You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2008.
Anyway, my family and I have watched some movies lately. Thanks in part to the dreadful heat we are experiencing here in the south.
1. Howl’s Moving Castle.
This one’s animated and is by the famous “Spirited Away” writer/producer/director. It was very enjoyable. The kids really loved this one. It is visually stunning and engaging in story and script. Plus, Christian Bale (Batman) is the voice of Howl. Honorable mention: Billy Crystal is in this one as a fire demon. Very cute. Highly recommended.
2. Everything’s Illuminated.
Eugene Hutz, Elijah Wood. It’s a story of a young American man (Wood) of Jewish decent who travels to Russia in search of the woman who saved his grandfather during the war.
This one’s a quirky little movie that surprised me in a good way. I found myself laughing and even crying. Eugene Hutz who plays “Alex” stole the show for me. He made this movie memorable and worth a second viewing. Highly recommended.
3. Evening
Toni Collette, Meryl Streep
A chick flick about a dying woman in her death bed dreaming about the love of her life. Needless to say I cried. surprise, surprise. Recommended.
4. Spiderwick Chronicles
A good kid flick. I couldn’t stay and watch the whole movie. I had more pressing issues to tend to, like cooking and cleaning, but the kids liked it. Recommended for the kids.
5. 21
Kevin Spacey, and the guy from that Beatle’s movie. Go ahead and Google it. I forgot his name.
It had it’s moments. I especially like Lawrence Fishborne beating people up. It’s not great but an entertaining way to spend 2 hours.
That’s all I can remember at the moment. I know I’ve watched at least two more movies in the last week, but my eyes are heavy and it’s taking all my energy to keep them open.
I’ve also picked up reading again.
For my first selection I have “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire. It’s a very interesting read so far.
It’s the book to broadway story of the Wicked witch of the west (of the Wizard of Oz fame): Her origins and how she became “wicked”…
I haven’t posted in a couple of days. I’m trying to not make that a habit.
I’ll leave you with another shameless picture of the kid….
Batman braving the weather and paparazzi to stay fit.
Stay cool
L
Take a wild guess what we did this weekend?
It was us 5 adults, and a wholemessa kids. We’re the party train ya’ll! Choo-choo!
It was 95 degrees and HUMID. And really bright, hence the squinty faces in all the shots.
He’s so pretty…
Before all the fun began, we went to Tyler’s picture day for his team pictures. It rained some, but they got done in a couple of hours.
This was just the Freshman team!
These boys are big boys.
After going to church Sunday, we went to see Stacie play volleyball…
This girl’s fierce. And so pretty.
Stacie and her lovely mom Aunty Michelle.
Uncle Chris and Nacho
And look how big Mikey is getting… Check out the rolls. His feet are so little. Well, maybe they’re normal 3 month old size, but for his body, their tiny.
He makes me smile.
Later!
L
a meme because I want to get back to regular posting but don’t have much to say right now…
Accent: non-regional, but when I hang out with Tennesseeans for too long I tend to elongate my vowels like the southerners do.
Breakfast or no breakfast: definitely breakfast! I often wake up in the morning really hungry, stomach growling and all. Usually toast with butter; a croissant or biscuit dunked in a hot cup of coffee with 2 sugars and 1 cream.
Chore I don’t care for: anything involving hair in drains.
Dog or cat: I love both, but I have no pets at the moment
Essential electronics: my camera, my cell phone, my computer, in that order.
Favorite cologne: Alfred Sung for me, Wings for DH
Gold or silver: Silver
Handbag I carry most often: I have ALOT of purses. I don’t have a favorite, persay, but I tend to use 4 on a regular. I try to change purses every two weeks or so. This does not count my knitting bag, because, by golly, I HAVE TO HAVE one!
Insomnia: yep
Job Title: office support. Really, it’s that glamorous.
Kids: 4
Living arrangements: sharing space with a husband, 4 kids, a little brother and a little sister
Most admirable trait: I can remember phone numbers, a lot of them, for a long time.
