I can't believe it's almost September! I started a list of all the other things I wanted to blog about, and promptly got busy, then distracted and finally lost my list.
Since last I blogged...we went camping a second time (disaster!) saw more movies (see Stardust!), started taking dance lessons (fun!), I made a story time wiki (missangela.wetpaint.com!) and I managed to herd cats (I mean program proposals) for WLA...and all the other things that were on my list to blog about.
In the wonderful world of knitting, I finished the DH's (dear husband's) first sock months ago- and then got distracted by a baby gift. It was a close call but I managed a lovely blanket in seed stitch with a contrasting boarder AND a monogrammed letter. I was quite pleased with the result. Less pleased with being up until 2am the day of the shower to finish the main knitting, and then up at 9am to sew all the ends in. But I did it! And it was good. I casted on DH's second sock last week, and will seriously start working on it tomorrow.
I have a ton of neat knitting books on my shelf right now, but I haven't looked too closely for fear of being distracted again. If only my cats weren't so helpful when I knit...
Speaking of the fur babies, my latest excitement has been the purchase of a new cat tree. After MUCH looking around (read 2 years of searching), I decided to invest in a Stairway to Kitty Heaven set plus a few extra pieces so I can also create a Cat Hotel. I will be blogging extensively on this once it's arrived, up and tested. Until then, check out the site so you too can lust over cat furniture!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Fun with Nature
Ah...the great outdoors.
Now, I am one of those in between girls. I do not wear makeup everyday- special occasions are more my thing. My husband was shocked when he discovered that I don't own a hair dryer and I would rather sleep than deal with the aforementioned issues every morning. Or at least have time for a longer hot shower...more on those later!
On the other hand, I don't really like dirt that much and the thought of anything more than a day hike where carrying more than snacks and reading material is also a no thankyou.
So where does this leave me? Car camping! My husband and I tend to camp in Oregon because through their well designed (Washington take note) web site I can easily search for the amenities that I require:
1. Showers (Oregon is great because at most places it is FREE HOT showers)
2. Toilets (no vaulted outhouses- EW!)
Other than that I am quite content to spend 7 days sleeping on an air mattress and consume an entire bag of marshmallows on my quest to make the perfect 'smore. I'm getting quite close...but as they say in the library world "more research is required".
This year we split our time between Cape Lookout and Devil's Lake. The former is one of our standbys. It's right on the beach, literally the other side of a sand dune, and is conveniently located 12 miles outside Tillamook. Yes, that Tillamook of the famed cheese and ice creams and butters and fudge and so much yumminess! We ate most of our meals there. The Blue Heron is worth hitting, we did a nice wine tasting and they have excellent brie. Just to prove that "it's a small world after all" we ended up next to another library employee that I know from another branch. It was a weird "don't I know you" moment outside the bathroom.
Next we headed to Lincoln City where we kayaked and relaxed on the beach. It was warmer here so we were able to spend more time by the ocean. Ahhh...the ocean...there really is no good way to record the ocean, you just have to be there to fully hear all the sounds. There were a ton of kite fliers and I got to abuse the Outlet Mall to my satisfaction.
All in all it was a nice relaxing week for the Dear Husband and I to recharge ye olde batteries before heading back to work.
Now, I am one of those in between girls. I do not wear makeup everyday- special occasions are more my thing. My husband was shocked when he discovered that I don't own a hair dryer and I would rather sleep than deal with the aforementioned issues every morning. Or at least have time for a longer hot shower...more on those later!
On the other hand, I don't really like dirt that much and the thought of anything more than a day hike where carrying more than snacks and reading material is also a no thankyou.
So where does this leave me? Car camping! My husband and I tend to camp in Oregon because through their well designed (Washington take note) web site I can easily search for the amenities that I require:
1. Showers (Oregon is great because at most places it is FREE HOT showers)
2. Toilets (no vaulted outhouses- EW!)
Other than that I am quite content to spend 7 days sleeping on an air mattress and consume an entire bag of marshmallows on my quest to make the perfect 'smore. I'm getting quite close...but as they say in the library world "more research is required".
