Okay - copy cats bug me...

Just had to get that off my chest.  I'm talking about movies, actually.  And, not really copy-cats, but people who try to cash in on something, just because they think it will make them big bucks.

Ever hear of the movie 5th Quarter?  Well, if you did, you were probably one of the few.  sigh.  I had heard of it and saw it for sale at Blockbusters going out of business sale, so I grabbed it.  We watched it the other night for FHE activity, and while the beginning was really good, it went downhill from there.  It was emotional, and you couldn't help but cry your eyes out, but the characters were lame after the initial shock.  And it had sooo much promise!!  It could have been great.

Part of it was the acting.  The oldest son was pretty much the focus, and he just wasn't believable.  Andie MacDowell was wonderful, as usual, and the dad...well, he was very emotional but it wore you out to the point you wanted to slap him in the middle.  The way he acted it seemed as if he was handicapped in some way, and it made me wonder if the real father was.  But anyway ---  lame.  I felt like they had made it to try and capitalize on the whole football tragedy thing.   And it ended kind of lame too.  So...hopefully if you were planning on watching it you won't toss it out the window.  Just know that it's not going to be Blindside.

Nuf said.  ;)

I'm done ranting for now.

California Dreaming...

Well...we went, we basked, we visited, we drove (forever) and we're back.  Sigh.  Like I've told the people we ran into out there....I love the ocean and it's the only thing I miss about living in California.  I would never live there again.  I guess I could be tempted though...lol

We split the trip down into two parts, stopping in St. George so David could give grandma the report...  and then we headed to California.  It was gorgeous weather the whole time we were there!  I couldn't believe it.  We didn't even have fog!  Getting down to St. George was ugly...and our daughters ended up spending Saturday  night in a hotel, but the rest of the drive was great.  The condos at Oceanside are great, but I wouldn't recommend the 3 room one...it's too close to the railroad tracks, and I swear they run every 20 minutes...till like 1 am, and then start up again at 5.  We heard those things every night...UGH.

The last day we were there was the cloudiest of them all...this was taken from our balcony on Sunday.  The sunbursts were sooo cool.  My camera just doesn't do it justice.

We tried to get David to show us his mission.  He finally took us to an area south...and it had a really cool beach.  There was a little park on the way to the beach and the walk way had shells in it, and the little staging area had decorative steps.  It was way cool.  There was a lifeguard station just off to the right of this photo, and it was cool.  It had lanterns along a short wall that we would love to put in our back yard.

We went to Dana point another day and saw a couple of tall ships that were docked there.  The gift shop was fun and we picked up some fun items for granddaughters....;)  But what was fun was our last day, Sunday, the same tall ship was headed into the harbor at Oceanside!

When we realized where it was going, we went to the dock area to get a closer look.  It was way fun, and Don really liked it.

We got to visit with a couple of different families.  One great family fed us dinner and we felt like we'd gained treasured friends!

We told them to be sure and look us up the next time they came to Utah.  ;)

We also visited the San Diego Temple...how can you not when you're so close???  This building always looks so unreal...so fantasy to me.

here's the group in front of it.  We actually had one taken just below the spires, but we were in shadow and you can't see us.  ..lol

I just love this photo of Guy...he's so good lookin!

Kristie and Clarissa had fun messing around together.

Oceanside dock was fun...there were two pelicans that were nice if you left them alone.  One shop on the dock that sold bait and stuff had a sign that said they bite stupid people, lol.

This is David looking like a rugged sailor...
All in all, it was a great trip.  Over too fast because we were going the whole time.  we went to Knottsberry farm, (I'm probably not spelling it right...and I'm too lazy to go google it, sorry) and that was fun.  We went mainly because it was cheaper than Disneyland, and it's theme is Peanuts, which is Guys FAVORITE thing...

Here's the group in front of one of the windows.  We stayed till the park closed.  I thought I took more pictures, since we took the camera inside, but I guess not.  I also look like I'm mad at someone...so go figure.  ;)  We had a great time feeding the chickens and roosters in the picnic area.  The kids thought it was funny that there were chickens instead of pigeons and seaguls.

Anyway...so  now we're back and it's still winter... lol   Of course it is.  Brrrrr....

Morning Frost

Okay...when we talk about inversion and the fog associated (okay, more smog, but I don't like that word..lol) there is generally a frost that happens on the plants as a result.  This past January, that didn't happen.

