Game of Thrones

I have finally finished the book. It took me so long to read it. But now that I'm working daily, I can read it on the train.

Although the movie rushes through some scenes or omits them completely, I think it is a pretty good adaptation.  I want to read the next installment, but I want to wait a while and read some other things.

I've been so busy, I haven't watched many movies. This week I'm catching up on all the season finales.

House - Was pretty interesting, has me wondering what next season will bring.
Bones - That was a shocker.
Glee - Kind of was anti-climatic.
AI - Scotty won (big shock).

Didn't watch the finale of the Borgas yet.  I'll give my thoughts on that when I do watch it, probably this weekend.

Didn't watch The Biggest Loser finale either. Don't know who won. Will watch that this weekend too.

NICE KNOWING ALL OF YOU

I just wanted to say I'm blessed to have known all of my blog buddies since JUDGEMENT DAY is tomorrow!!


OK....


Anyway....


Lots of crazy stuff has happened over the last 2 days, makes me wonder if the above is true!


In the neighborhood I grew up in, not far from where my mom lives now, police found a man selling explosives out of his car.


This morning I was walking down 3rd Avenue in Manhattan this morning and suddenly there was a loud BOOM! The sidewalk shook and we all stopped in our tracks and looked around. We didn't know what it was or which direction it came from. I still am not sure what it was, but traffic stopped and people looked, so I think it was a manhole explosion or something.


*EDIT: it was a manhole
Manhole Story


This morning my mother said in the building next to her there were police and hostage negotiators. Apparently a man was holding his family hostage at gun point.


But then you see something awful like below, that turns out being a miracle.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

New Temp Job and Rant

My last temp job ended Friday, but I got a new one that will start next week.  Just in time too.

I've been reading, but I've not finished "Game of Thrones" yet.

I have a female mail carrier, and she is such a bitch.  The other day I asked her while she was filling the mailboxes if she was almost done. But of course she didn't acknowledge me because she was on the phone!

Today, she came to my door with a package (I guess I should be happy since she NEVER comes up).  She rang my bell so hard, the peep hole shook.  She knocked too. So I said "Coming". She rang it like a crazy woman again. I opened the door and said that she almost broke my bell.  She said "Excuse me?" I said, "You rang so hard, my bell almost fell off (on the inside)".  She said "Oh it isn't that serious".  But with a nasty attitude.

Oh really?

Well, I called the USPS and filed a complaint.  Stupid ghetto bitch.  Some people have jobs and just don't know how good they have it. It blows my mind.

My Posts, My Post, Where for art thou my Posts!?

Well I guess my posts for yesterday and today are unrecoverable. Good thing they weren't long and/or important posts.  *sigh* But I did like my movie review*, but Oh well -- Maybe it will come back.

* The post is back minus the comments.  Oh well.

 I'm joining the Crochet Flower Crochet Along. This is based on a throw from Anthropologie.  I've joined this on Ravelry.com. I will simultaniously be working on my granny square afghan.


Thanks to all for your audiobook suggestions. I've decide on THE HELP. I have the hardcopy, but I hear the audiobook is fantastic, so I will be listening to 18 hours of that.

TV
American Idol:  Shock and Sadness to see James leave the show.  I was sure he'd be one of the final two.

The Voice:  I did like the blind audtions but I don't know about the battle rounds, I'm giving it more time.

The Borgias:  I had higher hopes for this show, it isn't as good The Tudors, but it isn't bad. I hope it comes back next season.

Game of Thrones:  This is the best of the new series.  I am also reading the book, so it is interesting to follow along that way.  This will be back next season. I think they will do one book a season.

Camelot:  I didn't think I was going to like this, but it is turning out to be a pretty good show.  Not much you can do with King Authur, but I like it.

Movie Review - Mary Bryant

The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant (2005)

aka Mary Bryant

This is an Austrailian / UK mini series about Mary Bryant.  It is about a young woman is transported to the New South Wales penal colony in 1788.  It stars Romola Garai as Mary Bryant.

This is based on true events in the life of Mary Bryant who was 17 when she was sent to the penal colony along with harden crimminals. She was a 'highwaywoman' or rather a 'footpad' as she did not ride on a horse to do her crimes.  She would have been sentenced to death if the King had not commuted her sentence. However, she was not happy at the colony so she and some other prisoners decided to make a run for it.

