Independence Day 2016

Since we could call this the 2nd annual 4th of July with Port and fam, I'd say it has become a tradition!! Off I went on Friday the 1st to see one of my favorite people, Sarah. I call her Port because her maiden name is Porter and somehow 20ish years ago, Port stuck! Sarah now has husband, Derrick and dogs Odin (Great Dane) and Toby (little white furry guy) and a lovely house in Fontana with a guest room that I adore ;)

Pretty much instantly, Port and I started chatting and catching up. Though we text at least once a week so it was really more just chatting and marveling at being in the same room again finally! Anyway, she looks me square in the eye and says, "How do you feel about Independence Day?" I sat staring back at her not quite sure how to answer that. I mean, I was there to spend the holiday with her, so obviously it didn't scare me or anything. At the blank look on my face, she quickly told me she meant the MOVIE! Oh, well, it was one of my favorites back in the day! This was good because we already had tickets to see the new one the next day :)

We had dinner with Derrick's cousin and his wife who were in the area for a wedding. Yummy Chinese food! When we got home, I suggested that we watch the original Independence Day movie to prepare for the next day. Also, we needed to watch SOMEthing because Port and I had a task...

Many months before (Christmas?) Port's aunt had given her a puzzle. A puzzle made out of a picture that she'd taken on their wine tasting trip back in October. Port had been working on the puzzle for months. I promised her that I would help her when I got there. She had texted me a picture before I got there so I could see how far she still had to go.

Now, that didn't seem so bad. Of course, I had no idea what the top part of the picture looked like...

We sat down to get to work. I stared at the puzzle. And the pieces. Just stared. For a good 10 minutes. About 5 minutes in to my staring, I looked at her and said, "Oh". I now understood why she wasn't done. I made her show me the box. Yeah, we were missing identical rows of identical grapes. The pieces were ALL some green, some gray, some black. Identical. Yeah.

So we worked. Finished the movie. Worked a little more. Went to bed. I didn't take a picture at that point, but we had done about a third of what was left. I swear I did very little but was apparently Port's motivation or inspiration or something because she was very successful.

Saturday we saw the new movie. It was okay. There was a glaring absence without mention, but if you ignore that, I thought it was pretty good. Action, aliens, romance. Happy ending for most. I recommend it. We had dinner with Port's cousins in Redlands after the movie. That was yummy. Then we went home to the puzzle. We watched Into the Woods, the stage version. This is Port's favorite play and sadly, I had never seen it. I enjoyed it very much. I really enjoyed how much Port enjoyed watching and singing along!! (that's not sarcasm, I really did like watching her smile and sing!)

Honestly, I can't remember if we finished the vineyard puzzle on Saturday night or Sunday night!! But we finished!! And we hooted and hollered and high fived!!! You know it was an intense, special puzzle because Port did NOT break it up and put it away. She left it out to show off :)

Sunday we spent preparing for Monday. We were hosting the family/friend 4th of July party!! That evening we watched the theatrical version of Into the Woods. I don't know which version I liked better. We also watched PCU, from 1994. I am now pretty sure that I never actually saw it in 1994. We also broke out a 300 piece puzzle with cats on it. We finished it in less than 45 minutes!! It was very therapeutic. Then we got a good nights sleep so we'd be fresh and perky for the big shindig.

Note to self: don't look on July 3 for decorations for July 4!!! I did my best with what we found but it was not nearly what I would've liked! I totally forgot to take pictures the entire day. We had sandwich makings, people brought sides, and it seemed that everyone had a grand time. I left mid afternoon so that I could get back to Big Bear before the crazies got crazy.

All in all, it was a wonderful, successful weekend! I'm already looking forward to next year!!!

"Funny Lost Today"

Robin Williams died today. It seems it might have been a suicide. The title of this post came from a Tweet by Michael Weatherly (Tony on NCIS). This isn't something I would normally write about, but it has resurfaced a line of thinking I've had several times in the last few years. Every time a celebrity dies. No, not suicidal thoughts. The fact that these "stars" who you'd think have "everything" keep taking their own lives, is another train of thought for another blog post. Maybe some day.

Here's where my thoughts go...

As I get older, I see more and more TV and movie stars pass on into another world. Not because more are dying, but because more have had an impact on my life. Basically, I'm getting older, and this seems to be a way of age showing its gnarly face. I still remember being very sad when George Burns died. I remember thinking that he would be the first of many. It was kind of a rite of passage almost, this realization that others would die as I grow older. Odd that it was an actor, not family. I'm pretty sure I'd already understood this when my grandparents died.

Jerry Orbach is the first actor I remember crying over when he passed away. He was such a live character to me - Dirty Dancing and Law and Order being two favorites! Then there have been the many, too many lately, who are young, younger than me even, who have felt they just couldn't live any longer. Not sure I'll ever understand. For which I'm grateful as it means that I am no where near that desperation, even in my unhappiest moments!

Although Robin Williams seems to have committed suicide, he was still old enough that technically, I'm not sure we would've been surprised if it'd been natural. And so I consider him the next of many who have had an impact on my life, who I've cheered and jeered, who I will greatly miss seeing on the screen.