Naughtiest childhood behavior: oh, let me count the ways… I think the “naughtiest” was tormenting the poor cat and all the small creatures in AND around the house. Please don’t judge me for that I was very young and I don’t do those things now. I promise.
Overnight hospital stay: 6 times. Four babies, hepatitis when I was 8, and a nasty bout with kidney infection the year I turned 21.
Phobias: Thunderstorms and tornadoes
Quote: “Be nice to your little brother, one day he will be bigger than you, and then what?”
Reason to smile: Just one? Ok, chocolate.
Siblings: a younger sister, a younger brother and an older brother
Time I wake up: Weekdays: 6:15, Weekends: 8:30 ish.
Unusual skill or talent: according to knit-night friends, I knit “superfast”
Vegetable I refuse to eat: Chinese cucumbers. YUCK! Olives, they are an acquired taste. Raw onions, they make me tear up something awful.
Worst habit: interrupting people.
X-rays: twice.
Yummy stuff: Cheese. And chocolate.
Zoo animal I like most: Giraffe. They’re like dinosaurs, but prettier and with fur and long slender legs.
Tag you’re it!
I need a nap right now.
They had a blast playing together.
I need to get my kids together with their cousins more often.
My Nacho is 3 years old. Look what he can do…
Video not available.
Ty and Bubb were doing their daily exercises and Nacho wanted to join in. I am amazed. This kid is totally entertaining and full of surprises.
The situps were no problem for him, but he tired easily with the pushups. So adorable.
This movie rocked my socks off!It made $155M it’s opening weekend, more than Spiderman 3.
And I know why.
Maybe partly due to Heath Ledger’s critically acclaimed portrayal of the maniacal villian The Joker. This was his last completed film before his untimely death in January. But it was more than an action packed comic book flick, it was deeper and more character-driven. Please go watch it. It is worth the 2 and a half hours.
I have heard that Heath’s performance is worthy of a Oscar nod, but I was very skeptical, thinking that it was only because he died that people would say this. But after watching this movie, I think he should receive a nod. Most definitely.
Here’s a eerie poster of The Joker…
Heath was not one to choose roles that showcased Heath the bod or Heath the face. He chose roles for the challenge. I read that he totally immersed himself in the portrayal of his characters. I can only imagine the struggle in his mind as he played this character.
And, really, he acted his butt off, because, for me, I forgot about Heath at times watching The Joker. This dude is C.R.A.Z.Y. He makes crazy seem mild. And his laugh. omg. It’s spine-tingling….
On grounds that “he didn’t care for comics” and that it “would be stealing someone else’s dream,” Ledger refused to be Spider Man. Ironically, his last role would be the Joker in the “Batman Returns” sequel titled “The Dark Knight.” He refused to be part of the ambitious Hollywood circle, not caring for more money or blockbuster films. He chose to make his way around different genres and chose roles that would stretch his acting capabilities.
His acting career began in Australia and eventually lead him to the United States upon his role as a young warrior in the TV series “Roar.” His first feature film was a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” “10 Things I Hate About You.” Ledger didn’t want to be typecast. In a period of six years, he played in romantic comedies (“Casanova”), epics (“The Patriot”), action (“A Knight’s Tale”), and drama (“Monster’s Ball” and “Candy”).
Here’s some reviews from Rolling Stone that I totally agree with…
“Heads up: a thunderbolt is about to rip into the blanket of bland we call summer movies. The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan’s absolute stunner of a follow-up to 2005’s Batman Begins, is a potent provocation decked out as a comic-book movie. Feverish action? Check. Dazzling spectacle? Check. Devilish fun? Check. But Nolan is just warming up. There’s something raw and elemental at work in this artfully imagined universe. Striking out from his Batman origin story, Nolan cuts through to a deeper dimension. Huh? Wha? How can a conflicted guy in a bat suit and a villain with a cracked, painted-on clown smile speak to the essentials of the human condition? Just hang on for a shock to the system. The Dark Knight creates a place where good and evil — expected to do battle — decide instead to get it on and dance. “I don’t want to kill you,” Heath Ledger’s psycho Joker tells Christian Bale’s stalwart Batman. “You complete me.” Don’t buy the tease. He means it.