Mary is a strong woman character. A resourceful who did what she needed to do at all costs.  Thought it would be good for children to know such a strong character exists in history, this is not a movie for children to watch.  It has many violent moments along with a graphic group rape scene as well as other sexual content.

Most of this movie did not have lush surroundings or costumes like so many period pieces do, this one took place in a few limited locations, one being on a small row/sail boat.  Most of the time they were dirty and poorly dressed.  I was still captivated by this film. It is very well done.

Also starring in this film: Sam Neill, Alex O'Loughlin (Yum), and Jack Davenport.

4 out of 5 stars.

Progress

It is May and I've read 26 books. That would put me ahead of target if I was going for 50 books, but I want to go for 75, so I am behind.  So I am aiming for 50-75 books for this year.

I've watched 117 movies so far this year.  I should be in the 110-120 in May so I'm on target.

I've crocheted 28 granny squares so far.  I plan to crochet a total of 144.  I'm attaching them as I go, row by row.

Weekend

Elizabeth has read 276 pages (35%) of A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) on a NOOK

* * *Thanks everyone for the audioook suggestions. I will see if I can find them on audile.com and listen to the samples.

Me and some gifts from my daughter.  Some silk flowers and two scented candles along with a Mother's Day card. She is so sweet.

A dandy certificate recieved for participating in the re-opening ceremony of my church.

Audiobook Suggestions and a Rant

I am also looking for a good fiction book in audio format. So when I am crocheting I can listen.  It has to have a good narrator and of course be good.

Books that I have or have read are:  Room, The Help and Game of Thrones, so cross those off of the list, but anything else please feel free to throw out there. I'm open to genre.

* * *

I have no problem with anyone wanting to be whatever religion they choose, I have no problems with Atheists either.  Live and let Live is my motto. I'm not going to drag you to my church, but if you ask a question about my church or religion, I will be happy to answer to the best of my knowledge.  First I had to worry about the JWs proselytizing, knocking on my door on Easter or Christmas morning, almost running me down in the street shoving their magazine in  my face.  For years and years I've had to deal with this.  I finally learned a few 'funny' things to do.

1. I cross myself and mumble 'Ave Maria, Sancta Maria'.
2. When they ask "May I interest you..."  I reply "No you may not..."
3. Start singing some obscure Catholic Hymn (preferably in Latin).

 One thing I want to do but don't have the guts is to pull out some Holy Water and scream "The power of Christ compels you!"


I like Mormons, my ex-father in law is a Mormon.  I actually went to an LDS service once. Wasn't my cup of tea, but they were always very polite.  Lately this hasn't been the case, and I think it has to do with the type of Mormon missionary.  Now, I know that sounds strange, but here is what I've noticed over the years.


The Mormons from Utah are white.  They are always polite. If you tell them that you are not interested or that you already go to XYZ church, they smile and leave you alone.


Now I've noticed (in my neck of the woods) they are no longer always white.  I've come across only 2 non-white young missionaries.  One male and one female.  The male one came to my door with a Utah Mormon.  I politely told them that I was Catholic (I also had a religious sign on my door that was in Spanish). They wanted to leave me the Book of Mormon, I told them that I already have it.  The Latino Mormon put his foot in my door so I couldn't close it.  WTF!  I looked at him like he was out of his mind.


The other day I'm walking in the street and a Latina Mormon smiled at me and asked me if she can talk to me about the church of LDS. I told her "No thanks."  I kept walking, she said "Can I give you a card with some information?"...No lady you cannot. I already said I was not interested.  But I didn't say that, I just said "I'm Catholic."  She still hesitated some like she was going to say more but didn't.


Everyone that walks the street isn't a lost soul.

I notice the only time they don't bother us (either JW or Mormons) is when my daughter is in her school uniform.  One piratically has to wear a giant crucifix around their neck in order to be left alone.

Happy Mother's Day

I downloaded the update for my NOOK COLOR and now I can download Apps.  I'm also using the friend feature, but currently have only one friend (Thanks Wendy).  I have requested my mom to be my friend but she seems to be technically challenged when it comes to her NOOK.  This is a woman who used to be able to physically take apart/put together computers as well as take apart/put together computers with the software.  But the simple functions of the NOOK just elude her for some reason.

This weekend promises to be very busy.  Saturday Clarissa is in a local parade, she'll be twirling I think (she plays the drums too). Then I have to run to guitar class and then run back home for our official re-opening of our church.  We will be singing with other visiting choirs.  Then Sunday is Mother's day, but we are not going to celebrate until next Sunday because my son comes home on May 11th (which is also my mom's b-day).

