My Netflix list is about 200 movies long, and the Netflix website is SUPER slow. I get on there when a movie I wanted to see in the theater but didn't because I just couldn't justify paying a babysitter plus the 8 bucks for the ticket because it wasn't a "big screen" necessity comes out on DVD. Did you follow that? I put that DVD at the top of my queue, and while I'm there, bump a few others I'm in the mood to watch up there as well. So if I don't get on there for a while, I get a surprise in the mail! This week I was surprised with "The Mayor of Casterbridge," starring Ciaran Hinds. I read the book when I was 19 or 20, so my memory of the story was a bit hazy, but I remembered liking it a lot. I didn't have high expectations for the miniseries, despite the cast, because it was made for TV and no one had told me anything about it at all. I was captivated from the opening scene to the final credits. The music, the cinematography (sp?), and the acting came together to tell Thomas Hardy's story in a miniseries that was moving and beautiful.
The story opens with a young couple and small baby arriving at a market day fair. They stop in a tent for a meal, which ends up being a sort of soup, which, for a little extra cash, can be laced with rum. The husband drinks bowl after bowl of laced soup, and ends up auctioning off his wife and baby to a passing sailor. 20 years later, that wife and daughter appear at the same fair, inquiring after Michael Henchard, who has become mayor of Casterbridge, has kept a vow of temperance for 20 years, and is the richest and most successful corn merchant in the county. They are reunited, but keep his shameful past a secret from the town. However, his pride and stubborness reappear after a business rival arrives in town, and their lives are all affected by his selfish choices.
Thomas Hardy's specialty is finding a character flaw, in this case, pride, and illustrating how that flaw can lead to the ruin of relationships and a downward spiral of self worth. Henchard is described as a large, brooding, serious and sometimes dangerous man, and Ciaran Hinds embodies all of these characteristics in this production. Donald Farfrae, Henchard's Scottish rival, is played by James Purefoy (also seen in A Knight's Tale as the Prince). I enjoyed his acting, which was perfect, but I was also hypnotized by his Scottish accent. The rest of the cast was also great, although I think they could have done a bit better in casting Elizabeth Jane. She looked like she was on the brink of tears the entire movie. I know it's a tragic story, but there are happy parts, too.
The movie stayed true to the novel, which I found refreshing. Hardy's novels include so much description that anyone wanting to know details for costuming, casting, geography and dialogue can simply read the book and have all the information they need to make a good movie. It's amazing how rarely that actually happens. It was wonderful to watch a movie and think, "This is exactly how I pictured this when I read the book." The music was beautiful, and, more importantly, added to the movie, and didn't distract from the storytelling. (Have you seen Ladyhawke? Because that is an example of really bad music. Electric guitar while running towards a castle? Really?)
I highly recommend this one. I must warn you, though. It does not have a happy ending. It is not a good one to watch if you're depressed. It will make you cry like a little girl. But it is an excellent story and worth the emotional rollercoaster.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
10 Must See Movies
Due to the incessent rain, I've spent a lot of time watching TV. There really isn't that much on right now. There are only so many episodes of Designed to Sell I can watch before I get bored with taupe paint and neutral drapes. And yes, there is always Wipeout, but it's only on once a week, so for the other 6 days, I'm out. I guessing I'm not alone in feeling this way. This is why I'm doing a list of my favorite movies for a rainy day. I'm keeping the list to 10, or this post would never be finished. These are my opinions, and, since everyone is entitled to their own opinions and tastes, you can ignore this list, or you can give these a try. I'm doing a countdown format, with my favorite at #1.
#10 Napoleon Dynamite Has the rain got you down? Are you feeling a little low? Do you need a good laugh? Or do you just need to reminisce about what you wore in high school? Take a ride with a true geek--awkward and loveable at the same time.
#9 X-Men Any of the movies will do. Who couldn't use a little Hugh Jackman in their life? Totally escapist fun.
#8 Return to Me I'm a cry baby. This movie makes me cry. But sometimes, on a cloudy day, a movie that brings out the tears is just the catharsis I need. And I only cry at the beginning and the end. The rest is funny and sweet and clean. It's like a little spot of sunshine in my gloomy day.