…I can only speak superlatives of Ledger, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker. Miles from Jack Nicholson’s broadly funny take on the role in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, Ledger takes the role to the shadows, where even what’s comic is hardly a relief. No plastic mask for Ledger; his face is caked with moldy makeup that highlights the red scar of a grin, the grungy hair and the yellowing teeth of a hound fresh out of hell. To the clown prince of crime, a knife is preferable to a gun, the better to “savor the moment.”
…It’s enough to watch Bale chillingly render Batman as a lost warrior, evoking Al Pacino in The Godfather II in his delusion and desolation. It’s enough to see Ledger conjure up the anarchy of the Sex Pistols and A Clockwork Orange as he creates a Joker for the ages. Go ahead, bitch about the movie being too long, at two and a half hours, for short attention spans (it is), too somber for the Hulk crowd (it is), too smart for its own good (it isn’t). The haunting and visionary Dark Knight soars on the wings of untamed imagination. It’s full of surprises you don’t see coming. And just try to get it out of your dreams. “
-Peter Travers
Go watch this movie. You’ll love it.
Oh, by the way,
This dude…
Who plays this dude
Will be this dude in this movie

TERMINATOR!
Coming 2009. Official title: Terminator Salvation: The future begins. Interestingly, the preview for this movie was shown right before The Dark Knight movie started.
Coincedentally, that dude, was this dude
In this movie by Steven Spielberg

I loved that movie. You can watch the trailer on Youtube. The trailer made me cry.
-L

It’s Friday and I am being lazy. I really don’t have much work to do, but I cannot get myself motivated today. I am on weekend mode.
These pretty stitch markers were given to me by a wonderful gal at Knit-Night at my local yarn store(LYS). Shannon, or “Shannon Prime” as she likes to claim.
This is Shannon Prime (SP) with the Grocery Bag holder I crocheted for her. (No pattern, just made it up)
These little red lovelies were given to me by another Knit-Night buddy, Regan. I didn’t get to photograph her, but I will. Believe me. I will… MUAHAHAHAHA!
I’ve been feeling very sentimental (keyword: mental) lately. I’ve been reminiscing of California and when we lived there 6+ years ago. I think more so I am sad that my little boy is entering high school this fall. Where does time go? What’s the rush? I have 4 more years with that boy and then he’ll be gone. He’ll be an “adult” going off to college. *sigh* It’s going just as fast for Bubba, Nate and Lai. I guess every parent feels the same when it comes to their children. I would love to go back for just a minute so I can hold my little babies one more time, and play for just an hour with my toddler, color with my 6 year old, run around outside with my 7 year old, lay in the grass and watch the clouds with my 9 year old… I could go on. There are so many things I did not do with my little Ty. I was young and selfish. I know better now. I am trying to do better.


Anyway, blogger’s acting up today. I don’t feel like uploading 10 times to get it right. I’ll post again later.
L
So yesterday after work, I took the kids to the park for some outside play. I let Ty have the camera and follow his siblings around the playground. He took some great shots. I think we have a budding photographer…
BRACE YOURSELVES!
This post has the most photos so far.
I think I was trigger happy as we neared the ending of our trip.
They’re great shots, happy and candid. If your PC locks up, too bad. I will not apologize for my page overflowing with pics! ‘cuz that’s how I roll…
He was hurtin’ here. Poor fella. It was 100 degrees in that garage…. That’s Tu’u btw.
Drawing the outline.
Anyhoo, we got to Vegas around 10 am Friday morning (July 4th) and stopped off at Dad’s.
He’s doing ok. I wish he was closer so I can look out for him.
We met up with the crew the next day at Main Street Station for some breakfast buffet!
