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Showing posts from May, 2008

Memorial Day Movies and More

We've been eating a lot of cake lately. Two ice cream cakes and Monday, our friend brought a chocolate mousse cake. All of this was to celebrate my roommate's birthday last week. We saw two movies. Mad Money with Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes and Ted Danson. This movie was really good despite the having to blast the volume because none of us could hear it. This wasn't the best movie I've seen Katie Holmes in but it was certainly the best role I've ever seen her in. I don't know if that makes any sense. Let me clarify. Jackie is a better character than Rachel Dawes from Batman Begins which this film wasn't... We also saw I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry . Going into this movie I had low expectations (I mean it starred Kevin James and Adam Sandler...) but it's not the derogatory mess one might think it would be and was, of course, hilarious! I didn't expect all the cameos from the openly gay Richard Chamberlain and Lance Bass to Dan Ac

The Good and Bad of Country Music

I saw this perfomance last weekend and, to me, Jenifer Nettles looks like a dancing chimp. Sexy! Also last weekend, I was watching CMT's Power Picks and the below video was up against, and slaughtered by, another video . I would have picked this one: Also, on a completely different note, Banes and Noble have finally started putting info up for my book on their site ...

"Oh, Shut Up!"

I can't believe I didn't discuss this in detail but about a week ago now, the seminary had their end of the year party. This included a reception and then dinner. The graduating seniors were recognized symbolically by each ringing a bell for the number of semesters they attended. Some had to ring it as much as 12 times! Friday, I went up to Ellsworth with my grandmother and uncle. The trip was long but I did enjoy being able to discuss and listen to music with my uncle. That night, the five of us, including my parents, went to see two of my second cousins in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! at the Grand. I discovered later that this was not the original production that starred Gary "Radar" Burghoff but the 1999 revival with Kristin Chenoweth as Sally Brown. (She won a Tony for it...). The difference is that the original version had a character named "Patty" which is not to be confused with Peppermint Patty. This character was replaced with Charlie'

The Review I Promised And More

I say again: Ironman was totally awesome. Lately, superhero movies have been cast with actors that can actually act. I love this trend. Robert Downey, Jr. is Tony Stark. If they do the "Demon in a Bottle" storyline for the next one, he'll be more than fine in it. I kind of like the fact director Jon Favreau cast himself as chauffeur, "Happy" Hogan though was a bit disappointed he never was referred to as "Happy." Again, they followed the comic very well. Sure, they had him in California already when he actually started out in New York then moved out west later but even I admit that is the lamest and most forgettable nitpick. Curiously, they made his, then later the Avengers', butler, Jarvis, the computer. In a way, I kind of like this as well but if and when they do an Avengers movie, will they be in the same universe? So far, none of the Marvel, or DC for that matter, movies have had any connection with each other but... Again, it was an interest

But Is It Art?

I probably haven't mentioned it but my Wednesday nights have become more complicated. I have the dance group as usual but for the past three weeks, a family counseling group was added and two weeks ago, the day of the alumni thing, there is also play rehearsals but that should be over at the end of the month. While all this was going on, I finished a book. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper is book one of the Dark is Rising sequence. Overall, I liked it very much. Given that this book was written less than a decade after the Narnia series by another Brit, I wasn't too surprised at the similarity in the writing. There were a couple confusing scenes such as Barney being captured and then, suddenly, he had an out-of-body experience and then was physically with his siblings and safe...Also, there really wasn't enough fantasy elements in it for me but as a piece of YA fiction, I did like it. Last night, I went to an "art-sharing event" at my church. It was a smal

The Life and Times Of A First-Time Published Author

No, I'm not starting a new blog; though I am working on a new website. No, the title refers to the fact most of this post is related to my book with a couple other points thrown in. I don't know if any one read my last post but the author talk with my former teacher was quite good. When I revealed to her who I was, her eyes widened, her jaw dropped and she came running over to give me a hug. Afterwards, she introduced me to one of her sons. I told him I was at his parents' wedding and his mother added she'd show him pictures when they got home. He seemed oddly interested. I don't know if I would have when I was 17 but whatever... The co-owner of the nearby bookstore was in attendance and I was able to check to see if he received the copy of my book I left him. He's reviewing it now. When I got home, I went on Amazon to look at my book again. The cover art and book blurb are up so that was cool. Another fact also caught my eye: it said there was only one copy le

While I Have Time To Kill

I figured I'd take this time to briefly give you more detail on the recent alumni party. It was held downtown and the purpose of which was to introduce the college's new online community. I had already registered but whatever. I get there ten minutes early. They're still setting up. As I mentioned on Twitter, only one other alum from the class of 1987 shows up. So the four of us, as one of the people from the Alumni office is also an alum, reminisce about my good old college, the nuns and everything. Even though it's been less than a decade, there's been changes. The radio station I worked at is now gone. I'm not surprised by this. Interest in it was waning when I went there. One of my favorite English teachers has retired but the one nun who once said if she retired she'd die apparently has stayed true to her word and is still there! Oddly, they don't go to Sea dogs games during Senior Week any more... My parents have finished reading my book. (Well, my