#7 The Office I know this is really a TV show, and not a movie, but it is as good as any movie out there, and if you have a chance, you should start from season 1 and watch all the seasons that are on DVD. I think the next season will be out very soon. Loads of laughs.
#6 Horatio Hornblower Ioan Gruffold has made it big these days as that guy in Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic?), but he started out in this series about a young officer that slowly finds his confidence in the British Royal Navy. There is a lot of sailor jargon (Aye aye cap'n!) and swashbuckling adventure. I think there are 8 different adventures altogether. Each one has a beginning and an end, so if you don't have 8 hours to sit around, you can watch one at a time and still feel satisfied.
#5 Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure I have suggested this at movie night time after time, and I just keep getting shot down! It may look goofy, ridiculous, immature, and downright silly, but that's because it is. And that's why it makes my rainy day list. There is nothing to think too hard about, or cry about, or talk about. It's about 2 guys who are failing history, are given one last chance to redeem themselves and save Ted from military school, and are given a phone booth time machine so they can pass history and save the world through their rock band, Wyld Stallions. I find it hilarious. And it's Keanu Reeves' finest work. After my dad saw this (which he laughed at, and he's a tough critic), he finally got why we kept saying, "Whoa" when we saw Keanu in other movies.
#4 Strictly Ballroom I love love love this movie. Take a clumsy, shy, bespectacled girl with bad skin and a smooth, fancy ballroom champion, put them together, and you've got a show. The flamboyant costumes, the clever dialogue (which is all extremely quotable, especially at ballroom competitions), the excellent acting and the sport of champions, and you have the perfect movie for a grey day.
#3 Lord of the Rings Pick one, any one. But maybe start at the beginning. Even if you're not a nerd like me, these are loads of fun. What's not to love about hobbits? And if you haven't seen these, you really should, just so you know what people are talking about. They're fantastic. And you can watch them with the spouse, because they appeal to both boys and girls.
#2 Pride and Prejudice, starring Colin Firth. If you haven't seen this one yet, please come borrow it from me. Yes, it's 5 hours long, but it's raining anyway, so you might as well watch something good and enjoy it! Great story, great romance, piano scene piano scene piano scene.
#1 North and South, starring Richard Armitage. Don't confuse this with the Civil War drama. This is a BBC production, it's British, and it's a period film. The best way I can describe it is a combination of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. A young woman and her frail mother are uprooted by her father from their idyllic home in the south of England, where it's lush and green and beautiful, to the north, to an industrial town, full of smoke and soot and unhappy laborers. She becomes wrapped up in the union's struggle against the mill bosses, and romance and drama ensue. This is my #1 for a few reasons: 1) Richard Armitage 2) It's very well made, and long enough to get you through the rotten weather, and 3) Richard Armitage.
I own all of these movies, and if you are interested, pop by and borrow them. If not, what are your favorite rainy day movies? I can always welcome another good movie into my life!
#10 Napoleon Dynamite Has the rain got you down? Are you feeling a little low? Do you need a good laugh? Or do you just need to reminisce about what you wore in high school? Take a ride with a true geek--awkward and loveable at the same time.
#9 X-Men Any of the movies will do. Who couldn't use a little Hugh Jackman in their life? Totally escapist fun.
#8 Return to Me I'm a cry baby. This movie makes me cry. But sometimes, on a cloudy day, a movie that brings out the tears is just the catharsis I need. And I only cry at the beginning and the end. The rest is funny and sweet and clean. It's like a little spot of sunshine in my gloomy day.
#7 The Office I know this is really a TV show, and not a movie, but it is as good as any movie out there, and if you have a chance, you should start from season 1 and watch all the seasons that are on DVD. I think the next season will be out very soon. Loads of laughs.
#6 Horatio Hornblower Ioan Gruffold has made it big these days as that guy in Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic?), but he started out in this series about a young officer that slowly finds his confidence in the British Royal Navy. There is a lot of sailor jargon (Aye aye cap'n!) and swashbuckling adventure. I think there are 8 different adventures altogether. Each one has a beginning and an end, so if you don't have 8 hours to sit around, you can watch one at a time and still feel satisfied.