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there. You can have human kids or the fur kind.  Hope your day is beautiful. 

Also take this day to remember all the Mom's (grandmoms, godmoms etc) who are with us and who are no longer with us.

Happy Mother's Day to:

Alberta

Lovie Bell

Margie

I miss you and I love you.

And since I'm on a Retro kick this week, let's post a pic of my mom from 1963, just because I can (and she looks fantastic).

Mom NYC 1963


Everything Mom
By Joanna Fuchs


How did you find the energy, Mom
To do all the things you did,
To be teacher, nurse and counselor
To me, when I was a kid.

How did you do it all, Mom,
Be a chauffeur, cook and friend,
Yet find time to be a playmate,
I just can’t comprehend.

I see now it was love, Mom
That made you come whenever I'd call,
Your inexhaustible love, Mom
And I thank you for it all.

Proms, Chrochet and a Movie Review

I have to start today with a post that made me smile early in the morning. Go Retro!: Proms: Then and Now. Looking at some of those pictures posted brought back memories. The good ole days!

As you can see, my friends and I were pretty low key. We had our yellow and/or white dresses. Our hair was not so teased. Our make-up was light. This was 1986.

The girls cringe when they see this picture, but I like it, ain't so bad.

* * * *

I am currently working on a granny square afghan.  I haven't worked on anything in a while. I'm using mostly scraps.  I want to make it the queen size so I can spread it over my bed.  It has been years since I made a granny square, I actually had to review how to do it. Pretty sad I know.

* * * *

I am still working through my Christopher Walken movies.  I watched "The Mind Snatchers" also known as "The Happiness Cage".  This movie is based on a play by  Dennis Reardon.  This is a drama about medical experimentation in the U.S. military. The experiment is a brain operation which removes pain, replacing it either with bliss or sensual satisfaction. It is at first attempted on terminal cancer patients, but finally the doctors receive permission to test the procedure on a healthy but thoroughly obnoxious subject played by Walken.

This film was shot in Germany in 1972.  This was Walken's first film.  The film is very dated, and not that well acted by most, however, I have to say that Walken's performance was fantastic.  Not much different at all than the characters he plays now. Same pattern of speech, same facial expressions, same walk.  He hasn't changed in 40 years.

Most places I've seen did not give this film a very high rating, and it isn't the best thing out there.  It is an interesting film, based on scientific experiements from 1954.  It is thought provoking if nothing else.

Black Swan

Black Swan

OK, so I was really excited to finally get to see this. I was warned that it may be a little 'strange', but I'm used to strange movies. It started out OK, then there were moments of boring, then for the last 30 minutes or so, it picked up and ended with a big question mark. Throughout the whole movie there were also moments of weirdness that I couldn't wrap my brain around, and I usually can see where a movie is going. I was so unsure as to what happened, I had to look on-line to figure out what this movie was really about.

The acting was very good. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis were both stellar in their performances.

Once I read more about where the movie was going and what certain things meant, I understood it more, so I upped the stars. I was going to give it 2 out of 5 so now it is 3 out of 5, because I can see the idea behind it. Still NOT my favorite movie.

BAKE SALE

This past Sunday we had a bake sale to raise money for our choir robes. There were so many baked goods. We came out with $411 in profit. As you can see...the girls took over the sale.

Now Back to Our Regulary Scheduled Programming

I did it. I have done the A-Z Challenge, with not so much as a hitch. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to come up with 26 things to post about, but I did. If anything, it will be an interesting look back on what I was doing or thinking about in April 2011.

Tyler Perry's: Madea's Big Happy Family was a very funny movie but at the same time it was very sad. Made me laugh and made me cry. I love when Tyler Perry does the Media movies.

The King's Speech came out on DVD. What a great movie. Colin Firth played Bertie very well, I recommend this movie to anyone, not just those who like British history.

I finally watched Mildred Pearce. I remember seeing the Joan Crawford version and thought it was mediocre, but this version, with Kate Winslet, was more detailed. Shown on HBO in five episodes, it really delve into the book that the first movie didn't even come close to.

I also watched all of the new Upstairs/Downstairs. I can't compare it to the original, but this on was very good.

Waiting in the wings....BLACK SWAN!!  Which I hear is disturbing. I'll let you know.