As you should know, if you've read my blog for long, I embrace getting older. Why not? I've seen so much, experienced so much, I am thankful for every day, and hope for many many more! But I admit, watching stars, or anyone, leave their Earthly body,  is a part of "growing up" that I just wish I could skip. I've already lost too many personally, but unfortunately it is a fact of life.

So for now, I say, Nanu Nanu to all. Love and hugs. Rest in Peace Mrs. Doubtfire. Thanks for the laughs.

Friendship

I mentioned this in an earlier post, but I want to take a moment and herald the wonders of good friendship!

How does one know that another person is a good friend? One shows up after a year and it seems that no time has passed at all. Saturday, I drove down to Fontana CA to spend some time with my very good friend Port (I'm the only one who calls her that I think). No fancy plans, but yet a good time was had!

What did we do? We went out to dinner. We watched some TV and chatted. And chatted. Until we were both falling asleep :) Then on Sunday, we had breakfast (geeky husband included) and went shopping. Seems normal? Yeah, neither of us is really a shopper. But yet, somehow yesterday, that's what we did. Marveling the whole way on the fact that we were shopping, successfully, and having fun doing it! After we were shopped out and had each found what we were looking for, without too much extra purchased, we went back to the house to work on a puzzle and watch a movie. I finally left about dinnertime because I just missed my pooch too much and if I stayed any longer, I'd stay until the puzzle was done, and I didn't have that in me!

Such a "simple" weekend, but oh what fun!! Sorry no pics. (update: stole one of the finished puzzle from Port's FB) We were having too much fun catching up :) Oh. And we have plans for me to go back again before I leave CA. So I can help her with the 2000 piece puzzle she purchased on our shopping spree!

Lucky Numbers...

This is not a post about the lottery, sorry! It's about the movie "Lucky Numbers". Last summer in the midst of my movie mania, acclaimed director Nora Ephron died. I researched and there's only one movie of hers that I hadn't seen. Lucky Numbers. I could not find it anywhere, without actually purchasing it. Since I'd never even heard of it, I assumed it wasn't one of her best and therefore didn't think I needed to own it. I let the idea of watching it slide.

It's on TV right now!!! So, Rest in Peace Nora Ephron; thanks for the movies.

UPDATE: There's a reason I've never heard of it... Wasn't a love story either which surprised me.

Must be Summer...

It is June 1. School's out. I'm starting my second movie of the day. Apparently this is now a tradition!

I think a few things will be different in my movie watching this summer. First I doubt that I'll get 75 in. I will be traveling and hosting visitors too. Okay just one as of now.

Second I still have a long list that I want to see but this year I'm going to include movies that I may have seen but its been so long I have no recollection.

Tonight's double feature includes two such titles. Mermaids was this afternoon. All I remembred was teenage angst. Yup, that there was! And now I'm watching Peggy Sue Got Married. I really don't think I've ever seen it. And now I must stop typing so I'll know what's happening!

UPDATE:  I had NOT seen PSGM. It was okay. Not sure why everyone raves about it. Maybe it's just iconic of the era or something? At least now I can mark it off the list :)

Ah, the movies

I am currently watching movie #74. One I've had on my shelf and for some reason never watched. So far, I'm wondering why I even bought it. Well, actually, I know. It's got baseball in it! #75 will be Schindler's List later. And then I'm done. Not that I'll never watch another movie, but the summer project, and summer, is over.

Of these 75 movies, few stand out. I don't have a favorite or one I'd watch over and over. Several were pretty good: Act of Valor, This Means War, 50/50, Killers. All for different reasons, from various genres. They're the ones I can actually remember most of, and would recommend.

In this quest, I spent less than $20 if you don't count the popcorn for #73. $8 for one month of Netflix (one month was free). $1.20 for one Redbox rental (it was early in the summer and I didn't have a system down). $1.25 for late fees on 2 movies at the library. $7 for the one movie in the theater. $17.25 total! I used the public library (yay for their reservation system on line!), a free month of unlimited in-store rentals at Blockbuster, and borrowed one from a friend.

I started the summer planning on a movie every weekday. Then was enjoying it and it became everyday. I did take some days off, but would watch 2 the day before or after. A couple days I watched 2 just because, or because they were due at the library :) I ended up skipping the entire week my dad was here - we had other things to be doing!! The olympics through a kink in but I started watching the movie on my computer with the TV on mute and I'd pause for any exciting competition. It worked. After my dad left I wasn't sure I wanted to seriously "catch up" so I decided to get to 75. It is just about one movie a day for the entire summer. Sad that summer is only 75 days long!!

I must thank my friend Leslie for watching several with me, and also her hubby Quinn, and our friend Becky for also joining me on occasion.

Before I started this project, I didn't particularly like watching movies. I could watch an entire season of CSI or something without hardly moving, but a movie tested my attention span. I'll say I wasn't always 100% into every movie I watched this summer, but I am definitely a "movie watcher" now!! Free, on DVD :)

All in all, it was a fun little project. I would definitely do it again!

Movie Review - Larry Crowne, etc.