#5 Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure I have suggested this at movie night time after time, and I just keep getting shot down! It may look goofy, ridiculous, immature, and downright silly, but that's because it is. And that's why it makes my rainy day list. There is nothing to think too hard about, or cry about, or talk about. It's about 2 guys who are failing history, are given one last chance to redeem themselves and save Ted from military school, and are given a phone booth time machine so they can pass history and save the world through their rock band, Wyld Stallions. I find it hilarious. And it's Keanu Reeves' finest work. After my dad saw this (which he laughed at, and he's a tough critic), he finally got why we kept saying, "Whoa" when we saw Keanu in other movies.
#4 Strictly Ballroom I love love love this movie. Take a clumsy, shy, bespectacled girl with bad skin and a smooth, fancy ballroom champion, put them together, and you've got a show. The flamboyant costumes, the clever dialogue (which is all extremely quotable, especially at ballroom competitions), the excellent acting and the sport of champions, and you have the perfect movie for a grey day.
#3 Lord of the Rings Pick one, any one. But maybe start at the beginning. Even if you're not a nerd like me, these are loads of fun. What's not to love about hobbits? And if you haven't seen these, you really should, just so you know what people are talking about. They're fantastic. And you can watch them with the spouse, because they appeal to both boys and girls.
#2 Pride and Prejudice, starring Colin Firth. If you haven't seen this one yet, please come borrow it from me. Yes, it's 5 hours long, but it's raining anyway, so you might as well watch something good and enjoy it! Great story, great romance, piano scene piano scene piano scene.
#1 North and South, starring Richard Armitage. Don't confuse this with the Civil War drama. This is a BBC production, it's British, and it's a period film. The best way I can describe it is a combination of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. A young woman and her frail mother are uprooted by her father from their idyllic home in the south of England, where it's lush and green and beautiful, to the north, to an industrial town, full of smoke and soot and unhappy laborers. She becomes wrapped up in the union's struggle against the mill bosses, and romance and drama ensue. This is my #1 for a few reasons: 1) Richard Armitage 2) It's very well made, and long enough to get you through the rotten weather, and 3) Richard Armitage.
I own all of these movies, and if you are interested, pop by and borrow them. If not, what are your favorite rainy day movies? I can always welcome another good movie into my life!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Laughing Out Loud
Announcement: I have found the cure for a blue day.
I was feeling a little low today. Little things were getting me down (my pants were too tight, my hair looked super bad, blah blah blah). Now, I enjoy a funny show as much as the next person. I laugh at funny shows, but seldom do I laugh out loud. Just little tee hees. I don't find America's Funniest Home Videos remotely amusing, because I really don't think watching 8 kids in a row hit their dad/grandpa/coach in the crotch with a baseball bat is much to laugh at. Maybe because I'm not a 7-year-old boy. So you would think that I wouldn't find people falling into the water after running as fast as they can towards a giant bouncy ball that is floating on the water funny at all. But there is something about the TV show Wipeout that makes me laugh out loud. Not just a little. I mean, hysterical laughter. Imagine a really macho guy, dressed in a life vest and a helmet, beating his chest and telling the lady with the microphone how easy it will be to jump from one swinging giant banana to the next. He will NEVER fall in the mud!!! 5 seconds later, he has jumped onto the first giant swinging banana, slipped off the front, hit the second one, hit the first one again, folded in half, and landed directly in the mud below. It is hilarious. From giant swinging bananas to giant blue bouncy balls to enormous water noodles swinging in a circle, it's one disaster after another that always results in spectacular splashing crashes. So, if you're feeling a little blue, set your DVR to Wipeout. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Okay, they're about to do the Wipeout zone. Time to go.