This morning, this is what was outside my windows!

now that's more like it!!  Fortunately, the sun is actually coming out and all of it will melt away, but for now, it's been nice.  Have a great day!

Are you Sure it's not Christmas?

This weather just makes me feel like it's December!!  I drive down the road and think, really?  It's not Christmas around the corner?

Well...it's not.  Christmas is long over and gone, but it sure feels like it's still here.  I'm loving it!!  I guess there are loads who are tired of the white stuff, but we're still way behind on our water levels, so I'm hoping we get more!

My son who just got back from his mission is loving it...at least I think he was...perhaps before he ended up shoveling almost every day since he got back??  lol  He loves it.

Here's to winter!!

And aren't the icicles amazing??  that's what freezing rain does on top of snow.... lol

Snow

I just had to write this down today....I LOVE snow.  I know most people would think I'm crazy, but I can't help it.  I think it's so beautiful the way it sparkles in the sunlight!  We've had smoggy days the past two weeks or so.  They call it an 'inversion'.  It's a nice way of saying we get smog in the winter.  It traps the heat above and the cold below, which makes us actually colder than the ski resorts...which everyone things is crazy.

But, anyway...that makes snow crystals that fall lazily down and it's just amazing.  This morning I looked at the snow outside, and usually snow compacts and becomes almost a solid mass.  Right now it's still powder. I had to take a picture of it and show you how gorgeous.

I even got it where you could see the individual flakes!!  I love my camera...but I think a bigger zoom would be nice.  ;)

Anyway - hope you have a marvelous day.  We're off to get my sons arm/wrist set from him getting it broken on Friday.  Should be interesting.

Tomorrow David comes home though!!!  My missionary will be home in less than 48 hours!!!  YEAH!!  you can't tell we're excited or anything...  ;)

Snow Day!!

I was watching my hubby and son snow plow and shovel the driveway this morning thinking, man, don't we ever get snow days???  I mean, I hear of them in Idaho and Washington and stuff...but we never seem to get them.  Well, after they finished (and the snow plow came by of course and buried the driveway again) the district called and said SNOW DAY!!!  YAHOO!!  So... day of relaxation and fun for me, I tell ya!  lol  ;)
Enjoy!

I know we will sure try!

Happy New Year!!

Well...I realized the other day that I hadn't posted in a while.  I'm afraid that I've not really got an excuse for it, but there ya go.  I just let life go, and it got in the way.

I hope you had a great New Years Eve.  We had fun, freezing our buts at the neighbors house and watching the fireworks....munching on snacks with the kids and then watching the Rose Parade the next day...which is always my favorite.  This years was a bit odd, but still fun.

So...I hope that all you could want to have happen does so in the coming year.

It's all up to you anyway - so go get it.  ;)

No Such Thing as Anonymous Anymore

I had to speak out.  I mean, it's what we do now, isn't it?  But the bit about the policeman who gave the homeless guy some shoes...he wasn't seeking for national or even world wide attention.  But that's what happened.  We never know when someone is watching us.

Our actions rarely go unnoticed.  Whether for good or ill.

Should make all of us rethink our actions, but it doesn't.  It makes me second guess myself.

Am I doing this because I'll know I'll get blessed?  Am I doing it because someone will think I'm nice?  WHY am I doing this??  is what we should always ask ourselves.

If we are doing some small act of kindness because we feel to do so in our hearts...then amen.  That's the reason to do it.

That's all I'm saying.

Created!!

do you remember when I did a review on her first book?  They just get better and better!  Here's the release info for her newest one!

Just released!! Created by Cindy M. Hogan

Do you love a great suspense novel 

with a dash of romance?

Then you should try Created!

Here's the teaser-

A spy school.

A choice.

A destiny discovered.

Can you imagine being only 17 and having to choose between a normal, everyday life of a college teen and being put on the fast track to being a spy? That's the choice Christy has to make in this explosive third, and final book in the Watched series. Get ready for a fast-paced thrill ride that you won't be able to put down once you start.

Get yours here, today!

Here's what readers are saying:

"Unique, suspenseful, and hard to predict." -E. Baker, reviewer

"Created is an exciting ride full of surprises at every turn. It was thrilling, and sometimes terrifying to watch    Christy's transformation as she was further introduced into the world of espionage, and decides how far she is willing to go to fulfill her first real assignment."   -Jenny Moore, reviewer

"Clever and action-packed." -Cindy Anderson, reviewer

Don't walk, RUN to pick up this fantastic series!