LARRY CROWNE -
Finally a movie to talk about in a good way!! This was very cute!! A love story for the later in life single people. A story of hope and change and overcoming obstacles. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are, as always, great and great together. I recommend.

While I'm typing... FOOTLOOSE (S)-
The original Footloose is a classic for a reason. Good story, decent acting and fabulous music. The new version is good!! The best part is Willard, the sidekick of Ten, the main character. Unfortunately, the music was altered and changed which made this viewer unhappy. See it anyway, if you haven't already.

I can't even think of others I've watched without going to my list. That's how good they were. Wait, I do know last night was THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL. It wasn't bad. Slow. And since its true, you know how its going to end, though I didn't figure it out until about 3/4 through. I did learn a little history about the family.

I'm currently trying to decide what the final movie should be for the summer. I'm thinking perhaps something in theaters. I've decided it will be Friday, August 17. Funny how involved this quest has become!!

Movie Review(s) - Our Idiot Brother, Jeff Who Lives at Home

Apparently there a lot of messed up families with grown brothers who don't have it all together.

I didn't realize it beforehand but these two movies - OUR IDIOT BROTHER and JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME - are quite similar. There's a brother who is not quite what the family wants him to be. One's kind of a happy hippy; the other is a wandering pothead. There are affairs and homosexuality in both, and family coming around to their brother's way of thinking, sort of. Only one has a cute kid and cuter dog though.

I'm actually writing this while watching JEFF. I'm not sure that the world needs to watch either movie, but if you had to pick one, pick OUR IDIOT BROTHER. It's clearer from the beginning that he's not really an idiot. Oh, wait, I think Jeff just found his purpose. Still not one I'd recommend. (update: the good news is it's only 83 minutes long. the end was happy and interesting.)

On a completely different genre - GREY GARDENS was okay. This was a highly acclaimed, many award nominated, HBO (?) movie. The acting was great and the story was interesting. But kinda sad. Not in a teary way, but more of a that sucks for them kind of way. It went from one era to another and back and was mildly confusing. Of course, I was doing other stuff while watching.

The only movie that's kept me paying attention more or less, in a while, was THIS MEANS WAR.

Movie Review - Horrible Bosses

HORRIBLE BOSSES

I didn't really know what to expect. I'd heard it was funny, but from one of the writers (I follow him on Twitter) so wasn't sure he was the best source. It's about 3 guys who decide to murder their bosses. How could that be funny?! But, it was! It was mostly clean - not a lot of unnecessary language (except for the character whose name contained a curse word), very little sex (one of the bad bosses was a sexual harasser), and in the end, it all sort of worked out okay.

Also watched THE DESCENDENTS - didn't like it. WAY too slow. No plot - there was a plot, I guess, but it wasn't very exciting.

ZOOKEEPER was very cute. Talking animals made it unrealistic, but still cute, feel good, with a happy ending.

Movie Review - One Last Dance & others

ONE LAST DANCE Patrick Swayze and his wife dance. They're former dancers who are asked to come back and dance a specific dance. There's drama, of course. Overall, it was pretty good. Not the best acting, lots of dancing. However, it had an element of sad, to me. I cried when the two were dancing at the end, because, well, it was their last dance! Not really, exactly; it was made several years before Patrick died, but still, it was hard not to associate some symbolism in my head. Others I've watched recently: SEABISCUIT - slow. good story but it just seemed to drag and drag. I did other stuff, out of the room, and didn't feel like I missed anything when I'd come back! But, sure it was uplifting and all that. IDES OF MARCH - okay. didn't grip me, but I have come to the conclusion that Ryan Gosling is hot. I've tried twice to watch THE INFORMANT! but the copy I got at the library is scratched and keeps hanging up not too far in. Not sure I'll ever bother to see it in its entirety. Next on my list (meaning I already have them) Casino Royale and Zookeeper.

Movie Review - Friends with Benefits

(If you didn't read the previous post about my reviews, please do) FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS Overall, not good!! WAY too much sex, nakedness, etc. Unnecessary for the story. The story itself wasn't bad. Cute chick-click romance with a happy ending. But I saw way too much of Justin Timberlake's skin. Not much was left to my imagination and it just didn't need to be done. If you want a similar story, that you're not embarrassed to watch with your mother or sister, check out NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Same premise without the skin.

Movies

One of my more fun summer goals is to watch a new-to-me movie every day. So far I've watched some good ones and some not-very-good-at-all ones. I've watched comedies, dramas, action, true stories, chick-flicks, etc. It's been fun!! I'm utilizing the library, my netflix one month trial (which I'll probably pay one extra month to get through the summer), a blockbuster free month, and so far I've only rented one at redbox. Not bad! I keep thinking I should review the movies. Or at least some of them. Since I'm so far in, I think I'll just start here, and perhaps mention some previously viewed, if appropriate, such as in the first review. See next entry! Hope you enjoy the journey with me!!

Movie Fix

I've been in quite a movie mood lately. There are many good ones out there that I have not seen seeing as how I never go to the movies!

It's very disappointing when looking forward to "finally" seeing one that I've wanted to see from the beginning and it's just not holding my attention :( I'm blaming it on the allergy meds and not the movie though. Just to be nice.