I was feeling a little low today. Little things were getting me down (my pants were too tight, my hair looked super bad, blah blah blah). Now, I enjoy a funny show as much as the next person. I laugh at funny shows, but seldom do I laugh out loud. Just little tee hees. I don't find America's Funniest Home Videos remotely amusing, because I really don't think watching 8 kids in a row hit their dad/grandpa/coach in the crotch with a baseball bat is much to laugh at. Maybe because I'm not a 7-year-old boy. So you would think that I wouldn't find people falling into the water after running as fast as they can towards a giant bouncy ball that is floating on the water funny at all. But there is something about the TV show Wipeout that makes me laugh out loud. Not just a little. I mean, hysterical laughter. Imagine a really macho guy, dressed in a life vest and a helmet, beating his chest and telling the lady with the microphone how easy it will be to jump from one swinging giant banana to the next. He will NEVER fall in the mud!!! 5 seconds later, he has jumped onto the first giant swinging banana, slipped off the front, hit the second one, hit the first one again, folded in half, and landed directly in the mud below. It is hilarious. From giant swinging bananas to giant blue bouncy balls to enormous water noodles swinging in a circle, it's one disaster after another that always results in spectacular splashing crashes. So, if you're feeling a little blue, set your DVR to Wipeout. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Okay, they're about to do the Wipeout zone. Time to go.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Rundown on the Roomba
What I don't like about the Roomba:
1. It doesn't put toys away for me.
2. It doesn't do stairs.
3. It doesn't paint my toenails.
4. Sometimes it gets a little confused when it gets in a corner or under a chair, and needs a little nudge in the right direction.
5. It takes a long time to clean a room, so you have to plan your use of the room around that.
What I do like about the Roomba:
1. It vacuums my floors when I push the Start button.
2. It's easy to empty and clean. The brushes come right out and it came with a brush cleaner that really gets the nitty gritty out. (So my husband tells me--he has been spending the most time with this activity.)
3. It cleans under the changing table and crib, the armchairs, the beds, and the tables, and I don't have to move a thing.
4. It returns to its charging dock when it finishes cleaning and juices up for the next job.
5. It actually gets the floors clean. It's not just a fancy show that leaves half the dirt still in the carpet. I know this because when we emptied the canister, half of it was fluff from the cheap carpet.
6. It comes with "lighthouse technology," which means you stick a little tower thingy at the edge of one room, and it will clean that room. When it's done with that room, it moves on to the next room and cleans it. When that's done, it heads right to the dock. The lighthouse can also be used as a wall, so if you have a great room, but only want to vacuum the kitchen section, you can put the tower at the edge and it treats the signal as a wall and stays in the kitchen.
7. It only cost $150, because of a deal we got on woot.com. I would recommend going that route, since they are usually around $300. If you are like us, and have a LOT of carpet, this is worth every penny.
8. It entertains both my 4-year-old and my 8-month-old for hours at a time.
Don't forget to vote in the poll, if you haven't already. No votes for Edward Cullen? Really?
1. It doesn't put toys away for me.
2. It doesn't do stairs.
3. It doesn't paint my toenails.
4. Sometimes it gets a little confused when it gets in a corner or under a chair, and needs a little nudge in the right direction.
5. It takes a long time to clean a room, so you have to plan your use of the room around that.
What I do like about the Roomba:
1. It vacuums my floors when I push the Start button.
2. It's easy to empty and clean. The brushes come right out and it came with a brush cleaner that really gets the nitty gritty out. (So my husband tells me--he has been spending the most time with this activity.)
3. It cleans under the changing table and crib, the armchairs, the beds, and the tables, and I don't have to move a thing.
4. It returns to its charging dock when it finishes cleaning and juices up for the next job.
5. It actually gets the floors clean. It's not just a fancy show that leaves half the dirt still in the carpet. I know this because when we emptied the canister, half of it was fluff from the cheap carpet.
6. It comes with "lighthouse technology," which means you stick a little tower thingy at the edge of one room, and it will clean that room. When it's done with that room, it moves on to the next room and cleans it. When that's done, it heads right to the dock. The lighthouse can also be used as a wall, so if you have a great room, but only want to vacuum the kitchen section, you can put the tower at the edge and it treats the signal as a wall and stays in the kitchen.
7. It only cost $150, because of a deal we got on woot.com. I would recommend going that route, since they are usually around $300. If you are like us, and have a LOT of carpet, this is worth every penny.