A few fun facts about Cindy

Favorite treat in the summer- 

watermellon wins every time.

Favorite activities to do?

I love to cook. Just made the best chicken pot pie, ever.

Are you a coupon girl or do you pay full price for everything? 

I don't have time to clip coupons, but I almost never pay full price for anything.

Read any good books lately? 

I listen to a lot of books so I can do two things at once. I'm in the middle of Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck and liking it more and more and just  picked up Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor I'm also reading four eBooks right now and my mom just brought over Micheal Vey

Want more information? Stalk Cindy in all these places (just click on the place and you'll go there)

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Facebook

Twitter

Blog (sign up for her newsletter to get the latest scoop)

Goodreads

DON'T WATCH IT!! Really...

Okay - I know I've been pretty lame about posting so far this year...with my daughter's wedding and stuff, it's been hard to divide my time.  Now it's NaNoWriMo and I'm writing, but we went out last Saturday after I got my words written and saw Hope Springs...UGH!!!

Please, unless you like sexual explicit talk and some embarrassing situations, you do not want to see it, and it is NOT appropriate for unmarried people, in my opinion.

I took my hubby thinking it was a fun date movie.  We both like Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep, so we thought it was going to be good.  While there were some cute scenes, and the ending was sweet, the majority of the time I spent with my hands clenched around my hubbies, wondering if we were going to get up and leave.  Steve Carroll actually played a straight man, and he did good, but of course he was the marriage counselor advising them on all these sexual fantasies and stuff.  Seriously. I  mean, he advised her to get a book called "Sex Tips for Straight Women From a Gay Guy."  Really??? It was NOT what we were expecting, and I thought I'd toss it out there if any of you were thinking about it.  Just don't...you won't like it.

There's a scene in a public theater where she's trying to perform oral sex with him.  Another scene where they are being intimate in a hotel room, but I'm really impressed that the clothes are still on - there's no tossing of the clothing and pumping the chest in this movie at least!   The only saving grace.

Anyway - just a word of caution.  It's not your normal here's how you save your marriage subjects and it's not comfortable.  Amazingly enough Elizabeth Shue was in it!  We saw her and just about fell out of our chairs.  Haven't seen her in something for a long time.

sigh.

Anyway - have to get back to other things, hope you have a fantastic Monday!!  ;)

Technology is Our Friend

by G.Parker

Well, at least that's what I keep telling myself.  This isn't quite the post I would have done had I had more time, but since I'm using my daugters little tablet, this is the best I can do this week.  My computer (my lovely large keyboard that is erogonomicly friendly- sorry if there are any spelling errors, she also doesn't have firefox or chrome and IE doesn't have a spell check!) has been suffering due to the switch my hubby has that doesn't like me right now.  He's a wonderful computer tech, and we have a switch to have multiple computers on the internet at the same time.  Well, the switch seems to be dying, and the wireless connections are working, but not the wired ones.  Sigh.  So, I started work this week and don't have time to access things at work, so I'm stuck.  My hubby is studying on his computer, and when he's not, it's a little tablet like my daugter's and it's also locked with a passwrod I haven't bothered to memorize.  I mean, what's the point?  I never use it...  lol.

So.  As a writer in today's world, I've come to rely on computers.  I used to write with a pen and paper.  I even used to use a pencil, which makes me shudder to think of it now.  (Pencil fades)  But when my fingers were able to type almost as fast as I thought, it was much easier to write my stories on a keyboard rather than on paper.  I loved the electric typewriter.  Remember the movie You've Got Mail and the one guy's fascination with the electric typewriter?  I can totally relate.  Well...to a point.  I wouldn't collect the same one. :)

It has also gotten to the point where to submit to a publisher you need to be able to do it in electronic format.  I remember the first time I saw that on a submission requirement.  I wondered what the world had come to.  I guess that gives away my age - but then, how many of you actually used a typewriter anyway?  There's a reason they call it keyboarding instead of typing now. 

Well, since I'm using my daughter's computer, I need to cut this rambling short, so I'll sign off now.  Have a great weekend, enjoy your internet connections and reflect on how strange your writing life would be without the computer.

We'd be back in the dark ages!  ARGH.  I'm okay now.