Gotta Love Julia!

Okay, I finally got to see the movie Julie and Julia last night with my daughters, and it was a blast. I laughed so hard! Meryl Streep does such a good job of imitating her voice and mannerisms, it's mind blowing. It also made me want to do better at my blogging. The only problem was the ending -- Bummer!!! Can we protest?? ;)

My daughters and hubby think I should do a similar idea with my weight loss and recipes. Since I have another blog that is about food, I am torn with which location to do. I supposed I'll do the weight loss here, and the food there, but it will feel like no one is reading me, just like the movie. I guess it depends on why I'm doing it, right? For readership or to write?

Well, for now, it's to write. I guess we'll see how it goes, and if I get any more followers...grin.

And by the way...yesterday was weigh in day, and I lost three pounds over Christmas. I was disappointed because it seemed low, my hubby was impressed that I still managed to loose weight over the holidays. I guess that is a point... ;)
Have a good one!

Art Is Not Necessarily Entertainment

I remember the first time I heard of performing arts. It was in the movie Legal Eagles starring Robert Redford. I thought hmm...people really pay to see stuff like this?

My version of performing arts is plays or theater, concerts, and movies.

I especially love movies. I think movies are amazing with what they can do with computer generation and cinematography -- this in itself is an art form. We are big on collecting movies to watch as a family. We don't watch television and don't have cable -- we watch DVDs.

Last week, though, we decided we'd had enough. It was either ferret out the movies that were iffy, or choose another option. Not that we had that many PG13 or even R movies -- (the Patriot, Saving Private Ryan) but we decided it was time to be more selective in what we allowed in our home.

Taking that to heart -- and the knowledge that a lot of PG13 movies are only rated that way because of language or a select scene or two, we opted, instead, for the Clear Play. We've had a TV Guardian for several years, and have really loved it. It's amazing what a shock it is to be watching a movie at someone elses house or on vacation without the guardian on and remembering it had those words in it!!

But a draw back of the TV Guardian is that it works with the closed captioning function of a movie. If the movie didn't have that, we couldn't get the guardian to work. Also -- it would print up stupid words for some of the blocked language. It got to where the kids pretty much knew what they were saying, even though it didn't come through on the speakers. UGH.

Enter the Clear Play. Now -- I didn't start this blog with the intention of this being a commercial, but I have to say it's been wonderful! For example, the movie Transformers? It's a great movie, and we've watched it over and over since it came out on DVD. But there are a couple of scenes that we'd like to not have to skip and there is a couple of spots where taking the Lord's name in vain is the only thing being said.

The Clear Play blocked it all out. I mean the two scenes we didn't like, and the language -- without messing up the movie. I'm dying to see what it did for Titanic, but we don't have it on DVD.

What brought this subject to mind, is the movie Dark Knight. I do mystery shops, and one of the things I get to do a lot of is do trailer checks and theater counts for new releases. A side benefit to this is I usually get to see the movie (unless it's something I didn't want to see in the first place).

I have two shops to do for it this weekend, and I'm figuring I'll probably get to watch it at least once. It looks to be kind of dark -- Heath Ledger appears to have done an amazing job in his last movie in reprising the role I didn't think anyone else could do better than Jack Nicholson. (I think Jacks face was just made for the role -- an incidently, I can't believe Heath was born the year I graduated from high school!! Man does that make me feel old...)

But I was also reading about how they won't be nominating him for any awards, because they tend to shy away from doing so for dead people. I think Hollywood is the only art medium that refuses to grant awards to those who have died -- unlike the rest of the art community. How many painters didn't make it big until they died? Too many to count.

I just thought it was interesting -- and I got carried away. Sorry! ;)

Anyway, I just think the way society views art and all it's mediums is sometimes contradictory to reality. I think it goes along with the "good is bad and bad is good" theory that Satan loves to encourage. Just because one person thinks something is "art" the rest of us are supposed to agree or be classed as judgmental.

While we try not to judge other people, we do have to judge what we want in our brains and in our homes. This involves our spirituality and eternal salvation, does it not? Then it is up to us to decide what we want around us. It is up to us to decide what is art and what is uplifting. We are guided in many ways -- we know how somethings make us feel -- and if the spirit is with us.

If you haven't already done so, I would recommend looking through your movies and analyzing your watching habits. What is the message you are sending your children about how you want your home? And what are you teaching them is art?