8. It entertains both my 4-year-old and my 8-month-old for hours at a time.
Don't forget to vote in the poll, if you haven't already. No votes for Edward Cullen? Really?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Housekeeping for dummies
I swear I'm not trying to copy my sister-in-law, Rachel (I know a lot of Rachels). Okay, I may be copying her a little. She did a post a few months back about how excited she was about getting a Roomba. This is a Roomba:
I saw her post and thought, Oh, that's nice. I hope it works out for her. Then I sort of forgot about it. We went to visit her and my brother last weekend, and I saw the Roomba in action. My life was changed. The world opened up to me. I was transported into a land of flying cars and hovercrafts. A land where robots do the housekeeping and modern women get to sit around on their tiny laptops and blog while their floors become magically clean. Conveniently, our Eureka Boss is living out it's final days, with a hole in the hose, unbearable noise and a handle you actually have to use to PUSH the vacuum around! So, after a tip from Rachel that there was a deal on the Roomba on woot.com, I ordered one. Today I have been tracking my Roomba every 5 minutes, waiting for it to arrive on my porch. I have been imagining all week, since I ordered it, what I could do with the time I usually spend vacuuming. This is ridiculous, since Tim is actually the one that does the vacuuming at our house, and it won't change how I spend my time. The difference is that the floors will already be clean when Tim gets home, and instead of him spending his evenings vacuuming so Tyler won't eat grass that Jacob tracked in from the yard, we can play the Wii or go on a walk. I say that's money well spent. Plus, it's cool. Stephen and Rachel named their Roomba. I think I'd like to do the same. I'm going to copy Rachel yet again, and do a poll for what we should name our new toy. Please vote. Now I'm going to check the tracking again and see if the location has changed in the last few minutes.
P.S. Please think hard about the names I have listed. Jaws: Mr. Mom. Broomhilda: a large German woman that sweeps floors. Edward Cullen: vampires suck (and I mean that in the nicest possible way). Lancelot: my knight in shining armor. Really. The Roomba we got is shiny and silver.
P.P.S. I didn't have the energy to do an entire post about it, but is anyone else super pumped about the new season of So You Think You Can Dance?
I saw her post and thought, Oh, that's nice. I hope it works out for her. Then I sort of forgot about it. We went to visit her and my brother last weekend, and I saw the Roomba in action. My life was changed. The world opened up to me. I was transported into a land of flying cars and hovercrafts. A land where robots do the housekeeping and modern women get to sit around on their tiny laptops and blog while their floors become magically clean. Conveniently, our Eureka Boss is living out it's final days, with a hole in the hose, unbearable noise and a handle you actually have to use to PUSH the vacuum around! So, after a tip from Rachel that there was a deal on the Roomba on woot.com, I ordered one. Today I have been tracking my Roomba every 5 minutes, waiting for it to arrive on my porch. I have been imagining all week, since I ordered it, what I could do with the time I usually spend vacuuming. This is ridiculous, since Tim is actually the one that does the vacuuming at our house, and it won't change how I spend my time. The difference is that the floors will already be clean when Tim gets home, and instead of him spending his evenings vacuuming so Tyler won't eat grass that Jacob tracked in from the yard, we can play the Wii or go on a walk. I say that's money well spent. Plus, it's cool. Stephen and Rachel named their Roomba. I think I'd like to do the same. I'm going to copy Rachel yet again, and do a poll for what we should name our new toy. Please vote. Now I'm going to check the tracking again and see if the location has changed in the last few minutes.P.S. Please think hard about the names I have listed. Jaws: Mr. Mom. Broomhilda: a large German woman that sweeps floors. Edward Cullen: vampires suck (and I mean that in the nicest possible way). Lancelot: my knight in shining armor. Really. The Roomba we got is shiny and silver.
P.P.S. I didn't have the energy to do an entire post about it, but is anyone else super pumped about the new season of So You Think You Can Dance?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Reality Wrap-up
As you all know, I'm a bit of a reality TV junkie. I have been glued to my favorites in the past few weeks, just waiting to see who would get the mirror ball trophy, the Cover Girl contract, and the Kiss of Death recording contract. So, here's my take on all the outcomes, for anyone who also cares.
