Old Time Movie Stars

We recently experienced a lovely vacation on the Chesapeake. 
Maryland.
Which I once pronounced Mary-Land.  
Once.  
I now pronounce it like everyone else.  Merra-lind.  
Makes no sense to me.  
Like Arkansas.  Should be pronounced R-Kansas.  


Anyhoo, whilst there my daughter channeled old time movie stars.  It was quite delightful.  There must have been something in the water.  


First up: Lucille Ball

Then, the beautiful Grace Kelly:

And finally, Deborah Kerr:

I won't post the photo of Deborah Kerr in this position, as that would just be inappropriate--she's got Burt Lancaster all over her.

What doesn't happen when it snows...

There is no al fresco dining:

no sunbathing:

no reading outside in my chair:

But, that's okay.  I love the snow.  I sit by the windows and watch it fall.
It's better than going to the movies.  Isn't it?

Plus, my dog loves it.  This is his kind of weather.

If it weren't for Hoss we would never get the back deck cleared of snow.
He's our canine snow plough.

Secretariat

I recently saw the movie Secretariat with my children.

It was wonderful.

Magical.

I highly recommend it.

There is a chance I cried for the entire length of the movie.
I neither confirm nor deny whether or not I did or did not.

(aren't you glad election season is over and we don't have to listen to or watch those ridiculous commercials any more??  gee zoo...)

Now listen, I know I have a special affinity for horses so I am sure that played into my love for the movie, but it really was wonderful.  I aint lyin' people.

You are rooting for the owner (a woman in a man's world); you are rooting for the horse; you are rooting for the trainer; you are rooting for the jockey.  It's just a feel-good movie.

Although, it made me thankful that I was not a housewife in the 70's.
But, enough about that.

Get thee to the cinema!

Penny Tweedy with Big Red (Secretariat)

US & OZ: Day 6

I did not receive a photo from Kate before she left for Fiji.  I did get an email from her and I think she may have attached a photo to it, but it didn't come through.  She did, however, assure me that she packed her camera!!

So, here is the photo that I imagine she would have sent me:

hahaha, couldn't resist...
 that's not a knife...this is a knife...

anyhoo...back to our regularly scheduled programming...

My little one has finally mastered the 2-wheeler without the aid of training wheels.  She was SO excited and proud to ride around with her big brother.

Eat Pray Love

When the book, Eat, Pray, Love first came out it was a phenomenon.  The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, was celebrated by Oprah herself; which probably took care of any money concerns she had.  (For those of you who read the book you know about her money concerns).

I read the book when it first came out and LOVED it.  I read the book again, recently, as part of the Book Club of which I am a member.  I loved it again.  It is a wonderful book about a spiritual journey that ends up healing the author in ways she probably never knew were possible (with God all things are possible).  I loved how it wasn't about a specific religion, just about her relationship with God.  Which is what all religions are about.  What difference does it make if you belong to one and I belong to another?  What matters is your spiritual relationship with God (or, the Almighty Peanut-Butter, whatever you chose to call It).  As Ketut (a character in the book) said, "when people start talking about religion, just smile and nod and say 'I absolutely agree with you' and then go home and do your own meditations or prayers, whatever you believe..."

When I heard about the movie I was excited.  First of all, I love going to the movies, and secondly, this movie was going to be shot on location in Italy, India and Bali.  I couldn't wait to see big, sweeping, panoramic views of the locations and dream about going to all of them.  Plus, I thought Julia Roberts was a pretty good choice to play Elizabeth Gilbert given that they are both pretty tall, lanky women.

Well, folks.  The movie was a big disappointment.
sad sad sad 

Now, I know there is never a movie based on a book that will be as good as the book.
Did you understand that??  

However, this was just sad sad sad

One of the things that I dislike about movies based on books is when 'they' add something into the movie that NEVER happened in the book.
(like, the Burrough being set on fire?  What was that all about?).
Why not just add more stuff from the book?
I know there are things that will have to be left out so the movie isn't 20 hours long, but don't just add things that were never part of the story!!  Come on people!!

Anyway, before I get overly excited, *ahem* let me just tell you that you should most definitely read the book, Eat Pray Love, if you have not already.  However, don't bother paying $10 to see the movie.  Wait until it's on TV if you want to catch it--it probably won't be too long before it is!