This year we split our time between Cape Lookout and Devil's Lake. The former is one of our standbys. It's right on the beach, literally the other side of a sand dune, and is conveniently located 12 miles outside Tillamook. Yes, that Tillamook of the famed cheese and ice creams and butters and fudge and so much yumminess! We ate most of our meals there. The Blue Heron is worth hitting, we did a nice wine tasting and they have excellent brie. Just to prove that "it's a small world after all" we ended up next to another library employee that I know from another branch. It was a weird "don't I know you" moment outside the bathroom.
Next we headed to Lincoln City where we kayaked and relaxed on the beach. It was warmer here so we were able to spend more time by the ocean. Ahhh...the ocean...there really is no good way to record the ocean, you just have to be there to fully hear all the sounds. There were a ton of kite fliers and I got to abuse the Outlet Mall to my satisfaction.
All in all it was a nice relaxing week for the Dear Husband and I to recharge ye olde batteries before heading back to work.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Transformers- More than Meets the Eye!
Talk about a 4th of July Movie! I have to confess to being a child of the 80s and am still amused by watching the cartoons of my childhood. Duck Tales, Tale Spin, Gummi Bear and Transformers are all in our permanent collection.
It was with some trepidation that my dear husband and I waited for the Transformers movie. For every Lord of the Rings there is the trauma of Spidy 3. But we had to see it just for the nostalgia (and the previews have been looking pretty kick ass) so see it we did.
It was amazing! I would have to describe it as 1/3 Black Hawk Down, 1/3 Independence Day and 1/3 fun with robots. They had enough homages for us big kids that still pull out the old cartoon from time to time,but the plot was such that even if you couldn't sing the theme song from memory you still understood what was happening. Since we do a family day for the 4th we saw it with a bunch of people ages 7+ and everyone enjoyed the movie.
We talked to some of our friends later who had also seen it and it was reported that one of them did a happy dance of joy on the way out of the theater. This will definitely be a welcome addition to our DVD shelves.
For a much longer and in depth review, check out this excellent posting from one of my other friends. And no, Movie Man didn't do a little dance, that was someone else...
It was with some trepidation that my dear husband and I waited for the Transformers movie. For every Lord of the Rings there is the trauma of Spidy 3. But we had to see it just for the nostalgia (and the previews have been looking pretty kick ass) so see it we did.
It was amazing! I would have to describe it as 1/3 Black Hawk Down, 1/3 Independence Day and 1/3 fun with robots. They had enough homages for us big kids that still pull out the old cartoon from time to time,but the plot was such that even if you couldn't sing the theme song from memory you still understood what was happening. Since we do a family day for the 4th we saw it with a bunch of people ages 7+ and everyone enjoyed the movie.
We talked to some of our friends later who had also seen it and it was reported that one of them did a happy dance of joy on the way out of the theater. This will definitely be a welcome addition to our DVD shelves.
For a much longer and in depth review, check out this excellent posting from one of my other friends. And no, Movie Man didn't do a little dance, that was someone else...
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Ratatouille (Rat-a-too-ee)
Ok, I admit it, we really like movies. We see a lot of them.
Last Saturday I hopped online to check out the times for Nancy Drew (it looks like fun!) at my beloved Lincoln Square Cinemas.
Now, I have the opening day of Ratatouille on my day planner- and that is June 29th.
Imagine my surprise when I see it listed for just one showing on June 16th. Christmas in June! A sneak preview! I whipped out my debit card and tickets were mine! I called my fellow Disney enthusiast and travel buddy and voila! Double date night. Do I care that four adults with no children were giddy to see this movie- um, NO!
And after buying my tickets and popcorn, I have to say, this is Pixar at it's best. Which is impressive when you think of their track record- Toy Story 1 & 2 (3 is said to be in production), Bug's Life, Monster's Inc., The Incredibles...