America's Next Top Model This will be brief. The doe-eyed blondie really suprised me when she pulled out a good runway walk in the finale. I think they must have chosen her worst walking moments when they were editing the show so we would all be stunned by the fact that she could walk in heels with sass. Tiyana (is that how it's spelled?), who looks a bit alien, or, as the judges put it, "wind in the face," ended up winning it all. Good for her. Her pictures were consistently good, she had a tiny waist and was 7 feet tall. But her walk was BOOOOOORING. Not at all sassy. I am looking forward to the next season, which is short models only (5'7" and under). Why didn't I try out for it? I didn't want to upstage Tyra.
Dancing With The Stars My favorite moments from the finale:
1. The Roast, which made everyone look angry and hurt, because it really wasn't all that funny, and made it awkward for the next little while. Who thought it was a good idea to sit down the finalists and insult them right before their final dance? The comments Geoffrey Ross made to Tom Bergeron fell especially flat. I have never seen Tom look so put out or unjolly.
2. Steve Wozniak's attempt at the worm, AGAIN. He couldn't do it the first time. It was cruel to ask him to repeat himself. And it was much much worse the second time. Poor nerdy man. He is so cheerful about it all, and a bit oblivious, too.
3. The fact that all 3 dancers in the finale were good. I think Shawn Johnson totally redeemed herself in the last 2 weeks. And you know it's going to be a winning freestyle when they rip off their outer costume layer to reveal lots of sequins and fringe. The flashdance thing was fun, if only for the combination of a hot man and catchy music. For me, what I liked about Melissa's was that Tony was doing hip hop, and seems like a pretty laced-up guy. Shawn totally won that round.
The outcome was surprising to me, but after Geoffrey Ross' comment about Melissa coming in 2nd again, I was actually glad that she got 3rd instead of 2nd. I really wanted her to get 1st place so she'd be known as the girl who won DWTS, and not the chick that got dumped on national television. Oh well. She'll be just fine. It would have been nice for Gilles to win so he could be known as the DWTS winner and not Naked Guy from Sex and the City. Oh well. He'll be getting more work now. Shawn Johnson is short and peppy and cute, so good for her.
American Idol So, who do you choose? Super talent or humble folksy guy? The thing is, winning American Idol doesn't mean that much. They get to make an album of songs that were chosen by AI's producer, most of which are cheesy and lame and never make it to the radio. They get the talk show circuit. And they get a really nifty microphone trophy (they were jealous of DWTS). Winning second place means a label will sign you, you can choose your songs or even write them yourself, you still get the talk show circuit, and you are free from Idol forever. Downside: No cool trophy. I think the outcome of this season was actually quite ideal. Kris is somewhat shy, young and humble. He doesn't seem like the type that will put a huge effort into his career by selling himself. So American Idol will do it for him. Adam Lambert is flashy, showy, dramatic, and extremely sure of himself as an artist. He'll get a record deal, record songs that are perfect for his fans, and make a gazillion dollars. They both win. I liked Kris' reaction to his win. He was surprised, humble, and very pleased.
You may have noticed that I don't have a nice long post about the outcome of Biggest Loser. That's because Helen won, and she sent her own daughter home, she was annoying and whiny, and looked like she'd been starving herself to win (haggard and pale). I wanted Mikey to win. Good job to the old guy, Jerry, for destroying the competition at home. That's all I have to say.
Coming up this summer: So You Think You Can Dance and the Bachelorette. Yes!
America's Next Top Model This will be brief. The doe-eyed blondie really suprised me when she pulled out a good runway walk in the finale. I think they must have chosen her worst walking moments when they were editing the show so we would all be stunned by the fact that she could walk in heels with sass. Tiyana (is that how it's spelled?), who looks a bit alien, or, as the judges put it, "wind in the face," ended up winning it all. Good for her. Her pictures were consistently good, she had a tiny waist and was 7 feet tall. But her walk was BOOOOOORING. Not at all sassy. I am looking forward to the next season, which is short models only (5'7" and under). Why didn't I try out for it? I didn't want to upstage Tyra.
Dancing With The Stars My favorite moments from the finale:
1. The Roast, which made everyone look angry and hurt, because it really wasn't all that funny, and made it awkward for the next little while. Who thought it was a good idea to sit down the finalists and insult them right before their final dance? The comments Geoffrey Ross made to Tom Bergeron fell especially flat. I have never seen Tom look so put out or unjolly.