And I feel the need to say this: Just because it's on a public television channel (such as PBS) doesn't mean it's art either. They have their sponsors to appease as well as other television stations have advertisers.

However -- I do want to point out that there is a great television opportunity coming up this month...a definite want to watch item that only comes around once a year. The Days of 47 Parade! grin. A definite highlight of the summer.

In looking through the LDSNeighborhood, I noticed that the title of my little corner of the world is Arts and Entertainment. I'm thrilled! That means that we have a larger subject to cover, and I'm proud to be part of this whole thing -- have I mentioned that before?

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Party Weekend and Mother's Day

Wow...what a weekend. We had my son's bday party on Friday, the first available time since his real bday in April. It was crazy, all the people he invited came to the movie (I won't want to take 12 kids to the movies any time soon...ouch!) and then to our house for rootbeer floats. It was great fun, they were good kids, and I took a picture of them in front of the banner on the garage. We got a bunch of tiki lamps and made a pathway to the back yard, and had balloons everywhere, it was just way fun. sigh. Makes me want to be a kid again. I never had a party... It's been fun to give one to my own children.

Mother's day was way fun. I got breakfast in bed, and wasn't allowed near the kitchen for the rest of the day. I love that aspect of the day, let me tell you. Although, sometimes what comes out of it is less than desired, this years offering was wonderful. We went to my mother-in-law's for dinner, provided by my hubby. It was wonderful grilled (marinated) chicken. man! We haven't ever tried it before, and it was mouth watering and tender! He also made me strawberry pie...a traditional favorite. He always makes two -- one to share, one for ME! grin.

He's a wonder, let me tell you. Have I mentioned how much I love him? ;)
Anyway...great weekend. Now for the week ahead, I'm not sure, but it's looking to be a crazy one. I hope you ladies all had a wonderful Mother's day!!

August Rush

Have you ever watched a movie and felt that it struck a cord deep inside? The whole idea should offend me -- with the two side characters sleeping together -- but for some reason it's the real story that gets me. And the music.

A lot of people don't know that I used to sing. I say was because my voice has been going for the past couple of years. But in high school and college, I sang in choir, and loved it. Singing is such a joy, and music touches me in a way nothing else can. I asked a woman in my neighborhood who teaches voice lessons why my voice would be going -- she said that vocal chords are like any other muscle. When they aren't used frequently, they weaken. It's really sad, because I don't know how I sing less than I did before --but that was the only thing she could tell me. What was amazing, was at Christmas my stake had a music sing-a-long for the Halleluja chorus and I was able to hit every note. Even the high soprano ones -- it was a miracle. So...that's a quick blurb on my background.

This movie was wonderful. I've read reviews that said it was a re-make of the story OLIVER, and it was terrible. I could see the comparisons, and there was much alike. However, it was a whole new story -- starring music. Robin Williams actually plays a mixed bag. I've never really seen him play a villain, but he did it in this one, and does it well. You like him and hate him at the same time.

But the main character, that same little boy that everyone thinks is wonderful right now, (having done Charley and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland and several others) he did excellent. The expressions on his face are so perfect, so clear and clean. He makes you believe him. He makes you hear the music.

I hope that you take the chance to watch it. Bring lots of tissue, and be prepared to enjoy a musical experience that will hum along your nerves. I want the soundtrack now...

Almost There!

I know I've been quieter this past couple of weeks, but I've explained it and I don't think anyone's been too upset. I haven't heard about it, anyway...grin. I'm not even sure many are reading my input any more, so once more this is for my own benefit.

We watched Mr. Magoriums Emporium last night for FHE. My hubby and I had seen the beginning of it, but never finished it. It was wonderful. Unfortunately, I didn't like the end -- I think it was a little too abrupt. I liked the actors that played the characters, especially Dustin Hoffman, I've always been a fan of his. I really loved the way he did Tootsie. But anyway, all of my kids loved it. I am so thankful when we can find a movie that is clean, wholesome and all of my kids from 12 to 20 like it. Don't you think that's a good thing?

I read an article the other day that said Utah is trying to lure more movie making here...we do have lots that goes on as it is. Most everyone has seen the southern part of the state without even knowing it. I'm thinking, why do they want to film so much here when most of what they are filming isn't going to be watched by most of the residents? grin...

anyway, I'd better get going with breakfast. Only two more entries and we're at the contest. Anymore takers on the madwrite??? come on...you know you want to!