Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Royal Wedding

Are you surprised that I'm not making more of a "do" about the Royal Wedding seeing as I am a self-proclaimed "anglophile"?

I am surprised at myself as well.

I'm not sure what the problem is. If you'll excuse me, I'll try to self analyze.

Reasons why I am not making more of the Royal Wedding:
1. I'm going to miss all the great coverage because I have a rotten cable package.
2. I'm going to be at work for most of it.
3. I don't have any way to record it to watch later.

Basically, technology is sapping my joy.

Well, I'm going to try to catch some of it before I go to work tomorrow. If London is 5 hours ahead of us and the wedding is at 11am, then maybe I can watch some of it.

I am truly happy for William. I know his Mum would be proud.


Diana was one year and 30 days older than me and she married Charles 7 months before Steave and I got married. I remember watching her wedding and enjoying it very much. She had William 5 years before I had Joel. I always admired Di and followed her life closely. I was very sad when she was killed in the car accident.

So, I am disappointed in my pitiful interest in William's wedding. Perhaps tomorrow I will be more excited.

Congrats William and Kate!

Tornado Scare!

Thankfully, Katie, Meg and I slid between two major tornadic cells (that's meteorologist lingo). One to the north of us and one to the south. We watched the news all night following their paths and waiting to take cover if necessary. I fell asleep to the nervous voices of the weathermen as they said to those in the path of the storms, "take cover NOW!" "Put on bicycle helmets or motorcycle helments and get to the basement or interior room!" They were panicked! And rightly so, over 200 people lost their lives in this tornado outbreak. Here's a clip of a tornado that went through Tuscaloosa Alabama last night.


I am thankful that all my family and friends in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee are ok!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

For the Love of Tybee

Trina! This is for you!

If you follow my blog at all, you know that I LOVE the beach. My favorite beach is Tybee Island, GA I love Tybee because I've spent many summers and springs there with my kids and family. So, it is familiar. It is like home away from home.



I also love it because it is small. You could walk and/or bike across the whole island in a very short time. It is not a built-up, touristy trap. It's like a small town. It has no big entertainment, no crazy attractions. It just the ocean! I HOPE that it never gets built up, but unfortunately people are now finding it. I have to blame Miley for some of the publicity because her movie "Last Song" which was filmed there. 



I also love it because it is beautiful!!



Trina, you must go!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Latest Netflix Viewing

Atilla!


I have admitted to you that I have a "side dish obsession" with Gerard Butler. I am trying to see everything that he's done with the hopes of drumming up something other than "PS I Love You" and "300" to convince myself that he really is a good actor and not just a pretty face. I haven't really found anything yet. "Dear Frankie" was bearable but mostly because I enjoyed the story and the Frankie character so much.

So, to continue my search, I found "Atilla." I have to admit - it hurt to watch it. It was so painful it took me 3 sessions to get through it. I watched the extras and in the "making of" piece they actually tried to compare it to "Cleopatra" and "Ben Hur" and to that I say NO WAY, NAY, NIX!! They aren't even close.

Katie tried to help me not be so frustrated with Gerard by saying that maybe it was not his fault that his performance was so bad. They cast a Scottish actor who Americanized his accent to play an Asian. I guess his overdone eyeliner was to try to get his eyes to look more Asian, which really didn't work. Many of the shots, I think, were just to try to showcase his eyelined, contact lensed eyes. Pretty pitiful.  

Well, to further express how I felt about the movie, I suggest that you watch "Poldark" rather than "Atilla."
Need I say more?

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Sa Dingding

In my life I don't have far to drive - anywhere. I am thankful for that given the gas prices. However, it doesn't give me much time to listen to the radio in the car. I do miss that. I like NPR and today in the short trip from school to the bank, I was introduced to the musician, Sa Dingding. I really like her sound and I am intrigued. She was born into a nomadic Mongolian family and now she is a world pop star. To quote Spock: "fascinating."

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Charlie Chaplin

So yesterday was Charlie Chaplin's birthday. I know he's dead, but it was his birthday nonetheless.


Me. In honor of his birthday.

I have always, always, always loved Charlie's work. I know he was kicked out of the country during the McCarthy era, had troubled romances and seemed to be in court a lot - but did you know he was part Romani and he started United Artists along with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W.Griffith? He was a pioneer and a genius!

I can't say that I love silent films, I really don't. But I do love Charlie's films.

When I was in Jr. High, I agreed to be in a talent show. I wrote and performed a "Chaplin-esque" skit complete with pie fight. It was a lot of fun and a lot of clean up!

For a Christmas party one year, we had to go dressed as our favorite childhood character. I went as, yes you guessed it, Charlie Chaplin.

I was so excited when the film "Chaplin" came out. Robert Downey, Jr. did an amazing job capturing Charlie's ballet-like movements. Charlie was a perfect combination of athleticism and grace.

So, happy birthday Charlie, from me, a fan.


Watch this short assortment of clips. You'll like it.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Excuses, Excuses...

Almost a month and no blog posts. I apologize. I have plenty of excuses but the number one problem has been
POLLEN!

I have just not been myself lately. I feel that I've been in a fog, moving in slow motion, like the air is thick, like I have sand in my eyes, etc., etc.

Before Spring Break I was doing research on online degree programs. I am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. While researching, I found an online program on "Body Language." Oh, how that is so interesting to me!

During Spring Break I stayed home and spent as much time hanging out with Katie as I could. I went to her Art History class with her and we went down to Butler. We also went to restaurants and tried to "read" people. We went by Troy's shop, The Magnolia Room, and saw his British display in honor of the upcoming Royal Wedding. I also stopped by The Corner Shop and saw Tina and picked up a few British things.

Then this week has been incredibly full. So, when I get home, I fly to Netflix, put on old Andy Griffith Show episodes and veg out. I also gave a presentation to our faculty and staff and did personality testing and career guidance with the seniors this week. I always enjoy that.

We had tornado activity around here last night. They are predicting more tonight. So, I'll batten down the hatches and hoist the main sails. But that is nothing compared to the earthquake activity that some of my blog friends are experiencing. I especially want to send out prayers to my blog friends in Japan and New Zealand.

I hope all of you, my dear readers, are doing well. Make sure you leave a comment and let me know how you are!