2. Steve Wozniak's attempt at the worm, AGAIN. He couldn't do it the first time. It was cruel to ask him to repeat himself. And it was much much worse the second time. Poor nerdy man. He is so cheerful about it all, and a bit oblivious, too.
3. The fact that all 3 dancers in the finale were good. I think Shawn Johnson totally redeemed herself in the last 2 weeks. And you know it's going to be a winning freestyle when they rip off their outer costume layer to reveal lots of sequins and fringe. The flashdance thing was fun, if only for the combination of a hot man and catchy music. For me, what I liked about Melissa's was that Tony was doing hip hop, and seems like a pretty laced-up guy. Shawn totally won that round.
The outcome was surprising to me, but after Geoffrey Ross' comment about Melissa coming in 2nd again, I was actually glad that she got 3rd instead of 2nd. I really wanted her to get 1st place so she'd be known as the girl who won DWTS, and not the chick that got dumped on national television. Oh well. She'll be just fine. It would have been nice for Gilles to win so he could be known as the DWTS winner and not Naked Guy from Sex and the City. Oh well. He'll be getting more work now. Shawn Johnson is short and peppy and cute, so good for her.
American Idol So, who do you choose? Super talent or humble folksy guy? The thing is, winning American Idol doesn't mean that much. They get to make an album of songs that were chosen by AI's producer, most of which are cheesy and lame and never make it to the radio. They get the talk show circuit. And they get a really nifty microphone trophy (they were jealous of DWTS). Winning second place means a label will sign you, you can choose your songs or even write them yourself, you still get the talk show circuit, and you are free from Idol forever. Downside: No cool trophy. I think the outcome of this season was actually quite ideal. Kris is somewhat shy, young and humble. He doesn't seem like the type that will put a huge effort into his career by selling himself. So American Idol will do it for him. Adam Lambert is flashy, showy, dramatic, and extremely sure of himself as an artist. He'll get a record deal, record songs that are perfect for his fans, and make a gazillion dollars. They both win. I liked Kris' reaction to his win. He was surprised, humble, and very pleased.
You may have noticed that I don't have a nice long post about the outcome of Biggest Loser. That's because Helen won, and she sent her own daughter home, she was annoying and whiny, and looked like she'd been starving herself to win (haggard and pale). I wanted Mikey to win. Good job to the old guy, Jerry, for destroying the competition at home. That's all I have to say.
Coming up this summer: So You Think You Can Dance and the Bachelorette. Yes!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Getting My Brain's Groove Back
I have a couple of friends whose blogs are always extremely intelligent and witty, and I don't think it's a coincidence that both of them are avid readers (links to their blogs are listed on the right). After my pathetic post about my fuzzy brain, I decided I was going to make an effort to reawaken my rusty brain by following their examples and reading books that require some thought. I love that our library has a website that allows you to find a book and request it from any of the libraries in the county. I think this is pretty standard these days, but I never truly appreciated it until I started dragging two kids into the library, grabbing little hands that were ripping books off the shelves, hauling a heavy baby carrier behind me down narrow aisles of books, only to find that the book that was supposed to be on the shelf was nowhere to be found. It's glorious to walk up to the desk and have all the books my heart desires in 2 minutes. So when I read Jenny's review for "The Little Giant of Aberdeen County," I requested it immediately. While I was on her blog (Red Hot Eyebrows), I scanned through some of her older posts, and requested "Paper Towns" as well, because it sounded intriguing. I'm giving you links to her reviews because they say everything I'd like to, and, although reading these books gave my brain a jump start, I'm still a little sluggish, and Jenny is not.