The short before the feature was fantastic. They manage to convey everything without saying a word. Ratatouille's story is just amazing, if you are one of those skeptics that can't suspend their belief, believe! A rat that wants to cook in Paris may sound hard to swallow, but that's what Pixar can do, wrap the story so tightly around you that not only do you believe but you care. As the credits were rolling my dear husband leaned over and stated that we'll be seeing this again on opening weekend- and so should you!
Kudos to Pixar and director Brad Bird. With the Disney/Pixar merger and shakeup I sincerely hope that Ratatouille storms the box off and the corporate PTBs (powers that be) take the story people seriously. That's what Disney has been missing these past years and needs to find again, and I can't think of anyone better to show them the way back than the guys from Pixar.
GO SEE RATATOUILLE!
Last Saturday I hopped online to check out the times for Nancy Drew (it looks like fun!) at my beloved Lincoln Square Cinemas.
Now, I have the opening day of Ratatouille on my day planner- and that is June 29th.
Imagine my surprise when I see it listed for just one showing on June 16th. Christmas in June! A sneak preview! I whipped out my debit card and tickets were mine! I called my fellow Disney enthusiast and travel buddy and voila! Double date night. Do I care that four adults with no children were giddy to see this movie- um, NO!
And after buying my tickets and popcorn, I have to say, this is Pixar at it's best. Which is impressive when you think of their track record- Toy Story 1 & 2 (3 is said to be in production), Bug's Life, Monster's Inc., The Incredibles...
The short before the feature was fantastic. They manage to convey everything without saying a word. Ratatouille's story is just amazing, if you are one of those skeptics that can't suspend their belief, believe! A rat that wants to cook in Paris may sound hard to swallow, but that's what Pixar can do, wrap the story so tightly around you that not only do you believe but you care. As the credits were rolling my dear husband leaned over and stated that we'll be seeing this again on opening weekend- and so should you!
Kudos to Pixar and director Brad Bird. With the Disney/Pixar merger and shakeup I sincerely hope that Ratatouille storms the box off and the corporate PTBs (powers that be) take the story people seriously. That's what Disney has been missing these past years and needs to find again, and I can't think of anyone better to show them the way back than the guys from Pixar.
GO SEE RATATOUILLE!
SIFF Update #4
Ah, and our 2007 SIFF experience comes to an end. We saw a most satisfying film, The Damned Don't Cry at the newly opened SIFF Theater. Not a bad little theater but I have become hideously spoiled by the seats at Lincoln Square- I don't even bat an eye when I fork over $10 for tickets. Anything to not move if a tall person sits in front of me...
Using her tenacity, wits and sexual prowess, a dissatisfied housewife climbs the social ladder one man at a time. This fantastic film noir, a thinly veiled version of the rags-to-riches story of gangsters’ moll Virginia Hill, is perhaps an even truer depiction of the real Joan Crawford than Mommie Dearest.
I have come to the conclusion that I really like film noir. Before the show started we got some history of the movie and a plug for the Noir City festival that will be held in July. They will be having $10 double features that I for one, will be checking out. If I have a chance, Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir sounds like interesting reading.
Using her tenacity, wits and sexual prowess, a dissatisfied housewife climbs the social ladder one man at a time. This fantastic film noir, a thinly veiled version of the rags-to-riches story of gangsters’ moll Virginia Hill, is perhaps an even truer depiction of the real Joan Crawford than Mommie Dearest.
I have come to the conclusion that I really like film noir. Before the show started we got some history of the movie and a plug for the Noir City festival that will be held in July. They will be having $10 double features that I for one, will be checking out. If I have a chance, Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir sounds like interesting reading.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
SIFF Update #3
So- we saw Black Sheep last night at the Neptune Theater. The line to get in went on forever and every seat was filled. Not too shabby. I've seen a lot of midnight movies over the years and this was the first time I was scared enough that the adrenaline kept me awake until 2am.
Baa baa, black sheep, have you any…fangs?!!! The sylvan pastures of New Zealand, home to forty million sheep, are the setting for gory mayhem when a mutant strain of the normally placid fleecy ones runs amok in this endearingly funny horror romp.