Aunty Lina!
Lina and mini Lina
Uncle Jr.
If you haven’t tried knittin with this stuff yet. Go and get some, like RIGHT NOW. They are a dream to work with and even dreamier to wear. I promise, you’ll thank me.
These are my first pair of toe up socks. So far so good. Notice also that I have been Magic-Looping. I love it. I don’t know what I’m going to do with all my dpn’s now.
HA!
L
I don’t have very many memories of her since I was little when I spent the most time with her. My brothers and I were left in her and Lolo’s care while my mom and dad flew to Nauru (or was it Western Samoa?) to get housing and jobs ready before they take us there. I believe it was for a month, maybe longer. I was 2 or 3 years old. Anyway, I can only remember 3 other times I have seen her since then. They visited us in Western Samoa when we were in the yellow “L” house. We owned the cutest volkswagon and 3 beautiful dobermans. I used to ride them like they were horses, but only one of them let me. I can’t remember their names, but I have pictures of them. Anyway, the dogs got really sick while Lolo and Lola were there and the vet had to put them down. Lola answered all the whys, hows, and all the other questions I had about losing my dogs. I was 5. Years later, when I was 10, they both came to American Samoa (we moved there in ‘79) because I contracted Hepatitis B and Mom feared the worst. They were there for a couple of months and it was a happy time for me, even though I was bed-ridden and sick. Lola and Lolo were such a joy to be around. Lola was always cracking jokes and poking fun at Lolo. Lolo was always so serious. They were a perfect match. The last time I saw them, I was 14 in 1988. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and wanted to renew their vows. The whole family attended. They were loved by so many people. The church was full. I remember taking our “3 generations” photo then. I wish we had made our “4 generations” picture with Lai…
Anyway, Lolo died in ‘93. I was not able to attend the funeral. He had alzhiemer’s disease and according to mom was gone long before he stopped breathing. It was a sad way to end such a beautiful and fruitful life.
Lola is with Lolo now. Finally together after 15 years apart. Lolo and Lola, I love you.
L
Thursday June 26th, I went to work and worked my 8 hours. The day dragged on. I mean, DRRRAAAAAGGGGGGEDDDDD on. I went home and snuck out to knit-night where I stayed for 3 hours, then went home to finish packing. Hubby worked until 1:00 am that night and we packed up the car and the kids and started on our road trip to Chicago. We stopped too many times during the night, one of which was a stop to the beloved and missed Denny’s (we do not have Denny’s here in the Nashville area). We made it to Chicago in 10 hours (the yahoo maps said approx. travel time is 7 hours 48 minutes). We headed to a park and fly place to have our car parked there for the duration of our trip. We were then shuttled to the airport where we waited to board a flight headed to anywhere in California. We were on companion passes on standby. Anyway, it was a very stressful day. We didn’t make it on any of the flights that day. We left O’Hare very disappointed, to say the least. We checked in to a hotel near the airport and slept over for the night.
The next morning, Saturday, DH (Dear Hubby) decided not to have a repeat of the previous day’s drama and tour downtown Chicago. He got up early to get the car out of the Park and Jet place so we can have transportation for the day. We loaded the car with our kids and headed downtown.
Chicago is an expensive place. All day parking was $18.00! We found a spot for $6.00 for 2 hours and decided to take it instead of wasting precious gas driving around looking for cheaper parking. Here’s DH looking perplexed in front of the parking sign.
Then off on foot for some exploring. We walked down 3 flights of steps to walk along the riverfront.
It was CROWDED that day. The local temperature was 76 and sunny. A beautiful day. Come to find out there was a festival happening that day The Taste of Chicago. http://chicagotraveler.com/attractions/taste-of-chicago.html
It was packed…
We walked some more.
We came to Millenium Park and found this:
YO YO YO…
Anyway, we had a blast. We spent 3 days in Chicago…
















