I am going to tell you what I think of both books, though. Just not in as much depth and detail as Jenny. Starting with "Paper Towns," by John Green. First of all, a warning: this book is about 18-year-old guys that may not share the same standards as other boys you know. In other words, there's a bit of swearing and some less-than-appropriate dialogue that takes place. (Think of Juno.) However, the dialogue is very real and relatable if you can overlook the language. The main characters are band geeks and nerds, so I felt a kinship immediately. The main character is also the narrator of the story, which I enjoy, because it allows you to see inside his head and experience his emotional journey. This novel explores the differences and similarities we share as the human race. It reveals the limitations we put on ourselves and each other by defining ourselves as a "type" (popular, band geek, nerd, jock, jerk). It really left me thinking about how others see me, and how I view myself. Does my behavior reflect who I really am? Do people really know me? And do I really know other people? And ultimately, how do we deal with the challenges we face? See, my brain really got working with this one! And the great thing about this book is that all those questions are wrapped neatly into a fascinating story that keeps you riveted until the last page.
"The Little Giant of Aberdeen County" by Tiffany Baker is actually quite similar underneath the story. Like "Paper Towns," the narrative is in first-person. The narrator is Truly Plaice, a giantess in a small town. She endures persecution by the small-minded (hee hee) people in the town, who only see her as a hulking nuisance that offers nothing to their town. Her sister is the town beauty, which emphasizes Truly's size and ugliness even more. As she gets older and continues to be treated poorly, she harbors resentment and anger deep inside. She has two good friends, who are also outcasts. Each of them deals with what life has dealt them in different ways. The way they each react to their difficult lives made me stop and consider how I react to adversity. Do I become vengeful and bitter? Do I focus on something I love and let criticism roll off my back? Or do I clam up and become eaten up inside, allowing myself to waste away? The characters in this book are complex and real. They all have faults and weaknesses, but each of them has something redeeming in their make-up as well. It's how they cope with the hand life has dealt them that reveals who they really are. I think this is a great book group book. There is a lot to discuss, yet the story moves along well and captivates the reader well. I tore through it because it was so interesting.
It was so refreshing to read books that didn't involve magic wands or elves or mind control. Just good stories with lots to think about. Thanks, Jenny, for mentioning these books. Now I'm going to get onto Rachel K's book reviews and find some more treasures.
I am going to tell you what I think of both books, though. Just not in as much depth and detail as Jenny. Starting with "Paper Towns," by John Green. First of all, a warning: this book is about 18-year-old guys that may not share the same standards as other boys you know. In other words, there's a bit of swearing and some less-than-appropriate dialogue that takes place. (Think of Juno.) However, the dialogue is very real and relatable if you can overlook the language. The main characters are band geeks and nerds, so I felt a kinship immediately. The main character is also the narrator of the story, which I enjoy, because it allows you to see inside his head and experience his emotional journey. This novel explores the differences and similarities we share as the human race. It reveals the limitations we put on ourselves and each other by defining ourselves as a "type" (popular, band geek, nerd, jock, jerk). It really left me thinking about how others see me, and how I view myself. Does my behavior reflect who I really am? Do people really know me? And do I really know other people? And ultimately, how do we deal with the challenges we face? See, my brain really got working with this one! And the great thing about this book is that all those questions are wrapped neatly into a fascinating story that keeps you riveted until the last page.
"The Little Giant of Aberdeen County" by Tiffany Baker is actually quite similar underneath the story. Like "Paper Towns," the narrative is in first-person. The narrator is Truly Plaice, a giantess in a small town. She endures persecution by the small-minded (hee hee) people in the town, who only see her as a hulking nuisance that offers nothing to their town. Her sister is the town beauty, which emphasizes Truly's size and ugliness even more. As she gets older and continues to be treated poorly, she harbors resentment and anger deep inside. She has two good friends, who are also outcasts. Each of them deals with what life has dealt them in different ways. The way they each react to their difficult lives made me stop and consider how I react to adversity. Do I become vengeful and bitter? Do I focus on something I love and let criticism roll off my back? Or do I clam up and become eaten up inside, allowing myself to waste away? The characters in this book are complex and real. They all have faults and weaknesses, but each of them has something redeeming in their make-up as well. It's how they cope with the hand life has dealt them that reveals who they really are. I think this is a great book group book. There is a lot to discuss, yet the story moves along well and captivates the reader well. I tore through it because it was so interesting.
It was so refreshing to read books that didn't involve magic wands or elves or mind control. Just good stories with lots to think about. Thanks, Jenny, for mentioning these books. Now I'm going to get onto Rachel K's book reviews and find some more treasures.
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