My dear husband, loved it. Our friends, loved it. Me- I had my hands over my eyes- a lot. I believe I was curled up in the seat within the first 15 minutes. It was quite successful as a black comedy. The comedy was pretty funny, but oh- the gore! In a way, the bad special effects from the "days of yore" are more comforting, at least to this animated Disney classic watching gal. Thank goodness my husband knows when to cover my eyes and not let me peek!
The was the second year in a row I saw a midnight movie that involved a large amount of farm animals being exploded with methane flatulence...the boys want t make this a SIFF movie tradition...
I'm ready for my chick flick Mr. d'Mille...
Baa baa, black sheep, have you any…fangs?!!! The sylvan pastures of New Zealand, home to forty million sheep, are the setting for gory mayhem when a mutant strain of the normally placid fleecy ones runs amok in this endearingly funny horror romp.
My dear husband, loved it. Our friends, loved it. Me- I had my hands over my eyes- a lot. I believe I was curled up in the seat within the first 15 minutes. It was quite successful as a black comedy. The comedy was pretty funny, but oh- the gore! In a way, the bad special effects from the "days of yore" are more comforting, at least to this animated Disney classic watching gal. Thank goodness my husband knows when to cover my eyes and not let me peek!
The was the second year in a row I saw a midnight movie that involved a large amount of farm animals being exploded with methane flatulence...the boys want t make this a SIFF movie tradition...
I'm ready for my chick flick Mr. d'Mille...
Saturday, June 2, 2007
SIFF Update #2
In a magical world with no restrictions on time or money (or the amount of movie popcorn I can eat) here is what I would see:
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Action/Adventure/Archival
Captain Blood Action/Adventure/Archival
Scaramouche Action/Adventure/Archival
Aachi & Ssipak Animation (if you're interested in alternative energy sources- what about- poo? some friends saw this and reported it was very funny)
The Big Combo Archival/Film Noir
Dasepo Naughty Girls Black Comedy
Fido Black Comedy
Severance Black Comedy/Horror (I just heard that this is being released in theaters, starting in NY)
Waiter Black Comedy
Alien Autopsy Comedy
Poltergay Comedy/Gay/Lesbian/Horror (Sounds so funny!)
Ballets Russes Documentary
Girls Rock! Documentary
In the Shadow of the Moon Documentary (This came really close to the final cut...)
The Banquet Drama (Another schedule conflict...)
Red Road Drama/Thriller
The Aerial Experimental/Fantasy
Angel-A Fantasy (Friends saw it and liked it plus I like the name he-he-he)
The Signal Horror (the Dear Husband really wanted to see this- darn schedules!)
Plus the three we actually bought tickets for:
Gunga Din Action/Adventure/Archival/Family Friendly
Black Sheep Black Comedy/Horror
The Damned Don't Cry Archival/Film Noir/Romance
What are you watching?
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Action/Adventure/Archival
Captain Blood Action/Adventure/Archival
Scaramouche Action/Adventure/Archival
Aachi & Ssipak Animation (if you're interested in alternative energy sources- what about- poo? some friends saw this and reported it was very funny)
The Big Combo Archival/Film Noir
Dasepo Naughty Girls Black Comedy
Fido Black Comedy
Severance Black Comedy/Horror (I just heard that this is being released in theaters, starting in NY)
Waiter Black Comedy
Alien Autopsy Comedy
Poltergay Comedy/Gay/Lesbian/Horror (Sounds so funny!)
Ballets Russes Documentary
Girls Rock! Documentary
In the Shadow of the Moon Documentary (This came really close to the final cut...)
The Banquet Drama (Another schedule conflict...)
Red Road Drama/Thriller
The Aerial Experimental/Fantasy
Angel-A Fantasy (Friends saw it and liked it plus I like the name he-he-he)
The Signal Horror (the Dear Husband really wanted to see this- darn schedules!)
Plus the three we actually bought tickets for:
Gunga Din Action/Adventure/Archival/Family Friendly
Black Sheep Black Comedy/Horror
The Damned Don't Cry Archival/Film Noir/Romance
What are you watching?
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