lord of the Rings--guessed by Gail)

#9-cannabis, compulsive liar, confession, conformity (The Breakfast Club--guessed by Rebecca)

#10-cow, decapitation, helicopter, paleontologist

I haven't done very well at knowing anyone else's, but I'll bet more knowledgeable movie buffs will have no trouble with these.

odds 'n' ends of this 'n' that

*A few people wanted to hear what I thought of Sunshine. Well, I can tell you I really loved it! But I must add that I am the worst person to ask for an opinion about a movie. Why? Because I am so easily amused when it comes to movies. I'm not sure why this is so...I'm definitely pickier when it comes to books. Maybe because so much more of my time is invested in a book, as opposed to a movie. Anyway, unless a movie hopelessly bores me, is full of stereotypical immature-middle-school-boy type humor, is excessively gory, or the acting is horrendously atrocious, I'm generally o.k. with it. So, if you're fairly undiscerning like me, maybe my opinion will hold some weight. But if you'd like a real review, I suggest you read Carl's exceptionally well-thought-out, well-written review. It was there that I first heard of the movie, and have wanted to see it ever since.

*After reading The Goose Girl, I knew I had to get my hands on the sequels. But after reading Nymeth's review of Enna Burning yesterday, I knew I had to get my hands on them even sooner. And I did manage to pick up Enna Burning yesterday, though they didn't have River Secrets in stock.

*This recent compulsion to compartmentalize my blogging has led me to start another blog. This one is for our homeschool activities, so probably won't be terribly interesting to anyone but ourselves. :)

*That darn Becky! (Said with a smile on my face, of course.) She went and started another fun challenge, the Initials Reading Challenge. Do you think I could resist? Of course not!

a big old hodgepodge of nothing exciting...

*On slate for the day:
--Finish cleaning this house. (A "must-do" as Annie is having a friend sleep over tonight, and I'd really hate to have her go home and tell her mom what a pig sty we live in.)
--Pick up some odds and ends at the grocery store. (A "must-do" because we'd really like to be able to brush our teeth for the rest of the week.)
--Go to nursery to order flagstone. (A "should-do" before someone breaks an ankle on our crumbling walkway.)
--Make menu for coming week. (A "should-do" as it really does make life easier in the long run.)
--Work some on next year's school prep. (A "should-do" because I'd really like to have as much possible done before school starts, so I'm not constantly trying to stay one step ahead and actually falling two steps behind.)
--Go to Barnes & Noble. (A "just for fun" that needs no explanation.)


*I actually had enough gumption left at the end of the day to go scrapbook for a bit. Threw together a quick zoo layout. Nothing fancy. But then I never get too fancy.



*Carl, a man of apparently limitless generosity, decided to get Annie the extended edition DVDs of the Lord of the Ring trilogy. Yeah, WOW, huh? Actually, he found the first one and sent it to Annie as part of "her prize"...which, of course, he didn't have to do--he just made up the category for her prize after the fact. Anyway, he told me after he'd mailed it that he'd wished he'd got all of the movies for her. And wouldn't you know...yep, he went and did it. Annie and I watched The Fellowship of the Rings. It goes without saying that Annie loved it. What surprised the crap out of me was how much I loved it! I'd never seen the movies or read the books. I honestly just never thought I'd be interested. Wrong! Now I get what all the fuss was about...better late than never, I suppose. And of course, now I can't wait to read the books.

10 on Tuesday

Today's 10 on Tuesday is a tough one for me. It might take me all day to come up with a list...but I'll give it a shot.

*10 Movie Characters You Love*

1. Brian, from The Breakfast Club. He just totally cracks me up!
2. Dick Winters from Band of Brothers. Not sure if this one counts, as he's actually a real person.
3. Bridget Fonda's character in Lake Placid. Can't believe I cannot think of her name...seen that movie probably close to 10 times.
4. Tom Cullen and
5. Stu Redman and
6. Nick Andros from The Stand. Seems like cheating to choose 3 characters from the same movie...but I do love them all. We're currently in the midst of watching this movie again. And The Stand is my all time favorite book.

----This is getting very hard now. I'm drawing a blank.

7. Gray Grantham from The Pelican Brief.

----Aaaaaa. This is driving me crazy. My brain is simply not functioning this morning.

8. Jack Ryan from A Clear and Present Danger (and the others, I suppose). Probably just have him on my radar because I'm reading Executive Orders.
9. King from Cars. Yep...I'm really stretching it now, choosing a car, huh?
10. Nala from Lion King. If a car will do, why not a lion, right?

Geez--I sure hope next week's is easier! Of course, I'll bet when I read everyone else's lists, I'll think "Why didn't I think of him?!!" a few dozen times.

the week in review

*Winter FINALLY arrived this week. After the ice storm Sunday night/Monday morning, we finally got some snow. About 4" Monday night...on top of the ice, of course. Then we've had 1-2" daily since. It's about time! I was beginning to feel like we'd been secretly transplanted to another part of the world. Still waiting for a nice big dumping though.

*A few accomplishments:
--Menu plan success. May be the first time in history when I actually managed to follow my plan to a tee. We usually have something screw up at least a night or two. Felt so good to be so organized. Unfortunately, Rich messed things up for the coming week. Before I had a chance to make a menu and grocery list, he went to the store and picked up a bunch of stuff. So now I'm back to throwing things together again. Guess I'll have to get on the planning earlier to avoid such mishaps again. Because it really was nice to not be scrambling around each night wondering what to make.
--Finally had that baseline mammogram. Thanks so much to all who wrote and reassured me of how easy it was! You were all so right. Geez--there's really nothing to it, is there?
--Managed to get Annie's 2nd quarter progress report written yesterday. Took 11+ hours, but it's now done. What a pain!

*I realized I watched a ton of movies this past week. Can't remember when I've ever managed to watch so many movies in a week's time (except during bed rest, that is). Mostly, I watched them between 4:00am and 6:00 when everyone else is still in bed. (I like to get up then, so I can work on lesson plans and the like without constant interruptions.) Did watch 2 with the kids, too. And frankly, they were the best ones. Most of the others came from my brother...each Christmas he gives Rich and I a huge box of movies-some he's taped, some he buys used. We have literally hundreds of movies we haven't watched yet. Anyway, here's the run-down:
--Nanny McPhee (not spectacular, but I enjoyed it)
--Irreconcilable Differences (okay)
--The Babysitter's Seduction (definitely not mentally stimulating, but I enjoy these made-for-TV type movies)
--Some Girl (weird, can't decide if I liked it or not)
--Appointment for a Killing (another made-for-TV type crime movie)
--Hoot (I know it got lousy reviews, but we all enjoyed it)

And that about sums up my week.